text:
Jack and I took a brief break from New York with 75 hours or so in Boston. Neither of us had ever spent time there before —though with the torrential Nor'Easter dumping all over New England, I'm not sure we saw it at its best. We trained up there, stayed in Cambridge and managed to see Harvard (infinitely inferior to my alma mater, of course), its art and natural history museums, then visited the Institue of Contemporary Art and the Science Museum. We saw some movies, had some nice meals, played cards,talked, and drew in our journals. I broke out my watercolors for the first time in ages, and Jack bore down on his dip pen.
It was a refreshing break after a very sad week, giving us some distance and perspective, as well as a chance to start our lives as a smaller family. Drawing was a relief to both of us, a feeling that we were making something out of the nothingness, and seeing a new place with fresh eyes. Our journal pages will be a landmark for us, the first fresh pages we are turning over, with many blank ones ahead to fill.
One thing I hadn't anticipated: Patti was always the first person to read my journal pages after I finished them. Somewhere in Boston, it occurred to me that I write for her to read and that she wouldn't read them, ever again. But then I realized I will always write for her, she will always be my favorite reader.


text:
1 - 1 of 1 results (0.92 seconds)
Sort By:
International Section News, May 2000, Issue No. 22funds), but at present the life industry has a direct advantage in pricing in terms of its current favorable ... capacity of the Canadian market. Spain requires direct writers to provide catastrophe cover and has a ...
Description: Full version of International Section News, May 2000, Issue No. 22.Hide
- Authors: Angelica Michail, A Norman Crowder, Shriram Mulgund, Hubert B Mueller, Hans J Wagner, Patricia Kum, Peggy Grillot, James Makin
- Date: May 2000
- Publication Name: International News

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Antelope Audio are known for pioneering the use of atomic clock generators in audio master clocks. Now, their latest product, the Orion 32, combines their clocking know-how with an expansive AD/DA converter that operates over USB 2 and MADI.
By utilising a custom-built USB chip, Antelope assert that the new unit will allow for 32 channels of input and 32 channels of output simultaneously over USB 2 at sample rates of 192kHz, dropping to 24 when using a Mac.
The accompanying cross-platform software offers a control panel with a drag-and-drop matrix and mixer (shown below).
The Orion 32 will be available for £2094 including VAT. For more information from Antelope, read on.
Press Release: Antelope Audio have shipped the new Orion 32, the world's first 32-channel AD/DA converter and audio master clock in a 1U rack. The new device supports both MADI and USB interfaces, clocked by Antelope's renowned 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking (AFC) technology.
Orion 32 allows 192 kHz I/O streaming of 32-channel digital audio through its custom-built USB chip, which provides simple connectivity to any USB-enabled DAW or computer. The converter also provides 32 channels of 96 kHz audio through its Fiber Optic MADI I/O connections, which can be used to connect with any suitably equipped MADI device.
Orion 32 also supports ADAT protocol by offering 16 I/O channels, for even greater compatibility with a large number of audio devices. The multi-channel converter inputs and outputs pass the analog signal through 8 D-SUB 25 I/O connectors.
Antelope Clocking for Increased Sonic Accuracy
In addition to being an extremely high quality audio converter, Orion 32 is also an audio master clock. The Orion 32 employs Antelope's proprietary 4th generation of AFC and oven controlled oscillator, both technologies that made Antelope Audio clocks an industry leader for accuracy and reliability in recording, mastering and post-production facilities around the world. The four word clock outs, together with the 10 MHz input, make Orion 32 ideally suited to be in the center of any project or high-end studio.
"The multi-channel Orion 32 is the logical step, following our highly acclaimed stereo AD/DA converter Eclipse 384 we launched last year," Igor Levin, Antelope Audio CEO says. "We have developed this device in response to customers who have demanded Antelope's signature-quality sound, but in a multi-channel device. Orion 32 is ideally suited to a sound engineer's needs for high quality, clean and transparent conversion, combining the efficiency of MADI and USB interfaces with the perfection of Antelope clocking."
With its seamless digital routing options, the Orion 32 offers exceptional flexibility. The routing feature allows sound engineers to, for example, use the AD conversion and output the signal simultaneously both through the MADI and USB interfaces. The device is managed through a user friendly desktop application available for both Windows and OS X. Moreover it is equipped with five preset buttons for fast and easy recall of favorite settings.
Orion 32 is packaged in a 1U enclosure with an eco-friendly power consumption of only 15 Watts. In addition to saving rack space and having very low heating levels, Orion 32 comes with an extremely reasonable pricing even for small home studio, launching with a street price of only £2094 inc VAT.
Key Features:
- Antelope Audio precise AD/DA conversion technology
- Up to 192 kHz on 32 channels I/O via custom-built USB chip
- 32 channels I/O via Fiber Optic MADI I/O connections
- Eight D-SUB 25 connectors for AD and DA
- 16 channels on 4 ADAT input and output connectors
- Antelope's renowned 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking with Atomic input
- Antelope's proprietary Oven Controlled Oscillator for supreme clocking stability
- Four word clock outputs and one word clock input
- Five presets for fast and easy recall of favorite setups
- 1U rack size with power consumption of 15 Watts and very low heating levels
- A user friendly desktop application available for both Windows and OS X


text:
Each of the four seasons in Big Bear Lake brings excitement and spectacular events. With spring here, the fishing season on Big Bear Lake has begun. Each year Big Bear Lake officially opens at the beginning of April for all water sports including fishing. The opening of the lake coincides with the Rainbow Trout spawning run and the Fish and Game Department keep careful stock of Big Bear Lake as activity increases.
Big Bear Frontier Cabins and Hotel is fortunate to have an up close view of the fish as they make their way back to the lake. There are several great places right here at Big Bear Frontier to watch the fish on their spawning run. Guests of the resort can walk right out of their cabin, alongside Snuggle Creek (exclusive to our resort), and witness a multitude of large Rainbow Trout on their way to the lake. Cabin 31 is at the mouth of Snuggle Creek and is a great place to watch the fish swim.
There are also large underground pipes nearby that serve as a waterway for the trout to get around and we have several on our property. One is near Lakeview Avenue, which runs through our property. Another waterway tunnel runs from the front of Big Bear Frontier, next to cabin 262 and under Big Bear Blvd.
Watching these magnificent fish navigate the waterways to and from the lake is fascinating and even more so when we know what's actually going on.
Rainbow trout, a cousin to the salmon, spawn first when they reach 12- 16 inches in length, which is usually at the end of their second year. Most trout spawn in the spring or fall in streams, rivers, and lakes with gravel bottoms and steady water flow. The trout swim upstream looking for places to make their nests. After finding a suitable nesting site, the female trout turns on her side and beats her tail up and down, scooping out a shallow nest or Redd. The male trout courts her by swimming nearby and shaking his body. When the female is ready to spawn she moves to the bottom of the Redd and presses her belly against the gravel, depositing up to 8,000 eggs, which are then fertilized by the male and covered with gravel.
Hatching normally takes a few weeks to as much as four months, depending on the water temperature. The small trout then gather in groups and take shelter along the stream margins or protected lakeshore, feeding on crustaceans, plant material, and aquatic insects and their larvae. Big Bear Lake quickly become filled with these wonderful fish.
If you'd like to make a family event out of your fishing trip, also check out Alpine Trout Lakes: "Where Kids Catch Fish." Kids are guaranteed success! Picnic and barbeque facilities are located on the site and for a small fee they will even clean your fish for you.
So, if you're thinking of heading to Big Bear Lake for a getaway, this is indeed a special time of year and will bring you closer to the wonders of nature that make up the entire Big Bear Lake region that we all enjoy so much!


text:
Column: For Barcelona and Lionel Messi, sick leave for coach shouldn't be a recipe for trouble
Even if Lionel Messi and his Barcelona teammates had no coach to guide them, you would think long and hard about betting against perhaps the greatest collection of players assembled by one club. Their success is built on foundations so solid it has seemingly become self-perpetuating, almost capable of taking care of itself.
So Messi & Co. will weather the absence, hopefully brief and temporary, of Tito Vilanova while he undergoes chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Even if the coach's recovery from the recurrence of a tumor on a saliva gland takes longer than expected, his team is plenty strong enough to keep winning without him, to wrest the Spanish league title from Real Madrid and to muscle past AC Milan in March to advance deep into the final rounds of the Champions League and even win that, too.
For such an astoundingly talented and well-blended team to underperform in either of those competitions in 2013 would be shocking, regardless of who is coaching it. The acid disappointment of losing La Liga to Madrid and falling to Chelsea in the Champions League semifinal in 2012 should be motivation enough for the players, without needing Vilanova to remind them they should do better next year.
Barcelona is less coach-centric than other teams, because its methods, tactics, philosophy and identity are woven into its fabric, not dependent on any single personality. At Manchester United, Real Madrid or Arsenal, the imprint of managers Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger is evident. If those strong leaders took protracted time off, there would be probing questions about how their players might cope without them. But only a lengthy injury for Messi, its record-setting goal scorer, would spark grave doubts about Barcelona's chances of success in the months ahead. At Barca, the players are for the most part brighter stars than Vilanova, their coach. But at Real Madrid, Man United and Arsenal, it's mostly the other way round.
The center of Barcelona's universe isn't a person but a training academy, La Masia. That is where Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and other vertebrae in the backbone of Barcelona's first team were drenched in the club's traditions. Once housed in an 18th-century Catalan farmhouse, the academy is now in a modern five-story building located at Barca's training grounds on the outskirts of the city. Vilanova is a La Masia alumni. So is the man he replaced as coach at the end of last season, Pep Guardiola. So is Vilanova's assistant coach, Jordi Roura.
Roura will warm Vilanova's seat and direct the team while he is on sick leave but won't formally replace him as coach — a nice touch that makes Barcelona look like a club with class, which sticks by its own through thick and thin.
Barcelona said that after surgery Thursday on his parotid gland and a few days in hospital, Vilanova might be able to coach during his expected six weeks of chemo and radiation treatment. Until he's back, Barcelona sports director Andoni Zubizarreta said the team was in "great hands" with Roura. A former Barcelona player under coach Johan Cruyff, Roura worked on Guardiola's staff, studying rival teams, before becoming Vilanova's assistant coach.
La Masia's production line of success and talent gives Barcelona continuity in difficult times like these. While other clubs head-hunt managers, chopping and changing in search of success, Barcelona's deep wells of experience have enabled it to recruit in-house for leadership since Guardiola replaced Dutchman Frank Rijkaard as coach in 2008.
Even though Vilanova is undefeated in the Spanish league this season and has led the team to the best league start ever by any team in Spain, his sudden absence mid-season shouldn't provoke a slump and might barely be noticed on the field. Tactics and lineups didn't change massively when Guardiola handed over the reins to Vilanova, nor will they while Roura is caretaking. Barcelona calls itself "more than a club." It is also more than any one coach.
"Few things have changed," midfielder Xavi said Dec. 13, talking about the handover from Guardiola to Vilanova. "Everything has stayed the same."
It was Guardiola who once described Barcelona soccer so succinctly: "Take the ball, pass the ball, take the ball, pass the ball." It is, of course, more complex than that. But Messi and his teammates have for years now been honing Barcelona's passing game into an art. They could probably find each other with their eyes shut and definitely with Roura on the coach's bench.
Barcelona has a nine-point league lead over Atletico Madrid and a 13-point jump on Real Madrid after just 16 games — a gap so whopping that Atletico coach Diego Simeone said Spain's top league has become "boring." Although this won't be how he or the players think, Roura can afford to lose a few games before he will come under sustained pressure for wins. His first match is at Valladolid in the league on Saturday, Barcelona's last game of 2012.
Barcelona's announcement this week that Messi, Xavi and Puyol all agreed to renew their contracts also gives the team long-term stability and removes an issue that potentially could have distracted the players and Roura.
Since last month, Barcelona has again been able to field Puyol and Pique in defense together after both recovered from injuries. David Villa also looks like the dangerous forward he used to be before eight months out with a broken leg. And Messi, well, how can more praise be heaped on a player who has scored a record 90 goals in 2012?
So no excuses.
Barcelona should keep winning while Vilanova gets better.
He surely wouldn't settle for anything less.
John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester(at)ap.org or follow him at http://twitter.com/johnleicester


text:
April 13th, 2012
With 'Monumental' Kirk Cameron emerges as Christian activist
By Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor
(CNN)– Kirk Cameron could have joined the ranks of former TV heartthrobs who rode off into the sunset, reappearing only for the occasional reunion show or career-reviving role in a TV drama. Think Ricky Schroder or Scott Baio.
But Cameron, known to millions of Americans as Mike Seaver on the hit '80s-era show "Growing Pains," is carving out a new niche for himself, as an unlikely voice of politically conservative American evangelicals.
Cameron has a new documentary on the faith of America's founders that arrives in theaters on Friday. He is neither a historian nor theologian, but the film, "Monumental," shows him consumed with Christianity - and with rage over what he says has been the systematic removal of religion's role from American history.
The film opens with Cameron sitting on an Adirondack chair in his backyard. Looking straight and silently into the camera, a voice-over of his own voice alerts viewers that the world around him is going to hell.
"There is something seriously sick in the soul of our country," the voice-over says.
"Don't worry about the fact the world is going to hell in a hand basket - just get out of the hand basket," his friends tell him. But Cameron explains that he refuses to listen and instead sets out to make "Monumental: In Search of America's National Treasure," which investigates the debate over America's soul.
CNN's Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories
Over the last decade, Cameron has become the wholesome, boyish face of Christian cinema. He starred in "Left Behind," the low-budget film based on the wildly popular Christian book series.
More recently, he played the lead role in "Fireproof," a breakout film that shocked the Hollywood establishment when it debuted in the top 10 in its first week and wound up taking in an estimated $33 million. The film was made by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, for just over $500,000.
Cameron was one of the only professional actors in the film; the rest were congregants from the church.
Along with such popular movies as Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," "Fireproof" showed the potential for a new market in explicitly Christian films. In the last two years, crossover movies like "Soul Surfer" and "Courageous" have had parallel advertising campaigns targeting churches.
The movement has propelled Cameron back into the spotlight.
"Monumental" is Cameron's baby. He is its executive producer and its star.
"When I survey the landscape and turn on the news, all signs are saying panic," Cameron recently said.
"Instead of listening to everyone play the blame game … maybe the best place to look for solutions was to talk to the men and women who built this country 400 years ago and laid the foundations that resulted in a nation that has experienced more blessing and prosperity and strength than any other nation in the world," he said.
"That launched me on this journey to retrace the Pilgrims and find the sacred sauce."
In the film, Cameron retraces the Pilgrims' steps from England to Holland to the New World. He talked to scholars and historians, digging in on the faith of the Founding Fathers.
What he found, he said, is a forgotten historical narrative not taught in schools.
Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter
Those first principles, as Cameron sees them, are spelled out in a scene depicting a large stone monument near Massachusetts' Plymouth Rock, the spot memorialized as the place the Pilgrims landed.
"Faith in God … produces character, character will produce courage, courage to face the challenges of the day," Cameron says in the movie, riffing off the Pilgrims' story.
Cameron teamed with NCM Fathom, a company that streams live events to movie theaters nationwide, like live performances of the Metropolitan Opera and boxing matches, to offer a sneak peek at the film a couple of weekends ago. That debut was emceed by Cameron, featured live performances by Christian bands and was beamed out live on more than 600 screens, grossing $1.23 million, according to NCM and Cameron's publicist.
The new documentary has faced criticism for its inclusion of self-taught evangelical Christian historian David Barton.
A favorite among evangelicals for his Christian-centric views of the Founding Fathers and his vast collection of historical documents, Barton is heavily featured in the film.
"The reason I went to go see David Barton is because he owns the largest collection of original source documents from the founding era that I can get my hands on and that you can go and see," Cameron said.
"When you look at those documents it becomes incredibly clear there has been a lot of cherry picking of the evidence done to support a very particular worldview, and that's the worldview our children are learning in school and it's not the full and complete historical record because it doesn't reflect the faith of our Founding Fathers," the actor said.
In a version of the film made available for screening and in clips posted online, Barton shows Cameron the "Thompson Hot Press Bible," which Barton said was printed in 1798 and was funded by 12 signers of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, including John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
"They wanted the word of God out to every family," Barton says in the clip. "If these guys happen to be Christians it makes a lot of sense."
Barton then picks up a small rare Bible known as the "Aitken Bible." "The Bible of the Revolution was printed by the Congress of the United States. So Congress printed the first English Language version of the Bible," Barton said. He goes on to say the Congress said, "This was a neat edition of the Bible for use in our schools."
Warren Throckmorton, an associate professor of psychology at Grove City College, a private Christian school in Pennsylvania, has criticized Barton's version of history and Cameron's films.
About much of the history featured in the film, Throckmorton said, "That's just not what happened."
After seeing clips of the documentary, Throckmorton fact-checked some parts.
He said he found that the "Thompson Hot Press Bible" was not funded in total by 12 Founders. Instead, he said, the Bible was funded by a subscription base of 1,200 customers that included 12 Founding Fathers. "The printers funded that Bible, the Founders didn't fund it. It was a business venture for them."
As for the quote Barton attributed to Congress about putting the Bible in schools, it actually came from Robert Aitken's petition to Congress. Aitken was a colonial printer. The Journals of Congress from 1782 shows Aitken completed the Bible on his own and sought the blessing of Congress.
The record shows a report from two congressional chaplains who examined the work, which they praised.
Congress passed a resolution to recommend "this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper." That resolution did not mention it being put in schools.
"David Barton gets the facts wrong when it comes to these two Bibles," Throckmorton said. "The facts of the case are stretched and embellished to create a narrative that is misleading."
Cameron defended Barton's work. "No one is more guilty of cherry picking evidence than those who bow to the god of political correctness, especially historians," Cameron said. "Everyone is going to select the information that is important to their thesis. If you're bent on being politically correct, it's very easy to fall into that trap."
Throckmorton noted that he and other critics of Barton's work hail from Christian colleges and universities.
Early controversy surrounding Cameron's comments on social issues have given the film more media coverage than Cameron could have imagined for a small-budget documentary.
Appearing on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight last month, Cameron fielded questions about abortion, gay marriage and what he would do if one of his six children came out to him as gay.
None of the topics appear in the film, but Cameron expressed views on same-sex marriage, abortion and homosexuality that are common among conservative evangelical Christians.
Cameron called homosexuality "unnatural," adding, "I think that it's detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."
His comments sparked outrage from gay rights groups like GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The group led a campaign to counter Cameron's comments with other 1980s TV stars and evangelicals on the other side of the theological spectrum.
GLAAD spotlighted a bevy of celebrities who chided Cameron for his positions on homosexuality, including a tweet from Rosanne Barr, who suggested Cameron was "an accomplice to murder with his hate speech."
Cameron said his support for traditional marriage is rooted in faith and thinks it should inform policy decisions: "You either believe marriage and human sexuality are sacred or you do not."
Cameron jokingly described his faith as "high octane" but said he considers himself part of the evangelical Christian tradition. He said he goes to a small nondenominational community church near his home in California, though his publicist later clarified that he is not a member of the church, whose name he would not disclose because of privacy and security concerns.
Cameron said he was caught off guard by the controversy around his comments.
"It is my goal to love everyone. I hate no one," he said. "Regardless of their race, religion, their proclivities, the desire of their heart and how they want to live their life and the decisions that they make. I can even respect people's decisions and lifestyle choices just as I hope they have the courtesy to respect my decisions and my choices."
soundoff (2,339 Responses)
About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.


text:
Lilac time is a beautiful season in Sweden. It doesn't matter if it rains or the sun is shining. They are so lovely in every weather.
I did this drawing on ipad a couple of years ago. I didn't quite remembered how the lilacs looked but I gave it a try without checking out a photo of lilacs.


text:
Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng tells Anderson Cooper about confinement, beatings and the feel of freedom. He's speaking out for the first time since he escaped house arrest.
Post by: Anderson Cooper
Filed under: 360° Interview • China
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°


text:
Don't Just Follow the Money--Follow the Income
Lies are no substitute for truth and fantasy is no substitute for reality.
Follow the money is a good start--but what matters going forward is income, and most especially, net income and disposable income. Debt is important, money/capital flow is important, but when push comes to shove, all that matters is having net income/disposable income: to service debts, to invest, to spend.
Following the income leads us to wonder how OPEC oil exporters will manage with $250 billion less income in 2015, after suffering a $200 billion decline in 2014.That's a total of $450 billion of income that's vanished in a few years.
Since OPEC accounts for about 40% of global oil production, that means oil producers globally will earn $1 trillion less than they did in 2012.
Get a Job, Build a Real Career and Defy a Bewildering Economy(Kindle, $9.95)(print, $20)
Are you like me? Ever since my first summer job decades ago, I've been chasing financial security. Not win-the-lottery, Bill Gates riches (although it would be nice!), but simply a feeling of financial control. I want my financial worries to if not disappear at least be manageable and comprehensible.And like most of you, the way I've moved toward my goal has always hinged not just on having a job but a career.
You don't have to be a financial blogger to know that "having a job" and "having a career" do not mean the same thing today as they did when I first started swinging a hammer for a paycheck.
Even the basic concept "getting a job" has changed so radically that jobs--getting and keeping them, and the perceived lack of them--is the number one financial topic among friends, family and for that matter, complete strangers.
So I sat down and wrote this book: Get a Job, Build a Real Career and Defy a Bewildering Economy.
It details everything I've verified about employment and the economy, and lays out an action plan to get you employed.
I am proud of this book. It is the culmination of both my practical work experiences and my financial analysis, and it is a useful, practical, and clarifying read.
Test drive the first section and see for yourself. Kindle, $9.95 print, $20
"I want to thank you for creating your book Get a Job, Build a Real Career and Defy a Bewildering Economy. It is rare to find a person with a mind like yours, who can take a holistic systems view of things without being captured by specific perspectives or agendas. Your contribution to humanity is much appreciated."
Laura Y.
Gordon Long and I discuss The New Nature of Work: Jobs, Occupations & Careers(25 minutes, YouTube)
NOTE: Contributions/subscriptions are acknowledged in the order received. Your name and email remain confidential and will not be given to any other individual, company or agency.
|Thank you, Daniel E. ($5.25), for yet another marvelously generous contribution to this site-- I am greatly honored by your steadfast support and readership.


text:
Fujifilm North America Corporation Electronic Imaging Division today announced that the new, revolutionary FUJIFILM X-Pro1 Digital Camera has won four awards during the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week:
CNET "Best of CES 2012" - Best Camera
CNET recognized the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 digital camera as Best Camera saying, "The camera incorporates several innovations, including a promising new sensor and lovely hybrid viewfinder, all in a sleek, retro design."
The "Best of CES" Awards, which are produced and judged by CNET, recognize the hottest products at the 2012 CES, including a Best of Show and People's Voice award selected by the CNET online audience. The awards recognize the most innovative products that set the standard for all other products in the industry.
Popular Science "CES 2012 Product of the Future"
Popular Science magazine cited the FUJIFILM X–Pro1 digital camera saying, "Now, the X-Pro1 brings the same sleek look and innovative hybrid digital/optical viewfinder [as the FUJIFILM X-100 digital camera] to an interchangeable lens system, which currently includes three fast primes, or non-zoom lenses."
Popular Mechanics "CES 2012 Editor's Choice Award"
Popular Mechanics magazine chose the FUJIFILM X-Pro1calling it, "A stunner, a gorgeous slab of aluminum, synthetic leather, and precision-milled nobs and dials that manages to be featherlight, thanks to it magnesium build."
Tom's Guide "Best of CES 2012"
Tom's Guide also cited the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 saying, "Each year, there are a special few products at CES that really wow us. Among them is the Fujifilm X-Pro1, Fujifilm's new interchangeable lens camera."
"We are honored to receive these awards in recognition of the advanced technical innovation in our FUJIFILM X-Pro1 digital camera," said Go Miyazaki, division president, Imaging & Electronic Imaging Division, Fujifilm North America Corporation. "Professionals and consumers have enthusiastically recognized the FUJIFILM X100 and the FUJIFILM X10 as the new "must have" cameras. Now the X-Pro1 marks Fujifilm's re-entry into the interchangeable lens system camera category, with award winning design and technology that lives up to our legacy of supporting the culture of photography."
With unique technology designed to deliver unsurpassed image quality, the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 has three compact, bright, prime FUJINON lenses, a newly developed 16MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensorTM, incorporating a uniquely designed filter array to optimize image color and quality, and Fujifilm's proprietary EXR Processor technology. The FUJIFILM X-Pro1 is a worthy rival to the competitive cameras in the market.
To further expand its presence in the premium camera market, Fujifilm continues to focus on every detail, taking the X-Pro1 to the next level by featuring a new 2nd Generation Hybrid Multi
Viewfinder. The FUJIFILM X-Pro1 digital camera not only promises to deliver unsurpassed image quality and superb design, it also gives photographers a camera that looks and feels as good as the images it delivers.
About Fujifilm
FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation, consists of five operating divisions and one subsidiary company. The Imaging Division sells consumer and commercial photographic products and services including film, one-time-use cameras, online photo services and fulfillment, digital printing equipment and service. The Electronic Imaging Division markets consumer digital cameras. The Motion Picture Division provides motion picture film, and the Graphic Systems Division supplies products and services to the printing industry. The Optical Devices Division provides binoculars, and optical lenses for closed circuit television, videography, cinematography, broadcast and industrial markets. FUJIFILM Canada Inc. markets a range of Fujifilm products and services. For more information, please visit www.fujifilm.com/northamerica, or go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm via RSS, subscribe at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.
FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, digital printing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 16 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2010, and in the year ended March 31, 2011, had global revenues of $25.8 billion*. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.
* At an exchange rate of 86 yen to the dollar.


text:
More People Walk to Better Health
August 2012
About half of all adults get enough aerobic physical activity* to improve their health.
6 in 10
Walking is the most popular aerobic physical activity. About 6 in 10 adults reported walking for at least 10 minutes in the previous week.
Adults who walk for transportation, fun, or exercise went up 6 percent in 5 years.
More than 145 million adults now include walking as part of a physically active lifestyle. More than 6 in 10 people walk for transportation or for fun, relaxation, or exercise, or for activities such as walking the dog. The percentage of people who report walking at least once for 10 minutes or more in the previous week rose from 56% (2005) to 62% (2010).
Physical activity helps control weight, but it has other benefits. Physical activity such as walking can help improve health even without weight loss. People who are physically active live longer and have a lower risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers. Improving spaces and having safe places to walk can help more people become physically active.
*Aerobic activities like brisk walking, running, swimming and bicycling make you breathe harder and make your heart and blood vessels healthier.
Americans need more physical activity
Less than half of all adults get the recommended amount of physical activity.
- Adults need at least 2 and 1/2 hours (150 minutes) a week of aerobic physical activity. This should be at a moderate level, such as a fast-paced walk for no less than 10 minutes at a time.
- Women and older adults are not as likely to get the recommended level of weekly physical activity.
- Inactive adults have higher risk for early death, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers.
- Regular physical activity helps people get and keep a healthy weight.
- Walkable communities result in more physical activity.
More people are walking, but just how many depends on where they live, their health, and their age.
- The West and Northeast regions have the highest percentage of adults who walk in the country, but the South showed the largest percent increase of adults who walk compared to the other regions.
- More adults with arthritis or high blood pressure are now walking, but not those with type 2 diabetes.
- Walking increased among adults 65 or older, but less than in other age groups.
People need safe, convenient places to walk.
- People are more likely to walk and move about more when they feel protected from traffic and safe from crime and hazards.
- Maintaining surfaces can keep people who walk from falling and getting hurt. This also helps wheelchairs and strollers and is safer for people with poor vision.
- People need to know where places to walk in their communities exist that are safe and convenient.
- Walking routes in and near neighborhoods encourage people to walk to stops for buses, trains, and trolleys.
US government is
- Working with partners to carry out the National Prevention Strategy to make physical activity easier where people live, work, and play.
- Helping people get active through programs like Community Transformation Grants and Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity state programs, and by working with partners like Safe Routes to Schools.
- Studying ways that communities can make it easy and convenient for people to be more active.
State or local governments can
- Consider walking when creating long-range community plans.
- Consider designing local streets and roadways that are safe for people who walk and other road users.
- Consider opportunities to let community residents use local school tracks or gyms after classes have finished.
- Make sure existing sidewalks and walking paths are kept in good condition, well lit and free of problems such as snow, rocks, trash, and fallen tree limbs.
- Promote walking paths with signs that are easy to read, and route maps that the public can easily find and use.
Employers can
- Create and support walking programs for employees.
- Identify walking paths around or near the work place and promote them with signs and route maps.
- Provide places at work to shower or change clothes, when possible.
Individuals can
- Start a walking group with friends and neighbors.
- Help others walk more safely by driving the speed limit and yielding to people who walk.
- Use crosswalks and crossing signals when crossing streets and not jaywalk.
- Participate in local planning efforts that identify best sites for walking paths and sidewalks.
- Work with parents and schools to encourage children to walk to school where safe.
- Vital Signs: Walking Among Adults — United States, 2005 and 2010. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
- More Adults Are Walking [PODCAST – 1:15 minutes]
- More Adults Are Walking – What You Need to Know [PSA – 0:60 seconds]
- Winnable Battles
On Other Web Sites
- The Community Guide: Promoting Physical Activity
- MedlinePlus – Obesity
- MedlinePlus – Exercise and Physical Fitness


text:
Welcome to FUTURE FINISH
Welcome to Future Finish and thank you for taking the time to learn about our products and services. Future Finish is a leader in the Stop Painting Forever market. We combine exceptional application expertise, deep industry knowledge, and unsurpassed customer service. Future Finish is family owned and operated. Future Finish does not employ salespeople therefore all customers will interact with the owner of the company or management each and every step of the way, from first estimate to completion of the project and beyond. This is what sets Future Finish apart from the rest.
In addition, Future Finish is one of the only companies in this market that discloses who the true manufacturer of our products is. Our customers can have the highest level of confidence when making a decision about our products and services. An educated customer is a Future Finish customer!
Future Finish goes beyond providing an excellent product. We also provide outstanding application and installation standards and we continue after the job is finished with excellent customer support. If anything unforeseen should occur or any questions should arise after a project is completed, be it a month or years later, you can count on Future Finish being there for you. Our consistently high rate of client satisfaction demonstrates our commitment to those we serve. Call us today for a free estimate and see why Future Finish should be your last stop for your home! Call on us today and count on us in the Future!!


text:
A 17-year-old Hannah Kent was walking down a street in the North Iceland town of Sauðárkrókur in the late dawn of an Icelandic winter's day. A large SUV started to tail her. She walked faster; the vehicle sped up. She began to worry; in her native Australia, like most places, this was a cause for concern. The vehicle caught up with her again. This time, she slowed her pace. The vehicle pulled alongside her, and one of the rear windows lowered. Three children peered from inside, directly at Hannah. She caught the word Ástralía, amongst smiles and waves, and realized that the children were just curious about this girl visiting from the other side of the world.
Hannah Kent must be the least likeliest person to write a highly acclaimed novel set in Iceland, about an 1820s execution. She is from the searing heat of Adelaide and first visited Iceland on an exchange visit, choosing Iceland so she could see snow for the first time (her other choices were Sweden and Switzerland, so it was a dead cert!). If it hadn't been for a chance journey with her host family in northern Iceland, she would never have learned the story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir. The story that ended up forming her PhD.
Yet, somehow, all of these coincidences happened. The result, of course, is Burial Rites. Burial Rites was released in Australia in 2013, and is Hannah's debut novel. It's taken the world by storm since then, being nominated for the Guardian First Book Award and the Baileys women's prize for fiction.
I met Hannah during her jaunt around the U.K. promoting Burial Rites, in a wonderful bookshop called Booka. Surrounded by books, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee, I was genuinely pleased to meet her, and even more so on realizing that she clearly shared the same obsession for Iceland.
How did you find Sauðárkrókur?
It's very hard. I remember the Sauðárkrókur that I first encountered. It was alien, utterly strange and difficult to fit into. I felt conspicuous, and at the same time isolated. It wasn't helped that I was a very shy person, and I didn't put myself out there. It would have my earlier stay much easier if I had, but I wasn't able to, being who I was and my age. I do have specific memories of the town. I struggled. I struggled with the town, and didn't understand it, and then it changed. For the rest of my exchange, say nine months, it became my home. I've been back about five times since, to Sauðárkrókur. I ended up having three host families, and the second one really helped. They had four children under the age of ten. Kids have a great way of breaking down barriers, and helped me learn Icelandic. I also joined the local theater company, which helped and helped me meet different people in the community. I love the place now, I completely love it. I think of it as home.
What do you miss the most about Iceland?
I miss the people more than anything, but I also miss the landscape. I completely fell in love with the Icelandic landscape in a way that I'm still trying to articulate the hold that it has over my heart. You know yourself, don't you? It draws you and compels you, but at the same time makes it difficult to explain why it has a hold over me. I miss it. I miss it deeply.
I begin talking about my obsession with Iceland, and how we have written very different books, but both borne out of the inspiration that a love for Iceland provides.
Exactly, in the author's notes to Burial Rites, I call the book a dark love letter to Iceland. I completely stand by that. That's exactly how I feel.
Are you fluent in Icelandic?
Oh, I'm very rusty now. I learnt Icelandic when I was there, and didn't speak any English or anything else, and to a certain degree the amount of translation I had to do for my debut helped me keep it fresh, but there is very few opportunities to speak Icelandic back in Australia, so I have become rusty. When I go to Iceland, I need a good two weeks. I can understand it, that's not a problem, but it's speaking it and getting my tongue back in actions around those strange vowels and rolled rs.
(There's a question I'm dying to ask, and do so with a chuckle in my voice). Do you speak Icelandic with an Australian accent?
I don't know! No one will tell me. One time I was in Akureyri and someone asked me if I was from Sweden, so maybe I speak it with a Swedish accent. I have no idea.
Burial Rites is about to be translated into Icelandic, for the first time. How does that feel?
I'm really excited about it. I've had a considerable amount of feedback from Icelanders, not just the ones I know, that has been positive and supportive. That's been really important to me. I've also been contacted by a great many descendants of people who the characters in the book are based on—Natal Ketilsson, Björn Blöndal, the family at the farm—this has been very reassuring, because they are interested and encouraging. I think is due to an Icelandic open mindedness, a respect of literature and an appreciation that it does not necessarily have to adhere to a singular truth and that there may be other possibilities. I'm pleased that they've accepted it in that particular attitude and I'm very grateful for that.
Are you surprised by the global success of Burial Rites?
Absolutely. I never really anticipated it ever being published. I wrote it for a PhD qualification and my own personal reasons. So just seeing it on print is still the most exciting part because that's what I really wanted for a long time. Everything else is, of course, a wonderful bonus but it does bring with it a sense of surreality and I'm quite often both overwhelmed and completely grateful for the way in which so many readers have embraced the story.
Hannah plans her next novel to be set in Ireland (she jokingly admits to being lazy, and just changing one consonant), but I know that she'll be returning to Iceland. As we chat about Iceland until her publicist grows impatient, I realize that Hannah has a real passion for Iceland. Burial Rites is her dark love letter to the country, and one that deserves to be treasured.
Originally published on Iceland Review online.


text:
Condit stops Kampmann, eyes belt
Carlos Condit got revenge.
Now, he wants a title fight.
Condit stopped Martin Kampmann early in the fourth round Wednesday night, putting himself in position to challenge for Georges St. Pierre's UFC welterweight title.
Condit (29-7) dominated most of the fight and left no doubt about his superiority over Kampmann (20-7), a disputed split-decision winner over Condit in April 2009.
Condit landed several punches to Kampmann's bloodied face in the fourth, and the referee called the fight 54 seconds in.
"I think I solidified myself as a contender," Condit said. "I think I'm still maybe a fight away from another title fight, I hope."
UFC President Dana White said Condit is in the conversation.
"He's right there," White said. "He's going to be there."
In the other major fight on the card, Brazil's Rafael dos Anjos (20-6) unanimously outpointed Donald Cerrone (20-6) in a lightweight bout.
Condit held the world No. 2 ranking in the welterweight division while Kampmann was No. 6.
Kampmann controlled the action in the first round with several takedowns, but he failed to follow up.
Condit dominated the second round, landing several punch combinations and kicks and bloodying Kampmann's face. Condit completely dominated the third round, at several points looking as though he might end the fight by knockout or submission. Kampmann, with a severely bloodied nose, barely escaped.
Condit finally finished it in the fourth round.
"I did have a lot of energy," Condit said. "I've been in those championship rounds a few times in my career. Endurance has always been a tool and a weapon for me."
Kampmann said he was drained after his early success.
"I got the fast start I wanted," he said. "I gassed out completely. After the first round, I didn't feel like I had nothing left. I didn't have gas in the tank for it."
Condit lost his previous two fights, by decision against Jonny Hendricks and St. Pierre, so it was important for him to finish the fight before it went to the scorecards.
"I didn't want three losses in a row," he said. "I didn't want two losses to Martin. The first fight (against Kampmann) was close. I didn't want it to be close."
In the lightweight main event, dos Anjos was the aggressor for much of the bout against Cerrone. He knocked Cerrone to the mat with a strong right hand with about 2 minutes remaining in the first round, then gained an advantage on the ground later in the round but did limited damage with his punches.
Dos Anjos hit Cerrone with punches and kicks in the first half of the second round, then took him down in the final minute and remained in the dominant position the rest of the round.
"I had a perfect training camp for this fight and it showed out there," dos Anjos said. "I just want to thank God for all the blessings in my life. This win over Cerrone is my fifth straight, so I've taken a big step forward in my career. Whenever the UFC thinks I'm ready for a title shot I'd be honored to take it."
Dos Anjos said he felt he needed to have a strong performance so he wouldn't lose momentum.
"It was a big chance to prove to everybody that I was a top contender," he said. "I worked hard for that. My thought was I cannot lose this opportunity."
In other bouts, Court McGee beat Robert Whittaker by split decision in a welterweight bout, and Brad Tavares defeated Bubba McDaniel by unanimous decision in three rounds. Tavares won the first two rounds and held on in a more closely contested third round.
Dylan Andrews separated his shoulder in the first round of his middleweight bout with Papy Abedi and still won, flooring him with an uppercut in the third round before following with several solid punches that caused the referee to stop the bout.
Takeya Mizugaki edged Erik Perez by split decision in a bantamweight fight that had much of the crowd on its feet at the end.
Kelvin Gastelum defeated Brian Melancon by rear naked choke submission in the first round of their welterweight bout to remain undefeated.
"I feel great and I'm very happy," Gastelum said. "I wanted to show a bit of everything, and I think I did that. I rocked him and showed my standup and in the end I got the submission. After I hurt him I didn't want to give him a chance to recover so I just went the sure thing and sunk in the choke, it worked out. I'm ready for whatever is open next. Whatever the UFC wants next for me, I'm ready."


text:
Tips for Making Extra money
If you usually have a fixed salary, it might be so hard for you to think of purchasing some items. Therefore, for you to easily purchase some of the items which you might have desired to buy then you should think of how you will make extra money. Deliberating on the tips which are outlined below will easily help you know some of the crucial ways which can help you make extra money.
Firstly, you should think of your junk cars. If you do not know what to do with your junk cars then it is wise to think of how you will make extra money through them. Never identify a firm which will offer less price for purchasing your junk cars if you desire to make good extra money. Never think of having any deal with a company which will not offer the best price as you might have expected while selling your junk cars. Since there are so many companies mainly buys junk cars, if you identify the one which is not reliable enough then you might end up not fulfilling your desires as you might have expected. If you do not have junk cars, then this essential way cannot be effective to you when it comes to making extra money.
Selling your plasma is the second essential way which you can use to make extra money as you might have desired. This is so vital since you will be helping someone and at the same time make extra money which you can top up on your salary as you might have desired. Therefore, as you are going to draw your blood you should know the minimal time which will be taken to complete this process. If you are under the age of eighteen years then you might not be allowed to sell your plasma, and therefore this guide might not be crucial to you. You should first set the amount which you will require to for you to sell your plasma so that you may identify the right plasma center which will meet your expectations. If you are not healthy enough then you should not think of selling your plasma even though you might desire to make extra money.
The third important crucial way which is explored in this article that you can use to make extra money is by utilizing cashback. If you think of using a rewards card as a credit card you can be guaranteed of getting free money.
The explored above are some of the ways which you can use to make extra money only if you reflect on them quickly.


text:
Nick Giordano, vice president and counsel of International Affairs at the National Pork Producers Council, reported that in 2009, the United States exported 1.86 million metric tons of pork valued at $4.32 billion, a decrease of 9% in volume and 11% in value, compared to 2008. The decline was mostly attributed to decreased demand from Russia and China.
However, Giordona reminded, U.S. exports of pork and pork products have increased by more than 688% in volume and 657% in value since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994 and the Uruguay Round agreement in 1995. "New and expanded market access through trade agreements drives growth in U.S. exports, He announced during a press conference during World Pork Expo.
Dermot Hayes, Iowa State University economist, has calculated that U.S. hog prices are $64/head higher than they would be in the absence of esxports. The U.S. meat export market has generated 200,000 additional jobs, a growth of 20,000 to 30,000 jobs as annual exports have grown, Hayes adds.


text:
Inca, regional motifs inspire Lima Fashion Week
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Clothes inspired by the Incas and other pre-Hispanic cultures and the distinct patterns of Peru's regions have dominated the runways at Lima's fashion week.
The shows are highlighting the work of 16 Peruvian designers of clothes, jewelry and accessories as well as the collection of Spanish designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, who was invited as a special participant.
One dress presented by designer Sitka Semsh gave a contemporary spin to an Inca princess, while Ani Alvarez Calderon showed designs based on styles from the Puno and Lake Titicaca region. Amaro Casanova showed off a designed playing on the celebration of the Feast of Candlemas in the same area.
Ruiz de la Prada, meanwhile, flooded the catwalks with bold color and patterns.


text:
Yamaha electric, acoustic & bass guitars.
If you're shopping for that high-quality professional model or you're wanting to learn to play on a guitar or bass that will give you that "I'm not really a beginner" feeling you'll find something here at the Yamaha Music London store. All Yamaha guitars and Yamaha bass guitars are built to the high standards expected from one of the world's most iconic brands. For those that are just starting out, visit our Beginners Page, for advise on the perfect instrument for you.
Check out the Yamaha Pacifica range, if it's a classic solid-body electric guitar you're after or if you'd rather have an acoustic, view our range of both nylon and steel-strung acoustics. The entry-level Yamaha F310 acoustic guitar, perhaps, or the premier hand-crafted L series? Try the range of Yamaha Classical guitars, including ¾ size instruments for the smaller beginner, or is it an Yamaha APX electro-acoustic you're looking for? Yamaha guitars are built to suit all tastes and playing styles, not forgetting left-handed and hollow body semi-acoustic models. Or maybe you're interested in Silent Guitars - Yamaha's unique capability to combine modern and traditional elements into instruments that are truly innovative and versatile?
Yamaha Bass Guitars
Looking for a bass guitar? We've got models as used by the top professionals and others that will suit your budget and your tastes. How about the TRBX series if it's heavy rock that you're into? Or the BB series for all you jazz players? Check out our beginner models, such as those in the RBX series.
Don't forget the extras!
Besides the instrument you're looking for you'll find other accessories, such as amps, effects pedals and strings.


text:
Washington residents start rebuilding process
WASHINGTON — Rebuilding work could soon get underway in Washington, weeks after a massive tornado ripped through the central Illinois community.
Washington residents began applying for building permits on Monday, according to a report in the (Peoria) Journal Star.
The Nov. 17 tornado that touched down in the city of about 16,000 residents damaged or destroyed about 1,000 homes, killing one resident. The storm was part of a series of two dozen twisters that hit the state, killing seven people. So far, 15 counties have been declared federal disaster areas.
On Monday, a steady flow of residents visited with city officials to get information about rebuilding efforts. Homeowners will need to fill out an application and pay a permit fee. They also need to present a construction plan that will be reviewed by an inspector.
But that could prove to be a lengthy process, said Jon Oliphant, Washington's director of planning and development. That's because the community has a single, part-time building inspector.
"We're just asking for some patience from owners and contractors," Oliphant said.


text:
Westboro Baptist Church Taunts Anonymous Hackers: 'Bring It, Cowards'
The online hacktivist collective Anonymous first came into being to protest the Church of Scientology in 2008. After rising to prominence with recent pro-Wikileaks attacks against Mastercard, Visa and Paypal, the group is returning to its church-bashing roots. Anonymous' next target appears to be the hate-spewing Westboro Baptist Church. They may have met their match.
Yesterday, Anonymous issued an ultimatum to the congregants of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church. From the bombastic open letter:
We, the collective super-consciousness known as ANONYMOUS - the Voice of Free Speech & the Advocate of the People - have long heard you issue your venomous statements of hatred, and we have witnessed your flagrant and absurd displays of inimitable bigotry and intolerant fanaticism. We have always regarded you and your ilk as an assembly of graceless sociopaths and maniacal chauvinists & religious zealots, however benign, who act out for the sake of attention & in the name of religion.
ANONYMOUS cannot abide this behavior any longer. The time for us to be idle spectators in your inhumane treatment of fellow Man has reached its apex, and we shall now be moved to action. Thus, we give you a warning: Cease & desist your protest campaign in the year 2011, return to your homes in Kansas, & close your public Web sites.
Unbelievably, Westboro did not respond by shutting down its web site, or swearing never to protest another soldier's funeral. The 24-year-old granddaughter of Westboro founder Fred Phelps, Megan Phelps-Roper instantly shot back on Twitter:
Thanks, Anonymous! Your efforts to shut up God's word only serve to publish it further. God did that! Our response to you? Bring it, cowardsless than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone
Megan Phelps-Roper
And later, Westboro issued their own hilarious open letter:
A puddle of pimple-faced nerds organized under the cowardly banner of "Anonymous" claim they plan to hack Westboro's Websites… Bad miscalculation, girls!
Let us tell you how this will go: rebels will build a full head of steam based on false hope; the media will predictably do much breathless anticipating while giving another tsunami of coverage to Westboro's message; God will defeat your council; your efforts will fail.
She's right. If the point of an Anonymous attack on Westboro is to humiliate them, there is no point. Nothing Anonymous could do to Westboro would be worse than what they do to themselves: Protesting soldiers' funerals with enormous multicolored signs declaring"Thank God for Dead Soldiers," or putting out parody YouTube videos like "Hey Evil Reprobate Jews" (sung to the tune of "Hey Jude.")? And if an attack is meant to draw attention to their misdeeds, Who doesn't already know Westboro is scum? They revel in their repugnance. In the parlance of the Internet, Westboro are Master Trolls. Haters only make them famous.
Now that the gauntlet has been thrown, though, Anonymous must wrestle with the Westboro problem. In the chatroom discussing a potential Operation Westboro, opinion is divided. Some urge a full-on attack on Westboro's website, godhatesfags.com : "Defacing their website does seem like a good thing to start off with… 'Just kidding. God LOVES fags.'"
Others realize the self-defeating nature of an attack on Westboro: "going to go with the, no to opwestboro, they're just protestfags who are really good at using the same troll line on the right people to get a reaction. we've got better shit to do." (That "better shit" would be operations in support of protests in Bahrain and Libya.)
An Anonymous associate we spoke with seemed uncertain if anything will come of the war of words. "I think at this point its just mud slinging. Typical Trolls Trolling Trolls moment. But after Megan called them out they might do something now."
Eh, should be more entertaining than protesting a soldiers' funeral.
Update: according to a new press release, Anonymous is actually not attacking Westboro because... some reason.


text:
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard recovered the body of a woman and continued to search for a man off the coast of North Carolina who had been passengers aboard the tall ship HMS Bounty, which lost power Monday in Hurricane Sandy and sank after 14 other passengers were rescued.
A crew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., found Claudene Christian, 42, who was unresponsive, according to a Coast Guard update.
Robin Walbridge, 63, is missing, according to the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard had said that a C-130 Hercules aircraft and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter were scouring the waters for two who somehow did not get airlifted from their life rafts about 90 miles off Hatteras on the Outer Banks. The Coast Guard said it has not determined why the missing people were not among those initially rescued.
The replica of the infamous square-rigged tall ship, which was built from drawings for the ship to be used in the 1962 MGM film "Mutiny on the Bounty," docked in Belfast, Maine, earlier this year.
The HMS Bounty, a three-masted sailing ship that has appeared in two Hollywood movies, was reportedly sailing from Connecticut to St. Petersburg, Fla., when it began taking on too much water and lost propulsion.
The HMS Bounty Organization, which owns the ship, alerted the Coast Guard early Monday morning that it lost radio contact with its vessel Sunday night, according to the Coast Guard. After receiving the call from the owner, the Coast Guard's 5th District command center in Portsmouth, Va., then received a distress signal from the HMS Bounty, indicating its position.
The Coast Guard sent two Jayhawk helicopters to the scene, where passengers had already abandoned the ship and boarded 25-foot life rafts.
The Coast Guard said the passengers wore cold-water survival suits and life jackets and that the lifeboats had canopies.
In general, Coast Guard rescue helicopters lower baskets into the water and deploy rescue swimmers who help passengers climb into the baskets.
"With 40 mile-per-hour winds, 18-foot seas, waves and swells, and a mile of visibility, those are absolutely challenging circumstances to conduct this kind of hoist operation," said Lt. Mike Patterson, a Coast Guard spokesman. "That's a testimony to what our folks do."
The HMS Bounty Organization could not be reached for comment. Its website said the ship was built for the 1962 film "Mutiny on the Bounty," which starred Marlon Brando. The ship was also used in the 2006 film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
The Bounty was overhauled in 2006 in Boothbay Harbor.
No hometowns were released but rescued were: Daniel Cleveland, 25; John Svendsen, 41; Matthew Sanders, 37; Adam Prokosh, 27; Douglas Faunt, 66; John Jones, 29; Drew Salapatek, 29; Joshua Scornavacchi, 25; Anna Sprague, 20; Mark Warner, 33; Christopher Barksdale, 56; Laura Groves, 28; Jessica Hewitt, 25; and Jessica Black, 34.
The BDN contributed to this report.


text:
Anderson Cooper and Gloria Borger talk to Michael Barbaro of The New York Times about what led to Eastwood's RNC speech.
Post by: Anderson Cooper
Filed under: 2012 Election • Clint Eastwood • Gloria Borger • Mitt Romney • Republican National Convention
Clint Eastwood: Between Wishful Thinking and Imagination, LOL, Clint we all know you never have been a realist 🙂
I am absolutely stunned by Clint Eastwoods' hyper-partisan speech at the RNC. For an award winning actor and director, (which is what makes him an icon, not his political insight – despite being the former Mayor of Carmel, CA where I am writing from), his speech was poorly thought out and delivered. Perhaps, like all of us as we age, Clint is finally losing his ability to perceive what is real. Despite being the ordinary guys' hero from the characters he has portrayed in his many movies, Clint Eastwood is, first and last, just another of the 1% mega-rich Republican multi-millionaires (if not a billionaire) that care about keeping policy in place that protects his wealth. George W. Bush wanted to place retired military personnel on Medicare instead on delivering on the countries' implied promise to care for its veterans (of which I am a combat-veteran – are you Clint? – nah, just in the movies – none of your hero roles are actually real, are they?). Paul Ryan, another professional politician, would have Medicare privatized. Bet this new industry would benefit "the suits" who are responsible for the economic meltdowns and gross white-collar theft business that are a part and parcel of American reality now. Mr. Eastwood – I am so disappointed you do not know what is reality now. Henceforth, I will boycott every movie, acted, directed or produced by you. I am even going to throw my "Clint" jacket in the trash. Never insult the Commander-in-Chief. What did you mean when you drew a finger across your throat and have the Secret Service given you a threat assessment interview like they do for other nuts? Are you the new "Nuge"? LOL
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°


text:
In a terse exchange with the New York Times, Melinda Gates, wife of billionaire tech playboy William Gates, says she's all but banned Apple products from the Garden of Eden—er, her household.
It's a show of solidarity with her husband, the former head of Microsoft, who famously banned all Apple products from his company's campus when he presided there in his spartan Microsoft Office-equipped office back in 2005.
Business Insider has graciously excerpted the Apple-related answers from the interview, all of which are short enough to feel right at home in a Twitter feed:
Do you own an iPod, which is made by Apple?
No, I have a Zune.
What if one of your children says, "Mom, I have to have an iPod?"
I have gotten that argument - "You may have a Zune."
Do you have an iPad?
Of course not.
Is it true that Bill works on an Apple laptop?
False. Nothing crosses the threshold of our doorstep.
Isn't there room in this world for both Apple and Microsoft?
Microsoft certainly makes products for the Macintosh. Go talk to Bill.
Apple MacBook Air Laptop
Powerful performance
The M1 chip delivers 3.5x faster performance than the previous generation all while using way less power. Get up to 18 hours of battery life.
Of course, Microsoft does indeed make products for the Mac, most notably Office, which Apple execs openly gushed over at the big Lion OS keynote last week.
The full (brief) interview is worth a read, as it is actually a profile of the very generous Melinda Gates who, as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, oversees the largest private foundation in the world. Just don't expect that generosity to include free Apple products. [New York Times via Business Insider, Image: NYT]


text:
Story highlights
Mortar rounds hit military headquarters in Mosul, killing two soldiers
Gunmen kill principal of girls' school in Mosul, police say
Pair of bombings kill 27, injure 85 in Baghdad
Violence comes amid tensions between Sunnis, Shiites in Iraq
Bombs and mortars shook the major Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Mosul on Thursday, killing at least 30 people and hurting nearly 100 others, police said.
Two explosions rocked Baghdad, the capital, killing at least 27 people and injuring 85, police said.
In the first attack, a roadside bomb exploded at an outdoor market, killing seven people and wounding 15 in southern Baghdad's Dora district.
The second blast took place in northern Baghdad's Saba al-Boor-area, when a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest blew himself up in an outdoor market, according to authorities. At least 20 people were killed and 70 others were wounded in that attack.
The motives and perpetrators weren't immediately clear, but the attacks come amid ongoing friction between Iraq's Shiite Muslim and Sunni Muslim populations.
In Mosul, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of Baghdad, two soldiers were killed and 13 others were wounded when mortar rounds landed on a military headquarters, police officials in Mosul said.
Separately Thursday, gunmen fatally shot the principal of the Nablis school for girls outside her home in eastern Mosul, police said.
Also, a police officer who was investigating a recent attack in Mosul was critically wounded when a roadside bomb exploded at his vehicle in the central part of the city, police said.
Iraq has seen a sharp increase in tension between its Shiite and Sunni populations since April, when security forces raided a site used by Sunni protesters to demonstrate against the Shiite-led government.
Sunnis, who represent a minority of Iraqis, have felt politically marginalized since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Shiites, who make up a majority of Iraqis, now dominate the government.
Shiite President Nuri al-Maliki's government fears it is being targeted by Sunni Islamists involved in fighting in neighboring Syria.
Thursday's violence came a day after 25 people were killed in attacks across the country, Baghdad police said.


text:
At the end of a long, dirt road in Mexico's northeast jungle, two spiral staircases appear, leading nowhere amid an ornate concrete structure. Giant concrete fleurs-de-lis flank a pathway, and tall bamboo-shaped columns surround a house with no walls. Oversize plaster orchids are in permanent bloom, while a natural waterfall ceaselessly flows down a mountain.
This is Las Pozas, a dreamy, little-known garden of surreal art, where sculptures evoke the ruins of ancient Greece but are overrun by exotic jungle plants. It was created by the late Edward James, a British multimillionaire and arts patron who favored surrealists like Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali.
"Mr. Edward wanted to bewilder," said Carlos Barbosa, a park guide. He thought of the park "as a joke to a future civilization."
And visitors are bewildered by Las Pozas, located on a 100-acre hillside where the Sierra Madre mountains and coastal plains of the northeast state of San Luis Potosi meet.
"I had seen videos and documents but I didn't expect it to be so impressive," said Vida Arellano, a tourist from the northern state of Chihuahua. "Once you are here, you are enveloped by nature, the sculptures, the architecture … it transports you to a different mental state."
Las Pozas means the pools.
Originally, an orchid farm
The ferocity of the jungle in these hills of the Sierra Madre, a seven-hour drive from Mexico City, has destroyed many structures in the garden. But that didn't bother James, who liked to think that future archaeologists would discover his lost city and wonder what kind of civilization had built it, Barbosa said.
James inherited a fortune from his father and used the money to support the work of great surrealists, including Dali, Magritte, Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo. Fascinated with Mexico, he arrived in San Luis Potosi in the mid-1940s, bought land through a Mexican friend and spent the next 20 years of his life building his garden.
The park was half-built by the time its creator died 30 years ago, but it remains an impressive work of art, with an air of mystery added by the rust and deterioration brought on by nature.
The original project, interestingly, had nothing to do with the garden's ultimate design.
For years, James cultivated thousands of orchids on his land, but in 1962 a cold snap destroyed them, said Zaira Linan, the park's assistant director. James then ordered workers to build cement flowers that weather couldn't destroy, Linan said.
The son of British aristocrats and grandson of a Canadian timber baron, James first came to Mexico in 1944 at the invitation of psychiatrist Erich Fromm. He joined a salon of intellectuals and artists at Cuernavaca, the resort city just southeast of Mexico City.
It was in Cuernavaca that he met Plutarco Gastelum, a Mexican friend who helped oversee the garden's progress as workers built wooden molds from James' drawings and filled them with cement to create the sculptures.
James' imagination didn't stop with the flowers. He began to design increasingly complex sculptures, often inspired by artistic philosophies he encountered in his travels. He would sketch his sculptures on postcards and mail them to Gastelum.
A labyrinth of paths
Barbosa remembered with amusement James' many eccentricities, including the time he asked a cook to make a banquet for a menagerie of exotic animals he kept and loved like his children.
James "used to walk naked through the park and even though he was a millionaire, he often slept in a sleeping bag among the weeds," Barbosa said.
Walking through the labyrinthine paths overrun by the jungle is an adventure. And just when it seems that there is nothing more to see, a small, stone pre-Columbian house opens the way to a stunning square where a giant concrete sculpture of a blooming flower sits.
With park guides' help, visitors can access the most remote corners of the park, including a concrete bed shaped like a tree leaf where James used to meditate and prepare for death.
But James didn't die in his precious park. He died in 1984 in San Remo, Italy, when a stroke put an end to his delirious project.
Since he didn't leave any sketches for future sculptures, construction halted and the jungle began to take over, Linan said.
In 1990, Gastelum's son, who is also named Plutarco, opened the park to the public. He remembers James as a "tender" character whom he called "Uncle Eduardo," and says he is often surprised by the curious anecdotes he reads about James, including one that claims he may be an unacknowledged descendant of Britain's King Edward VII.
"It wasn't until I was much older that I thought, 'How come I have an English uncle?' " Gastelum said laughing.
In 2007, Gastelum turned the garden over to a foundation so more resources could be devoted to preserving its 36 sculptures. Today it draws 75,000 visitors annually.
By Teresa de Miguel Escribano


text:
The Real Wayne and Garth: Public Access TV's Eccentric Survivors
The Internet should have killed their medium years ago. But these self-made television hosts have no plans to go off the air -- even if nobody's watching.
Spotlights shine down on a small stage raised a foot off the ground, illuminating a pink shag carpet, two fake plants, a stuffed teddy bear, and a crumpled pirate flag. In the shadows immediately offstage, a red-caped performer quickly applies a layer of makeup to his cheeks and forehead.
"I don't wear makeup in real life," he says. "But on camera I look so hideous if I don't have a little bit of makeup on, and I only look kind of hideous if I have a lot of makeup on."
"You've got a great outfit," an audience member tells him. "But, what's going on here?"
Related Story
"I don't know, I'm dressed like a pirate for some reason," the performer answers, looking down at his own costume. "It was either this or a Viking, and I just really couldn't justify the Viking. You know, pirate -- I can kind of go pirate."
As the clock inches toward 7 p.m., the middle-aged operators start their countdown behind a pane of glass. "Bring it up, okay, go to studio," commands Steve, the long-bearded director. There's a pause. A black screen flickers. "I am -- it's not going!" insists an equally long-bearded man named Marcel sitting to his right, pressing one button after another. At last,the image of Moby Theobald, the made-up pirate, flashes onto the screen, and Steve and Marcel exhale deeply.
"Welcome one and all to episode 128 of 'Watch This!'", Theobald says, bounding onto the stage. The lone audience member, sitting at the back of the classroom-turned-studio, claps his approval.
This is public access television, beamed into thousands of homes across Berkeley and the East Bay. Watch This!, an hour-long variety show, is one of dozens of programs airing on Berkeley Community Media, a public access stalwart and one of the last of a dying breed. On any given night, Channel 28 (BeTV for short) plays host to a range of local programming--from the politically charged talk show "Stoney Speaks" to "Frank Moore's Unlimited Possibilities," which features a naked, quadriplegic host and a series of equally naked guests engaged in what can only be described as softcore porn. A typical '80s Wayne's World aesthetic generally prevails.
"You're always picturing some guy dressed in a wizard costume with a blue screen in the background," Jeff Kimmich, BeTV access facilitator, says. "We put on what you give us. That's kind of the best and the worst part of the place."
The idea of public access television is simple: government-funded non-profit TV stations like BeTV typically provide training, equipment, and studio space for citizens to produce their own television shows. The shows are then broadcast on a channel designated solely for local programming. The principles behind these stations emerged during the infancy of cable TV in the early 1970s, when media advocates argued that local communities should have access to this powerful communication tool.
Today, the Internet has replaced most of the functions of public access television--community engagement, self-expression, voyeurism -- and cash-strapped cities throughout the country have slashed funding to community stations. But in Berkeley, this antiquated relic is still hanging on: Berkeley Community Media remains a bubbling community of creative eccentrics eager to "be TV."
"Stoney Speaks"
In the smaller of two studios at Berkeley Community Media's office -- a series of converted classrooms on the vast Berkeley High School campus -- longtime public access producer Stoney Burke finishes taping the most recent episode of his show, Stoney Speaks. Burke has been producing the show since 1985, years before BeTV went on the air. (A short-lived community studio was open in the mid-70s, but a series of disputes between the city and the cable companies kept local programming largely off the air until the launch of BeTV in 1994.)
Burke uses his monthly time slot to rant about local and national politics, and to give voice to local Bay Area characters. "I like putting people on TV that have never been on TV," Burke says, sitting next to tonight's guest, "Bishop Joey," of the First Church of the Last Laugh, a satirical, faux-religious group.
Burke, 59, has a strip of dyed green hair ringing his otherwise bald head. Tonight, he's wearing a tattered burlap sack that covers his whole body. Next to him, Bishop Joey wears an ersatz clergyman's cloak and a fez and wields a 12-inch plastic bone like a wand. They sit in front of a set decorated with political posters, slogans, and drawings. They call themselves "broke-butt clowns" and do a sort of Laurel and Hardy give-and-take. "When people have the remote in their hand and they're switching channels, they stop, and go, 'What the heck was that?'" Burke says. "That doesn't look like anything you've ever seen on a blog or something like that."
Before there was quality streaming video, says BeTV programming coordinator Arielle Elizabeth, public access was the most viable option for distributing and watching independent content. "People watched TV to see what their community was doing. Now, things have changed." These days, Elizabeth says, people "go looking to YouTube to learn things, and to hear different ideas and thoughts. They don't flip through TV."
For Burke, though, the allure of television remains strong. He's a Berkeley legend who has been performing his political clown act on U.C. Berkeley's Sproul Plaza since the late 70s. His television show is an extension of his street performance, a way to reach a larger audience. "This is cheaper for me to do than buy a bunch of giant computers ... work at a keyboard or some stupid thing. That's not TV," he says. "Here they give you a technician. All you have to do is do your thing and fill your space, and it goes right on the air, reaches about 20,000 people."
Twenty thousand is a stretch. BeTV's Channel 28 -- along with Channel 35, which is reserved for government programming -- reaches about 17,000 homes throughout Berkeley and parts of neighboring Albany, Emeryville, and North Oakland, as part of Comcast and AT&T cable packages. But, clearly, not every cable subscriber watches BeTV. It is impossible to track the exact viewership because BeTV isn't included in any Nielsen rating programs. "They say with cable access, take it down to about 1,000 [viewers per show]," Burke acknowledges. By comparison, Burke uploaded about 20 videos to YouTube last year and has had a total of 2,700 views. Sixteen people subscribe to his channel.
The exposure public access provides is vital for Burke, but he holds out hope for greater notoriety. "I'm still looking for my William Hung moment," he says, referring to the American Idol's star turn, "that one moment in media history where they go, 'Did you see what that guy did? It was the funniest thing.' I'm still looking for that moment."
"Watch This!"
On one 1999 episode of Stoney Speaks, Burke interviewed a local comic book artist who had never been on television. On March 24 of this year, that guest, Moby Theobald, aired his 128th show on BeTV. "I was just blown away by the whole idea," Theobald recalls. "A person can put on their own show. This is amazing!"
Shortly after appearing on Stoney Speaks, Theobald decided to produce a variety show like the ones he grew up watching. In May 2001, he filmed his first episode of Watch This! Eleven years later, the show's format is remarkably similar -- a mix of comedic monologue and pre-filmed sketches, which Theobald writes, shoots, edits, and acts in, playing most of the roles in various costumes and disguises. His makeup kit includes about 20 different mustaches.
Theobald, who produces a show every two or three weeks, sees it as "a way of being validated, a way of saying, 'Oh, you have meaning.'" He just wishes he could get paid for it. "I guess the dream would be somebody saying, 'Hey kid, I'm gonna make you a star! Come over here, sign this, sign this," Theobald says in his gruffest agent voice, pantomiming a cigar in hand. "A bunch of cast members on Saturday Night Live got discovered through Internet sites. But that's not a plan, that's like saying, 'My retirement plan is I'm going to win the lottery.' Yeah, work on that luck, buddy."
For now, Theobald is sticking to his day jobs as a caretaker and as a day manager at a Berkeley pizzeria. After finishing a shift one recent weekday, he used the restaurant as the setting for a sketch. Changing out of his dingy T-shirt and customary brimmed hat, he donned an all-black leather vest that showed off his bare chest. He pulled out his camera, set up his tripod, and got to work. Borrowing a few empty beer glasses and pitchers for set decoration, Theobald issued directions to Steve, the bearded director, who is his friend and neighbor and often hangs out helping film sketches and directing the live shows.
Theobald took a seat in a booth and Steve stood behind him recording. Theobald then reached up and pretended to strangle Steve, who made gurgling noises and wriggled about. The scene was for an upcoming skit called "Inside the Music's Behind," a riff on VH1 specials and ASCAP music rights.
After the scene wrapped up, one of Theobald's co-workers asked, "When's this going to be on? Can I see it?"
"Friday, Channel 28," he replied. "Do you have cable?"
"No," she said. "Can I get it on an antenna?"
"I don't know. But it streams live on our website."
The irony seemed lost on both of them. Theobald is in his 40s, younger than Stoney Burke, but he still resides firmly in the pre-Internet generation for whom television possesses an aura unmatched by streaming videos online. "I haven't figured out how to post videos on the Internet," Theobald confesses, even though he is skilled at Photoshop, iMovie, and other complicated software. So why doesn't he just learn how to upload his videos? Why does he need an entire television station at his disposal?
In response, Theobold recounts an interaction another producer had with a guest on his public access show. "The guest said, 'I want my friends to see that I was on television. I know it's on a disc or YouTube, and I can watch it anytime I want. But it's not the same." For Theobald and other public access enthusiasts, "the thrill of television is it's somehow out of your hands." When a show airs on BeTV, "somebody else is saying, 'This is good, we're going to put this on.' Or, 'This is terrible, we're going to put it on anyway because that's how we roll.'"
Next page: How soft-core porn gets on the air
"My Naked Truth"
"Anything can get on the air," Arielle Elizabeth, BeTV programming coordinator, says matter-of-factly. Anyone with a membership -- $60/year for Berkeley residents, $100/year for non-residents -- can reserve studio time and equipment. Once the show is completed, the creator simply turns in a DVD. Elizabeth slots it into BeTV's schedule, and the show airs. That's it. Currently, BeTV's mainstays include the food show Cooking with Ruben, the long-running youth literacy program Wee Poets, the counterculture explorations of Bay Area 51, the spiritual ponderings of Crystal Mind, and the nude discussions of My Naked Truth.
"We do not censor anything based on content," Elizabeth says. In fact, BeTV staff members are expressly prohibited from watching any show before it airs. "You can have practically soft-core porn, or you can be doing something very insightful and meaningful. There's sort of no real boundary." Well, there is one: "adult programming" can only air between 10pm and 6am. Other than that, anything is fair game.
But even that restriction is vague. Public access programming like BeTV is not governed by the FCC, the body responsible for regulating content broadcast on radio, television, satellite, and cable systems across the country. "We're governed by the city," Elizabeth says, "and the city believes in free speech." Since Elizabeth and her staff cannot review content until it airs, the "adult" label is applied at the discretion of each individual producer. When submitting a show, a producer simply checks a box labeled "adult," alerting Elizabeth to air the show after 10pm.
In her five years at BeTV, Elizabeth has only had to pull one program off the air, an episode of My Naked Truth. One afternoon several years ago, she received a call from a furious mother. "'What the heck was that? My kid just saw a naked man on TV at 2 p.m.,'" Elizabeth says, quoting the angry caller. "I should've used my brain," she admits. "But Gypsy (the show's producer) didn't check the adult box."
BeTV's commitment to free speech has been essential to its continued existence. In 2006, California passed the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act, which directly altered the way the state's public access stations are funded. Until 2006, cable companies had to negotiate a "franchise fee" with every local municipality they operated within. An earlier federal mandate had each area setting aside a portion of that franchise fee to fund local television stations. The California act ended this relationship by allowing cable companies to negotiate directly with the state, eliminating the funds that had been designated for many public access stations.
Without dedicated revenue coming from cable companies, the onus to fund these stations fell upon individual city councils. Many have chosen to cut or remove funding, leading to the closure of numerous stations. But not in Berkeley. "The council members realized that Berkeley is the bastion of free speech," David Joliffe, executive director of Berkeley Community Media, says. "This type of non-profit agency offers unfettered access to free speech. So they uphold their heritage by keeping us funded."
"Berkeley is a special place in this country," Stoney Burke says. "If you say 'Berkeley,' you don't say, 'Oh yeah, great oranges!' No, you say, 'Free speech!'" Throughout Burke's 27-year public access career, he has worked at numerous stations throughout the Bay Area (most of which have gone dark). At other stations, he says, his radical political views resulted in passive forms of censorship, like being told that no technicians or studio space were available. But that has never happened at BeTV. "That's why this place is so strong and that's why I validate it so much," he says, "Because it isn't just a cable access station. It represents the values of this community."
"I think the residents of Berkley are very lucky that the city of Berkeley still believes in [public access]," Arielle Elizabeth says. But after more than 10 years in public access, she is realistic about the future; she won't be surprised when BeTV goes off the air. "We are at the end of an era. I hope people enjoy it while we have it."
"Dead Air"
When David Jollife became Executive Director of BeTV in 2008, the goal of public access was to influence people. "Now that's over," he says. But in this digital era, Jollife still sees value in a brick-and-mortar meeting place where people like Moby Theobald and Stoney Burke can meet and make a show about whatever they want. "When people with a like mindset gather in a certain place," Jollife says, "the result is a lot stronger than when you put something up on YouTube." That is certainly debatable, but there is no denying the camaraderie within the BeTV family.
"I've come to think of it, honestly, as a form of group therapy," says BeTV facilitator Jeff Kimmich. "People come together to do studio shows and they all have to work together to achieve something. If that makes their lives better, then I don't see anything wrong with it."
"Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for, " Theobald says, now back on stage, wrapping up the 128th episode of Watch This! with guest Stoney Burke by his side. "I want to thank our wonderful crew and lovely staff," Theobald says. "Steve, Lily, and Bobby and Joey and Chewy and Han and Leia and Luke and all the droids. Here it is, the end of the show!"
The screen fades to black as Theobald and Burke rise from their seats, hug, and take off their microphones. Marcel turns to Steve. "We still have 90 seconds of airtime. Should we go back to studio? We don't want dead air." Steve considers this but decides against it. Dead air doesn't seem so bad.
"Yeah, it's not professional-grade quality, but that's because the people aren't professionals," Theobald says after the taping. "The shows are real and homespun, and they're produced by people in your community who are communicating from their heart and from life experiences."
Who they're communicating with seems irrelevant. "I know people are watching," programming director Elizabeth insists, "because when something's wrong with the channel I get calls." Theobald and Burke watch each other's shows, but not many other public access shows. This is not uncommon: Even public access advocates don't seem to watch much public access programming. But in non-commercial media, viewership isn't what matters. Theobald, Burke, and other producers will continue making their shows until they're told they can't, whether or not anyone is actually watching.


text:
After two and a half weeks, we finally scored a kill against Garalon. Every encounter after the first six progression hard modes is an exercise in patience and grinding. Our first (and only) Spirit Kings kill was a huge sigh of relief. By comparison, the Garalon kill was falling out of the chair from exhaustion. During the pulls pulls where everyone gets a good look at the new mechanics, people play a little more cautious. Everyone's testing the boundaries of what they're capable of. They're experimenting with their specs and retuning themselves specifically for that fight.
But once people start getting the hang of it, it gradually gets easier. Once the strategy is ironed out and the team is exposed to the rest of the phases, it's a mammoth of a DPS and healing check.
Our kill on heroic Garalon mirrored our kill on normal. I swear Garalon was mid-air just before the enraged Crush was about to connect. Healers were busy throwing as much DPS as they could in the final seconds. All the pulls earlier on in the night were all over the place. It's easy to tell when players are losing focus.
They trip into the crush-zone.
They're sloppy on Pheromone passes.
They get caught by the cleave.
Chalk it up to nerves. Maybe they're gripping the mouse too hard. Who knows? Everyone deals with anxiety and pressure differently. Garalon's pretty damn nerve wracking as it is.
All the strategies that are used on normal still apply. Keep the DoT classes working on the legs while the ranged players focus down the torso. Melee players will be jumping from leg to leg. We like to open the fight with Heroism but it's not uncommon for it to be used in the final sub 33% phase.
- We opened our Pheromone kite order with 2 tanks, then all the ranged DPS, then all the healers. You might want to pick a melee player two as the final backups in case your kiters suffer casualties along the chain.
- Players that are next on the kite order should be in position when the current kiter has anywhere from 6 – 9 stacks as you'll be passing around 13.
- Given the option, it's okay to get rid of the Pheromone before a crush even if your stack isn't near 13. I had to hand mind off at around 10. Had I waited to pass it after the crush, my stacks would have reached 15.
- The kiters near the stairs should leave a few gaps in Pheremone puddles as they drop them. This gives more path options for the kiters further on down the assignment chain.
- Crush is no longer coupled to Pheromone passing. Have a raid-wide defensive cooldown planned for each Crush.
- Healers should spike low health individuals in the few seconds leading up to a Crush so that they don't take lethal.
Healing Priests
- Spirit Shell gives you an edge. With two, it's possible to alternate that on Crushes.
- Atonement DPS on legs (especially within the blue circles) is a major plus.
- Echo of Light is also amazing.
As a Shadow Priest, I feel like I'm the worst DPS class on this fight. Maybe it's just me. Nothing like seeing myself in 16th place consistently.
The next boss for us is heroic Lei Shi. Right now, our biggest hurdle is consistently handling the Protectors as they spawn at the 20% intervals. They seem to ace and crush our healers quickly. How did your group handle them?


text:
After the London Olympics' closing ceremony on Sunday, the world's greatest athletes will disperse back across the globe. Some will continue to train, with an eye to the 2016 Games (and possibly lucrative endorsement deals) while others will retire from sports altogether and begin the slow transition into less competitive careers. To celebrate the latter group's final march away from the medal stand, let's review our sports heroes of years past and their post-Olympic trajectories. (Can someone say "motivational speaking fee"?)
Ahead, details on the diver who inspired an eerie Michael Fassbender performance, the track-and-field star who segued to bobsled, the figure-skater who stripped off her leotard, and more.