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Certain products do have varying despatch and delivery information - these will be listed within the product info. If no additional information is listed in the Product Info, the information below applies.
Items are dispatched Monday – Friday only (excluding UK/England bank holidays).
2nd Class - £2.99 Dispatched by Royal Mail. Please allow 3 – 7 working days.
1st Class - £3.99 Dispatched by Royal Mail. Usually arrives within 1 - 3 working days after dispatch.
Next Day Delivery - £7.50 Dispatched by Royal Mail Special Delivery. Order by 2pm and receive the following working day. Orders placed before 2pm on Friday will arrive on Saturday, orders placed after this time will be dispatched on Monday for delivery on Tuesday. Not available on Bank Holidays. Only available in the UK (please allow 1 extra day for deliveries in Northern Ireland). Will require a signature upon receipt.
International Delivery - £8.50 We dispatch our products all over the World. Dependent on which country you choose, delivery will take between 3 and 14 working days.
Personalised Football Gifts does everything possible to ensure your item arrives safely and within the quoted time - we guarantee to dispatch everything in the time we say. Unfortunately we cannot account for extenuating circumstances such as Industrial Action on the part of Royal Mail or other factors which would influence their delivery i.e. adverse weather conditions.
We will deliver the products ordered to the address provided for delivery when the order was placed. If any of the details provided in the delivery address are incorrect or insufficient, we are not liable for any items which have not been received.
Delivery addresses provided must be accurate and include a full postcode, in accordance with Royal Mail addressing regulations. If an order is delayed or lost in the post due to an incorrect or incomplete address/postcode being provided by the customer, an additional fee will occur for re-dispatch of the order (minimum of £5.00).

subset: commoncrawl


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Did you wonder what caused all the changes in Sonic's new design? Well there's your answer right above. It has to be Little Mac, the newly announced character in Super Smash Bros. Wii U!
Little Mac inspired a lot of fans, so here are some of the best reactions:
He punched in, and hit Samus during the reveal, which may not be the best thing to do on Valentine's Day. But the fans were here to help out.
If you checked Smash Bros Dojo, the official website for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, you might find Little Mac in a quite similar situation to the one we've seen in the announcement trailer.
If you stare at this screenshot of Little Mac below long enough, you might see him as Joseph Joestar from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Here's the true size of Little Mac. Poor guy.
Pick a great scene from the boxing anime Hajime no Ippo, add Donkey Kong and you're this close to a Smash Bros anime.
Little Mac's real final smash? Big Mac...
Sources: Top pic by Sarcasmsunshine. Talikira, Dire-Dire-Docks, Brekkist, Jacquerel, Ryanccole, Lunart-Halo
To contact the author of this post, write to: email@example.com


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| Win Supermarket Carrefour voucher.
|All banners and bridge pages should be approved in advance.
|Promotion Allowed: Display, Email, Social, Search, PPV Traffic
|Promotion Not Allowed: No Incentivized, No Brand Bidding, No Coreg, No Adult Traffic
|Incentivizable: Offer IS NOT Incentivizable
|Desktop Allowed: YES
|Mobile Devices Allowed: All
|Carriers Allowed: All
|Conversion Process: Lead
SOI (User Needs to Register - 2 Page Submit)


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Fueled by a warming climate, Colorado is experiencing its worst fire season in its history.
As researchers at Boulder's National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) joined 32,000 other Coloradans in fleeing the fires, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson spoke to the Council on Foreign Relations about the "manageable" risks of climate change:
Rex Tillerson said at a meeting at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York that climate change was a "great challenge," but it could be solved by adapting to risks such as higher sea levels and changing conditions for agriculture.
"As a species that's why we're all still here: we have spent our entire existence adapting. So we will adapt to this," he said. "It's an engineering problem, and it has engineering solutions."
Tillerson's flippant remarks about "adapting" to the "manageable" consequences of climate change come at a time that Exxon is making record profits. In 2011, the company made $41.1 billion in profits, and Tillerson pulled in $34.9 million total compensation — a 20 percent raise from 2010.
A 2011 study found that "9 out of 10 top climate change deniers [were] linked with Exxon Mobil." So it's no surprise that Exxon's CEO would spread misinformation on global warming.
Climate Progress is unaware of any serious climate scientists who think that global warming is "manageable" simply through adaptation if we listen to the do-nothing Exxon crowd and stay anywhere near our current emissions path. We know a great many who have written that the reverse is true (see below).
It's also worth nothing that by mid-century, wildfires in the West our projected to be far, far worse. Here's the grim projection from a presentation made by the President's science adviser Dr. John Holdren in Oslo in 2010:
We can barely manage the wildfires we have today. How exactly would much of the West "manage" a 4-fold to 6-fold increase in wildfires? And that's just from a 1°C increase in temperatures. We could see 5 times that this century.
Tillerson pushed standard denialist obfuscation talking points:
He added: "In the IPCC reports … when you predict things like sea-level rise, you get numbers all over the map. If you take what I would call a reasonable scientific approach to that, we believe those consequences are manageable. They do require us to begin to spend more policy effort on adaptation."
While it's true that the IPCC and other analyses have reported a range of sea level rise and other impacts, much of that is due to the fact that they consider some very low emissions scenarios that would require aggressive action of a kind that Exxon has spent millions to stop. And the IPCC report was based on science and observations that is 6 years old — it ignored virtually any contribution to sea level rise this century from the disintegration of the great ice sheets. Now there is a widespread convergence of scientific analysis that says on the do-nothing path, sea level rise by 2100 is likely to be 3 feet and could be double that.
The key point is that the Exxon strategy — taking no serious action to reduce emissions — eliminates most of the uncertainty concerning future emissions and makes catastrophic impacts all but a sure thing.
We are headed to 9° to 11°F warming this century — 12+°F warming over much of the U.S. — if we listen to Exxon and the climate science deniers it funds, according to M.I.T and the International Energy Agency.
The first 7+°F global warming is "incompatible with organized global community, is likely to be beyond 'adaptation', is devastating to the majority of ecosystems & has a high probability of not being stable (i.e. 4°C [7F] would be an interim temperature on the way to a much higher equilibrium level)," according to Professor Kevin Anderson, director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change in Britain (see here).
Still, the planet would almost certainly keep warming past 2100 if we were on the high emission scenario:
Science stunner — On our current emissions path, CO2 levels in 2100 will hit levels last seen when the Earth was 29°F (16°C) hotter: Paleoclimate data suggests CO2 "may have at least twice the effect on global temperatures than currently projected by computer models"
Steve Easterbrook's post "A first glimpse at model results for the next IPCC assessment" shows that for the scenario where there is (5°C) 9°F warming by 2100 (from preindustrial levels), you get another 7°F warming by 2300. Of course, if Exxon isn't motivated to avoid the civilization-destroying 9°F by 2100, it clearly won't be moved by whatever happens after that.
Lonnie Thompson explained why climatologists are speaking out: "Virtually all of us are now convinced that global warming poses a clear and present danger to civilization." As for adaptation, scientists have found the "net present value of climate change impacts" of $1240 TRILLION on current emissions path, whereas aggressive emissions reductions to avoid the worst impacts is our vastly superior.
Perhaps multimillionaires like Tillerson think they will be able to manage those impacts. The 99% won't be so lucky.


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Haute green couture. Eco-mansions. Green gadgetry. Green retail marketing was incredibly hot just a few years ago, but it really doesn't make sense. Overpriced luxury goods posing as green consumer products aren't serving the environment or our budgets. Nor is the inevitable backlash from shoppers jaded by dicey environmental claims and premium pricing.
There's nothing like an economic downturn to focus your priorities. For most people, the sharp reality of recent tougher times bumps posh items such as $5 chocolate bars and $1,000 organic bedding sets right off the green radar. That's not necessarily a bad thing. While we all have a responsibility to make wise purchasing decisions, the idea that we can shop ourselves to a greener society is a lot like thinking we can lose weight by piling on the calories.
Green meets frugal
Economies are cyclical, and we suddenly find ourselves on the skinny side of an impressive — though ultimately unsustainable — period of growth. This has left even comparatively well-to-do families with difficult lifestyle decisions, including ways to stretch a paycheck. Some have been quick to proclaim the bursting of a green bubble.
This is, of course, not the case. The recent economic downturn is simply forcing us to confront a basic fact: A greener world won't come through eco-getaways, environmentally friendly products or clever marketing. It will come through reducing consumption.
Leaner is greener. Complex global issues won't be solved entirely through personal action. Each of us has a pocketbook stake in the development of an economy which goes lighter on the planet's limited natural resources and our household budgets.
Where to start?
If you're reading this, you may already be well down the path of rethinking how you live, what you spend and what you really want out of life. But if you're just getting started, a good place to begin is with a family meeting — even if it's just you, a notepad and a cup of coffee.
We've outlined five areas for you to think about as your evaluate your priorities. So jump right in!
Photo: Jean-Philippe WALLET/Shutterstock
1. Cut back at home. Food and shelter probably represent the lion's share of your budget and use of resources. They are also your most essential expenditures. Start with a basic question: Are you in too much home? There's a direct relationship between your environmental footprint, monthly budget and the square footage of your living space. The point is probably moot for homeowners struggling to make a mortgage with property values in the tank. But if you happen to be renting, could you do with less? Take a hard look at the money you spend on food. Like most people, you're probably too dependent on eating out and convenient prepared foods from the grocery. Relearning the gentle art of meal planning and cooking at home is the fast track to saving money and healthier nutrition.
2. Reduce the amount of energy you use. Here's more low-hanging fruit as you trim your monthly expenses. Our site is stuffed with energy-saving ideas, and there's plenty more available from your power company and other websites. The obvious things include eliminating unnecessary lighting (particularly outdoors); refitting with CFL bulbs; installing water-saving shower heads and giving your water heater the once-over; and sealing energy-robbing leaks around doors and windows.
Photo: Dragon Images/Shutterstock
3.Trim your transportation. Thanks to the economic slowdown and reduced demand, gasoline prices have cooled off sharply since last summer. We're seeing some of the lowest prices in four years. Seasonal increases should start kicking in around March. In the meantime, you can save a few dollars and reduce your overall footprint by leaving the car in the driveway whenever possible. If you're not already familiar with your community's public transportation, find a bus or train schedule and see how mass transit might fit into your weekly routine. Better yet, start walking or cycling your short errands. Bicycles are much cheaper to operate per mile than automobiles, and the health benefits of regular light exercise will save you money in the long term, too.
4. Ditch the disposables. The word disposable in a product description should be a red flag. Paper plates, plastic knives and forks, disposable pens, paper towels, throw-away food storage containers — opt for reusable items, instead. This will take some thought and discipline on your part, but giving up a little convenience can save hundreds of dollars a year. While you're at it, try to buy in bulk (as storage allows) and reduce the amount of packaging in your waste stream. Now that reduced demand has kicked the bottom out of the recycling sector, you'll also be doing your local sanitation department a favor.
Photo: Carlos Amarillo/Shutterstock
5. Grow some food. During the Second World War, about 45 percent of all vegetables consumed at home came from victory gardens. It's time to revive this practice. Not only will you save money, you'll reduce the energy expended to bring food to the table. Obviously, not everyone is in a position to start a few rows of beans and tomatoes in the back yard. But consider at least growing your own herbs or a few small vines in pots and window boxes. Your community may also have a few shared urban gardens. The folks at local plant nurseries will know.
6. Talk, share and communicate. Perhaps the best thing you can do is talk to others. We've spent decades becoming a society of isolated consumers, slowly forgetting the skills which got previous generations through tough times. Do you know how to sew? Teach someone else. Cooking from scratch — not just warming up something frozen from the store — has been lost on the microwave generation. If you need a refresher, locate a cooking class or start helping an old hand in the kitchen. Learn to fix things: Your local community college probably offers carpentry courses, and home improvement stores frequently host weekend classes on all kinds of useful skills.
Ask questions and share what you know with others. Together, we'll get by. And we'll help build greener and more sustainable communities for the future.
Copyright Lighter Footstep 2009
Related on MNN:
- Food canning for mere mortals
- What is dematerialization and how does it help you live small?
- 16 simple ways to reduce plastic waste


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I'm finally back from Georgia! We had a great vacation. We saw and did so much that it seems like we were there longer than a week. To get from Iowa to Atlanta was about 16 hours of driving. We broke the trip up, (which was a good thing, because there were 7 of us in a van that could comfortably fit 6). We stayed in Mt. Vernon, IL the first night. I drove us from Waverly to the hotel, which is about 7 1/2 hours. I'm used to that amount of driving since the trip from Warrensburg, MO to back home in Iowa is about 6 1/2 hours, so it wasn't too bad. The next morning we drove from IL to Atlanta. I've always liked the South and thought it to be pretty country. I hadn't been south of Missouri in about 7 years, so it was nice to see the area again. We got to our hotel in Alpharetta, Georgia, and hung out for the rest of the night. The following morning we headed into Atlanta. We got the City Pass, which is a bundle package rate for many attractions in the area. We started out at the Georgia Aquarium.
The Georgia Aquarium is only about 6 years old. It's located in Olympic Park, next to the Coke Factory. It's the largest aquarium in the World, and it's a must-see for those vacationing in the area.
After spending the morning at the Aquarium, we grabbed some lunch and headed over to the Coca-Cola Factory.
After the tour of the factory, we headed back to our hotel. It was still very hot outside, so we took a dip in the outdoor pool and then played some cards.
Up Next: Georgia Vacation – Part II
Also, if you would like to see ALL the photos from our vacation, feel free to check out my Flickr. I only posted a few pictures in my blog, but I have about 160 proofs you can see if you watch the slideshow: CLICK HERE


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Future Primitive: Kimbo Slice's Cruelest Cut
Slice, whose fortunes were at once torn asunder and radically refigured by a hurricane, constitutes a perfect storm of racial stereotypes himself.
Like Pussy Galore, Ebenezer Scrooge, or Fat Bastard, Kimbo Slice is among those whose name seems to give a particular insight into their personality. One need not be a Bond fan to know what Galore's game was. Similarly, Scrooge and Bastard were, as advertised, chintzy and overweight (respectively). As his own moniker suggests, Kimbo Slice has been best known for the violence he directs against those foolish enough to oppose him in a fight. Though it's hard to slice anything with a fist, many combatants have been taken apart by his abilities inside and, notably, outside the mixed martial arts cage.
Unlike these other characters, though, Slice is a real person -- in some ways, at least. His actual name is Kevin Ferguson. His nom de guerre was given to him during a period in his life when he made ends meet as a backyard brawler. Often, this term is used to indicate an aggressive athlete who gives his or her all. In the case of Kimbo Slice, though, the description quite literally described his profession. Initially a standout high school football player in Miami, Ferguson was left homeless in the destructive wake of Hurricane Andrew. His college football prospects disappeared and he was forced to translate his skills as a linebacker into more immediately marketable commodities.
As a result, Slice became a driver and bodyguard for a porn company. After beating down several over-enthusiastic fans, his employer recognized his potential and put him to work as a combatant in illegal street fights. Slice and his handlers would show up at a designated meeting spot (often someone's house) and Kimbo would proceed to fight whoever had been arranged for him. Nearly always, he won, pummeling opponents until they could not (or would not) get up for further punishment. Money was exchanged. Slice's prowess was hailed. And, most importantly, video footage was recorded.
Unfortunately for Slice, and the many who sought to make money from his ascension to organized MMA, his first appearance as an EliteXC fighter on CBS was a far cry from those hand-held online documents of backyard dominance. Against a journeyman fighter named James Thompson, Slice absorbed a great deal of punishment (repeatedly trying to slow Thompson's elbows down with his forehead), before he managed with an overhead right to stun Thompson long enough for the referee to jump in and stop the fight. In his follow-up to this widely panned debut, Slice lasted 14 seconds before being knocked out by an unknown named Seth Petruzelli.
In the fallout from Slice's MMA incarnation, Petruzelli hinted in a radio interview that he was paid extra by league organizers to fight Slice standing up -- trading blows (which presumably would have favored Slice's strengths) rather than taking the match to the ground for a more manageable, less exciting wrestling match. The EliteXC has roundly denied the implication of a fix (and Petruzelli himself has issued a clarification), but it nonetheless was forced to file bankruptcy as the league's marquee star was eclipsed by ineptitude and scandal.
Clearly, Kimbo Slice was not the human wrecking machine that the league, CBS, and its advertisers had been banking on. As his own future remains uncertain, the rest of us are left to wonder just why he occasioned such lofty expectations in the first place. What inspired a budding promotional company to pin the entirety of its financial hopes on an untested fighter? How did an unproven slugger come to grace the front cover of a national sports magazine?
The answer to questions like these is at once straightforward and complex: race. Kimbo Slice -- a large, heavily muscled black man sporting gold teeth, an unruly beard, and a fearsome scowl -- embodied the stereotype of black physical menace so completely that there simply was no way that he could be anything but a Bad Man, one who invoked the clear threat (and thrilling promise) of violence at any moment. Slice, whose fortunes were at once torn asunder and radically refigured by a hurricane, constituted a kind of perfect storm of racial stereotypes himself -- the combined effects of which ensured that, no matter how skilled a fighter, he was always already understood as someone to fear.
Consider, for example, the way that Slice gained his notoriety. Though only a minor weapons charge mars his record, Slice's backyard brawling -- in unsanctioned bouts held without the organizing boundaries of a ring, an official, or commentators -- ensured that he would carry with him the criminal aura of "the streets", regardless of the arena in which he fought. Further, the seemingly spontaneous nature of these fights, as opposed to the contrivance of lights, cameras, and bikini clad ring girls, coded Slice as someone best understood as having a natural, in-born proclivity for violence. Ignoring Slice's training regimen (and a physique like his is impossible to achieve without one), the YouTube videos instead suggest that Slice was simply born to kick ass. We understand him as someone who shows up, throws down, gets paid, and goes home.
Of course, that's exactly what he and all the other fighters are doing in an organized MMA bout. The only difference, other than the amount of people watching (including the ref), is the amount of money to be made. For his 14 seconds of consciousness against Seth Petruzelli, Slice reportedly earned half a million dollars. A sum like that evokes two conflicting reactions. On the one hand, it's rewarding to see a formerly destitute, self-described family man earn enough money to put his financial woes behind him. On the other, though, it serves as a sobering measurement of just how persistent and lucrative the presence of black stereotypes in sports remains.
As our enthusiasm grows for emerging new technologies that disseminate images and ideas at ever-increasing speeds, it would seem that our critical consideration of this influx continues to lag. As the case of Kimbo Slice points out, modern sports audiences still have a long way to go before they're free from the dubious legacy of centuries-old thinking.


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Dairy farmers are no realising that lower somatic cell counts (SCC) in their bulk tanks is the future, but there is always room for improvement, even on the best operations.
The University of Minnesota Extension Dairy Team offers these ways that dairy producers can further improve their milk quality.
They are:
1. Keep cows clean and dry at all times. This assures clean teat surfaces and prevents bacteria from entering the teat end.
2. Seek assistance from a qualified dairy professional (veterinarian mastitis consultant , milking machine technician ).
3. Do individual cow SCC tests monthly to help identify herd trends and pinpoint the infected cows.
4. Run a monthly bulk tank culture through a reliable laboratory to find out what kinds of bacteria are causing mammary infections.
5. If bulk tank culture results show a high level of contagious mastitis pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, or Mycoplasma), identify infected cows by individual cow culturing. Reduce cow-to-cow spread and remove the high SCC quarters from the milk supply.
6. If bulk tank culture results show high levels of environmental pathogens (non-ag streps, coliforms, or staph species), improve bedding management and pre-milking cow prep. Replace all organic bedding in every stall weekly with clean bedding. Every day, replace the bedding in the back half of the stall with fresh, clean bedding. If you use sand bedding, add fresh, clean sand at least once per week. Keep stalls levelled and remove soiled sand daily.
7. Improve consistency in milking procedures. Include a pre- and post-milking teat dip, 10 to 20 seconds of cleaning, at least 30 seconds of contact time for the teat dip, and a thorough teat end wiping before attaching the milking unit. Plan routine to achieve 60-120 second prep-lag time.
8. Include fore stripping during cow prep to identify high SCC quarters and keep milk from those quarters out of the bulk tank.
9. Cull chronically high SCC cows that do not respond to therapy.
10. Treat all quarters of all cows at dry off with an approved dry cow intramammary tube.
11. Consider using a dry cow teat sealer.
12. Provide dry cows with adequate space, ventilation and clean bedding (records indicate that an average of 35% of cows and heifers calve with high SCCs).
13. Keep cows as cool and comfortable as possible during hot weather.
14. Control flies.
15. Maintain milking equipment in good working order. Develop a routine performance check and maintenance program. Replace rubber parts at recommended intervals. Be sure system cleaning is done consistently and properly. h


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Read this Pete Dougherty article from Packersnews.com. Interesting look at not just the Favre situation, but the overall needs heading into 2008. While I don't disagree with the likelihood that Favre is enjoying himself this season and is particularly enjoying having more influence over offensive play-calling, I'll hold out for the possibility that a deep playoff run may be enough to convince Favre to go out on top (or nearly on top). I hope not, we'll see…
As far as needs for 2008, I think Dougherty is mostly on, though I would add we may need to look at filling Poppinga's spot. Now, Poppinga has played better recently, in his defense, but he continues to be a liability in coverage and overall hasn't been as good as a few of the linebackers we could have picked up last off-season (or some of the high quality linebackers in the 2007 draft). And, if Rouse continues to make plays, even though I do see some serious potential still for both Bibgy and Collins, I think Rouse needs to get on the field and start.
Of course, if I were defensive coordinator, I would have benched Poppinga mid-season and gone to a new regular line-up – not a 3-4 or a 4-3, but a 4-2! I would have replaced Poppinga with Rouse – yes, I would have started 3 safeties. Rouse is faster than Poppinga, better in coverage (could have helped with the tight-end coverage problem), as good a tackler, more instinctive and he has shown play-making ability Poppinga hasn't shown all year.
Tags: Favre, offseason, Packers, retirement


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How natural are Kashi natural cereals?
Kellogg is facing anger on social-media sites because of complaints that its popular Kashi brand of cold cereals doesn't live up to the company's "natural" billing on ads and boxes.
The controversy went viral a week ago after a Rhode Island grocer tacked a note to one of his store shelves, telling customers he wouldn't sell the cereal because he found out the brand used genetically engineered, non-organic ingredients. Photos of the note began popping up on Facebook pages and food blogs as some consumers claimed Kellogg was misrepresenting its cereal.
The soy in Kashi cereals comes from soybeans that have had a gene inserted to protect the soybeans from the herbicide Roundup, which kills weeds.
Kashi has done nothing wrong, says David DeSouza, Kashi general manager. "The FDA has chosen not to regulate the term 'natural,'" he says. The company defines natural as "food that's minimally processed, made with no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners."
Still, some consumers say they felt duped into believing the cereal was organic and free from genetically modified ingredients because of Kellogg's use of the word on packaging and its website.
They've taken to the digital streets with their anger, posting on Kashi's own Facebook page, as well as the pages of several organic cereal makers and organic stores.
Kellogg is not misleading people, says Barbara Haumann of the Organic Trade Association in Brattleboro, Vt. Consumers "are totally confused" and don't understand that the only way to get organic food is to buy organic, she says.
The shelf tag wasn't meant "to stir up trouble or cause controversy," says John Wood, owner of The Green Grocer, in Portsmouth, R.I. Wood is the grocer who posted the note.
He made the decision to remove Kashi after reading a report about what "natural" means in the cereal aisle by the Cornucopia Institute, an organic and agriculture policy group.
Many posters on the Kashi site seemed especially angry about the presence of genetically engineered soy in some of its cereals. One wrote that by marketing its products as whole foods and healthy, but choosing genetically engineered soybeans as an ingredient, the company had destroyed people's trust in its product.
DeSouza says consumers who want clear guidance about genetically modified ingredients can look to U.S. organic regulations, which prohibit their use in products called "organic."
Kellogg got itself into trouble by "not being entirely transparent," says Roger Nyhus, president of Nyhus Communications in Seattle. He sees a trend among some companies "of fudging language to allay consumer concerns and jump on the green bandwagon, and I think it's starting to backfire."
Consumers drawn to a "natural" marketing message could also have their anger fueled by a sense that they were buying from a "small, pure" company, says consultant Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing in Stevens, Pa. "They disdain large corporate entities," and now they find that Kashi "is, in fact, part of this big multinational conglomerate."
Kashi's DeSouza says that by 2015, all new Kashi products will "contain at least 70 percent USDA organic certified ingredients."


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Krystal and I have decided that we need to arrange a photoshoot together ASAP. Ideally, this would be shot for Vogue and also feature our fashion/life idols, Marianne Faithfull and Anita Pallenberg, a sort of passing of the torch if you will. I also happen to think that K and I should go into business together, and whatever we create should utilize some grouping of the letters AKLM. What do you think?
I don't want to intimate that I, in any way, am as grand as the these three ladies I've mentioned, or that I can hold a candle to them in terms of their beauty, grace and style, but I find myself incredibly inspired by them anyway. Krystal has been one of my absolute best friends for about a year and a half now (she gave me the fur coat I'm wearing in one picture!). We bonded over our love of the Stones and rock n' roll, as well as our appreciation for rock goddesses and muses.
Happy 2009 everyone! Let's make it a fabulous year. Again, I will be spending the evening drinking champagne (the $130 special reserve Veuve Clicquot) with someone gorgeous who greatly excites me, and being happy.


text: Sijun Forums :: View topic - colordodge and burn Log in to check your private messages Sijun Forums Forum Index >> Archive : Sep99 - Dec00 View previous topic :: View next topic Author Topic : "colordodge and burn" Riskjunior memberMember #Joined: 26 Oct 1999Posts: 21Location: Colleyville,TX,USA Posted: Wed Oct 27, 1999 3:17 am is there a difference from using the dodge tool, and using airbrush and setting it to dodge?? all this time ive been using airbrush... ????? Thanks Laks Back to top zackmemberMember #Joined: 22 Oct 1999Posts: 65Location: Stjordal - Norway Posted: Wed Oct 27, 1999 4:46 am there is no difference. ------------------ zACk Back to top FunfetusmemberMember #Joined: 26 Oct 1999Posts: 343Location: West Covina, CA Posted: Thu Oct 28, 1999 1:12 am There is indeed quite a big difference. Try using the airbrush set to dodge, and the dodge tool side by side to see for yourself. The color you're dodge-airbrushing with also makes a difference. ------------------ Funfetus iCE VGA Division http://fetus.ice.org Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Sijun Forums Forum Index -> Archive : Sep99 - Dec00 All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Digital Art----------------Digital Art DiscussionWork in ProgressGallery/Finished Work Miscellaneous----------------Random MusingsArchive : Sep99 - Dec00 You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2005 phpBB Group


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Bishop Eddie Long's Accuser Jamal Parris Speaks Out! "Thats Not A Father. Thats A Predator. Hes Not A Man. Hes A Monster"
"Following Bishop Long's sermon on Sunday, Russell caught a plane to Colorado, which is home to Jamal Parris-- the oldest of all the accusers in the case. In a parking lot, late at night, Parris told Russell a story of love, anger, and desire to protect other young men." - FOx Atlanta
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Asterisk IMAP store for Voicemail
Using Citadel and Asterisk 1.4. This is based on a guide written by Stefan Reuter for use with another server. Thanks, Stefan.
Since version 1.4 Asterisk supports IMAP as a store for voicemail. The IMAP integration allows voicemail to be managed either through your email client or by phone through Asterisk's voicemail application.
Sending email notifications for new voice messages has been supported since the very beginning, the news is that you are now operating on the same data store. That means if you read a message in your email client it is also marked read when you use the phone to query messages. It's amazing to see the MWI (message waiting indicator) on your phone switch off as soon as you select the message in your mailbox. Of course messages can also be deleted and forwarded using both systems.
To enable support for the IMAP store you need the UW-IMAP client library.
Some Linux distributions ship with an old version of UW-IMAP's client library (such as libc-client-dev from 2002). Asterisk requires version 2004 or 2006. As Asterisk links statically against c-client this is not a big problem; just download a recent version, compile it and point Asterisk to it – there is no need to install it.
root@eins:/usr/local/src# wget ftp://ftp.cac.washington.edu/imap/imap-2006g.tar.Z root@eins:/usr/local/src# tar xvfz imap-2006g.tar.Z root@eins:/usr/local/src/imap-2006e# make slx EXTRACFLAGS="-I/usr/include/openssl -fPIC" root@eins:/usr/local/src/asterisk-1.4.0# ./configure --with-imap=/usr/local/src/imap-2006g
Note: Use the absolute path for –with-imap or the Asterisk build will fail.
Add the following to your voicemail.conf file (and please choose a password other than the word "password" – this is just an example) –
imapserver=localhost imapfolder=Voicemail imapflags=notls authuser=asterisk authpassword=password
Asterisk must have access to all user's Voicemail folder. To accomplish that you can use the the "master user" feature available with Citadel server version 7.22 or newer. You can do this using the text-mode client, but the easier way to configure it is using WebCit, the web-based user interface to Citadel. Simply log in as an Aide (administrator) and select Administration –> Edit site-wide configuration and click the "Access" tab:
At the bottom of this pane are the settings you need to configure – master user name (which in this example is "asterisk") and master user password (which in this example is "password").
The last thing you have to do is assigning the IMAP user to your voice mail accounts in voicemail.conf:
1234 => 4321,John Doe,,,imapuser=john
And don't forget to create the Voicemail IMAP folder for that user before you receive the first message.


text:
Browsing Centres by Author "Jordahl, Henrik"
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Poutvaara, Panu; Tuomala, Juha; Jordahl, Henrik (København, 2008)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: In a recent paper, García-Mainar and Montuenga-Gómez [Econ. Edu. Rev. 24 (2005)] apply the generalized IV model of Hausman and Taylor to estimate education returns of wage earners and the self-employed in Portugal and in Spain. Our examination reveals several problems which relate to the validity and documentation of the instrumental variables, as well as the robustness of the results. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7712
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text:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A grizzly bear has killed a hiker at Denali National Park - the first fatal attack in the park's history, officials said Saturday.
Denali Park officials said the hiker was backpacking alone along the Toklat River on Friday afternoon when the attack happened. A wallet was found near the site of the attack with probable identification. However, next of kin have not been notified and the hiker's identification has not been released.
Officials said this attack was the first known fatal mauling in the park's history.
Rangers are due back at the site Saturday to retrieve the hiker's remains and attempt to locate the predatory bear. About 12 bears leave in the area, officials said.
"There are bears that have been at the site. We need to get them out of there before we get to the remains," said Denali spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin.
A camera was found near the kill site and rangers hope it can help them identify the bear that attacked the hiker, McLaughlin added.
Officials learned of the attack after three day hikers stumbled upon an abandoned backpack along the river about three miles from a rest area on Friday afternoon. The hikers also spotted torn clothing and blood. They immediately hiked back and alerted staff park.
Rangers were dispatched on a helicopter and were able to identify the site of the attack by Friday evening. When they arrived, one bear was at the site, although multiple bears could have been there, officials said.
With bears in the area and waning light, the rangers decided to return Saturday to recover the remains.
"Initial evidence indicates that the attack occurred proximate to the river's open braided gravel bar, although the bear subsequently dragged the remains to a more secluded, brushy cache site," the park's release said.
Park officials said they don't believe other registered backpackers are in the immediate area. An emergency closure on that part of the park has been placed.
All backpackers in the park receive mandatory bear awareness training prior to receive a permit.
Denali is located 240 miles north of Anchorage. It spans more than 6 million acres and is home to numerous wild animals, including bears, wolves, caribou and moose.
Grizzly bear kills hiker in Denali National Park
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A grizzly bear has killed a hiker at Denali National Park - the first fatal attack in the park's history, officials said Saturday.


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Homily given at the Holy Name, Manchester at Midnight Mass, 25/12/2014
The Night of Nights….. Tonight we remember the night on which all of history turns….. the night in which God breaks through 2014 years ago – the night that our Calendar is based on, the night which divides time to Before and After ….. Before the coming of Christ and After the Arrival of Our Lord. The Incarnation – the infinite God becoming a finite, vulnerable baby – the craziness of a love that never gives up on us, that never gives up on humans even though we make such a mess of things….. The Night of Nights
Tonight there is a crack in the Universe – that is first noticed in Nazareth as an angel appears to a young girl – then the crack leads a starry trail to Bethlehem that starts to attract attention from far away, in the learned scientific halls of astronomers and also closer to home in the palaces of ruthless power. But notice how the truly powerful one – the creator of the universe – chooses to visit us – on the edge of things, in poverty, in simplicity, far from corridors of political intrigue, far from halls of great learning.
It is in the emergency shelter of a stable that this child-God begins to open a space in the world in which God's healing love can work. This space – the stable in Bethlehem – will soon grow into a new sanctuary – and will spread around the world – overtaking nearly half of the world's population. From here the faith of 2 and half billion people is born, from this temporary shelter, great cathedrals will arise all over the world, this humble beginning will inspire great works of art, literature and breathtaking beauty.
But tonight is about going back to those humble beginnings in Bethlehem – and one thing I ask that you do over the next days and weeks – is to gaze upon that image of the stable, to ponder how it all started – the vulnerability, the tenderness…… A modern translation of St Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises asks us to enter into the deep down stillness of this night – to see Him with all the wonder that comes from the eyes of faith . We can do that beautifully in front of the crib ……. Gazing at the figures ……… enter into the deep down stillness of this night – to see Him with all the wonder that comes from the Eyes of faith . In a few moments of stillness and silence …… watch the brave Girl who said yes to God, even though to be pregnant out of wedlock was a great shame and often meant you would be stoned to death or thrown down a well …… ponder on the courage of Mary….. and then the quiet support of Joseph, that decent man who instead of abandoning Mary listened to the angel in a dream and stood by her, his faith overcoming his pride, his compassion overcoming his male ego. As we watch them caring for each other – allow that tenderness to seep into your soul, and then that tenderness will lead you to ponder the vulnerable, baby Jesus, dependent on their care – the man who will command the waves to be still, who cures so many people, who raises Lazarus from the dead…. As a helpless baby – The Son of God born into this world.
Some time over the next few days, take a little time out from the feasting, the telly, the computer, prize your eyes away from your smart phone and contemplate that image from Bethlehem……. What we spend our time looking at affects us deeply – how we thing about the world – how think about our selves.
Possible the most looked at image last year was that strange picture of Kim Kardashian – with her unusually shaped body – showing a little bit too much of it – and then that bizarre image of pouring champagne over her head into a glass that was balanced on her unusually shaped body…… I think you know what I mean ….. these images were looked at so often the strap line 'Break the Internet' was attached to it. Talking to so many students – I know how much pressure they feel under to have the perfect body – male as well as female students. How they are bombarded with images of 'beauty' all the time and how it leaves so many feeling inadequate, frustrated and unhappy. It is like a spiritual sickness in our image obsessed world……
So be careful what you are looking at – notice if it doesn't increase your faith , or your hope or your love it is probably slowly having a poisonous effect…. Take time away from all of that and spend some time gazing with wonder at the nativity scene – The church is open all day during the holiday period – when you gaze at the crib – what you find there is the image of pure Love – a love that is strong that as St Paul said it emptied itself, by taking the form of a servant so as to be born as a human….. the longer you Gaze on that – that love will slowly penetrate your heart …. And you won't feel inadequate or unhappy but your heart will fill with wonder…..
Enter into the deep down stillness of this night – to see Him with all the wonder that comes from the Eyes of faith
And if this is your annual visit to church, or you don't come very often, if you're not sure about your faith, or you just like celebrating Christmas – you are very welcome …. But come again, come more often, spend less time with the Kim Kardashians of this world and the snares of our celebrity culture and more time with us and ponder Him who is the source of our joy and who can change anything


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NEW YORK — The Dow stock market index flirted with the 14,000 line today, bringing reminders of the last time it hit that mark — almost a different era, before the financial crisis rocked the world economy.
Propelled by reports on U.S. jobs and auto sales, the Dow Jones industrial average crossed the line and kept its ground through the early afternoon, after flitting back and forth throughout the morning. The other major stock indexes also rose.
"There's a newfound enthusiasm for the equity market," said Jim Russell, regional investment director at U.S. Bank Wealth Management in Minneapolis.
But market watchers were divided over what the Dow milestone — or even what a Dow all-time high, which is quickly approaching — really means. To some, it's an important booster to hearts and minds, making investors feel optimistic and thus more willing to bet on the market.
"The Dow touching 14,000, it matters psychologically," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital in New York. "It attracts smaller investors."
And smaller investors, until the past few weeks, had been shying away from stocks. In the past three weeks, though, billions have flowed into mutual funds targeting U.S. stocks, according to the Investment Company Institute. Before that, investors had been pulling more cash from U.S. stock funds than they'd deposited for every month since April 2011.
To others, though, the Dow 14,000 is nothing but a number on a board, a sign more of how traders feel than how the economy is faring. And even then, it's not even the best number on the board, some traders say. Professional investors usually pay more heed to the Standard & Poor's main index, which tracks 500 companies compared to the Dow 30. The Dow, however, is more familiar to the general public.
Joe Gordon, managing partner at Gordon Asset Management in North Carolina, wasn't celebrating today. He thinks the gains won't last. The fact that small investors are finally piling back in the stock market, he said, is a sign that it's getting overhyped and ready to fall.
After the Dow hit its all-time record in 2007, it fell almost steadily and a year later had lost nearly 40 percent of its value a year later.
"It is good trivia to talk about on television and the radio," Gordon said, referring to the 14,000 mark. "It's meaningless to the average professional." And for workers still unemployed by the financial crisis, he said, "it really means nothing to them."
If there's dissent over what Dow 14,000 means, what's undeniable is that it's a rarefied event: The Dow has crossed 14,000 only 15 times in its history, and the last time was more than five years ago, on Oct. 17, 2007.
If the gains hold throughout the day and the Dow closes above 14,000, that would put it in territory even more uncommon. On just nine days has the Dow managed to stay above the 14,000 mark until the end of trading. Friday's gains also mean that the Dow is within striking distance of its all-time record of 14,164.53, which it reached on Oct. 9, 2007.
For the average investor, that was all back when the stock market still seemed like a party. Housing prices were starting to ebb but hadn't cratered. Jobs were abundant, with unemployment at 4.7 percent — compared to 7.9 percent now. Lehman Brothers still existed. So did Bear Stearns, Wachovia and Washington Mutual.
In the afternoon, the Dow was up 152 points to 14,013. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 15 to 1,513. The Nasdaq composite index was up 38 to 3,180.
Auto sales helped. Toyota, Ford, GM and Chrysler all reported double-digit gains for January.
The government jobs report that pushed stocks forward was mixed, but traders chose to focus on the positive. The U.S. said it added 157,000 jobs in January, which was in line with expectations. Unemployment inched up to 7.9 percent from 7.8 percent in December. But, encouragingly, the government also reported that hiring over the past two years has been higher than it originally thought.
The jobs number is based on a survey of employers, and the unemployment rate is based on a separate survey of households, which is why they can diverge.
In Europe, tentative and incremental signs of a recovery were enough to push up stocks in France, Britain and Germany. December unemployment in the European Union was lower than analysts had feared, inflation unexpectedly fell, and a survey raised hopes of some growth in the manufacturing sector.
But there were also reminders that the debt problem is far from solved. The Netherlands was also forced to take over one of its major banks, to try to stave off a collapse. In Greece, dock workers extended a strike over the government's spending cuts.
Among companies making big moves:
— Drugmaker Merck fell nearly 3 percent, down $1.15 to $42.10. Its fourth-quarter profit suffered because of competition from generic medicines against its blockbuster allergy drug Singulair.
— Insurance company MetLife rose 2 percent, or 75 cents, to $38.09, after saying it plans to buy the largest private pension fund administrator in Chile.
— Zoetis, an animal health business that Pfizer just spun off, made its debut on the stock market. It was up 21 percent, rising $5.47 to $31.47.
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Blue heaven: October returns to Dodgerland
Club's magical season, spruced-up stadium revitalize Ravine for NLDS
LOS ANGELES -- The beauty is still embedded into Elysian Park, resting on a hillside overlooking this man-made American city, showcasing its sport as only it can, with the space-age seats shining in the sun, the San Gabriel Mountains looming in the distance and Vin Scully's voice beaming out into the ether.
Of course, like so many of its fellow famous residents of L.A., Dodger Stadium has maintained its beauty with no small amount of expensive enhancements. But there's no shame in being image conscious, especially in Hollywood, and when you've got good guts, you might as well flaunt them.
Chavez Ravine is ready for its close-up Sunday night, when the Dodgers and Braves continue their National League Division Series (8 ET/5 PT on TBS), and, frankly, it's nice to have it back in the postseason spotlight.
"Looking for it to be hopefully energetic and electric," manager Don Mattingly said. "It seems like the fans this year have been excited about our club. They seem to like our guys. I think Dodger fans in general have always been really supportive of our club. But I think there's been a little bit of a different energy this year. The fans seem to have connected with our players."
Not that it's been an incredibly long wait, for the Dodgers are just four years removed from their last NLCS appearance against the Phillies. But the profundity of their purgatory period cannot be overstated. The bitter McCourt divorce battle wreaked havoc on the Dodgers' finances and, ergo, sullied their spot in the standings. Attendance plummeted, with the 2011 average -- 36,236 -- more than 7,000 lower than what it had been a year earlier. And the sight of empty seating sections and lopsided scores was nothing compared to the concerns about safety and security.
All of those issues have drifted into the distance, thanks to a $2.15 billion infusion of excitement and intrigue brought on by the Guggenheim group and its magnetic franchise face in Magic Johnson. The Dodgers have become a captivating curiosity, a melting pot of personalities that make beautiful music together when they're healthy and in harmony.
They are, you might say, a club worthy of their surroundings.
"Why do you want to see gladiators?" said newly anointed setup man Brian Wilson, as curious a commodity as they come. "You want to see them fight, you want to be entertained. And when your gladiators are doing well, you're going to keep coming.
"I don't really focus on the atmosphere. I kind of just copy and paste stadiums, because the dimensions where I work are always going to be the same and I just focus on the catcher. But I'd be lying if I said I don't notice it when I'm sitting in the bullpen. You can feel the energy here."
There's something about this place that stirs the senses ... and not the sense you'd expect when you're in such close proximity to a former landfill. Here, it's the sense that time has stopped and reversed itself, and suddenly you're rolling your Impala out of a 76 station and up the road where Sandy Koufax works his miracles.
But Dodger Stadium has also been updated for modern times. As is the case with their roster, the ownership group pumped a staggering sum into the home park, over $100 million total in a single offseason. They enhanced the home clubhouse, renovated every bathroom, installed new high-res video scoreboards, widened the concourses, improved the entries, opened more merchandise stores and expanded the concession offerings.
Indeed, preservation of the game's third-oldest ballpark comes with a high price. But it was worth every penny to keep the motor humming.
This is where the Dodgers completed their '63 sweep of their former New York neighbors, with Joe Pepitone losing sight of Clete Boyer's throw in a sea of white shirts. This is where Orel Hershiser went the distance in the Game 7 LCS clincher, and where Kirk Gibson completed a slow, limping trot around the bases that is as iconic as the home run that immediately preceded it, all with superscout Mike Brito -- wearing a Panama hat atop his head, cigar dangling from his mouth, suit and tie adorning his body and radar gun jutting out of his outstretched hand -- looking on.
This is where Dodger Dog indigestion emanates, where parking congestion congregates, where Randy Newman communicates that he loves L.A. And when you're here and you hear it, so do you.
L.A. crowds have been brandished with a rep for arriving late and leaving early. Not this year. Not when the Dodgers were in the midst of rattling off 42 wins in 50 games, all but sealing their spot in the postseason and rekindling their relationship with a city that had grown skeptical about them.
So now postseason baseball is back, in a setting that feels nothing but natural for it. And on Sunday night, they'll get their French dip sandwiches to-go from Philippe's, and they'll ride along that hillside into the parking lot that rests on about 260 acres of costly concrete. They'll watch a cavalcade of stars on a dynamic diamond within the context of the game's greatest stage: October.
It'll be a beautiful blue sight.


text:
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text:
Trade acceptance(redirected from Accepted Draft)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus.
Related to Accepted Draft: bank acceptance, Draft Bill of Exchange
Trade acceptance
Written demand that has been accepted by an industrial company to pay a given sum at a future date. Related: Banker's acceptance.
Trade Acceptance
A bill of exchange that has not been countersigned by the drawee's bank. A trade acceptance is presented as payment for a good or service. It is only as valuable as the drawee's creditworthiness. It is also called an accepted bill of exchange, an accepted draft, or a trade bill.


text:
If you've been around these parts for a while, then you know that I am a HUGE Sandy Klop (aka American Jane) fan. I have lost count of how many quilts I've made with her fabric collections. Well, last winter I had the chance to meet her in real life when Amy McClellan invited her to teach at the American Quilting retreat. I tried really hard not to act like a 14-yr-old girl who got to meet Justin Bieber, but that's kind of how I felt inside. And Sandy did not disappoint. She was so real and genuine and fun. And her trunk show was out of this world.
And lo and behold, she used it in her latest collection!!! (The original vintage piece is on the left, new yardage on the right.) There are some slight changes and the colors are slightly more muted, but it's very true to the original feel. (And lest anyone out there is concerned about copyright issues, it is very common to reproduce vintage fabric prints. There is no copyright on vintage fabric designs.) The design is also reproduced with a red and a yellow background. Is that a kick or what?
This little panel with appliqued Pezzy-crayons was also included in the bundle that arrived. I think it's from the strike-off fabric. I'll just have to frame this piece as it came from Sandy's workshop. 🙂


text:
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Axon Business Virtual PBx System
> License Agreement (EULA)
Axon Business Virtual PBx System License Agreement (EULA)
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1. The copyrights in this software and any audio or visual work distributed with the software belong to NCH Software. NCH Software reserves all rights. NCH Software licences the distribution and installation of this software only in accordance with these terms.
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3. This software, and all accompanying files, data and materials, are distributed "as is" and with no warranties of any kind, whether express or implied except as required by law. If you intend to rely on this software for critical purposes, it is essential that you should test it fully prior to using it for critical applications and you must assume the entire risk of using the program.
4. NCH Software will not be liable for any loss arising out of the use of this software including, but not limited to, any special, incidental or consequential loss. NCH Software may not refund any amount paid for the purchase of the software to the purchaser of the software unless the purchaser satisfies NCH Software that they tested the free version of the software prior to purchase.
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text:
Lemmemakeit has been on the back burner this summer because my focus has been on Woo Woo. Like I've said in a few past posts, I art directed my best friends short film titled Woo Woo, set in 1961. A period piece was a challenge for production design but it wound up all coming together and looking pretty lovely. Here are a few photos I snapped from the set with the actors. It was an amazing experience for me, a lot of work but in the end, I know I will be proud of the result.
The location of the shoot was in Astoria, Queens, New York, at Nicki's Nana's home that she has lived in since the 1940's. Not much has changed structurally in the house but all the decor and interiors have been updated. The whole house was basically emptied out and all the props loaded in and reset to resemble a low income city home in the late 1950's.
A set of bunk beds from the 1950's were by far the most difficult props to find. Nicki and I actually drove 6 hours to Maine to pick an authentic set up. And there are the awesome antique paper dolls that I scored on Ebay that have real human hair!
A lot of the props came from my personal collection, local NYC flea markets, Brimfield antique fair, Etsy and Ebay. Nicki's most favorite prop I bought was the funny looking teddy bear.
Kitchen supplies and decor were probably the easiest to find.
The antique Mrs. Butterworth container was a definite plus to making the breakfast table look authentic.
Vintage cafe-style curtains were a staple for a 1950's kitchen.
There's the Irish Blessing I made hanging on the wall!
The little actresses were so excited to stick their fingers in the pie which was part of the story line.
I liked the living room area... maybe because a lot of the things in the room came from my apartment.
That thermostat is definitely NOT from the 1950's—don't worry, it was cropped out of the shot!
For more pictures of the set taken by set photographer Lisa Weatherbee, check out my post on thecraftsdept blog!


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Botanical Diversity and Biogeography of Peninsular Thailand
Project Images
Researchers David Middleton (far left), Kyle Williams (second from left), and Rachun Pooma (far right) collecting in Yala with staff from the Chulaporn Pattana 7 project in Yala province.
Collecting plants in the field in southern Thailand. Researchers Somran Sudee (standing, blue hat), David Middleton (seated, blue shirt), and Kyle Williams (seated, gray shirt) collecting plants in Prachuap Kiri Khan province. Staff from the Forest Herbarium Bangkok and the National Parks and Wildlife Department assist in collecting.
Processing plant specimens after a long day of collecting.
|Map of Thailand showing collecting localities in 2004. Over 1000 specimens were collected.
|Close-up map of peninsular Thailand showing collecting localities in 2004. Collections were made in seven provinces and spanned the length of the peninsula.


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Out of my mind! Back in five minutes.
To make a mistake is human, but to blame it on someone else, that's even more human.
Everyone has photographic memory; some just don't have the film.
After twelve years of therapy my psychiatrist said something that brought tears to my eyes. He said, "No hablo ingles."
Ronnie Shakes
Whatever it is -- I didn't do it!
It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.
You're born free, then you're taxed to death.
If you don't succeed at first, hide all evidence that you tried.
The probability of meeting someone you know increases a hundredfold when you're with someone you're not supposed to be seen with.
Don't ask me anything, and I won't tell you any lies.
You know when you put a stick in water and it looks bent? That's why I never take baths.
Don't be stupid, it might make you famous.
A joke is a very serious thing.
If there is a wrong way to do something, then someone will do it.
Edward A. Murphy (Murphy's Law)
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
We have to do the impossible, but it is possible.
Kevin Garnett
If you think nothing is impossible, try slamming a revolving door.
If what you've done is stupid but it works, then it really isn't that stupid at all.
David Letterman
If a philosopher answers your question, you will no longer understand what you asked in the first place.
When someone doesn't like something, it's often because they're not familiar with it, or they're too familiar with it.
Everyone wants your happiness. Don't let them take it!!
How can you make sure you never miss your target? Shoot first, and whatever you hit, call it the target.
Cool Funny Quotes
CoolFunnyQuotes.com © 2020


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Minor in Communication in the Information Age
This interdisciplinary minor provides you with theoretical insights and practical skills necessary to thrive in the information age. You'll learn about the basic skills of information retrieval and evaluation, contemporary media practices, and the intersections of technology, identity, and culture.
Completion of this minor means that you can:
- Employ a broad range of resources and information technologies for effective personal, artistic, and professional communication.
- Practice effective principles of information gathering, evaluation and synthesis while demonstrating awareness of legal, ethical, and practical issues relating to these practices.
- Develop reasoned and well articulated perspectives on contemporary questions related to rights and responsibilities in the information age, with particular awareness of issues related to equity, intellectual property, intellectual freedom, and the ethical responsibilities of media institutions.
Take these required courses for 7 units:
- MCOM 072-Mass Communication and Society
- COMM 181F-Internet Communication
and 11 units from:
- ARTH 072-Design in Society
- ARTH 176A-Graphic Design History and Theory
- COMM 131P-New Media/You Media
- COMM 151I-Inquiry in Internet Communication
- RTVF 110-Electronic Media and Culture
- TA 141-Internet Production and Performance (course discontinued effective Fall 2009)
- TA 142-Multimedia Production and Performance (course discontinued effective Spring 2010)
Total: 18 units
NOTE: Communication Studies majors may double count one course (4 units) toward the major and the minor. Also, from the SJSU Catalog: "The minimum criterion for any minor must be 12 units of course work completely distinct and separate from the course work in one's major."


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Writing in his upcoming memoir The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring, retired boxing legend and Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Leonard frankly discusses his problems with cocaine and history of abusing women. Leonard also reveals for the first time that he was sexually abused by one of his Olympic coaches
Leonard writes that when the coach accompanied him as a 15-year-old and another young fighter to a boxing event in Utica, N.Y., in 1971, he had the teenagers take a bath in a tub of hot water and Epsom salts while he sat on the other side of the bathroom. They suspected "something a bit inappropriate" was occurring but did not want to question a strong male authority figure.
Several years later, Leonard describes sitting in a car in a deserted parking lot across from a recreation center, listening intently as the same coach, said to be in his late 40s, explained how much a gold medal at the 1976 Olympics would mean to his future.
He was flattered, filled with hope, as any young athlete would be. But he writes: "Before I knew it, he had unzipped my pants and put his hand, then mouth, on an area that has haunted me for life. I didn't scream. I didn't look at him. I just opened the door and ran."
He adds that when he first decided to discuss the incident in the book, which is co-authored with Michael Arkush, he offered a version in which the abuser stopped before there was actual contact.
"That was painful enough," Leonard writes. "But last year, after watching the actor Todd Bridges bare his soul on Oprah's show about how he was sexually abused as a kid, I realized I would never be free unless I revealed the whole truth, no matter how much it hurt."
Very refreshing to this honesty coming from a sports figure, especially such a high profile one in the Black community. Jets WR Laveranues Coles went public with his story of childhood sexual abuse in 2005 and many others have followed recently.
Leonard was the first boxer to earn more than $100 million in purses. He is widely considered to be one of the best boxers of all time.


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US EQ2 Servers will come down on Tuesday, April 23, at 7:00 am Pacific Time* for an update. The expected downtime for US servers is one hour. The EU servers will come down at 9:00 pm Pacific Time*; the expected downtime for EU servers is 2 hours.
Fixed an issue that could cause battlegrounds to crash.


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Just this, because I couldn't help myself:
Just this, because I couldn't help myself:
Remember how I did a Regretsy yarnbomb on the Jim Boggio statue and got all kinds of love from April for it and she posted that I was going to make a hat out of the "whimsicle fuckery" piece that I'd made? OK, maybe you don't, but I sure do! I took the piece down after taking the photos, because it's not everyone's cuppa, and I wouldn't want to cause offense, and not everyone would understand. Anyway, here's the pic:
So I ended up making this, which I finished today, and which is modeled by my lovely and talented friend Heather:
Yes, I am sending a mobile yarnbomb to Finland, on the head of one of my favorite people, and I couldn't be more pleased. I love this hat to death, especially the rear view.
Perkele means something vaguely naughty in Finnish, and has become the semi-official cheer, I guess, for April Winchell's goodwill tour/book-writing expedition, which has raised more than $15,000 for charitable causes before even packing a single suitcase. Well done. Although the Kickstarter effort has ended, she is always accepting donations for folks in need. It's not all 501(c)3'd out the wazoo, it's just good decent folks trying to keep their fellow humans from going all the way down the drain in hard times. You can read more about what she does on the Charity page of Regretsy.
What more can I say except,
First of all, my heartfelt thanks to April over at Regretsy for posting about me and linking to my blog (you need to enter the password, cf4l, to see the post). The number of subscribers has tripled overnight, so welcome, both of you. I haven't added much to the knitted landscape lately as I've been getting caught up on other projects (a pair of long-overdue slippers for one friend, a Jayne hat for another, projects for April's Army, etc.)
Streetcolor is planning a major effort in Oakland in October that I've offered to help with, and there's a breast cancer awareness thing in the works, so there's that to look forward to.
I guess it's a stretch to call it yarn bombing, but I was, in a sense, able to yarn bomb a Burning Man wedding this year, courtesy of friends Hugh and Anila, who asked me to knit wedding "rings" for them to put around each other's necks for their ceremony on the Playa. I was given very general instructions and free rein, and was told the results are exactly what they'd pictured….
A couple images from the ceremony (which I did not attend – Burning Man being a bit out of my league):
I got interviewed for an article in The Community Voice about my yarn bombs in and around Cotati. Pretty nice!
In other news, Steve and I set out to (briefly) yarn bomb the Golden Gate Bridge for Regretsy's recent CF4L contest, and won a prize for this photo:
Very grateful to April for whatever weird and wonderful thing is due to show up in my mailbox this week. In the mean time, I took the pieces down so I wouldn't get in trouble with park authorities, and put them back up here:
Yes, I do have a 6′ x 4′ replica of the Golden Gate Bridge in my dining room. Doesn't everyone?
It's Accordion Festival time here in Cotati, California, and the day I've been preparing for ever since I realized I couldn't finish this piece in time for IYBD. I bring you the Jim Boggio statue, dressed as the King of the Stomach Steinway:
The organizers of the event loved it, and even acknowledged me from the stage, and I saw many people taking photos of each other with the statue, so I think this will be one well-documented piece, even if it is only up for two days.
I've just returned from a week in Alaska with my sweetie, and finally found a tree in Sitka to stitch up a piece I've been holding onto for quite some time. Back when my dear friend Jeanne was struggling with the cancer that ended up killing her (god damn fucking cancer) I wanted to make her a lacy scarf in a brilliant shade of blue. Her sensitive skin couldn't tolerate wool, but I found the most beautiful saturated blue silk, and a lace pattern called "spider stitch," which was perfect, since her husband's name is Spider.
So I knitted like mad and finished this lovely thing, blocked it, and while it was drying started fretting because it had that weird smell that silk sometimes does, and I thought she might not be able to wear it smelling like that. PANIC! I rushed out and bought another yarn entirely, one made from sugar cane that was very soft, but the color wasn't nearly as vivid, and it lacked the lovely sheen of the silk scarf I'd already made. I started knitting the second scarf, but ultimately, I gave her the silk one, the smell was not a problem, and she was wearing it the last time I saw her alive. The second scarf sat unfinished on needles from then on, and Jeanne's been gone for more than a year now.
I'd met Spider and Jeanne before going to Alaska with them in 2007, but it was in Alaska that we really became friends, and it felt somehow right to find a place in Alaska to put up that unfinished scarf I'd started knitting for Jeanne. I finally got it stitched onto a tree just moments before I had to get onto the bus that took us to the Sitka airport and on our way back home. Two little girls came up and asked me about it and I did a horrible job of explaining what I was doing. Hopefully they'll read this and have a better idea what it's about. My dear friend Sharon was on hand and took photos, which I'll post when I receive them. In the mean time, I have this:
And just for the heck of it (not at all yarn related) another photo I took yesterday:
I actually know the guy who wrote this article, but he had no idea it was me he was writing about! Love it!!
Oh, and does it count if you yarnbomb yourself? Over at Regretsy there's been a recent "thing" where folks have been messing with the letters offered for sale in craft stores etc. "CF4L" has special meaning for Regretsy fans, as does goatse, for reasons which I am not going to try to explain, so when I decided to go out on a CF4L mission, I made myself a suitably insane disguise:
If you don't know what it is you're looking at, trust me, you don't want to know.


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A contestant on last night's episode of Wheel Of Fortune professed her love for Chicago sports, namely the Bulls and Bears. She is, to a lesser extent, also a fan of the White Sox rather than the Cubs. This pleases Pat Sajak, who is just as confused by the new mascot as the rest of us.
Sajak: Have you seen the new Cub mascot?
Contestant: No, I'm actually a Sox fan.
Sajak: Oh OK, then you wouldn't. If you see the mascot, you'll really be a Sox fan. OK, let's get ready for another toss up, this one is worth $2,000—and he doesn't wear pants! It makes no sense!
No, it doesn't. It makes no sense at all.
h/t Michael


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Global Network
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As rapid advances are made in the telecommunications infrastructure, including cloud computing, we at Clarion are implementing a unique global strategy to transform ourselves from in-vehicle device manufacturer to solution provider for in-vehicle information systems. While each region has its own overall administrative function, our advanced value chain – which covers markets worldwide by effectively linking regions, customers, and products – allows us to deliver optimal products and services to our customers around the world in a timely manner. Through proactive organizational restructuring and continued innovation, we will continue to expand the Clarion brand on a global scale, while also ensuring that it gains a foothold in each local market.
|Clarion Co., Ltd. (CT) ●
Clarion Sales and Marketing Co., Ltd. (CSM) ●
Clarion Manufacturing and Service Co., Ltd. (CMS) ●
Asia/Oceania Region
|Clarion (H.K.) Industries Co., Ltd. (CHI) ●
Dongguan Clarion Orient Electronics Co., Ltd. (DCOE) ●●
Xiamen Clarion Electrical Enterprise Co., Ltd. (CXEE) ●●
Clarion India Pvt. Ltd. (CIL) ●
Clarion (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (CM) ●
Crystal Precision (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (CPM) ●
Clarion Asia (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (CAT) ●●
Clarion (Taiwan) Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (CTC) ●
Clarion Australia Pty. Ltd. (CAP) ●
|Americas Region
|Clarion Corporation of America (CCA)●●
Clarion Canada Inc. (CCI)●
Electronica Clarion, S.A. de C.V. (ELECLA)●●
Clarion do Brasil Ltda. (CBL)●
Ultra Industrial S.A. de C.V. (ULTRA)●
Soporte International, S.A. de C.V. (SISA)●
|Europe Region
|Clarion Europe S.A.S. (CEF)●
Clarion Europa GmbH (CED)●
Clarion Hungary Electronics Kft. (CHE)●
Clarion RUS LLC (CRU)●


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Oh really,its about time , what were we afraid of . It is not like we have to worry about the russians taking over the world,they got their hands full as it is,and they figured out what those of us in the west already knew. Communism does not work! Communism as far as a working form of governing will not work for any length of time,all you have to do is sit back and wait, sooner or later it will implode on itself, it always does. I do not know why the House passed this bill ,they know the Senate is not going to be in session until 2013 and the House has the GOP as the majority and the Senate and President are both Democratic.
I'm guessing that they added a lot of amendments to the bill that are going to upset the other party. Oh well,China has a dictator and the experts say that the China has more gridlock than we do? I'm surmising here when I say this but I think one Year after we finally lift all the trade restrictions with Russia their will be 100,000 people working in this country because of the increase in sales some of our businesses have because of the exports to Russia. I know that might not sound like a lot ,when their is still four million people looking for work, but every little bit helps. We should do the same thing with Cuba. Give tax breaks to any company exporting goods to the Land of Fidel,sell them Big Macs,blue jeans,rock n'roll, microsoft, Budwieser Lite, KFC, Hollywood,and anything else they want to buy.
Monterrey,Mexico won the Caterpillar lotto, Caterpillar decided that Monterrey suited their needs, the plant down there is going to be the biggest plant they have in Central or South America,they have already started construction and the completion date is right around March of 2014. The plant will employ about 1400 people and the products they plan on producing is excavator,off-road trucks and bulldozers. The NAFTA agreement that President George Bush pushed and pushed for, ( but President Clinton gets all the credit for ) made this real easy. Everyone is going to benefit from this.
I finally found out how the Community College in Biminji MN was going to train 227 people for heavy equipment,for 400,000 dollars. They are not a heavy equipment school nor do they have a heavy equipment training program,this program is for the employees that are already working in the iron mines.This program is a retraining program that is strictly for the mines,the mines are providing the equipment and tools and the Community College is going to do the training or cross-training and the employees are going to go right back to where they were working.


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(This post originally appeared on Sarah Schwartz's wonderful paper blog .)
Blimey! Do we have big news to share. Big, as in Big Ben Big. Starting this month, our cards will be available in London, and throughout the British Isles.
Here's how it happened. Back in May, Sarah and William Allardice from , "the home of British letterpress", alighted upon our cards at the National Stationery Show … and thought our collection might sit happily among their own cards.
And don't they just? (See the Archivist booth from Topdrawer, above). After a summer spent fine tuning our designs to fit their formats and printing process, Archivist launched the J.Falkner Collection of letterpress cards at the Topdrawer gift show in London last month.
All our cards are flat-printed in the US, so to see them re-interpreted in letterpress made us feel a little like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" when she steps out of her old house into the exuberant technicolor of Oz. The rich inks, gorgeous paper stock and deep impression of type definitely made our heart sing!
Archivist cards are printed in rural England on vintage windmill presses. And their paper, sourced from sustainable forests, is milled in the heart of the Lake District. If those two sentences alone don't restore your faith in the romance of the written word, I don't know what will.
Another feather in the Archivist cap are the luxury matchboxes they produce. They cleverly took our little doxie holiday card and made it into this adorable matchbox (above) — so now we know what all our friends will be getting in their stockings. (Shh!)
The J.Falkner Collection of cards are now available online from the Archivist website (and they ship to the US, Canada and Europe!), and they are heading out to UK retailers like Paperchase, the Conran Shop, and Fortnum & Mason (above) in the next few weeks. Cheerio, then! We're grabbing our brollie and going out shopping …


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Random number generation (RNG) is an important and desired property for any Monte Carlo simulation or cryptography application. The strength of such systems depend on the appearance of randomness amongst a desired set of generated numbers. Since the random numbers required are often in high orders of magnitude, computer-based systems for RNG are widely used. However, these systems often fall short of the goal in producing an apparent patternless stream of values, even though they still might meet some statistical tests for fitness. Such fitness tests are used to analyze the randomness of numbers to ensure that the values are void of any discernible patterns. The numerous applications of randomness have led to many different methods of generating random data. These methods vary regarding the fitness, or how unpredictable/statistically random their generated values appear, and how quickly the values can be created.
In Practical Random Number Generation in Software, John Viega demonstrated that there is a large gap between the theory and practice for random number generation and proposed various solutions to the real world pseudo-RNGs (PRNG). Here we reference all random number generators as being RNG and do not try to further qualify them into being pseudo versus non-pseudo random number generators.
In this article we present the idea of using threaded concurrent systems for seedless random number generation. The motivation comes from the notion that each thread executes independently of its concurrent brethren, spawned by a single parent process. These threads are responsible for flipping the bits of a block of memory which is then used as a random value.
Broadly speaking, there are two forms of random number generators:
- Generators that rely on mathematical algorithms, such as linear congruential generators. They are often provided via a specific platform's implementation of the Standard C99 rand() routine.
- Generators that derive their pseudo-random values from external or seemingly random sources, such as radio waves or motions of the mouse.
It is not uncommon for RNGs generated from a deterministic environment to be based on mathematical algorithms, which inherently limit the randomness of the system. Such algorithms can replicate a pattern over a period of time and quantity, which can eventually compromise the randomness of the system. The computational algorithms that produce long sequences of apparently random results are in fact completely determined by a shorter initial value, known as a seed or key.
Here we explore the idea of using threads as a seedless means of producing pseudo-random values in a deterministic system without relying on the properties of a mathematical algorithm. We can thus uniformly eliminate the issues associated with seeded RNGs. Besides we rely on an implementation which is similar to Standard C99 rand() routine, so all that needs to be done is replacing the standard function calls with our library calls. Finally, non-determinism by massively parallel thread executions is a concept unexplored till date. Though there are RNGs which use parallel threads per seed -- for selective seed policy the idea of using a thread lifecycle for generating a random number itself is new.
Concurrent Systems and Non-Determinism
In a concurrent system, each thread, by itself, is a lightweight process. Such threads are scheduled to execute once a processor is available. Multiple threads can be executed in parallel, on a multiprocessor system since they all are a part of the same process. While these threads are executing, any of them can be stopped and the order in which they are paused may be completely random for every turn. Since there is no priority among the threads, the operation of stopping and restarting any number of threads is carried in a non-deterministic manner. Thus, for each of the stop and restart operations, no particular thread can be prototyped to follow a pattern, unless the operating system scheduler has some influence. In other words, the programmer cannot make any assumptions about the order in which threads are scheduled.
Non-determinism is an aspect linked to the operating system process scheduler. Most of the modern operating systems use a hybrid between the deterministic and non-deterministic scheduling techniques. Real time, processor affinity or priority processes, require deterministic scheduling, whereas other processes or threads use a fair non-deterministic algorithm.
In such "fair algorithms" each process is given a time quantum for its execution. This is usually done to load balance a system effectively or achieve a target quality of service so that no one thread keeps the CPU to itself. When it comes to using threads, since every thread is scheduled to run in a process, the order of scheduling is not given much importance. Most of the schedulers use a random thread pickup, or a round-robin ordering, to execute threads. In fact in the case of some of the modern multicore systems, multiple threads can be executed in parallel on different cores of the system. This parallel execution results in the threads being executed and scheduled in a random manner. Such non-determinism depends on the processor architecture, libraries used, concurrent programming methodology, number of threads used to get an idea of the parallel operation at that instant.
The concept of concurrent programming and threading outlines the concept for our RNG. Our goal is to use the non-deterministic thread behavior to manipulate a block of memory. This block will then be converted to an integer and outputs as a single random value. We rely on the fact that since each thread uniquely represents a bit boolean value and since the threads are arbitrarily executing from our pool per operation, the random number generated must also be independent of the previous output.
Operating System Scheduling
The non-determinism of how a thread is accessed, when only a shared mutex amongst the threads prevents them from accessing a single shared resource, is a function dependant on the operating system's kernel scheduler. This scheduling of computational resources is the sole purpose of a process scheduler. Likewise, there are numerous scheduling algorithms that kernels can utilize to determine which process has time to execute operations on the system. This scheduling of process executions provides a kernel the ability to multi-task. Adding to the non-determinism potential of a threaded application, is user input. Consider a concurrent application running on the same system that a hypothetical threaded application is simultaneously running on. If any one of the applications is awaiting user input, the non-determinism of the system is further complicated. Depending on how "quick" the user is to respond, and what the user might have to do, the kernel must determine if other precesses are to be executed while awaiting user input. The scheduling framework is one of the primary driving factors that our threaded RNG relies on.
On a similar note, it might also be possible to extract patterns of the scheduler and determine the operating system that was using our tool to generate random values.
While this patterning would obviously not demonstrate successful pseudo-randomness of our concept, it could be interesting for anyone exploring finger-printing of operating systems.


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