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Editorial: A new job for Kerry
Like many of his constituents, we greet Sen. John Kerry's nomination to be the next secretary of state with mixed feelings.
Kerry has served Massachusetts in elective office for 30 years, in the U.S. Senate since 1984. He has steadily grown in knowledge and public respect. After losing a close race for president in 2004, he remained a national figure on a range of issues. Since the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy, Kerry has stepped even more firmly into the ranks of the Senate's most respected leaders.
But foreign affairs has always been Kerry's first passion. He first came to national attention soon after returning from service in Vietnam, when he became one of the most articulate young critics of that war. In 1971, he gave riveting testimony to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, a committee he has chaired since 2009. He has been near the center of every foreign policy debate of the last three decades.
Kerry has traveled the globe as a senator, often pursuing diplomatic tasks for the Obama administration. He has personal relations with most of the world's leaders. He understands the use of military force from the inside and the outside, and can be trusted to advocate for force if necessary, restraint if possible. For decades, Kerry has been involved in international negotiations on climate change and other environmental issues. He has said he fell in love with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, at a global warming conference in Rio.
Kerry is more than qualified to serve as secretary of state, and it's no secret he has long coveted the position. We appreciate having had him as our senator, but we congratulate him on his appointment and wish him well.
Kerry's elevation means that political season, which just came to a welcome pause six weeks ago, is open again.


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One of the keys that most people pointed to for Georgia to have a chance against Georgia Tech was time of possession. Georgia wound up achieving its goal of holding Tech under its season average. Interestingly, while there was certainly a measurable effect on the number of plays the Jackets ran, the stats show that there was more to the end result than that.
Going into the game, Georgia Tech was averaging ten more plays on offense (69.36) than it was allowing on defense (59.36). Georgia actually allowed roughly four more plays per game on defense (64.72) in its first eleven games than it ran on offense (60.64). Tech wound up running six more plays Saturday night (64) than did Georgia (58). As you can see, Georgia really didn't do more than narrow the margins; the seasonal trends still played out.
What else made the difference, then? Two things: turnover margin and yards per play. For only the second time all year, Georgia won the turnover battle. The Dawgs also enjoyed a significant edge in yards per play, gaining 7.2 ypp to Tech's 5.3 ypp. And if you look at the Jackets' seasonal stats, all of that mattered.
The Tech defense yielded similar or worse ypp numbers in four other games this year, all of them wins: 7. 2 against Mississippi State; 8.2 against FSU; 7.4 against Virginia Tech; and 7.5 against Vanderbilt. Tech didn't have an advantage in ypp in any of those games. But Tech was +4 in turnover margin against MSU and had significant possession advantages against Virginia Tech (70-45) and Vanderbilt (82-53). The FSU game was the (slight) puzzler, statistically speaking, as the Seminoles had one more possession on offense than Georgia Tech, went +1 in turnover margin and were even on ypp. (FSU did have 65 yards in penalties compared to Tech's 9, though.)
What all these numbers suggest is that Mike Bobo called a great game. (Georgia's ypp number against Tech was 1.3 ypp above its season average going into the game.) Georgia needed to control the game throughout and Bobo made sure that happened. As I said in the wake of the Auburn game, if you're a good offensive coordinator, taking what the other guy gives you until he stops it is where you start. Tech never had an answer for the Georgia running game and Bobo resisted any urge he might have had to get cute with the playcalling. Tech had nothing else to counter with. And that, in the end, was your ball game.

subset: commoncrawl


text: I have a soft spot for loaf cakes. They're not flashy. They don't need to dress up all pretty. They're happy just the way they are, simple and tasty. And everyone else is happy with them the way they are too, because they totally rule your face. I wish I were a loaf cake. Or something. Click here if you wish you were a loaf cake too!


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NEW ORLEANS -- The defending Super Bowl champion Saints have demonstrated that they can defend with the best in the NFL this season.
If coach Sean Payton's offense regains its prolific form of the past four years, the Big Easy could find itself gearing up for another round of Lombardi Gras, as post Super Bowl celebrations around here have become known.
The Saints went into their bye this week riding a two-game winning streak and confident that things would only get better with rest and the likelihood of having some key players -- notably Reggie Bush -- return from injury.
"This bye week is coming at a perfect time," said Bush, who has missed seven games since fracturing a bone in his lower right leg in Week 2 at San Francisco.
Bush expects to play when the Saints (6-3) return next week at home against the Seattle Seahawks and the running back's old college coach, Pete Carroll.
While Payton gave players off Wednesday through Sunday to do as they pleased, Bush asserted, "I'm not going anywhere." The running back and punt returner said he would continue rehabilitation in preparation for coming back at full speed against the Seahawks.
"I've been out of it for a little bit, and it's time to get back to football," Bush said. "Time to get back to doing what I love to do, and that's just going out there and making plays."
Pierre Thomas, who was the Saints' leading rusher last season and showed a knack for turning screens into big gains, has missed six games since spraining his left ankle. It isn't yet clear when he'll come back, but Payton expressed optimism that Thomas' return also could come soon after the bye.
"I'm optimistic that Pierre will be able to (practice) next week as well, but I would say that Reggie's a little further ahead of him," Payton said.
The Saints entered the bye week trailing the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons by just a half-game for the top record in the NFC.
"We're in position to fulfill our goals," fullback Heath Evans said. "We've got to get hot at the right time. We've got to continue to build on what we've done the last couple weeks. ... Championship teams step up in November and December, and we'll find out if we're one."
Even without Bush and Thomas, the Saints have shown signs of regaining their stride offensively during the past month, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by 25 points, the Pittsburgh Steelers by 10 and the Carolina Panthers by 31.
After an up-and-down 4-3 start that included several narrow escapes against struggling teams, successive double-digit wins over Pittsburgh and Carolina offered the first real proof this season that New Orleans could play well against different types of opponents in consecutive weeks.
"We've worked hard, especially these last two weeks, to come into this bye week at 6-3," quarterback Drew Brees said. "That was a big emphasis for us."
The Saints are now seventh in the NFL in total offense, averaging 369.9 yards per game, and 14th in scoring at 22.3 points per game. Those numbers are somewhat pedestrian compared to last season, when they averaged 403.8 yards and 31.9 points, best in the league in both categories.
New Orleans might not be able to match that pace this season, but it might not have to because of improvements on defense.
The Saints ranked third in defense through Week 9, allowing 277 yards per game, down by 80 yards per game from 2009. Despite injuries that sidelined several key defensive backs such as Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer and Darren Sharper, New Orleans leads the NFL in pass defense.
Versatile second-year pro Malcolm Jenkins has been a big reason for that, filling in effectively at free safety, cornerback and nickel back as needed.
"All of our defensive stats have improved except turnovers," Jenkins said. "We haven't forced as many turnovers as we would like, but at the same time, we're playing well, so it's kind of bittersweet. We're keeping points off the board."
The Saints have six interceptions and seven fumble recoveries so far, leaving them behind their pace of 39 takeaways (26 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries) for the 2009 regular season.
Yet even that could be turning around. Porter, who intercepted Brett Favre in last season's NFC title game and then did the same to Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl, only returned to the lineup in Week 9 at Carolina after missing a month with a left knee injury. Greer also returned against the Panthers and returned an interception for a touchdown.
Sharper, who missed the first six games, had a fumble recovery in his second game back and caused a fumble with a big hit in his third game back.
Safety Roman Harper said the Saints are eager to see what they can do with most of their playmakers back on both sides of the ball.
"We're getting healthier at the right time -- a lot healthier than we have been," Harper said. "It's going to allow us to make a lot more explosive plays. It's going to be fun when we come back. We got to get ready to make a run at it."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press


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Corporate dress code policies have swung to the extreme in recent years. Companies either maintain no guidelines at all or establish such rigid policies that they almost appear to be elaborate pranks. American Apparel's infamous corporate policy, for instance, forbids shiny lip-gloss, bangs, and notes that "blow-drying hair excessively could cause heat damage." Similarly, financial bank UBS dictates women "may wear no more than seven jewels" and "scarves are compulsory, and must be tied with 'authorized knots.'"
And then there's the issue of tattoos and piercings. For the past few decades, it's likely that coffeehouse baristas and graphic designers would be adorned with tattoos or piercings, but now, it's just as likely that the kindergarten teacher, bank manager, or real estate agent is sporting ink or a nose ring. Nearly half of 26-40-year-olds (40%) and 36% of 18-25-year-olds have tattoos, and 22% of 26-40-year-olds and 30% of 18-25-year-olds have at least one body piercing, according to the Pew Research Center.
There are differences in opinions of men versus women having tattoos. Men are allowed to be a little rebellious and punk rock (both men and women have some admiration for a "bad boy"), where as, women, not so much. While societal norms are shifting, it's happening slowly. Women can be wild in private but should still be ladylike in public, and visible tattoos make that impossible in some people's eyes.
Despite the widespread prevalence of workers with these adornments, there's no consensus among employers on how to address them. "I think it depends on the location of the tattoo and how easily it can be covered up. Girls with neck tattoos can just wear their hair down," says Ellan Tong of media agency 26 Dot Two.
Most corporations and small businesses have no formal policies towards tattoos or piercings. Among those with guidelines: Geico Insurance, U.S. Postal Service, Starwood Hotels and Denny's won't hire those with visible tattoos. Allstate Insurance, Bank of America, and the ad agency Wieden-Kennedy have no reservations about hiring those with tattoos or piercings.
Yet most HR managers also concede that all things being equal, they will hire the more clean-cut employee. In fact, piercings (37%) are the top physical attribute that may limit an employee's career potential, according to CareerBuilder.com, followed by bad breath (34%) and visible tattoos (31%).
For those — especially women — entering the workforce, any thought that their careers may be hindered by a butterfly tattoo seems laughable. Today's young professionals view these enhancements as an accessory or extension of their personalities. "How many really great potential employees are these companies losing out on simply because they don't project the image that these companies want?" asks BlogHer's Elisa Camahort Page.
At the same time, young employees also realize that in today's precarious job market, they don't want to give an employer any reason to reject them, As one HR director says, "You won't get fired for having a visible tattoo, but it likely means you won't get hired."


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Category: Dailies
Our last stop for the tour was Antwerp Belgium.
It's about a hour and a half drive from Amsterdam, and it's the second biggest city in Belgium.
Antwerp is for baseball terms the biggest baseball city in Belgium and it ws good to see the turn out it had.
there were 200 kids and the Indoor sport facility was very nice.
we got a Big Welcome from all the kids and the Belgium baseball fans.
there were a lot of american kids present because there is a U.S Army base close to antwerp so that was really cool. they had a lot of talent and kept up with all baseball teams and stats from all players in the MLB as they were asking us a lot of questions about professional Baseball.
After we got introduced we had a special guest throw out the first pitch.
The U.S. General Consul came and visited our clinic and also participated in a couple drills. it was awesome.
The kids were excited they got to meet some Big League players and were asking for more tips to improve their game
the Clinic was a success and we finished up a great week were we had about 1200 kids participate in our 4 clinics.
When we finished up the Mayor of Antwerp invited us for some drinks and Belgium treats at the town hall. Antwerp is a city with a lot of history and beautiful old buildings. because it was raining we couldn't do the tour true antwerp so we just went and met up with the mayor. we got some gifts from him and typical belgium delicates.
i think that everybody enjoyed it and had a good time.
we could stay to long because we had one last stop that night and that was the soccer game.
We got invited to my home town team PSV Eindhoven soccer match that night against excelsior.
I go to every home game when i'm back, and it was cool that we got invited with the whole group, i think it was the first time for everybody.
it's so much different then a baseball game, the Philips Stadion holds about 35.000 seats and is sold out every home game.
The fans are really intense and its a electric atmosphere.
PSV won 4-2 and got back into first place after that win.
after the game we all went back to the hotel in Amsterdam and the next day everybody flew back to the U.S.A.
It's was a great week and we got a lot done. and i want to thank of course Jeremy,Adam,Brady,John,Kyle and Gregory for participating in the
European Big League Tour.
This is huge for baseball in Europe!
Take Care,
Great Talent in Rotterdam
Our third clinic we held in Rotterdam, one of the Biggest Harbor's in Holland.
The Indoor Facility is right next door to one of biggest soccer stadiums in Europe,
De Kuip. That's were Feyenoord plays.
The Indoor facility is beautiful and brand new. A lot of fans were there and again
we had over 300 kids participating in our 3 hour clinic.
Jeremy Guthrie did the Q and A and I did a short throwing program with the kids,
John Baker did catching and Fielding, Brady Anderson the hitting and Adam Jones and
Gregory Halman did outfield drills as well as hitting.
Kyle Barbour the Strenght and Condition coach was teaching the kids some
coordination skills and important baseball exercises to keep strong and healthy on
the field.
The kids payed good attention and learned a lot they said and when we were done we
were all talking about the talent that we saw, this was a very good group with lot
of potential.
After every clinic we have a Autograph and photo session and again the kids could
not believe what was happening to them,haha it was great to see them so excited and
A huge shout out to all the cities we have been too so far they have been great and
it's been really good organized, there have been so many fans and kids participating
in our clinics!
Yesterday we had a day off, everybody went sight seeing in Amsterdam, Jeremy went to
Paris with his wife for a couple days and today Adam and John And Kyle went as well
to Paris. It's only a 3 hour train ride away so that's definitely high on
everybody's to do list!
Saturday will be the last stop in Antwerp, Belgium. And they have some special
guests coming to the clinic I heard! And after Saturdays clinic we will go to the
soccer game of my home town team PSV Eindhoven. None of the guys have ever been
there so i'm excited to see what they have to say and think about European Football!
Take Care and I'll keep you posted,
Haarlem Baseball City
We had a awesome day yesterday in Haarlem,
that was our second stop of the tour and it was packed with Baseball Fans.
This clinic we had about 400 kids and they were ready to go as soon as we got introduced.
the introductions were Basketball style and the crowd went crazy once they all the players. The dutch national team players also helped out and the kids had a great time and learned a lot. Brady Anderson and Adam Jones were mainly in the Cage working and helping the young hitters and Me and Jeremy Guthrie were helping out the young pitchers. Baker and Gregory answered a lot of questions from the kids and helped them with their catching and Outfield Skills.
Haarlem is the City Were Gregory Grew up, and played before he went to the U.S and signed with the Mariners. It's was packed with Fans and they were teaching the guys some dutch words and sentences. A great clinic and all the kids got their autographs and Photo's taking.
When we got back to the hotel, we went and ate at a old school dutch restaurant and everybody got a taste of some very good dutch food.
Today we had a day off and everybody went and explored Amsterdam, there are very many museums here and there's a lot to do such as, Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, The Palace, and Canal Boat tours.
tomorrow we head to Rotterdam for the third Clinic it's one of Hollands Biggest cities so its gonna be fun!
i'll keep you updated.
First Stop my home town Eindhoven!
Wauw! What can I say! Unbelievable!
European Baseball is a lot bigger then I tought, we had 300 kids today at our first
clinic in Eindhoven and you should have seen their faces! It was very good organized
and we had player introductions under a loud applause from the crowd! The kids were
stunned and looked so amazed of the group of guys we brought! We had question and
answer sessions with all the players and taught them about pitching fielding and how
to play the outfield. Also on the end we had a live hitting session with Brady
Anderson and Adam Jones which was great! A.J. Demonstrated his swing while Brady
explained all the things that are so important to be a Good Major League hitter,
they both hit balls of the Tee, and the kids couldn't believe they were seeing their
stars live in Action! Gregory Halman and Jeremy Guthrie had to answer lots of
questions from the kids and John Baker was in full Gear teaching the catchers how to
block baseballs as a big league catcher.
We had a autograph session on the end of the clinic as well as pictures and the kids loved it!
We also were joined by Loek van Mil (Double A Angels,and who's 7'1) and Alexander Smit (double A Reds) both Dutch guys and good friends of mine that I grew up with playing.
So that was great! After the clinic we had some Dutch foods for the guys some
Bitterballen en Appelflappen en stroppwafels for our trip back to Amsterdam.
I think they all liked it, at least I hope so! Lol.
Tomorrow we will stop in Haarlem, a Big Baseball City, so i'm very excited and I'll
keep you Updated!
Have a good night and Take Care,
V.I.P. Dinner and Auction
Day 1 of the European Big League Tour was a great one! All the Guys and
wives/girlfriends arrived in the morning and they went and explored the city of
Amsterdam. The hotel is in a great location right Downtown Amsterdam so you can
pretty much walk every where! John Baker went and check out the Rijks Museum and
Jermey Guthrie walked out towards the Dam. Around 6 we all met for the VIP Dinner
and Auction that we held for Kika (Kids Cancer Free). It was a great night with
performances of Ali B, Laura Fygi and Raymond van Elburg, 3 of Hollands Biggest
Artist. Jeremey Guthrie also went on stage and preformed with Holland's Best Rapper
Ali B.jumping up and down the stage,hahaha it was great, and We also had a Live Auction that was done by Mart Smeets, the Biggest
Dutch Sports journalist.We raised probably close to $6.000 for
I think it was a great start of the Week coming up!
Tomorrow is our first stop and that's gonna be in Eindhoven, my home town.
I'll keep you updated and post some pictures as well of our Charity Dinner and
Take Care,


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This thread is awfully quiet. Are most of you still reading? If you're finished, tell us what you think. The reviews on Amazon are all over the place.
P.P.P.P.S. One more thing: Hermione seemed weepier and stupider in this one. And where was Ginny? Merely a prize for Harry? I wanted to see Tonks do more than just sit on the sidelines and have a baby, then get killed. It seems a pity that Bellatrix was perhaps the most powerful witch in the story.
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2009 Ford Escape
Did you hear? Gas is expensive now. So perhaps you're thinking of a smaller, more economical SUV. Ford picked the right time, then, to enhance the powertrains of its Escape SUV, which was reskinned last year.
The biggest changes are bestowed on the Escape's four-cylinder engine, with displacement growing from 2.3 to 2.5 liters. The revised engine puts out 171 hp (up from 153). The I-4 model now makes the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 1.7 fewer seconds, which is comparable to the outgoing V-6 Escape. The I-4 will now be available on all Escape trim levels, adding a Limited model for those seeking a more luxurious trucklet that's still easy on gas.
The 3.0-liter V-6 was not forgotten in the upgrades. While its displacement stays the same, horsepower increases by a noticeable 40 hp for a total of 240. The newfound power comes courtesy of a higher compression ratio (10.3:1), as well as new cylinder heads, cams, injectors, pistons, and intake and exhaust manifolds.
Part of the fuel economy boost is due to a new six-speed automatic transmission, offered on both the four- and six-cylinder models (a five-speed manual is still standard on four-cylinder Escapes). With two more forward ratios than the outgoing automatic, Ford expects an increase of 1 mpg on all six-speed models, despite the increased power of both engines. A taller top gear is aimed at highway cruising and contributes to the better fuel economy, while more gear choice means less hunting on hills and when passing power is needed. We had the opportunity to drive '08 and '09 models back-to-back and can confirm that the extra ratios and horsepower are a big help to what used to be a sluggish little truck.
There are also some subtle changes that help the Escape go longer between fill-ups. The air dam below the front bumper has been extended downward, and rear tire spoilers have been added. Low-rolling-resistance tires contribute to lower fuel usage, as well as a quieter ride, though the noise reduction was difficult to detect on our rain-soaked drive.
Speaking of fuel economy, hybrid Escape models will also see some changes for 2009. The gasoline portion of the hybrid powertrain gets the new 2.5-liter engine using the Atkinson combustion cycle. Revised programming helps make the transition from engine to electric motor less perceptible to drivers. A new brake pedal sensor improves feel and minimizes the sensation when going from regenerative to conventional brakes. Ford has also added a Limited trim level to hybrid Escapes.
All Escape models receive some chassis tweaks for 2009. A rear stabilizer bar reduces body roll, and ride benefits from retuned dampers. The electric power steering system, added for 2008, has been recalibrated to provide better on-center feel and reduced low-speed effort.
Though the Escape's interior was overhauled in 2008, Ford snuck in a few more changes for '09. Soft material replaces hard plastic door inserts, and the newly recontoured seats use soy-based foam, like those already found in the Mustang. But the most interesting addition is Sirius Travel Link, which comes packaged with the optional navigation system. The service offers traffic, national weather (current conditions, five-day forecast, radar, ski reports), fuel prices (sorted by distance or price, with the option of adding them as a waypoint on a trip), sports scores, and movie listings. In addition to touchscreen control, these features can be accessed while driving with voice prompts like those used on Ford's SYNC system, which is also offered on the Escape.
The 2009 Escape goes on sale this June and its Mercury twin, the Mariner, will get the same upgrades. We will also see the new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and revised hybrid powertrain in the 2009 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, which will be Ford's first sedans with a hybrid option.
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I remember the first time I ever played Homeworld. It doesn't make for a great story, but I can vividly remember being simply blown away by the ability to move units, meaningfully, in 3 dimensions in an RTS, and by the simply haunting visuals often encountered in the game. The mothership hanging in space like a lonely jewel. I cannot think of another RTS that was as much a joy to simply experience from a visual, immersive perspective. This attention to visual detail and atmosphere indeed became a hallmark of Relic's RTS games thanks mostly, I think, to the jaw-dropping wonder that first experiencing Homeworld induced in so many of us.
This puts any sequel or prequel in an awkward place. Mechanical systems and gameplay be damned, how is anyone supposed to compete with the nostalgia, the memories of awe from Homeworld and its sequel? How can a Homeworld-Dune mashup (I reference the Dune universe and RTS series mostly due to the reliance on a desert as the setting) a Homeworld lacking in that vital 3-dimensionality or the original series. hope to compare?
Please note that all opinions rendered below are first impressions and are subject to change and maturation. I fully intend to cover this game more as I play more of it.
A note before we get started: While I did preorder the game and so received a copy of Homeworld Remastered alongside Deserts of Kharak, I did not have a chance to play this before delivering this first impressions piece, so any comments directed towards Homeworld are based on assuredly inaccurate memories from many years ago and colored by nostalgia. I will be writing at least one additional piece about Deserts of Kharak, and will take the time before subsequent writing to play Homeworld Remastered for a more thorough understanding of that game's mechanics. Thanks!
Atmosphere, Visuals and Story
Right from the get-go, Deserts of Kharak impresses. Like Homeworld before it, Deserts of Kharak is visually impressive. It isn't mind-blowingly cutting edge, but it's certainly in the top 1% of RTS in terms of looks. And it positively oozes atmosphere. The voice acting is understated, to be sure: the actors aren't injecting a lot of passionate emotion into their performances, but the visual quality of the game is spot on. The desert maps feel vast and lonely, and hopping into sensors mode, while a little on the ugly side, leaves the player feeling uncertain and wary, as enemies outside of direct visual range are displayed only as a nebulous red circle that says "danger here!" without allowing the player to determine what, specifically, that threat entails.
Units, structures, and environments are beautiful. Even crashed ships (of which we have seen several just in the tutorial and initial missions) have an almost haunting quality. The art direction, I'll state again, is for the most part spot-on. The game definitely looks and feels like a Homeworld title.
I have a couple of quibbles with some of the unit designs (please note I have yet to see all of the units in action, even for the game's primary faction). The Scavenger unit and the Armored Assault tank are underwhelming, the former having an almost StarCraft-style drill affixed to its front (despite mining with some sort of beam weapon) and the latter having a disappointingly conventional machine gun atop its hull. The carrier, the gorgeous, beautiful, boxy carrier makes up for a multitude of minor visual design quibbles with units that are mostly going to be viewed from so far away only their outlines really matter.
The game's atmosphere and story alone leave me personally satisfied with the relatively steep $50 cost of entry. The story is, so far, well told and adequately paced. I have encountered issues with the game's resource model as implemented in the campaign, sadly. Combat sequences and objectives seem, so far at least, to be juxtaposed in an odd way against resource gathering. It's as if the game, while expecting you to be able to manage a battle on multiple flanks, does not simultaneously find you capable of harvesting resources. There have been considerable lulls in the campaign while harvesters and support carriers trudge their slow way across the admittedly gorgeous desert to slowly and deliberately harvest resources needed to expand my armies and progress. These sequences detract in a noticeable way from the otherwise excellently crafted missions and engagements.
Speaking of combat engagements…
So, let's take a moment to talk about the actual gameplay. The Carrier itself has several light weapons (at least, in the tutorial and early campaign. Perhaps in skirmish/multiplayer it can research additional armaments?) and the interesting ability to shunt a limited number of points to its defenses (armor), weapons (damage), repair rate for nearby units, or range. This makes it somewhat customizable to the situation, which is welcome. The limited number of units I've thus far encountered: LAVs, Armored Assault vehicles, and Rail Guns, I've had some cause to take issue with.
I'm holding off judgment of the game's combat systems at this point, as I have yet to access the full research tree or unit list. But, for the moment, hear me out.
As you may know, I value what I call "player agency" in RTS games. This means, in essence, that there should be as few obstacles as possible in between the player and their execution of their plan. 'Old School' RTS, for technical reasons, tend to emphasize this with little automation going on. Newer RTS tend to automate more processes for the player which, while convenient, can interfere with or delay player actions at critical times.
There's no hard and fast rule to this, but my opinion is that where possible, the player's ability to perform in the game should not be interfered with. And this is the root of my issue with some of the design of units in Deserts of Kharak. The Light Assault Vehicle, or LAV, slides around like a Mario Kart on ice, circle-strafing its target all on its own, rather like a fighter. This makes them somewhat cumbersome to control, and makes getting individual LAVs out of combat for repairs a real challenge. It's visually very fun, however.
Armored Assault tanks, thankfully, don't do this and come equipped with a line of sight blocking smoke screen, which comes in handy when dealing with their natural predator, the surprisingly ubiquitous Rail Gun. I have no real complaints with the operation of Armored Assault vehicles at this time. Rail Guns, however, are in an odd place.
Deserts of Kharak has a system where units on higher ground deal additional damage to units on lower terrain, which I appreciate. This makes terrain, one of the main differentiators between space-based and ground-based RTS, a very important tactical consideration, which helps validate Blackbird's decision to set a Homeworld game on the ground. However, terrain height variances make Rail Guns much worse than a mobile artillery platform would be, as indirect fire over dunes or rocky cliffs would be possible, while Rail Guns tend to spend time firing into sand if improperly placed. While this does emphasize the importance of positioning, an overall good thing, it does make the use of Rail Guns in such an environment somewhat questionable.
The core interaction with the 3 basic units thus far introduced to me is Armored Assault > LAV > Rail gun > Armored Assault which is an understandable but fairly underwhelming cycle. I'm hoping that access to the full unit list will make this fairly vanilla system more interesting. Also, if a player is able to get the jump on Rail Guns with Armored Assault tanks, they will beat the Rail Guns in an even fight, but Rail Gun range can make this challenging, so the speedy LAV being able to close makes the matchup more even. Rail Guns in numbers can take out LAVs decently, though without more testing I'm not sure of the cost efficiency of such an operation.
I know I'm waxing verbose about this small piece of the larger game system, but I do have concerns about its implications on the larger balance and flow of combat in Deserts of Kharak. In a game that de-emphasizes economy as DoK does, combat operations are the hook on which the game's depth and complexity will be hung. If the basic combat systems aren't fulfilling, that's a potential red flag for the game's longevity and ability to satisfy RTS gamers.
A last concern I have stems from the tutorial, which introduces players admirably well to how the game is controlled. At one point, though, the player is given the ability to launch an attack via fighter. I was, I suppose, expecting a system similar to what is seen in the Command and Conquer games, where the aircraft have to land to restock and refuel, but are otherwise controllable by the player. This is not the case. Air units, at least those utilized in the ability introduced in the tutorial, are fully AI controlled and simply perform attack passes before returning to the Carrier. Again, as above, in a game which de-emphasizes economy and basebuilding, I found myself somewhat baffled by the decision to take control of air units out of the players' hands. Perhaps this will make more sense in multiplayer, but it certainly took me aback.
To Be Continued…
So where do I stand after a scant 3 hours of looking at Deserts of Kharak? Well, I'm eager for more. The campaign is one of the best I've played in recent years, the game is gorgeous and the mobility and customizabilty of the Carrier is more than welcome. The game runs well on my modest gaming rig (a surprise) and much of the experience is spot on.
I have some outstanding issues with my early perceptions of the amount of automation in the game, from the movement profile of the LAV to the lack of control apparent in air forces, I'm wary that DoK may be sacrificing depth for convenience. I am going to give this another couple of hours of skirmish and multiplayer (and campaign!) to determine, however. The game is engaging enough to leave me wanting to see combat with all of the
toys tools available.
In future videos and articles, I will be putting the mechanics of the game through their paces, evaluating the research system, tech tree progression, map design and a variety of other topics I want to get elbows-deep into before forming a solid opinion regarding.
Thanks for reading. Please let me know in the comments if you have played DoK and have any thoughts you'd like to share!
See you next time.


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Our Verdict
H&R Block At Home 1040EZ is an iOS app designed to file your 1040EZ and its related state form for $10 on your iPhone or iPod touch. To that end, the app runs you through a quick set of qualifying questions to learn whether or not you meet the threshold for filing a 1040EZ and can therefore use the app.
Once it's determined you can use the app, H&R Block At Home 1040EZ gives you a couple of options for entering your personal information. First, if your employer uses a supported payroll service, you can enter your employer's Employer Identification Number and your Social Security Number to automatically import your W-2 information. If your employer's payroll service isn't supported, you can use the camera on your iOS device camera to take a picture of your W-2 and the app will use OCR on the image and try to add your info automatically.
Neither of these options worked for me (My employer doesn't use a supported payroll service and my W-2 was too wide to take a decent photo) so I had to enter my info manually. But even with manual data entry it took me less than ten minutes to complete the 1040EZ for filing.
My biggest gripe with the app is a niggling issue that won't affect you if you can stay focused for the ten or so minutes required to complete your return. H&R Block At Home 1040EZ offers three options when you first open the app: Sign in to an existing account; Create a new account; Create an account later. If you choose "Create an account later," and switch out of the app for a few minutes, it does not retain the data you've already entered. You have to start from scratch and enter it all again.
Bottom line
What's not to like? If you're a 1040EZ filer and you're looking for a quick way to take care of your taxes, H&R Block At Home 1040EZ offers an excellent, free option for filing your taxes and getting your refund in a snap.


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Oh boy.
I finally got around to seeing The Amazing Spider-Man. It's not for a lack of interest in the character; Spider-Man has been among my favorites for as long as I can remember. The unfortunate combination of being really busy and being fearful of what a post-Sam Raimi Spider-Man film series would be like made me put off seeing the latest film until this week.
The new movie rehashed the whole Peter Parker becomes the Spider-Man plot with a few modifications. Peter's dad was a research scientist for Oscorp who mysteriously was killed, with the assumption that this happened at Norman Osborn's bequest. Peter goes on to be raised by his aunt and uncle as an awkward teenager, gets bitten by a radioactive spider and becomes a vigilante after his actions indirectly lead to the murder of his Uncle Ben. This pretty much took up two-third of the film. From then on, it's up to Peter and his girlfriend Gwen Stacy to stop an Oscorp scientist (who used to work with Peter's father) that's turned himself into a lizard monster from turning everyone in Manhattan into a lizard monster.
The plot was kinda flimsy but it worked. But the biggest problem was how unlikable Andrew Garfield was as Spider-Man. This I blame not so much on him, but no the writing and directing. One of the cornerstones of the whole Spider-Man mythos is how strong Peter's relationship with Uncle Ben and Aunt May is. In the movie, they pretty much considered him a burden and Peter wanted nothing to do with them. Garfield's take on
Peter wasn't as much the shy, introspective type, but more so of a jerk. One of the reasons why that Peter is an enduring character is that he reminds us of how shy and insecure we are. But Garfield was just a too.There was way too much teenage angst in this film for my liking. I felt glad when Flash Thompson picked on him. Again, this isn't to say that Garfield wasn't an acceptable Peter Parker. There was just a lot of unfortunate dialogue and character development. If there's anything to complain about Garfield is that he's about ten years too old to be playing a character in high school.
The other thing that didn't work for me was how they really geared this film to a generation to a generation of teenage girls who grew up reading Twilight books. They were really pushing the whole romance angle between Peter and Gwen, more-so than Peter overcoming everything to become a hero and dealing with the ever-increasing dilemmas of having a secret life.
That said, I'm not completely down on this movie. The fight sequences and special effects (although over-relied upon) were really well done. Emma Stone's Gwen and Dennis Leary as her father, Detective Stacy, really carried the movie, especially Stone.
Ultimately, The Amazing Spider-Man was a decent film that needed some improvements, mostly making its protagonist someone you could actually connect with on some level. Hopefully they will get that resolved for the 2014 sequel. And if they want to completely reboot the series, I'm sure Donald Glover would be interested.


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Hi! Colleague!
So, in one single and rather brief sentence the Venezuelan Constitution, once the best Constitution in the world, Chávez dixit, has been turned into the most malleable an useless piece of paper in the land. Remarkably, the decision cites Art. 231, which is the one that was asked to be interpreted and instead of citing the many articles relevant to the decision in the current 1999 Constitution, it goes back and cites Art. 186 of the old 1961 Constitution, which is not only obviously invalid, but also irrelevant, since there was no reelection (Wise move!) contemplated under the old Magna Carta.
But I keep going back to the motive in this crime: Why give such a twisted and convoluted interpretation, when there were other apparent more Constitutional paths available?
This tragicomedy has three main actors, with a ghost behind some of them: Hugo Chávez, Nicolas Maduro and Diosdado Cabello. (The ghost is Cuba):
Hugo Chávez may be in bad shape, but while he failed to say on Dec. 9th. what should happen in this particular case, he has never been one to want to give up power. Thus, clinging on to the position fits Chávez' personality to the hilt. (And the ghosts desires) Today's decision is consistent with not allowing either a temporal or absolute absence and just let Art. 235 of the Constitution ride. Imagine how ridiculous the interpretation was: The President can ask for it (Did he? I did not see him like I did on Dec. 9th. Did you?) and on top of that it can be as indefinite as he wants, without anyone allowed to question why he continues to be on leave. A good decision for Chávez, if he knows what is going on or expressed he wanted this to happen.
For Maduro, a very poor speaker (chosen by the Cubans), and fairly unknown to boot, the sooner a possible election takes place, the better for him, as there will be little time for the "people" to think about him and have an opinion. However, being such a yes man, Maduro will not go against Chávez wishes, imagine if Hugo resuscitates! (r the Cubans get mad!)
Time is also in Maduro's favor in terms of the economy. The deficit for 2013 at Bs. 4.3 per US$ is about 16% of GDP. Devalue to Bs. 7.5 and you have about a 4% deficit in round numbers. Easy to finance. But each month you delay the devaluation (Ten days going so far) you generate the need to finance about Bs. 20 billion (US$ 5 billion) or take it from the mysterious parallel funds (If they all exist). If they all have what they are supposed to, you will be at zero by the end of the year.
You can also cut spending, which has already happened, but with an election coming and with Maduro as the candidate, you need all the spending you can get (or find!).
Then we come to Diosdado. He can support Maduro's path, if that is what Hugo asked for, but as long as Chávez is alive, he can't go a different way. But Diosdado knows time favors him. If Maduro runs the show for two or three months, with no economic adjustment in place, people may be fed up with Nicolas before even the race starts.
And why didn't Hugo and Nicolas (And the Cubans!) want Diosdado to be President?
Easy. First they don't trust him. Second, if a temporal (or absolute) absence was invoked and Diosdado became President, Maduro will be the candidate as: Nicolas Maduro, son of the man, member of PSUV, Chávez anointed successor, but Diosdado would control the purse strings. But, after tomorrow, under the wonderful and twisted interpretation by the Venezuelan Supreme Court, Nicolas Maduro will continue being the Vice-President of Venezuela under the "principle of continuity" cited by Luisa Estela Morales, President of the TSJ, today.
What this means is that if something were to happen to Hugo of a temporal or absolute nature, Nicolas would automatically become President under Art. 233 of the Constitution and run for President as the man in charge, controlling powers and purse strings all along. Moreover, he may even (Barring a Diosdado adventure) be President not for six, but for seven years as he would formally (Or would it have any formality?) assume his Constitutional term on Jan. 10th 2014.
And that is to me the only motive of this tortuous plot: This was the way to avoid Diosdado, have Maduro run as President and comply with Chavez' wish to remain in power to the last breath.
And the economy? Who cares, let Nicolas take care of it, after all, politics is all that matters…


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|The image is a bust of Caracalla by Bartolomeo Cavaceppi.
In particular, central to the Stoic conception of "the good life" is piety toward the Goddesses and Gods.
This pious attitude concerning the Gods is expressed very clearly and frequently in our two most important primary sources on Stoicism: the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius and the Discourses of Epictetus, as well as in our most extensive source of information concerning Stoic views of religion: Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods (although a Platonist, Cicero is considered a very accurate source of information on Stoicism, and was especially sympathetic to Stoic views on religion).
We can also examine the works of Zeno, Cleanthes and Chrysippus, the early founders of Stoicism, thanks to the work of P.A. Meijer who has collected together, translated and commented upon the remaining fragments of their writings on religious subjects in his masterful book "Stoic Theology". Meijer makes it very clear that the earliest Stoics strongly asserted that both "veneration" (the performance of traditional worship) and "piety" (the proper attitude toward the Gods) were essential to living well.
Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, online:
Epictetus' Discourses, online:
Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods (translated by P.G. Walsh):
P.A. Meijer's Stoic Theology:
18th century bust of Caracalla by Bartolomeo Cavaceppi at the Getty Museum:
Various sightings of the bogus Marcus Aurelius quote from around teh internets (often found in people's "signature block"):
Oct 14th 2009
6 October 2003


text: The Lions are in trouble. That is not an overstatement. It is just a fact. They are 1-3 after four games following a 20-13 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings Sunday at Ford Field. When you look at their schedule, they should be 3-1. The schedule only gets more difficult -- four of the five games after this week's bye are on the road, including the first two at Philadelphia and Chicago. MORE:\u00a0Special teams fail again, as Detroit Lions lose third straight The 49ers on the road? OK, that loss is understood. The Vikings at home? The Tennessee Titans anywhere? The NFL isn't a recreational golf league on what used to be a cow pasture. They don't allow one mulligan, let alone two. Those defeats, especially when they are compressed into back-to-back weeks involving extreme special teams breakdowns, are inexplicable and inexcusable. But the Vikings' defeat takes it to another level. It wasn't just about breakdowns on the field, but in the war room on draft day in April. In the first round, the Lions selected offensive tackle Riley Reiff with the 23rd overall pick. At No. 29 overall, the Vikings took safety Harrison Smith from Notre Dame. Late in the second round, the Lions picked receiver Ryan Broyles from Oklahoma. Early in the third round, the Vikings took cornerback Josh Robinson from Central Florida. Smith and Robinson played prominent roles for the Vikings defense Sunday. Robinson had seven tackles and was credited with defending a pass. Smith had just one tackle, but had three passes defended - and did a very good job as the last line of defense. Smith prevented a touchdown by separating Calvin Johnson from the ball with a big hit in the end zone. Robinson, who had a productive college career at Central Florida and clocked the best time of any player at the NFL's scouting combine - 4.33 in the 40-yard dash - had a key interception last week in an upset victory over San Francisco. The Vikings are using him at nickelback, while Smith starts. Broyles had a catch for zero yards Sunday. Reiff did start for the Lions, but it was as a second tight end. He is a backup at this stage. Can you imagine how much better a position the Lions would be in right now had they taken Smith and Robinson in the first and second rounds instead of Reiff and Broyles? It's not a coincidence the Vikings are 3-1 and the Lions 1-3. There are other factors involved, certainly, but it would be na\u00efve to believe those draft decisions have not been an enormous factor. That is not meant as a cheap shot on the Lions. There is a long way to go to determine how their draft will pan out. Same with the Vikings. Reiff and Broyles have tremendous potential. It's entirely possible they may pass Smith and Robinson and become great players. And injury issues, especially to safety Louis Delmas, has made the Lions' secondary needs, which were considerable anyway, even more pressing. Also, the Lions were put in position, well after the draft, when they didn't have much choice but to release cornerback Aaron Berry because of off-the-field issues. It's had a domino effect in hurting the Lions enormously on special teams, which have been dreadful. In truth, the Lions haven't been beaten as much as they have beaten themselves. And this has been going on for awhile. After beginning last season 5-0, they have compiled a 6-10 record, counting their playoff defeat New Orleans. It begins with special teams coverage breakdowns - four long kick return touchdowns allowed the last two weeks. It doesn't end there. It continues with dropped passes (tight end Brandon Pettigrew's specialty) and general floundering overall. Detroit's defense has played well, at least until it is considered how it was scorched by a mediocre offense at Tennessee. "We've given up five non-defensive scores the last two weeks (Pettigrew had a ball ripped out of his hands and returned for a touchdown at Tennessee, in addition to the special teams scores allowed)," Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said. "We're 1-3 because we deserve it. That's one of the reasons why." When the Lions made the playoffs last season, they were anointed as one of the NFL up and coming teams. Instead, they rank among the NFL leaders in disappointment. The Lions' big guns, Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford, have not been sharp. Johnson has not been as sure-handed as usual, nor Stafford as accurate. "We keep shooting ourselves in the foot," Stafford said. "Offense, defense, special teams - we've all had our hands in it." At least to this point, you can add the front office. The draft-day decisions are not looking good. Pat Caputo is a senior sports reporter and a columnist for The Oakland Press. Contact him at email@example.com\u00a0and read his blog at theoaklandpress.com


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Neuroanthropology tackles a recent psychology article which highlights the fact that the vast majority of research is done on Western students, who, in global terms, are a very unusual subgroup of the human race.
This group has been given the catchy acronym WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) although the problem is not so much that students are being studied but that researchers tend to draw conclusions about 'human nature' from this data, seemingly unaware of how unrepresentative they are of the world's population.
The Neuroanthropology has an interesting take on the debate, noting that although important, the differences highlighted by the original article may also be a result of cultural bias themselves:
For example, when I brought one of my Brazilian subjects to an American university at which I previously taught, his characterization of the American students'Äô differences from young Brazilians with whom he had more contact focused on none of these traits (W. E. I. R. or D.). He was more struck by their large size (both height and BMI, to put it nicely), their frumpy androgynous clothing (anyone here not wearing a sweatshirt?), their materialism, their clumsiness and physical ineptitude, and their ethnic and personal homogeneity. If my Brazilian colleague were to characterize the oddness of the WEIRD, he wouldn'Äôt focus on the traits Henrich and colleagues have chosen in their designation…
I don't think that my point is a fundamental disagreement with Henrich and colleagues, but a concern that the parameter of difference we choose to highlight, even in the simplest designation, might itself be a culturally-generated bias. Anthropologists are well acquainted with having our subjects point to traits that are invisible to the Western research as 'the crucial' characteristic for understanding the gap. For example, 'rich' may seem an obvious contrast to poverty, but we know that not all 'poverty' is the same, nor are all 'rich' people able to experience in the same way their material situation. Some economists have argued that inequality is more crucial for understanding the experience of deprivation, for example, than absolute wealth. And poor populations often fix, not on their material deprivation, but on other qualities to describe their difference from the wealthy (or the WEIRD). For example, religious differences, family dynamics, or caste might be salient to people from other cultural backgrounds.
This blind spot seems quite pervasive which is only something that has become clear to me since working in Latin America. For example, most science is published in English and reviewers of scientific papers will often suggest tests or analyses which don't exist or aren't relevant to a Spanish speaking population.
Furthermore, journal editors rarely feel it necessary to recruit reviewers familiar with the culture in which the study was completed, assuming that American or European experience applies 'globally'.
For example, a researcher from London or New York would never have their work assessed by someone who had no knowledge of psychological assessments in those countries but this happens all the time to cognitive scientists from the rest of the world, meaning much less of this work gets published.
There is also the 'world music' effect, where anything from America or Europe is considered mainstream where anything from the rest of the world is considered to be about 'culture'.
The Neuroanthropology piece is an in-depth discussion of the whether psychology research has a truly global vision, and, most importantly, where our unrecognised blind spots may lie.
Link to Neuroanthropology on WEIRD research.
pdf of research article 'The weirdest people in the world?'


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Dish Network, Blockbuster launch service to challenge Netflix
LOS ANGELES -- Seeking to challenge Netflix without undermining its own satellite television business, Dish Network has launched a new service, available only to its television subscribers, that will stream movies and TV and send DVDs by mail und...
LOS ANGELES -- Seeking to challenge Netflix without undermining its own satellite television business, Dish Network has launched a new service, available only to its television subscribers, that will stream movies and TV and send DVDs by mail under its newly acquired Blockbuster unit.
Called "Blockbuster Movie Pass," the service includes DVDs and video games by mail along with 3,000 movies and television shows available to stream on TV and an additional 1,000 for computer. It will launch Oct. 1.
The offering costs $10 per month, the same price that Netflix previously charged for a combined streaming and DVD service before it unexpectedly raised the price in July, leading to public outrage and the loss of an expected 400,000 subscribers by the end of September.
To entice new Dish subscribers, the Blockbuster Movie Pass will be free to them for the first year.
Because the new offering is only available to people who subscribe to Dish for at least $39.99 per month, its appeal may be low to those who are currently happy with their cable or DirecTV services or already use Netflix alone.
Dish Network, which has 14 million subscribers, acquired Blockbuster for $320 million in April at a bankruptcy court auction.
At a news conference held in San Francisco, Blockbuster President Michael Kelly said the company is working on a similar subscription offering for non-Dish subscribers that will launch in the future.
Acquiring movies and TV shows for such a service is costly, however, as Netflix investors have learned. But because Blockbuster Movie Pass is tied to a Dish subscription, the company can offer content to which it already has the rights to through program deals for its satellite TV business.
Netflix currently offers more than 12,000 movies and TV shows for its streaming subscribers, significantly more than Dish has. It also has signed some exclusive agreements for series like "Mad Men" and movies from independent studios including Relativity Media.
But Blockbuster Movie Pass will have a key advantage: Walt Disney Studios and Sony Pictures movies from Starz, which recently announced it will end its Netflix agreement when it expires in February. The Dish-Blockbuster offering will also have Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films from those studios' pay channel Epix, which also provides content to Netflix.
Blockbuster's television shows will come from networks including Fox, A&E, TNT and AMC.
In addition to getting DVDs, Blu-ray discs and video games through the mail, subscribers will be able to swap discs at the more than 1,500 Blockbuster stores still operating in the U.S.
Distributed by MCT Information Services


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Spanning across Asia to encompass Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Middle Eastern and Filipino cultures our Oriental acts come in all kinds of wonderful shapes, sizes and colours and celebrating each individual culture is at the heart of their performances.
Japanese Taiko drummers, Chinese circus performers, traditional Thai dancers and Chinese calligraphers are just a snapshot of all the amazing oriental acts on our roster. Each conserving their own cultural heritages, our oriental acts are perfect for cultural events, shopping malls and public festivals and are highly sought after for special ceremonies and celebrations.
All featuring intricate and detailed colourful costumes and props, beautiful traditional music and dynamic dance routines our oriental shows add a striking visual element to any event. Sure to impress guests, shows can be tailored to suit your specific events needs including costumes and visuals, length and number of performers. For more intimate events, individual dancers and musicians and smaller ensemble are also available.
Bringing an exotic taste of the Orient to your event, our Oriental performers are all professionals experienced in performing at high-end events.
Treat your guests to a cultural extravaganza where they can learn the ancient histories of some of the world's most vibrant cultures.


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Hi everyone, Deborah here with the lucky winner and top three from last week's challenge. Thank you for all your lovely entries.
The lucky winner of the 2 stamps (winner's choice) from Wild Rose Studio
#13 - MichelleJM
with this wonderful creation
Congratulations Michelle please email Kate to claim your prize before the end of the next challenge. Please make the subject of your email Winter Wonderland Challenge.
Now onto the top three, always a difficult choice and this week was no exception
#3 - Kate
(cute image and fab papers)
#9 - Kerry Hocking
(love the open window and embellishments)
#12 - Andrea Reid
(adorable image)
Please take our Top Three Banner to display proudly on your blog.
See below for our current challenge of Ding, Dong, Merrily on High.


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Hollywood Privacywatch: More Movie Makeout Sessions, This Time Starring David Spade
PrivacyWatch celebrity sightings are submitted by our millions of Defamer operatives. We'd like to remind you that this feature is powered by you, so if you want to see more installments of PrivacyWatch, then all you've got to do is to send us your sightings. Submit yours to tips[AT]defamer.com (please put "sighting" or "PrivacyWatch" in the subject line so we don't lose them) and tell everyone about the time you saw some girl "all over" David Spade at the movies.
In today's installment: David Spade, Neil Patrick Harris, James Woods, Kathy Griffin, Jason Bateman, Samantha Ronson, Emma Stone, Lisa Bonet, George Foreman and more!
· Saw LISA BONET (a.k.a. Lilakoi Moon? really?) eating breakfast in Boulder, Co on July 4th. She was wearing a gray (organically dyed, no doubt) cotton (or perhaps organic bamboo) dress, had long dreadlocks, and John Lennon-style round sunglasses. She and her boyfriend Jason Momoa were the picture of multicultural hippiedom. She also seemed cooly unfazed by the Madge-Rod C-Rod Lenny Kravitz clusterf*ck. She might have been high though. It's Boulder after all.
· Saw Lindsay's love-drug SAMANTHA RONSON going through security this morning at LAX. No sign of the Freckled One anywhere. Fine with me. As far as I'm concerned, Samantha's the hotness in that couple.
· Saw GEORGE FOREMAN at LAX Wednesday. Didn't have his grill, but had two young men with him. I can only assume it was two of his sons George and George. I must admit, the George's were ridiculously good-looking. Wouldn't mind doing some grilling with them.
· Spotted in the crowd at Ricky Gervais' sold out show at the Kodak Theater: JASON BATEMAN, KATHY GRIFFIN, JJ ABRAMS, CHERI OTERI and EMMA STONE.
· NEIL PATRICK HARRIS is starting his workout @ Equinox WeHo right now.
· Stopped at a light in Sunset Plaza, glanced to the right and saw JAMES WOODS sitting at an outdoor table at Cafe Med. Unfortunately, he was with another guy and not engaged in any provocative James Woods behavior like canoodling with a twentysomething or holding up his I.Q. score or M.I.T. diploma....just behaving like a normal citizen, albeit one who sits where all the tourists, not to mention tetchy locals like me, will spot him.
· DAVID SPADE was at a movie theater, the one by the Grove, last week. He was with some girl who was all over him during the movie.
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]


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Seventeen: Did working with influence your own sound at all?
MK: Yeah! Just seeing how Zedd and Swedish House Mafia worked inspired me to take pieces of that and use it when working on my own music. I'm really fortunate I got to work with them. I didn't actually grow up listening to dance music, but the songs I wrote are still coming from the same place of sincerity and honesty I use in my own songs. It's just a different sound driving it.
17: What is your single "One Night" about?
MK: It's very tongue-and-cheek. I wrote it just for fun right before I went on tour and added it to the set just to see how people would respond to it. It was a very old-school way to test a song, but I kept seeing people tweet about it and really liking it, so I ended up not only making it the single, but basing the sound of the rest of the album on it, too.
17: You've been dating Carly Rae Jepsen for a while now. Who asked who out?
MK: It happened pretty naturally! We met working on music together, which is a really intimate process because you're creating art together. We got to know each other really well right away and created more than a song—we created a relationship!
Watch Matthew Koma's acoustic performance of "One Night" below and click here to buy the song on iTunes!
Emily is a freelance writer and certified health coach who specializes in writing about mental health, fitness, healthy food, and social justice issues. Emily spent six years as an editor and writer at Well+Good, covering everything from food trends to serious issues like the opioid crisis in America and gun violence. She has also worked at Seventeen, Elle, and Twist magazines. She regularly writes for publications including Forbes, Parade, Shape, and The Huffington Post. Emily lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her cat Evie.


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Portman may take a run at NRSC
Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who was on Mitt Romney's shortlist to be his running mate, is considering running for chairman of the GOP campaign committee tasked with taking back the Senate majority in the next election cycle, according to two sources familiar with his thinking.
The Ohio Republican has been getting calls for a few weeks asking him to run. One source said Portman is "flattered" but is still undecided.
If he were elected to run the National Republican Senatorial Committee for 2014, Portman would be tasked with picking off several Democrats in red states like Arkansas, Louisiana, Alaska, Montana and South Dakota. But he'd also have to defend several critical seats, most notably Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's in Kentucky. And he'd be forced to navigate an internal party war over choosing Senate candidates in primaries that has contributed to the Republican failure to return to the majority for two straight cycles.
Separately, top Republicans had hoped Sen. Marco Rubio would take the job, but he has told colleagues he isn't interested.
Sources said Portman hasn't made any final decisions on the matter, and he could be up against another freshman Republican, Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, who made his intention to jump into the race clear weeks ago. But given Portman's national name recognition, his high-profile role as a surrogate for Romney and his close relationship with McConnell, the Ohio Republican would most likely have the edge if he chose to jump in.


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Germany expels top U.S. spy
BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government ordered the expulsion Thursday of the top U.S. intelligence official from the country, German and U.S. officials said, in an escalating spy scandal that has strained relations between the traditional allies.
"The representative of the U.S. intelligence services at the United States Embassy has been asked to leave Germany," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement. The expelled American official was not named.
The U.S. Embassy in Berlin would not comment directly on intelligence matters but confirmed it had seen reports Germany had asked a U.S. "intelligence chief to leave the country." The White House also confirmed the ejection.
"We do continue to be in touch with the Germans at a variety of levels, including through law enforcement, diplomatic and even intelligence channels, recognizing the value of the U.S.-German alliance," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
John Rizzo, a former chief legal officer at the CIA and a 34-yearveteran of the agency, said he does not recall a U.S. ally ejecting a CIA station chief, "especially so publicly."
Chiefs of station have clashed with their counterparts, and botched operations in friendly countries have "made a continuing relationship untenable" in the past, he said. "CIA would then quietly remove the COS from the country, and life would go on."
The "in-your-face" nature of the German expulsion makes this case "so striking," said Rizzo, whose memoir Company Man came out in January.
The move by Berlin follows two alleged incidents of U.S. spying on Germany that arose in the wake of leaks last year from National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. Those two investigations are ongoing and have led to one arrest — a German intelligence employee at the Defense Ministry, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
"The request occurred against the backdrop of the ongoing investigation by federal prosecutors as well as the questions that were posed months ago about the activities of U.S. intelligence agencies in Germany," Seibert said. "The government takes the matter very seriously."
Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany's finance minister, told German television that if the situation wasn't so serious, it would be laughable.
"Germany depends on U.S. assistance in our joint fight against terrorism," he said in the televised interview. "But that doesn't mean that the Americans should be recruiting third-rate people here (to spy on us). Should the reports be confirmed, it's so stupid that one can only weep at the foolishness of it all."
The development comes as strained U.S.-German relations were recovering from revelations made in the NSA documents leaked by Snowden showing the U.S. spy agency monitored Merkel's cellphone and carried out mass surveillance of politicians and voters.
Snowden, who is in Russia, reapplied for asylum there Wednesday, according to Russia Today. Some German officials have pushed for Germany to grant him asylum, but the government has not made any official move to do so.
Data protection laws in Germany are among the strictest in the world because of the legacy of state control by the Nazis and later the Stasi, the East German secret police. The NSA's activities, coupled with the latest claims of spying, have caused a deep mistrust of the United States, German officials say.
"It has destroyed our trust (in the U.S.)," German lawmaker Hans-Christian Ströbele said. "We need to push now for clear answers in this supposedly close relationship."
Analysts say what is unusual about this latest spying affair is that the documents passed on were unlikely to be sensitive.
"Their task is to find out everything they can until they are stopped by politicians or the administration," said Marcel Dickow, who specializes in security matters at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, referring to U.S. intelligence officials. "There is nothing they can't find out with a phone call to a ministry or over dinner — they would be told everything."
Others say not much will change in the trans-Atlantic relationship despite public statements, the arrests and the expulsion.
"This is the normal procedure. This is what happens. There is almost a protocol to the things that one has to do when things (like this) are found out," said Silvia Petig at the German Council of Foreign Relations in Berlin.
"I think that the German government is upset now, (but) there is a public reaction, and that is to be upset about the whole thing, but I think politically (Merkel) knows that the two countries need each other," she said. "And in the long run, America needs Germany. … It is a partnership at so many levels."
Some locals say it's naive to think spying doesn't happen every day.
"That friendly governments spy on each other is old news and doesn't trouble me — the outrage is part naive and part knee-jerk nationalistic," said Nino Kipp, 30, of Berlin. "What deeply worries me is the unchecked violation of citizens' privacy on an industrial scale."
Contributing: Oren Dorell of USA TODAY in McLean, Va.
You can follow ARA Network's Luigi Serenelli on Twitter: @Luiserenelli, @ARA_Network


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Robin Williams, born Robin McLaurin Williams, July 21, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., is the comedian and actor known for his manic stand-up routines and his diverse film performances. He won an Academy Award for his role in Good Will Hunting (1997).
Williams's father, Robert, was an executive for the Ford Motor Company, and his mother was a former fashion model. He early learned to use humour to entertain classmates and was a fan of comedian Jonathan Winters. When he was 16, his father retired, and the family moved to the San Francisco area. Williams studied political science at Claremont Men's College (now Claremont McKenna College), where he began taking courses in improvisation. He then attended the College of Marin to study acting but later received a scholarship to study at the Juilliard School in New York City. Williams eventually moved back to California, where he began appearing in comedy clubs in the early 1970s.
The Aristipposian Poet
The Life You Give: Robin Williams
in celebration of his life with humor
July 21 at 10pm EST
on Clubhouse
By the mid-1970s Williams was guest starring on several television shows, including The Richard Pryor Show and Laugh-In. After guest appearances as the alien Mork on Happy Days, Williams was given his own show, Mork & Mindy (1978–82). The series offered Williams the opportunity to transfer the enthusiasm of his stand-up performances to the small screen and provided an outlet for his prolific improvisational talents. Mork & Mindy proved an immense success and was instrumental in launching Williams's film career.
Williams's early movie appearances included leads in Popeye (1980) and The World According to Garp (1982), but his first major role came with Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), in which he portrayed the irreverent military disc jockey Adrian Cronauer. The role earned Williams his first Academy Award nomination. His second came soon after for his performance as an inspirational English teacher at a preparatory school in Dead Poets Society (1989). In the early 1990s he lent his talents to a number of successful family-oriented films, including Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), in which he played a divorced man who impersonates a female nanny in order to be close to his children, and the animated feature Aladdin (1992), in which he voiced a frenetic genie.
While undoubtedly a successful comedic actor, Williams was equally adept at more-sober roles. He played a distressed former professor in The Fisher King (1991) and a psychiatrist who mentors a troubled but mathematically gifted young man (played by Matt Damon) in Good Will Hunting (1997). Both films earned Williams Academy Award nominations, and for Good Will Hunting he finally received an Oscar.
As his career progressed, Williams continued to take both comedic and serious roles. He starred as a doctor who attempts to heal his patients with laughter in Patch Adams (1998) and portrayed a psychotic photo-lab technician who stalks a suburban family in One Hour Photo (2002). A 2002 stand-up performance led to the hugely successful Robin Williams: Live on Broadway (2002), which was released as both an album and a video. He later portrayed Teddy Roosevelt in the comedy Night at the Museum (2006) and two sequels (2009, 2014). He provided voices for the animated films Happy Feet (2006) and Happy Feet Two (2011). Williams was sidelined with heart problems in early 2009, but he returned to work shortly thereafter, promoting his films and resuming his Weapons of Self-Destruction comedy tour. Later that year he starred in the family comedy Old Dogs.
In 2011 Williams—who had appeared in a 1988 Off-Broadway production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot—made his Broadway acting debut in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, a surreal comic drama set during the Iraq War. In 2013 he returned to movies, portraying a priest in the star-studded farce The Big Wedding and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Lee Daniels' The Butler. The TV series The Crazy Ones, in which he played the head of an ad agency, premiered later that year; it was canceled in 2014. Williams then portrayed a man who attempts to reconcile with friends and family following a terminal diagnosis in the comedy The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014). Boulevard (2014), in which he played a closeted gay man who befriends a male prostitute, was released after his death.
Williams was active with a number of charities, including Comic Relief and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, an organization founded by the late Superman star that is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury. Through his work with the United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO), he was also a frequent performer for American troops stationed abroad.
Source: Britannica


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Message Board
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Talk about the novels, new and used books that Barry has written!
Author Barry's Book Reviews
Big Trouble
Eliot Arnold is a mild-mannered ad-man and former reporter living in Miami. His business is going under and his teenage son Matt thinks he is a "dork." One night, Eliot is called to the Cocoa Beach home of business executive Arthur Herk, where his son has been in a fight with Herk's wife because he arrived at the house intending to play-out a game called "Killer," which involves stalking a target with a squirt-gun. Matt's target is Jenny, Herk's stepd...
Dave Barry Does Japan
In Dave Barry Does Japan, nationally syndicated columnist Dave Barry recalls his travels around the nation of Japan along with his then wife and young son in 1991. He writes about his three week working vacation paid for by his publishing company. It is hilarious as he stumbles and bumbles his family through Japan, to tourist destinations like Tokyo and Mt. Fuji. He is perplexed by the customs, culture, language, cuisine, manners, and means of transp...
Tricky Business
Putnam, Oct 2002, 24.95, 256pp. ISBN 0399149242 Tropical Storm Hector is playing havoc in the waters near Miami Beach and most people are staying indoors rather than go on the roads or sail their boats in the dangerous ocean. The Extravaganza of the Sea is a cruise ship that goes out past the three-mile limit into international waters so the passengers can have an evening of gambling. It is going out on the night Hector hits because it has a sc...


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I write a lot about mindfulness and gratitude. These are survival skill for many of us. I'm all about being positive, but I like to kvetch as much as the next person. It's cathartic, necessary, and downright fun as long as it's done with good humor.
Witty bitching, expressed with some measure of sensitivity, is actually one of the many ways nonviolence works. It's a creative way to ease tension. More importantly, it humanizes us to whoever is annoying us while not denigrating the annoying person.
Let's start with the easiest method—swearing. Apparently swearing is a good idea. Studies show that it can help relieve pain, but only for those of us who don't swear often. It can also reduce stress, elevate endorphins, even promote group solidarity.
I don't swear often. I lean more toward creative cursing, you know, when you string together words that don't usually go together for a specific-to-the-situation denunciation. Better yet are those phrases unique to your friends and family, memes within boundaries of shared experience, that are not only inside jokes but useful forms of communication. We have dozens of them. "You no see big thing like train?" is one. I'll explain.
A friend drove a truck for a business started by an immigrant whose English wasn't easy to understand. The business made money mostly because of the owner's extreme frugality — he barely even maintained the truck. One day the friend was making a delivery when the truck's brakes failed. Unfortunately they failed as he was approaching railroad tracks where a train was stopped. It was a heavily loaded truck and much as he tried he only managed to slow down. He crashed into the train. He was fine, the truck was not. He called his boss to explain. The boss yelled, "What, you no see big thing like train?" This line has proven itself handy in many circumstances, thankfully none involving real trains or failed brakes.
Then there are written forms of bitching. I indulge in it regularly. For example, a few years ago a publication that had asked me to submit an article didn't respond. It's hard to remonstrate the very people who are supposed to pay you. So this is what I emailed.
Dear ___,
I can take rejection, really. But it's nice to finally get rejected. I sent as requested _________ on ________. I know, I know, I should have given up by now but hope is a feisty creature, not easily strangled by silence.
In case the clarity and understated wit of my piece knocked an editor to the floor, unintentionally hurtling my submission under a desk, it is attached again for your perusal. Less dusty this way.
ever optimistically, Laura Weldon
They sent a very charming response that didn't end up quite as I hoped. Turns out they were going out of business. (Story of what I call my writing career…)
Kvetch notes can be used to great effect on a neighbor's door, the office coffeepot, and elsewhere.
Then there's singing. In my family we tend to burst into spontaneous songs with made-up-in-the-moment lyrics. A mini opera about dog poo on the floor, a whining country-ish ditty when someone uses up the milk, a warbling ode to overflowing laundry baskets. Even Mozart wrote satirical tunes, including "Leck Mich Im Arsh" which, if you can't tell, translates to something like "Lick my ass."
The pinnacle of witty bitching? Complaint Choirs. The concept was dreamed up by Finnish artists Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen and Tellervo Kalleinen. Now people all over the world are putting their daily grievances to music. Their collaborative performances aren't just hilarious, they build a sense of community.
It's all too easy to get mired in life's minor irritations. A little witty bitching helps us move through them. That's a survival skill too.


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Where's global warming?
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SUPPOSE the climate landscape in recent weeks looked something like this:
Half the country was experiencing its mildest winter in years, with no sign of snow in many Northern states. Most of the Great Lakes were ice-free. Not a single Canadian province had had a white Christmas. There was a new study discussing a mysterious surge in global temperatures - a warming trend more intense than computer models had predicted. Other scientists admitted that, because of a bug in satellite sensors, they had been vastly overestimating the extent of Arctic sea ice.
If all that were happening on the climate-change front, do you think you'd be hearing about it on the news? Seeing it on Page 1 of your daily paper? Would politicians be exclaiming that global warming was even more of a crisis than they'd thought? Would environmentalists be skewering global-warming "deniers" for clinging to their skepticism despite the growing case against it?
No doubt.
But it isn't such hints of a planetary warming trend that have been piling up in profusion lately. Just the opposite.
The United States has shivered through an unusually severe winter, with snow falling in such unlikely destinations as New Orleans, Las Vegas, Alabama, and Georgia. On Dec. 25, every Canadian province woke up to a white Christmas, something that hadn't happened in 37 years. Earlier this year, Europe was gripped by such a killing cold wave that trains were shut down in the French Riviera and chimpanzees in the Rome Zoo had to be plied with hot tea. Last week, satellite data showed three of the Great Lakes - Erie, Superior, and Huron - almost completely frozen over. In Washington, D.C., what was supposed to be a massive rally against global warming was upstaged by the heaviest snowfall of the season, which paralyzed the capital.
Meanwhile, the National Snow and Ice Data Center has acknowledged that due to a satellite sensor malfunction, it had been underestimating the extent of Arctic sea ice by 193,000 square miles - an area the size of Spain. In a new study, University of Wisconsin researchers Kyle Swanson and Anastasios Tsonis conclude that global warming could be going into a decades-long remission. The current global cooling "is nothing like anything we've seen since 1950," Swanson told Discovery News. Yes, global cooling: 2008 was the coolest year of the past decade - global temperatures have not exceeded the record high measured in 1998, notwithstanding the carbon-dioxide that human beings continue to pump into the atmosphere.
None of this proves conclusively that a period of planetary cooling is irrevocably underway, or that anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions are not the main driver of global temperatures, or that concerns about a hotter world are overblown. Individual weather episodes, it always bears repeating, are not the same as broad climate trends.
But considering how much attention would have been lavished on a comparable run of hot weather or on a warming trend that was plainly accelerating, shouldn't the recent cold phenomena and the absence of any global warming during the past 10 years be getting a little more notice? Isn't it possible that the most apocalyptic voices of global-warming alarmism might not be the only ones worth listening to?
There is no shame in conceding that science still has a long way to go before it fully understands the immense complexity of the Earth's ever-changing climate(s). It would be shameful not to concede it. The climate models on which so much global-warming alarmism rests "do not begin to describe the real world that we live in," says Freeman Dyson, the eminent physicist and futurist. "The real world is muddy and messy and full of things that we do not yet understand."
But for many people, the science of climate change is not nearly as important as the religion of climate change. When Al Gore insisted yet again at a conference last Thursday that there can be no debate about global warming, he was speaking not with the authority of a man of science, but with the closed-minded dogmatism of a religious zealot. Dogma and zealotry have their virtues, no doubt. But if we want to understand where global warming has gone, those aren't the tools we need.
Jeff Jacoby can be reached at email@example.com.


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Kuchingensis = (ampullaria x mirablis). This grex was created using ampullaria 'Black Miracle' as one of the parents. Dark coloration in the pitchers and leaves!
The main image shows the parents. Small seed-grown plants. Shipped in a pot.
Nepenthes are primarily native to Southeast Asia. There are roughly 180 species, with many recently discovered in the 20th century. They grow anywhere from hot, sticky jungles to chill mountain tops high above the clouds. Though Nepenthes are thought to be difficult to grow, this is far from the truth. Most plants have adapted to cultivation quite well and the hobby is growing quickly. In fact, most tropical pitcher plant species and hybrids will thrive between 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Check out our Nepenthes care tips here. For an in-depth look at different species and their temperature requirements take a look at this guide. Make sure to sign up for our Newsletter for blog updates and to be notified when we add more plants to our online shop!


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TJX Blames Weak 4Q on Frigid Temperatures
T.J. Maxx and Marshalls parent TJX Cos. (NYSE:TJX) reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings as unusually cold winter weather kept some shoppers at home.
However, its shares rallied more than 1% to $61.64 in recent trade on an improvement in same-store sales, a forecast for full-year earnings growth and a new share repurchase program.
In a statement, TJX chief executive Carol Meyrowitz said she believes in the "resiliency and flexibility" of the company's off-price model.
"We delivered these results in a competitive retail environment and despite generally unfavorable weather in many of our regions during the first and fourth quarters," she said.
In the quarter ended Feb. 1, the discount retail chain reported net income of $582 million, or 81 cents a share, down from a year-earlier profit of $604.8 million, or 82 cents, though up year-over-year when taking into account 2013's adjusted earnings of 74 cents.
Earnings per share were a penny below average analyst estimates in a Thomson Reuters poll.
Revenue for the three-month period was up 1% to $7.8 billion from $7.72 billion a year ago, narrowly missing the Street's view of $7.86 billion. Same-store sales, a key growth metric measuring sales at stores open longer than a year, were up 3% over the prior year.
For fiscal 2014, it sees earnings in the range of $3.05 to $3.19, growing from $2.94 in its just-ended fiscal year, and current-quarter earnings between 65 cents and 66 cents, representing a 5% to 6% year-over-year improvement. Analysts on average are calling for stronger full-year earnings of $3.24 and first-quarter EPS of 71 cents.
Framingham, Mass.-based TJX also announced a plan to buy back up to $1.7 billion of its shares this fiscal year, representing close to 5% of its outstanding shares at current prices.
Shares of TJX were off 0.31% to $60.80 in early trade. They have risen some 38% over the last year.