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If Mark Hurd can keep his new post as co-president of Oracle Corp. , analysts say his role at the database vendor is likely to be watched closely by executives at high-end data warehouse appliance vendor Teradata Corp.
Teradata had been a unit of NCR while Hurd was CEO there prior to his 2005 departure to take the HP CEO post. Teradata was spun out of NCR in 2007.
Analysts say that HP's data warehouse business has been flagging since Hurd joined, while at the same time Teradata itself has grown significantly.
Even so, Hurd's new role at Oracle puts him in a position to drive the database giant's growing ambitions in the data warehouse market and deeper into Teradata's territory. Unlike HP, Oracle is committed to the data warehouse business and analysts say it has positioned itself well with its Exadata data warehouse appliances.
"Oracle has made data warehousing core to its [long-term] strategy," said James Kobielus, an analyst with Forrester Research. "The company is already on a serious roll with Exadata."
Hurd could help Oracle further sharpen its data warehousing focus, and force teredata to take notice, Kobielus said.
Hurd resigned as HP's CEO last month following the discovery of some expense account irregularities related to a sexual harassment claim against him. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison criticized HP for letting Hurd go, and then hired him to succeed the departing Charles Phillips earlier this week. HP promptly filed a lawsuit against Hurd contending that he violated the conditions of his severance agreement.
Early in the decade, HP had been expected to start offering its own line of data warehouse technologies. But under Hurd, the company shifted its focus to offering hardware that could run the data warehousing offerings of other vendors, including Oracle. The company also significantly expanded its services business with the 2006 purchase of Knightsbridge Solutions, which focused on data warehousing projects, and the acquisition of major services firm EDS in 2008.
HP's core data warehouse technology, the NeoView appliance, largely languished under Hurd and today has very little market share, analysts say.
Forrester estimates that HP has well under than 100 enterprise NeoView installations. In contrast, even relative newcomers such as Netezza have well over 400 installations, Forrester estimates.
Kobielus said that the lack of focus on NeoView under Hurd's watch has resulted in a hopelessly overpriced technology at a time when companies like Oracle have aggressively driven down per-terabyte prices.
"Hurd's experience in data warehousing clearly did less than nothing for HP's efforts there, despite his personal interest," said analyst Merv Andrews of IT Market Strategy. "Today, HP is less of a factor in data warehousing than it was before Mark arrived."
However, the HP experience doesn't mean that Hurd won't make moves to further boost Oracle's data warehousing business. Analysts say Oracle has made no secret about its lofty data warehousing ambitions and Hurd could have an important role in fulfilling them.
Meanwhile Oracle's acquisition of Sun could help it more efficiently deliver integrated hardware and software data warehousing appliances, products that Teradata has been delivering for many years. Analysts say that Oracle's Exadata revenue is already approaching $1 billion, which Oracle has said makes the fastest-growing new product in the company's history.
Meanwhile, Teradata reported revenue of $470 million in its latest quarter ended June 30, up 12% from $421 million in 2009.
The question for Teradata -- and other data warehousing firms -- is whether Hurd will be able to help Oracle further accelerate growth in its data warehousing business.
"Teradata gets its true data warehousing power from being a combination of hardware and software," said Mike Schiff, a principal at MAS Strategies, a consulting firm that specializes in data warehousing. "Now [Oracle has] brought in someone who has managed something similar."
"No doubt [Hurd] willl have an impact," Andrews said. "But he's not fixing an Oracle weakness -- Oracle is already very good in those areas."
Andrews did note that Teradata should be safe in the near term as its Oracle moves to further define its data warehouse appliance business.
Teradata executives did not respond to requests for comment on Hurd's hiring by Oracle.
Jaikumar Vijayan covers data security and privacy issues, financial services security and e-voting for Computerworld. Follow Jaikumar on Twitter at @jaivijayan , or subscribe to Jaikumar's RSS feed . His e-mail address is email@example.com .
Read more about bi and analytics in Computerworld's BI and Analytics Topic Center.


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The Skinny on Added Fiber
Fiber is a hot topic these days. As you have likely heard, few Americans are consuming the 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day that is recommended by the American Dietetic Association. Most of us are falling short, bringing in an average of only 15 grams per day. And like wildfire, food manufacturers are catching on to our shortcomings by adding fiber to a growing number of products. Fiber is popping up in a variety of consumer goods including water, yogurt, snacks, and even artificial sweetener.
The health benefits of true dietary fiber are not just a trend. Populations that consume more dietary fiber have less chronic disease as well as improved digestive and cardiovascular health. Dietary fiber also aids in weight loss by increasing satiety and helps control blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.
Defining Fiber
The Institute of Medicine breaks fiber into 3 categories:
- Dietary fiber: The fiber that occurs naturally in plant foods. This is the fiber that you are likely more familiar with, found in whole grains, beans, nuts, fruits and vegetables.
- Functional fiber, or "added fiber:" A synthetic fiber that may be added to foods or used as a supplement.
- Total fiber: The sum of both dietary and functional fiber.
So what should we eat to achieve our recommended 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day? Can this "added" fiber take the place of whole grains and provide the same health benefits as naturally occurring dietary fiber? The verdict is still out, but new studies are finding that these new "added" fibers perform some of the same functions as dietary fiber such as aiding in digestion and feelings of satiety, which is encouraging. Plus, they are helping busy Americans better achieve their fiber goals.
They are not, however, perfectly equal to the fiber that is found naturally in foods. It's difficult to compare a serving of nutrient-rich beans or fresh vegetables to a packet of artificial sweetener. Remember the old saying: Compare apples to apples. For the most part, foods with "added fiber" (or any other synthetically added nutritional enhancer for that matter) don't provide the vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients associated with naturally high-fiber foods.
Create Your Own "Added" Fiber
Here are some easy (and tasty!) ways to add your own fiber to your diet:
- Spruce up your salad with ½ cup shelled edamame (3 grams fiber), half an avocado (9 grams fiber), one ounce of toasted almonds (4 grams fiber), or ½ cup of garbanzo beans (6 grams fiber)
- Accessorize your morning cereal or yogurt with ½ cup fresh raspberries (4 grams fiber) or 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed (4 grams fiber)
- Snack away on 3 cups air popped popcorn (4 grams fiber), a medium apple (4 grams fiber), or ½ cup of dried figs (8 grams fiber)
The Position of the American Dietetic Association states that "few fiber supplements and additives have been studied for physiological effectiveness, so the best advice is to consume fiber in foods."
Bottom line: Whole foods always have been and always will be your best source of nutrition.
Take our Healthy Habits challenge, Go For Whole Grains, by adding 3 more servings of whole grains per day. Find our Go for More Grains guide for recipes, tips, and more strategies for working more fiber into your diet.

subset: commoncrawl


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A Partnership Built On Success: New Drivers Are Now Eligible For Transition Pay!
TransAm Trucking, a leading refrigerated carrier, has owner operator truck driver opportunities available now for CDL-A drivers! Apply today and enjoy life on the road with competitive pay and plenty of great driver rewards:
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- $1.07/mile loaded & empty
- Increased to $1.12/mile loaded and empty after 6 months of continuous service
- Transition Pay
- Monthly retention bonus after the final month installment of the transition pay
- Fuel surcharge paid (loaded and empty)
- Paid base plates & permits
- Optional discount fuel network
- Bonus program
- 100% lumper reimbursement
- No hazmat
- $40 Stop Pay (after 1st stop)
- Paid reefer fuel & paid tolls
- Free Transflo remote paperwork processing
- Passenger plan
- Late-model leasing opportunities available
Owner Operator CDL-A Truck Driver Job Requirements:
- Valid CDL-A
- Minimum 21-years-old
All amounts stated herein represent gross pay and are subject to change, and may be subject to Federal, state, and local tax and other withholding requirements or driver-authorized deductions. Nothing contained herein is any warranty or guaranty of the amount that an individual will actually earn. There are many factors that can significantly affect the amount an individual will actually earn and the success of an individual. TransAm Trucking is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
LeadFlex Job ID: 12467
Post Date: 03/15/2023


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Charleston, WV- The Senate has adopted Senate Resolution 52, memorializing the life of the Honorable Ursula Jae Spears, former member of the both the West Virginia House of Delegates and the West Virginia State Senate who passed away March 16, 2013.
"Jae Spears was a true public servant through and through and her service to her state needed to be recognized by the Legislature," said Senator Clark Barnes (R-Randolph) who was lead sponsor of the resolution.
Born in Latonia, Kentucky, Ms. Spears began her public service career in 1974 as one of only eight women serving in the 100-member House of Delegates. In 1980, she was elected to the West Virginia State Senate where she was only one of two women serving in that body.
From 1984 to 1986 Senator Spears served as Senate Finance Chair, making her the first and only woman thus far to that committee. She was also appointed as Senate Majority Whip making her the first woman to hold a leadership position in either house of the West Virginia Legislature.
In her years of public service in the Legislature, Senator Spears sponsored legislation to enact home health care, provide help for hemophiliacs and autistic children, and authorize the Rural Health Initiative. She also authored a bill for employing and training veterans which earned her a national award from the United States Department of Labor and Veterans Affairs.
Outside of her time in the West Virginia Legislature, Senator Spears was active in promoting literacy for all West Virginians, advocating for the protection of the family farm, and serving on various boards, commissions and councils in promoting and protecting women and children.
Senator Spears will be greatly missed but her legacy and legislative initiatives she promoted will forever live on due to her due diligence as a member of the West Virginia Legislature.


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Autism program impresses Iowa legislators
Sidney Trees didn't realize he was involved in a multimillion-dollar push to help Iowa children with autism.
All the 8-year-old knew at that moment was that a woman had turned her face away when he started chattering at her about a toy train set.
The woman, Clive therapist Kara Jorgensen, was trying to correct the fidgety boy's habit of spewing out his thoughts without starting a conversation properly. When she turned away, he hesitated, looking perplexed. Then she tapped her own shoulder and made a suggestion.
"Say, 'Hey, Kara,' " she instructed, still looking away. Sidney understood immediately and did just that.
After swinging back to face him and smiling, Jorgensen rewarded Sidney by listening enthusiastically and playing trains with him.
The simple interaction — cheerful reinforcement of a seemingly normal behavior — is significant for families of autistic children like Sidney. The method, known as Applied Behavior Analysis, has shown such promise that Iowa legislators are pouring nearly $5 million into it.
The money, approved in 2013, started becoming available this past April. Five families are enrolled so far, but that number is expected to jump.
Autism is believed to affect more than 1 percent of American children. In severe cases, children lack any speech ability and have frequent, physical outbursts. In less severe cases, children may speak well but have difficulty interacting with other people. Most experts believe the main causes for the developmental disability are genetic, although environmental factors could play a role.
Applied Behavior Analysis participants spend hours with therapists, who encourage any progress in speech and social skills and ignore disruptive behaviors unless they become dangerous. Over months or years, proponents say, most students increase their ability to function well in school, make friends and eventually work at regular jobs.
Therapy expensive
Most private insurance plans are reluctant to cover the therapy, which can cost more then $30,000 per year. Iowa's Medicaid program has long covered it for disadvantaged children or those with severe intellectual disabilities. But until recently, the state offered no help for middle-class autistic children with average intelligence.
Legislators almost never earmark millions of dollars for a specific treatment for any illness or disorder. Rep. Dave Heaton, who spearheaded the proposal to make an exception, said the selling point was the prospect of helping autistic children get on track.
"If these kids don't move toward living somewhat normal lives, when they become adults, they'll be under state care for the rest of their lives, and that's very, very expensive," he said.
Heaton, a Mount Pleasant Republican who oversees spending on human-service programs, said legislators considered requiring private health-insurers to pay for the therapy, but determined it would be a tough sell. The prospect of adding a special Medicaid program to pay for a range of autism therapies seemed too expensive, Heaton said.
Legislators instead decided to pay directly for Applied Behavior Analysis. "Of all the things that are out there, this has been the most successful approach," he said.
Many endorsements
Steve Muller, chief executive officer of the Altoona-based Homestead autism-treatment agency, said families of autistic children are deluged with theories on what causes the condition and what can cure it.
"In autism, there are any number of snake-oil salesmen who are only too happy to part families with their money," he said.
Unlike many other treatments, Applied Behavior Analysis has been exhaustively studied and accepted by mainstream experts, Muller said. Its endorsers include the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. surgeon general. Its success is partly due to how sustained and meticulous it is, Muller said.
Muller's agency provides the therapy that Sidney Trees has been receiving for the past three months, paid for by the state. His mother, Stacy Trees of Granger, said the family could never have afforded the $36,000 annual bill.
"It was like the heavens opened up, and God smiled down and said, 'You've been waiting long enough,' " she said of the state program.
Sidney goes to therapy five days a week, for 2½ hour sessions. The therapy is expected to continue for up to two years.
Stacy Trees has scaled back to part-time in her job as a school aide so she can take her son to Clive every weekday. She said she could tell when Sidney was a baby that something was wrong.
"We called him Solemn Sid, because he never smiled. He always looked worried," she said.
He avoided eye contact with others. As soon as he could walk, he'd zip away from her and into the street if she wasn't right with him. Even at 4, his speech was barely understandable, and he'd pitch fits that lasted an hour or more. "He would push and hit and scream," Trees said. "He was a great screamer."
Many people mistakenly believe autistic children lack interest in other people, Trees said. Her son wants to interact but doesn't understand how, she said. That frustrates him, which leads to tantrums. Underneath, she said, is a smart, sweet boy.
"You see that little light, and you know it's in there," she said, choking up. "But unless somebody feeds it oxygen, that little flame will go out."
Her goals include seeing her son receive invitations to other kids' birthday parties, which rarely happens now. She hopes he'll eventually become an independent, productive adult. Maybe, he'll use his intense interest in building things to become an engineer or an architect, she said.
Setbacks still occur
Applied Behavior Analysis is expensive because it is so intense. Each child has a specially trained therapist focusing on him or her throughout every session. The therapist carefully tracks every activity and interaction and praises any positive action.
On a recent afternoon, Sidney asked another boy if he wanted a turn during a board game. The therapist said, "Good asking, Sidney!"
As a staffer prepared to take her turn, she said, "Sidney, wish me luck." He replied, "OK," then looked away. His therapist touched his arm, pointed at the staffer and gently reminded him, "Say good …"
Sidney immediately remembered: "Good luck!" he said.
"Thanks, Sidney!" the staffer replied.
Such interactions are constant during every activity.
Successes are measured in tiny increments, and they're often balanced by setbacks — like a recent one when Sidney acted out his frustration. He'd asked another boy to work on a painting project, but the other boy didn't want to paint right then. Sidney crawled under a table before bolting into a hallway, kicking and slapping a door and yelling at the people in the next room.
Staff members tried to usher him into an empty room to calm down, but he was having none of it. At one point, five staff members spent about 15 minutes blocking his way with their bodies and a large, fabric-covered panel. They ignored his disruptive behavior, and when he quieted for a few seconds, clinic supervisor Leah Miljkovic told him, "I like the way you're keeping a calm body."
When he started kicking the door again, the staff stood silently.
Sidney eventually settled down, went into a room and started a new activity with his therapist. The praise and persistent guidance resumed. At home and at school, his parents and teachers will reinforce the lessons. And over months and years, his therapists say, he should be much better.
"It's not an overnight cure, as much as we'd love it to be one," Miljkovic said.


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"Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" Psalms 30: 4-5
Play: Oh What A Beautiful Mornin'
"Wherever you live on this earth and whatever your life's situation may be, I testify to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the divine power to lift you to great heights from what appears at times to be an unbearable burden or weakness. The Lord knows your circumstances and your challenges. He said to Paul and to all of us, "My grace is sufficient for thee." And like Paul we can answer: "My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9)." – Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Have We Not Reason to Rejoice?," Ensign, Nov 2007, 18–21
"Our journey into the future will not be a smooth highway stretching from here to eternity. Rather, there will be forks and turnings in the road, to say nothing of the unanticipated bumps. We must pray daily to a loving Heavenly Father, who wants each of us to succeed in life…I remember reading the account of a man who, just after the passing of his wife, opened her dresser drawer and found there an item of clothing she had purchased when they visited the eastern part of the United States nine years earlier. She had not worn it but was saving it for a special occasion. Now, of course, that occasion would never come.In relating the experience to a friend, the husband of the deceased wife said, "Don't save something only for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion…The words 'someday' and 'one day' are fading from my vocabulary. Now I take the time to call my relatives and closest friends. I've called old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I tell my family members how much I love them. I try not to delay or postpone anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives. And each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day. Each day, each hour, each minute is special." – Thomas S. Monson, "Treasure of Eternal Value," Liahona, Apr 2008, 2–7
"Part of our precious legacy—to be remembered and renewed—is that though deepening trials throng our way, we know that our afflictions can be consecrated to our good. Good can come from trouble. Trauma can enliven the heart and enrich the soul. Clouds do have silver linings, and the leaf will burst again on the dry branch. "Weeping may endure for [the] night," sang the psalmist, "but joy cometh in the morning." (Ps. 30:5.) …To all of you, I express my love and my compassion, and I give you my blessed witness that our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ live and sustain us and that the Comforter witnesses within us—even now—that our personal joy can be full." – Elaine Cannon, "Reach for Joy," Ensign, May 1982, 95


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In my last post I mentioned a September wedding I was attending and wanting to make this little peplum number to wear.
The wedding is for my former intern and now good friend who is an uber fabulous, super successful publicist in New York. I planned to attend as a guest. Well, Tuesday night she called and asked if I would consider officiating her wedding. Did you hear that?
Officiate. The Wedding.
I am so thrilled to be asked and could not be happier to be such a special part of their day. I'm glad I have a few months to get used to the idea so I won't cry at the podium! After accepting and making sure she wanted me to do it, my second question was 'What should I wear'?
Consultation with Trena says I should go simple and dark for the ceremony and fun and free for the reception. My mom reminded me that black isn't my best color… this is quite true. The mothers of the bride and groom are wearing navy and the bridesmaids are in gray. I was thinking gray… but I don't want to look like I am a failed / wanna be member of the wedding party. I'm thinking blue grey / pastel blue?
I've never been to a wedding where the officiant wasn't 1. male 2. a minister (I could have just written 'man-of-the-cloth', no?).
I could still go with the dress above, but use a deeper color:
Source: redcarpet-fashionawards.com via Renee Cidell on Pinterest
I also can't get lacy Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge ideas out of my head:
Source: nymag.com via Renee Cidell on Pinterest
Source: whatkatewore.com via Renee Cidell on Pinterest
Source: whatkatewore.com via Renee Cidell on Pinterest
Source: Uploaded by user via Renee Cidell on Pinterest
So, what would you wear if you were officiating a wedding? Not in a church. Multi-denominational. Don't want all the photos of the vows to have me 'pop' either. Long? Short? Sleeveless ok? More formal? Super super simple? Decisions, decisions…


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Tour The 'Game Of Thrones' Exhibit That's Traveling The World
HBO worked with various partners to offer a free exhibit to the public that's touring the world.
Tour the "Game of Thrones" exhibit >
The event expands upon last year's which travelled to five cities.
This year, the "Game of Thrones" exhibit will make its way to seven cities: Mexico City; Austin, Texas at SXSW; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Oslo, Norway; Toronto, Canada; Belfast, Northern Ireland and Vancouver, Canada.
From costumes, to set pieces, and the Iron Throne itself, the exhibit features nearly 100 original items from seasons 1-3, and a few from the upcoming season as well.
An abbreviated preview of the full exhibit is in New York City until 2/1 as part of a 90-minute Time Warner Cable Studio tour.
If you're in the area, and are a Time Warner Cable customer, the event is taking place in the Meatpacking District at 440 W. 14th Street. You can head here for free tickets.
Otherwise, you can view details on the other locations HERE.
If you can't make it, we headed over to the exhibit to see what's inside. Here's a compilation of what to expect based on both years of visiting.
You'll get an up close look at armor and weapons used in the series.
And see two of Daenerys' dragon eggs. (The third was given to creator George R.R. Martin as a wedding gift.)
There's one of Daenary's dragon when it was tiny in season 2.
A full scale model of Daenerys' dragon, Drogon, from season 2 also made an appearance.
Hanging high is a larger version of Drogon used on set in season 3.
There are plenty of costumes. Here are those worn by the Stark family ...
... Daenerys ...
… Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth in season 3 …
... and the Lannisters.
Here's another look at the wardrobe worn by Joffrey, Cersei, and Jaime Lannister.
You'll also see outfits from Ygritte and Jon Snow ...
... along with some of the Wildlings' get up and gear.
Last year, you could spot a familiar face high in the sky ...
Long live Ned Stark.
The exhibit includes concept art from the show.
Here's Tyrion Lannister's sketch of a saddle for Bran Stark.
Storyboards show what writers envisioned on screen. This one's from Season 2, episode 6.
Some of the best items at the exhibit are props from the show. Recognize that hand? It's Jaime's!
And there's Joffrey's crown.
Here are Cersei's cloak and Lady Olenna's headdress.
This year's exhibit will feature a virtual reality experience that puts you right inside the land of Westeros.
Fans will get strapped into the Oculus Rift where they'll ride a virtual lift to the top of the large mountain — the Wall.
However, the main attraction is the chance to sit on the Iron Throne ...
... and get a printed photo of yourself overseeing the Seven Kingdoms.
"Game of Thrones" returns in April. Check out another show on right now ...
Meet the "#RichKids Of Beverly Hills" from E!'s new show >
See Also:
- Fans Can Try Out The Oculus Rift At A 'Game Of Thrones' Exhibit In NYC
- No One's Looking Back In New 'Walking Dead' Midseason Trailer
- Disney Channel Introduces First Lesbian Couple On Popular Kids' Show
- The 7 Best Moments From Sunday's Episode Of 'Sherlock'
- Leonardo DiCaprio Crashes Jonah Hill 'SNL' Monologue


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Today's the big day. You're just bought a Tesla Model S. You've waited so long. Saved up all that money. You're going to be the hit of the board room. "So forward thinking, so progressive," they'll say about you. No one will notice your gray hairs now. Just ease it out of the lot. There we go.
Reddit user s1lentway, who posted this most unfortunate(ly hilarious) shot to r/pics, gave a little context:
We believe this is someone who just got their car. They must have been driving it for less than a minute and lost control, crashing right into the sign missing the show room glass windows only by a few inches. Not the way you want to start out driving a brand new $70K + car that took a few months to make for you.
Now, I must admit I have never personally driven a Tesla Model S, so I can't be 100% sure of what I am about to say. I have, however, driven an automobile before. I have also been assured by someone who has driven a Tesla Model S that the controls are broadly similar, so I am 99.99999999999% certain of the following fact:
The accelerator pedal is on the right, and the brake pedal is on the left.
You know what? No. I'm going to go ahead and say I am 100% certain. Electric cars, while they may seem like spaceships, are cars. Driving them is the same. It's not hard.
Dewalt 20V Max Cordless Drill & Driver Kit
#1 Best-seller
Comes equipped with an LED which goes on when the trigger is pulled. You'll a clear view of whatever you are drilling or screwing with minimal shadows.
I'm going to go ahead and guess that this person simply celebrated their new Tesla purchase a little bit too much before heading out to pick it up.
We've reached out to Tesla for more information on what happened here, and will update the post if we hear back.
UPDATE: We have yet to hear back from Tesla themselves, but another witness at the crash says it was not a result of too much celebratory champagne, but the result of the driver stepping on the wrong pedal. Read more here.


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Nationals rally past Cardinals
WASHINGTON - Denard Span's approach with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning proves math pays off.
Facing a five-man infield, Span hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth and the Washington Nationals, with Bryce Harper back in the lineup and stealing his first base of the season, rallied past the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 on Sunday.
The Nationals loaded the bases against Seth Maness (0-1) when Danny Espinosa singled through third baseman Matt Carpenter's legs with one out for his third hit, Jose Lobaton singled through the right side of the infield and pinch hitter Nate McLouth walked.
In his second game since being activated from the seven-day disabled list following a concussion, Span lofted a fly to left field. Espinosa easily beat the throw from Jon Jay, who shifted over from right field as St. Louis brought in an extra infielder.
"I counted: one, two, three, four, five," Span said. "Right there I told myself a groundball probably not going to do it. Try to get the ball in the air somehow."
After Espinosa crossed home, the Nationals mobbed Span, who suddenly had something else on his mind.
"I was screaming so loud, so into the moment, but at the same time I'm thinking don't hit me upside the head too hard because I just came off the DL," said the smiling center fielder, who grounded out with the bases full in the sixth before delivering the game-winner.
The Nationals split the four-game series. They had lost eight of the previous nine meetings with the Cardinals going into the series wrap-up.
"That's a play I'm expecting to make and a play that I expect myself to make and I didn't make it," Carpenter said of his ninth-inning whiff. "It ended up costing us."
Harper started in left field and went 1 for 4. The two-time All-Star was pulled from the game a day earlier for what manager Matt Williams called a "lack of hustle" after he failed to run out a comebacker to the mound.
The two spoke before Sunday's game.
"I sat with him for a couple of minutes in his locker and told him I'm confident in him and I'm proud of him and he was going to have impact today, which he did," Williams said.
Harper had a somewhat different take on the conversation with Williams, as far as length goes.
"He just said, 'Go get 'em.' That's the three words he said," Harper said. "It's good to get back out there and play and be part of a win."
Harper was left stranded at second base as the possible go-ahead run as Anthony Rendon struck out against Pat Neshek in the eighth.
Rafael Soriano (1-0) pitched one inning for the win.
The Cardinals took an early edge against Stephen Strasburg and led 2-0 going into the seventh.
Washington tied the game with four straight singles off reliever Carlos Martinez, including RBI hits from Ian Desmond and Espinosa.
Strasburg struck out nine in six innings.
Shelby Miller left with the lead after pitching 5 1-3 innings for the Cardinals. He also hit a two-out, RBI double off Strasburg in the fourth.
St. Louis starting pitchers recorded an RBI in three of the four games versus Washington. Miller allowed four hits, striking out seven and walking five.
Matt Adams doubled twice and scored for the Cardinals.
"I was pretty happy we were able to put a couple together and obviously a big hit by Shelby," manager Mike Matheny said. "That gives you a little bit of room and then we get the ball into the hands of guys we like to give the ball to. Good offenses are going to put together tough at-bats on tough pitching, and today they got us."
True, though it took some doing. Washington left 17 runners on base and went 2 of 12 with runners in scoring position.
"Talk about those opportunities and giving ourselves that multiple times in the game, you like your chances, certainly," Williams said. "Especially against a good team like that we want to create those. I don't know how many guys we had on base today but it felt like a lot."
NOTES: Cardinals OF Matt Holiday didn't play. It was a day of rest, Matheny said. ...St. Louis will recall LHP Tyler Lyons from Triple-A Memphis to start at the New York Mets and send RHP Jorge Rondon to Memphis before Monday night's series opener. Last season Lyons finished 2-4 with a 4.75 ERA in 12 appearances, including eight starts for the Cardinals. He replaces RHP Joe Kelly (strained left hamstring), who was put on the disabled list Thursday. ... The Nationals open a three-game home series with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night with Washington RHP Tanner Roark (1-1, 5.29) facing RHP Garrett Richards (2-0, 2.84).


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Shabby Room's sweet, vintage-inspired accessories
Note To Shabby
How awesome were the Oscars last night?
We knew it was going to be good when the sock puppets started drinking. Then Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt glided onstage. And when Jennifer Lawrence stumbled up the stairs, we thought…
Well, that's something we totally would have done.
So now that we've got our fill of glitz and glamour, let's turn our attention to something shabby – like Shabby Room, a new vintage-inspired accessories boutique now open in Waikiki.
The biggest challenge to this place is finding it. Instead of street signage, look for the Watumull sign above the building entrance, then take the elevator to the second floor. It's the first door on the left.
Inside, you'll be hit with… a lot of pink. Embrace it. Once you start digging, you'll notice amazing finds that would add some serious style to your home. Think bulletin boards with vintage-inspired frames. Mugs swathed in knitted cozies. Wine bottle slate tags and a mini chalk pencil. An adorable lamp with an antique teapot base.
Owner Miiko Suzuki is responsible for the romantic, shabby chic feel. After 10 years in the Waikiki wedding planning business, she tailored her shop to what former clients wished they could find: unique, American-made or designed products that are more country cottage than beachy.
Case in point: Whoopie Cream soothing bath soaks and shea butter lotions by Farmhouse Fresh (which actually smell like whipped frosting), adorable Natural Life hedgehog coinpurses and Vance Kitira patchwork bags.
Right now, the shop carries only one local line – Simply Sparkle Designs' delicate jewelry – but Suzuki will be adding more to enhance her all-American offerings.
We appreciate a good Room with a view.
Shabby Room is open Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. at 307 Lewers St., Suite 201 in the Watumull Building. For more information, call (808) 922-3541 or visit ShabbyRoomHawaii.com.


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Apple is discontinuing their Xserve line of server computers—they'll stop selling them on Jan. 31. Folks looking for an Apple server have two options: a Mac Pro or Mac mini configured as servers with OS X Snow Leopard Server.
Given that the mini is their "most popular server platform by far," it's not too surprising. [Apple]


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In the two years between their previous release and new EP Insanity Relapse, Polish metallers Neuronia have grown or rather matured into a really striking band. Their two albums before the new EP, The Winter Of My Heart (2008) and Follow The White Mouse (2010) were both strong formidable releases unleashing a thrash/melodic metal brew which grabbed the attention easily and persistently even if not offering the greatest of surprises along the way. Insanity Relapse sees the band take strides forward with a new air of unpredictability and definition to their sound. Arguably there is less emphasis on thrash to fuel their music but it is more they have developed it into a fuller compact and melodic creature with certainly no less aggression than before.
With the new EP being available as a free download on their bandcamp site it is a new marker being laid by the band, something founding member of the band and rhythm guitarist Michal 'Misiek' Rogala stated when he commented "'We want to open a brand new chapter in the history of our band with this material. For the first time in our band's existence, our whole line-up was engaged not only in arranging the tracks, but also in writing." There is definitely a fuller unity and texture to the music which maybe was lacking before and certainly a new breath to the band which takes them to a new level.
The EP hits the ground running with opener Alone In The Dark. From the off powerful riffs rush through the ear with an acute eagerness whilst the drums of Lukasz Sobczyk build a mighty and impressive rhythmic assault. The song settles slightly as the vocals of new frontman Maciej 'Tektur' Nawrot solidly thrusts forward gruffly delivered incisive words within the great metallic wall of energy. The track immediately ignites an enthused appetite for the continuing assault and has one fully intrigued when the song takes a detour into a fine melodic aside with the solo play of lead guitarist Rafal 'Lewy' Lewandowski engaging with every note, before rampaging once again to its climax.
Best track on the release comes next in the shape of 3:33. From its first notes to the last the song is an enthralling storm of punishing rhythms and challenging riffs which leaves one on the edge of their seat. With guitar play as scorched as the rim of the sun and the vocals of Nawrot at their very varied best on the release the track is immense and destined to be a favourite of a great many. The best thing about the song is you can never predict what is coming next but it does not just throw discriminate diversity at the ear, everything flows within a seamless ride of thrash/melodic rock for the greatest pleasure.
Kick The Fuckers Out and Moon Over Providence complete the quartet of songs from the Warsaw band. The first is an adrenaline powered crush of rampant riffs and combative beats matched by aggressive vocals. Again with strong variation the track enters a smoother passage of almost grunge like respite before blasting and teasing the ear with some fine classic metal invention. To its end the song swaggers through diverse stages whilst ensuring the focus and satisfaction is kept at a high with great musical skill. The second of the two tracks is a straighter thrash metal piece with a definite Metallica lilt to its platform. Not the most inventive of the four songs it still offers a full and equal well of pleasure to dive right into without hesitation. It is just rock n roll to ignite the passions, nothing more and certainly nothing less.
Lyrically the tracks are as strong as the sounds around them and well presented by the fine vocals of Nawrot, a definite plus to the new craft the band has found. Produced by Pawel 'Janos' Grabowski (Antigama, Centurion, Disperse, Dianoya or Lostbone), Insanity Relapse is n excellent return for the band. The only moan that can be placed upon it is the release lacks clarity around bassist Daniel 'Beton' Grotkiewicz. You consistently feel his presence and get breezes of his fine ability but he is lost in the storm of noise created at times though he is a major creator of its dark intensity, to hear his lines clearly.
As mentioned the EP is a free download from the link below and there really is no excuse for not finding out for yourselves what a great and destined to be even greater band Neuronia is. What…still here?
RingMaster 13/06/2012
The best and easiest way to get your music on iTunes, Amazon and lots more. Click below for details.


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The nine-bout lineup for Saturday's Bellator 59 event is complete with the addition of four preliminary-card contests.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the new contests with Bellator Fighting Championships officials.
The new additions to the card include LeVon Maynard (11-8 MMA, 0-2 BFC) vs. Chris Wing (3-1 MMA, 0-0 BFC), Karl Amoussou (12-4-2 MMA, 0-1 BFC) vs. Jesus Martinez (6-1 MMA, 0-0 BFC), Scott Heckman (8-3 MMA, 0-2 BFC) vs. Brylan Van Artsdalen (5-2 MMA, 0-2 BFC) and Gregory Milliard (1-2 MMA, 0-0 BFC) vs. Brandon Saling (6-4 MMA, 0-0 BFC).
Featuring tournament-finale contests in both the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions, Bellator 59 takes place Saturday at New Jersey's Ceasars Atlantic City. The evening's main card airs on MTV2, and the prelims stream live on Spike.com.
In welterweight action, Maynard tries for the third time to earn a win under the Bellator banner. He faces Wing, who has notched two knockout victories in his first three professional wins.
Frenchman Amoussou seeks his first win for the promotion after dropping a split decision to Sam Alvey at May's Bellator 45 event. He meets Martinez, who has won six of his first seven professional fights and now makes his Bellator debut.
Heckman makes his second Bellator appearance after falling short against Alexandre Bezerra at September's Bellator 49 event. He faces Daddis Fight Camps product Van Artsdalen, who has scored all five of his professional wins via submission.
Milliard, considered the best MMA prospect ever produced in Aruba, makes his Bellator debut against Ohio's Saling, who boasts three-straight first-round stoppage wins.
With the additions to the card, the Bellator 59 lineup now includes:
- Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos (heavyweight-tourney finale)
- Eduardo Dantas vs. Alexis Vila (bantamweight-tourney finale)
- Patricky "Pitbull" Freire vs. Kurt Pellegrino
- Michael Costa vs. Lyman Good
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike.com)
- Marcin Held vs. Phillipe Nover
- LeVon Maynard vs. Chris Wing
- Karl Amoussou vs. Jesus Martinez
- Scott Heckman vs. Brylan Van Artsdalen
- Gregory Milliard vs. Brandon Saling
For more on Bellator 59, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: Karl Amoussou)


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Who or what is the book of Job about? Many of us would say the book is the story of Job and about the problem of suffering. When in the past I read Job as the Bible's discussion of why bad things happen to good people, I found it a frustrating book. While the question of suffering is discussed for chapter after chapter, the question of why people suffer isn't ever answered- even when God shows up and speaks to Job. God doesn't answer Job's and my question. This makes the book a frustrating read.
But what if we ask a different question? What if we, assuming God is the main character in this story, ask what does this story tell us about God? What do you think?
Careful. I didn't ask what does this story tell us about God's relationship to and involvement with suffering. I asked what does this story tell us about God? What does this story tell us about God's relationship with us?
Here are some initial thoughts;
- God isn't reducible to doctrines and explanations.
- God is intimately involved in the complexities of the world.
- Somehow, God is involved in the world's suffering.
- God doesn't mind if we challenge God and ask tough questions, even demanding a hearing.
- God is present with us and listens and responds to us, but doesn't necessarily give us answers.
What would you add to this list?
As I re read Job this week, I was struck by how theologically at home Job's friends would be in 2012.
Then Eliphaz from Teman spoke up: Would you mind if I said something to you? Under the circumstances it's hard to keep quiet… Think! Has a truly innocent person ever ended up on the scrap heap? Do genuinely upright people ever lose out in the end? It's my observation that those who plow evil and sow trouble reap evil and trouble. One breath from God and they fall apart, one blast of his anger and there's nothing left of them." Job 4:1,7-9, The Message
Bildad from Shuhah was next to speak: How can you keep on talking like this? You're talking nonsense, and noisy nonsense at that. Does God mess up? Does God Almighty ever get things backwards? It's plain that your children sinned against him- otherwise, why would God have punished them? Here's what you must do- and don't put it off any longer: Get down on your knees before God Almighty. If you're as innocent and upright as you say, it's not too late- he"ll come running; he'll set everything right again, reestablish your fortunes. Job 8:1-7 The Message
Give in to God, come to terms with him and everything will turn out just fine. Let him tell you what to do; take his words to heart. Come back to God Almighty and he'll rebuild your life. Clean house of everything evil. Relax your grip on your money and abandon your gold-plated luxury.God Almighty will be your treasure, more wealth than you can imagine. You'll take delight in God, the Mighty One, and look to him joyfully, boldly. You'll pray to him and he'll listen; he'll help your do what you've promised. You'll decide what you want and it will happen; you life will be bathed in light. Yo those who feel low you'll say,'Chin up! Be brave!' and God will save them. Yes, even the guilty will escape, escape through God's grace in your life. Job 22: 21-30 The Message
That God punishes bad people and reward good people is an ancient and powerful concept. It is one we hold onto in spite of evidence to the contrary. It's an understandable idea. Cause and effect. It appeals to our sense of order and justice. It is how we would do things if we were in charge.
Part of the message of Job is that this is not how God does things. Frustratingly, Job doesn't tell us how God does things, it doesn't tell us exactly how God is involved in suffering. However, what ever that involvement is, it isn't simple cause and effect.
What we do know is that God present and involved- even if we don't know how or why.
I'd like to know, what do you think?


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Today, Sony announced its recent financials, and the Tokyo-based electronics giant is hemorrhaging money.
For the fourth year in a row, Sony is in the red. This March, the company should post an annual loss of US$2.9 billion, Reuters reported. The loss is worse than expected.
The company is battling slow sales and a strong yen, which is pounding the company hard. Last year's earthquake in Japan as well as the flooding in Thailand disrupted production, eating into sales.
This comes as former PlayStation boss Kaz Hirai takes the reins as the company's CEO.
"It won't be easy for Sony to regain its lost ground under new leadership, as its overall competitiveness has sharply weakened," Kim Young-Chan, analyst at Shinhan Investment Corp in Seoul, told Reuters.
"It's got structural problems that will take years to fix. "It's not just Sony but Japanese IT firms have similar problems. They are failing to innovate and produce industry-leading products in almost every major area from TVs to displays, tablets and smartphones."
Sony is keeping its forecasts for LCD televisions, but cut its PS3 sales forecast.
According to analysts, in the past few years, Sony has failed to lead the way with innovation. Hirai will need to establish a strong vision for the company if it is going to become profitable.
Sony sees $2.9 billion loss, reveals daunting task for new CEO [Reuters]
(Top photo by David McNew | Getty)


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Worry the emotion of the day in Hot Springs
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Stephanie Anise was 57 and on vacation when she first came to Hot Springs. The hazel-eyed Californian fell in love with the town: the sandstone buildings, the towering cliffs, the clear waters that flowed between them.
"The river spoke to me," she said. "There was kind of an inner voice that said, 'You need to be here.'"
On a whim, Anise closed her pet care business and moved 1,300 miles to southwestern South Dakota. She purchased 15 acres in Hot Springs and opened a bed and breakfast.
But in December, after 10 profitless years, Anise shut her doors.
"I have been wounded, I have," she told the Rapid City Journal (http://bit.ly/157ooRM ). "As a business owner, I can tell you it's not just a financial wound — your dreams went down the drain."
Anise isn't the first business owner to see a dream die in this town of 3,700 people. Along the town's main street, "for sale" signs pepper store fronts. Around dining tables and council benches, worry is a common theme, and debate rages over how to revamp the town's struggling economy.
That conversation has reached a new urgency in the past two years. The federal Department of Veterans Affairs has proposed closing the Hot Springs veterans hospital that employs 300 people and serves hundreds of patients a year. A new hospital would be built in Rapid City, though locals and the state's congressional delegation are fighting the closure and have offered a different plan to keep the facility open in Hot Springs.
Meanwhile, Evans Plunge, a 113-year-old swimming pool complex fueled by a natural hot spring, is up for sale and could be purchased and closed as a tourist attraction.
For the locals that have staked their lives here, the loss of both operations that interconnect with nearly every facet of the city and its history would have dire implications.
"I think it would just kill the town," said resident Bob Varick, 65. "I think it would just cut in half immediately — the businesses, everything. They just wouldn't survive; there just wouldn't be anyone here."
Fall River Bakery and Cafe is one of the few diners left in Hot Springs. Elderly veterans linger here for hours on weekday mornings, hopping between tables, chatting, drinking bottomless cups of coffee.
Varick, a barrel-chested man with white hair, is a regular. He sits at a table near the door, his fork dangling over a pair of gravy-soaked biscuits.
Varick left Hot Springs in 1966 to mine gold in Lead. Ten years ago, he returned with his wife to retire.
But he says it wasn't the same place he remembered. Clothing stores, gas stations and bars had closed.
Changing health-care delivery has reduced the number of patients staying at the Veterans Affairs facility. The cigar-chewing former soldiers that once crowded street corners and restaurant patios were fewer in number.
"I still drive around old areas where I used to be, just to see what's changed," he said.
Evans Plunge, Varick's childhood haunt, is one of those changed places. Its age is showing, the slide is smaller, and its owners now close it in the winter to save money. "If I had the money, I would buy the Evans Plunge," he said. "I about grew up in the Evans Plunge."
As a veteran of the Vietnam War, Varick moved to Hot Springs partly to be closer to the VA. He visits a dozen times a year for check-ups and to treat his joints.
If the clinic moves, he says he'll stay in Hot Springs, even if it means he has to drive to Rapid City for medical treatment.
It's inconvenient, he says, but he's more worried about the economic impact on the town's remaining restaurants, hotels and stores. "I'm a fixed-income person. I know that's not going to change what happens here," he said. "The young people that have to make a living are the ones that will have to pay the price."
Amber Freshour, 31, a single mother and cook at Fall River Bakery and Cafe, hopes she won't have to decide whether she can afford to stay in Hot Springs.
Freshour leans next to the swinging kitchen doors in a black shirt. Above her, in block letters, a banner reads: "We believe in Santa Claus."
Freshour never expected to work in a South Dakota diner. Until two years ago, she lived in Orlando, Fla., where she graduated from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts.
She moved to Hot Springs to be closer to family. She became enamored with the rural lifestyle in Hot Springs. After living in a city of 240,000, it was a relief to live in a place where almost everyone knows everyone, she said.
"The community is so close-knit," she said. "I know there's crazy people here, but you don't see kids abducted and people breaking into other people's houses."
But like most of the town's service employees, Freshour worries what will happen if the VA closes.
While hungry tourists are a boon for the diner during the summer, the veterans sustain the business year-round. "In the winter time that's what we thrive on, the locals," she said.
If her diner folds, Freshour says she couldn't leave the town. She loves the town and her family too much. She would find work in a different city and commute.
Still, she doesn't like to think of what the town would become without the clinic. "If the VA closes it's going to be like a ghost town," she said.
Even if Julie Miller wanted to, she couldn't leave Hot Springs.
Miller, a cook at the VA, has five kids to support and a mortgage to pay. She mows lawns for extra income.
She stands beside her white picket fence and points to her home, a squat, century-old building that once served as the town's stagecoach station.
"I don't see anyone who's going to buy my house," she said.
Twenty years ago, Miller moved here from Alliance, Neb., to be near her father, a veteran.
Miller has watched the clinic gradually downsize since then. When she moved here, 250 veterans would stay at the domiciliary. Now, she says, there are about 85.
"It's not that there aren't veterans that need to be here, it's just how the care has changed so much," she said.
Should the clinic close, Miller says she would be forced to mow lawns full-time. However, to make ends meet, she would have to drive an hour north to Rapid City to generate enough income.
She also worries how an exodus of families would affect the quality of her children's education. With each child that leaves, so does state funding to the school district.
Currently, 109 of the district's 805 students have parents who work at the VA; if they left in great numbers, it could devastate the district's $5.3 million annual budget. The district also could lose some federal impact aid that is paid to school systems that are home to sizable federal lands.
Lori Libra, the district's business manager, says she doesn't want to speculate on how many students could leave. The prospect of losing any is grim.
"We lose children first of all, as enrollments, and second of all we lose the 'impact aid' money too," she said. "So it's kind of a double whammy."
Although an ominous cloud hangs over the city, so does an air of hope.
Mayor Don De Vries says the town's fate lies with the VA. But if the facility closes, he says, he is confident in the resolve of the city's residents.
"It's going to be disastrous but we are going to have to figure a way out of it," he said. "Because if we don't work to survive ourselves, we are not going to survive."
Locals are taking action, and this legislative session gave the city a boost. Petitions are circulating asking the city to buy Evans Plunge and keep it open as a public tourist attraction. The state is also building a new $7 million home for veterans.
DeVries recently pushed for a grant to build a stem-cell research facility in town that would create 100 jobs. While the effort failed, he says local committees are working on other ideas. He's talked with an entrepreneur who wants to start a sustainable fish farm that could employ 20 to 30 people.
But some locals say those ventures alone won't fill the economic gap left by the closure of the clinic.
"For companies to move in and employ 300 people, there's a lot of competition around the United States," said resident Rick Kaan, 63. "There's cities around the Midwest entirely empty, looking for something to move in."
Stephanie Anise, the former bed and breakfast owner, says the town needs to look at the big picture. Even if the VA remains open, she says, the town still appears to be in a downward spiral.
"It being here has not prevented the decline of Hot Springs if you look around," she said. "That's why it's not the vision, it's not the savior. It's a piece."


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Cute fishy bunting, just the type of bunting a little boy who loves fishing would like… and the best part is its super easy to make!
Select your yarn and a corresponding hook, (I used a mix of yarn scraps which were all about 8ply and a 3.5mm hook). Lets begin…
1. Make a magic circle, chain 2 and Double Crochet (DC) 9 times into the circle. Pull tight and secure with a slip stitch (10DC)
2. Slip stitch into the next stitch (I do this because its more secure to start there), Chain 2 and 4DC into the same stitch, 1DC into each of the next 4 stitches. 5DC into the next stitch, 1DC into each of the next 4 stitches, join round with a slip stitch (body made).
3. Make the tail; SS into the next stitch and chain 5. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and 1 DC into each of the next 3 stitches. Join with a slip stitch into the same stitch. SS into the next stitch and chain 5. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and 1 DC into each of the next 3 stitches. Join with a slip stitch into the same stitch (tail made), SS into the next stitch, fasten off first colour and join new colour.
4. Chain 1 and single crochet into the back loop only of each stitch around the outside of the fish. Fasten off and weave in all ends. Leave it as is or add an eye if you like! If your fishys don't sit as flat as you would like give them a gentle iron on the reverse side (use a hanky or tea towel between your fish and the iron)- a little spray starch also helps.
Repeat as many times as desired.
You might have noticed the pink and blue fishy above doesn't have a tail that matches his body, he was the first one I made – I just did the tail when crocheting around with the second colour… I liked the other way better but the kids wouldn't let me leave him out of the fun with the others!
Have fun playing with your fishys as they are or make a bunting – simply chain crochet, I spaced these randomly with between 10 and 20 chains between each one… hanging them longways so it was like a fishing line.
Ive got a couple of other ideas for these fishys – more on that soon!! Jxx


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This podcast references episode 9.13 where we introduce a three-slider model for characters. In this episode we're talking about how we adjust the reader's perception of character competence, and why we might want to make the character more or less competent (or seem more or less competent.) We also talk about how competencies vary between domains, and how important it is for our characters to move between those domains.
Techniques discussed include showing failure, giving context, raising the stakes, and having competent antagonists.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:54 — 13.0MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Take a very minor side character and make them hyper-competent at something.
The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch, narrated by Michael Page


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I am not calling it a mac and cheese because really it doesn't have much cheese flavor. That is because we replaced the Velveeta in the recipe with cream cheese. Why did we make the replacement? Well, we don't really use Velveeta, so it seemed like a waste to buy it to just use 1oz. Cream cheese on the other hand has become an ingredient in a lot of our dishes lately. We use the light version and add it to mexican dishes and pasta for a creamy sauce with less calories.
In this pasta the beer is really a prominent flavor, so I don't recommend it if you aren't a fan of stouts. The beer flavor really pairs well with the Italian sausage. Our sausage was a little mild and I found myself wishing for one that was a little heavier with the spices to stand up to the stout. The sauce is creamy, with just a touch of cheese making this a very satisfying dish.
Stout and Sausage Pasta
4 oz pasta (we used a medium shell, but you could use rotini or penne or even elbows.)
1 t olive oil
2 oz bulk Turkey Italian sausage
1/3 c onion, diced
1 1/4 T all-purpose flour
1/4 t pepper
pinch of salt
1/2 c stout
2 1/2 T skim milk
1 1/4 oz reduced-fat cheddar
1 oz light cream cheese
Preheat oven to 450F.
Cook the pasta to al dente, drain and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and onion. Sauté until the sausage is cooked through. Reduce heat to medium. Sprinkle with the flour, salt and pepper. Cook while stirring for 1 minute. Slowly stir in the stout. Bring to a boil. Stir until thicken, this should happen pretty quickly for such a small amount. Remove from heat and add the milk and cheeses. Stir until melted. You may need to add some low heat if everything doesn't melt.
Stir in the pasta. You can divide between two small ramekins like we did or just put in one larger casserole dish. Bake for 10 minutes.
Makes 2 servings.
417 calories per serving
If you are not reading this post in a feed reader or at http://agoodappetite.blogspot.com OR at http://agoodappetite.com then the site you are reading is illegally publishing copyrighted material. Contact me at katbaro AT yahoo DOT COM. All recipes, text and photographs in this post are the original creations & property of the author unless otherwise noted. © 2007-2013 Kathy Lewinski


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As passionate as I can be about things, I've only just begun to connect with the spectrum of emotions I had buried all my life under the stoicism.
When you reflect on your day as you turn out the lights, you are in fact revisiting how you felt about it, not what you thought about it. I'm seeing that feelings can be so prevailing they can redefine reality. You got word of a promotion – objectively, great news. But if it fills you with anxiety, that will translate a different news like maybe you're really not competent enough. What if your spouse has little regard for you? His contempt will redefine what is true within the world you share. The final arbiter of our perception is emotion, not cognition.
Chief Justice Sonia Sotomayor in her early days as District Attorney couldn't figure out where she'd gone wrong in one case. She replayed her presentation for a mentor who "identified the problem instantly: I was appealing to logic, not morality…since it is painful to most jurors to vote 'guilty' and send a human being to jail, you couldn't simply reason with them to do it; you had to make them feel the necessity…put them in the shoes of the accused or the victim: make them feel the cold blade held against their necks, or the pang of unappreciated devotion that might drive someone to steal from a former employer…It was in effect to see that mastery of the law's cold abstractions was actually incomplete without an understanding of how they affected individual lives." My Beloved World
In the case of jurors, it is emotion that forges belief which determines conviction and behavior. Because when Sotomayor was arguing her case, she wasn't feeding algorithms of reason into a machine for a logical verdict. She was appealing to people, people who were filtering the story through their own past, hopes, and fears as surely as they were supposed to aim for impartiality.
Yeonmi Park, who managed a harrowing escape out of North Korea, knows all about the power of feelings:
"In school, we sang a song about Kim Jong Il and how he worked so hard to give our laborers on-the-spot instruction as he traveled around the country, sleeping in his car and eating only small meals of rice balls [a lie]. "Please, please, Dear Leader, take good rest for us!" we sang through our tears. "We are all crying for you." This worship of the Kims was reinforced in documentaries, movies, and shows broadcast by the single, state-run television station. Whenever the Leaders' smiling pictures appeared on the screen, stirring sentimental music would build in the background. It made me so emotional every time.
Jang Jin Sung, a famous North Korea defector and former poet laureate who worked in North Korea's propaganda bureau, calls this phenomenon 'emotional dictatorship'. In North Korea, it's not enough for the government to control where you go, what you learn, where you work, and what you say. They need to control you through your emotions, making you a slave to the state by destroying your individuality, and your ability to react to situations based on your own experience of the world." In Order to Live
The government wasn't satisfied with subjugation of the mind. It wanted the heart because then the leaders had the whole person. And notice that you can create emotion – for someone you haven't even met and for what is not real. This gives me hope that we can also deconstruct it, not remain enslaved to it.
I've always held to an Absolute Truth, ground harder than the sand mound of feelings, that can save us from ourselves. But I am seeing that where I've lived is really in the place of emotion, not of beliefs or facts. I have found anger much easier to access than sorrow. Anger allows me to borrow strength from the sheer force of it, as delusional as the sense of power may be, but what do you do with the sadness of inflicted pain except suffer its vulnerability and helplessness? It just hurts too much. Fear is another big one, and has accounted for a lot of my actions over the years. Now naming is one thing, freeing oneself of it another. And so to face these darker sides of my psyche, I've had to enter their deeper waters. Following memory as far back as it would take me, I've relived the traumas of childhood that gave way to resentment and fear. But for the first time, I was led to think about my mother, how indignant, fearful, and powerless she must have felt in the face of her husband's offenses while she was pregnant with me – all that despair I felt in the womb, the energy that pieced me together. I don't like victim talk, but making sense of my context and beginnings has given me greater compassion for myself. I've also known that we hold grief and anxiety in our lungs and while I've made the connection easily in others, did not see until recently the chronic bronchitis I had as a child in this startling light.
When I was a kid, I didn't salt my food. I felt guilty for the flavor, and so denied myself the pleasure. That went for the lettuce as well. No dressing. I took the asceticism to a whole other level in my adult years and only the other day recognized that I had actually invited much of the insane suffering in my life. I had to keep suffering because that is what Korean women do. It is how we show love, it is our lot. And our lot is where we are safe. It is all I saw of my mother, that for me to do and be otherwise would be not only criminal (how dare I enjoy my life?), but something alien and therefore…scary. Oh, how I LOVED my Bible passages on perseverance in affliction, on the cross I was to carry! Some years ago, I took a few lessons in the Alexander Technique, a mindful movement therapy. The instructor taught me how to lie down, really lie down. At one point I couldn't help laughing out loud on the table. The deep, simple rest felt so good. At 30, I didn't know I could rest like that, had been holding myself up in bed all those years. I now stand on unchartered terrain, a long but sure road where I am giving myself permission to stop hurting and to take my power back. I have died a hundred deaths. Surely that means a resurrection. Pleasure, comfort, (gasp) joy are within sight. At least I enjoy them every time here with you.
I had learned in my own depression how big an emotion can be, how it can be more real than facts. And I have found that that experience has allowed me to experience positive emotion in a more intense and more focused way. The opposite of depression is not happiness but vitality. I think that while I hated being depressed and would hate to be depressed again, I found a way to love my depression. I love it because it has forced me to find and cling to joy. I love it because each day I decide, sometimes gamely and sometimes against the moment's reason, to cleave to the reasons for living. And that, I think, is a highly privileged rapture. Psychologist Andrew Solomon, PhD.


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Sansovino, Jacopo
Sansovino, Jacopo yä´kōpō sänsōvē´nō [key], 1486–1570, Italian sculptor and architect of the Renaissance. His surname was taken in place of his own, Tatti, as homage to the Florentine sculptor Andrea Sansovino, under whom he was apprenticed. After early years devoted to sculpture, he was architect of several buildings in Rome and in 1527 moved to Venice, importing to that city the classic manner of high Roman Renaissance architecture. In Venice, besides his masterpiece, the Library of St. Mark's (designed 1536) in the Piazza San Marco, he built the Palazzo Corner della Ca' Grande, the mint, the loggia at the base of the great campanile, and several churches. His versatility as a sculptor is realized in his creation of the supple figure Apollo and the three other imposing statues in the niches of the campanile: Minerva, Mercury, and Peace. Among his other sculptural works are the gigantic Mars and Neptune outside the Doge's palace.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: European Art to 1599: Biographies


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Happy Boy Produce
Get Your Green On
Posted by Sathid
We grow chard at Happy Boy Farms for much of the year. Despite often being called by its common name Swiss chard, this green actually originated in the Mediterranean where the summers are warm to hot, and dry, and the winters are mild to cool, and wet. Chard thrives here too in California's similar climate. It grows through spring and summer, and can withstand cooler temperatures - even a mild frost. Chard is also more drought and heat resistant than its green cousins which saves water and adds to our list of reasons why we love to grow it.
Chard is quite beautiful, with its large, glossy, deep green leaves, and contrasting brilliant white, gold or red stems. These different colored varieties are interchangeable in recipes. In comparison to other greens, it has a more salty and tart flavor. It is softer than kales and collards, but sturdier than spinach. Chard is extremely versatile, lending itself easily to stir-fries, omelets, quiches, soups and salads. It is quite good sautéed on its own, cooked with beans, or as a refreshing alternative to lettuce in sandwiches and burgers. Anyway you like it, this attractive and very healthy green is almost always available to you at any of our stands. Look for stems that are crisp, and leaves that are bright and un-wilted, when picking a bunch to take home.
Store chard in the refrigerator in a plastic bag or your favorite equivalent, or in the produce drawer wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel. Do not wash before storing as excess moisture will speed spoilage. If you aren't using the stems in your recipe, they can be frozen for making stock.
Chard is rich in magnesium, calcium and iron as well as vitamins A, C and K.
Recipes & Pairings
3 Total Recipes
Try sautéing or steaming chard with lemon and olive oil, then pair with sweet potatoes or a sweeter winter squashes, like kabocha. It's also delicious in egg dishes or with beans. The stems are edible and tasty too! Add them to your sauté or steam a few minutes before the leaves as they take a bit longer to become tender.
Produce List
Follow the Farm
Hot Picks
Baby Carrots
All it takes is one crunchy-bite, and you'll know why Happy Boy carrots are a customer favorite. Eat them raw, chop some up for a salad, roast them or even make a sweet-carroty soup - these are a must-try crop!


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Pre-Owned 2014 Kia Optima 4dr Sdn LX
- No Stress Price Contact Us
2014 Kia Optima LX Titanium SilverClean CARFAX.Recent Arrival! 23/34 City/Highway MPGAwards:* 2014 IIHS Top Safety Pick * 2014 KBB.com Brand Image AwardsReviews:* If you need a roomy family sedan but you refuse to drive a boring car, take a look at the 2014 Kia Optima. Fuel-efficient, powerful and fun to drive, the Optima's stunning good looks are mirrored inside its well-appointed cabin. Source: KBB.com* Lots of standard and optional features for the money; handsome-looking cabin with easy-to-use controls and comfortable front seats; top crash scores; lengthy warranty. Source: Edmunds* With world-class engineering, outstanding performance and advanced safety systems, the 2014 Kia Optima gives you good reason to be passionate about driving a midsize sedan. It combines bold exterior styling, performance and a spacious, luxurious cabin. Some key updates for the 2014 model include lightly redesigned front and rear, new seat design and more high-tech features. It also comes with a long list of technologically advanced features for your entertainment, convenience and safety. With the Optima, exhilaration is standard. The key to its exciting performance are the two available engines: the 2.4L Gasoline Direct Injection with an EPA rated 24 city/35 hwy mpg or the turbocharged 2.0L GDI I4 engine that delivers 274 horsepower and fuel efficiency of 22 city/34 hwy mpg. The Optima also has a standard 6-speed Sportmatic transmission for an engaging driving experience. The Optima Hybrid features a 2.4L Atkinson cycle 4-cyl. engine giving an amazing 35 city/40 hwy mpg. Spacious and comfortable seating can accommodate five adults and includes a driver's seat with power lumbar and available leather seat trim. Rear seats have a 60/40 split-folding design for added versatility. Optima EX/EX Turbo and SX Premium Packages include front and rear heated seats and heated front seatbacks for cold-weather comfort. The Optima is designed to make every drive a pleasure. The available Premium Touring Package includes features like the innovative UVO infotainment system which lets you use your compatible cell phone to make hands-free calls, receive and respond to text messages, listen to streaming audio, enjoy your personal music, and play your favorite song, artist or genre of music all by giving a single voice command, premium Infinity sound system for exceptional audio entertainment, and a panoramic sunroof. The available Technology Package includes a voice command navigation system, giving you access to detailed highway conditions from SiriusXM Traffic. Source: The Manufacturer Summary.


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The Price of Power: Power Seeking and Backlash Against Female Politicians
When female politicians are perceived to be power-seeking, voters react negatively with feelings of moral outrage.
In an effort to address the persistent gender gap at the highest levels of political office, this study investigates one of the stereotype-based social costs that women face as political candidates. Because power and power-seeking are central to the way masculinity is socially constructed and communality is central to the construction of femininity, intentionally seeking power is broadly seen as anti-communal and inconsistent with the societal rules for women's behavior. The study aims to determine whether women political candidates who are seen to be seeking a political office as a means to gain power will be penalized for their seeming lack of communality. More specifically, the authors suggest that women's power-seeking will evoke emotional reactions of contempt and disgust and therefore voters will be less likely to support their candidacy.
Voters are less likely to vote for female politicians when they perceive them as power-seeking, though male politicians are not penalized.
- All things being equal, study participants were likely to perceive female politicians as being just about equally power-seeking as male politicians.
- When participants saw male politicians as power-seeking, they also saw them as having greater agency (i.e., being more assertive, stronger, and tougher) and greater competence, while this was not true for their perceptions of power-seeking female politicians.
- When participants saw female politicians as power-seeking, they also saw them as having less communality (i.e., being unsupportive and uncaring), while this was not true for their perceptions of power-seeking male politicians.
- When female politicians were described as power-seeking, participants experienced feelings of moral outrage (i.e., contempt, anger, and/or disgust) towards them.
- Participant gender had no impact on any of the study outcomes – that is, women were just as likely as men to have negative reactions to power-seeking female politicians.
In short, both a power-seeking image and expressed power-seeking intent can bias voters against female politicians.
The first study was conducted with 80 respondents (53 women and 27 men) between the ages of 19 and 63. They were recruited and participated in the study online. Researchers created website biography pages for two Oregon state senators, identical in format to those of real state senators, including information about career histories, committee service, and educational background. The names and genders on each biography were altered so that each described a male politician half the time and a female politician half the time. Study respondents reviewed the biographies and then answered questions indicating how much desire for power they thought each candidate exhibited and which candidate they would vote for.
The second study was conducted with 230 respondents (78 men and 152 women) between the ages of 18 and 76. They were recruited and participated in the study online. Researchers created one website biography of an Oregon state senator, similar to those created for the first study. The biography was altered along two manipulated variables: the name and gender of the politician were changed so that half were male and half were female; and half the biographies for each gender contained two additional sentences indicating that the politician described was exceptionally power-seeking. Study respondents reviewed their biography and then answered questions indicating how likely they were to vote for that senator; how much agency, communality, and competence they perceived in him/her; and what kinds of emotions they felt towards the senator.


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The Drudge Report has an image of a woman from an airport scanner up right now. It's scandalous enough as is, but it's shockingly easy to make it look even more like a normal nude photograph. Updated
Misha Collins on What Made Supernatural Successful
Reader Sigfried discovered that by simply inverting the image in Photoshop, you restore the photo to a more realistic tint. Of course, we're not sure where this image came from or if it's an accurate example of what these machines produce. But if so, let me just deliver a message to all you airport security workers out there: I just got out of a cold pool, I swear.
Update: Fear not, these aren't real. Your nipples are safe, for now.


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How addicted are you?
August 26, 2007 at 1:07 pm Janie Hermann 1 comment
Found via TTW — I couldn't resist taking the quiz and am surprised at my score!
Mingle2 – Dating Site
Entry filed under: Uncategorized.
1 Comment
As I suspected, not that addicted:
35% for me (I couldn't even figure out how to 'paste' the code here to show you the score!). That's ok, I like your blog and don't mind not having one of my own (yet!).


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Steve Jobs officially resigned as CEO of Apple and it's quite a big deal. Even though he had been struggling with his health over the last few years, Jobs and Apple were tied together like no prominent company. The IntoMobile team wants to share our thoughts on this news and what it will mean for Apple and you.
Wow. I guess it had to happen sooner or later. I've always seen Jobs as kind of a dick, but he was a dick that made good shit. I'm probably the most anti-Apple guy on the team here, but even I've got an iPod touch.
Jobs has been an icon for Apple, and I think the company will have a hell of a time finding someone that can match his public presence. In a more practical sense, I'm curious to see how well Apple products hold up without his dictatorial standards in place. It'll be interesting to see how the next year pans out, that's for sure.
Steve Jobs is Apple. There is no denying that the company will run just fine without him, and that it will continue to pump out quality and revolutionary products, but it just doesn't seem like things will be the same without him. The keynotes and presentations were just as important to the Apple brand as its ads, and that was all Steve Jobs. It's sad to see him go, but he has put in three decades of hard work and revived the ailing computer company in the late 90s. Thanks to Jobs, we now have the iPhone, which is undoubtedly responsible for the smartphone landscape today. We also have the iPad, which has transformed the way we think of tablets and slate computers.
With the icon no longer at the helm, and the turtle-neck, denim jeans and sneakers wowing us on stage, a little part of Apple will never be the same again. And while Tim Cook is definitely a solid successor, no one will ever replace the charm and charisma that Steve Jobs brought to Apple and to this whole industry.
We all knew this day was coming but it's still kind of a big blow. As the CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs has done more for this industry than almost anyone out there. While I don't always agree with some of the decisions he's made, his style of leadership or his weird turtleneck and jeans uniform, it is impossible to argue with Jobs' results. He brought the moribund Apple from the brink of death into one of the most valuable in the world. He brought the digital music player market to the masses, fundamentally changed how music is bought and sold, kickstarted the smartphone revolution and made tablets a viable product.
It's not just the flashy stuff that I appreciate about Jobs, as Apple has become a world-class company on his watch on nearly every level. Whether it's supply chain management, retail distribution, packaging of products or marketing, Jobs has instilled in his company an amazing level of detail which other companies always seem to overlook. I think Apple will do just fine for the next few years based on the momentum it has but the long-term may be an issue.
Steve Jobs is resigning? Cry me a river. Like Marc says, the man is Apple and he'll likely be more of a CEO than Cook will ever be, no matter what his title is. It's basically impossible to deny Jobs' influence in the tech world, but the only real difference is that he will no longer be the face of the company. Cook has some huge shoes to fill and only Steve can help him do that.
Apple exudes a smugness that's never been attractive to me and I've always sought after alternatives to it's 'one size fits all' way of thinking. It's just not for me. So when I hear that the CEO is leaving the company, I really don't care.
No matter what role he takes, Steve Jobs will likely do a stellar job and will probably work closely with Cook. It sounds scary, I know, but Mr. Jobs isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Although this not a great news for Apple and its shareholders, I'm sure Steve Jobs himself approved Tim Cook as his successor. I can't imagine Cook to be as nearly as charismatic as Apple's founder, but I'm pretty confident he knows his stuff. That said, I'm believe Apple's pipeline is pretty much defined for the next few years and Tim's job is to execute on that plan. After that period, well, we'll have to see what comes then. It's important to emphasize Apple has the world's greatest people working for it, who will give their best to keep the company on the top. Of course, there are new challenges ahead (especially from Google) and that's where Steve's "from time to time" advice will come in handy…
Alright friends, you've heard what we have to say. Now let us know what you think in the comments.


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I am a cloud and I am so aimless
From here to there I run so restless
Looking for a sky so precious
that fills me with kasturi so delicious
Is it my search for bliss in the limitless
Or a play of a game in the timeless
From the series titled, Kasturi … an eternal Search
Kasturi or deer musk is found in the navel of deers of the Indian subcontinent. A musk deer goes on searching for the fragrance while all along the source of the same lies inside its own body. All the search for the unknown, or God or happiness or peace, also seem to be in vain. The actual source of everything that is worth achieving lies much inside all of us.
When everything in nature is happy without chasing this and that then why only humans feel uncomfortable without a purpose or a chase. While nature performs perfectly it does not expect to reach a destination while reaching a destination seems most important for humans even at the cost of inefficiency. Only if we be more peaceful and do our most trivial tasks with enthusiasm our life would fall in place.


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Snowman's Bliss
Thursday, December 9
per guest
Learn more
Class Details
This snowman is livin' his dream! A beautiful snowfall on a dreamy winter's night, with only a gingerbread star to light the sky. He can play until his heart's content, while little ones are tucked in bed! This charming painting will put a smile on your face and brighten your heart!
This class is held in the studio. We recommend arriving about 15 minutes early so you can check-in, chat with friends and settle in with a drink. Painting begins promptly at the start time, we can no longer accommodate late painters. No refunds permitted at this time, store credit with a 48 hour notice.
The Perfect Night Out
Enjoy drinks, upbeat music and hanging out with your favorite people while you paint! It's as fun for first-time painters as it is for experienced artists.
Fun Atmosphere
From the moment you walk in, the mood is light, the music is fun and the conversation comes easy!
Easy to Do
You don't need to be a seasoned painter — we make it easy for everyone to find their inner artist!
Sit Together
You'll get seats with all your friends, even if you book separately. Just tell us your friends' names when you register.
Paint Your Way
There's no rule that says you have to follow the artist's steps. It's your art, so paint it however you like!
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out our FAQs to learn more about what to expect from your Pinot's Palette experience or feel free to call the studio to speak to a member of our staff.
What is the cost of the class?
Typically a 2 hour session is $39 and a 3 hour session is $49. Please check our calendar for discounted classes
Do you offer private painting parties or mobile/offsite events?
YES and YES ! Our wine and painting parties are fun for all occasions, from bachelorette parties to anniversary, birthday, baby shower, gender reveal to corporate team buildings. If you cant come to us then we can come to you. Please call our studio to learn more about these events
Do you offer any discounts?
The best way to get discounts is to sign up for the Pinots Perk Rewards Program. You will receive occasional discounts by email , and you can earn free paint and sip events.
What happens if a class is cancelled due to bad weather?
You will receive a class credit for any future class , redeemable at the same studio
Can I bring my baby?
Babies and small children are not permitted during Adult Public events . Our studio can not accommodate a stroller or car seat next to your seat.


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Fresh Plus at fresh location
Open just since yesterday, the third store for Fresh Plus now occupies the location where neighbors shopped happily when it was a Sun Harvest store before being fixed up as a Sprouts market and then closed.
Everything we have come to love at Fresh Plus (once Kash-Karry) on West Lynn is now available at 2917 West Anderson Lane (telephone 419-7379).
There's a butcher counter and an extensive produce department. The fish appeared to be in an excellent state of freshness. We found such local favorites as Buddy's Natural Chicken, a complete range of soaps and other products from South Austin People (So.A.P.), and Margarita's delicious tortillas in all varieties. The store is still being stocked, so let people there know what you'd like to see. There's plenty of space. Parking is ample, the staff is friendly and helpful, and shopping is fast.
We love our family-owned local businesses!
2 Comments so far
andrewhill on February 9th, 2012 @ 6:59 pm
This is great news! So excited to check out the new store. Has
anyone tried Margarita's tortillas? I'd like to here some reviews
before I try them.
odoublegood on February 11th, 2012 @ 3:02 pm


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Upcoming trade mission to promote U.S. exports and job creation
Guest blog post by Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank
With 95 percent of the world's consumers living outside U.S. borders, helping U.S. companies find partnerships and customers in fast-growing markets is crucial to creating a strong and vibrant economy built on good middle class jobs.
As a part of our overall goal to increase American exports, next week, 20 U.S.-based companies will join me on an infrastructure-focused trade mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil; Bogota, Colombia; and Panama City, Panama. Each of the governments of these fast-growing countries have ambitious infrastructure expansion and improvement plans for the years ahead.
This trade mission will allow U.S. companies to highlight their cutting-edge technologies and world-class engineering services. The trade mission will also allow them to make the personal connections they need to expand their businesses and it will build on President Obama's National Export Initiative, a government-wide strategy to promote American exports and create 2 million export-supported jobs by the end of 2014. Last year, U.S. exports hit another all-time record, reaching $2.2 trillion. Between 2009 and 2012, exports have supported 1.3 million additional jobs.
In addition, we'll be highlighting the success of our newly-implemented trade agreements with Colombia and Panama. The Colombia agreement is celebrating its one-year anniversary on May 15, and U.S. exports to Colombia increased 19 percent in the first nine months it was in place. The U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was implemented last October, and this agreement is already reducing red tape and other barriers to trade – something that is particularly important for small businesses in the United States. In just the first several months since it was put in place, we can already see that it's a win-win. U.S. goods exported to Panama have jumped 20 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.
It's not just the private sector in the U.S. that wants to see Latin America continue to grow and thrive. The U.S. government understands that effective public services can help modernize the economies and feed economic growth throughout the Americas. In addition to promoting new commercial partnerships, the Commerce Department is also helping organize courses on best practices for good governance for both public and private sector leaders in Colombia. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation, a U.S. agency that is participating in the trip, is helping with everything from insurance coverage for modernizing power plants to microfinancing for small, women-owned businesses. And the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, another agency that will be represented on the trip, provided a technical assistance grant to help with long-term planning for airports in Bogota and recently funded a grant to help guide expansion of passenger and cargo infrastructure at Tocumen International Airport.
Our neighbors throughout Latin America provide myriad opportunities for U.S. businesses to grow and thrive by providing goods and services that people want and need. When we engage directly with our counterparts in industry and government, we all benefit through economic growth, new jobs, and greater prosperity for our citizens and theirs. I look forward to seeing American businesses seize those opportunities.
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Palghat, or Palakkad, in Kerala is famous, as the former chief election commissioner T.N. Seshan once said, for "cooks, crooks, civil servants".
And Carnatic musicians.
And cartoonists.
The landlocked town with exactly two landmarks has produced four top-class political cartoonists for New Delhi's newspapers: P.K.S. Kutty, O.V. Vijayan, Ravi Shankar, and E.P. Unny.
In the Indian Express magazine supplement Eye, Unny writes about the common muse for cartoonists from the "Palghat gharana":
"Warmer than the rest of Kerala, the beach-less Palakkad isn't visibly touristy. Nature, however, made up by putting us in the big gap in the Western Ghats — a land port that facilitated much movement, including full-scale invasions.
"First, by the Sultans of Mysore and close on their heels, the British. Hyder Ali's engineer built a fort here and the Brits a college. Between the two landmarks (there isn't a third), the municipal town lay neatly bracketed.
"Our world was a low-rise sprawl in parenthesis. No scenic backwaters and stuff. True, we didn't have to look far for paddy fields but the stretch never seemed quite as green as it turned out in photographs. We have a river as well, nudging the Tamil Brahmin settlement in Kalpathy but the poets have the first lien on it.
"Under such visually-deprived circumstances, you couldn't doodle your way to a finer art than cartooning. Even as cartoonists go, the Palakkad gharana tended to be sparse. Kutty trained with Shankar, a master who crafted at length, but quickly switched to a workaday functional style.
"Vijayan betrayed no sense of place. His characters floated in a political space that turned increasingly sombre — against a broad dark backdrop, he created with a khadi cloth dipped in Indian ink. Acerbic wit delivered with a Gandhian flourish. Ravi Shankar, Vijayan's nephew, has an eye for the minutiae, as yet unexplored."
Image: courtesy CD and LP
Read the full article: The homecoming cartoonist
MUST READ: Shankar's Weekly final editorial


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2007 Caravan Wheel Interchange
I have a 2007 Dodge Caravan that I need wheels that I can mount studded snow tires on. The factory steel wheels are 15" and came with 215/70-15 tires. I currently have the snow tires, but need a set of wheels. What other years and models have wheels that will fit? I found a set from a 1999 Caravan, but a local wrecking yard said that only 2001-2007 wheels will fit. Is this correct? Thanks for your help.
Yes, your bone yard was correct; while the wheels from a Gen 3 van will bolt up correctly (and even work well on the rear of your van), they do not have enough clearance for your front brake calipers. That said, any number of companies sell new steel wheels for less than $50 per that will universally fit both generations; I bought mine from TireRack.0
Thanks for the response. Were they also correct on the 2001-2007 range?0
Yup, 2001-2007 are the model years for the Gen 4 vans.0
Thank you very much.0
This discussion has been closed.


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6290 Monterey Rd
Gilroy, CA 95020
New 2023 Grand Design Reflection 311BHS
Grand Design Reflection fifth wheel 311BHS highlights:
- Private Bunkhouse
- Bath and a Half
- Kitchen Island
- Premium Congoleum Flooring
- Outside Kitchen
- Solar Package
Looking to travel with your family and friends and would like enough space for everyone to be comfortable both during the day and night? Well, step inside using the AXIStep, to find a private bunkhouse in the rear of this fifth wheel which offers a slide out flip bunk above a tri-fold sofa, a bunk bed and storage on the opposite side, its very own private half bathroom, and a large rear window for great views. The theater seating or choose the tri-fold sofa option is a great place to unwind at night in front of the entertainment center with a 40" LED HDTV and fireplace below it. There is a booth dinette or choose a free standing dinette option to dine at, and the kitchen island has a deep, seated stainless steel sink with a high rise faucet with a pull down sprayer to make clean up a breeze too. You will find full amenities including a 16 cu. ft. refrigerator and a hutch. Up the interior steps, you will have a double entry bathroom with a radius shower with a skylight, and you can wake up refreshed each morning after sleeping on your own queen bed.
With any Reflection fifth wheels by Grand Design, you will have a 165W solar panel for off-grid camping and a 50 Amp charge controller and inverter prep, a Max Turn radius front cap for easy towing around town and into your campsite, a Universal All-In-One Docking Station, unobstructed pass-through storage, and Goodyear E-rated tires. Some other top features include a chef's kitchen with a 30" stainless steel microwave and residential cooktop, a USB charging station, and the ductless "Evenflow" heating system with no vents in the floor to collect debris. Each is constructed of high gloss gel coat exterior sidewalls, residential 5" truss rafters, walk-on roof decking, a fiberglass and radiant foil roof and front cap insulation plus laminated aluminum framed side walls, rear wall, roof and end walls in slide rooms. Choose luxury, value and towability over all the others, take home a Reflection of your good taste!
Thank You!"Thank You! On Saturday the day before Easter I was driving on 80 toward Tahoe around 2:30 in the afternoon trying to get to my parents home for Easter. I had my 8 year old son in the car and we were pulling my fifth wheel. I heard a loud popping noise so I pulled over next to fast lane at Maddison Ave. I saw that I had blown a tire and knew I needed to get the spare on quick before my son started - Anonymous
Stock# 68784
Interior Color: RIVER ROCK
|36 ft 10 in
|Ext Height
|12 ft 3 in
|Interior Color
|Hitch Weight
|2316 lbs
|13995 lbs
|Dry Weight
|11377 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|74 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|87 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|87 gals
|Furnace BTU
|40000 btu
|Number Of Bunks
|Available Beds
|Refrigerator Size
|16 cu ft
|Cooktop Burners
|Number of Awnings
|LP Tank Capacity
|30 lbs
|Water Heater Type
|On Demand
|15000 btu
|TV Info
|Awning Info
|13' & 10'6" One-Touch Electric LED
|Axle Count
|Number of LP Tanks
|Shower Type
|Electrical Service
|50 amp