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First, let us look at the black letter of Article V. Article V of the Constitution reads in relevant part:
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress.
Plainly stated, Article V requires the Congress of the United States to call "a Convention for proposing Amendments" upon receipt of applications for such by two-thirds of the states. Then, any amendment proposed by such a convention becomes for "all Intents and Purposes … part of this Constitution" if subsequently ratified by three-fourths of the states, either by state legislatures or by state conventions, as determined by Congress. To date, no such convention has been held. Recently, however, a significant bloc of erstwhile conservatives and constitutionalists has united in pleading with the states to apply to Congress to convene just such a convention.
What would be the purpose of such a convention, and why are otherwise conservative organizations working so diligently to bring it to pass? The answers to these questions are revealed through the "10 Facts" document and this article's refutation of those "facts." What follows is a recitation of the "10 Facts" followed by the appropriate constitutional response.
Verifying Facts
The first fact, verbatim, says: "Article V does not authorize a constitutional convention; it authorizes a convention for proposing specific amendments."
Right out of the chute, the "10 Facts" author adds a word to the Constitution that isn't there. Article V does not contain the word "specific" as a modifier of the noun "amendments." While this might seem like an inconsequential and picayune point, it is anything but, especially in light of the gravity of the matter at issue. The plain language of Article V limits neither the scope of the convention it anticipates nor the number or substantiveness of the amendments that may be proposed therein. In fact, if the purpose of the suggested convention is to propose amendments to the Constitution, doesn't that make it per se a constitutional convention, regardless of how narrow an agenda those calling for the convention say they will follow? It seems so very dangerous to rely upon semantics as a balance to the risks that would attend such a convention, regardless of the nomenclature preferred by its advocates. Besides, adding and deleting words from the Constitution is a trick typically employed by enemies of our Republic, not by those sailing under the colors of the Constitution.
The second of the Goldwater Institutes "10 Facts" states: "When the Founders drafted the U.S. Constitution in 1787, they specifically rejected language for Article V that would have allowed the states to later call for an open convention." As with the previous claim, this one is a mixture of a thimble of fact in an ocean of fiction. A brief recap of the relevant debate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 is called for.
As with so many of the conflicts at the Philadelphia Convention, the debates over Article V fractured along the line separating the powers retained by the states and those to be granted to the new national authority.
There was general consensus among the delegates that the new charter should include an effective mechanism for enacting amendments. Their common experience under the impotent Articles of Confederation confirmed to the delegates that the process established by the new Constitution should be easier than the method under the Articles whereby one state could veto any proposed amendment, regardless of the number of sister states in favor of its passage. The delegates were not, however, in favor of reducing the process of amending the Constitution to something that would undermine the stability they sought to ensure by the working out of the difficult "bundle of compromises" that would hold the new union together.
The compromise that resulted in the version of Article V that was written into the Constitution revealed two salient points: First, Congress was not to have the exclusive power to propose amendments; and second, state legislatures were not to retain the power to propose and ratify amendments, as such a scheme could be manipulated by states to increase the scope of their power. The balance between state and federal power would be divided thus: The state legislatures could call for the convention and ratify any amendments proposed therein, but Congress must convene a convention upon receipt of the appropriate number of state applications. (Congress may also propose its own amendments that, like amendments proposed by a convention, must be ratified by the states.)
Put simply, if state legislatures were allowed to write the proposed amendments, as well as set the scope of the agenda for the Article V convention that would consider them, Congress' power would be effectively reduced and the delicate balance worked out by our Founding Fathers would be upset. Alternatively, if Congress were permitted to define the scope of the Article V convention called for by the states, then Congress would be usurping power not granted to it by the Constitution, also an outcome inconsistent with the principle of federalism that is the fulcrum upon which our Republic is balanced.
The third fact claims that as 38 states would have to ratify any proposed amendment coming out of an Article V convention, the potential for a "runaway" convention is reduced by the requirement of such a "broad consensus." As demonstrated in the historical information presented above, it is given to neither the states nor the national government to assume the role of arbiter of what is or is not a permissible proposal at an Article V convention. This "broad consensus" relied upon by the Goldwater Institute could likely prove broad enough to accommodate all manner of frightening meddling with our beloved Constitution, such as changing the method of ratification. But could a new proposal for ratifying amendments be adopted based on the newly proposed method as opposed to the method now in place? It's possible. Consider that the Constitutional Convention of 1787 scrapped the then-existing constitutional amendment process requiring ratification by all of the states in favor of a new process requiring ratification by only a three-fourths majority — and the new Constitution was then ratified based on the three-fourths majority. But even assuming that the Article V amendment procedure is strictly followed, Congress could still submit amendments proposed by the convention to special state ratifying conventions as opposed to the state legislatures as a means of circumventing the wills of the state legislatures. Congress sent the 21st Amendment (ending prohibition) to state ratifying conventions, in fact, fearing that it might not be possible to get three-fourths of the state legislatures to ratify an amendment ending prohibition.
Fourth, the Goldwater Institute assures readers that an Article V convention "couldn't simply rewrite the entire Constitution." Why not? Why couldn't an expansive amendment (or amendments) strike most or all of the language of the Constitution and replace it with new language?
But replacing the Constitution with a new constitution would by no means be necessary to radically alter the document. It wouldn't have to. The Constitution, as originally drafted and ratified by the states, has been amended into a document that would be unrecognizable to the Founders and that is irreconcilable with the principles of federalism and limited government that were the two chief cornerstones upon which our Republic was built (see, for example, the 16th Amendment, which gave Congress the power to collect income taxes, and the 17th Amendment, which provides for the direct election of U.S. Senators, rather than allowing their appointment by state legislatures).
The fifth fact is as fictional as the others in its insistence that the "convention can be limited to specific topics." This is mere wishful thinking. There is no legally binding precedent that would control in such a matter. In fact, as set forth above, the Founders purposefully avoided granting such power to either the states or the federal legislature. As eloquently addressed by Walter E. Dellinger, "To permit the state legislatures to dictate to the convention the exact terms of its proposals is to short-circuit the carefully structured division of authority between state and national interests." Our Constitution is the palladium of the viability of the coexistence of dual sovereignties. If we accept the logic of the "10 Facts," then we eviscerate the strength of the Constitution: the balance between state and federal authority.
The next fact listed by the Goldwater Institute contends that "one cannot take the Constitution seriously and contend that Article V was not meant to be used." Serious opponents of an Article V constitutional convention do not argue that Article V was never meant to be used. There are, perhaps, in the universe of possibilities compelling reasons for the calling of an Article V convention. The purpose relied upon by the Goldwater Institute and its fellow Article V advocates is not one of those, however. This coterie of self-styled constitutionalists insists that an Article V convention is needed in order to curb the "endless growth of the federal government" and to "regain control over the federal government." We, the opponents of a new constitutional convention, counter by asserting that it is irrational to hold a convention to propose amendments whose purpose is to clarify what is already part of the Constitution. Why, for instance, propose a balanced-budget amendment when most congressional spending is in violation of the Constitution? Why would Congress bother to follow new amendments when the American people don't require them to follow the present ones? Note that most states have strict rules about balanced budgets or have passed balanced-budget amendments, yet almost none have balanced budgets. We don't need amendments to save our Republic; we need renewed commitment to the Constitution — as written — and to the timeless principles of self-government and republicanism that undergird it.
Next, the Goldwater Institute wants to have its cake and eat it, too. In regard to concerns that a constitutional convention would exceed the scope of that set by those who called for the convention, it insists that there is "zero precedent" that any convention of the states has ever "run away" from its assigned agenda. This thesis is supported by the statement that "nearly all of the commissions for the delegates for each state" authorized them to "revise" and "alter" the Articles of Confederation — basically trying to undermine the argument that the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention in 1787 is a prime example of a runaway convention. Take this thought out of historical context and apply it to our own situation. Would the amendments proposed by a modern Article V constitutional convention be binding on the states whose delegates were not specifically authorized to vote on any amendments that fell outside the scope of their commissions?
"Fact 8" sets forth the rules by which an Article V convention would be governed. The fact is the Constitution is silent on the point and all of these assurances proffered by the Goldwater Institute are unreliable and self-interested attempts to soft-pedal the very real risks posed by the lack of enumerated rules that would govern the proceedings of an Article V constitutional convention and the legal scope thereof.
The last two points made by the Goldwater Institute read as restatements of earlier ones. The advocates of an Article V convention argue that the scope of an Article V convention would be "similar to that of state ratification conventions." That is not accurate. The state conventions that ratified the original constitution were limited to debate and vote on an already complete slate of proposals. Even the most cursory study of the history of those conventions revealed that delegates did not bind themselves by those rules, and numerous amendments were proposed, 10 of which eventually became the Bill of Rights. An Article V convention would potentially be in the hands of designing delegates of all political and social stripes, and it strains credulity to imagine that the product of such a confab would be as sound as our Bill of Rights, but it would still be just as much a part of our Constitution.
Why? Because "mere amendments" become the law, and very often with devastating effect upon the remarkable and unmatched system established by our Founders (again, see the 16th and 17th Amendments).
A Way Forward
There is a simple answer: Look to the plain language of Article V. Not a single assurance provided by the Goldwater Institute in its "10 Facts" has any basis in that provision of our Constitution. As constitutionalists we should never be guilty of skulking about in penumbras to find tenuous justifications for our causes, no matter how noble their underlying intent.
Finally, why run the risk posed by an Article V convention? There is a substantial risk that the very foundations of our Republic would be left vulnerable to destructive forces inimical to our Constitution. Ironically, this risk is protected by the black letter of Article V and thus must be avoided at all cost.
If the true aim of the proponents of an Article V constitutional convention is to redress the imbalance between the states and the increasingly despotic federal government, should we not encourage the very fine organizations founded and funded by brilliant patriots to employ their time, talents, and treasure in the cause of supporting the election of candidates committed to hewing rigidly to the enumerated and limited powers already clearly written into our Constitution?
We mustn't sit idly by as otherwise right-minded constitutionalists lift the tub of our Republic and throw out the baby of our Constitution with the bathwater of federal usurpation of powers. Frequent elections is the drain by which the filth of congressional and executive tyranny is removed, and it is the clear water of the Constitution with which the tub must be refilled and used to cleanse the body politic. We should not mix this purifying liquid with the potentially muddying and infected draughts of an unnecessary Article V convention.
Graphic: Constitutional Convention of 1787


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VATICAN CITY — "John Paul II is blessed because of his faith — a strong, generous and apostolic faith," Pope Benedict XVI said just minutes after formally beatifying his predecessor.
Italian police estimated there were more than 1 million people in St. Peter's Square, around the Vatican and watching the Mass on large screens at the Circus Maximus.
Pope Benedict read the formula of beatification at the beginning of the liturgy after Cardinal Agostino Vallini, papal vicar for Rome, petitioned the pope "to inscribe the venerable servant of God John Paul II, pope, among the number of blesseds."
The pope responded by declaring, "the venerable servant of God, John Paul II, pope, henceforth will be called blessed" and his feast will be Oct. 22, the anniversary of the inauguration of his pontificate in 1978.
The crowds burst into sustained applause, many people cried and brass players intoned a fanfare as soon as the pope finished reading the proclamation.
In his homily, Pope Benedict spoke of Pope John Paul's suffering and his battle with Parkinson's disease, which eventually crippled him.
"There was his witness in suffering: the Lord gradually stripped him of everything, yet he remained ever a 'rock,' as Christ desired. His profound humility, grounded in close union with Christ, enabled him to continue to lead the church and to give the world a message which became all the more eloquent as his physical strength declined," the pope said.
Pope Benedict also reminded the crowd of how devoted Pope John Paul was to Mary and to following her example of complete faith.
"Blessed are you, beloved Pope John Paul II, because you believed," the pope prayed at the end of his homily. "Continue, we implore you, to sustain from heaven the faith of God's people."

subset: commoncrawl


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If you're a fan of Uncharted it's likely not just for the excellent gameplay, but also the stellar storyline and characters accompanying the package – which is why you'll want to check out these new stories about the indomitable Nathan Drake.
Back in 2009 we saw the release of the Eye of Indra motion comics on the PlayStation Network, which depicted one of Drake's adventures which took place before the original game. Clearly Drake has had many more adventures than we've seen so far, and to expand on his fiction another comic series, this time in physical printed on paper form, and an adventure novel are planned to release near the time frame of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.
The new adventure novel, entitled UNCHARTED: The Fourth Labyrinth is written by Christopher Golden and planned for release on October 4th, 2011. The novel sees Nate being called to New York City by the man who taught him all there is to know about the antiquities acquisition business. Victor Sullivan's friend has been murdered, and now Sully, Drake, and the victim's daughter Jada are on a race to find three ancient labyrinths to discover the secret that got Jada's father killed. Of course, what lies within is enormous wealth, power, lost ancient warriors, and a mysterious monster, just to make things more interesting.
The new comic series is being published by DC Comics, written by Joshua Williams, penciled by Sergio Sandoval and covers by Tony Harris. The series will have Drake hunting for the legendary Amber Room hidden by explorer Sir Richard Byrd in the legendary city of Agartha. Agartha was long thought to reside in the Earth's core, and the adventure will lead Drake to the center of the Earth. The comic series is set to release on November 30th, just a few weeks after Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, but takes place before both Uncharted 2 and 3.


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Some mothers will wake up this morning rested and ready to celebrate their special day with champagne and orange juice. Other mommies will have been up half the night playing musical beds with their young children — they'll be cranky and ready to drown their sleep-deprivation sorrows with something a little stronger, perhaps a sparkling breakfast cocktail further spiked with Grand Marnier.
Indeed, for every Mom there's a mimosa that suits her mood and personality. So says Mission Diner owner Mhairi O'Donnell, whose 4th Street S.W. restaurant features a mimosa menu.
O'Donnell's trip down mimosa lane began last summer when a woman asked for a mimosa made with pink grapefruit juice instead of the traditional orange juice.
"I thought, 'Well, why not?'" says O'Donnell. "Mimosas are a fizzy, girlie breakfast drink. I started doing some research and there are all these lovely mimosa drinks out there." She then expanded the diner's mimosa offerings from one to six.
There's a Chambly Mimosa (see recipe), with orange juice and Belgian-style white ale, for the mom with tons of sons (or the mom who likes to hang with the guys). The dry beer is the perfect foil to the orange juice's sweetness. This drink is also refreshing and would make a great morning-after — or I've-been-up-all-night-with-the-baby — cocktail, especially paired with the Jumbo Breakfast (three eggs; bacon, ham or sausage; pancakes or French toast; hash browns and toast).
The Preetmosa (see recipe) is loved by the health-conscious mom with refined tastes such as pomegranates. She would normally order a glass of her favourite Pinot noir from the Willamette Valley, but since it's not on the menu she gets her antioxidant fix from Pom juice and her a.m. buzz from sparkling white wine. This drink is tart, dry and washes down the delicious Florentine eggs benny quite well.
A Hibiscus Mimosa (with cranberry juice), Caesar Mimosa (with Clamato juice) and Grand Mimosa (with Grand Marnier) round out the menu.
O'Donnell says most women still order the Classic Mimosa, unless it's a holiday like today when Mommy might be craving a twist on her boozy brekkie bevvy. Dads are looked after too — O'Donnell knows men sometimes like booze at brunch as well, and the menu reflects this predilection by offering variations of an invented-in-Calgary cocktail: the Caesar (it's "the other cocktail you drink in the morning," she says).
The Mission Diner menu boasts a whopping eight Caesars, from the Original Caesar to a Samurai Caesar made with wasabi. I tried the Bacon Caesar (see recipe) made with Bakon Vodka and garnished with a strip of bacon. I absolutely loved how I got a whiff of crispy bacon on the nose at first sip, and I can see why O'Donnell recommends drinking it with a fried egg sandwich.
A Lime Tequila Caesar or Gin Caesar may sound hard core at 10 a.m., but O'Donnell says she's filling a gap in the Calgary market, and I say cheers to that — finally, a place with a real breakfast bar!
Chambly Mimosa
1 part orange juice
1 part Unibroue Blanche de Chambly (a Belgian-style white ale from Quebec)
orange wheel garnish
Fill a chilled Collins or tall glass halfway with the Unibroue and then top with orange juice. Garnish with an orange wheel.
4 oz sparkling white wine
2 oz Pom brand pomegranate juice
raspberry spear garnish
Fill a chilled eight-ounce tall glass 2/3 with sparkling white wine and then top with pomegranate juice. Garnish with speared raspberries.
Bacon Caesar
1 oz Bakon Vodka
dribble Tabasco sauce (to taste)
3 to 4 drops Worcestershire sauce
top with Clamato juice
crispy bacon strip garnish
ground-up bacon to rim glass
Rim a tall glass with ground-up crispy bacon. Fill the glass with ice, then add vodka, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce and Clamato. Stir, then garnish with a crispy bacon strip.
— Recipes courtesy Mhairi O'Donnell, Mission Diner


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Target Fights Showrooming With Price-Matching Scheme
Jan 10, 2013 5:00 AM PT
Target has announced that its brick-and-mortar stores will extend the company's holiday season price-matching policy year round. It has promised to match the prices customers find on identical "qualifying" products at Amazon, as well as the e-commerce websites of Walmart, Best Buy, Toys 'R' Us, Babies 'R' Us and others.
Target also said its stores will match the prices of goods found on its own website.
Shoppers must find the identical item for less within a seven-day window. It is not yet clear which products qualify for the deal.
Taking on Showrooming
Those details aside, Target is clearly taking on the issue of showrooming -- the increasingly popular consumer practice of visiting brick-and-mortar stores to check out merchandise but then purchasing items for less online.
Target is hardly the only retailer troubled by this trend. Showrooming has been blamed for Best Buy's decline. It's not the only company fighting it, either. Showrooming has driven Walmart to make a number of social media and mobile innovations to keep its customers happy.
Target's policy of promising to match online prices, however, is the most clear-cut and aggressive response yet. The question is, will it work? Showrooming is more than just a trend, after all -- it has become an entrenched mindset among consumers. The Internet has become a giant bargain center, with prices that reflect low overhead and oftentimes no sales taxes.
To meet the challenge, price matching alone will not be enough, said Carla Paschke, director of mobile innovation at Engauge. She called it "a surface-level step" that is not likely to be enough to drive meaningful change.
"Shoppers are motivated by quality, price and convenience, with convenience playing a critical role," she told the E-Commerce Times.
"Implementing price matching not only still puts the burden on the user to jump through hoops to get the lower price, but does so amidst a changing landscape that includes highly convenient delivery models like Amazon Prime's free two-day delivery service," Paschke pointed out.
While other brick-and-mortar retailers are likely to jump on the idea, they will need to rethink their business models at a deeper level, she suggested.
"From delivery mechanisms to nontraditional storefronts to exemplary in-store experiences -- these are areas to explore to begin to truly shift consumer behavior," maintained Paschke.
One Attempt of Many
Even if this particular initiative isn't enough, Target has little choice but to implement it.
"Because of technology, shoppers are coming into retail environments armed with more information than ever before, and their behavior is changing," Tim Nelson, president of TRIS3CT told the E-Commerce Times.
The upshot is that the retail industry has entered a period of transition in which companies must step back and reevaluate all of their strategies. This applies not only to price matching, but also to the customer experience -- both in stores and on mobile devices.
"Target will be an interesting case study because they have such a wide variety of products," Nelson said.
Many Products, Many Options
That wide range of prices will likely be Target's saving grace as it embarks on this strategy.
Price matching will clearly put pressure on Target and its margins, Marcia H. Flicker, professor of enterprise marketing at Fordham University, told the E-Commerce Times.
For the effort to work, Target will have to optimize its buying costs and the efficiency of its supply chain, she said. Even then, it could be difficult to maintain razor-thin margins and remain profitable over the long term.
"It probably can't match online offering on every SKU," Flicker noted.
"So long as Target is applying the strategy to a limited number of high-profile products, and so long as it promotes the policy extensively, it should be able to make it work," she said, adding that it can retain higher margins on convenience goods that are less subject to price comparison.
"It can develop a low-price reputation and high value for consumers on select items on which customers compare prices," Flicker concluded.


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More and more Driver Assistance Systems ensure that you have a more convenient and environmentally responsible driving experience. The prerequisite is a strong starter battery that supplies your Volkswagen reliably with exactly the right quantity of energy.
Energy tailored exactly to your Volkswagen.
Product information
Your Volkswagen Genuine starter battery supplies precisely the quantity of energy that your Volkswagen needs – for a sure start even in hot weather. For environmentally friendly functions like the Start-Stop System. And for more convenience due to air conditioning, radio and everything that makes your journey even more pleasant and even nicer.
Your benefits
Supplies precisely the quantity of energy that your Volkswagen needs.
More performance.
Thanks to higher-than-average lead content and high-quality materials.
Constant energy.
Low self-discharge over the entire lifecycle.
Your battery needs to be changed from time to time. Reason: Whenever the battery discharges, lead sulphate crystals, which reduce the electricity flow in the long term, form on the battery's lead plates. The more lead sulphate crystals have formed on the plate surfaces, the less capacity the battery has.
Long idle times, many short journeys: When it is time for a change depends on many factors. As a general rule, however, you should have your battery checked yearly . Like this, you will be able to rely on it at all times.
Safe for you yourself and your Volkswagen: Let trained specialists change your battery. Ultimately, many things need to be taken into account here: Battery acid is highly corrosive, escaped gases may explode and an incorrectly fitted battery will damage your Volkswagen.
Many Volkswagen have a battery energy management. Among other things, it detects the state of the battery and controls the vehicle's energy management. That works only if the battery is matched exactly to the vehicle and the system recognises it via a code. Otherwise, an unnecessary load may be placed on the battery or it may be over-discharged. This may give rise to permanent damage.
Are you unsure how old your Volkswagen Genuine Starter Battery is? No need to worry. You can read it off from the negative pole, where calendar week and year have been embossed.
Want to do something for the environment? Many Volkswagen models will help you here with functions like the start-stop system or brake energy regeneration, recuperation, for short. Prerequisite: a strong starter battery.
The start-stop system automatically switches the engine off and back on when you take your foot off the clutch or brake or depress it again. This enables you to consume up to 0.2 l less fuel for every 60 miles (100km) in urban driving. Prerequisite: a battery that is particularly cycle-proof – i.e. remains efficient even with frequent charging and discharging.


text: KTMrad 141 Report post Posted December 5, 2012 Dec. 5, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Auction benefits U.S. Junior World Motocross Championships team PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Imagine being the proud owner of jerseys autographed by professional Supercross and motocross riders Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey, Justin Barcia and others. Or maybe you would like to get 2013 VIP Supercross passes for Atlanta and the final round at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., or new Junior World Motocross Championships t-shirts, hats and stickers. Lucky bidders have a chance to get these items and help an American Motorcyclist Association motocross team at the same time. You can find the auctions by searching "jrworldmx" at eBay.com. The AMA organized this eBay auction, which began Dec. 4, to help cover the expenses of the American team that took part in the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Junior Motocross World Championships in Bulgaria this year. After two years of dominance, the U.S. team finished third in 2012 and but plans to regain the title in 2013 in the Czech Republic. In accordance with eBay rules and procedures, all items will be auctioned for 10 days or fewer, and the highest bidder wins. Don't miss your chance to lay claim to your share of rare memorabilia today by searching eBay with the term "jrworldmx." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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The Sony PlayStation Move is a set of two controllers that give you motion control gaming above and beyond what the console's current Sixaxis controller offers you and the chance to get into the game as if you were really there. Sound familiar? That's because for the most part it is. But can Sony improve on the Nintendo Wii Remote and Nunchuk? We went hands-on with a number of games at E3 in Los Angeles.
To the uninformed the Sony PlayStation Move can be best described as a vastly improved Wii Remote. It's a stick that you wave around in front of your console, the game reacts to your movements and then relays that positioning information on screen meaning you've just swung a golf club or pointed your gun at someone. That's the basic reality of it. In actual fact it's a lot more advanced than that, and is all the better for it.
What actually happens is that you plug the company's Sony PlayStation Eye webcam into your PS3, fire up the Move controller and then the camera tracks said controller as you use it. Because it is actively tracking it visually rather than just through motion detection, as is the case with the Wii Remote, it means that the Sony PS3 knows exactly where the device is.
That precise positioning means that the data can be used more effectively in-game, which in turn means a vastly improved experience over the competition from both Nintendo and Microsoft.
There are two types of controller available, the main Sony PlayStation Move controller and a navigation stick. The Move controller features a large coloured ball on the top (it changes colour as well) and that's the tracking element. Beneath that ball are a series of buttons (yes buttons) and these allow you to interact with the games just as you would a regular contoller. There is a also a trigger.
Some of the games like SOCOM 4 use the buttons, some like Table Tennis don't and it will really come down to what game you play as to whether or not you're using buttons and whether or not you'll be needing a second controller - the navigaton controller.
This second controller is like the Wii Nunchuk and offers you the ability to control your character's movements in-game with an analogue stick you control via your thumb. If you've played on the Wii the whole process for moving around is second nature with the navigation controller operating like a dumb partner to the more intelligent Move controller.
Of course some games will require you to use to Move controllers so if you're likely to play lots of different games you might have to end up buying two Move controllers and one navigation controller - bringing the cost of the three up to around $100 / £70 (UK prices haven't been confirmed) plus the camera to make it all work. Sony has said there will be bundle deals to get you started so we'll wait and see what that brings before making judgement. It's also worth pointing out that it will work on your current PS3, old and new alike.
Controllers and how they work are one thing, but what about the games? So far Sony has announced 16 dedicated titles for PlayStation Move available on the day of launch and 40 more slated to hit throughout the holiday season before the year is out, servicing both casual and hardcore gamers alike.
Titles already confirmed are: Sorcery, SingStar Dance, Heroes on the Move (working title), SOCOM 4, Heavy Rain Move Edition, echochrome ii, EyePet, Sports Champions, Tumble, Beat, Time Crisis: Razing Storm, Toy Story 3, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11.
Sports Champions - Archery
One of the biggest games you'll see at launch and one that will be bundled in the box. Sports Champions gives you six sports to play with to see what's what when it comes to all this movement malarkey.
Archery is just as it sounds, with you competiting freeplay or otherwise on a range of archery courses hoping to get a bullseye. Using two Move controllers, it allows you to recreate the feeling of holding a bow and arrow. One Move controller is used for the body of the bow, the other for the strong, with you pulling back one hand to increase the power. As you pull back the controller rumbles and the more you pull back the stronger your shot.
Turn the front Move controller sideways (as in the picture) and the bow turns with you. If that wasn't enough to freak you out, to load the next arrow you have to reach behind your back and pull one out with your movements perfectly recreated on screen. It's incredibly clever and incredibly exacting and if you had a pretend frame it would feel like you were Robin Hood, just in your living room.
The downside? It's archery.
Sports Champions - Table Tennis
The second Sports Champions game we played was Table Tennis. This one only requires you to have the one Move controller and lets you play the fast paced action of ping pong in your living room.
Here you throw the Move controller up to serve (something that we failed to do first time - a norm we are told) and then for the rest of the game pretend it's a paddle. Because the PS3 is tracking the exact location of the controller you can do spin shots, curve balls and anything else you fancy within the realms of table tennis. That can be a good thing and equally a bad as the game does require you to be good at table tennis to work effectively. If you can't play in real life then you'll struggle here.
We had only one game as the queue was long. Overall though it's good, and a good way, like archery, of showing off what is capable. Like Wii Sports, Sports Champions will be the game you reach for when people come around to see your new toy.
Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain is an amazing game and come September when the PlayStation Move comes out will be getting a software update to allow for Move support. The game itself doesn't change (read our Heavy Rain review), but where in the past you had to shake things or interact with elements by moving your Sixaxis controller, here you're just doing the same with the Move instead. It means it's even more of an armchair game, come movie than ever before.
The big strength with Move over Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360 is that you've got buttons and it's with games like SOCOM that those buttons come into play.
Here you use both the Move controller and the navigation controller just like you would a Wii first person shooter. But unlike the Wii where you'll find your target spot flaying around as you try to locate the sight on the screen, the Move system knows exactly where you are. That means the system is considerably more responsive and considerably more precise.
We had no problem picking off the bad guys when they appeared quickly and efficiently with zero lag and zero annoyance. It's smooth, quick and we like it. You can also play the whole thing sitting down - we were tired - although we felt just too uncomfortable and conscious playing it as if we were holding a rifle just like the adverts you've probably seen.
The good news though is that Move works with fast action gaming, something we doubt Kinect for Xbox 360 can and certainly from experience we know the Wii can't.
Tiger Woods 11
Like Heavy Rain, Tiger Woods from EA will be getting an update in September to let you use the Move on the game and if you're a golfing pro it is highly recommended that you do.
Not one to mess around with easy levels we dived straight into the expert level with zero assistance and zero help. We wanted it real. The problem is (we don't play golf that much) that's exactly what you'll get.
Five holes and 15 over par later and we've lived to tell the tale, just. Using a single Move controller you hold it like it's a club and then are left to master your stroke. How you swing is exactly replicated on screen for better or for worse. That means if you slice it, you've sliced it in-game. If you swing hard it will swing hard in the game. If you ... well you get the picture.
The Move controller basically allows you to play as good as you can in real life, it is that simple. Thankfully you can tone it down, you can get it to help you, you can set it so you hit a perfect shot every time.
Throughout this First Look we've found ourselves coming back to the same words over and over again: exact and precise. That's exactly what Sony have created, a very exact and precise controller that will map your every move.
Thing of it as a Wii HD with better tracking, better movement and better precision that will add masses of depth to all your gaming rather than just being focused about casual family fun.
To compare it to the Microsoft Kinect isn't easy. We've played with both systems and they are both very different. Kinect is all about the magic, the fact you've become the controller and the fun you can have with that. Sony's PlayStation Move will never be able to replicate that, but then the Kinect will never be able to let you successfully replicate the level of precision of the Move.
Sony Move is about enhancing your games, and although our time was brief, it's something all PS3 owners should look at further. Either way one thing is for sure, the Sony PlayStation Move shows that Nintendo's Wii isn't for this world much longer.


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Corah + Kent at Lake Geneva Cruiseline (July 7, 2017)
Corah & Kent were married at Lake Geneva Cruiseline on July 7th, 2017. Photos in this gallery are the favorites from their wedding. More will be added in the days following their big day. Photographers at the wedding were Jake Schnake, and Ben Foster. Use promo code Happy to receive 15% off your order.Read More


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Today I was playing and watched Isadora, on two separate occasions, shoot through a wall and damage the player on the other side.
The wall was three spaces long. Each player was in the center of the wall, on opposite sides. Isadora would shoot directly at the center section of the wall so that the line drawn by the shot and the line drawn by the wall were perpendicular. The player on the other side of the wall would then take damage as though they were behind regular cover.
Is this working as intended? It doesn't seem like it should be that way.


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This depiction of the constellation Gemini is part of Inked and Screened's series of Celestial Bodies.
These hand drawn designs encompass a wide range of astronomical phenomena within our visible star system. Utilizing three separate layers of ink (including two passes with a glow-in-the-dark type) rendered atop specialty 'Nightshift Blue' paper canvas, these designs are meant to resemble the heavens themselves. Specially blended phosphors within the 'Heavenly White' coats of ink are applied to each constellation, becoming energized when exposed to light. When in dark or low light settings the text will seemingly disappear while each cluster of stars shine bright!
Each design is screen printed on top of 11" x 17" paper canvas.


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27th October 2011
It's either 'You', 'Me' or Dialogue
A couple of days ago, while flicking through the TV channels, I happened upon a parliamentary debate. Within minutes I was completely fixated by the arguing, finger pointing, jeering, laughing and posturing that went on. The most curious part of it all was there seemed to be no positive outcome!
Don't get me wrong, I'm a firm believer in my right to have a very personal point of view – one which might be completely different to anyone else. But, the one thing I am absolutely sure about is debate doesn't leave me feeling heard, understood, valued or seen. It does quite the reverse. It leaves me feeling defensive, frustrated, alone and completely misunderstood.
The reason – debate is a non relational way of navigating difference. By its very nature it wants us to doubt what the other person/s is saying. It also encourages us to believe there is only one right and valid perspective which means it places a high value on winning and 'having the last word'.
There is sufficient evidence within the field of neuroscience which confirms arguing, and feeling there can be only one winner, triggers defensive and/or attacking behaviours. Neuroscience also shows that once in defence or attack mode we lose our ability to be relational. If we lose our ability to be relational, we lose our ability to be understood and valued. If we lose our ability to be understood and valued we are likely to do one of two things:-
- Find more destructive ways to be heard
- Withdraw our energy from the situation and the relationship
The interesting thing is neither gets us any closer to feeling understood and valued.


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A Philippine church, which traces its start to American colonisation in the early 1900s, is now 100 years old and leaders and its members are now celebrating the legacies of Protestantism for "a century of God's faithfulness and love" - writes Maurice Malanes.
"Protestantism definitely helped uphold our right to religious expression," Bishop Marino Inong told ENInews. "With Protestantism, the Bible was opened to people for study and scrutiny."
Inong is the senior pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, located in Baguio, a northern Philippine mountain city of 400,000 that was first established as a summer capital by Americans in 1909. The church traces its roots to the works of early American missionaries whose Filipino disciples "came together in fellowship" on 11 February 1911 to establish the forerunner of what is now the UCCP-Baguio.
After almost 400 years under Spanish rule, the Philippines' dominant religion was Roman Catholicism until the United States took control in 1898. "For over three centuries, Roman Catholicism was the imposed religion," Inong said.
He said the introduction of Protestantism "opened the eyes of Filipinos to other expressions of the Christian faith."
Still, during the early decades of Protestantism, there was "an atmosphere of animosity between Roman Catholics and Protestant converts," said retired UCCP-Baguio Bishop Juan Marigza.
ENInews spoke to Marigza before he delivered a homily during a special centennial thanksgiving service on 11 February. "Since we Protestants stress strengthening our faith through Bible study, Roman Catholics then would taunt us, even claiming we were heretics, because for them, only authorised Catholic clergy should interpret the Bible," he said.
However, he said, Protestant churches such as the UCCP-Baguio "persevered in stressing studying the Bible, not only during Sunday Schools, but also in the homes of members."
Protestant-Roman Catholic animosity gradually ebbed beginning in the late 1960s after the Second Vatican Council's reforms, led by Pope John XXIII, said Marigza. He recalled that the pope had said that the church should "open the windows to let the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit come to all people."
In 1961, the Vatican created the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity and appointed the first representative to the Assembly of the World Council of Churches, held that year in New Delhi. This development led to Roman Catholic-Protestant collaboration in translating the Bible into various Philippine languages, starting in 1976, said Marigza, who was part of the translation team.
"So as we celebrate a century of the Lord's faithfulness and love, we are also happy that in our hundred-year journey as a church, we have witnessed in our lifetime the seeds of Christian dialogue and unity," he said.
The UCCP-Baguio, with about 4,000 members, is among the mainline Protestant churches – which include Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran and Salvation Army.
[With acknowledgements to ENInews. ENInews, formerly Ecumenical News International, is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Conference of European Churches.]


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A charitable freeze technique that used a complex contribution formula was considered by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Petter v. Commissioner, No. 10-71854 (2011). The charitable freeze is a technique that readjusts a simultaneous gift/charitable contribution combo if the IRS successfully challenges a valuation of the gift, shifting additional value from the gift component to the charitable contribution component to eliminate any gift taxation resulting from the challenge.
The Estate Plan
Anne Petter, a schoolteacher, received a large amount of UPS stock from her uncle.
At the advice of her attorney she created a sophisticated estate plan, including an irrevocable life insurance trust holding a $3.5 million policy and a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) that she funded with $4 million of her UPS stock. The CRUT paid her 5% a year for the remainder of her life.
Her estate plan also included Petter Family LLC (PFLLC)—the subject of the case. She funded the LLC with her remaining UPS stock, which had risen in value to $22.6 million. The estate plan then created a charitable freeze.
Under the charitable freeze, ownership of LLC units was gifted in part and sold in part to two trusts. The total value of all these units came to 90% of the total value of the PFLLC. As consideration for the sale component of the transfer, each trust executed a 20-year promissory note. In conjunction with the transfers, gifts of LLC interests also were made to two charities, totaling over $1 million. The part gift, part charitable contribution, part sale arrangement was intended to avoid gift tax on the transfers.
The charitable freeze worked as follows: The gift component would utilize in full Petter's charitable exclusion amount. If the IRS successfully challenged the valuation of the gifted units, and the units were found to be worth more than indicated on Petter's gift tax return, the charitable contribution would adjust upward and eat the excess value, eliminating any gift tax liability. In that event, the charity and not the IRS—or the U.S. government—would benefit from an IRS challenge.
PFLLC units were valued at $536.22 per unit shortly after the transfers. The valuation included a 46% nonmarketability discount and a 13.3% net value adjustment. Based on the appraisal, the two charities were allocated a particular number of PFLLC membership units.
The IRS Challenge
Unsurprisingly, the IRS challenged the taxpayer's valuation, determining that the units were worth $794.39 each. The valuation differential would have two consequences from the IRS' perspective: (1) the gift would exceed Petter's lifetime exclusion amount and she would owe gift tax; and (2) the sale of PFLLC units to the trusts would be for "less than full and adequate consideration," resulting in an additional taxable gift to each of the trusts.
The Tax Court and Court of Appeals Holdings
Petter petitioned the Tax Court for a redetermination of the deficiency.
Prior to trial, the IRS and Petter agreed that the correct valuation of PFLLC units was $744.74 per unit. The IRS claimed that the formula clause was invalid, but the Tax Court upheld the gift formula clause. The IRS appealed the Tax Court's decision.
Under the regulations, a charitable deduction is not permitted "[i]f, as of the date of the gift, a transfer for charitable purposes is dependent upon the performance of some act or of the happening of a precedent event in order that [the transfer] might become effective." Treas. Reg. § 25.2522(c)-3(b)(1).
The IRS contended that subsequent gifts under the formula clause were dependent on a condition precedent—a successful IRS challenge—and were invalid under the regulations.
The Court of Appeals disagreed, holding that the transfer to the charities was not dependent on a condition precedent since the value of units gifted to the trusts was fixed at the time of the gift. Only the total number gifted units was subject to adjustment to match the fair market value of LLC at the time of the gift. As a result, the court upheld the validity of the freezing formula clause.
For additional coverage of this issue and similar ones, we invite you to sign up with AdvisorOne's partner, AdvisorFX, for a free trial.
See also The Law Professor's blog at AdvisorFYI.


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Jamie's North Island Golf Experience
The first of many Paladin Golf Tours.
Jamie joined the Paladin family last year and conjured up a great idea as an extension of the Paladin business. Combining his love of golf and people the first Paladin Golf tour was created and was hosted by none other than the guy himself Jamie Lyon.
Our trip to the North island of NZ was nothing short of spectacular. The courses were some of the best i have played anywhere in the world. Cape Kidnappers was right up there with my best ever course along with Ellerston . With our Nz connections, we were always well catered for and shown the best parts of the country. New Zealand is truly an amazing part of the world and Queenstown will be no different.
We will hold the second tour this year from the 16th of October until the 20th of October. Traveling to several world class golf courses throughout the beautiful scenery of the land of the long white cloud.
Happy Golfing


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And so it begins.......................
And so it begins.......................
Last edited by Brian861; 09-19-2015 at 02:18 PM. Reason: Dinner with the Cannibal Sisters no longer part of collection.
Thanks Martin . I'll post as they arrive. I have a ton of what I call "Daily Drivers" down in the basement, mostly King, but figure everyone has seen those so no reason to post em.
As beginnings go, that's pretty sweet. I myself would like to see your "daily drivers". I hate to speak for everyone else but we are book fans that is why we are here, to say nothing of how they are presented, shelves, bookcases, racks etc. Bring it on! Mike
Perhaps I am simply a madman who dreamt of being sane for a little while.
Roland Deschain
The following Cemetery Dance ARC: Full Dark, No Stars, Doctor Sleep
Yeah we love all books here, bring'em on Brian!
Basement Pics 6.jpgBasement Pics 2.jpgBasement Pics 3.jpgBasement Pics 5.jpg
First of all guys I'd like to thank you each for encouraging me to post em. They have been boxed up in my basement for a few years since our last (and hopefully final) move. Although I did discover my son has been going into the boxes from time to time to pull a few to read. I actually found that very encouraging, considering all the distractions todays youth have, to actually take the time to read an actual book not on a screen. Nothing wrong with that mind you, just hasn't caught on with me yet. And thanks to CD for lighting the fire in me to read again with all the amazing projects that they do and to start my own collection late in the game. Anyway, hoping I'm doing this right.........
Last edited by Brian861; 09-10-2015 at 10:26 PM.
Also while going through the boxes, I discovered a few holes in my King collection of the trade stuff. Some I found out my son had as stated above. Maybe my daughter has some at her place too. If not, I guess they got lost in all the moves :-(. Here's the unfinished room I like to keep "the good stuff" in one of these days. Attachment 17077
Rather diverse collection, some really nice stuff in there. What edition is 'A Time to Kill'?
Cool stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. It's by no means collectable stuff but they have gotten me through many long nights back in my guard duty days. That and Art Bell.
09-10-15 from CD.jpg
My undamaged copy of Carrie
09-10-15 CD Slipcases.jpg
CD Slipcases (books not included)
Last edited by Brian861; 09-19-2015 at 02:24 PM. Reason: Brothers and Helltracks no longer part of collection
09-10-15a CD Slipcases.jpg
Top view of slipcases. Super impressed with these. Will definitely be part of my future orders.
If you think the It slipcase is nice you should see the book!


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So I'm from West Liberty, IA - it's a very exciting town consisting of one flashing yellow signal light. But it's home and I still have a soft spot for it. Being that I am from WL, IA I knew that I had to visit West Liberty, KY! (There's a West Liberty, OH too - that's next).
But yes - on one of our Saturday drives - we headed south to KY and stopped in West Liberty!
I had to take a picture in front of the sign - poor Larry pulled off the side of the road and had to step in mucky snow to take it. God love him.
Along the way along 460 we found Broke Leg Falls near Ezel, KY. I really can't find much info out about it but we whizzed past the sign and then slammed on the brakes to turn around and see what it was - SO GLAD WE DID!
Basically - it's beautiful. Rocks, waterfalls, trees - in the summer I bet it's an amazingly peaceful sanctuary.
Again - beautiful.
I got this great pic of Larry in the ice...he wanted to go all the way down but it looked pretty treacherous so Nervous Nelly made him stop there...
After all that, we were hungry and it was getting dark so we headed up to Paris, KY and found Jerry's!
It appears from the comments this used to be a chain but there aren't many left. It was definitely old school and LOTS of old people as well!
My salad with honey mustard to start things off...nothing special but good especially when you're starving!
I got steak & shrimp with mac & cheese. The steak was superthin and not that good but the shrimp was delicious! I'll basically eat any mac & cheese but it was fairly mushy.
Larry got the steak & chicken. His steak was better than mine - much thicker - it was definitely rare (we asked for medium) but we all lived. The rice was kinda gross...no flavor.
2 buns...nothing noteworthy here. Honestly the food at Jerry's wasn't great but we didn't have a lot of options. It was fine and the service was great so it was worth the stop.
They were also selling this homemade sweet sorghum. I asked if it was like syrup and they said "Um no." They couldn't really explain what it WAS like but said you eat it with biscuits. I decided to pass.
This was also our day for interesting food items. We stopped somewhere along the way for a snack and found these. The Red Velvet were like twinkies but I've NEVER heard of Mrs. Freshley's! Larry seemed to remember Mambas from his childhood and he was happy to mow down the whole pack!
Why Should You Go? Well, it's nearly a 3 hour drive so you gotta really wanna go! But - the Falls were definitely worth the drive and we were just lucky enough to stumble upon it. Maybe check it out for a lazy day picnic with an overnight stay at a B&B?
Visiting West Liberty & Paris (KY that is)
Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 6 comments
6 comments
- AnonymousMarch 11, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Jerry's! I went to college near one in Oklahoma. Yummy gravy fries!ReplyDelete
Angela in Norwood
They used to have Jerry's in Cincinnati. In fact, the building that houses BBQ Revue on Madison used to be a Jerry's.ReplyDelete
- Steve RuggieroMarch 12, 2010 at 1:32 PM
I am glad you and Larry had a good time in "West Liberty". You look great in the picture.
Your food review was, as usual, well done!
- AnonymousMarch 14, 2010 at 8:08 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 14, 2010 at 6:41 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 14, 2010 at 6:43 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
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Recent News
Sponsorship & Donation Requests
SaskMilk is proud to sponsor organizations and events that support dairy in a healthy lifestyle! At this time, we are not seeking additional sponsorship inquiries. If you would like more information or to inquire about future sponsorships, please email info@
Advice from Health Professionals What Milk Has to Offer Lactose Intolerance and Milk Allergies Recommended Servings Common Misconceptions


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Rateable Plugin
compile "org.grails.plugins:rateable:0.7.1"Custom repositories:
mavenRepo "http://localhost:8081/artifactory/plugins-releases-local/"
A plugin that adds a generic mechanism for rating domain objects.
Rateable PluginThis plugin provides allows ratings to be attached to domain objects, as well as a 5-star rating component with ajax update.
- Grails Version: 1.1 and above
- JDK: 1.5 and above
grails install-plugin rateable
UsageImplement the
Rateable interface:
On your page load the rateable resources:
import org.grails.rateable.*class Vehicle implements Rateable { }
Include a tag to allow users to rate:
Like the Commentable Plugin, to use you may need to define a rater evaluator in grails-app/conf/Config.groovy. The default one looks like:
<rateable:ratings bean='${myVehicle}'/>
But if you store users in the session instead you may want this to be:
grails.rateable.rater.evaluator = { request.user }
The plugin also adds some useful static methods and properties to each Rateable as defined below:
grails.rateable.rater.evaluatorr = { session.user }
Static Methods
- listOrderByAverageRating - lists all rated items by their average rating. Takes an optional Map parameter for pagination
- countRated - Counts the number of rated items, good for pagination in combination with the above method.
- ratings - Returns all the ratings for a given Rateable
- averageRating - Returns the average rating of all the ratings
- totalRatings - Returns the total number of ratings given to the Rateable
- rate(user, Double rating) - Rates a Rateable for the given user and specified rating
- userRating(user) - Returns the rating for the specified user


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Making a Place for Yourself in the Blogosphere, Part 2
May 13, 2010 5:00 AM PT
Part 1 of this series on getting started with blogging addresses factors to consider when setting up a blog, such as platforms, hosting and design.
Once all the technical steps have been accomplished and your blog is up and operating, it is time to start adding content on a regular basis and integrating it with social media.
"Keep at it. Even though content can sometimes be a chore, it's important to put out fresh content every day," said Char Suri, editor in chief of Butterflydiary.com, a beauty blog.
"Be passionate -- create a voice and develop it," she told TechNewsWorld. "Content is king. If you have good content, you will have loyal readers, period."
There is always time to make needed adjustments to the blog later, and the format at the start is not as important as developing its content, said Vlad Zachary, chief executive officer of Career BlackBoard, a startup that delivers career services.
"If I had a budget for a blog, I would spend it all driving traffic to it," Zachary told TechNewsWorld. "Content is king, but quality is queen," he added, noting that volume is not a big concern for him. Instead, look for ways to provoke discussions, he advised, noting that emotion encourages people to interact with blogs and re-post entries.
Making Your Blog Social
When readers repost links on other social media websites, it helps drive traffic to your blog, Zachary explained. As soon as he finishes a new blog post he provides links on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to try and engage his readers.
"I try to do it in a way that encourages people to re-post," Zachary said.
Connecting blogs with social media also provides different entry points for readers, said Susan Gunelius, president and CEO of KeySplash Creative and author of Spread the Word: Social Media Marketing in 30 Minutes a Day.
"If the blog content is amazing, people are going to want to share it," Gunelius told TechNewsWorld, noting that when people share blog posts, it provides more incoming links to the blog, which leads to the blog ranking higher on search engine results.
"A blog is a powerful tool for appearing in people's searches," she said.
Do not get bogged down in trying to use every social media tool on the market, warned Gunelius. "Find the ones that you enjoy using. Otherwise, the passion for your business won't shine through. If you hate the tool, you are not going to use it."
With all the attention focused on the different forms of social media, email is often overlooked as another important medium to stay in contact with blog readers, said Scott Fox, author of e-Riches 2.0: Next Generation Online Marketing Strategies.
"If you are trying to blog for business, email is where business people spend most of their time," Fox told TechNewsWorld. "You need to build an email list."
Make sure and include a request for email addresses on your blog. "The sooner you start building the email list, the sooner you can start sending e-newsletters," he said, suggesting online tools sucha as ConstantContact, AWeber or FeedBlitz for the purpose.
Keeping Your Content Fresh
Focus on a topic you have an interest in for the blog and commit to a regular publishing schedule, Fox advised, because once a blog is up and running, thinking of original ideas is often hard.
"The key is to figure out what your audience wants," he said.
One way to learn what your audience is interested in is by looking at your old posts. Which ones generated the most traffic? Which ones had the most comments? And which of your blog posts did your readers re-post the most on social media outlets? Finding out the answers to these questions might help generate new ideas, Fox suggested.
Another good way to stay on top of your topics of interest is to use Google Alerts, which provides updates on keywords that you select, said Fox. Google Alerts will then send you all the latest news articles and blog posts on your chosen topics each day.
"Really try to do something that you like," Fox stressed. "You'll have more fun, and that will be more obvious to your readers."
Having a clear theme for your blog will also help the content ideas to flow faster, said Lorrie Thomas, CEO of Web Marketing Therapy.
Including interviews in your blog posts is also a good way to update content. The interviews with experts in your topic area can be conducted by email and you can have a pre-set template with questions ready to send out, Thomas told TechNewsWorld.
"Be a content aggregator. Don't write it all yourself," she said, adding that you can refer to other articles and blogs. Also include other people, Thomas suggested -- whether it is others on staff or invited guest bloggers -- to help take the pressure off you.
Staying Out of Trouble
It is better to think about potential legal problems concerning blogging sooner than later.
"Most overlook the legal realities in blogging," said Derick Schaefer, managing director of Orangecast Social Media and creator of How-To-Blog.tv.
"There is this blind assumption that the First Amendment gives you clearance to do what ever you want," Shaefer told TechNewsWorld, noting that bloggers are accountable to copyright and trademark laws, as well as civil and criminal laws.
The Communications Decency Act is also something a blogger needs to understand, Schaefer said.
"It is more powerful at this point than the First Amendment when it comes to your blog," he said. "The smallest blog can get national attention."


text: Russia coach Vladimir Kuzyutkin:"I'm not too happy. There are two ways to play. One is beautifully while losing, the other is not beautiful but winning. Today it was the latter for us. We followed our rules and principles. I was worried about this match coming into it and am relieved that we won."Russia captain Maria Borodakova:"I'm very proud of our whole team. I want to express my gratitude to them. Korea are a team with interesting option plays. We did our homework before this match."Russia player Tatiana Kosheleva:"Korea have a good team. I'm glad that we won."Korea coach Sam-Ryong Park:"Russia are a very tall team. We had to contend with their height, which presented problems for our attack and defence."Korea captain Sa-Nee Kim:"We couldn't win tonight, so we have to accept that we lost. We will try to do better tomorrow."Korea player Yeon-Koung Kim:"It was our toughest match. Our serves and receives didn't work. We're all dealing with fatigue. The Russian team did their homework on us."


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Many gigs are free
In the article "Freebie no more" [News, March 13] about Fridays After 5 charging admission, organizer Tony LaBua, was quoted as saying, "We are the only venue in the state that hasn't charged."
Richmond's version– Friday Cheers– is free, and I've been to several others in different areas of the state that are also free, and the quality of bands is as good, if not better.
Melissa Garth


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Bonnie Tsui
Bonnie Tsui is a contributing writer to CityLab. She writes frequently for The New York Times and is the author of American Chinatown: A People's History of Five Neighborhoods.
I remember the first time I went camping. I was 12 years old, and my swim team went on a rafting trip to the Delaware Water Gap. We got into camp in the dead of night, and I was blown away by the brightness of bodies in the night sky. I'd grown up well inside the nimbus of artificial light surrounding New York; what I remember most vividly is the feeling of disorientation as I stared up at the jam-packed firmament, streaked by the fluid, wispy smoke of the Milky Way, all of it animated from time to time by the fiery trail of a meteor. That looks so fake. Are those really all stars? How could there be so many up there, and how could I not have known about them until now? The unpolluted night sky, to me, was a revelation.
Filmmaker Ian Cheney had the opposite experience. Growing up in rural Maine, he saw the unfiltered night sky as a friend, a familiar, map-like indicator of home. It was only after he'd moved to New York as an adult that he started thinking about his connection to the night sky, and what happens when we as a species lose the reality of night - indeed, of darkness - in our daily lives. In a new documentary that's making its way across the country, The City Dark, Cheney takes a thought-provoking and lively look at the disappearance of darkness across our planet and the disruption of our natural cycles of light and dark.
Cheney, who won the Peabody Award for his 2007 documentary, King Corn, started pondering the curious loss of darkness in our 24/7 consciousness when he heard that the world population had tipped from being a majority rural population to a majority urban one.
"That got me thinking about the fact that, for the first time in the history of the planet, most people were now growing up in places where they couldn't see an unpolluted night sky," says Cheney. That shift from rural to urban mirrored his own shift from childhood to adulthood, and living in New York City. "So what does that mean? The night sky is just one part of what we give up from moving from countryside to city." It was only on the journey of making the film, he says, that he came to understand all the myriad ways that artificial light affects us humans and the planet we inhabit.
In the film, Cheney consults historians, astronomers, and astronauts - people with rarefied experience with the cosmos - but he also talks with people who are familiar with the effects of artificial light on our ordinary everyday: the owner of a lighting store; a Boy Scout troop leader who brings city kids to the woods; a wildlife veterinarian who deals with disoriented birds; a lighting designer; a criminologist who studies how installing bright lampposts reduces urban crime.
When Matty Holzhacker, the Boy Scout troop leader in New York's Washington Heights, brings his kids camping, they are astounded. "Oh my God—there's like a hundred stars," says one boy. (At one point during the film, Cheney himself counts out measly handfuls of stars at various locations from Battery Park and Times Square to Harlem and Staten Island.) But more profound is the sense of the larger world they get from the view—that there is a lot more out there, and more hours in a day to enjoy it. "Time goes slower," another boy says, wonderingly.
"Our shift to being an urban population raises a lot of questions about our relation to nature," says Cheney. "The modern environmental movement took hold only when we started to lose a connection to the natural world. Perhaps so, too, with light pollution. But maybe what matters is what we gain—and what we do—when we do in fact see it."
Neil deGrasse Tyson, the prominent astrophysicist, tells Cheney a story about growing up in the Bronx and visiting the Hayden Planetarium for the first time. He remembers thinking that the night sky portrayed in the dome was a hoax. "To this day, I'm on mountaintops, and I look up—and this is a sickeningly urban thing to say—and I say, 'Reminds me of the Hayden Planetarium.'"
One of the major ideas in The City Dark is that it's easy to forget the scale of our world in the universe if you never get to see the night sky and all there is in it. Nowadays, Cheney says, you have to go farther and farther to get closer to the universe. He seeks out astronomers on the summit of Haleakala, one of the most isolated spots in the world, thrust up above the cloud cover on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Scientists there are on the lookout for killer asteroids en route to Earth, but they also ponder a deeper loss with the ever-encroaching fog of light from cities below.
"If we lived on a planet that was forever opaque to the universe beyond, science and inquiry would have been terribly distorted and twisted," says Jeff Kuhn, a University of Hawaii astronomer, in the film. "In my lifetime, we once believed that there weren't any other planets except for the planets around our sun, and because we could look out into the sky and we could see the universe, we now have a very different picture of a universe that's filled with planets… to close that door, I think, would change the character of humankind entirely."
And it's more than just humans who are losing the night. Nature is, too. Footage of just-hatched sea turtles trying to find their way to the ocean in Florida is one of the more heartbreaking scenes in the movie, when the disoriented hatchlings head toward the bright light of nearby apartment complexes instead of toward the moonlit water.
Light changes habitat just like a bulldozer can. In the film, Cheney says that he sleeps better up in Maine, positing that in New York he misses not just the stars in the night sky, but the dark that comes with it. From talking with leading epidemiologists and cellular biologists, he finds that the health effects of 24/7 light can be severe; studies have found almost double the incidence of breast cancer in night shift workers, and evidence points to disrupted circadian rhythms from exposure to light at night. He discovers that the World Health Organization has identified night shift work as a probable carcinogen.
One of the most gripping sequences in The City Dark involves astronaut Don Pettit taking photos from the space station, of the galaxies of light that we have created on our planet. "I was struck by Pettit's affection for the night sky - it goes hand in hand with the affection he feels for the cities, and city lights, of the planet when he's up at the space station looking down, missing home," Cheney says. The constellations in the sky parallel the constellations we have created here on Earth. And even though it may feel like a lost cause, every star we bring back to the city makes a difference, and it can be done - and indeed, has been done - through more thoughtfully designed urban lighting. Though we might love the light, we also need the dark. In this meditative, illuminating film, Cheney asks, Why can't we have both?
All images and video clip courtesy Wicked Delicate Films.
Two new studies have revived the long-running debate over how police respond to white criminal suspects versus African Americans.
A new report fleshes out the controversial demand to cut police department budgets and reallocate those funds into healthcare, housing, jobs, and schools. Will that make communities of color safer?
Despite new research on police brutality, we still have no idea whether violence toward African Americans is fueled by racial prejudice. That has consequences.
For low-income buyers, new predatory lending techniques may make it easier to get behind the wheel, and harder to escape a debt trap.
After each epidemic and disaster, our social norms and behaviors change. As researchers begin to study coronavirus's impacts, history offers clues.


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The Township Dancers
The street is their stage, the neighborhood, their audience: Performing acrobatic stunts in stylish costumes, the pantsula dancers of Johannesburg protest violence, racism and the powerful drug lords in their city
Vusi Mdoyi adjusts his hood and looks out across the street. "We used to find dead bodies on our way to school," the 36-year-old says, "and it was normal to hear gunshots during class. There was a war on in Katlehong."
Mdoyi was born in this black township 35 kilometers east of Johannesburg. Today, he is celebrated here like a star. Small, lithe, with reflexes like those of a kung-fu fighter, Mdoyi is the face of pantsula, a South-African dance born of the struggle against apartheid.
Anyone who came here at night then was either crazy or a murderer
Surrounded by violence and daily street fighting, a handful of young people, including Mdoyi's friend David Mahlaba, formed the Via Katlehong dance troupe in 1992 as a gesture of defiance against the bleakness of their lives. "We were dancing against death," Mdoyi says.
Remember: This was two years before the country's first democratic elections, which resulted in Nelson Mandela becoming president of South Africa. "Anyone who came here at night then was either crazy or a murderer," Mdoyi explains.
These are the same streets where he joined Mahlaba's dance troupe while still in school and the ones he walked down as head choreographer and leader of Via Katlehong in the late 1990s. Whenever he can, Mdoyi returns to "his" streets to support the young dancers.
Today, he is here to see the Take Care crew, whose trainer he once taught. Seven dancers between the ages of 15 and 19 pull on green and red coveralls. They are nervous but proud to be dancing for their role model.
Nearly every day, they train in front of a two-story, red-brick hostel that has been ravaged by the sun and rain. During apartheid, places such as this housed black workers who had found employment in white neighborhoods.
The dancers stretch, jump up and down and cheer each other on. A cluster of teenagers stands idly by, smoking and drinking and glancing over occasionally to give the dancers a respectful nod.
The air is clear and cold as the dancers set off, making their own music by clapping their hands in rhythm. Uniform rows of one-story brick houses line their stage: block after block of them, some showing trim plasterwork, others still quite rough, some cared for, others neglected.
Small grocery shops and liquor stores break the monotony of the scene, but nobody goes inside to buy anything. Instead, their purchases are passed out through thick bars. The performers look like splashes of bright paint against this drab backdrop.
In his hoody and tight pants, Vusi Mdoyi observes from the sidelines as the crew blocks an intersection and begins to dance. Some of the passersby, stopping to watch, start moving to the rhythms, too.
Everybody knows the dance, or at least what it's supposed to look like. Katlehong has the most colorful history of all the townships around Johannesburg.
In the late 1980s, this is where a small group of young men began to protest apartheid, and later, the civil-war-like conditions in the townships, by dancing, and pantsula was born – an art form and an act of non-violent resistance in one.
The dancers' aim was to transform the energy that was filling the streets with senseless violence into something positive and beautiful. So, dressed in brilliant costumes, they performed fast, furious figures in the ghetto streets.
Pantsula is a reflection of South African society, a mix of many elements. Some of its components stem from traditional African and European partner dances, but many are similar to breakdancing, which originated in the Bronx in the early 1970s.
Mdoyi doesn't think pantsula was influenced by styles from the New York ghetto. On the contrary, he sees breakdancing as having borrowed elements from traditional African dance.
"Pantsula and breakdancing show that people from the ghetto speak a common language," he says, as two boys beside him start a tap-dancing sequence. Whereas music plays a major role in breakdance culture, it is secondary in pantsula.
At first, pantsula was done to pop music, but now it's mostly house or even no music at all. An old man stumbles drunkenly past and before moving on, smiles and performs a couple of classic dance steps. The crowd hoots and cheers.
The Take Care crew are now performing in front of a vegetable stand. They hang in the air for a fraction of a second and then twist on the ground in unison. A crowd has gathered almost instantly and the whistling and rhythmic clapping grow louder and louder. Some of the onlookers throw banknotes at the sweating performers, who acknowledge the gift with a proud smile.
Over the years, shootings have become less common and the township is no longer as dangerous as it was in the '90s, but violence is still prevalent here.
The dancing keeps young people away from the gangs with their weapons and drugs. "It's like an informal school," Mdoyi explains, "and it teaches them discipline."
The young members of the crew rehearse for several hours every day and are not allowed to drink or smoke. Anyone caught breaking the rules is kicked out.
The crew passes a sawed off oil drum with a fire flickering inside for barbecuing meat. A thin man of about 50 stands beside it. Mdoyi's face breaks into a grin. "Knowledge!," he shouts. The two embrace.
Knowledge was part of the first big pantsula dance troupe called the Vibrations, and Mdoyi has great regard for him. "It used to be risky to dance in the street. We were not allowed to move around freely, and everything we did in the townships was political," the veteran dancer explains. "It's much easier for them today."
He claps Mdoyi on the shoulder and they dance together briefly, hug again and then Knowledge says: "Go on. Do it for the children." That's exactly what Mdoyi is doing – on a grand scale, too.
He's trying to find them a bigger stage than the streets and squares of the townships. Fifteen years ago, he was the first pantsula dancer to be invited to Europe and perform in London's Queen Elizabeth Hall. After that, he toured the USA and Europe with Via Katlehong.
Thanks to its success, pantsula is now part of South Africa's artistic canon. There are roughly 50 crews in the townships around Johannesburg, and their art has taken on a new dimension thanks to Via Katlehong: It offers youngsters a chance to escape the lack of prospects in the townships.
The ghettos speak a common language
Mdoyi was once offered a contract by Cirque du Soleil, who wanted him to commit himself for several years, but he turned them down. "The apartheid regime robbed us blacks of our pride," says Mdoyi, "but dancing gives it back."
The Take Care crew has finished its tour, and the dancers are standing on their hands in front of a graffiti-covered wall, practicing their moves.
Mdoyi left the troupe a year ago, he says, because there was so much more that needed to be done. He and a German art historian started a foundation dedicated to the history of pantsula. Virtually nothing has been recorded about the precursors to the dance.
Go on. Do it for the children!
His next big project is to found a dance academy in Katlehong, and in September he will perform in Toyi Toyi, a show based on a Zimbabwean protest dance. He and four other dancers also want to embark on a tour of Europe to tell the story of their lives.
Evening approaches, and Mdoyi is back outside the hostel, where he meets a childhood friend. They share a bottle of beer, smoke a joint – there are no young people around – and talk about the old days.
Occasionally they laugh out loud, at other times the laughter sticks in their throats. So many deaths, so much violence. But it's all part of their personal history… They are trying to decide how to turn their disrupted childhood into something for the stage, and already have a working title: Our School Days.
South Africa in motion
Gumboot Dancing
A dance that arose in the gold mines of Johannesburg in the 19th century. Miners communicated in the shafts by drumming on their work boots.
A political dance taken from the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army, a resistance group that intimidated its opponents by stamping loudly with their feet.
A dance and music style that arose in Soweto in the 1990s. Like pantsula, it began as a political statement, but today, the message is mostly: Let's have fun.
This story first appeared in Lufthansa Exclusive, the frequent traveller magazine. For more information about Lufthansa Miles & More offers, please click here.


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The Two-Week Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline Must GoPosted by rtmsf on May 10th, 2010
If you regularly read this site, you know that the early entry withdrawal deadline for the NBA Draft passed with much zero fanfare at 5 pm ET on Saturday afternoon. Prospective draftees, many of whom were in the middle of exam periods at their schools, had a mere two weeks to make a final decision whether to take the plunge and give up their collegiate eligibility for the dream of NBA riches. The two-week window for withdrawal is a new NCAA rule designed to engender program continuity and recruiting at the expense of the student-athletes they purport to care about. The elephant in the room question is whether players on the fence about declaring for the draft had enough time to be able to properly consider and assess their draft prospects, and the short answer appears to be that they did not. Surprise surprise.
Let's take a quick comparative snapshot of last year's early entry pool versus this year's. The 2009 early entries had an additional five-plus weeks to work out for teams, attend the draft combine and communicate with scouts, coaches and family members before making a final call on the matter. It's quite possible that two months was too much time, but the salient point is that they had plenty of it from which to make an informed decision. From a pool of 74 underclassmen who originally declared for the NBA Draft, nearly half withdrew resulting in a final total of 39 early entries, two-thirds (26) of whom were ultimately drafted. This year there was a rough equivalent of 80 early entries, but only 30 of those players withdrew by Saturday afternoon's deadline, leaving 50 hopeful underclassmen jockeying for positions in a 60-pick draft (see above list). Keep in mind that there are numerous international prospects as well as seniors such as Luke Harangody, Damion James, Jarvis Varnado and Jerome Jordan who will also be chosen in late June.
The key problems are apparent:
NBA teams are not evaluating players yet. As of last week, there were still eight teams playing games, and the others were still closing out their seasons. According to Louisville head coach Rick Pitino who was trying to get information for his sophomore center Samardo Samuels, only one of the thirty NBA teams held player evaluations prior to this year's May 8 deadline. If the idea behind 'testing the waters' is for players to receive accurate evaluations of their game from professional scouts, then we're at a loss in understanding how this date makes any sense whatsoever.
The Chicago Pre-Draft Camp needs to move. This camp that takes place in late May/early June allows fence-sitting players to see how they stack up in drills and workouts against their peers rather than trying to patch together a guesstimate based on little more than rumor and third-hand information. Obviously, the NBA does not care about appeasing the NCAA, but perhaps Stern & company could be persuaded to move it up by a couple of weeks to reach a happy medium. Otherwise, if it doesn't move, then the NCAA needs to give in and make the deadline fit the calendar of this camp.
Looking at the list of early entries above, we see more than a few names who are likely to be incredibly disappointed come draft night — from Bassett to Young and numerous faces in-between, we wonder if these players would have made the same decision if they'd actually been able to, you know, test the waters, as the original concept of the rule was intended.


text: We use proprietary and third party's cookies to improve your experience and our services, identifying your Internet Browsing preferences on our website; develop analytic activities and display advertising based on your preferences. If you keep browsing, you accept its use. You can get more information on our Cookie Policy Accept Cookies Policy FIWARE.ArchitectureDescription.Data.MetadataPreprocessing - FIWARE Forge Wiki FIWARE.ArchitectureDescription.Data.MetadataPreprocessing From FIWARE Forge Wiki Redirect page Jump to: navigation, search FIWARE.ArchitectureDescription.Data.MetadataPreprocessing R3 Retrieved from "http://forge.fiware.org/plugins/mediawiki/wiki/fiware/index.php/FIWARE.ArchitectureDescription.Data.MetadataPreprocessing" Views Page Discussion View source History Personal tools Navigation Main page FIWARE Overview FIWARE Tutorials FIWARE Catalogue FIWARE Academy Search Toolbox What links here Related changes Special pages Printable version Permanent link PDF version Create a book Add wiki page Books help This page was last modified on 20 May 2015, at 18:00. This page has been accessed 161 times. Cookies Policy Privacy Policy


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Sam Cronin was sent off with a straight red card in the 82nd minute of San Jose's 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo on Sunday. That means an automatic 1-game suspension for Cronin.
Cronin had a surprised look on his face when the referee whistled the foul and was even more shocked when the red card came out. Ultimately, the referee's decision will cost the Quakes a starting midfielder for their match against FC Dallas on Saturday.
Take a glance at the replay below and you decide whether Cronin's red card was warranted. Did Cronin make enough contact to deserve the red? Did he make contact at all? Were the studs up? You make the call!


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Road construction on Greenwood Road. Glenview Illinois USA. June 2011., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.
Hi everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.
I took this photo this past Tuesday, in north suburban Glenview Illinois USA.
Road construction is "Everywhere" during the Summer season in the greater Chicagoland area.
Greenwood road in north suburban Glenview Illinois near the intersection at Glenview Road, has been the recent site of heavy paving activity.
Aside from the numerous traffic headaches, it looks like this road construction crewis making great progress on the southbound lanes of Greenwood Road.
Hopefully it will be done soon.
Eddie K.


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Jeff Bridges
"We need more kindness"
Jeff Bridges
Hollywood legend Jeff Bridges talks about types of bravery, his favorite role and the secret to making your marriage last.
Mr. Bridges, on set and in private, you often wear a cowboy hat and boots. Are you Hollywood's last true cowboy?
It goes back to my dad, Lloyd Bridges. You know, he was in a couple of good Westerns. I remember he came home in those boots and the hat. And I would always put the outfits on. I thought it was exciting.
Do you have fond memories of your father?
Yes, absolutely. My dad taught me all the basics. He was a great teacher. I really sensed the joy he had for acting. That joy was contagious.
You have three daughters. What kind of a dad were you?
That's one of my regrets. I did my best. But I feel I didn't spend enough time with them because I was working too much. My wife Sue raised them. I played games with them all. I try to spend as much time as possible with them now.
You've been in show business for over 50 years. Do you have a survival tip?
Luck has a lot to do with it. I saw how my father struggled in this industry. It wasn't always easy. But passion and love will carry you through the tough times.
Do you have any dreams left?
Not really, I am a very happy man. I just still want to get better. Otherwise, I'm content.
Do you ever think about retirement?
Sometimes I think about it. After a movie I just want to be me. But then that feeling goes away and I want to do it again.
You've been married to Susan Geston since 1977. In Hollywood, that's an eternity … What's your secret?
Not getting a divorce! No, seriously: Don't call it quits when the going gets rough. Refine yourself, get to know your partner. Obstacles are opportunities to increase your love, I think.
Your new film Only the Brave is about an elite team of firefighters called hotshots. What's special about them?
I guess the biggest difference to a normal firefighter is that they don't use water to fight wildfires. They cut down trees, they dig lines in the sand, they actually use fire to fight oncoming fire. It's a pretty dangerous job.
For which you have to be pretty tough, right?
Yes, it requires extreme fitness and is mentally exhausting. They train year round and learn how to feel uncomfortable for 24 hours a day. They sleep in the dirt and have very little food most of the time while working. A warm meal is a blessing. What makes it all worth it is the brotherhood they have. They have each other's back all the time.
Sadly, the movie is based on a real wildfire that overran and killed 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots in 2013. Is the film an attempt to keep their legacy alive?
Yes, it was one of the main concerns for all of us who were involved in the project. We also wanted to have people on board with real-time experience of this important work, and had actual hotshots on the set, including Duane Steinbrink, the character I played. Duane was one of the men who created the fire crew and he and I talked about his emotions and those of others at the time.
You and Duane have something in common, right?
Yes, Duane has a country band called the Rusty Pistols Cowboy Band, and music is a great passion of mine. There's nothing better than music to bring people together. We used the real Rusty Pistols in the movie.
Do you have first-hand experience fighting wildfires?
I fought fires up in Montana near my ranch. Fires break out up there, and nobody cares who or what you are, you help your neighbor. That's why I found this movie so inspirational. It gives people an idea of who these brave guys are who go into something that all of us try to avoid.
I don't want to be cynical, but it's not always easy
Could we all show a little more bravery?
Bravery is such an interesting thing. Does it take practice to engage in it? We live in a very volatile world right now and I'm trying to battle my own cynicism. I don't want to be cynical, but it's not always easy. Fire is a great symbol. When you see a fire – literally or metaphorically speaking – how do you respond? Do you take action or do you hide away?
But it helps to have someone beside you to support you in what you do, wouldn't you agree?
Absolutely. Life is full of fear but you have people standing next to you to help you turn things around. It's a beautiful message.
Are you a hopeless optimist?
I'm a pragmatic optimist. I am very aware of situations that can be tricky and difficult to manage, but if you have a positive attitude it makes it easier to get through tougher phases in life.
What kinds of questions do you ponder these days?
How do you embrace your opposite? How can you create more kindness in the world? Those are questions I ask myself all the time.
Is this because the United States is more divided now than ever before?
Sure. We are experiencing a mood in our country these days that I have never experienced before. It's tense. That is exactly why we need more gratitude and kindness.
Does it bother you that most people around the world identify you with The Dude from The Big Lebowski?
Are you kidding? Why should it bother me? I am The Dude. This character unites people and makes them happy. After all these years! It makes me very happy.


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FYI - I just picked up 1 of these this morning, they were located on the top shelf above the figures (Along with the A-wings).$49.99 is the price, I was a bit taken back as I thought this was going to be $30, a real shocker indeed. I did not get to open it yet to see if it's a worthy repaint. $39.99 should have been the max this price gouging is crazy!
If the artwork isn't permanent meaning we apply the stickers ourselves, then it has at least some draw for me.
Q3: Dear Hasbro, a boxed image has shown up online of the new Clone Wars Republic Gunship and it has sparked the discussion regarding the label/decal possibilities. Will collectors be able to "personalize" their gunships in regards to the nose art? The box front looks to show at least 2 decos (the "Twi'lek pin-up" and a red circular symbol) are these labels included with the gunship and are there other choices as well? What are they? A3: The deco of the vehicle includes the nose art tampo. It will not be provided on a sticker sheet.
It's permanently applied...A3: The deco of the vehicle includes the nose art tampo. It will not be provided on a sticker sheet.
Just got one for $50... there seem to be plenty to go around mostly all stocked where you can't see them. Notes:- Dark blue canopy hides the figures inside- There is paint on the bottom of the ship that you can't see- Ball turrets are now painted, were formerly clear- No stickers of any kind- All rockets match the ship except the two large ones, which are red- Landing platform has paint on it- The side doors are *extremely* stiff-- I thought they were stuck in place they now move so slowlyThere's definitely more paint on this than previous releases (no doubt an attempt to add some sort of visual value for a few extra pennies) and it is quite nice. The Twi'lek girl on the side seems to be done up in the new animated style, before I thought it was going to be "realistic." It's pretty slick for anyone who doesn't have a Gunship or is jonesing for new Clone Wars goodies, but if this is your second (or fifth), you probably don't need it. Of course, I don't listen to reason, so I had to get one anyway.
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Michael Blumenkrantz, the very acclaimed e17 release manager, and I have been working on Etrophy, and it's ready for a 0.5 release.
Etrophy is a library that manages scores, trophies and unlockables. It will store them and provide views to display them. It could be used by games based on EFL and any other application where such a thing could make sense.
It's already in use by Escape From Booty Bay, Econcentration and Echo. And who knows what else is coming ?
Etrophy can be checked out from E Project's svn repository:
$ svn co http://svn.enlightenment.org/svn/e/trunk/PROTO/etrophy
or downloaded in release tarball form.
Online documentation isn't in E server yet, but can be accessed here.
There are still a lot of tasks to be concluded before the 1.0 release, including adding a remote backend, adding more views, creating some examples and improving docs. Since we are developing it mostly in our free time, between many other projects, anyone willing to help to speed up things a bit will be very, very welcome.