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Monday, March 12, 2012
Two Bloggers Dine Together; World Survives
This past Friday, I met up with a fellow blogger. The problem with writing about such a thing is that the person you meet might write about it, too. With my penchant for exaggeration, this means that how we individually recount the events of the evening might come out wholly at odds. If, after reading what she might have to say about it, you then come away with suspicions concerning my veracity, I'll say in my defense that you ought to know by now that I can't be trusted, so it's your own damn fault.
The blogger in question is not a small green citrus fruit, but she pretends she is for the sake of anonymity. Her real name, much like that of MY WIFE, will be withheld in an obviously fruitless attempt at protecting the innocent, of which there are none in this instance. She is sometimes known as The Queen of Memes when she is not describing herself as The Exalted Empress of the Universe (and if I haven't gotten that title exactly as it should be, I hope she'll just graciously correct it instead of pointing her finger at me and zapping me into a pile of smoking ashes.)
She is otherwise known as… Lime.
When she told me that she'd be making a pilgrimage to my neck of the woods, I was thrilled. The last time we had met (which was our initial meeting) she had gifted me with a pair of socks. I've worn them ever since. That was about three years ago. I was hoping she'd bring me another pair, as the originals have become somewhat moldy.
In case you're seriously gullible, I'll let you know that's a joke. Ha-Ha. The socks were, in fact, tie-dyed by her. In honor of her return visit, I decided to don them despite the fact it would mean a serious fashion faux pas if I wore my usual top hat and tails for our dinner together, so I dressed down in chinos. I did wear my monocle, but I don't think she noticed. Of course, where I was wearing it probably precluded that possibility.
Lest I give you the idea that Lime had made the trip north strictly to see me, I'll let you know that she was actually visiting her cousin (whose name I would reveal, but she's a nice person who lives relatively nearby, so I don't want to trouble her with visits from the FBI, Homeland Security, Vinny "Red Clam Sauce" Marinella, or any of my other close associates.) Her cousin was either unable or unwilling to join us, and that was a shame. She's almost as much of a hoot as Lime. Oh, well. I'm sure I'll see her again someday, perhaps on-stage at The Golden Banana.
(That's a cheap joke, and likely far too local to do most of you any good. I just threw it in on the offhand chance that Lisa from Brookline is actually reading this. Hi, Lisa! Since I've now given away your name and location, expect a visit from the Boston Police bunko squad. Tell them I'm in Buenos Aires. I'll make it worth your while.)
Since I had to work during the day on Friday, Lime decided to busy herself in the hours before our meeting with a visit to The Museum Of Fine Arts.
(That's what we locals call it when we don't want someone to know we're going to The Golden Banana. I'm surprised she picked up on that so quickly, being from out of town.)
(In the following paragraph, which concerns our subway system, there is a perfectly wonderful opportunity for me to have made some sort of joke using the word "vagrants". I refrained, however, and I want credit for sparing you. That's why I'm telling you now.)
Since Lime doesn't know all the vagaries of The "T", which is Boston's public transportation system, I endeavored to help her get to the "museum" in the easiest possible way. I sent her the following extremely easy instructions, via e-mail:
Get off at Fenway (which is the last above-ground stop, so if you're in a tunnel you've missed it.) Exit the station on ground level (don't take the stairs) through the very big parking lot (which will be readily visible) and head for Boylston Street (I can't necessarily give you the best way to tell which one is Boylston, other than to say walk along to the end of the storefronts and then don't go left and it's Boylston (pronounded "BOIL-stn", by the way.) If confused, ask someone friendly-looking. Walk up to the first big intersection, which is Kilmarnock Street (Kill-MAR-nick) and take a right. Go all the way to the end, which is an athletic field I played on with The Flames softball team (ta-da!) and go all the way across the field (heading for the left field side of the far diamond) which will bring you to a small patch of woods and a friendly little bridge which crosses what some folks laughingly call a stream. It's just a thirty yard walk in the woods then and when you come out of the woods, there's the museum! You'll be at the back of it, though, so walk around to the right for the front or side entrance.
To my amazement, she actually made it there. Not only that, she backtracked to the station afterward. Since I wasn't entirely sure she'd still be alive, imagine my amazement when she called me at work and told me she was at the train station near my office! I told her I'd be right over to pick her up.
We had a fair amount of time to kill before picking up MY WIFE downtown, so I took Lime back to Marketing Messages and introduced her to a couple of folks. I showed her my office, and a few other boring things, and then we got back in the car and drove to Watertown where MY WIFE and I live.
I'm not quite sure why I took her there. I knew I wasn't going to invite her inside because the place was a mess. But I took a photo of her standing by our front door, so I'll show you that for no discernible reason.
I told Lime I was going to tie her up and put her in the basement while I went and picked up MY WIFE, but she thought I was joking. It's no fun being a homicidal pervert if your victim laughs at you, so I skipped it and we drove downtown. On the way, I regaled her with all sorts of questionable trivia concerning Boston. I told her about Beacon Hill having once been covered with whorehouses, but now there's only one, the place with the big golden dome on top.
(The 19th century whores cost less, the clientele were more satisfied after the transaction, and if you wanted a smoke once business was done, it wasn't illegal to light up in their chambers. Otherwise, we like the system now.)
After picking up MY WIFE, we drove back to La Casa De Pedro in Watertown. It's a very nice Venezuelan restaurant. We often eat there before going to the theater located next door. Once we were seated, we all ordered mojitos (which loosened things up considerably, as you might imagine) and we laughed pretty much continually from that point on.
I asked Lime about her trip to the museum. She liked it. I told her my favorite part of the collection was the Roman sculpture because there's one bust that's a dead ringer for Curly from The Three Stooges.
(That's true. It doesn't have a nose – for some reason, folks seem to have gotten a thrill from hammering off the noses of statues back in the day – but otherwise it's an uncanny resemblance. I just pretend he lost his schnozz when Moe whacked him with a crowbar or something,)
I then asked her if she saw the sculpture, by the side entrance, which looks like a big pile of dicks. She laughed, said she was sorry she missed that one, and then theorized that it might go well with some of Georgia O'Keefe's stuff.
(The sculpture may not be there anymore. I don't know how you could miss it. Honestly, the first time I saw it? I felt utterly small and inadequate. The thing resembles nothing more than fifteen or twenty giant bronze schlongs all tangled together and aiming off in different directions. The artist gave it some title other than "Big Pile Of Dicks", but almost everybody who sees it knows what he was thinking.)
We had some wonderful food and shared funny stories. Lime is one of the most convivial fools it has ever been my pleasure to break bread with. We didn't mean to break it, and we offered to pay for it, but…
(Wait a minute. I think I made that same joke when writing concerning the first time we met and had a meal. If you're dissatisfied and want your money back, see me outside after the blog.)
MY WIFE regaled us with stories of ill treatment by her family when she was younger, including wonderful games played by her brother and sisters, such as "Mean Hairdresser" (that one consisted of rolling up a brush in the hair and then yanking hard) and "Beat Up Day", which, to be fair, was shared equally by all four of the children. Each of the siblings had one day when they could be beaten, unmercifully and without retaliation, by the other three. MY WIFE's older sister, being the eldest, chose Leap Day. Her other sister's beat up day was Labor Day, while her brother's beat up day was Saint Patrick's. MY WIFE's was Sunday.
(I'm never quite sure how much of MY WIFE's stories to believe. In addition, it just occurs to me that I should probably be worried what she says about ME when I'm not around.)
We were having such a good time, we forgot to take any photos. Just so you don't get too bored, here's one of what happened the last time Lime visited us and she ordered a glass of water with extra lemon.
After dinner, and while waiting for coffee and dessert to arrive, MY WIFE pulled some lottery scratch tickets from her purse. They were of a type called "Cashwords", which basically… well, first it would help it you had one to look at for reference.
MY WIFE and I like to buy these lottery tickets because they at least give you a few minutes of entertainment before you lose your money. See the section marked "Your Letters"? You uncover one letter at a time and then, if you see that letter, you scratch it off in the larger puzzle. If you're able to uncover three or more complete words, you win. The more words you uncover, the more you win.
Now, of course, you only get 18 letters in the "Your Letters" section, and the 8 letters you don't get are generally the ones you need. However, it's still fun because of something we've added to the game. When we uncover a letter, we verbalize the sound of that letter each time we find it in the larger puzzle. For instance, if I uncover an "A" and MY WIFE, on her card, uncovers a "T", I go "Ayyyyyyyy, Ayyyyyyyy, Ayyyyyyyy" while I'm scratching off the puzzle letters, while she goes "Tih, Tih, Tih", and it's hard not to laugh because you sound like a couple of idiots.
We've bought these scratch tickets for other people occasionally and explained the rules about having to make the sounds as you uncover the letters, but nobody we've done it with has ever taken to it so quickly and with such gusto as Lime did. The three of us sat there in the middle of the restaurant going "Oh, Oh, Oh", "Eee, Eee, Eee", and "Guh, Guh, Guh", and the totality of the sound was not unlike that which would have been made by three retarded nymphomaniacs. I'm not sure how this affected the other patrons, but it did us a world of good.
MY WIFE only ordered coffee after dinner, but Lime and I each had a flan. Mine was your standard issue, but hers was chocolate. We decided we'd each like a taste of the other person's, so we fed each other some. It was somewhat embarrassing acting like a couple of 13-year-olds on a date while MY WIFE was sitting there watching us, but we're happily married and so is Lime in case her husband is reading this, so, while it was somewhat titillating, it was entirely innocent.
Full of good food (and with MY WIFE having uncovered five words on her scratchie, so we were ahead of the game) we drove Lime back to cousin's place in Brookline. Once again, it had been a great pleasure to share a day with her. She really does have a delightfully warped sense of humor, so despite my not having been able to tie her up in the basement and ravage her at my leisure, it was still an enjoyable evening. We hope to someday travel down to her area and do stuff. We like to imagine what she could possibly be like in her natural habitat.
Really, Lime – no joke – you're one of the most pleasant and entertaining people with whom we've ever shared a meal. I think this photo, from our first meeting, says it all.
Soon, with more better stuff.
39 comments:
And Boston will never be the same.
- 9:15 AM, March 12, 2012
- lime said...
truly, my ONLY disappointment about my visit to boston this time is that i missed the big pile of dicks. you just know if i'd seen it i would have taken a picture and posted it along with some ribald comments of my own.
i had an absolutely wonderful time with you and YOUR WIFE. i adore you both. the food was delicious, the game was hilarious, the company could not have been more delightful. it's deeply gratifying to be able to act like a retarded nymphomaniac in public and have the folks i am with approve rather than threaten to fit me for a nice wraparound jacket with clasps in the back.
i truly hope you and YOUR WIFE can make it down to my neck of the woods some day so i can return the favor. admittedly we don't have an art museum or even a big pile of dicks (well, unless you count the governor and his cohorts but they are fairly artless) but i'd relish the chance to introduce you to the local flora and fauna.
i promise not to tie you up in my basement.....mainly because i don't have a basement.
- 9:19 AM, March 12, 2012
- Daryl said...
Now I am so envious ... I guess I must make my annual trek to Burlington to visit my friends and get to see you .. Lime, if you are ever in NYC I'd love to meet you
- 9:47 AM, March 12, 2012
Gee with the potential promise of being locked up in your basement I just can't see why we all are NOT lined up to see ye!
Glad you had a nice visit! *smile*
- 10:07 AM, March 12, 2012
- Craig said...
I am so envious. . .
(*sigh*) (*again*)
Now, I'm always a little suspicious of those high-falutin' 'museums' whose names make for nice acronyms like 'MOFA', that have Georgia O'Keefe stuff hangin' all over the place. . .
Uh-huh. . . I unnerstand. . .
- 10:16 AM, March 12, 2012
- Sandi McBride said...
Now I'm seriously considering leaving my neck of the woods and heading for yours...looking forward to that office tour, lol!
- 10:18 AM, March 12, 2012
- Clare Dunn said...
I am also green with envy!!! I've always wanted to meet LIME!
In all Sincerity, I've always wanted to meet YOUR WIFE, too.
xoxoxo, cd
- 11:48 AM, March 12, 2012
- stephen Hayes said...
It's great that you two got on so well. And your wife is a keeper for not letting her nose get pushed out of shape over your harmless frolicking.
- 12:11 PM, March 12, 2012
- Buck said...
Two Bloggers Dine Together; World Survives
Are you SURE that's not "Women and Minorities Affected Most?"
- 12:48 PM, March 12, 2012
- Shrinky said...
Haaaaaaaa, now that kind of a blogger can come over and visit with me any day (er, no - no - I said NO, Sully, not you, I'm talking about HER, okay? Oh, well alright, I s'pose you could come along too, one day)!
Isn't it a wonder, when two long-term fellow bloggers actually get to meet up in the flesh together? Oh, hang on, sorry, that basement thingie didn't quite actually happen, did it?
I'm having my own sleepover with a complete Canadian-blogger stranger come August - I can hardly wait! Well, she's not a stranger in cyberspace, we've known each other for years out here (and I'm gonna' frisk her for knives before she sets foot through the door).
- 1:01 PM, March 12, 2012
- Suldog said...
Shrinky (and others) - Why doesn't anyone ever want to go down into my basement? I use only the finest quality of ropes, and I feed my captives as much oatmeal as they want. Maybe I should cook it first?
- 1:13 PM, March 12, 2012
- (not necessarily your) Uncle Skip, said...
What I wanna know is how did Lime know which one of Mr. T's trains to ride to get to the Fenway stop?
Not to digress, but that reminds me of the start of a joke:
"What's a Henway?"
"About two pounds without the feathers."
I always thought MoFA was the Museum of Food Anomalies? That's not one of the more "high-falutin'" ones.
- 1:16 PM, March 12, 2012
- (not necessarily your) Uncle Skip, said...
Mmmmmmmmmmm! Oatmeal
- 1:18 PM, March 12, 2012
- Michelle H. said...
While the basement thing is tempting, because I like oatmeal, I'm afraid the Overlord may not behave herself since she is getting her upper teeth in and would be able to chew through the ropes. Plus side for me, but not so for you.
Someday, I hope to see your neck-o-the-woods.
- 1:27 PM, March 12, 2012
- notactuallygod said...
You ought to run a caption contest with that final photo, just for your own amusement. (You have thick skin, right?)
- 1:44 PM, March 12, 2012
- IT (aka Ivan Toblog) said...
There's a place like the Beacon Hill over in Fernley, NV, or is it Yerington? ...and there's always that place on Hwy 99 north of Chico. What gripes me is ya gotta either rent a car or grab a taxi because the public transportation sucks. I mean Greyhound won't stop just anywhere.
- 2:49 PM, March 12, 2012
- ethelmaepotter! said...
"The 19th century whores cost less, the clientele were more satisfied after the transaction, and if you wanted a smoke once business was done, it wasn't illegal to light up in their chambers." THAT is hilarious!!!!!!
Do you have one of those stretchy-table things in your dungeon...uh basement? Before I began shrinking in my old age, I topped out at 5'1'', so I may benefit from a visit. I will even furnish my own oatmeal.
Notes to self for upcoming Boston visit: bring camera for pics of THE WIFE'S expression when Sully and I feed each other bites of flan; bring stick to fend off Big Pile of Dicks; bring Silly Putty to replace Curly's nose. (I would use clay, but we need something that would shape and affix quickly and, well, it being a Stooge it cried out for Silly.)
Boston may NOT survive after my visit, but I'm willing to test it. If it dies, it dies.
- 3:51 PM, March 12, 2012
- Hilary said...
Awww I love that you and YOUR WIFE got together with Lime again. Next time you just need to set up a video to record the event. We'd all pay to see that.
- 5:17 PM, March 12, 2012
- Kat said...
I was a little scared for Boston knowing the three of you would really get along famously with your twisted senses of humor. Glad to see Boston is still standing. ;)
- 6:47 PM, March 12, 2012
- messymimi said...
And if either of you ever get down toward south Louisiana, we can "pass a good time" here.
- 8:45 PM, March 12, 2012
- silly rabbit said...
I like this way of showing the comments. I care deeply. Thank you!
Ha! I knew that you all would have a wonderful time. Crazy people generally do and you and lime seem to have a nice touch of the crazies. I admire that by the way.
- 11:13 PM, March 12, 2012
- Maggie May said...
So pleased that you and Lime got on so well and that she didn't take your threats seriously!
I recently met up with a lovely local blogger who I've been corresponding with for 4 yrs, too and found it an enjoyable experience!
Maggie X
Nuts in May
- 5:17 AM, March 13, 2012
- i beati said...
Sounds like fun- Boston Reds winning some !!
- 5:50 AM, March 13, 2012
Excellent. Glad you and Limey had fun. I love the gargoyle foto in front of the Pleasant Cafe neon....
- 12:05 PM, March 13, 2012
I've met up with a few bloggers over the years and have formed some good friendships. Sounds like you had a fabulous time!
CJ x
- 12:18 PM, March 13, 2012
- kathryn magendie said...
Just stopping by to wave to you and say a hearty helloooooooooooooo!
- 1:54 PM, March 13, 2012
- Just Stuff From a Boomer said...
It's always fun to meet old friends but meeting new friends is exciting. Especially new friends taht you've known for a while.
- 3:53 PM, March 13, 2012
- Jenn Flynn-Shon said...
I definitely care (in response to your comment format question...which has probably been there for a month & I'm just getting around to responding now, sorry, I'm slow on the uptake sometimes).
You actually made me insanely nostalgic for Boston with this whole post which is probably somewhat weird since we'd never met while I lived there and I haven't been to 1/2 the places you wrote about. Though, my favorite creepy thing outside the MFA was the giant baby heads. And I know I missed out on a fun meal & that its definitely my loss for not having the cajones to have just said "hey, the 4 of us should get together."
My one & only question however is how could you say this in the opening paragraph?
"obviously fruitless attempt"
It wasn't fruitless at all, there was a Lime involved...
- 6:04 PM, March 13, 2012
- Cleary Squared said...
YOUR WIFE was a good sport in hanging out with yourself and Lime. Great that you all had a good time.
I play Cashword all the time, especially the Super Cashword and $1M Cashword. Still trying to win that $500 prize, although I've won $200 a couple of times...
- 10:26 PM, March 13, 2012
- (not necessarily your) Uncle Skip, said...
This way is better than the pop-up (or whateveryacallit) ...although I'm kinda partial to the one with the reply thingy (so I can obviously ignore some comments on my blog IYKWIM)
- 10:48 AM, March 14, 2012
- Karen said...
Of course I care. Yep, I like this comment form better. What a delightful meeting - so glad you had a great time!
- 1:57 PM, March 14, 2012
So much fun!! And what a coincidence that we both met up with fellow bloggers this past week!
- 3:20 PM, March 15, 2012
- The Good Cook said...
LOL. LOL... what fun!
- 10:57 PM, March 15, 2012
- Joanna Jenkins said...
Your photo together is a hoot! It looks like you two had a great time together despite NOT being locked in the basement.
Happy weekend, jj
- 8:53 PM, March 16, 2012
- Shammickite said...
Terrific stuff... lots of fun to meet a real life blogger! I've met one (and his wife) and it was a blast! So next time I'm in Boston (if I am ever in Boston some time during the next fifty years) I am definitely contacting you and we're going out on the town (with your WIFE).
- 9:59 AM, March 17, 2012
- Shammickite said...
Terrific stuff... lots of fun to meet a real life blogger! I've met one (and his wife) and it was a blast! So next time I'm in Boston (if I am ever in Boston some time during the next fifty years) I am definitely contacting you and we're going out on the town (with your WIFE).
- 10:02 AM, March 17, 2012
- Shammickite said...
Terrific stuff... lots of fun to meet a real life blogger! I've met one (and his wife) and it was a blast! So next time I'm in Boston (if I am ever in Boston some time during the next fifty years) I am definitely contacting you and we're going out on the town (with your WIFE).
- 10:02 AM, March 17, 2012
- CiCi said...
I can see why you and your wife get along so well with Lime, like warped minds that you all are. It is fun to hear about your adventures. Well, everything you do turns out to be another adventure.
- 10:11 AM, March 19, 2012
- Carolina said...
And when you all were doing the vocals while playing the word game, the people at adjoining tables were 'having what they are having' (you know, when Harry met Sally?).
Mara (do you remember Mara from when I went over there to help her in the garden and she had the ugliest curtains ever?) stayed the night here a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately we don't have curtains she can hate. She might have hated the fact that we don't have curtains though. Anyway, it really is fun to actually meet people from Blogworld. Even if they want to lock you in their cellar and feed you oatmeal. I guess ;-)
- 2:29 PM, March 19, 2012


text:
New Democrat Party leader Adrian Dix took centre stage on a set at Vancouver Film Studios Tuesday to confidently announce his plan to bring the film and TV business back to British Columbia.
Dix told a cheering crowd of industry workers that his government — if elected this May — would increase film-labour tax credits by as much as seven per cent, to a total of 40 per cent, for foreign and domestic productions.
But Premier Christy Clark and her Liberal government said the promise of larger tax credits is simply a form of vote buying by the New Democrats with money that doesn't exist.
Numbers from the NDP indicate the increase would cost taxpayers about $45 million annually, but provide $93 million in revenue in return.
"I think that we're making a very strong case for change and this is part of it today," said Dix.
He said few industries are as loved by people in the community as the film industry.
"Today we are announcing to the world that British Columbia is back in the film and television business."
The important precondition to his announcement would be winning the election, and Dix said that would be up to voters.
Dix said he is feeling "very pleased, very confident, very relaxed" about the NDP's current situation in B.C.
Liberal Cultural Development Minister Bill Bennett said the NDP has its numbers wrong and is making promises to film industry workers that can't be kept.
"I'm positive that they have the cost wrong," said Bennett, adding he has seen a ministry report that indicates a seven-per-cent tax credit increase would cost closer to $75 million.
"Doing it this way, it relieves (the NDP) of having to explain where the money is going to come from, and they can offer, you know, 'let's offer $45 million, $75 million, pick a number, to buy some votes in the TV and film industry.' It's not sustainable."
Bennett said he is a very strong supporter of the film industry, but disagrees with Dix's announcement because he thinks it is dishonest.
NDP arts and culture critic Spencer Chandra Herbert said that during a recent trip he and Dix took to Los Angeles, film industry officials expressed confusion about a lack of support from the B.C. Liberals.
"They actually were surprised that the Liberals seem to be mocking the film industry after former Premier Campbell's work to try to grow (the industry)," said Chandra Herbert. "They didn't get why Premier Clark decided it's not an industry worth supporting."
During his announcement, Dix quipped that the Liberal government is already in the TV business, spending millions on advertisements that attack the NDP.
Dix said he feels a tax credit increase would have an immediate, positive effect and allow B.C. to compete with industry in Ontario and Quebec, and that B.C.'s scenery and location give the province an advantage to draw film business.
Peter Leitch, chair of the Motion Picture Industry Association of B.C. and president of North Shore and Mammoth studios, welcomed Dix's announcement as a "shot in the arm" for an industry that experienced one of its worst periods ever in the first quarter of 2013.
"We're already getting positive feedback from Los Angeles that it looks like the politicians here are supporting what we're trying to do," Leitch said.
"With the talent we got here and the infrastructure and the other advantages, it's going to allow us to create more jobs in the industry and stop the migration of talent out of the province."
He said that Quebec and Ontario's larger tax incentives make it about 10 per cent cheaper for companies to shoot there compared to B.C.
The B.C. Film Commission reported that a $115-million gain in domestic production in B.C. last year — to $324 million — offset an $88-million drop in foreign production — to $892 million. The B.C. total means the province remains the second-busiest film and television production centre in Canada — about $60 million behind the $1.28 billion spent in Ontario last year.
A recent Canadian Media Production Association report said B.C. lost 3,500 direct and spinoff film and television production jobs during the year ended March 31, 2012, with the total number falling from 39,500 to 36,000.
Meanwhile, Ontario's industry gained nearly 8,000 jobs during the same period — rising from 43,400 to 51,300, the report said.
That province and Quebec both offer a 25-per-cent service tax credit for all expenses, including labour, racked up by the film industry. They also offer an additional 20-per-cent tax credit for any digital special effects and computer animation completed there.
Throw in the federal government's additional 16-per-cent tax credit on any labour within Canada and those provinces become very attractive to film and television producers.
"That gap was just too big and this (announcement) brings us closer to what we need to be competitive," Leitch said. "(Hollywood is) looking for an excuse to be in British Columbia.
"The only thing making them decide otherwise is that differential in tax credits."
Dix's proposal would boost the credit for local labour costs from 35 per cent on domestic productions and 33 per cent on foreign productions to 40 per cent on both kinds.
Vancouver Film Studio president Pete Mitchell said the planned tax-credit increases couldn't come at a better time.
"With this announcement coming in early April, we can expect new film and TV productions to be approved in time to shoot for 2013," Mitchell said in a news release.
Industry worker Wayne Bennett, an organizer of the Save B.C. Film group lobbying for more government help, said Dix's announcement is definitely not "too little, too late" for an industry that can work in three-month trends.
"The business is very cyclical," said Bennett, a freelance production manager for TV and film the past 13 years. "It's so portable that the suitcases full of money are brought and come and go as the wind blows."
Also on Tuesday, the City of Vancouver announced its intentions to do what it can to strengthen the local film and television industry.
City council unanimously agreed to look at removing some of the bureaucratic hurdles that can sometimes stall productions for months and make Vancouver less attractive to moviemakers.
To that end, the city will look at streamlining its parking, zoning and permitting processes — which could stop productions from having to go to different departments within the city for various permits.
Mayor Gregor Robertson also directed staff to compare Vancouver's policing and parking costs with those of other municipalities in the Lower Mainland and around the country.
A staff report to council Tuesday reported the city reaped nearly $530,000 in parking fees from the industry in 2012. Policing charges the same year totalled $890,000, while permitting fees were $780,000.
But probably the biggest win for the industry Tuesday was a commitment from the city to better promote Vancouver as Canada's "film city."
Vancouver Film Studio's Mitchell said Vancouver still ranks at the top of the list as a destination for international film and TV production companies.
"We have the best talent," he said.
But the city can do much more to capitalize on that reputation, even just by mentioning the importance of the industry on the city's website.
"The industry is not necessarily looking for a break on price, but for the city to say, 'We are going to make this easy for you and take your money but make you feel good about it," said Mitchell.
The TV and film industry has already been labelled a "priority" sector in the city's economic action strategy.
More than 20,000 people — from hair and makeup artists to high-tech visual effects experts — are directly employed in the industry in B.C., most of them in Vancouver. The economic spinoffs of each production, meanwhile, is in the tens of millions of dollars.
Robertson said the industry gives more than just dollars to Vancouver.
"I think there is a deeper cultural piece beyond the benefits to the economy," he said.
Council is expected to make a final decision on actions it can take when a final report by staff is complete.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Over the past year or so we have been having some problems with Server 2012 and 2012 R2 virtual machines hanging during reboot operations. The systems hang at the "spash screen", showing the Windows logo and the ring of spinning dots… forever!
Finally I was able to find an fix for this problem here:
From a tip-off here:
The problem? Well, probably it is best that you just read the TechNet social thread, if you really want to know. It is none too exciting, and all very aggravating. The fix? Run a PowerShell script, then vMotion your machines to force ESXi to re-read the VMX file for your guests.
I am posting my variation on the script in the KB here, because VMware's script is incomplete, and difficult to read.
#Source: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2092807 #Script intended to correct the bug where Windows Server 2012+ systems on VM Hardware v10 will hang at the #boot-up splash screen. Problem is caused by the failure of ESX to clear the "TS" counter on system reboot. Set-PSDebug -Strict #Initialize the VIToolkit: if ( (Get-PSSnapin -Name VMware.VimAutomation.Core -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) -eq $null ) { Add-PsSnapin VMware.VimAutomation.Core } [Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("VMware.Vim") #Connect to your virtual center: $viServ = "myVCenter.domain.com" Connect-VIServer -Server $viServ #Get all VMs in the vCenter: $vms = Get-VM #Loop though the VMs: ForEach ($vm in $vms){ #Get a "View" object for each VM. Views expose useful data that is not contined in the VM object: $vmv = Get-VM $vm | Get-View $name = $vmv.Name $guestid = $vmv.Summary.Config.GuestId if ($guestid -like "windows8*Guest") { #windows8*Guest will match Windows 8 client 32-bit and 64-bit, as well as # "windows8Server64Guest" (which is Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2). #We need to update the VMX file for the VM, which is dong using a VirtualMachineConfigSpec. $vmx = New-Object VMware.Vim.VirtualMachineConfigSpec $vmx.extraConfig += New-Object VMware.Vim.OptionValue $vmx.extraConfig[0].key = "monitor_control.enable_softResetClearTSC" $vmx.extraConfig[0].value = "TRUE" ($vmv).ReconfigVM_Task($vmx) write-host "Edited" $vmv.name $vmv.name | out-file -FilePath c:localtempsoftTscOut.txt -NoClobber -Append } }


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Interpreting/ Car rental /sourcing Service /Biz assistant consultant
We are professional business interpreter team in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, etc.
Available service as bellows:
1. Airport pick-up & drop-off (including HK airport)
2. Booking plane ticket and hotel in China and overseas.
3. Interpretation, document/email/website translating.
4. Sightseeing/ tourist guide, food and shopping guide.
5. Car service with driver or without driver.
6. Products sourcing, price negotiating with supplier.
7. Order follow up, quality inspection, and shipping arrangement.
8. Role as your purchasing agent / China representative office
9. Business/ marketing assistant or consultant.
10. Mandarin teacher.
12. Available in all China cities.
13. Our experience is most involved in
1) ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS( Mobile phone, Computer accessory, Tablet PC, USB, MP3, Memory card, IC chips,Led, CCTV, GPS, etc)
2) CONSTRCTION MATERIAL(furniture industry)
Thank you for taking time on our introduction, in contrast to temporally several days hired, we prefer a permanent cooperation and high level service to you and expecting a long-time based business partner with you in Shenzhen. Please contact and choose us to complete your full business process in China. Thanks.
Please kindly see my website at http://www.chinainterpretermichelle.com
Testimony I
Ms. Michelle is hard-working, knowledgeable, sourceful interpreter. She has very good topographical knowledge of Shenzhen area so any foreigner coming to Shenzhen can be assured of getting on-time and prompt service. With her down to
earth approach she also takes care of food habits, travelling habits etc of the visitor. A considerable good command over spoken English gives upper hand over the other interpreters.
Testimony II
Dear Michelle,
Thank you for your time and interpreting service. As a foreigner, it's a bit hard to communicate with local folks if you don't know Mandarin, but with you it's seems like everything is so easy.
You can understand me clearly, and can negotiate with supplier in a short time without me knowing.
I definitely will recommend your service to all of my friend if they are coming to China.
Mr Iq (from Malaysia)
Testimony III
Thanks Michelle for all you have done and we really appreciate it. You did a great job, we could not have done without you.
Ted Beckwith and Victor
Gotham Products
(From New York, U.S.)
Wish you a great business journey!
Thanks and best regards,
Michelle(China Interpreter)
Mobile phone: 0086 15818685956
MSN: email@example.com
Guangzhou Interpreter/translator /tour guide +86 15818685956
Translations to and from Chinese.
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So, we have our White Speedster, our Blue... something, hard to categorize, and a Green Tank. Will we be going when we hit four, or waiting for 8?
Name: Aurelie Arturo (lit. "Golden Bear")Age: 17Sex: FemaleOrientation: Straight...ish? Height: 5'5"Weight: AveragePersonality: Aurelie is the one who will push the red button, adorned with DO NOT TOUCH signs, just to see what it will do. Curious to a fault, she takes in information as if it were air. As such, she often gets into trouble when she tries something or asks something that might be otherwise considered a no-no. Seemingly aloof, she occasionally forgets that others exist, particularly if she's hyper-focused on toying with something, though she means well. She enjoys being helpful, especially if it means trying something new.Background: Born in the kingdom of Vale to a history professor and a bookshop owner, Aurelie would never have guessed that she would have any interest in becoming a Huntress. Grimm were always hardly more than a fairy tale to her - until she wandered into the woods one day and chanced upon three very hungry Ursa. Aurelie, hardly more than 10-years at the time, would have torn to shreds had she not been rescued by a band of Hunters. From that day forward, the girl became obsessed, focusing all her attention on studying the Grimm, weapon-smithing, and the history of Remnant itself. Despite a few rough patches, broken bones, and minor explosions, Aurelie made it through Signal with flying colors, handily passing the exam into Beacon, where the real fun was about to begin.Combat Style: Aurelie's preferred weapon of choice is a set of folding fans with a partly razor frame and mounted with a durable lightweight polymer, used just as well for offense as they are for defense. When collapsed, each fan becomes either a baton for close range attacks or a long-barrel pistol that utilizes Dust for elemental attacks. Fully expanded and locked together, the fans can be used as a shield, or in a final attack, they can be lobbed at an enemy like a razor-tipped discus. Coupled with Aurelie's martial style, a mixture of Tai Chi and Southern Mantis, her deceptive innocence and vulnerability lure enemies into close-range combat, where she is most comfortable. Semblance: Molecular Acceleration - by focusing on an object, Aurelie can increase the kinetic molecular energy of an object and cause it to combust. So far, it appears to be limited to inorganic objects only (metals, plastics - no flora or fauna). The object must be within a 15 meter radius. Additionally, she has never succeeded in manipulating anything larger than a microwave (it's a long story), though with practice it could possibly improve. Unsurprisingly, the damage of the blast is proportional, not to the size or mass or the object, necessarily, but the density. The more tightly packed, the greater the relative blast.
So I must know when we get Team Assignments. ;3Combo attack Dragon Punch! (Celeste x Lark)xD
If you want to play female, go for it. We're not shooting for any kind of male-to-female ratio or anything.
Well, yes it is luck of the draw. But it kind of makes sense to just decide before hand. And I have no objections to being Aurelia's partner. Though I have to say, our color palette is a bit gross. Red and White/Yellow and Black are both stylish. Green and Yellow not so much. Blue and White is nice though. Anyways, so the Fan Lady with Gambit powers, and Halberd and Shield with Wolverine's Healing Factor. That should be an interesting combo.
Futa (or I guess, pseudo-futa) aren't really my jam, but feel free to leave it if that's what you're into. Also, is her nickname Tuuwa/Tu?
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Matthew Lambert is on a mission. Making the 40-minute drive between his home in West Knoxville, Tenn., and the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge a couple times a month, he needs to notch a few more rides on Thunderhead, the park's 100-foot-high, 55-mph roller coaster.
"I'm at 1,991 times," he said. "I've got nine to go to make 2,000."
In fact, by the time you read this, he may very well be starting down the track toward the big 3-0-0-0.
Coaster yogis and crazy ACEers
Clearly, hardcore roller coaster enthusiasts are not your average theme park visitors. Many travel extensively, trying to ride as many different coasters as they can, while others, like Lambert, find a favorite that fits the bill for habitual thrills. "We're like amusement park groupies," joked Robb Alvey, owner/creator of ThemeParkReview.com. "We're all a little screwed up."
Related coverage
Body Odd: Scaring ourselves silly
Whether bungee jumping or watching horror flicks, we're drawn to the chemical surge of controlled danger.
- Click of wooden coasters attracts enthusiasts
- Trolley parks: Survivors of an earlier era
- Body Odd: Scaring ourselves silly
And they're in good company, with conventions, ERT (Exclusive Ride Time) events and online forums where the thrill factor of thousands of rides are reviewed, analyzed and endlessly debated. The world's largest ride enthusiast organization, American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), has approximately 7,000 members.
"We call them crazy ACErs or coaster yogis," said Chris Gray, a designer for Great Coasters International Inc., the company that built Thunderhead. "They know the layout of rides like the back of their hand."
Even so, the thrill is still there, according to Lambert, who once rode Thunderhead 103 times in a single day. "Even knowing what's going on and what's going to happen, it's different every time. You feel like you have absolutely no control over anything that's going on around you."
For Frank Farley, a psychologist at Temple University, the typical coaster yogi is a classic "Big T" personality, i.e., someone who craves novelty, intensity and excitement. (The "T" is for thrill, with "little t" types preferring routine and risk-averse activities.) "Roller coasters provide a whole smorgasbord of stimulation," Farley said. "Rapid breathing, elevated heart rate — there's a Niagara of changes going on in the brain."
"What you're doing is preparing to die," said Margaret J. King, director of Cultural Studies & Analysis, a Philadelphia think tank. Not literally, of course — roller coasters are incredibly safe — but in terms of how our bodies naturally react to stressful situations. "Your body is basically screaming at you to get out of there."
Which, of course, you can't once the lap bar comes down. That, in turn, underscores the loss of control, as do the high-speed spins, sudden changes of direction and other disorienting moves. Suddenly, the biochemicals start flowing (you're aroused, hyper-aware); your digestive system goes on hold (one reason many people get queasy) and everyone around you is screaming at the top of their lungs (another alarm cue, King noted).
"It's a classic 'fight or flight' response," she said. "We're taught to respond that way because that's the way it worked when we were Cro-Magnons living on the savannah."
Don't miss these Travel stories
Lords of the gourd compete for Punkin Chunkin honors
With teams using more than 100 unique apparatuses to launch globular projectiles a half-mile or more, the 27th annual World Championship Punkin Chunkin event is our pick as November's Weird Festival of the Month.
- Airports, airlines work hard to return your lost items
- Expert: Tourist hordes threaten Sistine Chapel's art
- MGM Grand wants Las Vegas guests to Stay Well
- Report: Airlines collecting $36.1B in fees this year
- Lords of the gourd compete for Punkin Chunkin honors
Fear – death = thrill
Of course, your average Cro-Magnon couldn't get off his daily Stone Age thrill ride and go get a beer or bag of popcorn. And while most coaster enthusiasts focus on the ride itself, it's really what happens when people get off that prompts them to get back on.
"You've faced down death and survived, and your body responds by flooding you with biochemicals," King said. "Adrenaline, serotonin, oxytocin — you feel triumph, relief, a bond with the people you've ridden with. It's all very sexy."
And ride designers are masters at engendering those effects by maximizing the disorienting elements of their creations. Thunderhead, for example, features a "station fly-through" in which trains come screaming through the loading area at 40 mph right behind and above people just as they're about to board. "It's loud; the whole station's shaking, and then the lap bar comes down," Gray said. "It's like, Boom! You have absolutely no time to prepare for what's coming."
Other rides use other elements to keep riders off-balance. At Six Flags Magic Mountain, for example, X2 features dangling seats that rotate horizontally 360 degrees so riders are often upside down and backwards. (Big T types can't get enough of it; little t types should probably keep on walking.) As a result, even repeat riders still get a rush no matter how many times they ride.
Eek! Why we love to scare ourselves silly
Jodi Malone, for example, has ridden X2 1,082 times (and counting). In fact, she likes the ride so much she has a 10-inch tattoo of it on her upper arm and is currently working on a book about women and roller coasters. It's called "Screaming Orgasms: Men of Wood & Steel" and, as the name suggests, chronicles a lifetime of "encounters, flings and affairs" with X2 and a host of other coasters.
Which, come to think of it, may explain how people can ride the same coaster repeatedly without becoming so familiar with it that it loses its appeal. "In a sense it's like sex," said Farley of Temple University. "People have sex over and over and over again, but it's still a thrill."
Rob Lovitt is a frequent contributor to msnbc.com. If you'd like to respond to one of his columns or suggest a story idea, drop him an e-mail .


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With only forty seats being offered every year for Regular MBA program at SMS, it has been the dream
destination for all the ICET toppers who choose to pursue their MBA. It draws in the talent from every
nook and corner of state. The fame of the school reflects in the fact that it has international students.


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Functional Fatigue
FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGES AS THE next frontier? Until recently there seemed little reason to question that premise. After all, if drinks like Fuze and Vitaminwater could do so well by giving the impression of offering a functional lift, then imagine how high the potential might be for brands that actually delivered meaningful amounts of functional fortification. But so far, that bet hasn't paid off.
In the past couple of years, some visible early entrants have struggled. A deep recession arrived, the government began to crack down on beverage companies' health claims, and consumers – well, I get the sense that they're probably spending their Internet time on job listing boards and trolling for grocery coupons rather than heading over to the Web site of functional beverage brands to learn the definitions of "chondroitin" or "quercetin." That, or they may be buying into the whole-food, anti-engineered "phood" precepts espoused by commentators like Michael Pollan. I also can't help but wonder whether a more pervasive anger and cynicism, bred by revelations of the glaring shortcomings of bankers, stockbrokers, realtors, politicians and government regulators hasn't injected a fundamental skepticism about sweeping promises from anybody, let alone an elixir in a bottle.
I have no formal research to back up this hunch: no focus groups, no surveys, no Whole Foods shopper intercepts. It's just a nagging feeling I've culled from conversations with friends and neighbors, beverage distributors and retailers. But also, look at what new beverage items do seem to be selling these days: many are in tried-and-true categories that may lack any cutting-edge mystique, but fulfill basic urges in terms of refreshment, hydration and the like. They include newer shelf-stable versions of such iconic refrigerated brands as Sunny Delight and Nesquik. King Juice's Calypso brand of lemonade is also soaring – considering that the populace is supposed to be spooked at ingesting lots of calories through its drinks, I'm somewhat amazed — but it tastes great, the glass bottle feels great in your hand, the range of flavors can make you forget it's all just lemonade and you certainly don't have to go to a Web site to understand it. Teas, like AriZona Iced Tea and its various spinoffs, and the canned Xingtea line also seem to be striking a chord: tea, while overcrowded, is an understandable drink with perhaps some modest health benefits and an accessible taste that makes it a good transition from the carbonated soft drinks some consumers feel they should be abandoning.
Many of these are relatively inexpensive brands, but I think the phenomenon goes beyond trading down. After all, some categories of beverages with high price points but clear value in their ingredients and packaging continue to hold their own, from energy drinks to some of the superfruit juice categories. So it can't all be a question of price.
Knowing the above, am I totally down on functional drinks? Not at all, but it may take a while for them to reach their promise. The company that hoped to serve as poster child for the segment, Function Drinks, has regrouped after a wildly ambitious initial plan misfired and is trying to grind it out on the way to some kind of broader acceptance. Newer lines like the cap-activated Activate and the curvy-bottle Neuro continue to attract distributor and retailer attention. FRS is striving to move beyond being an Internet play, and establish a fuller consumer understanding of just what the brand is, as well as its active ingredient quercetin. Celsius has outlasted the misconceived Enviga line from a Coke-Nestle partnership and continues to push toward mainstream acceptance (albeit after a shift in emphasis to fitness assistance rather than calorie burning).
So is the flourishing of functional beverages right on the horizon? I'm inclined to believe that if you're a wholesaler or retailer, you should be experimenting with some functional entries, but don't overcommit. Given the degree of consumer skepticism out there, it's probably best to emphasize segments that allow consumers to judge for themselves in a reasonable timeframe whether they work – energy, joint health, maybe mental focus, but not necessarily anti-aging. I'm not convinced relaxation is for real as a category; maybe something more narrowly defined, like sleep aid, will work better.
I'd go easy on brands that seem to overreach in their claims. You probably should also be cautious about picking up too many brands that need to have a supplement rather than nutrition panel affixed to the label; government regulators are looking at those with a gimlet eye. And – in a lesson that it took a while for Function, among others, to learn – don't assume consumers will be willing to sacrifice flavor for the promise of a functional benefit.
I've focused here on smaller, independent players, because that's where most breakthrough brands tend to get launched. That's not to dismiss the beverage giants (and their pharma brethren) who maintain extensive research capabilities and are seeking genuine functional and nutritional breakthroughs. They've always had extensive R&D but have misfired repeatedly nevertheless: both with consumers and, as the Enviga snafu or Danone's headaches on the probiotic side would attest, with even the mundane regulatory stuff you'd expect them not to fumble. Still, this is one category where they should have every advantage. Maybe they'll be the ones to show the way. We'll see what they come up with next.
Longtime beverage-watcher Gerry Khermouch is executive editor of Beverage Business Insights, a twice-weekly e-newsletter covering the nonalcoholic beverage sector.


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Erin Cosgrove, UNLV's Artist in Residence, will be giving a lecture on May 1 at 7 pm inside of the Barrick Auditorium. Erin is an artist and writer who uses video, animation, books, painting, scrolls, timelines, installation, and performance in her artwork. She was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has lived in Los Angeles since 1998. She received her BFA from The University of Minnesota in 1996 and an MFA from ULCA in 2001.
Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States and Europe including one-person shows at The Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; Carl Berg Gallery, Los Angeles; Printed Matter, New York; and Espace Croise Centre d'art Contemporain, Roubaix, France. Her art is represented in the collections of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and The Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. Her work has been included in shows at The Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York; Galleri S.E International Contemporary Art, Bergen, Norway; Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco; Rogue Wave at LA Louver, Los Angeles; The Armory Show, New York; The Santa Barbara Museum of Art; Kunst-Werke, Berlin, Germany; The Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz, Austria; and Arco, Madrid.
Presented in collaboration with Las Vegas Arts Commission.


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Sschweibold necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 137 diseños de 45 diseñadores freelance.
Dvour.com is a web application that will allow users to create and share recipes effortlessly with their friends and family. Focusing on design and creativity, Dvour goes beyond plain text and pictures. Users are able to create digital recipe cards from their own pictures or graphic designs.
Think of us as the "Twitter" of recipe sharing. Dvour's overall functionality is designed to be simplistic. The goal of the site's design is to be "clutter free", unlike those other recipe sites.
- Users that have an artistic bent with a passion for cooking.
- Mostly Female
The logo should be gender neutral. Focus more on creativity/cooking aspects of the web application.
We are looking for a simple, but creative logo that will draw instant recognition from users.
- Looking for a clear typeface. (Nothing too bold or over the top though)
- An icon would be wonderful, but it is NOT required. (Think of it more as a secondary requirement.)
- No Cartoons
- Do not incorporate the ".com" into the name.
Logos I Like:
- Twitter, Digg, Engadget, Slickdeals, Cookstr
Logos I Don't Like:
- Reddit, Recipe.com, foodnetwork.com
I am a sucker for pastel colors. They are usually gender neutral, but are easy on the eyes and work well for web applications.
Colors I like: Purple, Green, Yellow, Orange, Blue
Stay away from pink or black.
I am not very fond of gradients. I much prefer solid colors that look good!
The files we will require are:
Print file format - .ai (CMYK)
Web file format - .jpg and layered .psd (RGB)
Please do not use any stock images or clip art in the logo
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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After reading the study you might come a way with the idea that SELinux did not block anything. After all it allowed the hacked process to read /etc/passwd. SELinux also allowed a hacked Apache to upload a file and execute it.
This points out what most people do not understand about SELinux. SELinux does not necessarily block errors in applications from happening. SELinux will just contain them. If you are able to subvert the Apache application then you can become the Apache application and will have the rights allowed to the apache application. In his examples he was able to take over the Apache server and do what an apache server needs to do, including reading the /etc/passwd file. A better test would be:
- Try to connect to a few network ports like the mail port - Out of the box we should not allow Apache to connect to many network ports.
- Read /secrets/mysecrets - Random content on the file system should not be readable by Apache
- Read /home/dwalsh/creditcard.txt - Random content in a users home dir should not be readable by apace
- Read /var/lib/mysql/mysqld.data. - Database data should not be readable by Apache except if allowed through a constricted path like a unix domain socket.
- Try to run su or sudo, or strace, or network sniffer.
If an Apache server has a bug in its code, then it can be owned whether or not SELinux is in enforcing mode, the goal is to confine the attacker to just the Apache data and not allow him to attack other data or processes on the system.
Apache Booleans
Now lets look further at Apache SELinux policy configuration. A while ago I wrote a blog on "Security vs Usability", in which I explained the continuing conflict between setting up a machine with security as tight as possible, but not so tight as forcing people to turn the security off. When we ship SELinux policy we have to make compromises on security, to avoid the "Just turn it off crowd".
Lets look at some of these compromises, and maybe explain how you could tighten the security in your Apache.
Out of the box SELinux in RHEL6 has the following boolean settings for an Apache server.
On RHEL6 we have
# semanage boolean -l | grep httpd | grep -v off
httpd_enable_cgi (on , on) Allow httpd cgi support
httpd_dbus_avahi (on , on) Allow Apache to communicate with avahi service via dbus
httpd_unified (on , on) Unify HTTPD handling of all content files.
httpd_builtin_scripting (on , on) Allow httpd to use built in scripting (usually php)
httpd_tty_comm (on , on) Unify HTTPD to communicate with the terminal. Needed for entering the passphrase for certificates at the terminal.
On RHEL7 and Fedora we have
# semanage boolean -l | grep httpd | grep -v off
httpd_enable_cgi (on , on) Allow httpd cgi support
httpd_graceful_shutdown (on , on) Allow HTTPD to connect to port 80 for graceful shutdown
httpd_builtin_scripting (on , on) Allow httpd to use built in scripting (usually php)
I was interested on how he was able to execute tmp_t content.
# sesearch -A -s httpd_t -t httpd_tmp_t -p execute -C
Found 1 semantic av rules:
DT allow httpd_t httpd_tmp_t : file { ioctl read getattr lock execute
execute_no_trans open } ; [ httpd_tmp_exec httpd_builtin_scripting && ]
# sesearch -A -s httpd_sys_script_t -t httpd_tmp_t -p execute -C
Found 1 semantic av rules:
DT allow httpd_sys_script_t httpd_tmp_t : file { ioctl read getattr lock execute execute_no_trans open } ; [ httpd_tmp_exec httpd_enable_cgi && ]
Reading this, it looks like SELinux should have blocked the ability for the Apache process or a cgi script to execute the content by default. IE You would need to turn on the httpd_tmp_exec boolean as well as the httpd_enable_cgi boolean.
But examining further the booleans, I wanted to know what content could httpd_t (Apache) or httpd_sys_script_t (Apache CGI Scripts) could execute and write.
# sesearch -A -s httpd_sys_script_t -t httpd_sys_content_t -p execute -C
Found 3 semantic av rules:
allow httpd_sys_script_t exec_type : file { ioctl read getattr lock execute execute_no_trans open } ;
allow httpd_sys_script_t httpd_sys_content_t : file { ioctl read getattr lock execute entrypoint open } ;
ET allow httpd_sys_script_t httpd_sys_content_t : file { ioctl read getattr lock execute execute_no_trans entrypoint open } ; [ httpd_enable_cgi httpd_unified && ]
So the problem here is actually httpd_unified. httpd_unified basically says to SELinux allow Apache processes to treat all Apache content with the same rules. In RHEL7 we feel users are familiar enough with SELinux to disable the httpd_unified boolean by default. If this boolean is off, then users would have to label files/directories as httpd_sys_content_rw_t if they wanted Apache to be able to write to a directory rather then the read/only label of httpd_sys_content_t. With the boolean on, Apache processes can read/write/execute all httpd_sys_content* labels.
If you are not uploading data to Apache then it is a good idea to turn off this boolean.
# setsebool -P httpd_unified 0
Now lets look at other booleans that are turned on by default in RHEL6. (And RHEL7 for that matter).
This boolean enables your Apache server to run cgi scripts. We leave this on by default because out of the box, any person running Apache would blow up with a permission denied when they tried to execute a cgi script. If you were not running cgi scripts, it would be a good idea to turn this off.
# setsebool -P httpd_enable_cgi 0
This boolean your Apache server to run builtin scripting, mod_php, mod_python, mod_perl ...
We leave this on by default because out of the box, any person running Apache would blow up with a permission denied when they tried to execute a php script.
If you are just allowing users to view Apache content, then you really should turn off both of these booleans.
# setsebool -P httpd_builtin_scripting 0
This boolean allows httpd to talk to the terminal that launches it. The risk here is a hacked apache server could trick an admin into entering his password, by putting a passwd: prompt on the screen and then reading the admins commands. This access is necessary for people who setup apache servers which require a passwd from the admin when they start, it also allow apache to output errors to the screen, like the configuration is screwed up. In Fedora and RHEL7 this output is handled by systemd, so this access is no longer needed, and can be disabled by default. If your apache server does not require a password at start and you know that your config is correct you should turn this boolean off.
# setsebool -P httpd_tty_comm 0
This boolean allows apache to communicate with the avahi daemon over DBUS. This boolean should have been disabled by default, but most likely does not add much risk. It is turned off by default in Fedora and RHEL7.
# setsebool -P httpd_dbus_avahi 0
Bottom line as people grow to peoples understanding of SELinux, we can slowly tighten up the controls...


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Michael Salmon necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 95 diseños de 19 diseñadores freelance.
Hartstone Inn & Hideaway
We are a 21 room Inn/Boutique Hotel with a gourmet restaurant that has been in business for 12 years. We are located in Camden, Maine on the scenic Maine coastline. Our restaurant does not have a separate name from the Inn, which is part of our challenge with designing a logo.
Sophisticated travelers interested in fine cuisine and a "foodie experience."
The Inn is a foodie destination with gourmet dining, cooking classes and other foodie events, so we would like this to reflect in the logo. This is what stands us apart from our competition. The Inn has a French Country decor. We are currently using Balmoral font in our materials for the name.
Please check out our website to get a feeling for our property. http://www.hartstoneinn.com
My wife likes the rooster logo at the following web address: http://www.laubergeprovencale.com/ for it's colors and whimsy but again, our logo needs to reflect the food aspect of our Inn.
The logo needs to be colorful, but also needs to be used in gray-scale. We will be using it as a stitched image on hats, shirts and chef jackets in addition to our website and advertising materials.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Buffalo News Unveils Rebranding Campaign
By: Nu Yang
Newspapers have learned that in order to stay ahead in the industry they need to evolve and be innovative. This lesson is being practiced at the Buffalo (N.Y.) News, where a rebranding effort recently rolled out in conjunction with a new advertising campaign featuring its mobile and tablet apps.
Starting on Oct. 1, full access to buffalonews.com and its digital products now require a subscription. The home page, section fronts, and 10 stories per month are available without a fee, and current subscribers are able to register for digital content without any additional cost. New subscribers who opt-in under automatic renewal can sign-up for a digital-access-only plan for $2.49 a week.
News president Warren Colville said the company started to look into charging for digital content a year ago. They hired New Jersey marketing firm American Opinion Research to evaluate the pros and cons of the plan.
Colville described the paper's new digital model as a "conservative approach." In addition to its new subscription fees, the paper also updated its mobile app for Android and iPhone, and developed a tablet app for the Kindle Fire and iPad. An e-edition of the paper also launched late last month. Colville said he has not seen much pushback about the new fees, since the paper let readers know of the plans far in advance and current subscribers do not have to pay anything extra for digital. He said 50,000 of the paper's current subscribers have registered so far, and the paper expects 19,000 new subscribers to sign-up for digital only access.
The new subscription model coincides with the News' rebranding campaign. Working with advertising agency Eric Mower and Associates, Colville said an aggressive approach was created to market the company's new image. According to the News, the campaign included 2,500 television commercials, six billboards, 135 moving billboards on buses, and thousands of radio spots. Full-page ads also rotated heavily inside the paper.
"It lets people know that what you get inside the Buffalo News, you can't get anywhere else," Colville said. "It shows we're not hunkering down — we have big plans for the future."
The rebranding features a new logo centered on two letters: BN (the paper's initials). Billboards are splattered with words like "BN-riched," BN-formed" and the sports-centric, "BN-in the game." Colville said a second portion of the rebranding effort highlights reporters interviewing well-known figures such as Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson in TV spots, and the only way to finish the segment is to get it from the News.
"Our theme is to build on our brand and have it be easily recognized," Colville said. "And hit on it over and over, 'Nowhere but the Buffalo News.'"
Not only is the campaign creating buzz around the community, but it has also re-energized the newsroom. Colville said he purchased 10,000 T-shirts for News employees with "BN-inspired" printed on it. He called employees "BN-ambassadors" because they are out spreading the news about the campaign.
"I've received nice notes saying they're so excited about what we're doing as a company," Colville said. "It's worth a million dollars for me to see them as ambassadors."


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On raising a son on the autism spectrum, progressive politics, pop culture, and coffee addiction.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Watch your language
I mentioned recently that Bud has been experimenting with "mean" words, testing their power and finding their most suitable contexts. But, as a child with autism, he doesn't always retain the specifics of a mean idiom or figure of speech. Case in point: Over the past several weeks, Bud's been doing a lot of back-talk when he wants someone to stop speaking.
Sometimes it's innocuous: The dog across the street barks, and Bud stands in our driveway and yells "Shut out, Jenna! SHUT OUT!"
Sometimes it's impertinent: Nana tells him it's time to turn off the computer and he turns to her and says, "Shut out, Nana. SHUT OUT!"
Sometimes it's just plain rude: The clerk at the supermarket asks him how he is today and he responds with a loud "Shut out, man! SHUT OUT!"
I'm never sure what to do in these situations.
Do I respond the way I would with a neurotypical child to this very developmentally appropriate behavior: "Bud, it is not nice to tell people to 'shut out.' It makes them sad."?
Or do I address the autism-related issue here instead: "Bud, you want Jenna/Nana/the man to shut UP, not shut OUT. You say, 'Shut up, Jenna/Shut up, Nana/Shut up, man.'"?
It really is a quandary.
21 comments:
- GClef1970 said...
Ironically, Conor told me "Shut up Mommy" tonight. (side note: I wasn't talking)
I chose to ignore it. DH chose to reprimand him for it and make him say "I'm sorry". Problem is, DH probably just reinforced the behavior by acknowledging it in the first place. (Ahhh, these words have some power to them....)
- August 01, 2007 10:40 PM
If I said 'stoopid' at 50 decibels I know you [emphasis] wouldn't be offended.
It's a tricky one that we also battle with, so if you come with any magic tricks, let me know!
Best wishes
- August 01, 2007 11:33 PM
These are the posts that I love! I can totally sympathize and they make me smile. Been missing you and Bud lately. Hope all is well!
- August 01, 2007 11:43 PM
- Unknown said...
Oh this is tough. I would gently correct, on both counts. On the other hand, I'm the one with the son who likes to yell "penis!" for no particular reason.
- August 02, 2007 12:59 AM
- gretchen said...
Kind of like when Henry told me "I don't like her" about one of his teachers. I had suspected as much, and was so proud that he was able to express that emotion. But then needed to tell him not to repeat that to anyone else!
- August 02, 2007 8:51 AM
- Drama Mama said...
Bud seems like a reasonable, compassionate kid. Ms. M went through a similar thing, and I broke it down cognitively -what do these words actually MEAN - and how they make other people feel. We've even done little role plays (which my kid loves) about them. I also gave her times when angry words were okay - in her room, punching a pillow, say - and we found that she dropped the habit pretty quickly.
Her therapist told me to ignore these episodes, which did NOT work.
- August 02, 2007 9:08 AM
What a sweet, expressive Bud! I would have a hard time not marvelling at his self-assurance, even with his malapropism.
To your question, how about a combination of your two approaches?
"Bud, it sounds like you want to say 'SHUT UP' which is what some people say when they are frustrated. It's not a nice thing to say, though. It can hurt another person's feelings."
Can you help him practice something different? Like, "I don't want to talk right now!" or "I need some time by myself!" He can be just as adamant and self-protective with some more polite words.
- August 02, 2007 9:39 AM
- Mom to Mr. Handsome said...
Or maybe..please be quite...
Model back what is expected?
When we want someone to be quite we say, "Could you please be quite?"
- August 02, 2007 12:57 PM
- Mom without a manual said...
Oh...so much good advice!
We are in the midst of this dilemma right now. JP is busy telling everyone that "you are driving me crazy". I've tried explaining that this could be taken as "you are making me mad" but he just thinks he is being fun.
This language of ours is so much work!
- August 02, 2007 1:08 PM
- Niksmom said...
Wow. Such a dilemma. I am clueless but think other moms have given some pretty good options. Please let us know how it all works? So wonderful that Bud is feeling confident enough to speak up even if it isn't quite the thing youwish he'd say...
- August 02, 2007 1:56 PM
Jared's best example of eccholalia (which I have consistent trouble spelling) was when he pointed to a bottle of ketchup and used a phrase from Toy Story - "you go, I'll catch up"
Right now, Monsters, Inc. is coloring Jared's speech - he's gravitated to the line where Randall is berating Sully "you Stupid, pathetic.....". I remind Jared that words can hurt, and that it's not a nice thing to say. That's going to be my generic line, hopefully delivered in a calm tone of voice.
- August 02, 2007 2:14 PM
- J said...
My son - age 5 - is now routinely saying "Oh, settle down" in similar situations. We are trying to tell him that this is inappropriate, and then give him an alternative such as "It makes me upset when you do that."
- August 02, 2007 2:38 PM
Definitely gently correct, Bud doesn't need peer scorn by saying the wrong phrase, nobody says, "shout out" after all. "Bud, I think you mean 'shut-up' which is a rude thing to say but some people do say it when they are tired or angry. I prefer you say, 'please be quiet' if you feel angry or are tired".
- August 02, 2007 3:08 PM
PS Sorry I meant nobody says 'shut out'.
- August 02, 2007 3:09 PM
- mommy~dearest said...
With Jaysen, he tends to get lost if there are too many words, or if the explination is on the lengthly side.
I wouldn't acknowledge that Bud said "shut out", I would just say "it's not nice to tell people to shut up." Give him the correct phrase, but don't overload him.
Now Jaysen will ask me "what's a bad word?" and I don't know what to tell him! I just tell him "stupid" and "hate" because he's already laid those lovelies out there. My effort is now to try to explain that you can "hate" broccoli, but you shouldn't "hate" a person.
- August 02, 2007 4:38 PM
- Stimey said...
I LOVE the image of you telling him "No, you mean to tell him to shut UP." It's tough to encourage and correct at the same time.
Ever since going through a Yertle the Turtle phase, Jack will ask us to talk just so he can yell, "SILENCE!" at us.
- August 02, 2007 5:50 PM
- Angel The Alien said...
Hmmm, maybe you could teach him the ASL sign for "be quiet" or even "shut up". (There really is a sign for shut up!) That way he could be expressing himself, and the people who know him (like you, and Nana, and whoever) will know what it means, but strangers (like the man at the grocery store, and the dog I suppose) will not know what he's saying.
- August 02, 2007 7:38 PM
- kristina said...
Am fond of these sorts of quandaries. I would (this is me) try to explain why this is not the best thing to say and offer alternatives...
- August 03, 2007 1:16 AM
okay, quandry aside, this totally cracked me up!
me? i would say the former, explain that being told to shut out makes others feel sad. i might add as an aside that most people say shut UP but i've actually been known to say shut IT so, autism aside, perhaps is a bit of a style thing?
- August 04, 2007 2:32 PM
- Lori at Spinning Yellow said...
I agree with Kyra that although this is a quandry it is also pretty funny. Scott has said some rather inappropriate things to people, including his grandparents. I've had some success with telling him to say "I'm frustrated" when these things happen b/c it rarely hurts someone else's feelings but does allow him to express what he feels. I struggle with, "OK, yes, your Grammy IS annoying sometimes, but you can't actually say that." It just gets too complicated.
- August 04, 2007 6:03 PM
- kristi said...
TC's favorite word is STUUUUPID. He learned it from Spongebob. He used to say it in every sentence...we would tell him that it's not nice to say that word. Then we just ignored it and he now says it only when he is aggravated or very, very tired. This post made me laugh though!
- August 04, 2007 8:19 PM


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How dangerous is turbulence?
What is turbulence?
Turbulence occurs when the plane flies through pockets of rising and falling air called eddies. These can be caused by several factors. When we fly in layers of cloud, we experience turbulence, for instance, and also when we take off and land in gusty winds. Wake vortices created in the air by the airplane's wings are another cause. "Clear-air turbulence" is the most unpleasant form of turbulence and can be of medium to great intensity. It occurs at high altitudes.
How do pilots cope?
During takeoff and landing, aircraft need to keep their distance from others to avoid the impact of wake vortices. In radio communiations, pilots describe large aircraft types as "heavy" and the A380 as "super" for differentiation purposes. The weather radar in the cockpit indicates the presence of nearby electric storms and turbulence so that we can give them a wide berth. Lastly, there are turbulent takeoffs and landings. Experience and good training are required to master these manually, as the autopilot may not be used in such situations.
Can turbulence be dangerous?
While turbulence is usually unpleasant for both passengers and crew, it can only become dangerous if it occurs suddenly and cannot be detoured, as in the case of clear-air turbulence. Aircraft stress limits are so high, however, that serious damage is improbable. All the same, it's a good idea to keep your seatbelt fastened whenever possible, as we pilots do.


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RC Willey sells and installs wood, carpet, laminate and tile flooring in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Reno and Boise.
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In its June 28 editorial, The Durango Herald argued that La Plata County commissioners overstepped when they sent a letter to the Bureau of Land Management requesting a deferral of the gas and oil leases in western La Plata County until a master leasing plan, as well as the Resource Management Plan, is completed.
For numerous reasons, the Herald got it wrong.
Almost all of the land proposed to be leased is privately owned but with federal minerals, called split-estate lands. The vast majority of the landowners are opposed to the leasing. The benefits of the leasing will primarily accrue to the gas and oil companies, and the landowners will see virtually no benefit.
By speaking up for these landowners, commissioners Gwen Lachelt and Julie Westendorff were doing their rightful job for the people of the county.
The Herald argues that it is solely the BLM's job to decide how to review whether and how to lease these lands. The BLM has clearly shown its plan. It conducted a shoddy review last year, and now, with no further review, plans to lease the parcels in November. No real planning is the BLM's choice, the Resource Management Plan it is using is more than 28 years old, yet it can't even wait until its new plan is done in a few months.
A master leasing plan is just as it sounds. It is a plan, developed for an area before leasing is done, that tries to balance the desires of the industry to develop the federally owned minerals with the needs of the local area. It looks at options for how to mitigate against impacts to farmers, ranchers and other landowners as well as to wildlife, water resources and air quality. Like other master plans, such as the county requires for virtually any other development of the scale proposed by the BLM, it ensures that the overall development occurs in a well-thought-out and reviewed manner.
Clearly, a decades-old planning document that did not even begin to consider gas and shale oil development is not such a plan.
The BLM has suggested that it may do a master leasing plan, but by leasing prior to doing one, it is clear it is not. How the Herald can on one hand argue for another deferral, and yet claim that the BLM knows best how to proceed, is nonsensical at best.
Part of the county commissioners' job is to make sure development happens in a sensible and planned manner. The letter acknowledges BLM's rightful leadership in planning for federal gas and oil leases and development, it merely asks that the BLM actually do that planning.
If the lease sale proceeds as the BLM currently plans, there will be no more public input accepted other than formal protests, which for most people would entail hiring an attorney. The leases will then be owned by companies that will have rights to proceed with development. It will be too late for any imagined process by the BLM to occur. It must happen before the leases are sold, not after.
Commissioners Lachelt and Westendorff deserve thanks for doing their job.
firstname.lastname@example.com. Dan Randolph is executive director of the San Juan Citizens Alliance.


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3 charged in home break-in, chase on Interstate 85 in Davidson County
Two men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of breaking into a home Monday and leading law enforcement on a chase down Interstate 85 in Davidson County.
Tracy Dewayne Andrews Jr. of Charlotte, Shamika Chantay Clinkscale of Kannapolis and Jarmarphio Shantez Moose of Kannapolis were arrested in connection with an incident that began on Jersey Church Road in Linwood.
A witness told deputies two men and one woman in a gray SUV had broken into a home. Deputies tried to stop a gray SUV leaving the area, but it fled the scene and got onto I-85 south, deputies said.
Two men jumped out of the vehicle while it was going down I-85 and jumped into nearby woods, deputies said. They were taken into custody a short time later.
The woman eventually stopped the SUV in the center divide near the Yadkin River Bridge.
The woman fled the SUV on foot, and deputies took her into custody not far from the vehicle. Property reported stolen from the home was found in the SUV, deputies said.
All three were charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and larceny of a firearm. They were held under $150,000 secured bonds in the Davidson County Jail before court appearances scheduled for March 25.


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Looks like a few components have outlived their service lives by a few decades…
Tracing the circuit of the amp right now prior to changing out bad components and tubes.
Looks like a few components have outlived their service lives by a few decades…
Tracing the circuit of the amp right now prior to changing out bad components and tubes.
Needing a reliable bass amp, I removed the chassis from the old Lafayette bass amp and was surprised to find the model number stamped on the circuit board.
I've seen other photos online of similar circuit boards in amps made by Univox for Lafayette.
Huge transformer really gives the chassis a lot of weight! Next up, I'll be replacing all 10 capacitors in the circuit and re-tubing it as well in hopes that it results in a usable bass amp for recording.
It's a rare occurrence when I run into an old Lafayette tube amp and I just had to pick this one up last year when I saw it in a music store. The picture below shows it in the store.
At some point in it's life, someone had bolted a homemade wheeled stand to it's bottom. Looks pretty bad but comes in handy.
With the 15 inch Jensen and a horn handling speaker duties, I think it's a bass amp.
There is no model number anywhere on the amp. Research has led me to believe it may be a Lafayette LA-35?
I must admit I was surprised to see how much circuitry there is in the chassis.
The red filter caps are Lyticap dry electrolytics and they look to be original. No dimpling or bleeding is evident.
Yellow General Instrument capacitor is completely encased in wax.
The paper in that choke is soaking with oil and bleeding. Like the filter caps, must be replaced.
There are two pairs of brown mica capacitors coupled together by black electrical tape. Have never seen that before.
Lots of tubes in this beauty. The tall silver object to the left is a cap can but to the right is an 6CG7, three shielded 12AX7's and another 6CG7.
Why didn't all amp manufacturers print the tube requirements directly on the chassis like this?
Output tube and phase inverter sockets.
Sylvania made 6GC7, RCA made 6L6 and Phillips made 12AX7/ECC83 tubes. Simply beautiful.


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ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at email@example.com.
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- 并购背景下教育行业品牌价值研究
Exabytes of data are created online every day. This deluge of data is no more apparent than it is on social media. Naturally, finding ways to leverage this unprecedented source of human information is an active area of research. Social media platforms have become laboratories for conducting experiments about people at scales thought unimaginable only a few years ago. Researchers and practitioners use social media to extract actionable patterns such as where aid should be distributed in a crisis. However, the validity of these patterns relies on having a representative dataset. As this dissertation shows, the data collected from social …
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WASHINGTON—Catholic leaders from all over the United States will meet to discuss issues affecting human life and dignity and will take that message to Congress during the 2013 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering. "Promoting Human Life and Dignity in the Year of Faith" is the theme of this year's gathering, which will be February 10-13 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington.
The event is sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and 16 national Catholic partner organizations, including Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Catholic Charities USA, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.
Cardinal Seán O'Malley, archbishop of Boston and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, will deliver the gathering's opening address and celebrate the opening Mass, February 10. Other presenters at the gathering will include Charles Clark, Ph.D., professor of economics at St. John's University in New York; Eric Mitchell, legislative director of Bread for the World; Michele Broemmelsiek, vice president for overseas operations for CRS; and Jesuit Father James Martin, contributing editor to America Magazine.
On February 12, attendees will participate in Capitol Hill visits, in which state delegations will advocate certain issues in visits with members of Congress. Legislative priorities will include comprehensive immigration reform as well as the priorities of the Circle of Protection, which include the protection of essential services for the poor and vulnerable in the United States and the preservation of poverty-focused international development assistance. The USCCB is a founding member of the Circle of Protection, a diverse group of faith constituencies that aims to advance moral conscience in the U.S. government's budgetary decisions.
Registration information is available online: www.usccb.org/about/justice-peace-and-human-development/catholic-social-ministry-gathering/registration-information.cfm
Keywords: Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, Justice Peace and Human Development, Cardinal Seán O'Malley, Father Jamaes Martin, USCCB, CRS, Catholic Relief Services, U.S. bishops, human life, human dignity, Capitol Hill visit, legislative priorities, Circle of Protection, immigration, poverty
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Thanks, glad you (and everyone else) like how it turned out.
Hey Skunk, those buildings you are asking about are Warhammer buildings. They have about twenty of them. They Look pretty good and go together very fast. They are not very stable though Nothing like the World Works stuff. But they are all free. The basing you asked about are the same as the walls. One thickness of whatever. I use cardstock. Is ok but should be something like foam board or something. It is printed with the rest of the walls and roofs.
Hey, Skunk. Saw your stuff on World Works Games. In the forum. Yeah, that stuff is pretty cool. Just built the Watchtower. Earlier this year I got the Pub and Tavern and the Castle interior stuff. I like it. Haven't figured out what the chipboard actually is, but I don't think it is the same as hardboard.
I've bought some new stuff from World Works, but no I haven't been building anything lately either. I did pick up some of the FoamWerks stuff, foamboard cutting tools and I really like the stuff. Best piece that I've seen so far is the http://www.foamwerks.com/tools/rabbet/ (Rabbet Cutter).
It's really great for squaring the walls/floors on buildings! Also, I was looking at some work that one of the people over on the World Works forums was doing with chipboard/mattboard. It's thinner than foamcore, but stronger and I was considering setting up a modular dungeon with it. Here's the thread...
Looks like it will work out, but I want to buy some and figure out how to make a template/jig to cut out the baseboard and walls. That way I can mass produce the pieces and not have to worry about cutting the parts wrong!
Hey, you been building any terrain lately? I built a couple of fold up buildings last month and bought some PDF's on line. But I been busy with all this mother-in-law stuff I have shut down every other part of my life. Will be a few more weeks before I get things back to normal. And a few more before I get back to building terrain.
Hey, saw your name mentioned on a site somewhere. Wish I could remember which one it was. lol Partszimer!
Hey, if you would like, I would be more than happy to cut a sheet of the blue or pink stuff up to fit in a box and ship it to you. Don't know what the shipping costs would be but I have the price at Lowes and Home Depot in my note book. Stuff runs from about $9 to about $16 a sheet. Would be happy to split the cost and ship you some.
Thanks for the help with CC3. I appreciate it!
Send an Instant Message to Skunkape Using...
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The customer ratings that influence everything from the books people read to the jeans they wear are now coming to medical care in Minnesota.
Patient satisfaction ratings for 651 primary care and specialty clinics were released Wednesday by the Minnesota Department of Health and a nonprofit called Minnesota Community Measurement, expanding the state's eight-year effort to place health care quality data in consumers' hands.
The new report ranks clinics in four categories: availability of timely appointments, courtesy of clinic staff, communication skills of the doctors and overall doctor quality.
"We now have a statewide measure that can paint an accurate picture of the patient experience," said Jim Chase, executive director of Minnesota Community Measurement.
Minnesota is the first state to publish patient satisfaction data on such a large scale, according to state Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger. He said he anticipates that patients will use the data to select doctors, and health insurers would use it in contract negotiations with clinics. He said he hopes clinics would embrace any bad results as motivation to improve.
"The worst," he said, "is if you're not doing a good job and you don't know it."
Overall, 78 percent of patients gave their doctors excellent ratings, but there was wide variation. Only 47 percent of patients at Apple Valley Medical Center's urgent care gave top marks to doctors, compared with 93 percent at the Lakewood primary care clinic in Pillager, Minn.
Craig Wolhowe, Lakewood's vice president of clinic and hospital services, credited the clinic's success to doctors who listen to patients and a system that doesn't pay doctors per visit or pressure them to rush through appointments.
"Whether you're choosing a hardware store or grocery store, you pick it based on what? Where you feel the most comfortable and get the best service," he said.
Only 26 clinics scored above average, statistically, in all four categories, although some small clinics had high scores but not enough survey responses to have a statistical margin of error that was above average.
The ratings are based on surveys completed by 230,000 patients in 2012.
Personal touch
Minnesota Community Measurement has graded clinics for some years on "outcome" measures, such as how many of their diabetic patients have controlled their blood sugar and how many of their depressed patients feel better over time. But Chase expects the patient survey data to be popular because it is familiar — like a recommendation by a friend or brother-in-law.
"It is something that they can relate to," he said.
Some clinics with top-rated doctors scored lower on access — presumably because their popularity with patients makes appointments hard to get. Only 64 percent of patients at the highly regarded Pillager clinic said they received an appointment or medical information when they wanted it. The clinic hopes to boost that rating next year by offering patients other providers on days when their usual doctors aren't available, and promising that their doctors will review the results of those visits, Wolhowe said.
Among clinics that scored average or below average in all four measures was the Medical Advanced Pain Specialists, or MAPS, clinic in Edina, which was caught up last fall in a furor over patients who received contaminated spinal injections from an out-of-state compounding pharmacy. Only one-third of MAPS patients reported timely care, and only 60 percent regarded doctors as excellent.
Whether or not the negative publicity played a role in its ratings, MAPS has the challenge of patients in chronic pain or addicted to opioid painkillers who might not be as likely to provide positive feedback, said Christiaan Engstrom, MAPS's chief operating officer. "We have been taking proactive measures to better serve our patients," he said. "We feel the community understands the challenges."
Hiring additional doctors has reduced the wait time for appointments from four weeks out to the same day, he said.
Steve Schwarze of Eagan said he completed a survey this year that won't make MAPS look any better. While he had no trouble getting a first appointment for back pain, he said, he found the clinic unresponsive when he called between appointments seeking a medication refill and when he needed the clinic to contact his insurer to approve a procedure.
"I gave them every chance I could," said Schwarze, who switched to another pain clinic.
Minnesota has been a leader in rating clinics based on performance criteria. But rating doctors by patient survey responses has caused some unease, in part because doctors sometimes have to make tough decisions that might upset patients, such as declining to give them antibiotics or imaging scans when they aren't necessary. Some have worried that doctors could be swayed to make decisions purely to appease their patients and improve their ratings.
Ehlinger said the breadth of responses means that a clinic's scores won't be influenced too heavily by any one patient. Clinics had to have at least 120 patient responses, for example, for their access scores to be listed.
Clinic results are searchable by specialty, which could be important because patient satisfaction can vary by clinic type. Cancer specialists, for example, tended to receive more positive feedback. Urgent cares such as the Apple Valley clinic scored lower on patient surveys, probably because the patients have no prior relationship with the doctors. The three lowest-rated clinics for physician quality were all urgent cares.
All clinics are now expected to collect and provide their survey data. Most hire survey companies at a minimum cost of $1,200 per year. Clinics not listed this year included those with too few patients to provide reliable data and pediatric clinics, which will be evaluated separately.