text:
Sowing the lines
New York, Berlin, Copenhagen: Old railroad tracks across the world are reemerging as parks. Everyone is pleased with the extra green areas, but many fear the consequences.
Less than 15 years ago, New York's High Line was nothing more than a disused railroad viaduct. Weeds grew between the 22-meter-high tracks that wound their way from 34th Street to Gansevoort Street, and the homeless found shelter beneath them. The vagrants were pushed out long ago. Between 2006 and 2014, a park came into being right in the middle of Manhattan's West Side. Elegant boardwalks, sound and art installations, wooden benches and tall grasses that sway in the evening breeze replaced the rampant growth of weeds. The tracks, out of service since the 1980s, are now a promenade, a second-story ecosystem, a space for joggers, people out for a stroll, tourists and hedonists. Take a walk on the High Line and you will see people with selfie sticks capturing holiday memories as they pose in front of glass tower blocks containing some of the most expensive apartments in the world.
Since the High Line project designed by New York architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with the landscape planners of James Corner Field Operations was realized, it has been hailed as a showpiece of urban planning, an example of the trend toward transforming our noise and air pollution-racked inner cities into livable places.
Cities all over the world are now attempting to emulate the High Line. Derelict railroad tracks abound. Atlanta is currently in the process of turning the BeltLine, a 35-kilometer stretch of railroad that circles the city center, into walkways and cycle trails; the first section was inaugurated in 2010. In Chicago, the 4.3-kilometer 606 Trail opened in summer 2015 on onetime freight train tracks. At the same time, the final section of the Gleisdreieck park was opened on a former three-way rail junction in Berlin – a 26-hectare site steeped in history between the Kreuzberg and Schöneberg districts, between the eastern and western sections of the city, that lain waste since 1945. Barcelona's answer to the High Line are the Sants elevated gardens, a boulevard built over a disused rail track, which over the next five years will be extended to become a five-kilometer green corridor. And in the South Korean capital, the Seoul Skygarden is currently taking shape atop what used to be an elevated highway. In Miami, where the Metrorail tracks are still in operation, a 16-kilometer walkway and cycling trail is being laid down beneath the tracks and adorned with works by local artists. Known as the "Underline," it aims to encourage the population to walk or cycle more often – instead of always taking the car – through neighborhoods that until recently were regarded as the most dangerous in the USA.
The New York High Line role model: rediscovering public space
So things are really happening in the big cities. Starting in the 1950s, the urban planners were committed to the modernist dogma of optimizing road traffic conditions and keeping the suburbs and the city center, the places where people lived and worked, separate. Now we are seeing an emphatic about-turn. From Paris to Melbourne, bicycle rental systems are being installed, and pedestrian zones and cycle trails are being created where automobiles once parked – all in the name of making downtown areas more attractive. No one openly criticizes the trend toward people-centered as opposed to automobile-centered urban planning, but acclaim for the new green areas is not universal. That's because every positive development appears to encourage further gentrification, which is already a problem in many major cities.
Danish urban planner Jan Gehl, who helps cities around the world to choose smarter ways of improving their public spaces, offers this explanation: "Wherever we have helped to improve quality of life, we soon noticed a pattern emerge. People who would normally move out of town and into the suburbs as soon as they start a family are now preferring to stay in the city because distances are short, they can cycle to work and they like city life. In the places where many people want to be, however, market forces cause real estate prices to rise. At some point, a level is reached that only the wealthy can afford – and the less well off are pushed out of the neighborhood."
The High Line is a textbook example of such processes. The city council had only just drawn up its new zoning plan in 2005, and already you could see the West Side undergo a rapid metamorphosis. When the first section of the High Line Park opened in 2009, tire dealers and diners moved out, making way for new apartment blocks designed by the likes of star architects Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel and Zaha Hadid.
According to a study published by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, prices for properties near the High Line rose by 103 percent between 2003 and 2011. Jeremiah Moss, a blogger and New York Times columnist, raged against the High Line, describing it as a "tourist-clogged catwalk" and a "catalyst for some of the most rapid gentrification in the history of the city." Prices rose considerably last year, too. By the end of 2016, the average price for a two-bedroom apartment in West Chelsea was 2.95 million U.S. dollars, 40 percent up on the previous year.
This puts the High Line in a new category of green spaces. Whereas previously, parks were created to provide the population with opportunities for rest and recreation; the new generation pursues another goal: upgrading. The converted viaducts are literally high-flying social platforms. Cafés with names like "Fig & Olive" wear a global look that works as well in New York as it does in Barcelona or Seoul. Anyone who doesn't fit into the picture – homeless people, junkies, or simply those unwilling to shell out six dollars for a cup of coffee – is marginalized. And the morbid charm of the empty industrial buildings that were once the key attraction of the Meatpacking District has now also evaporated.
"You might ask whether we ought to stop improving cities in order to halt such developments," says Gehl. For the 80-year-old, who has been committed to creating people-friendly cities for the past 50 years or so, that is not an option. Instead, the solution is to place the needs of the population over the wishes of the project developers.
Gehl's native Copenhagen led the way: In multiethnic Nørrebro, a socially challenged area of the Danish capital, the architects of the Bjarke Ingels Group worked alongside the landscape planners at Topotek 1 and the artist group Superflex to develop the Superkilen Park on a former railroad site. Surveys had shown that many immigrants missed the parks and public spaces of their native country. This gave the planners the idea of importing design elements from more than 60 countries. Superkilen, which opened in 2012, now has Russian neon signs, a Moroccan fountain, a Japanese slide and fitness equipment like that found on Muscle Beach. There are certainly plenty of incentives there to start exercising – a factor that Gehl sees as all-important in modern urban planning: "The human being is an animal designed for movement."
The plan worked; the locals love their park. But even in Nørrebro, the inevitable is happening and a first breeze of gentrification has begun to blow. These days, travel guides are listing Superkilen among Copenhagen's top ten tourist attractions. The first vintage stores and hipster cafés are opening nearby. "Prices will rise here, too," Gehl suspects, "we designers cannot solve that problem." But he does have a suggestion to put forward: "If we can make one neighborhood more attractive with parks, then let us simply create more of these places all over the city, and especially in those areas inhabited by people whose lives are not so easy."
This story first appeared in Lufthansa Exclusive, the frequent traveller magazine. For more information about Lufthansa Miles & More offers, please click here.


text:
Sex is a dangerous, but necessary, part of life. Across the animal kingdom, there are a multitude of things that can go wrong. You could be injured in a fight by someone who wants to steal your mate, or maybe your partner eats you because you're taking too long. Either way, nature must have a pretty good reason for the traumatizing effects of sex.
|A male bed bug traumatically inseminates a female. Image by
Rickard Ignell at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
posted at Wikimedia Commons.
With what seems like a horrific way of reproducing, it's hard to imagine that there are any benefits for the female. I'm sure you can come up with a plethora of things that could go wrong: infection, damage of major organs, bleeding, even death. Researchers Ted Morrow and Göran Arnqvist with Uppsala University in Sweden, argue that the female has a counter-adaptation to this antagonistic strategy. The area of the abdomen that the male pierces has been modified into a pocket lined with specialized tissues to prevent serious damage to the female. This area is termed the spermalege. Edward and Göran hypothesized that sex is not harmful to the female if the spermalege is punctured, but can be dangerous if any other area is pierced. They also hypothesized that more mating occurrences and improper punctures would reduce the lifespan of the female.
To test their hypotheses, Edward and Göran observed the number of times a female was inseminated and where she was pierced (on the spermalege or somewhere else). They had two set-ups to observe mating rate: (1) a female was placed with four males where lots of mating would take place and (2) a female was placed with four males, three of which had their penis glued to their abdomen so that they could not mate. These two set-ups allowed the researchers to observe the differences in female life span between those who had a high mating rate and those who had a low mating rate. Then, the researchers wanted to see where the female was being pierced and how that affected her life span. In addition to traumatic insemination by male bed bugs, the researchers used a pin to pierce the spermalege or an area outside the spermalege and then compared the damage.
The study produced two big results. First, females who mated more had a shorter lifespan than those who mated less. This was because the sperm and other fluids deposited caused an immune response as they were seen as foreign objects; too much of these foreign substances can have negative effects on the organism. Second, females that were pierced through the spermalege lived longer than those who were pierced outside the spermalege, suggesting that the spermalege functions to reduce damage and/or infection during insemination.
So what are the benefits of traumatic insemination and how does the spermalege reduce the costs to the female? Well, there is a lot of paternal ambiguity in the animal kingdom. The direct deposition of sperm into the abdomen may ensure paternity by getting the sperm as close to the ovaries as possible before another male bed bug can mate with her. This method also reduces courtship time and avoids female resistance, meaning that other males may not have the chance to steal the female away. The spermalege protects females from traumatic insemination by localizing damage to one area that can easily repair itself. Since the spermalege is lined with cuticle, it prevents the leakage of blood and sperm from the wound. The spermalege may also function to prevent entry of pathogens into the bloodstream. In the end, this traumatic insemination is no more dangerous than any other kind of sex, however painful and horrible it sounds. It may even be less risky if done correctly.
For more information, check out:
Morrow, E., & Arnqvist, G. (2003). Costly traumatic insemination and a female counter-adaptation in bed bugs Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 270 (1531), 2377-2381 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2003.2514

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Farmington River Tubing will put you and your friends in our specially designed river tubes for a 2.5 mile ride down the wild and scenic Farmington River. Traveling over three sets of rapids, you'll experience a thrill as you splash through the white water.read more
Looking for excitement? Looking for a thrill? Check out this video that shows you the Farmington River and how much fun it can be to go tubing down it. This is a 30 second commercial that airs on Cable Television.
watch video
For customized directions: Use an internet direction service. Our address is: 92 Main Street, New Hartford CT, 06057.find us!


text:
Charles Hugh Smith and I are on the exact same page. He just sent me his latest article for your enjoyment.
The Hidden Death of the Ownership Society (February 6, 2013)
The foundation of the neofeudal economy is this: the right of ownership still exists in name, but the actual ownership of political and financial power is concentrated in the hands of a few.
The core of American liberty is widespread private ownership of property.The Founding Fathers were quite clear on the necessity of protecting private ownership from encroachment by a covertly created monarchical Empire or a financial Aristocracy.
Private ownership protected liberty and the distribution of wealth by enabling widespread ownership of "the means of production" (land, tools, intellectual property, enterprises) and home ownership.
Thus the correlation between prosperity, widespread ownership of small businesses and homes and a relatively modest disparity of private wealth. When ownership of property becomes concentrated into a rentier class (i.e. a financial Aristocracy) that is protected by a Monocrat Central State, income disparity shoots up and prosperity is concentrated in the hands of the political and financial Elites.


text:
Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Eman al-Obeidy, the woman who says forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi raped her, is grateful for support she has received, said CNN's Nic Robertson, who met briefly with her Wednesday.
"She is a very strong lady who told me to thank all (the) people who have stopped her case from disappearing," Robertson said.
Al-Obeidy said she had a message for humanitarian organizations: They should come to Tripoli and "see how life is here," he said.
She said she is still recovering physically from the alleged assault and displayed faded bruises and rope burn marks on her wrists, Robertson said. But, she told him, she is unable to leave Tripoli and be reunited with her family and faces abuse whenever she leaves her house, he said.
The Libyan government is insisting on a review of the interview by a government representative before transmission. The review was scheduled Wednesday night, but an apparently imminent airstrike postponed the review until Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, al-Obeidy's mother said Wednesday that talking to her daughter by telephone Tuesday night was an emotional experience.
"Of course, I felt worse," Aisha Ahmad said. "Because she was crying. I couldn't understand a word because she was crying. She even made me cry."
The two women spoke on Tuesday. Al-Obeidy told her mother that a court employee pulled a weapon on her when she went to a courthouse.
The 29-year-old law school graduate burst into a Tripoli hotel last month to tell her story to journalists. Authorities rushed her away from the hotel, but she is no longer in custody. Still, she told CNN's "AC360" Tuesday she fears for her safety in Tripoli, which she called a "large prison." She said authorities had taken her passport and were not letting her cross into Tunisia.
Al-Obeidy: Tripoli is a prison
Al-Obeidy said she spent 72 hours under interrogation after being dragged away from the Tripoli hotel where she tried to tell journalists about her alleged abuse. She has said the public statements from a state TV anchor and government officials, who initially called her mentally ill, drunk and a prostitute, have ruined her reputation.
Ahmad, who lives in the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk, said her daughter told her in the call "she was trapped. She said, 'They're taking me back and forth, interrogating me, hitting me.' She said, 'They want to kill me. Help me, come and get me,' she said. 'Where are the human rights groups?' "
Asked how she is coping, Ahmad said, "Our hope in God is very strong."
She told her daughter Tuesday that the world is praying for her and not to be afraid.
On whether she has a message for those who might be listening, Ahmad said, "I want [President] Obama and all the Western world to get involved and bring me back my daughter. Just bring her back to me. I would like to tell the mothers all over the world, and the Arab world, that if something happens to someone, they need to speak out. They just need to speak out."
Al-Obeidy burst into the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli on March 26 while international journalists staying there were having breakfast. She told reporters she had been taken from a checkpoint east of Tripoli, held against her will for two days and was beaten and raped by 15 men.
When CNN saw her in March, al-Obeidy's legs and face were bruised and she had blood on her right inner thigh. Her visible injuries appeared to support her allegations.
Human Rights Watch, in a statement Wednesday, called for Libyan authorities to immediately allow al-Obeidy to leave Tripoli and receive medical care. Nadya Khalife, the Middle East women's rights researcher for the organization, said authorities have further victimized al-Obeidy by refusing to allow her to leave Tripoli.
"It's very difficult for women in Libyan society to report that they have been raped because of the shame and fear they feel, and it has been even more difficult for al-Obeidy," Khalife said. "But she has courageously ignored all these barriers to tell her story to the world."
CNN's Reza Sayah contributed to this report
Watch Anderson Cooper 360° weeknights 8pm ET. For the latest from AC360° click here.


text:
Accio Quote! is a Harry Potter and J. K. Rowling reference website founded by Deborah Skinner (a.k.a. "Madam Scoop") and Lisa Bunker in 2001. It was originally founded under the title Quick Quote Quill (inspired by the magical quill with a similar name) and was also later known by the name Madam Scoop's Index to J.K. Rowling Interviews. The current title is referential of the incantation for the Summoning Charm. The site has not been updated to any significant degree since 2009 (save occasional news updates), but remains a useful resource for fans.
Accio Quote! is comprised mainly of a collection of interviews featuring Harry Potter series author J. K. Rowling, mostly regarding the Harry Potter books, but occasionally other topics. Occasionally interviews with others involved in the creation of the Harry Potter franchise are featured, as well as group interviews with Rowling and other individuals.
Visitors to the site may browse interviews by date, or explore Rowling's comments on specific topics. The site also includes links to the original audio or video for a number of interviews, though in some instances, these may be out of date. Additionally included is a list of hoaxes and rumours related to the series.
Site status
- Beginning around mid April 2012, all pages on the site displayed an HTTP 500 error message.
- As of at least May 13, 2012, the site is functioning again, and news updates are being posted, apparently indicating a continued intention to keep the site open.
- As of at least August 2012, however, the site is once again non-functional. Many pages on the site, though, remain available through the service Web Archive.
- The site is now working again, as of mid October 2012.
- As of May 4th, 2013, the site seems down again, with "Unable to connect to server" error displayed. As of June 11, 2013, however, it was working again.


text:
First, draw your designs on tracing paper in pencil, make sure they fit on your size block.
Tomorrow is my Valentine's Card workshop at Outgrown Children's boutique. I thought it'd be fun to carve some simple heart shapes for them to stamp. I got this class pack of Staedtler carving blocks from Blick, they are 1.5 x 1.5 , perfect size for little hands to hold! It's been a while since I carved my own stamps but its pretty simple. You will probably gouge your finger {i did!} but that's part of the fun :)
Next, flip the tracing paper onto your block and rub the back of it. I used a bone folder, but a spoon will work.
Once your image has transferred, define the shape.
I got these cutting tools from my school art department, but I hear great things about Speedball cutters. I like using the straight edged blade, holding it vertically to trace the outline of the design.
Carve away from your design, and go slow! Don't watch SATC while watching it either, too distracting.
Ink, then stamp! You may want to adjust your design after you see it stamped. Don't be discouraged if the design isn't exactly what you pictured. Just don't go too crazy because its really easy to lose the original design.
These are the stamps I carved for the workshop tomorrow.
And how they look stamped. Hope the kids like them!
For an in depth tutorial on stamp carving, try this class.


text:
The Walker Lake Dome Project, built by Universal Yoyodyne and announced on March 30, 2012, intends to enclose the town of Westwood, California, in the volcanic northeast region of the state. http://sheildgeometry.com/specifications.html; "Interestingly, Westwood had a very large indoor shopping mall as far back as the 1930s, as well as a large theater, skating rink and club for the mill workers. The town was sold in 1944 to the Fruit Growers Supply Company, today known as part of Sunkist… The [2010] Census reported that 1,647 people (100% of the population) lived in households..and 0 (0%) were institutionalized." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westwood,_California
"The company plans on using the town as a proving ground for technology that might one day enclose major U.S. cities, especially those prone to weather related disasters…" http://www.susanvillestuff.com/2012/04/anaheim-company-announces-plans-for-westwood-dome/
Sunkist Growers, Inc "is the largest fresh produce shipper in the United States, the most diversified citrus processing and marketing operation in the world, and one of California's largest land-owners." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunkist_Growers; "[Albert D.] Lasker is largely responsible for America's infatuation with orange juice. Lord & Thomas acquired the Sunkist Growers, Incorporated account in 1908, when Lasker was 28…" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_D._Lasker Formerly timberland harvested for Sunkist packing boxes, the Westwood area and other lumber centers are now managed forests: http://www.foresthistory.org/Publications/FHT/FHTSpringFall2006/FHT_2006_Citrus.pdf
Cyborg publications: http://www.brown.edu/Departments/MCM/amm/archive/cyborgArch.html


text:
I love hummus and it's so easy to make at home! I found this great recipe that I've been using with a few minor adjustments. The biggest difference is I rinse and cook the chickpeas first. I've found that it makes the finished hummus taste much better. I also cook the garlic in my toaster oven. No point in heating up the whole kitchen for 3 little cloves!
3 large garlic cloves, peeled
1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 15 oz. can chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans), drained & rinsed
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons tahini paste
3 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon paprika
- Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place garlic cloves on a small piece of foil and drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Seal foil to form a pouch, and roast garlic in oven until soft, about 20 minutes.
- Pour chickpeas into a microwavable container. Cover and cook on high 2-3 minutes. Let cool slightly and transfer to the bowl of a food processor.
- Add the garlic, lemon juice, tahini paste, water, salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, and 1 tablespoon olive oil, and process until the texture is light and fluffy but not entirely smooth, about 2 minutes.
I generally serve hummus with tortilla chips or crackers, but it's also great with sliced vegetables and pita bread.


text:
Graham Greene
Graham Greene (Henry Graham Greene), 1904–91, English novelist and playwright. Although most of his works combine elements of the detective story, the spy thriller, and the psychological drama, his novels are essentially parables of the damned. Greene's heroes realize their sins and achieve salvation only through great pain and soul-searching agony. A Roman Catholic convert (1926), he was intensely concerned with the moral problems of humans in relation to God. Some of his 26 novels have been ranked as thrillers, and Greene himself called such works as Stamboul Train (1932; U.S. title, Orient Express) and The Ministry of Fear (1943)
to distinguish them from his more serious efforts. His major works, which include Brighton Rock (1938), The Power and the Glory (1940), The Heart of the Matter (1948), and The End of the Affair (1951), mark him as a novelist of high distinction.
Greene was a superb journalist, a sometime British spy, and a world traveler, often courting danger in various international wars and revolutions and participating in local high and low life in dozens of famous and obscure corners of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Many of his novels are set in locations with which he had personal experience, sites often of topical journalistic interest: The Quiet American (1955) a prescient account of early American involvement in Vietnam; Our Man in Havana (1958), set in Cuba; A Burnt-Out Case (1961), in the Belgian Congo just before its independence; The Comedians (1966), in François Duvalier's Haiti; and The Captain and the Enemy (1980), in Panama. His fine sense of comedy is displayed in the short-story collection May We Borrow Your Husband? (1967) and the novel Travels with My Aunt (1969). Greene also wrote several plays, including The Living Room (1953) and The Potting Shed (1957), both thinly disguised religious dramas, and The Complaisant Lover (1959), a witty and intelligent play about marriage and infidelity. He also is noted for his essays, travel books, film criticism, and film scripts, including the mystery melodrama The Third Man (1950).
See his autobiographies (1971, 1980) and his posthumously published A World of My Own: A Dream Diary (1995); S. Hazzard, Greene on Capri: A Memoir (2000); R. Greene, ed., Graham Greene: A Life in Letters (2008); biographies by M. Shelden (1994) and N. Sherry (3 vol., 1989–2004); studies by H. J. Donaghy (1983), A. A. De Vitis (1986), and J. Meyers, ed. (1990).


text:
Summer is upon us which means another season to bask in the rays for that sun-kissed bronze look and glow. The only problem is, the older we get the more collagen we lose, and the more sun we attract, the more wrinkles and dark spots come with it. Fortunately for us, Dr. Winnie Moses, M.D. is the Founder and Medical Director at Parfaire Medical Aesthetic in Pasadena, and she has the answers to help you look younger and keep safer, without exorbitant costs and medical procedures like facelifts. As an added bonus you won't have to drive to Beverly Hills in L.A. traffic to get this advanced technology!
Parfaire is the French word for completion or to perfect one's performance and at Parfaire Medical Aesthetic, you will get exactly that. Dr. Winnie uses FORMA by Inmode an exclusive procedure to improve your skin to perfection by creating a silkier skin with a healthier glow. Beginning at age 30, we lose collagen each year which results in that sagging skin on our cheekbones, lower face, and under the chin. FORMA uses radio-frequency energy that creates new collagen and improves the elasticity for long-lasting results for your appearance. One of the unique aspects about FORMA is that it can be used for all skin types, and it is relatively painless, with no down-time.
Unlike other aesthetic places I have been to, Parfaire Medical Aesthetic offers unique and pampered services that make you feel like a VAULED VIP. Upon checking in, you are greeted with gracious hospitality and treated to an assortment of beverages including your favorite wines. Once you are relaxed, you are invited into one of the beautiful clinician rooms where you are provided with robes and blankets for your comfort. The rooms are mindfully decorated with aroma therapy, relaxing music, and delicate floral. I especially enjoyed my FORMA treatment because it was warm to the touch, similar to heated stones; the process was tranquil and soothing as Dr. Winnie has the magic touch explaining the procedure step-by-step to alleviate any undue stress.
In addition to the FORMA procedure, Parfaire Medical Aesthetic offers a wide array of advanced technological procedure including FRACTORA which rejuvenates and restores your skin; LUMECCA for skin renewal and clarity; and my personal favorite KYBELLA, a prescription medicine which focuses on the fullness beneath your chin by eliminating that annoying double chin. Parfaire also provides fan favorites such as IPL Photo-Facial, Skin Tightening, Acne, Scar, or Melasma Correction, Cellulite Reduction, Body Sculpting, Laser Hair Removal, Collagen Stimulation, or Injectables such as Botox and Juvederm.
Dr. Winnie Moses, M.D. earned a Master's degree in Biochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines where she graduated with honors and she is published in the Journal of Applied Chemistry. Dr. Winnie also received her medical degree and completed her residency training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She graduated with honors and was awarded the prestigious Janet M. Glasgow Award for being the top student in her class.
Dr. Winnie established Parfaire Medical Aesthetics in Pasadena in 2015 to provide specialty services with Beverly Hills' class, at reasonable rates to the San Gabriel Valley area. Parfaire Medical Aesthetics in Pasadena is located at 101 S. Madison Ave. in the heart of Old Town Pasadena with free parking in the front and free VIP parking in the back with a private back entrance to the facility.
Dr. Winnie's passion and drive to help people establish their best looks are evident, as her staff replicates her exquisite demeanor in providing exceptional customer care with the most effective cosmetic treatments. Dr. Winnie is recognized as an outstanding woman in her area of expertise and she will provide you with only excellent care. If you are tired of looking old and washed up and eager to greet summer with a new and radiant look, give Dr. Winnie's staff a call at Parfaire Medical Aesthetics today!
You can learn more about Parfaire Medical Aesthetics by visiting www.parfaire.com or to get your Free $50 Gift Card with Initial Consultation
Parfaire Medical Aesthetics – 101 S. Madison Ave. Pasadena, CA 91101/626.844.7273


text:
ChapStick® Limited Edition Cheerful Lips Kits
Description: Get lips mistletoe ready with ChapStick® holiday offerings! ChapStick® Cheerful Lips Kits are a perfect keepsake that will help moisturize and protect dry, chapped lips all year long. Presented in three colorful designs, each collector tin contains ChapStick® Classics including Cherry, Strawberry, and Spearmint. The three lip balms are packaged together in an adorable tin that makes for a fashionable keepsake and gift. ChapStick® Cheerful Lips Kits are available exclusively at Target, beginning November 4, 2012 in the seasonal aisle.
Price: $4.99


text:
Business Process Modelling (BPM) is a modern term and methodology that has evolved through names and distinct periods, starting 'division of labour' of the late 1700s, when production first transferred into factories from cottage industry. More explanation is in the historical growth below.
Broadly the term 'business' in Business Process Model/Modelling/modeling is interchangeable with 'organisation'. Business Process Modelling is not just performed in companies that are conventional; the methodology is increasingly appropriate to all kinds of other organisations, for example government agencies and departments, cooperatives, mutuals and charities, etc.
'Business Process Management' is a good example of a related and distinct meaning.
Business Process Modeling Examples
Relevant url — http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/architecture/library/ar-undprocmod/


text:
Prosecutor will not seek death penalty in Indiana house blast, says jury never chooses that
INDIANAPOLIS – A Marion County prosecutor said Monday he won't seek the death penalty for three people charged in a deadly Indianapolis house explosion because a jury is unlikely to choose that option.
Prosecutor Terry Curry announced he will seek life sentences without parole if a jury convicts Monserrate Shirley, her boyfriend Mark Leonard and his brother, Bob Leonard. All three face murder, arson and conspiracy charges in the Nov. 10 blast that destroyed dozens of homes and killed two people.
"If we go down a path that is easily a 10-, 12-, 15-year process, we want a pretty significant comfort level that at the end of the day it will result in the punishment requested," Curry said. "Experience shows that the likelihood that anyone would ever be executed when a request for the death penalty is filed is highly unlikely."
Indiana University law professor Fran Watson pointed out that until last week, when a Lake County jury recommended the death sentence for a Gary man convicted of killing his wife and two stepchildren, an Indiana jury had not suggested the punishment in three years.
The availability of life without parole also has made juries less likely to deliver a death sentence, she said.
Investigators say Shirley and the Leonards intentionally created a gas explosion in Shirley's home in hopes of collecting insurance money. Thirty-three homes in the Richmond Hill subdivision on the far south side of Indianapolis were damaged so extensively they had to be demolished.
A microwave set to start on a timer sparked the explosion in Shirley's gas-filled home, Curry said. Investigators determined that a gas fireplace valve and a gas line regulator in the house were removed. Investigators believe the trio also tried but failed to blow up Shirley's home the weekend before.
John and Jennifer Longworth died after the explosion ignited another explosion and resulting fire at their house. Curry said he consulted with the victims' parents, but declined to say if they supported his decision to seek life without parole.
Curry also announced new charges. The state has filed a motion to add a felony count of arson against all three defendants for damage to houses in the neighborhood that did not require demolition.
The state also requested a felony charge of insurance fraud against Shirley and felony charges of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud against Shirley and Mark Leonard.
Shirley's attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Associated Press writer Ken Kusmer contributed to this report.


text:
Five essays on man and nature
Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1954 - Philosophy - 120 pages
From inside the book
20 pages matching genius in this book
Where's the rest of this book?
Results 1-3 of 20
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Common terms and phrases
action affection Alfred Harbage animal antinomian appear beauty become behold believe Bliss Perry cause character divine dream earth edited elements Emanuel Swedenborg essays eternal existence fable fact Fate force genius Goethe heaven hour human idea impressionable individual instinct intellect izzled labor language lature light limp band live look man's matter means Mencius mind moral sentiment mountain nature necessity never numbers objects observed party perfect persons Phi Beta Kappa philosopher phrenologist plant Plotinus poet politics present Pythagoras race Ralph Waldo Emerson relation religion scholar seen sense shines society Sophocles soul spirit stand stars success temperament Theodore Spencer things thought tion to-day true truth unity University University of Oregon virtue whilst whole wind wisdom wise Yale University Zoroaster


text:
In our pre-election prediction, we gave two simple reasons that Obama was going to win.
One was that the polling was on his side. The other was that the economy, far from being a big issue for Romney to run on, was a tailwind for Obama.
In UBS' new 'Macro Keys' note, economist Maury N. Harris confirms that Obama was helped by the economy by pointing to the below chart.
What it shows is simple. Overwhelmingly, Presidents who saw a sharp drop in the unemployment rate the year of their election, won. Presidents who didn't see a drop didn't.
This isn't to say that Obama did great on the economy, or that another President couldn't have done better. But it is what it is. He had a historically insurmountable economic tailwind. The upshot is that there's nothing special about this election. Forget demographics. Forget the youth vote. Forget Project Orca (Romney's aweful Get-Out-The-Vote scheme). The economy had this one baked into the cake.
HT: @Ktr8der.


text:
Here's a sampling of recent/active threads from the PSC Phillies message board. Click the thread title to get the latest news and updates and to participate in the discussion: Thread: The agenda re: Jimmy Rollins Thread: Is a small part of you still holding out hope they can make a run? Thread: David Murphy "Lets [More…]
Aug 172012


text:
Growing pressure to mitigate the effects of climate change is prompting more and more companies to look at ways of reducing their carbon footprint. One highly promising avenue involves capturing "waste" streams of this greenhouse gas from industrial processes and putting it to good use. It can be utilised, for instance, as a feedstock to create other useful commodities including chemicals, polymers and fuels such as dimethyl ether.色色影院
Pioneering CO? recycling
Catalyst upscaling in preparation for commercial maturity
The first steps in this project entailed developing a catalyst capable of activating CO2, which is an inert gas. Once the team had developed two catalysts, they went on to optimise the process flow and increase energy efficiency. Now, following successful completion of nickel catalyst tests at Linde's Pilot Reformer research facility at Pullach near Munich, the team is focusing on upscaling the catalyst in preparation for commercial production.
[1] Research funding references 0327856 and 03ET1282.


text:
We live in a world where we are constantly inundated by visual and aural media. Modern technologies such as the Internet, iPhones, and television have made it virtually impossible to escape this barrage of sights and sounds. This project will address our growing dependence on technology in this Information Age by transforming an H.P. Lovecraft short story entitled The Music of Erich Zann into a black-and-white silent film complete with an original score. And hopefully, it will be entertaining to boot!
This blog will chronicle the production process, from set and makeup designs to editing and score recordings. Numerous students working on the film will keep this blog updated, showing how the individual portions come together to form a cohesive film. It will also keep track of the copious amounts of caffeine that will be imbibed by cast and crew and serve as a countdown to the film's premiere, which will be complete with a live student band performing as the movie is screened.
– Kyle McCloskey '11


text:
Advance Praise for The Art of Influence
"Effortlessly master the most powerful and profitable of art forms. Drink deeply of the wisdom of this influential book."
–Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul
"A fantastic little book that reminds us of the importance of integrity and attitude in leadership. A fresh and fun look at the subject of influence."
–Jeffrey Fox, New York Times bestselling author of How to Become CEO
"The Art of Influence is a must-read for anyone desiring the wisdom to influence others." –Jim Rohn, author of The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle
"The Art of Influence . . . reminds us of the bedrock fundamentals of not only influence, but of a life well lived."
–Mark Sanborn, author of The Fred Factor


text:
Sea Salt Is Our Expression Of Italy
At Sea Salt we are passionate about Italian food culture and we are devoted to the pleasure of food, wine and conviviality. At Sea Salt we strive to offer you our interpretation and our celebration of an authentic Italian meal and dining experience. From our heritage and passion, our many travels and experiences, we try and transport each diner to Italy with our ambiance, food, wine and service. As with Italian tradition we believe the kitchen and the table are the centers of pleasure, culture, and community and we endeavor to be true to this "Slow Food" ethos.
The Essence of Sea Salt
At Sea Salt we cook with the seasons, using the freshest natural ingredients available to us from quality sustainable artisan producers and we always procure our ingredients locally whenever possible. We have confidence in simplicity and balance, letting the quality of our ingredients speak for themselves by showcasing natural food pairings, classic regional Italian recipes, and traditional cooking techniques. We do not look at ourselves as cooks and servers merely feeding and entertaining you but as artisan's crafting for you a quality food, wine and dining experience that is uniquely Italian.
What Is Slow Food
The Slow Food movement was founded in 1986 by Carlo Petrini and a group of 62 inspired gastronomes in the little Piedmontese township of Bra, Italy as an act of protecting Italian food culture in opposition to an attempt by McDonald's to place its golden arches in the Piazza di Spagna area of Rome. By 1989 Slow Food had mushroomed into an international movement with delegates in 16 different countries to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people's dwindling interest in the food they ate, where it came from, and how it tasted. Slow Food's original Manifesto was to cultivate public appreciation for ecologically, sustainably, and locally grown heirloom seasonal food and wine, artisanal food production, and the preservation of cultural food heritage and tradition where the kitchen and the table are the centers of pleasure, culture and community. The Slow Food Manifesto opposed fast cheap food and the values and systems of fast life and globalized GMO food production in favor of living a slower and more harmonious rhythm of life with one another, with our local environments and the planet.
Sea Salt Is Clean And Green:
Along with using the freshest and best sustainably produced food products available, Sea Salt only uses pure unadulterated Sea Salt and Extra Virgin Olive Oil to season its dishes. Our food tastes only of what it is: clean, pure, wholesome, and soul satisfying! Taste, experience, and feel the difference, and eat your vegetables! We strive to be as green as possible and leave the smallest "eco-footprint" we can. Our building is LEEDS certified. We have an advanced Reverse Osmosis & Carbon Filter Water Purification- Carbonation System and produce our own pure water without charge to our guests. By sourcing our ingredients locally as much as possible and in the freshest and least processed state we minimize our carbon-footprint and packaging waste and maximize wholesomeness, nutrition, flavor and taste. We are single-stream recyclers, recycling 80% of our waste including 100% of our glass, cardboard, metal and plastic food containers.
Buon Appetito!


text:
Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
Hello all,The linuxmce.com web site, under the heading "Why buy a licensed LinuxMCE product? What's the difference?", implies that there are commercial versions of Linux MCE available for purchase. However, after googling around for awhile I can't find any distributers or manufacturers of such a product. Is anyone aware of a turn-key product based on Linux MCE that I could just purchase, plug in and be up and running within minutes?Thanks!


text:
Hello everyone.
I am sorry to announce that my pictures host (HostingPics, a free french host) is closing within a few weeks. I won't lose the pictures themselves because I have several local copies, and most things are on my blog) but the pictures won't be visible in the posts of this forum any longer.
Again, sorry for the inconvenience (if any ). For the future posts, I will use another solution of course.


text:
See What Attendees & Exhibitors are saying:
"BlogWorld is seriously one of the best conferences I've been to in a long time. THANK YOU."
— Ben Huh, Cheezburger Network
"This will be the one show where our industry will get together every year."
— Leo Laporte, This Week in Tech
"BlogWorld is the show I look forward to all year!"
— Lisa Barone, Outspoken Media
"This year I got so many emails asking me if I was going that I decided I had to come. I do audience development for a web T.V. company and it turns out that community management gets thrown in to what I do so I'm trying to stay up-to-date on what's new. This seminar was awesome—they nailed it because they gave actionable items that I can use right away. Most panels are people just discussing things and talking about viewpoints, but this was very to the point…People should attend Blogworld and New Media Expo to get actionable, tangible suggestions and ideas that they can take home and apply to their business as well as for the invaluable networking opportunities. The reason I was able to sell my employer on the event is because so many of our partners sent emails asking us if we were attending and telling us that they would be there."
— Chris Lesinski, Revision3
"There is such a diversity of people and interesting tracks here. I didn't even know there was a social health track this year, and now I'm going to all those sessions because it's really cool information about that topic. So I think that kind of niche marketing is a good approach; where it isn't generalized by just blogging or social media, but talks about how you can use it with video, health, non-profit or other sectors like that…This is a great show and I keep coming back every year—which I don't do with most conferences. The show markets itself as the largest gathering of new media specialists and bloggers and I really think that is true…Blogworld is still the place where you'll run into the big players in the industry; it's a great diverse group of people that are active online and not in just one little niche. Here, you get a good taste of the breadth and scope of social media and blogging by coming to this one event."
— JD Lasica, Socialmedia.biz
"My experience at Blogworld has been great—I love it! I've learned more in the past few days than I think I've ever learned before. I'm a blogger and I didn't know what I would get out of the show, but I've gotten more than I could ever imagine. Building Community and Monetizing a Blog were really good sessions. The Keynote with Scott was fantastic. I didn't really know what to expect from the expo, but as I walk around I am seeing so many companies angled at bloggers and I'm happy to see them…I've been to a lot of conferences, being in IT, and this is by far the best…Here, people are actually up there talking, where at other conferences they are just reading from a power point. I love the dynamic here. I will be back next year for sure!"
— Shane Ketterman, Rewire Media Group
"The show has been really informative and I have learned a lot. I was just at a booth and I had never heard about this particular service before, so the vendors are very interesting to talk to. I have a blog and I do a podcasting, so my goal for attending is to learn how to drive traffic to my sites and to do what I do more efficiently. I've learned a lot just in the hour and a half that I have been here on exactly that."
— Rod Adams, Raw Business Solutions
"This is my first time attending Blogworld. I attend a variety of tech shows. Blogworld is great though—I asked people about last year and they say it's gotten bigger and better. This show attracts a lot of people who are well known and high profile in the industry, which is great. I didn't attend because of them, but being able to see them and connect with them is very valuable. I talk to them all the time online so it's good to see them face-to-face…I just come to make sure that we are on top of everything new."
— Brandon Provinski, FAQ
"We are coming from the healthcare sector, so we getting some ideas that we can take back to our company. We are engaging our Kaiser members through twitter right now. Part of our professional development is to attend conferences. We did some research to find events in social media and chose this one because we are looking towards the future of social media."
— Elsa Gutierrez, Kaiser Permanente
"I have been to every BlogWorld since they first started and they keep getting better. The level of expertise in the speakers and panels are at the highest level. Every time I attend the conference, I leave filled with new ideas, tactics and strategies that I take home and implement. The sponsors and exhibitors are phenomenal and extremely relevant to those who blog or engage on the social web."
— Michael Brito, Edelman
"The panel I was on was filled with corporate blog rockstar talent from Dell, Facebook, Yahoo!, and LinkedIn. We enjoyed addressing the standing-room only venue and the feedback I got from the audience was that they left with some great new information to help their blogging and social media efforts."
— Thomas Hoehn, Kodak
"At BlogWorld, we met awesome, passionate writers who have gone on to become regular contributors to some of our biggest sites, like Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! Movies, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Shine and omg!."
— Darnell Witt, Sr. Community Manager, Yahoo! Contributor Network
"The show has gone great…The quality of the people we are seeing is great…exactly who we were hoping to see…this seems to be one of the only publisher friendly events that gives you the opportunity to see publishers from all walks of life."
— Daniel Weiss, Lijit
"Best in the world. We flew all the way from korea just for this event…awesomeness!"
— David Lee, Wetoku
"Despite being a social network at our core, we are based around gaming, music and indie film…We are absolutely meeting our objectives here. Our 18-34 year-old target market is who's approaching our booth. I've been to other shows and I've never had the staff try to help get me interviews. It's the little things like that that show how supportive this show is. There is no better way to reach the blogging community than to be here…this is the best way to reach out to bloggers to get them talking about your product to their audience."
— JD Carr, Urthots.com
"The show has been phenomenal for us. We are launching a product, which we announced live from Blogworld this morning. The influencers for the customers that we designed this product for are attendees of Blogworld. We are absolutely feeling like we have met our objectives…The crowd looks great and the speakers are a good draw for attendees. The traffic has been really good business — the people stopping by our booth are very interested, engaged and willing to ask questions. They aren't just looking for handouts; they are really interested in learning about the product."
— Kathy Edwards, Lexmark
"Blogworld delivers the audience that we want to see; the people that we want to talk to. The show gives us the demographic that is pertinent to our company—whether it's the actual blogger or people that pitch and communicate with bloggers…they are all here…We love Blogworld—it's amazing. The traffic has been great."
— Patrick Johnson & David Spinks, Blogdash
"The show has been great and very informative. I'm here to introduce some blogging software and it's been great to talk to bloggers to see what they think. I am a blogger so it's also been great to talk with other bloggers to learn about other things that I can do with my blog. I have never attended Blogworld before; I've never even been to America before. I would say that so far the trip has been worth it. Yesterday I went to a few of the talks and they were really helpful…In terms of exhibitors, the Expo seems to cover a wide range—and a lot that I had never even heard of…I like the fact that this show is focused. I feel like there isn't enough out there for bloggers or for people that want to start up and don't know what to do or where to start. I think that is where Blogworld has been really helpful. If you look at the talks that are happening here—even for someone like me that has been blogging for years—you can speak to someone that has the experience in the places you need it. It's much more valuable than only reading and researching on the Internet."
— Leila Gregory, Girls 'n' Gadgets
"We're looking to bring more awareness and exposure to our support tech and apps…We are here hoping to accomplish a combination of things: meet people, learn about blogging and share and represent our services. There is a huge opportunity for exposure. It seems like there are some pretty big names here so it's a great show to reach bloggers and social media people."
— Thomas Cornell, Blackberry
"The show's been great for us so far. We've had a lot of traffic and gotten a lot of email sign-ups so we're pretty happy…We've met a lot of healthcare bloggers, some policy bloggers and a couple education bloggers; but what's been cool is that there are people that are not even involved in those fields that have been pretty excited about our product. It's great to see people outside of our core market being psyched about the resource."
— Kevin Hart, EDvoices
"We've been very pleased with the traffic…Our product is for video, which is growing by leaps and bounds—especially in the blogging space. Blogword is the perfect venue to showcase our product."
— Christine Porter, Telestream
"BlogWorld was the ideal venue to use for launching our startup. We were able to get the word out to our target audience of writers and bloggers much more efficiently than we ever would have through traditional marketing channels. The resulting buzz landed us press in top-tier blogs such as Engadget and GigaOm, as well as traditional outlets like PC Magazine. We also made some amazing contacts that are now helping us build our business."
— Dan Pacheco, Founder & CEO, BookBrewer
"BlogWorld & New Media Expo was indeed a great experience for Blogger. We set up a booth on the tradeshow floor and we ended up meeting and talking to so many passionate bloggers and social media professionals! We learned tons talking to them, and the feedback that we received (both encouraging and enlightening) was really helpful in thinking about how we can further improve our product. We can definitely say BlogWorld Expo is The Event for anyone in the blogging and social media industry to check out."
— Chang Kim, Blogger/Google
"We knew we'd get to meet some talented writers at Blogworld, but we could never have imagined just how many great ones there really were without actually being there. This is a must attend expo for anyone looking to stay at the cutting edge of social media communications!"
— Yury Polnar/Demand Media
"BlogWorld and New Media Expo is a must attend event for any company in the business blogging or new media field. The caliber of attendees and the exhibit friendly atmosphere really make it a powerful lead generation event. It's also a great space to learn about emerging technologies and network with experts within the industry."
— Megan C. Glover, Compendium
"Best event we've been to all year. Attendees here are seriously interested in what we have to offer."
— Joe Beaulaurier, People Browser


text:
MERS is committed to communicating with our participants and employers on relevant issues and benefit information. The MERS Communication Corner is here to help you organize recent mailings or emails that were sent from MERS, so that you know what was sent and any action that needs to be taken.
Please note: All mailing dates are approximate. Large mailings such as account statements can vary up to two weeks from the mailing date.
Audience: Participants
Product: Defined Contribution, Hybrid (DC portion), DC+, 457, Health Care Savings Program, MERS IRA
Contacts: All PDA participants
Date sent: 10/29/2018
Format: Email/Mailing
Description: Thirdquarter statements for participant directed accounts have been mailed. Participants who opted out of receiving paper statements will be notified via email that their statements are now available in myMERS.
Participants were notified that if they have more than one PDA prodcut with MERS, they will now receive one combined statement.
Click here to see a sample of the eblast.
Phone/Tablet Friendly Site
The information contained in this Web site is being made available as a public service. The information is not intended to constitute legal or investment advice, or to replace official versions of that information. Benefit Estimates or Service Credit Purchase estimates requested through this Web site are not official descriptions of any benefits, and do not represent a promise by MERS to provide any benefit(s) to any person(s). No one can detrimentally rely upon the information provided in, or requested through this Web site. MERS reserves the right to correct any errors, and presents this information without warranties, express or implied, regarding the information?s accuracy, timeliness or completeness. If you believe the information is inaccurate, out-of-date, or incomplete, or if you have problems accessing or reading the information, please call MERS at 800.767.MERS (6377).


text:
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Staff Reading Picks
At the Logan Library we like to read, and we want to share our favorite books with our library patrons. We will periodically be featuring staff reading picks on our website to give you a taste of the books we love.
Book: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Recommended by: Danielle, Director of Bridgerland Literacy
Armageddon has gone wrong thanks to one angel and one demon who can't get anything right. I laughed so hard I cried.
Book: Othello by William Shakespeare
Recommended by: Joseph, Interlibrary Loan
The Bard's tale of love and jealousy is a masterpiece of tragic drama. I was enthralled by the machinations of Iago, the fidelity of Desdemona, and the unfortunate decline of Othello. Don't be afraid to try some Shakespeare!
Book: Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
Recommended by: Patricia, Reference Librarian
In two bundles of papers written in Chinese calligraphy, Ruth Young finds her mother's writings. One is titled, "Things I Know Are True" and the other, "Things I Must Not Forget". In these papers Ruth learns of her mothers life in a small Chinese village, of the family curse, and of Luling's escape from China with her sister, Gaoling. I liked this book for its glimpse into life in China. The characters were original and believable and the story fascinating.
Posted By Logan Library at 2:39 PM in Category:Staff Picks
The Latest News!
Oct 16, 2018
» Community Book Discussion Oct 10, 2018
» The Dead Awaken Oct 5, 2018
» Library Closed Columbus Day