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Thursday, 29 January 2009
For Like....Gone!
I don't usually like to post sad news here at ABT because I personally try to concentrate on the happy things in life and I try, as much as possible, to make ABT a happy, positive place for you my readers. But today is not a happy day. Today is a sad day and a day which I cannot let pass by without making my very small voice heard.
This morning I woke to emails from some of my lovely blog friends {Jo, Heather & Natalie} letting me know about the awful and I must say depressing news that Domino Magazine is finished....what we all thought was 'For Like Ever' is now 'For Like Gone'.
Each month, like lots and lots of people around the world I looked forward to my Domino subscription arriving in my mail box, albeit much later than my American friends...but always worth the wait.
In my opinion Domino has been a breath of fresh air. It has supported young, up-and-coming Designers and has been a magazine which has inspired me as a young Designer to think outside the square. It has offered Eco-Friendly Design, Budget-Friendly Design and overall I feel that it has offered achievable Design.
I spoke to Natalie Walton this morning {via email}, the Deputy Editor of Real Living Magazine here in Australia and I said to her I hope this doesn't start happening to our favourite Australian Home Magazines. Her response was interesting.....
"I think part of the problem with US mags is that they charge so little for the subscriptions – often only $1 an issue – that they're really heavily reliant on advertising so when that drops they don't have much room left to manoeuvre within their budget."
I agree with Natalie. I certainly think Domino was very inexpensive and I would have paid double, even triple the price for my monthly issue. Our Australian Home magazines range in price from roughly $6.00 to $10.00 an issue.
However, there really isn't anything we can do. I feel sad for the contributing Sylists, Writers, Photographers, Designers featured and Staff of Domino and I feel sad that these horrible times are taking away our small pleasures.
Good-bye Domino. You will be missed by many.
Image - Domino Magazine
37 comments:
- Maggie May said...
i just posted a blog about this too. it's really crappy news :(
- 29 January 2009 at 15:52
- Unknown said...
very well put. it was one of the few magazines that i feel really spoke to my aesthetic and age range...and where i am, decor-wise, in life. each month it provided a wealth of tips and inspiration for me.
i agree with what your friend said about subscription rates. i often notice that u.s. subscriptions, if you are in the u.s., are quite inexpensive. i think a year issue was only about $10? whereas here in canada a subscription to style at home (a great design mag) is $23/year.
ah well, as you said there isn't anything we can do now.
- 29 January 2009 at 15:58
- Sara said...
I would have paid a lot too. That is the only mag that I ever look forward to getting!! Sad news!!
- 29 January 2009 at 16:02
- The House That A-M Built said...
So sad... and being late to the party, I'd only just gotten into it! Rats! A-M xx
- 29 January 2009 at 16:04
- Keren - The Brown Trading Co. said...
oh no it is a sad day indeed! I discovered Domino through ABT and really loved their website too. So lucky I got the Domino Decorating Book for Christmas from Miss Sharnel as a keepsake :o)
Thanks Anna for leading the way to this refreshing mag - so sorry to see it FOR LIKE...GONE too.
- 29 January 2009 at 16:15
- SuSu said...
Even though we have a 150 year old house and serious (and not-so-serious) antiques, I loved that magazine and really looked forward to it every month. Very informative and creative, interesting columns. What a shame. And Country Home is gone, too! What to read now besides Vogue and House Beautiful? Yikes!
- 29 January 2009 at 16:19
- Ms. Katee/e-polishblog said...
This is the most sad news I've had in a long time. I would have gladly paid double! Although w/our fledgeling US economy, I don't know that charging more would have been realistic. I mean, with the price being so cheap in the first place, you'd think they would have more subscribers than they know what to do with. Oh well, it is sad no matter how you look at it! I will definitely miss Domino.
- 29 January 2009 at 16:43
- Sharnel said...
sniff, sniff.
- 29 January 2009 at 18:03
- Petunia said...
I live in the US and I'm heartbroken that paying more for it might have kept it around. The publishers should know we'd pay more to get our fix. It's like too many things/places that are disappearing right now. At least Domino was a great escape. If Vanity Fair goes, I swear I will go with it.
- 29 January 2009 at 19:18
- Ness Lockyer said...
Country Home, now Domino...who's next??
Like you Anna I thought about our Aussie mags today. I never stopped to think about the price of a US subscription...they are cheap. We are paying that for one issue, but I don't mind. For all the hard work that goes into the makeup of some of these superb little comforts, I think they are worth every cent...and like you I would have paid more. I did read that in no uncertain terms, us design bloggers are the cause!!!!
Let's hope the Aussie mags have their fingers on the pulse.
Ness xx
- 29 January 2009 at 20:26
- Anna Spiro said...
Thanks Everyone for your comments! A very sad day indeed!
- 29 January 2009 at 21:41
- Unknown said...
The editor is right I think, here in Argentina mags are more expensive too, anyway the business was very affected in 2001 crisis and never recovered properly.
- 29 January 2009 at 22:52
- duchess.of.reel said...
I saw the news yesterday on a few blog sites....I just didn't want it to be true, so I put it out of my mind. I must face the fact today - unfortunately. This is the only mag I looked forward to seeing in the mailbox and typically read each and every page! I'm terribly sad here in Texas... I hear we have until March before we no longer receive issues. Until then, let's savor every bit. :) Thank goodness I have back issues. They will always inspire me.
- 30 January 2009 at 01:37
- duchess.of.reel said...
I saw the news yesterday on a few blog sites....I just didn't want it to be true, so I put it out of my mind. I must face the fact today - unfortunately. This is the only mag I looked forward to seeing in the mailbox and typically read each and every page! I'm terribly sad here in Texas... I hear we have until March before we no longer receive issues. Until then, let's savor every bit. :) Thank goodness I have back issues. They will always inspire me.
- 30 January 2009 at 01:37
- alice said...
So very true. In the US, I pay so little for these subscriptions, yet they are more or just as valuable as an expensive design book. I think most would pay the higher rate becasue these are such wonderfl publications.
As sad as I am for myself over the loss of my monthly Domino dose, you bring up a very good point. .. All of the amazing minds that have been employed by Domino are surely more affected than the readers... I wish them the best and hope we hear from them again soon in some outlet or another!
- 30 January 2009 at 02:25
- The Pampered World said...
Hi Anna, first & foremost, love your blog!
Second, sad day for many of us indeed.
Last, I would be double (maybe triple) if it's a magazine I really loved and this case I would have done that for Domino. Luckily I have a few issues that will stay with me forever, but of course, it won't be the same. Maybe one day if the economy gets beter it will return.
Until then, only the memories. :(
- 30 January 2009 at 02:32
- la la Lovely said...
I am soooo bummed. I gave out so many subscriptions for Christmas too. Perhaps, Anna you could do a post on the best Aussie mags.... I think I might have to subscribe to some of yours!
xx Trina
- 30 January 2009 at 02:47
- MFAMB said...
i am 100 percent gutted!!!!!!! i was so afraid of this happening when i heard that my other favorite cottage living was no longer. this is unrelenting!! i keep every single issue of domino in a shrine like position on the hearth of my (non functioning) fireplace. now i have to blog about this too. sigh.
- 30 January 2009 at 03:07
- Beki - TheRustedChain said...
I know! Isn't that sad? :(
- 30 January 2009 at 04:36
- Mackenzi said...
I totally, totally agree. I have always thought of Domino (and other great mags) as a required part of my design business, and would gladly have paid what they were worth vs. seeing them go the way of the dinosaur. Like many other people I've heard from over here in the States, we're going to turn to more and more international shelter mags to fill the void. Any 'must haves' from your neck of the woods?
- 30 January 2009 at 05:15
- Jennifer Gifford said...
This is terrible I was just planning on getting a subscription! How can I get my hands on some back issues?
- 30 January 2009 at 07:58
- Mahala said...
I am absolutely depressed by this news. This makes three of my favorite design magazines that have folded in the last two months, including Cottage Living and Country Home. The idea that we will be going backwards in the availability of design images and ideas is sad indeed. To have had so many wonderful magazines to choose from was a golden time.
- 30 January 2009 at 08:01
- Heather said...
I've only just found Domino Magazine and haven't even had the chance to see an issue in real life. Its such a shame.
- 30 January 2009 at 08:58
- Josephine Tale Peddler said...
Thanks for posting this. I originally came to Domino through your Blog and subscribed and totally love it as well! I thought it would be safe as it seemed so well established. What a blow. I also subscribe to Romantic Homes in the US as they are so expensive to buy in Australia (nearly twenty dollars for that one!) I hope it survives but if Domino went under...
- 30 January 2009 at 09:56
- Velvet and Linen said...
This is terrible news for all of us design addicts.
Domino truly was a breath of fresh air. I was always excited to see what new trends and new designers they would introduce to me every month.
This is a sad day.
- 30 January 2009 at 10:25
- Barbara said...
I just posted about this as well. I'll be sad to see it go, only one more issue to come. There are so many shelter magazines that have disappeared within the last year. I'll miss Blueprint and Domino the most.
- 30 January 2009 at 17:07
- Unknown said...
Hi everyone
I just caught on the news today!! The worst thing is, I finally prompted myself to start subscribing to Domino late last year and only ever received 2 issues - which I so-looked-forward-to! The second darnest thing is that I'm getting abit more serious about home decor etc these days because we are going to start building our house soon. Just when I need more reference than ever!!! Thank goodness I am faithful to Real Living :) ...and I also stalk a few blogs in my free time, so *~ HELLO there inspiring bloggers who have given me so much eye candy and wisdom ~* And Anna, your blog is bar far one of the loveliest, so is your shop though I've spent more time admiring your shop window than actually going in (except for the one time when i picked up the porcelain owl). Keep up the loveliness! Cheers, OL
- 30 January 2009 at 18:08
- Cynthia's Botanical Arts said...
I am totally surprised... I just ordered two more subscriptions for my daughters-in-law. I loved this magazine so much and I was telling everyone about it.
This is the third subscription this month that has gone under....
At least we can enjoy your wonderful blog.
- 31 January 2009 at 11:57
- Jen Catto said...
Truly heartbreaking. As you so eloquently said, these horrible times are taking away some of our simplest pleasures. I eagerly awaited my subscription each month in New York. It has been a great relief from these stressful times. Two hours to myself on the couch, devoted to the escape that is dreaming about my next home. I invested countless hours in My Deco File (with many Absolutely Beautiful Things images!), planning my country home. I am sorry this great resource will no longer be available to us.
- 31 January 2009 at 12:36
- Viv said...
Let's hope our Australian magazine don't fall to the same fate :(
- 1 February 2009 at 19:43
- Unknown said...
OMG Anna - this is awfully terribly sad news... I just loved their mag and their decorating book that sprung from this fresh contemporary mag. I share your sentiment with our Australian mags..I would hate to have any of the great Australian home & garden lifestyle mags face closure. Just in the fashion & furniture industry there are already so many of my friends looking for new jobs as clothing wholesalers and decoator items/ furniture wholesalers hutring with the majors like Domayne (Harvey Norman group) hitting it hard
As at 31 Jan 09 - SMH.com.au reported '... with 163 Harvey Norman stores, 16 upmarket Domayne stores and 15 lowest-tier Joyce Mayne stores at the end of June. Of these, about 20 per cent were loss-making, he said. "We have some other [stores] on the books to close as well," Mr Harvey said yesterday.
I just really hope tis economic ripple effect can stay mostly over the Atlantic and not cross the Pacific too much...
Take care,
- 2 February 2009 at 12:07
- Natural Home said...
I too am heartbroken over Domino. It really is a quality magazine with great designers, read-worthy articles, and lovely tips. I rely on it as an interior designer and a twenty-something house renovator. When the US's House and Garden went under, Domino was the only good thing to come out of it. I think Conde Nast (the publisher) should reevaluate.
- 4 February 2009 at 13:49
- Babelfish said...
It is so depressing when we hear unexpected stories from seemingly successful companies who are struggling to keep afloat, Domino mag will be missed.
- 4 February 2009 at 14:15
- Unknown said...
I love magazines but I must say, only wealthy Americans would be able to pay for a magazine subscription that cost so much.
- 5 February 2009 at 08:46
- Ice Cream Wednesdays said...
I can not believe this is happening!
I LOVE this magazine.
This is the second magaine I adore that has closed it's doors.
I am so sad.
- 6 February 2009 at 11:43
- Farmgirl Paints said...
Another good one bites the dust. Both my Mary Engelbreit and Cottage Living were also canceled. I can't believe it.
- 7 February 2009 at 08:53
- BellaRosaEvents said...
I just came across this awesome blog, and I'm glad I saw this post! I am so disappointed to see Domino go away. I agree with you that I would have willingly paid much more than the subscription price they charged, because in my opinion, it is the best magazine for your money.
- 15 February 2009 at 14:32


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In every company I've worked for or with, I'll confess that I've often been a little confused about the tracking setup. I've seen plenty of reports that simply don't make sense, but once these got sorted out, I usually found that we were putting developments live with only having a top level understanding of their effect – basically 'improving' a product based on conjecture. But speaking to quite a few experienced analysts led me to believe that this problem wasn't just following me around – it was everywhere! So I learnt what I needed to do about it, and I thought I'd share that knowledge here.
Eliminating Vanity Metrics
The big metrics in publishing are Unique Users and Pageviews, but they are surprisingly meaningless unless the website sells out of advertising inventory, which often doesn't occur. In e-commerce, the audience and engagement metrics can become even more meaningless – more traffic doesn't always equal more revenue, and 'more' engagement via pageviews could mean a user is struggling to find what they came for. In SEO we are obsessed by the organic visit, yet it means little if the user doesn't convert or add further value.
Thus it's important that we move away from the Audience Overview and simply reporting 'vanity metrics' in our analysis, and focus on user actions that really mean something.
Website Goals
Most talks or posts about analytics will tell you to set up goals, and they are easy to setup in Google Analytics. It might be a given to put the receipt page as a goal on an e-commerce website, but which other goals are you tracking?
These goals should be considered as fundamentals alongside e-commerce receipts – they'll inevitably help you as you make subtle website changes and improvements.
Assigning Value
At last year's A4U Expo I saw a great talk about assigning value to all of your goals. This doesn't have to be a literal £ value, but there needs to be a relative value assigned.
For instance, you might consider that newsletter capture is perhaps the most valuable of your marketing goals and assign it a value of 100 (although, if you also knew the e-commerce value of email traffic, you could assign it this value).
Then, working back, you could work out the relative value of your other goals. For instance, if your advertising clicks have 1% equity of newsletter clicks, then they could be assigned a value of 1.
The beauty of this approach is that you can measure your traffic sources goal conversion rate by Goal Set. So you could have an engagement Goal Set, or a commercial Goal Set – click these at the top of the traffic graph on All Traffic to see which traffic sources are giving you the most value. You can then spend more time on the traffic sources that matter.
Event Tracking on Steroids
Google's suggests that you apply event tracking to the following:
- Any Flash-driven element, like a Flash website, or a Flash Movie player
- Embedded AJAX page elements
- Page gadgets
- File downloads
- Load times for data
Some of your goals will inevitably be some of the above, so it's important to have these event tracked. As an aside tip, to track Youtube plays, use this JavaScript.
But we can take it much further than this; why settle at just key engagements when you can track every link? If you're likely to be working on a site through a number of development cycles, then I seriously recommend this. Even on very large sites, it's possible to event track everything relatively simply, by having a system for placing event tracking in links throughout the templates.
Fundamentally, Google Analytics Event tracking works through 3 components – the Category, Action and Label. The label is optional.
onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'category', 'action', 'opt_label']);"
More detailed posts on event tracking are available here:
- Event Tracking 101 for Google Analytics (Search Engine Land)
- Google Analytics Event Tracking to Monitor Calls to Action (SeoMoz)
- Idiot's Guide to Event Tracking (.eduGuru)
- Event Tracking Naming Strategy (SEER Interactive)
Think of these as a hierarchy. In navigation with dropdowns you could (and maybe we will) have the following for State of Search:
onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Navigation', 'News']);"
Then the homepage carousel might be:
onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Homepage', 'Carousel', '1']);"
Or on the homepage top post you could have:
onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Homepage', 'Posts', '1']);"
If you followed the same logic for all links throughout the site, with dynamic insertions using .PHP, tracking all the links wouldn't take that long. I've had developers do practically an entire site in half a day! It's not as big a task as it seems, but if you're short on resource you can iterate it to include just core elements to begin with.
You would soon know which pieces of functionality are working best for you. And as you tinker with the design (as you should be doing in the AGILE age) then you will find it much easier to see what is and isn't working for you.
Some interesting findings…
In applying as much click tracking as we could to a site, we were able to gather a few things that were critical to future developments:
- Not nearly as many people were clicking the nav as we first thought; very few visits included a sub nav click.
- Most clicks were coming through the homepage listings and right hand columns, but articles published earlier in the day would often get less pageviews.
The big problem here was that our homepage and right hander sizes just couldn't cope with the volume of articles being published. Subsequently, articles were getting buried quickly. Also, our navigation clearly didn't get information to the user very well. They weren't that interested in sub-categorisation, just content.
Our Response: Extend everything! Create larger pages with more content options and create a mega nav.
The result: 25% increase in pageviews in one month! (In this case, it was a publishing site, so it wasn't a vanity metric! H.T @JamesGurd)
You might think that this could be an overkill of data, and that having so many different events will make it troublesome to analyse your most important data. However, I can assure you that if you categorise your events correctly in a hierarchy, then you will be able to make sense of your data very easily. Most importantly, you'll have a better understanding of where you should invest time and energy in the next development cycle.

subset: commoncrawl


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In the final scene, a MIL Mi-26 helicopter is causing problems for McClane and Jack. The Russian heavy transport helicoper is branded with a giant 27.
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Scott Pilgrim's front door
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Update: Inspired by a friend, 270909 should be "put your plans into action" day.
Life plans can be the hardest things to decide on and stick to, but if you're ever going to change a situation, having an exit strategy is a great start. Procrastination can be overcome if today, 270909 we all take steps in the direction we want to go.
Well, still alive and nothing bad has happened this morning. The 9th September 2009 sees a milestone date 090909.
The web is full of references to this special date and how to mark it's passing. eHow.com has a great article by Michael Skinner on "How to Celebrate"
1.Think of your place in the Universe.
2. Think of home and your local environment.
3. Connect items 1 and 2.
4. Enjoy the day!
Read the article on eHow.com
There's a worldwide cyberformance, live theatrical and online performance festival – Upstage 090909.
Performances across the globe via the upstage platform I'm told. Check the Upstage 090909 site for timezone details.
Another organisation has decided that this day should be World Day of Interconnectedness.
The site states "On 090909 in every country at 9 AM in every time zone (starting in New Zealand), all people who are aware of interconnectedness and who are committed to translate that awareness into action are invited to practice interconnectedness as much as possible throughout that day."
Let me know if anything odd, great or terrible happens during this 24 hours.
Posted in The Blog | 1 Comment »
Indie Punk band Project 27 from Long Beach New York are touring this summer. Dates from 23rd July to 6th August have the guys travelling from Asbury Park, New Jersey, to Manchester, New Hampshire. Check out their myspace page here.
Posted in The Blog | 3 Comments »
I came across 27.com today. The site uses a unix-ish interface, but is actually Google Shell (goosh.org), using Ajax. The results from simple searches are quite useful and very quick, like google without the ads, images and other extras.
Fun, all the same.
Posted in The Blog | Leave a Comment »


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Little Taipei is a nickname for Rowland Heights, a city in the San Gabriel Valley. To vote for more Los Angeles County communities to be the subject of a future entry, click here. To vote for Los Angeles neighborhoods, click here. Rowland Heights is a community neighbored by City of Industry to the north, Diamond Bar to the northeast, Chino Hills to the east, unincorporated Orange County to the south, La Habra Heights to the southwest, and Hacienda Heights to the west.
A view of lower Rowland Heights from the hills
A view of lower Rowland Heights from the hills
Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography's map of Rowland Heights -- made without aesthetic consideration for my eyes only


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Palin Throws the Book at Librarian of Congress {satire}
The editors of Shelf Awareness bring us a creepy flash forward to January 21, 2009 . . .
In her first official act, Vice President Sarah Palin has asked for the resignation of Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.
After a little distraction as Dick Cheney's staff received new business cards and stationery reflecting their transition to Palin's staff, the Vice President's Office issued the following statement this morning over Palin's signature:
"President McCain and I came to the nation's capital with a mandate for change, and I am pleased to begin that process right in the heart of Washington. When I took that oath or whatever yesterday, I looked over at the Library of Congress building and immediately had several questions.
"First, what is it with all the books? Isn't it enough to have our Declaration of Independence on display at the National Archives? Luckily the Archives have room for the upcoming Alaskan Declaration of Independence. Second, aren't books basically elitist? Most real Americans are too busy to read. So let's clear the books out and make use of this prime bit of real estate."
Read on at the bottom of this page...
Satire? Seems like drivel to me.
If Obama gets into office our taxes will be so high we will not be able to afford books.
I know, shouldn't satire be
I know, shouldn't satire be funny?
On the nature of humour
Humour is a difficult concept only for those who do not have one.
There is nothing that cannot be found offensive by someone, somewhere.
LISNews, eh? I thought somehow a political cartoon feed had made its way into my feed reader. Much to my chagrin, it's just another purported news site publishing and promoting biased rubbish.
I agree with anonymous. Not
I agree with anonymous. Not anonymous anonymous, but the other anonymous.
I think it is hilarious.
I think it is hilarious.
Aren't you fellow librarians a little concerned that Palin tried to fire the city's library director while she was Mayor, because she would not remove books that Palin wanted gone? If you're pro Palin, then you are pro censorship. I'm sure librarians are made of all different political ideologies... but I would hope censorship isn't one of them.
Try reading the other threads on LISNews about Palin. There are other threads than this one, you know.
>Aren't you fellow librarians a little concerned that Palin tried to fire the city's library director while she was Mayor
No because as VP she is going to have no power to censor books. Even if McCain dies she will not be able to censor things. President has executive orders and the ability to sign legislation. I don't see President mcCain or if he dies President Palin signing any censorship executive orders. As far as signing things into law if congress does not send any censorship legislation for a signature there is nothing the President can do.
Abstinence Only Ignorance
Abstinence Only Ignorance is one big censorship program. It is being promoted by your Commander-in-Chimp, and I have no doubt that it would be promoted by Palin. Even though her daughter is a living example that it doesn't work.
There is nothing that cannot be found offensive by someone, somewhere.
You don't give teens credit ...
Abstinence is the one sure way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and also give teens, who are still developing, the time to mature enough to have a responsible sexual relationship. Many teens are emotionally scarred by premature sexual involvement -- and this diminishes capability of having a stable marriage later on in life. Teens will meet our expectations whether the bar is set low or high. If we communicate the idea that they are incapable of controlling themselves and postponing sex, then guess what -- they'll meet that expectation.
Your first two statements are totally unwarranted assumptions, and absolutely unprovable.
Your third statement is correct. But you pervert it trying to use it to support your fourth statement, which is a complete misinterpretation of reality.
It is so-called abstinence only programs that assume young adults are unable to control themselves. Those who are given the factual information they need to make informed choices can and do make those choices for themselves. They are not stupid just because they are not franchised adults. By keeping them ignorant, the right-wing/utlra-conservative bloc creates the conditions that ensure they will be unable to make proper choices.
Don't try to tell me that I don't give young adults credit for their human intelligence and the ability to live their own lives without christo-fascists trying to run their lives for them. I'm not the one trying to enslave them under an ideology of abject ignorance and subverience to arbitrary human rules that are touted as holy writ.
There is nothing that cannot be found offensive by someone, somewhere.
what do you mean "we", Maple Leaf Man?
That happens in America. We have the Jeezits and promise rings and mindbogglingly high rates of STDs and teen pregancy.
Canada, where you're from, Michael, has a very progressive sexual education curriculum and much lower rates of teen pregnancy and STDs.
How do you have any dog at all in any of these fights?
Are you an outrage poacher? That is so strange.
Yeah, but . . .
We got idjits in the general population too. Have you seen the reports recently about that freaky lunatic with his "Joel's Army"?
Unfortunately, since we generally make more effort to be open, tolerant, and respectful, we're more likely to get the neo-liberals trying to push their swill down our throats instead of neo-conservatives.
My dog is the underdog. Been one of those too long. I'll stand up for the others all I can. And when any human being is subject to degradation that degrades all of us. I am first, last, and always a human being. Everything else -- caucasian, male, european descent -- is merely incidental to that. Crap like nationality is entirely artificial. I'm proud of Canada and of being Canadian, but nationalism simply isn't in the mindset.
P.S.: Don't forget to salute when you mention Maple Leaf Man or we'll arrange for the Jet Stream to swing south more often during Jan and Feb. And stay even longer each time.
There is nothing that cannot be found offensive by someone, somewhere.
>If you're pro Palin, then you are pro censorship.
Sure, so if you are pro-Obama are you then pro-Marxist?
Unsubstantiated and Many False Allegations
This is your opinion. It has not been substantiated why Palin tried to fire Emmons. She fired several other top administrators as well, and in the end allowed Emmons to keep her job. It is not unusual for newly elected officials to replace top administrators with their had other conversations with Palin any of which might have contributed to her decision to fire her. If Obama wins this election, watch how many top officials will be replaced.
Palin - LOC satire
Wow ! Who knew there were so many prickly reactionaries working in libraries.
Shelf Awareness has done a really good job with this satire. It's particularly apt given the way the McBush campaign has been using the conceit of future fantasy in speeches about their accomplishments to come in 2013.
Palin is a totally creepy right-wing opportunist, who is deserving of copious ridicule.
And while the LOC might be safe from blatantly outrageous predations, you can be certain that she'll find another less well defended target for her fuzzy-wuzzy fundamentalist grandstanding. That's whey they brung her, after all.
But, I've got a better solution. Let's make sure she never gets anywhere near Blair House or the White House. On Nov. 4th, vote like your life depended on it. It just might.
Librarians and Politics
If by "reactionary" librarians you mean librarians who wait until they hear facts and evidence before making a decision about or casting judgment about political candidates (whether one supports them or not) then I would be honored to wear such a label. Shame on librarians who jump on the smear bandwagon. Stop throwing around the labels and start dealing with hard evidence.


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|Unitary Parliamentary Democracy
|Prime Minister
|Genbu Kururugi (Former)
Kaname Ohgi (Current)
Kaguya Sumeragi (Manga Only)
|Tokyo Settlement
|89 million (prior to invasion)
|Real World Countries
|Other Information
|See United Federation of Nations
HistoryPrior to its invasion and conquest by Britannia, Japan used the real-world Hinomaru flag operated under a system of parliament, unique in this universe, maybe having abandoned the rule of the Emperor as they did in our universe. Whether or not Japan is a constitutional monarchy as in our world is not known, as no reference is made to a current or former monarchy. Almost surprisingly, Japan maintained its independence until August 10 in the year 2010 of the Imperial Calendar when it was invaded and conquered by the much more powerful Holy Britannian Empire.
Prior to the events of Code Geass, Japan was the world's largest supplier of Sakuradite, producing 70% of it, which it used to manipulate the balance of power between the three dominant powers. Because of its huge underground reserves of Sakuradite, Japan remained independent out of fear: if any of the superpowers invaded Japan for its Sakuradite, the other two would be forced to attack it or otherwise risk annihilation. During what came to be known as the Oriental Incident, Japan aligned its policies against Britannia in an attempt to force negotiations between the superpowers.
Ultimately, this was a mistake. On August 10 in the year 2010 of the Imperial Calendar, the Second Pacific War erupted and Britannia easily overwhelmed Japan's comparatively outdated defenses with their new humanoid autonomous armored knights known as the Knightmare Frames. Following its conquest, Japan was renamed "Area 11" and its people "Elevens." Britannia quickly began building colonies and mines on the islands, recruiting former Japanese as "Honorary Britannians" while those who refused to join Britannia lived in poverty in the ghettos or joined the various resistance movements. Though Japan was defeated, it wasn't broken, and resistance movements persisted through to almost near the end of the series, most notably through the Japanese Liberation Front and, during the course of the series, the Black Knights.
The resistance of Japan, which Lelouch mentions is stronger than in any other part of the empire, owes its presence in part to the sudden death of Genbu Kururugi, Japan's last prime minister before it was conquered. The official statement said that the prime minister committed suicide in the face of Britannia's overwhelming forces, when, in actuality, he was prepared to stage a do-or-die resistance against Britannia, even if it meant the extinction of the Japanese people. This compelled his son, Suzaku Kururugi, to murder him in the hopes that fewer lives would be lost.
Britannian Occupation and Formation of United States of Japan
Following the failed First Black Rebellion, Area 11 was designated a "correctional area," and particularly heavy penalties were placed upon Elevens as punishment for their role in the uprising, though even one year later, they still held to hope. Before Zero returned, resistance was active only to heighten oppression during Glinda Knights' occupation in Area 11 when the Black Knights launched their attack on Ashford Academy. When Zero finally returned, he declared the creation of the "United States of Japan" and used deception to evacuate one million Japanese, all of them members of the Black Knights, to Horai Island, an artificial island granted to them by the Chinese Federation and worked towards reconquering Japan.
Following the Second Black Rebellion, the Black Knights conducted negotiations with Prince Schneizel, liberating Area 11 in exchange for betraying Zero, who was exposed as Lelouch. After this, Area 11 reclaimed its old name as Japan, and, following Lelouch's death, Kaname Ohgi became the new prime minister of the United States of Japan.
Social Structure During Britannian Control
Upon Britannian occupation, Japan was renamed Area 11, and its citizenship was split into Elevens, Honorary Britannians, and Britannians. Honorary Britannians and Britannians receive better treatment, special privileges and live in high class area of Tokyo Settlement. While most of the underprivileged Elevens (Japanese people) live in Shinjuku Ghetto.
Many Japanese take the term "Elevens" as being extremely offensive, even reacting violently towards Britannians who use the term; though there are exceptions, as seen in episode "The Abandoned Mask" where few Japanese grunts, working for a Britannian drug dealer, preferred to be called Elevens and had possibly seen it as a compliment.
This system is abolished and their demonym is restored to "Japanese" after their independence.
Viceroys and Sub Viceroys
Throughout the Series, several people (usually of Royalty) have been acting as Viceroys over area 11, as a Viceroy, they hold supreme power over the Area. The position of Sub-Viceroy, despite its connection to the Viceroy, is a ceremonial position with no authority that Cornelia devised to keep Euphemia close. As with most colonies, the currency of Area 11 has the face of its viceroy.
List of Viceroys of Area 11
- Prince Clovis la Britannia (Deceased; Assassinated by Zero).
- Princess Cornelia li Britannia (Resigned)
- Euphemia li Britannia, as Sub-Viceroy. (Deceased; Assassinated by Zero).
- Calares (Deceased; Assassinated by Zero).
- Princess Nunnally vi Britannia (Became 100th Empress).
Notable Locations
Fuji Administrative District
The Fuji Administrative District is the site of a major Sakuradite mining operation carried out under the direct authority of the NAC. In 2017, it was the setting of the first proposed Special Administrative Zone of Japan and the massacre that ensued during the founding ceremony. A memorial called the Fuji Mausoleum was built on site in the year following, commemorating those who died. The location is also known as Sector F-208. During a battle between Lelouch and Schneizel, Lelouch detonated the Sakuradite mines within Mt. Fuji, causing an explosion that destroyed a majority of the Black Knights' forces as well as his own ground forces.
Kamine Island
Kamine Island (神根島, "Kaminejima") is an uninhabited island in Area 11, near the real-world island of Shikinejima, claimed by Clovis prior to his death. It is a few miles from Shikine Island. A Thought Elevator is located here within the ruins of a structure built by an as yet unidentified civilization. This civilization appears to be somehow related to the origin of C.C. and V.V., and the existence of Geass. In 2018, after connecting all the Thought Elevators, the Emperor of Britannia intends to unleash Ragnarök using the the Thought Elevator located there.
Shikine Island
Shikine Island (Shikinejima) is the site of a Britannian military facility, which hosts the airstrip used by Prince Schneizel El Britannia's Avalon upon its initial arrival in Area 11. This was originally the site of a meeting between Princess Euphemia Li Britannia and a V.I.P. (who is later revealed to be Schneizel), however this was interrupted due to an attack by the Black Knights. The commander of the facility is Lieutenant Colonel Fayer (ファイエル中佐).
Kyushu Block
Lake Kawaguchi
Lake Kawaguchi is a famous Britannian tourist spot, and is the site of the Annual Summit of the Sakuradite Producing Countries. It is the setting of a hostage incident instigated by a branch of the Japan Liberation Front under the leadership of a man named Josui Kusakabe. The incident is resolved by the combined efforts of Cornelia and the Black Knights.
The Narita Mountains are a mountainous region originally occupied by the Japan Liberation Front as a major base. It is the site of an armed skirmish between Cornelia and the Front, interrupted by the Black Knights soil liquefying the mountainside with disturbed groundwater. The resulting landslide wipes out a fair portion of both Cornelia's forces and the Front's, and also damages the small settlement of Narita downhill, killing many civilians. Among the dead is Shirley's father, Joseph Fenette, a Britannian public official who was surveying the region for veins of Sakuradite; in the novels, he is said to be an associate of General Bartley. A memorial to the Britannian citizens who lost their lives in the incident was later built in the area. One of the laboratories of the Rosenberg Institute used by Bartley to research C.C. was situated in the town until the above events forced a relocation. Neither the settlement nor the mountain range by the same name bear any relationship with the actual Narita City.
Saitama Ghetto
The Saitama Gettō was originally occupied by a resistance group known as the Yamato Alliance, led by a man named Izumi. The area is the site of an ambush in which they are eliminated in a police action by Cornelia. This location is referred to in the novels as Ōmiya Ghetto (オオミヤゲットー).
Shizuoka Ghetto
The Shizuoka Ghetto is an uninhabited seaside region that served as the second attempted founding point of the Special Administrative Zone of Japan under the colonial administration of Nunnally vi Britannia. It is also the site where the Black Knights' mass-exile came into legal effect.
Special Administrative Zone of Japan
The Special Administrative Zone of Japan (Gyousei Tokku Nippon) is a conceptual Britannian puppet state where Elevens are in name reverted as "citizens of Japan" and restored a number of rights and privileges denied to them as colonial subjects. It was originally to be situated in Sector F-208. The location is adjacent to the base of Mt. Fuji. Its foundation was proposed and attempted by both Sub-Viceroy Euphemia li Britannia and Viceroy Nunnally vi Britannia, but neither instance was met with success. Euphemia's attempt ended in a bloody massacre followed by open rebellion, while Nunnally's attempt saw all one million participants exiled.
Tokyo Settlement
The Tokyo Settlement (Toukyou Sokai), is the administrative capital of Area 11, as well as the setting of the majority of the first season. It occupies a fraction of the area of real-world Tokyo. Dividing the concession area from the ghettos that surround it is the 5th Circinate Line of its monorail system, which takes the place of the former Yamanote Line. Militarily, its forces are organized into defense circles radiating from the Viceroy's Palace. The third such line from the center is called the Atsugi Line. Ashford Academy is located on the outskirts of the concession area. So as to provide a regular foundation for ease of construction over the ruins of Old Tokyo, the street level of the concession in fact rests upon a series of interlocked plates, which can be removed in case of earthquakes or other disasters. The locking mechanism is controlled via a closed-circuit system from a city administration facility. Lelouch twice exploits this in his battles against the Britannian army: first during the battle of Tokyo in 2017 , where he causes the top portion of the entire structure to collapse, destroying much of Cornelia's army; and again a year later to dump a small contingent of Britannian forces onto Chinese consulate soil. After the Second Assault on Tokyo Settlement a majority of the concession area is obliterated by Nina Einstein's F.L.E.I.J.A. bomb. In the ensuing chaos, the settlement's operation has been hindered with the infrastructure effectively in shambles. A month after the battle, reconstruction work is underway.
Viceroy's Palace/ Government Borough
The Viceroys palace is the center of government for Area 11. The Viceroy and Sub Viceroys offices are located here and these buildings are filled with conference rooms and the like. The Viceroy's Palace is the actual home of the Viceroy and its design is very close to an actual castle, complete with a rooftop villa designed and built by Clovis. The palace is furnished lavishly, and notably contains the throne room for the viceroy and is where viceroys holds parties. All defense circles for the city radiate out from the Viceroy's Palace.
Ashford Academy
Main article: Ashford Academy
Babel Tower
Babel Tower is one of the series commercial complexes on the outskirts of the Tokyo Settlement, administrated by organized criminal elements as a casino wherein human trade and other illegal practices are rampant. Lelouch recovers his memories inside the building, then directs the Black Knights to destroy it, simultaneously killing Viceroy Calares and making a direct path to the Chinese Consulate.
Chinese Consulate
The Chinese Consulate is an area in Tokyo Concession that belongs to the Chinese Federation. The consulate serves as a residence for representatives of the Chinese Federation who conduct foreign relations with the local government of Area 11. After the Black Knights escaped from the ruins of Babel Tower, they were given asylum by High Eunuch Gao Hai under the influence of Lelouch's Geass. Because of its nature as a consulate, the Blacks Knights received diplomatic immunity whilst inside the consulate, preventing the Britannian government from apprehending them, lest they incite an international incident.
Clovisland is a theme park near the Tokyo Concession. It was the stage of one of the confrontations between Mao and Lelouch. According to Sayoko's diary, the park is rumored to be jinxed such that couples who go on a date there are fated to break up. The origin of this rumor appears to be linked with Milly's habit of using the park to make her potential fiancés upset. In Suzaku of the Counterattack, Elle takes Suzaku there on their date.
Clovis Memorial Museum
The Clovis Memorial Museum in Area 11 was opened in commemoration of Clovis, who was known to be a patron of the fine arts. Euphemia announced the knighting of Suzaku during the museum's dedication and later it was been burned down by the Britannian military ordered by Lelouch as the new emperor after he murdered his own father.
Old Tokyo Tower
The damaged Old Tokyo Tower has been converted into the Britannian Victory Memorial Center, a museum commemorating the Britannian victory during the occupation of Area 11. It was the location that Lelouch directed Ohgi's resistance group to visit prior to requesting their aid in the formation of the Black Knights.
Omotesandō Mall
The Omotesandō Mall is situated in a famous shopping district of the Tokyo Concession. It was the site of a false terrorist incident orchestrated by Lelouch to mislead the Secret Intelligence Service agents tailing him during a shopping excursion with Shirley. Pizza Hut, BIGLOBE, and SoftRola have shops here.
Port Yokosuka
Port Yokosuka is a major seaport situated south of the Tokyo Concession. This was the location of the final encounter between the Japanese Liberation Front and the Holy Britannian Empire. After Zero's return in 2018, the Black Knights' submarine was kept here for a short period of time, concealed within a tanker.
Shinjuku Ghetto/ Shinjuku Redevelopment Zone
The Shinjuku Ghetto is a region bordering the Tokyo Concession left untouched by the Area 11 colonial government. The buildings within were heavily damaged during the combative phase of the Britannian occupation, and due to sanctions imposed by the subsequent colonial government, rebuilding efforts have thus far yielded only temporary structures that house the Elevens who did not take the Honorary Britannian status or the homeless/unemployed, they inhabit the area.
Sometime later, after the first Black Rebellion, the Shinjuku Ghetto became a construction zone within designated as Shinjuku Redevelopment Zone separated by different blocks. Expansion of the Tokyo Settlement was part of the plan to elevate Area 11 from a reformation status to a satellite status. Block Five is the location where Lelouch Lamperouge initially formed his Geass contract with C.C..


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Top Banks and Holding Companies
The Top Banks and HCs report indicates the total consolidated assets and number of financial institutions by District, as well as the rank order of the Seventh District's largest top tier BHCs, SLHCs, banks, and state member banks by asset size in comparison to the largest top tier BHCs, SLHCs, banks, state member banks nationally. The four segments of the report graphically display these indicators for each type of institution. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago generates this report semi-annually (after financial data for the June 30th and December 31st reporting periods are considered final) using data from the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income for Banks (FFIEC 031/ 041), the Consolidated Financial Statements for Bank Holding Companies (FR Y-9C), and the Parent Company Only Financial Statements for Small Bank Holding Companies (FR Y-SP).
Latest Release — period ending December 31, 2018
Prior Releases


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1. What's your name & Your Company Name : Little Prim Candle Bakery
2. Why did you decide to go into business? What was your motivation? How long have you been in business? With the kids grown and out on their own, I was looking for some kind of hobby to keep me busy, but also to bring in a little extra money. After searching the internet, I came across a blueberry pie candle and was hooked after that.
3. What products do you make and sell? I make soy jar candles, tarts, breakaway melts, pie candles, air fresheners, beer mug candles and other novelty candles.
4. What are your business goals? To improve and expand my product line as much as possible. I would like to start making lip balms, soaps and other bath products and expand into that market area.
5. What are some products you use from Natures Garden; what are your favorite products from Natures Garden? I use aroma buds, aroma beads, dyes, but the best items are the Fragrance Oils. You can't beat the scent or price. I have had many compliments on the Pink Sugar type, which is my best seller.
Your Website: www.littleprimcandlebakery.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/littleprimcandlebakery


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Fines issued by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority last year totaled $78.2 million, a 15% jump from the $68 million levied in 2011, with suitability violations the top fine-getter, according to data just released by the law firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan.
Indeed, as Sutherland found in its yearly analysis of FINRA sanctions, released Wednesday, suitability cases were the top enforcement issue in 2012, followed by due diligence, research, advertising and ETF violations.
FINRA assessed fines totaling $19.4 million in cases involving suitability allegations, representing a 152% increase from the $7.7 million in fines reported in 2011.
In 2012, there were 117 suitability cases, a 10% increase from the 106 cases reported in 2011, Sutherland found. The surge in suitability fines was largely driven by the $7.5 million in fines assessed in four exchange-traded fund (ETF) cases, as well as "supersized" fines of $1 million or more in cases involving complex products such as reverse convertible notes and unit investment trusts.
FINRA reported filing 1,541 disciplinary actions in 2012, a slight increase of 3.6% from the 1,488 cases the regulator initiated in 2011. Last year marked the fourth straight year of growth in the number of disciplinary actions, Sutherland notes.
The $78 million of fines reported in 2012 marks a 179% increase from the $28 million of FINRA fines reported in 2008, Sutherland notes.
The boost in fines, Sutherland says, "may signal FINRA's continued willingness to flex its enforcement muscle for the near future, particularly in areas such as restitution." In 2012, the regulator ordered firms and representatives to pay a record $34 million of restitution to investors, the law firm notes, which represents an 80% increase from the $19 million of restitution ordered by FINRA in 2011.
Other top enforcement issues measured by total fines assessed by FINRA in 2012, according to Sutherland, were:
Due Diligence cases resulted in the second-highest amount of fines assessed by FINRA in 2012. FINRA brought 62 due diligence cases in 2012, resulting in fines of $12.8 million. These figures represent significant increases from 2011's totals, when FINRA reported 44 cases involving due diligence allegations, which resulted in only $1.6 million in fines. The rise in the number of due diligence cases represents an increase of 41%. While that is an impressive increase, it pales in comparison to the 700% jump in the amount of sanctions imposed in due diligence cases between 2011 and 2012. This substantial increase was largely fueled by "supersized" fines of $1+ million assessed in due diligence cases involving complex products and alternative investments. In 2012, FINRA also ordered $19 million of restitution in cases involving due diligence allegations. Research Report and Research Analyst cases resulted in $12.4 million of FINRA fines in 2012. Although the number of "research" cases dropped from 15 cases in 2011 to 13 in 2012, the total fines from these cases jumped from $1.5 million to $12.4 million. This exponential increase is due to a single case that resulted in an $11 million fine to FINRA (and an $11 million penalty to the Securities and Exchange Commission). This case involved allegedly improper communications about research analyst ratings and resulted in the largest fine assessed by FINRA in 2012.
Advertising was the fourth-biggest fine generator in 2012. This is the first time advertising has not been ranked first in Sutherland's Top Enforcement Issues list since 2009. FINRA reported 50 cases involving alleged advertising violations in 2012, which resulted in fines of $10.4 million. Although the number of advertising cases increased from the 45 reported in 2011 (an increase of 11%), the amount of fines decreased dramatically from 2011's $21.1 million. This 51% decrease largely stems from the steep decline in the number of auction rate securities (ARS) cases filed by FINRA. While FINRA assessed fines of $9.5 million in 2011 in ARS cases involving advertising allegations, there were no such cases reported in 2012.
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) cases jumped from four in 2011 to nine in 2012, an increase of 125%. The four 2011 ETF cases resulted in only $123,000 in fines, but FINRA imposed $7.6 million in fines in 2012 ETF cases, an increase of more than 6,000%. This explosion in fines was the result of four cases that each resulted in a fine of at least $1.5 million. Those cases concerned leveraged and inverse ETFs that FINRA alleged were unsuitable for conservative investors and were sold without sufficient due diligence review.


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Alan Turing, Astro Commentary on Current Events, astrology, ECLIPSE magazine, forecast, Supreme Court Ruling, The Astro Essence, the Magazine, Venus, Yassir Arafat
The new ECLIPSE is out, and it's a Mega Issue! Featuring an article on the life and mysterious death of binary code originator Alan Turing, Your Money-tude, examining ways we undermine ourselves through our beliefs about money, Current Events seen through Astrology, including the recent Supreme Court Decision, Tom and Katie, and a look at the question, Was Yassir Arafat killed with radioactivity? Plus movie reviews, and the forecast including Lunar aspects and the asteroids Sedna, Ceres, Vesta, Juno, Pallas, Chiron, and Zeus. See it all and support the blog–subscribe now!


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I was recently playing against a lot of Helios, and its particularly frustrating to see a few things, so I am going to list them, and perhaps suggest a few fixes that may help.
I believe the current Helio's energy output is pretty high and requires almost nothing to work.
Energy Issues
I think Helio gets a lot of energy for free, I always notice that even if a Helio is out of position or outplayed, he still manages to buildup a lot of energy.
This is mostly due to the Free shield every 3 turns with 2 charges that gives energy, I think it gives too much energy for free.
A better approach would be to tweak it to the guess rate, so instead of giving 8 energy for nothing, which is already high, it should give something like 4 energy on cast + 4 energy if shield is hit, or 8 energy only if the shield is hit, this allows us to counter play Helio by delaying his ult. This also encourages Helio's not to throw shields for days, especially the might ones, just for the might.
This makes it so that the first shield is almost mandatory, so that the charge starts piling up, and it gives way too much energy to ignore.
Other than that, I think the rate at which he gains energy from his other abilities is pretty reasonable, and is high if he makes the good plays which is what one wants.
Initiative and Unstoppable
I also think Helio controls a lot the pace of the game without necessarily needing to do much, the blackhole generator has little counterplay other than popping unstoppable on multiple targets (Aurora/Orion etc), I think given its range, its a bit ridiculous that it has little counterplay. Firstly I think it removes the ability to be counterplayed since you cannot CC whoever is going to get the whole at that turn, I think the unstoppable mod needs to be removed and replaced with Haste or something. This option would give us the ability to at least counterplay a small portion of it.
Similarily, his unstoppable for 3 TURNS ult is pretty gross too, 3 turns is a lot in atlas, I understand its a 3 point mod, but making it last 3 turns + unstop for 3 turns is a lot of initiative for an ult, that has no counterplay (you cannot move the target away from your team, and cannot do most things). My suggestion for that mod is to keep it 3 turns, and only give unstop on the first or so.
I think popping unstoppable like candy is a bit too much.
I think the range is a bit too high, but its also reasonable in some maps, but not on the others, I mean BH on cloudspire covers a lot of the cover areas without any effort.
That said, they are still completely easy to deliver, but that way a dash is forced on whoever is delivering it for reliability, which makes sense, so that would still be reasonable, as they would be using out a dash to deliver it, however generally threatening 3 targets with unstoppable displacement in one turn, requires some momentum to setup, and should not be given for free with the unstop mod.
I generally like the way Helio has been redesigned to control the pace of the game, with haste shields and slows on traps and BH, i think that area needs to be explored further in exchange for the unstoppable stuff which is annoying, for instance you can consider giving the ult a 3 point mod which slows those hit but for 2 turns.
As a side note, I dont like the idea of might shields that have no reduction in shield strength, I think that needs a fix, I think shield strength should at least be reduced by 5 when the might is given, it already has a 3 turn cd and 2 charges.


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Addressing the National Wild Turkey Federation in Nashville, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre doubles down on his call for armed police or guards in every American school.
The National Rifle Association's CEO on Thursday accused President Barack Obama of orchestrating a "charade" to dismantle gun rights in his State of the Union address this week.
Wayne LaPierre, the gun lobby group's executive vice president and CEO, used a speech at a National Wild Turkey Federation conference in Nashville to decry the push for stricter gun laws made by Obama at the conclusion of his annual policy address on Tuesday.
"For our Second Amendment freedoms, Mr. President, we will stand and fight throughout this country as Americans for our freedoms," LaPierre said to applause. "We promise you that."
The gun rights advocate complained that "the words 'school safety' were nowhere to be found" in Obama's address and renewed his call for funding to put an armed guard in every school in America. (Obama did speak of the need to "protect our most precious resource: our children.")
A special weeklong examination of gun violence, gun ownership and gun legislation. NBC News journalists will report across "NBC Nightly News," "TODAY," MSNBC, CNBC, NBCNews.com, and more. The conversation will also extend across NBC News and MSNBC's social media platforms using the hashtag #GunsInUSA.
"It was only a few weeks ago that they were marketing their anti-gun agenda as a way of protecting schoolchildren from harm," LaPierre said. "That charade ended at the State of the Union, when the president himself exposed their fraudulent intentions. It's not about keeping kids safe in school.… They only care about their decades-long, decades-old gun control agenda."
Obama closed the speech by referencing victims of gun violence and victims' families in attendance at his speech, forcefully repeating that those victims at least "deserve a vote" on the gun control measures proposed by the administration in the wake of the deadly December shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.
"Gabby Giffords deserves a vote. The families of Newtown deserve a vote. The families of Aurora deserve a vote," Obama said to sustained applause. "The families of Oak Creek and Tucson and Blacksburg and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence –- they deserve a simple vote."
LaPierre has been as dogged as ever, though, in resisting those proposals, taking to conservative media in recent days to make his point. Writing Wednesday for the Daily Caller, LaPierre evoked a dystopian vision of a world without guns in the aftermath of last year's Hurricane Sandy in New York.
"After Hurricane Sandy, we saw the hellish world that the gun prohibitionists see as their utopia," LaPierre wrote. "Looters ran wild in south Brooklyn. There was no food, water or electricity. And if you wanted to walk several miles to get supplies, you better get back before dark, or you might not get home at all."
However, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the time there were no murders committed during the storm or its very immediate aftermath.


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We Fancy Snapback 'Reverse'
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"It's so thick you can rest your finger on it." - Haeppy
The rear fixture is your usual 7-hole snap design so it's adjustable to a range of sizes.
As a finishing touch, each hat is accented with it's own holo We Fancy sticker, on the brim top and center.
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Want Perks (further discounts & offers)? Click Here


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Last week was held LeWeb'12, likely the largest European event for Internet-related technologies. This year, the theme of the event was Internet of Things (IoT). I enjoyed in particular the inspiring speech from Altimeter Group analyst Brian Solis on how IoT is changing behaviors through experiences. Brian shared several examples from the field of IoT where products go beyond utility by providing experiences that change behaviors. Designing such experiences that include a lot of embedded systems intelligence will be a whole new domain, as Brian stated:
Experience Architecture is all brand new, it's a blank canvas. It's something that you [designers, developers…] get to decide. It's your vision, it's your purpose, that actually gets us to align behind you.
As he was addressing designers, developers, and entrepreneurs in the room, Brian concluded:
You are not just developing products, services and solutions. You can be an Experience Architect to help me change the way I live my life.
Watch the full video record from Brian Solis at LeWeb'12 below. Or if you prefer to read, see this live blogging recap of the same.


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After seven years with Public CIO, Tod Newcombe moves on to edit Governing magazine
Utah, Michigan and other states try to reduce costs by sharing services.
Web 2.0 can be found everywhere in government, but so far it's no killer app.
New York City CIO Paul Cosgrave outlines new technology initiatives.
Earned value management policies are applied inconsistently, according to U.S. Government Accountability Office.
IT Budgeting and Decision Making: Maximizing Your Government's Technology Investments
CIOs evolve as problem-solvers, not just procurement managers.
New York City CIO Paul Cosgrave outlines tech initiatives.
CIOs manage IT, money, employees and political terrain.
Mayor Adrian Fenty picks outsider for city's top tech position.
Gov. Jay Nixon moves Bryan out of IT and into Natural Resources.
Geospatial applications and services dominate at Gov 2.0 Summit.
Vivek Kundra and Casey Coleman will lead federal data transparency and cloud computing initiatives.
Vivek Kundra IT spending dashboard sets example for states.
Virginia CIO's firing as part of with troubled Northrop Grumman deal could mean trouble for other state outsourcing projects.
Electronic health records are vital to health care's future.
Newly installed Secretary of Technology Leonard Pomata will succeed temporarily as state CIO.
Federal CIO uses social networking to address a key issue in the Obama administration's IT agenda.
Federal deputy CTO writes on how government can use social networking to collaborate more with citizens.
Governments combine data centers to save money.
Vivek Kundra's appointment to CIO post raises stature of Government IT at a critical juncture.
Federal CIO outlines ambitious government IT agenda during NASCIO conference.
Michael Locatis joins elite group of public CIOs involved with economic development.
California chief information security officer Mark Weatherford writes on federal cyber-security.
Maryland, Ohio, Missouri, Arizona get new CIOs.
Ontario County information technology chief cited for his efforts to leverage technology and development.
Recession elevates role of government CIOs and their agenda.
Vivek Kundra's appointment as federal CIO will invigorate federal government IT use.
Paul Cosgrave: New York CIO Performs Under Pressure
Obama's administration plans to transform how we use energy with smart grids.
Annual Public CIO survey shows rising importance of CIO role in government.
Gartner report highlights challenges set by President Obama's policy for government technology.
The Feds' de facto CIO worked hard to set IT standards, pushed e-government.
Consolidating IT and centralizing management contribute to workplace stress.
President-Elect Obama's best candidates for tech czar aren't in federal government or the private sector.
Government IT community's attention is on President-elect Barack Obama's choice for a chief technology officer, but program delivery needs to be high on the federal IT to-do list.
Cloud computing tempts the public sector.
Read Dan Lohrmann's daily blogs covering NASCIO's recent conference.
Perspective changes as CIOs transition between sectors.
Integrating citizen service delivery? Searching for the best model? Look north of the border.
Kapor suggested that Sen. Barak Obama, if elected, should appoint a federal chief technology officer.
Gov. Bill Ritter and CIO Mike Locatis banded together to overhaul Colorado's IT
Business continuity suffers as the "ugly stepchild" of IT security.
CIOs with dual responsibilities may become common as government budgets and the pool of experienced public servants shrinks.
Will e-government be replaced by Gov 2.0?
Gov. Bill Ritter signs legislation that streamlines and centralizes Colorado's fractured and inefficient IT systems.
Lem Stewart outlines how the partnership with Northrup Grumman is faring.
State CIOs showcase innovation.
Right now, the problems are spread unevenly across the states, with a handful in serious trouble.
Dan Lohrmann, Michigan's chief information security officer, named 2008 CSO of the Year by SC Magazine.
Additional OMB leadership needed to improve use of new federal employee identification cards.
New sensing technology from Microsoft allows users to grab information with their hands.
New York City's mayor has vision when it comes to technology.
Brenda Owens, CIO, Florida Department of Law Enforcement


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We Try the Juices from Thrive in San Francisco
Thrive Juicery recently opened a juice bar at Nectar Wine Lounge in San Francisco. The collaboration seems like a bit of an unlikely one, but bringing together cold-pressed juices with wine is a good excuse for a mimosa. In addition to that bubbly brunch option, you can buy Thrive's juices in to-go bottles. We gave 9 different flavors a try. They're pricey at $9 a bottle, but each container is filled with the juice from three pounds of organic fruits and vegetables.
Highly Recommended
Nut milks are the comfort food of the juice cleansing set, but those of us looking for a little protein and non-dairy creaminess tend to really like them too. My old favorite was OMilk out of Brooklyn, but since I can't get that in San Francisco, I'm looking for a locally-made option. Thrive's Almond Joy is definitely in the running for the best I've tried. It's made with raw almonds, filtered water, and a touch of sea salt, sweetened with dates and vanilla. It's pretty awesome, rich and creamy but not at all heavy, with no sludge, grit, or bitterness. It's a little sweeter than regular dairy milk, with a slight nutty aftertaste, but it's not as sweet as a milkshake, and the vanilla isn't overpowering. Pour it in your coffee or sip it as an afternoon snack.
Thrive's Coco H20 is a worthwhile reminder that most of the coconut water we drink these days isn't fresh and doesn't have the robust flavor of the real stuff. This version is rich and refreshing, not too sweet, and just a little nutty. There's young coconut pulp floating around in it—this stuff will please those who are entertained by their drinks having stuff in them. (But it's much, much better than the canned options from your local Asian grocery.) This is a hangover-healer we believe in. That said, you could buy quite a few coconuts for the price of this drink.
The Here & Now is a seasonally changing blend of juices, the version we tried in December was the Beetastic, made with beets, apple, lemon, cucumber and ginger. It was delicious, a bit like beet borscht with a fresh, sweet citrusy side. Sometimes beet juices really taste like you're drinking root vegetables, but this one would be easy for even non-beet-lovers to stomach. Some of the hardcore might find it a touch sweet, but we enjoyed its fruity-juicy side (and even considered adding it to a cocktail.)
Green juices can go a couple of ways: they can be thick and sludgy, bitter and herbal, sweet and oddly fruity, or have a salad-like balance that's oddly appealing. We're always searching for this last type. Thrive's Tropical Greens is nearly there, bright, fresh, and lettucey (there's romaine in it) but with enough sweetness from pineapple and pear to make it approachable in the morning. Hardcore green-juice drinkers might find it a bit on the sweet side, but those of us who need a little help facing olive-green liquid breakfast will find this one easy to sip. It includes a bit of kale (but not enough to make things bitter), romaine, spinach, cucumber, celery (which can often take over but here is nicely balanced), pear, pineapple, lemon, and ginger, with a touch of cilantro (we couldn't taste it.) We'd definitely pick this up again for a day when a few vitamins seem like a good idea, and easily drink the whole thing.
Recommended with Reservations
Thrive's Green Dream has similar ingredients to the Tropical Greens (apple, ginger, kale, romaine, parsley, spinach, cucumber, celery, and lemon) but tastes quite different. Most notably, it's quite tart from the lemon—almost puckeringly so, and much less sweet due to the lack of pineapple and pear. You can taste parsley, but it's not abrasive. Still, this one's more for the person who already loves green juice. As with Thrive's other bottled juices, there's a lightness to this; it's not a sludge you need to put on ice.
I've always thought fennel was an underused juice and cocktail ingredient, since it straddles the line of sweet and savory so nicely. Thrive's Fennominal Greens is a tasty but unusual blend of cucumber and fennel with apple and mint. More spa beverage than green smoothie, it's bright, light, and rehydrating with just a touch of sweetness. If you're not a big fan of fennel, and you never liked cucumber water, this is not for you.
Thrive's Cozy Cashew is made with raw cashews, vanilla, cinnamon, and filtered water, and it's thick and with lots of cinnamon-spice. The texture's a little silty, not quite creamy, and we didn't like it as much as the Almond Joy.
The PAMP is a mix of cold pressed pinapple, apple, mint, pear, and filtered water, pretty similar to the mixture in the Blueprint cleanse. But it's less sweet and thick than the Blueprint version. But if you're not comparing the two, this version is crisp and light, refreshing like a good apple, with just a little pineapple tang. There's a whiff of mint, but this isn't mojito-like at all.
The Lively Lemonade is an old juice-cleanse classic: cayenne lemonade, without a ton of cayenne. There's just the slightest prickle of heat, and this stuff's more like fresh-tasting lemon-water, but we couldn't help thinking that this could be easily made at home for much less money.
Juices available online and at Thrive Juicery. Samples provided for review.
Thrive Juicery at Nectar Wine Lounge
3330 Steiner Street (between Lombard and Chestnut), San Francisco, CA (map) 415-345-1377; thrive-cleanse.com/juices/
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Learn Flamenco Guitar - Lessons & TechniquesLearning to play Flamenco guitar is now much easier. On this site you will be able to learn from a master Flamenco guitarist who has been performing nationally for over 10 years. Everything is laid out in easy to follow lessons that will lead you step-by-step towards becoming an accomplished Flamenco guitar player. Click the play button in the upper right and see just how easy it can be to learn this dynamic and passionate guitar style.
Tags: Learn, Flamenco, Guitar, Lessons, Classes, Videos, Tabs, Tablature, Online
Jason McGuire "El Rubio" has become synonymous with flamenco despite his Irish/American heritage. With over 30 years playing experience and concerts from coast to coast he has been for many years the guitarist other professional players come to help learn and hone their craft. As Musical Director of the award winning flamenco dance company Caminos Flamencos as well as Musical Director for "The New World Flamenco Festival," Jason has shared the stage with some of the top flamenco artists in the world today as well as other legendary performers like Carlos Santana, Savion Glover and Wynton Marsalis to name a few. Along with his Emmy Award winning wife, flamenco dance extraordinaire Yaelisa, the two have forged the path for authentic as well as experimental flamenco through their groundbreaking productions. Jason's album "Distancias" has received much critical acclaim and his compositions have been compared to some of Spain's most important guitarists.
"When I first heard Jason play guitar, I was in awe of his talent and the fluidity of his style. He has an incredible knowledge of flamenco combined with an electic modern fusion jazz sensibility. His melodic and rhythmic sense spun my head around and I wanted to hear MORE! He is unique in a world of a million guitarists." - Grammy Nominated Engineer/Producer, Cookie Marenco
"I love the passion Jason McGuire puts in his music and guitar playing. He has nice energy reflecting from his guitar with excellent technique and crispy sound. I enjoy his music and compositions a lot." Nuevo Flamenco Legend, Armik
"When he plays I feel as though I am back in Spain performing with my family and friends. His playing is so strong and powerful it is like three guitars playing at once." Gypsy Flamenco Singer, Jesus Montoya "El Genio Gitano"
Until the late eighteenth and nineteenth century, Flamenco dance, music and song was widely considered to belong to the Gypsies, whose customs, beliefs and way of life were disdained and even hated by Spanish society. During and for centuries after the famous expulsion of the Moors and Jews in 1492, the Gypsies were tortured, persecuted and even killed if they would not conform to the accepted standard of Spanish society. Nomadic by nature, many of the Gypsies never settled in one town for very long; they would stay in one location only as long as they were able to make money doing odd jobs, selling their wares, and many of them performing Flamenco for the curious Spaniards. Whole families would be involved, singing, dancing and entertaining the eager locals.
It is widely considered that many Gypsies (as well as Spaniards) were creating and developing the art of Flamenco during this time, blending popular Spanish songs and folklore, as well as gaining admirers for this "Gypsy" art. Ironically, it did not achieve mass popularity until non-Gypsies began to perform it; with their participation Flamenco achieved legitimacy as an art. It can also be said that Flamenco suddenly became commercial, with the obvious negative implications, as well as tremendously successful. When non-Gypsies began performing Flamenco in the cafes and theatres for the accepting public, its popularity soared and its development continued anew with the integration of the Andalucian personality and expression. Although the Gypsies did not achieve respect and honor for their contribution to the art form until many years later, they have always been considered among the best interpreters of the Flamenco arts. The art of Flamenco is an expression of life, a communication on the deepest and most profound level.
If it cannot be ranked among the great classical arts of the world, it is because the public has not been exposed to it in anything but a superficial level, based upon the stereotypical images constantly presented. Just as other arts evolve and change with the times, Flamenco in recent years has, for better or worse, incorporated sophisticated musical stylistic elements from other mediums. The purists will say that this change in the art has brought about the decline of Flamenco; others feel innovation and change brings renewed interest in an esoteric art. The truth is that Flamenco is an expressive art, an art of communication. The dialogue between a singer and guitarist, a dancer and a singer, a dancer and a guitarist or all three, and yes, even when there is a crowd onstage, is a highly evolved interaction when the artists are highly skilled, knowledgeable and show integrity for the art. Some of the most sophisticated interplay between musicians in the world happens when flamencos are interacting, improvising and generally burning a hole in each other's consciousness. This is the greatest thing that can happen in Flamenco. It is a spiritual communication. This communication can happen anywhere: in a rehearsal hall, a theatre performance, or a room full of noisy people. Individual and personal, this art takes the shape of the artist interpreting it quite a burden to carry! But the beauty of it is that the artist has the great opportunity to enter in and create. Forgetting their technique, effects and performing tricks, they can create in a few moments a small work of art, which is an expression of themselves, and give it away.
Known as one of the most gifted Flamenco artists of her generation, Yaelisa and the exquisite passion of her flamenco performances have captured the attention of critics around the world. The Los Angeles Times has called her a "luminary" among flamenco dancers for her extraordinary rhythmic ability, which radiates nothing less than pure emotion infused with sensuality. Raised by her Spanish mother, also a Flamenco performer, Yaelisa was surrounded from birth by the rhythms, gestures and vocal laments of the art in its purest form. Her artistic training has come from many of the great Spanish masters, including Ciro, Manolo Marin, Jose Galvan and El Guito. She has toured as a guest artist in festivals and concerts in Spain, Japan, Mexico, the Middle East and throughout the United States.


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Two women who met at the University of Alaska have become the first same-sex couple to be married at the Empire State Building.
Stephanie Figarelle and Lela McArthur exchanged rings Tuesday and promised to love each other for the rest of their lives.
The couple won an online contest. Theirs was the first of four Valentine's Day weddings being held at the landmark skyscraper.
A wedding chapel was set up for the occasion. After the ceremony, the couple went to the observation deck for photos.
The 29-year-old Figarelle wore a black tuxedo for the ceremony. The 24-year-old McArthur wore a strapless white gown with a train.
Both work as personal trainers in Anchorage.


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Hi there, I'm Sarah from Modern Country Style and I'm here to show you a really useful tip for cutting through newly-made button holes.
02 April 2011
Sewing 101 with Sarah, Opening Button Holes
Hi there, I'm Sarah from Modern Country Style and I'm here to show you a really useful tip for cutting through newly-made button holes.
14 happy thoughts:
- Larri said...
I'm having one of those 'duh' moments and am ever-so-grateful for this tip. Thanks so much for sharing! Happy Saturday! :o)
- 02 April, 2011 06:16
- Impera Magna said...
What a great idea to use a pin to stop the seam ripper from cutting to far!
If you make a lot of buttonholes, you may want to invest in a buttonhole cutter... best thing since sliced bread!
URL: http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?source=froogle&code=142615
- 02 April, 2011 06:16
Brilliant! I am learning sew much from your blog!
- 02 April, 2011 06:52
- KJ@letsgoflyakite said...
For the first time in a decade, I made a button hole this week (I have 4 step though). I wish I would have known about this straight pin tip - brilliant. I love this series.
- 02 April, 2011 07:12
- Sarah @ Modern Country Style said...
Thank you so much for having me here, Chris. I really enjoy this series and I am SO honoured that you asked me.
I've so loved getting to know you both on and off our blogs.
Big hug to you, my lovely,
- 02 April, 2011 08:12
- Anne said...
This is so smart!! I'm always nervous when I cut my buttonholes open. I'm always afraid I'm going to cut too far and ruin it.
I linked to your tip on Craft Gossip Sewing here:
- 02 April, 2011 08:31
- Kristin said...
I love my one-step button 'holer' but with my fancy pansy sewing machine, it took my FOREVER to figure out. I only figured it out this week, and Ive owned my machine for almost 2 years now (kind of pathetic huh?)
- 02 April, 2011 12:45
- Unknown said...
A pin. That's all. A pin. So simple yet so very clever. Such a useful bit of info! Thanks to you both!
- 02 April, 2011 22:08
- Michele T said...
Well! I'll be.... thanks for this tip - so simple too! I will definitely use it on my next project with button holes.
- 03 April, 2011 06:23
- Mary said...
My mother taught me how to cut a buttonhole long before the seam ripper was invented!
1.Insert the tip of a long pin at one end of the buttonhole.
2. Fold buttonhole in half.
3. Insert that same pin into the other end of the buttonhole.
4. Starting at the fold, begin cutting the buttonhole open using scissors.
I find that when you push a seam ripper, you have very little control as to how far it will rip!
- 03 April, 2011 07:10
- Judi said...
What a GREAT tip!! I've been sewing for years, and this has never even crossed my mind.
Judi x
- 03 April, 2011 08:19
- Nicole said...
Good idea! Thanks for sharing :)
Please drop by for an award!
Take Care!!
- 03 April, 2011 11:46
- Gwen @ Gwenny Penny said...
I have never made a buttonhole, even though my machine has the one-step feature. I'm planning a shirt that might require one, and this will be very useful. I love Sarah... thanks for having her over, Chris!
- 03 April, 2011 22:41
- janimal said...
I read this pin tip right in my sewing machine manual!
But I learned a new way from a friend. I use my small rotary cutter blade to slice through the fabric. Then I use my detail scissors to cut from that little slit to make it open to the end. I feel like I have more control with scissors that with the seam ripper. And for thicker fabrics or several layers, sometimes the seam ripper is tough to maneuver.
- 04 April, 2011 11:46


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Creating Fun Signs Using Photos
You can create fun and engaging signs or handouts for your classroom using photos that you edit and add text to.
The process is very simple, all you need is a photo and a photo editing software like Picasa, which can be downloaded for free [here].
Example photo edited in Picasa
When you choose a photo to edit, you will want to make sure that it is either one you have taken yourself, or one that is available to use, share and modify under something like a Creative Commons license. Good places to look for photos that you can use is MorgueFile, a free photo archive (click [here]), or Flickr Commons, which includes photos shared from many of the world's public photography archives (click [here]). Before you download, be sure to double check the copyright, and remember to give credit to the source.
To edit your photo, open it in your photo editing software, and begin to play around with filters and color schemes. For Picasa, you will find those editing options on the left of the screen. Click through the three tabs that have paint brushes.
Picasa editing tools are located on the left
Once you are happy with your image modifications, you will be able to add text. Most of your basic photo editing programs will allow you to add text. In Picasa, from the tab with the wrench, choose the text option and click anywhere in your photo to begin adding text. You can easily change the angle, color, and size of the text by using the tools on the side of your screen, and by clicking and dragging your text on the photo.
When you are finished, save your photo, then embed it in a document to print, or in email, or on a web page to share online.
Check out this 5 minute video about Picasa [here]
Or, for a quick directions from Techusers for adding text click [here]
Innerbody.com— an interactive way to learn about the human body
Innerbody.com is a great resource for showing students different body systems. Choose between systems like the skeletal system, muscular system and cardiovascular system.
Under each system you can choose between views of a male or female, and you can change from a front to back view.
From the menu on the left, you can choose different areas within the system, and it will give you a close up view, with a description of the parts on the right side of the picture.
Example from the lower torso view
of the cardiovascular system.
To check out the site for yourself click [here].
Note: You will need to make sure you are viewing the site on an up-to-date browser to see all of the features, and may be prompted to update different programs. I viewed it in Firefox with no problem.


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Tag Archives: bedtime meditation for children
Getting to 'Goodnight' and Go
The goal is to tuck the child in, read them a story, give them a goodnight kiss and leave the bedroom shortly after, with the child still awake. Watch any film, soap or drama on TV and any bedtime will look exactly like this. The child sweetly replies with their "goodnight", yawns, turns their head over on the pillow, eyes close and not a peep is heard from them until the next morning. Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Toddlers Tagged baby sleep expert, baby sleep training, bedtime cd for children, bedtime meditation for children, bedtime recording for children, bedtime stories, go to sleep alone, go to sleep in own room, go to sleep independently, go to sleep without me, goodnight kiss then sleep, guided meditation for children, guided relaxation for children, independent sleep