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Thursday, 17 April 2008
This post is a prelude to an article that I'm writing on the recent controversy over the Army's statement to Parliament's Standing Committee on Defence, which was tabled in parliament as a part of the Committee's 29th Report. The part relating to the Arjun, in Para 8.18 of the report, is quoted below:
8.18. During evidence before the Committee, a representative of the Army clarifying the position regarding performance of the Arjun tank submitted as under:-
"Sir, we have just carried out the trial in winter. The tanks have performed very poorly. There have been four engine failures so far. The tanks have done about 1000 km each. There has been a problem. The Defence Minister has been apprised by the Chief. I think two or three days back, he has written a DO letter giving the exact position. So a lot of improvements have to be done before the Army will be satisfied with the Arjun tank."
The factual position
During the AUCRT in Pokhran, there was NO problem with either of the two engines. The problems were actually with four transmission systems: supplied by Renk AG, from Germany.
The problem: When the oil temperature went up, the oil viscosity was reduced… and the oil pressure was therefore insufficient. As a result, the bearing gave way, and the main shaft in the transmission also got damaged. Pieces were flying around and, when the transmission gearbox was opened, it looked pretty ugly.
The investigations are focusing on three aspects:
1. The possibility that the use of indigenous oil, rather than German oil, may have led to a failure of lubrication. The CQA (PP)… that is Controller of Quality Assurance (Petroleum Products)… has examined the oil and said that it is of the same grade as the foreign oil. However, the experts from Renk AG are still not convinced. They have taken samples of the oil to Germany to analyse, are will reach a conclusion by Monday, 21st April.
2. The possibility that recent changes made to the Arjun's system of dual gear levers might have led to the problem. The driver has a Mode Selector Switch (with options: Forward-Neutral-Reverse)… and also a gear lever (with options: 1, 2, 3, Automatic). So totally, the tank has four forward and two reverse gears. Recently, when the production series tanks began being manufactured, the Gear Lever options were changed to (1, 2, Automatic). In the new system, gears 3 and 4 engage and disengage automatically. In fact, one school of thought amongst the designers is to have just the first gear manual… and then 2-4 automatic, i.e. (1, Automatic).
The CVRDE's Transmission Group Team has recommended that another Manual Gear lever be introduced. That would be used while tow starting the tank. There are also problems with the logic of gear change in the Pokharan area where the tests are taking place. Unlike the Suratgarh desert, which had heavy sand, the Pokhran desert has hard, flat ground. Since the driving conditions are different, the logic for gear changing has to be different, and the micro-switches that signal the gear changes have to be calibrated differently.
3. There is also a possibility that a recent change in the supplier of the bearing that failed might have led to the problem. [Renk AG, which manufactures the gearbox, recently changed its bearing supplier.]
Experts from Renk AG are reaching the trial area and also CVRDE, Avadi, on 22nd April. Renk AG is one of the world's most respected suppliers of transmission systems and it's prestige is at stake here. A top Arjun designer says, "Renk's prestige is at stake. I have no doubt they will fix the problem fast."
Problems with four HSUs
The second problem that the Arjun faced was in some Hydro-pneumatic Suspension Units (HSUs). The Arjun has 7 road wheel stations on each side, which means that each tank has 14 HSUs. With two tanks participating in the trials, there were 28 HSUs that were effectively taking part. Of these, four HSUs failed.
One of them was a genuine failure, in which the HSU's breather pipe got damaged and sand went in through that. The other three HSUs failed after 2000 km of running. HVF lays down a service life of 2000 km for each HSU, so that was predictable. This was not a problem at all.
It might also be noted that it takes just two hours to replace an HSU in the Arjun. This tank does not have a torsion bar suspension, in which replacing a road wheel station was a major undertaking.
Incidentally, the HSU has been an area where the Arjun's designers have put in some really serious thinking. The terrain in Pokhran, which is flat and hard, generates in the HSU pistons a low amplitude, high frequency vibration. That is in contrast to heavy sand dune country like Suratgarh, where the HSU pistons undergo a high amplitude, low frequency vibration. In Suratgarh there were no problems, but the resurfacing of problems (albeit after the specified service life) in Pokhran brings to mind the earlier problems in which HSUs were leaking while the tank was being transported by train. The low-amplitude, high frequency vibrations generated by the vibrations of a train were enough to cause the HSUs to leak. That problem was resolved by changing the rings of the floating piston in the HSU. Also, the CVRDE tried out different types of piston rings, including imported ones from Hunger, Germany. Eventually, a life of 2000 km was achieved.
Problems with top rollers
Three or four top rollers also failed. That is being investigated.
Problems with tank Muzzle Reference Sight (MRS)
Of the two tanks undergoing AUCRT, one had a problem with the MRS, which was found to shift when the tank fired. This could have been easily overcome by firing through other means, disregarding the MRS. But suffice to say, the MRS had a problem.
These are very interesting dimensions to the trials in Pokhran, but far more interesting is the way the Army has reacted to them… taking the opportunity to slam the CVRDE for a "substandard" tank. An article on that will be appearing in the Business Standard on Saturday morning.
And, of course, it will be posted here on Broadsword.
46 comments:
Ahh, that clears up lot of things. Does that mean Army lied to the parliament? Trouble in transmission can be technically called 'Powertrain' problem, but not engine trouble!
This is very disturbing to say the least.
- 17 April 2008 at 23:09
Thanks ShuklaJi for sharing this.So do you have any idea where all of this is leading to regarding the future of this tank?I also wanted to have an objective rating from a veteran tanker like you about the various tanks.Can you please rate the tanks in IA inventory on a scale of 1 to 10 just so that we have an idea where all of it stands in your opinion.I know it isnt so easy but anyway it will act as a rough guide to us non-tankers ;).Lets include T-72 T-90 Arjun and maybe challenger and Abrams?
- 17 April 2008 at 23:14
- Abhiman said...
Mr. Shukla, the precise and in-depth detail of the problem that you posted made for excellent reading. The apprehension of "catching the thin thorn in the large wound" or "needle in the stack" was felt, rather than the "blaise" reply from the Army Chief (possibly a lay man) to Mr. Antony (a politician).
The post was extremely informative, and it is for certain that even after being pointed this out, NO newspaper like ToI or the Indian Express will publish a rejoinder, that the technical fault lays with the German company, Renk, which manufactured the transmissions and not the tank or its engine itself.
I fully agree with your view, that the Army Chief has reacted much too critically, that is heavily overdone at the least. This is compounded by the fact that he is inaccurate about the problem itself i.e. transmissions, and not engines.
All these point towards very uncomfortable conclusions and implications, similar to the ones raised by Lt. General H S Panag recently about the Army Chief's actions.
Sir, once this article appears in the mainstream Business Standard, it will be one of the recent "torch-bearers", setting a new frontier in defence reportage in India. "Shoddy" reportage by Indian Express, or by Mr. Rajat Pandit like, "Arjun fails in trials", will no longer be bought by the public.
Thank you.
- 18 April 2008 at 00:18
- sniperz11 said...
Excellent and timely report Ajaiji... clears up a lot of questions. Looks like it was not a design problem at all....
Only worry is that if the oil temp went up in the winter trials itself, what will happen during the summer ones.
- 18 April 2008 at 00:31
We had enough of this, no matter what army will not take arjun and to get arjun to their standard will take another 10 years so we should give up arjun and spend that tax rupees on something else.
- 18 April 2008 at 00:32
Bravo Shukla Ji for exposing the Half truths of the Army. Its high time these people who testify in front of the standing committee are exposed and tried for treason. Also I want to applaud your objective reporting as against the sensationalist reporting done by some of your colleagues. If Arjun needs rectifications so be it, but lets not discredit its performance with half truths especially when you chicken out of comparative trials and do an AUCRT with no third party supervision. I recall the words of the Major Gen. in your NDTV piece where he said that Arjun should get a level playing field. Seems such officers voices have been completely muffled. Its a steady erosion in the credentials of one of the last institutions of India with high standards. Sigh....
- 18 April 2008 at 00:32
Time to use RTI and find out the truth. This army has gone out the whole 9 yards to reject Arjun and protect the russian lobby. The DRDO should pull out of this project and offer its tanks for export. It'll be nice to see african nations fighting their civil wars in the sahara with arjun. Their feedback will be more useful than the army's.
- 18 April 2008 at 00:41
Its amazing to see how the army is showcasing the T90s at the recent brazen chariots and bashing its ghar ki murgi with half truths. Shameful to say the least. I just say if the army chief really believes in what he says he should sit in the T90 while the arjun takes aim on it, Lets see if he can live the day to say this again "So, a lot of improvements have to be done before the Army will be satisfied on the Arjun tank." If he does then lets STFU.
- 18 April 2008 at 00:48
This may sound ridiculous but let navy take this tank and form its own marine expeditionary armored brigade (now that the Arjun has got medium water fording capabilities) just like the army that wants to have its air force with ground attack aircrafts and what not. It'll be one tight slap on its face. I sincerely hope the army chief is reading this blog, if not someone can email him the links to this blog just to let him know what the tax payers think.
- 18 April 2008 at 01:18
I'm sure this latest report will be used as a justification to import 1000 more T90s with 1000 Thermal Imagers Main Gunner Sight from France because the Russian ones don't work and the army doesn't complain to the standing committee like this. I guess only an arms embargo on India will make the army accept the Arjun which is not happening anytime soon.
- 18 April 2008 at 01:29
I wonder why bean counters in CAG don't nail the army on this when they are so eager regarding the Rakshaks which actually saved lives and proved its worth on field.
- 18 April 2008 at 01:32
- A&S said...
Normal (excellent) service is resumed! Absolutely fascinating reading, Sir.
Would love it even more if you could do something similar in the future for the LCA. I know that you have covered the bird extensively in the past - but it was in bits an pieces, mainly due to the nature of the news reported. Would be awesome to have a status report on the overall project, the last snags on the LCA (and possibly the development of the Naval variant).
Many thanks in advance!
- 18 April 2008 at 03:10
- Sudheendra Singh said...
great article Mr shukla. Enjoyed very much.It was MOD and army which recalled the comparitive trials between Arjun, T-90 and T-72 giving an analogy that you cannot compare regular cars to an BMW. If army chief is so confident of arjun not being upto the mark, why not do comparitive trials with full media glare?. That will clear everything.
- 18 April 2008 at 03:49
- sudeep said...
Best wishes on a well written and hard hitting article. If half of desi press articles were half as good as this one, Indian press would be far far ahead of where it is right now.
- 18 April 2008 at 07:21
- Broadsword said...
Anonymous, it would be unfair to rate the Challenger and the Abrams in an Indian context, for the simple reason that the tanks were not designed for the operational requirements of the Indian Army. Both are heavy MBTs, designed to operate in Europe against a Russian invasion, in which long stand-off engagement capability would counter the sheer mass of Russian armour.
In contrast, the Russian T-72 and T-90 was designed for the same terrain and climatic environment, but for shorter range engagements in a more "disposable" (if you get what I mean!) kind of way. Which means that the Russians were okay with losing eight tanks in a squadron if the remaining ones managed to blow away the three NATO tanks opposing them.
Also, the Russian tanks have minimal air defence capability (against both ground attack aircraft and attack helicopters) partly because the Russian Air Force would have already achieved a favourable air situation and partly because the tank columns would be accompanied by mobile AD cover.
Against these two alien beasts, we have the Arjun, which was designed by the Army Fantasy Machine from brochures, and then the GSQR was regularly updated from Military Technology magazine advertisements!
It's all such a completely ridiculous situation!
The basis of my long post on Bharat Rakshak some years ago... was exactly this: that India's home built MBT needs a home-tailored design. A design which will cater for our geography, our climate, our engagement ranges, our enemy, our tank corps, and the way that we plan to fight.
(That post was attacked without being understood or addressed; in standard BR fashion, it was insinuated that I was in the pay of the Russians!!)
The shocking truth is that such a cold assessment of WHAT our tank should consist of has NEVER been carried out by our mechanised forces. Instead, we just compare ready-built off-the-shelf options and choose one... and then reverse engineer reasons for buying it.
It's like a starving tribal somewhere being led to a buffet which consists of avocadoes, strawberries and bean curd... and then told: choose one.
I believe today that the Arjun has reached a point of development when --- for broad strategic reasons --- it must be supported by the army. But please, let's be clear! The Arjun is only a stepping stone. The DRDO has to move on from here and build a tank (or tanks... whether we need two or three types of tanks is another vital debate) which is conceptually designed for India.
But that's an article for another day!
- 18 April 2008 at 07:30
"'What we have today is a mid-level technology. What we need is a tank of international quality,' Kapoor said last November". And T90 is an international tank ? one whose teething troubles were brushed under the carpet and then more of its purchase was justified. Gen. Kapoor does your army mechanized workshops even have the capability to absorb this mid-level technology ?? If yes, then please get on the task of developing the FMBT-2020 that one keeps hearing, instead of asking DRDO to do it. I'm sure your workshops can design and build a tank that can even fly supersonic, DRDO is too full of prehistoric technologies.
- 18 April 2008 at 08:31
Why should DRDO care Shukla Ji ? They are better off developing Tank Ex for Export to African and east european countries. Besides, DRDO has already has lot of other projects. Why waste your intellect for a "customer" who is just not interested and will use every opportunity whenever your product has deficiencies as justification to buy foreign maal. I think DRDO should say just f*** off and move onto other projects. If and when someday our neighbors suddenly decide to go for a western tank I'm sure the Arjun protos will be dusted and brought back to life. Till then indigenous tank development be DAMNED !!!
- 18 April 2008 at 08:38
How many arjuns we should buy versus how many T90s we should buy I don't care. What bothers me is the step motherly attitude shown by the army towards indigenous development. Contrast the statement with that of the navy and btw Why for heaven's sake does the Army (world's 4th largest IIRC) not have a design directorate for armoured vehicles like the navy has for principal surface combatants ?
Is russia going to transfer tank engine/transmission design technology. Most likely no, It'll only give buiding blocks which the OFB will assemble. Also after getting the T90 "technology" will the army workshops be able to design and develop (heck, even reverse engineer) their own version of the T90 ?
Also, how do you otherwise propose to end import dependence of Main Battle Tanks in India ?
Why were comparative trials canceled at the eleventh hour ?
We are going to ask lots of uncomfortable questions now since this bid to stifle indigenous development has now crossed all limits.
- 18 April 2008 at 08:55
Thank goodness ! DRDO is not developing any tube arty for the army or it would have met the same fate. And thanks to no indigenous effort the whole acquisition process of 155 mm tube arty is sucked up in the BOFORS blackhole which means that as long as the present GOI is in no BOFORS for the army no matter how much the army wants it and no matter if its battle proven now. Its just a matter of time when something similar will happen to the tank acquisition process and then no tank imports as well. Truly Amazing !!!
- 18 April 2008 at 09:22
Wonder how INSAS got through ? AKs seem to be good enough since our neighbours have only AK variants one wonders why did we need the INSAS ? Our number fetish wants the 90 because the neighbour has the 80 UD version of the tin can. Lets hope our neighbour gets M1A2 maybe just maybe Arjun might get a chance
- 18 April 2008 at 09:30
I wish in coming user trials of Nag a T90 is chosen as the target. I would love to see the T90 blasted to pieces in top attack mode its ERA protection not withstanding. But then if wishes were horses........
- 18 April 2008 at 09:34
Thank you for the insightful article and for telling it like it is. I am glad there are still a few good journalists around who aren't in the pockets of the arms import lobbyists. And shame on you Indian Army; it breaks our hearts that you choose to act so boldly against Indian interests.
- 18 April 2008 at 10:09
Thanks a lot ShuklaJi for your views.It sure is a mess right now.So the next questions to you are:
1)Arjun may not be perfect/tailormade for home conditions..but isnt it better than the other options that India currently have?That is the most significant point isnt it..which is the best choice at this present moment?Thats why I wanted to have an objective comparison between where the Russian tanks and Arjun stand for a tankers viewpoint.
[It seems to me that the western concept of fighting warfare is better.Even Russia is reported to be shifting towards western concepts not only in tank design but also other fields such as the Airforce and the Navy.]
2)A little broader question...if you were in charge right now of procurement what would you have done to clear up this mess?
Thanks again.Your views are really appreciated.
Anon @17April 23:14
- 18 April 2008 at 10:49
Can someone clarify why tanks and armour is needed on the Western border any more? IMO, nukes pretty much make them obsolete.
Presumably building a 1000 or so nukes ready to rain on on Pakistan should be enough to deter any adventurism, no? And what better way to show we mean business than to use them the next time we have a cold.
- 18 April 2008 at 11:29
Do you have "it" in you, INDIAN ARMY ? By "it" I mean a conscience ! Seems like its SOLD OUT !
- 18 April 2008 at 11:44
Can someone clarify why tanks and armour is needed on the Western border any more? IMO, nukes pretty much make them obsolete.
So we had nukes during kargil...that detered their adventurism didnt it?
- 18 April 2008 at 12:13
- Ajai Shukla said...
I note that my indignation over the Arjun is pretty much shared by most posters... unusual... I'm much more used to dealing with flak!!
But I've noted your questions. One article will be published in Business Standard tomorrow morning and I will also post it here.
And to answer your other questions --- what I would do if I were making the decisions, and what should be India's tank philosophy --- I will address those questions in my column, Broadsword, which will be published on Tuesday, the 15th. I'll post that on the blog as well, on Tuesday morning.
Sorry for linking the answers to your perfectly valid questions with journalistic deadlines. But, sadly, I have to earn a living and journalism is the way I do it!
- 18 April 2008 at 13:05
See the tone of the testimony "The tanks have performed very poorly." Damn it so therefore use it as an excuse to Import ! ? As co-developers and as the end users the Army shares an equal responsibility doesn't it ? Contrast it to the attitude of the navy. How come NPOL and NSTL can churn out one successful product after another and CVRDE cannot, Simply the attitude of the end user. Couldn't the army say " There are some problems but they can be worked out, no big deal" but this is a buyer's army and not a builder's army so they can buy and live with a substandard product but not build a product that has a potential to become world class
- 18 April 2008 at 13:23
This army deserves its T90s. Made for each other. I pity the tank crews, the day they face a western Main Battle Tank in their Tin Can-90.
- 18 April 2008 at 13:39
- Broadsword said...
Sorry, that Broadsword will come out on Tuesday, 22nd April, not 15th April which has already gone by.
- 18 April 2008 at 13:58
Ajai! what is the reaction of our SA ,whose baby is ARJUN.why dont you you try an appointment with him and take his opinion. Since he is the designer and DRDO supremo, he may have lot of things to tell. Had Kalam sahab continued, the scenario would have been differnet? i am totally confused! is the tank so unacceptable?
- 18 April 2008 at 16:08
Wah Wah DRDO-Bhakshaks, Instead of thinking deeply, why do one problem pops up when trying to rectify the other, what we have is a fietish to paint Army in poor light. Did the DRDO did the job perfectly??
Did they know about oil grade....??
Do the Renk is supplying shoddy transmission??
Has Drdo checked all the system to work thoroughly?
These question if the DODO had ans , it should not had made a mess in "winter trail".
Let's see how the prepare themselves for "Summer Trail" with the same oil??
- 18 April 2008 at 18:21
from the looks of it there may not any summer trials at all. the army seems to have made its mind already
- 18 April 2008 at 19:47
So we had nukes during kargil...that detered their adventurism didnt it?
If we had used a 100 or so that wouldn't that have put an end to it?
- 18 April 2008 at 21:15
yeah you are right and I don't think many of us would be alive either to post in this forum. Yeah ! Lets nuke a country just because we didn't have the right tank to fight them. Way to go !!!
- 18 April 2008 at 22:57
I'm don't want to defend the DRDO they are responsible for the mess to begin with BUT the attitude of the army isn't helping either, thats what bothers me
- 18 April 2008 at 22:59
- Manu said...
A very informative article. MOD is clearly being misinformed by the IA, and I hope DRDO doesn't just sit quietly but mounts its own PR campaign.
I however do take exception to this point:
"The Arjun is only a stepping stone. The DRDO has to move on from here and build a tank (or tanks... whether we need two or three types of tanks is another vital debate) which is conceptually designed for India."
Agreed that we need to move on and build a follow-up to Arjun, but for that to happen, IA first needs to accept Arjun by mass-ordering it, use it extensively and then come up with an objective list of its shortcomings and upgrades. And it is the ARMY that needs to give requirements to DRDO for the next tank, hopefully designed for India. DRDO just builds, it doesn't come up with the requirements. It is the ARMY that needs to move on, not DRDO.
- 18 April 2008 at 22:59
COAS needs to shift attention as he has been in center of contraversy on many counts - be it "rations mess" misappropriation of funds during his tenure in northern command, number of suicides - i am sure he must be under tramendous pressure. Imagine at his level he is accused of misappropriating funds that too some "garden equipmments" for several crores(?). may be he thought no one will look into it. Hence he is too quick to react (knee jerk reaction - whereas we need a visionary like Gen Sunderji) and condemn Arjun. In times like this calls for strong political message. Do we have "Margaret Thatcher" "The Iron Lady" kind of leadership in India? She took the decision for Challenger 2 against Abrams despite the Army was vehemently opposed it. She stood her stand and made the British Army to work with then Vickers to resolve all the relaibility issues. The Army was forced to do that and today that decision has been hailed by one and all including the Army - which disposed before their parliamentary committee that Challenger 2 has prooved its worth in the op desert storm and was major asset in the battle. All this is now public knowledge - provided someone is interested in knowing such things.
Its an eye opener.
But the issue is - if someone is sleeping one can wake him up.
But if he pretend to sleep - no one can open his eyes.
With elections round the corner Army has realised that everyone in Political arena is stuck with their own problem - its right time to blow the whistle. May be the govt should ask pvt sector consortia like Tata< to build next 10 tanks and compare the quality. if they do better then may be hand over the indigenous production to Private sector. oppurtunities are plenty only the govt has to take the call. The industries are ready to take the challenge.
- 18 April 2008 at 23:14
Hats off to you Ajai Ji. Just read your report in Business Standard. Outstanding job Sir. It is heartening to see that you are serving the country in the same zeal as you did while in Armed forces.
- 19 April 2008 at 03:06
- A&S said...
Sunil: is there an internet link to this article? Please do share.
- 19 April 2008 at 03:50
Yeah ! Lets nuke a country just because we didn't have the right tank to fight them. Way to go !!!
No, let's nuke a country if we have to so as to take care of business in the east. And the tank is not useful in the east, so it's too little too late.
- 19 April 2008 at 06:57
- Santosh said...
Dear Ajai, very informative article. I am very happy to see that defence journos like you are actually digging out facts and exposing the bias in the army rather than some rehashed stereotype reporting. You should try to get the articles out in some of the leading print circulations. Of course ToI, Indian Express types won't print it, we all know where their loyalties lie. But if you could get it out to some of the leading non-english dailies it will really inform the public on the bs going on in the name of trials. We really appreciate your hard work and spirit.
- 19 April 2008 at 09:48
Dear Ajayji,
Isn't it true that our Arjun is pretty much a copy of the the German Leopard MBT. Other than the Kanchan armour and the rifled main gun everthing else including the tracks of the tank are imported! To be correct DRDO never really developed anything themselves for the tank. It would probably have been better had DRDDO just license manufactured the Leopard in India.
I have with me an article published in India Today in July 1993. It talks about six tanks being handed over to 43 Cavalary for testing at Mahajan ranges in Rajasthan. Even during those trials in 1993 the army was seen to be complaining about HSU gas leaks after covering 2000 Kms!!
So even after 15 years of testing the army is crying about the same problem! This is just unbelievable!
- 20 April 2008 at 10:15
Below are some quotes I have taken out from article in India Today published in July 1993:
General B.C.Joshi (Chief of staff):
"The tank is a winner. The major problems have been surmounted and others
that remain are lickable. What is indigenous about the tank is its design, which is tailored
to meet our operational requirements. Only those items which are restricted need to be indigenised."
Lt General Ajai Singh (DG, combat vehicles):
"Arjun will rank with the US XM-1 in the bracket of top tanks in the world."
There sure has been a hell lot of change in the atitude of top brass toward the Arjun
in these 15 years! :(
- 20 April 2008 at 10:50
- 20 April 2008 at 11:15
Would the anony porkis posting here please get lost. You know who you are.
- 22 April 2008 at 07:19


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Mary Eliza Church was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on September 23, 1863. Her father, Robert Reed Church, was a formerly enslaved businessman who became the first African American millionaire in the South, and her mother, Louisa Ayres, was a hair dresser. She received an exceptional education, attending Oberlin College in Ohio and earning a bachelor's degree in classical languages. Against her father's wishes she took a teaching position at a college in Ohio in 1885. She moved to Washington, D.C., in 1887, where she continued to teach. She spent two years studying in Europe and in 1891 married Robert Herberton Terrell, also a teacher in Washington. They had four children, one of whom survived infancy. In 1905 they adopted Mary Terrell's niece. In 1910, Robert Terrell became the first African American to be nominated by an American president to a judgeship, serving on the Municipal Court of the District of Columbia until his death in 1925.
Because married women were not allowed to remain in the classroom in Washington, Terrell resigned from her teaching position, but she was not satisfied with a purely domestic life. After hearing of the lynching death of a childhood friend, Terrell began advocating against lynching and soon became a committed social activist. In 1892 she helped found the Colored Women's League in Washington, and four years later she founded the National Association of Colored Women (NACW), a federation of similar organizations. She was the president of NACW for the organization's first five years and became the nation's leading spokeswomen for African American women, advocating for enfranchisement, equal rights and economic opportunities, and an end to racial violence. A renowned speaker, she addressed groups in the United States and overseas advocating for gender and racial equality.
The first African American woman to serve on the Washington, D.C., Board of Education, she worked tirelessly to better the standards for students and teachers in the city. She was also a prolific writer, usually denouncing racism and its effects on society, and her works were published in numerous national and local newspapers and journals. In 1940 her autobiography, A Colored Woman in a White World, was published.
A member of many different advocacy organizations, Terrell was a charter member of the national branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and very active in the Republican Party. In the 1940s and 1950s, Terrell continued her work against racial discrimination. In the years before her death she aligned herself with the more militant groups, staging sit-ins, picketing, and boycotts. She died at her home in Maryland on July 24, 1954.
Suggested Reading:
McKay, Nellie, ed. Mary Church Terrell's A Colored Woman in a White World. New York: G. K. Hall, 1996.
Jones, Beverly Washington. Quest for Equality: The Life of Mary Eliza Church Terrell, 1863–1954. New York: Carlson Publishing, 1990.


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Dan Abnett, Tom Eglington, Simon Coleby, Simon Davis and Smudge sign at Gosh Comics on Wednesday, March 26th, 2014 from 6:00 till 7:00 pm!
Press Release:
British Comics Institution 2000AD doesn't really need an introduction to all you comics lovers out there, and so, without further ado, here's the facts: Dan Abnett, Tom Eglington, and Simon Coleby, Simon Davis and Smudge will be here to sign for fans, and 2000AD will ALSO be launching the PROG 1874 issue – billed as a jumping-on point for new readers! So if you've always wanted to read 2000AD and never have, or used to and fell out of the habit, here's a chance for you to make good on that promise to yourself and start picking up the magazine without any confusion. JOB DONE.
The signing takes place on Wednesday, March 26th, and runs from 6pm to 7pm. From the 24th through to the 30th of March, customers will be able to get 25% off all Rebellion titles!
Gosh Comics
1 Berwick St, SoHo, London W1F0DR
United Kingdom


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Get the best service and rates by dealing direct with Travstar.
| From $ 1272 | Save $9165 Night Cairns & Fitzroy Island Fun Package
Special Expires 31 Mar 2030
About 5 Night Cairns & Fitzroy Island Package
5 or 6 night Cairns & Fitzroy Island Fun Package
5 or 6 night Cairns & Fitzroy Island Fun Package offers a complete city, island and reef experience. Stay at the Pullman Cairns International for your first and final night in the heart of Cairns, with views of the city or harbour. Followed by a 3 or 4 night stay on a tropical rainforest island experience combined with a day trip to the Outer Barrier Reef with Sunlover Cruises.
• 2 nights Pullman Cairns International
• Breakfast for 2 daily
• Free internet
• 3 or 4 nights at Fitzroy Island Resort
• Return Ferry transfers Cairns to Fitzroy
• Sunlover Great Barrier Reef Cruise
DAY 1 - Check-in Cairns Pullman International Hotel
Pullman Cairns International is a beautiful 5-star heritage-style hotel, located right in the heart of the Cairns CBD.
• 321 guest rooms
• 2 pools, plus a childrens pool
• Jacuzzi & 2x Saunas
• 24 hour reception
• Free internet
• Concierge
• 24 hour in room dining
• Gymnasium - features a full complement of cardio and weights equipment, plus water fountain, televisions and two saunas • Open 24/7 for your convenience.
• Restaurant (Coco's Restaurant) - Famous for the nightly seafood buffet, High Tea and Sunday Brunch. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Lobby Bar open from 11am
• Guest laundry (charges apply)
• Valet parking is available for $20 per day. On street parking is readily available, though is metered.
Mii Spa: A haven of tranquillity and serenity for you to enjoy the perfect spa experience on your relaxing holiday. The spa philosophy is simple, to have you leaving Mii Spa in Cairns feeling simply wonderful. 10 stunning treatment rooms, including a couples room, group therapy room, unique indoor/outdoor rooms and a Vichy shower. Qualified Mii Spa therapists can help you select from a range of massage, skin therapy, facials, beauty and relaxation treatments.
• Daily Housekeeping
• 1 Queen or 2x Double Beds
• Private balcony
• Separate bath & shower
• Bathrobes
• Bathroom & amenities kit
• Executive writing desk
• Data port
• IDD telephone
• Safe deposit box (charges apply)
• Flat screen TV
• In-house movie channels
• Hairdryer
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Iron and ironing board
• Mini-bar and refrigerator
• Adaptors
• Interconnecting Rooms are available on all room types.
City/Mountain View Rooms: Stunning sunset views over Cairns City and Mountain surrounds
Harbour View Rooms: Wake up in the morning to stunning views over Cairns Harbour and Trinity Inlet with our spacious Harbour View room.
DAY 2 - Check in to Sunlover Reef Cruises.
Check-in starts from 8.30am and closes at 9.15am for a 9.30am departure from Reef Fleet Terminal Cairns
Walk to the Reef Fleet Terminal only a 5 minute stroll from the Pullman Cairns International Hotel. After a short 45 minute ferry ride from Cairns the view of Fitzroy Island Resort with it's impressive majestic mountainous backdrop will come into view. Here you can experience the crystal clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef with impressive fringing coral reefs off the island.
Fitzroy Island Resort is a Contemporary Resort with a Classic Island Style combining Natural Stone, Timber and Water and Light features creating a memorable Island experience.
Resort Features:
• Swimming Pool and spa
• Swim up pool bar
• Restaurant - breakfast lunch, and dinner
• Foxy's Bar & Cafe (live entertainment most weekends)
• Guest laundry
• BBQ area
• Souvenir and snack shop
• Cinema
• Kid's games/play room
• Conference/function rooms
Resort Hotel Rooms:
• Air-conditioning & Ceiling fan
• King or twin bedding
• Plasma TV
• Mini-bar and refrigerator
• Tea & coffee making facilities
• Marble bathroom with walk-in shower
• Hairdryer
• Linen and towels provided
• Iron & ironing board
*These rooms do not have a balcony or view to the ocean.
Additionally Ocean Suites Feature:
• Kitchenette inc. microwave & toaster
• Full size fridge
• Laundry with washer and dryer
• Lounge & dining area
• Queen & sofa bed-sleeps up to 4 guests (extra 2 persons sleep on sofa bed)
• Spacious Balcony
• Shower and heated towel rails
* Most with ocean view (ground floor suites have garden view)
2 bedroom Ocean Suite
Is a combination of an Ocean Suite and Resort Studio room adjacent to each other connected through a common walkway. The rooms are not interconnecting and may not be suitable for families with small children.
DAY 3 - Sunlover Moore Reef Cruise
Depart from Fitzroy Island at 10:15am and arrive back at 4:30pm
Jump onboard Sunlover Reef Cruises that picks you up at 10:15am from the wharf on Fitzroy Island and head out the pontoon at Moore Reef on the Outer Barrier Reef. You will have 4 hours on the pontoon to experience the reef from many aspects.
• Buffet lunch including: fresh seafood, hot dishes,Salads & tropical fruits
• All snorkelling equipment
• Buoyancy vest, mask and snorkel
• Glass bottom boat
• Semi-submersible vessel tours
• Unique Marine Life touch tank
• Underwater observatory
• Reef presentation
• Fish feeding
Kids swimming enclosure - Small children can enjoy the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef in the safety of an enclosed pool area. Fish can swim inside the enclosure for a true reef experience.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES (charges apply and must be pre-booked):
• Certified and Introductory Scuba Diving
• Guided Snorkel Tours
• Scenic Helicopter Flights
DAY 4 and 5- At leisure to explore the island
Fitzroy Island is covered with magnificent rainforest and features many walking tracks ranging from a short stroll to Nudey Beach through to a more challenging hike to the Summit. The island is surrounded by beautiful fringing reefs which are teeming with marine life. The best snorkelling is off the rocks between Welcome Bay and Nudey Beach. Expect to see Turtles, tropical fish and many colourful corals. It is possible to pre-book an activities package for an additional cost that includes Snorkel Hire (1 day), Glass Bottom Boat Tour (1 hour) and Kayak (1 hour).
DAY 5 or 6 - At leisure to explore the island before Ferry departs at 4:40 pm for your transfer back to Cairns. Arriving into Cairns at 5:30pm. (bag storage and change facilities are available for guests on the island) Check-in to the Pullman Cairns International Hotel for your final night in Cairns.
DAY 6 or 7 - Check-out of Pullman Cairns International. End of package
• Airport transfers not included. A taxi from airport to hotel will cost around $25 and take about 15 minutes drive.
• Breakfast at Fitzroy Island is not included.
• If you do not require the 2 nights at Pullman Cairns International we can amend your package accordingly when booking. Or, if you prefer to have 2 consecutive nights at the Pullman Cairns International thus giving you one full day to explore in Cairns this is also possible. Please advise when booking.
• Be sure to note the restricted ferry times in this package.
5 Night Cairns & Fitzroy Island Package Reviews
Andrew Rhodes
5 Night Cairns & Fitzroy Island Package
17 Abbott St, Cairns City QLD 4870


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Dancing with the Stars was the top broadcast show on General Sentiment's social TV chart, while Pretty Little Liars was the top cable show for the week of March 23-20, 2015. Remember: a show's social media popularity does not correlate to its renewal prospects and/or actual ratings.
2nd Screen Score is an indexed measure of overall engagement from across the social web. Primetime programming is defined as shows with start times between 8:00 PM and 10:55 PM EST Monday
– Saturday and 7:00 PM and 10:55 PM EST on Sunday. Data collected on broadcast and cable series and their new, debut episode as defined by Nielsen. Scheduling data for debut episode verification provided by FYI Television, Inc. Data collected on seven (7) major broadcast networks and 43 cable television networks.
About General Sentiment
General Sentiment turns new media analytics into clear and powerful insights. We monitor and interpret millions of online conversations across multiple platforms to develop industry specific solutions for everyday problems. Our technology is fueled by large-scale analytics that turns internet chaos into organized thought.


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The Echo of a Distant Time
Passing up the stairs through the Torii gates of the Hie Shrine, a Shinto shrine in Nagatachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo.
A Tokyo metro Tōzai Line train arrives at Nihombashi station.
Into the Fabled Sky
Sensō-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo, Japan.
Of Warm Rays and Cold Steel
The ultra-modern Tokyo International Forum.
In Quiet Interlude
A break with his jinrikisha. Kamakura, Japan.
The Poking Nose
The Japanses Shinkansen bullet train.
Yurakucho Days
After school in the Tokyo Metro.
You've Got To Carry That Weight
The Sixth District
A rickshaw in Tokyo's Asakusa district.
Squared Up
Under the ultra-modern Fuji TV building in Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan.
After A Day's Work
Daikanransha By Day
Daikanransha is a 377 ft tall Ferris wheel at Palette Town in Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan.
Early Morning Bustle
At work in the Tsukiji Fish Market.
Sake Contained
Sake containers in Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū, the most important Shinto shrine in the city of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Down the Line
On the Enoshima Electric Railway in Japan.
A Face In The Crowd
For Something Like A Second
Some serene water spouts in a quiet garden
Yoyogi Park
Shimmering Contours
Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. When using photos, please credit 'Shawn Clover' or 'shawnclover.com' and link to this site. See photo use for more information. Photo use & about


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Actress Charlize Theron auctioned off a kiss to a lucky lady at a charity event for the low, low price of $140,000.
But wait. There's more.
In addition to the 20-second smooch-fest, the winning bidder got a South Africa travel package that included 2010 World Cup tickets, a safari and a meeting with Nelson Mandela, US Weekly reported.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
The kiss was an impromptu addition to the travel package after bidding stalled at $37,000 at the Thursday night auction, US Weekly reported.
Earlier in the night, Jeremy Piven raised a whopping $280,000 for charity OneXOne. Theron was determined not to be outdone.
"For f*** sake. You can do better," Theron told the crowd. "There is no way I am leaving here with Jeremy Piven getting a higher bid. I've got t*** for God's sake."
The kiss offer started at 7 seconds for $130,000. Eventually, a woman upped the price to $140,000, and gala goers counted up to 20 as the two shared a kiss.
OneXOne was founded in 2005 by Diesel Canada President, Joelle Berdugo Adler, and has raised more than $7 million for children around the world since that time, according to the group's website.


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Searchers looking for signs of missing teenager Dylan Redwine on Saturday scoured a 12-mile section of Middle Mountain Road above Vallecito Reservoir but came up empty-handed, said Lt. Dan Bender, spokesman for the La Plata County Sheriff's Office.
About 45 people joined the search, Bender said. They checked not only the road but 100 yards on each side of the road, he said.
The search was not based on any new clues; rather, it is one in a series of follow-up searches being conducted after the winter snow and ice melt.
A smaller number of searchers will look at a few places today that they were unable to check Saturday, Bender said.
In addition to the Sheriff's Office, other agencies involved in the search included the Durango Police Department, La Plata County Search and Rescue, Durango Fire & Rescue Authority, Upper Pine River Fire Protection District, La Plata Mounted Patrol and the U.S. Forest Service.
Redwine, who now would be 14, was reported missing Nov. 19. He was staying with his father, Mark Redwine, who lives north of the reservoir.


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|Franken and Nicholas Knutz
[photo courtesy of Mabel Seigenthaler]
After 16 days aboard the Amalfi, the Port of New York must have looked good to Nicolai Knutz. With his wife, Franken, and children Andreas, Georg, Hannchen, Boye Friedrich, Nicolai Jr., Wilhelm and Anna, they set out from their home in Tatting, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, for Missouri. Life had been hard for them in Tatting, and Franken's brother Boie Nissen had come to America two years prior, and said the future held more promise than in Germany. So Nicolai sold the family's meager home to the city, getting enough money to pay for their passage on the ship and get them to St. Louis.
|The small house south of Sedlia, Missouri, where the Knutzes raised their family.
[photo courtesy of Mabel Seigenthaler]
Once they made their way to Missouri, they settled on 40 acres of land in Pettis county, about 5 miles south of Sedalia, where they grew vegetables to sell. They lived in a small house with their seven children.
My grandfather, who was their grandson, met Nicholas and Franken once, as a small child when his family make the long journey from South Dakota to Missouri. He remembered Nicholas as "seeming like a giant" and having coal black hair and a red, brush-like mustache. While he did not remember his grandmother at all, his younger sister remembered that Franken would hand-piece quilts for them, which helped greatly during the harsh South Dakota winters.
Nicholas died in January of 1925 at his home, a result of chronic kidney problems. Franken died in October of 1933, also at her home, from complications of cancer. They are both buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Sedalia.


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The Final Four is set. And, as a fitting conclusion to this crazy season of college basketball, it includes a Cinderella story in Wichita State. The Shockers have become the first No. 9 seed to reach the NCAA Tournament semifinals since Penn in 1979, which coincidentally had been the last Final Four with a team from the Missouri Valley Conference: Indiana State, featuring Larry Bird. Here's an early look at the matchups for Saturday's national semifinals at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta:
Wichita State vs. Louisville
The Cardinals (33-5)
Teams talk about overcoming adversity, even ones that don't seem to have much, but Louisville wouldn't be exaggerating. The Cardinals, the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional, lost sophomore guard Kevin Ware to a fractured leg in the first half Sunday and went on to blast second-seeded Duke 85-63. Louisville plays in-your-face defense, is improving offensively and, of course, has coach Rick Pitino, who has guided the Cardinals to the Final Four for the second consecutive year. Louisville has a deep roster, and if any team could overcome the loss of a player during the week of the Final Four, it would be the Cardinals. Standout guard Russ Smith scored 23 points against Duke and is an All-American.
The Shockers (30-8)
All the focus on a midmajor Cinderella had been directed toward Florida Gulf Coast. That was probably fine with Wichita State, which went about its business in the West Regional and disposed of No. 8-seeded Pittsburgh, No. 1 Gonzaga, No. 13 La Salle and No. 2 Ohio State to join 1965 as the only Final Four appearances in school history. Wichita State is deeper and more athletic than most midmajors and played in hostile environments in the Missouri Valley Conference. Point guard Malcolm Armstead is a key component, lending experience, athleticism and savvy. Armstead, a two-year starter at Oregon before transferring to WSU, scored 14 points Saturday and outplayed Ohio State star Aaron Craft.
What to look for: Wichita State's Gregg Marshall is regarded as a top-notch game coach and may be able to keep his team in the game. The Shockers need to shoot the ball well (8-for-20 on 3-pointers against Ohio State) and start out fast, as they did against the Buckeyes. Trouble is, Louisville is bigger, stronger and even more athletic than the Buckeyes. And, unlike the Buckeyes, Louisville has a force in the middle with 6-foot-11 Gorgui Dieng, who recorded 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots against a big Duke frontcout.
Syracuse vs. Michigan
The Orange (30-9)
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has not refuted rumors that he likely will retire if his team cuts down the nets as national champion. Boeheim, 68, guided the Carmelo Anthony-led Syracuse team to the title in 2003 and Boeheim has been eager to win another. Syracuse, a fourth seed, produced one of the NCAA Tournament's most impressive victories by dominating top-seeded Indiana. As usual, the Orange relies defensively on its trademark 2-3 zone (three frontcourt defenders, two on the perimeter) that many teams don't see often. At the other end of the court, 6-6 sophomore guard Michael Carter-Williams is one of the nation's best and an impossible matchup for opponents.
The Wolverines (30-7)
Including the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan completed its regular season by winning just half its last 12 games. Of that league's big four, including Indiana, Michigan State and Ohio State, the Wolverines may have been considered the least likely to get through a regional. But look who's headed to Atlanta. Actually, with more shooters and scoring options, Michigan probably was the best-equipped Big Ten team to advance. And with point guard Trey Burke, the favorite for national player of the year honors, Michigan has an advantage over every opponent at basketball's equivalent of the quarterback position.
What to look for: As Indiana can attest, it's all about handling the Syracuse zone. Nobody plays a better zone than the Orange, which swarms and traps and jumps at anybody with the ball, giving the feeling that there are at least six or seven long-armed defenders out there at any given moment. But Michigan can get points from any area of the court and has versatile players that can find seams and gaps in that zone. In the paint, Michigan's 6-10 freshman forward Mitch McGary will feel like he's in a phone booth at times. If he becomes frustrated, that would be a bad sign for the Wolverines.


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As Endeavour continues its pursuit of the International Space Station, the seven astronauts and cosmonauts on board were awakened at 6:21 a.m. today to prepare for a busy day as they close the final 765 miles between the two vehicles in anticipation of a docking just before 2 p.m. CST today. Endeavour and the ISS are to link up off the British coast, southwest of Cardiff, Wales.
Endeavour's crew – Commander Dom Gorie, Pilot Mark Kelly, Mission Specialists Linda Godwin and Dan Tani, Expedition Four Commander Yury Onufrienko, and Flight Engineers Carl Walz and Dan Bursch – will quickly move into their final rendezvous activities today, bringing the shuttle to a position about 9 ½ miles behind the International Space Station about 11:44 a.m. today.
From that position behind the station, Gorie and Kelly will command Endeavour 's jets in a final major rendezvous maneuver to begin the final phase of the approach for docking. Endeavour will close the final miles to the station during the next orbit of the Earth, about 90 minutes.
As Endeavour approaches the station, the on-board rendezvous radar system will begin tracking the station providing distance and closing rate information to the crew. During the approach, the shuttle can perform up to four, small mid-course corrections at regular intervals. Just after the fourth burn, Endeavour will be about one-half mile below the station. Gorie will take over manual control of the approach, slowing Endeavour's approach and maneuvering to a point about 600 feet directly beneath the station. There he will begin a quarter-circle of the station, slowly moving to a position in front of the complex, in line with its direction of travel.
Once Endeavour has firmly docked to the station, and required leak checks are complete, the hatches between the spacecraft will open around 4 p.m. allowing Expedition Three Commander Frank Culbertson, Pilot Vladimir Dezhurov and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin to greet their newest guests.
Culbertson, Dezhurov and Tyurin began their formal residency on the station on August 13 as their custom-made Soyuz seat liners were installed on the Soyuz return vehicle. Their residency will officially end once those seat liners are transferred to Endeavour and the Expedition Four crew's seat liners are installed in the Soyuz on Saturday.
The next STS-108 mission status report will be issued at about 6 p.m. today or as events warrant.
NASA Johnson Space Center Mission Status Reports and other information are available automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to email@example.com. In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type "subscribe hsfnews" (no quotes). This will add the e-mail address that sent the subscribe message to the news release distribution list. The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription. Once you have subscribed you will receive future news releases via e-mail.


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The leader of a doomsday Muslim cult planned an exorcism of a three-year-old boy and wanted child captives to commit mass murder at American schools.
Cops say Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 39, was among the five adults arrested when authorities raided the makeshift desert structure in Amalia, near the Colorado border.
On the "filthy" compound, they found 11 children, ages one to 15, living in squalid conditions. The mothers of the 11 children — Jany Leveille, 35, Hujrah Wahhaj, 38, and Subhannah Wahhaj, 35 — and Lucas Morton were also arrested.
The children have been placed in protective custody.
One of the kids told detectives they were being trained by their captors to commit school shootings using assault rifles.
Wahhaj was wanted previous to Friday's raid for questioning in the mysterious disappearance of his four-year-old son, Abdul-Ghani.
The fanatic's father is a New York City imam who has been linked to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in the Big Apple.
"[Occupants of the compound] were most likely heavily armed and considered extremist of the Muslim belief," Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe told reporters.
According to a warrant released Monday, Wahhaj allegedly told the boy's mother he wanted to perform an "exorcism" on his then-three-year-old son.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Wahhaj believed his son was "possessed by the Devil" because of the seizures he suffered and his inability to walk. The boy was reported missing in December.
Wahhaj and his son were last seen together about two weeks after the child was reported missing. The pair were involved in a car crash on I-65 in Alabama.
A child's body was found on the compound but it is not yet known if it's Wahhaj's son.
When police arrived at the compound, Wahhaj was armed with an "AR-15 rifle, five loaded 30-round magazines, and four loaded pistols, including one in his pocket," according to Hogrefe.
The sheriff said the children had no shoes, wore dirty rags for clothing and "looked like Third World country refugees." He described the living conditions as "the ugliest looking, filthiest" he's ever seen.
Prosecutors want the suspects — who have all pleaded not guilty — to remain in custody because of their "planning and preparation for future school shootings."
— with files from The Associated Press


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Мэдлэгээ тэлэх эх сурвалж
Цахим туслах булангаас өөрт хэрэгтэй агуулгаар мэргэжлийн зөвлөгөө, мэдээллийг судлах боломжтой. Энэ нь сургалтын үр дүнг илүү сайжруулж, таныг зорилгодоо хүрэхэд туслах болно.
Шүүлт хийх
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WEBINAR: Handling Stress and Supporting Resilience in Times of Crisis
This virtual event is a 50-minute session designed to bring leaders together to learn about and reflect on recent research by Dale Carnegie Training and others regarding resilience, its impact on reducing stress in times of adversity and how to develop it in people, teams and across an organization. To view this pre-recorded webinar, please download how to access the webinar below. This webinar is presented by: Neville De Lucia, IDCFA Board Member – EMEA, and Tamara Anderson, Director of Enterprise Sales, Dale Carnegie Training.Зөвлөмж харах
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Developing a Resilient Workforce: How Organizations Thrive in the Face of Adversity
Resilience refers to people's ability to "bounce back" from adverse experiences and is characterized by the capacity to cope, recover and learn from them.Зөвлөмж харах
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Massive changes are coming to the workplace in the next decade. These changes will require your workforce to adapt, to be flexible, to collaborate, and to reskill.Зөвлөмж харах
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Change management has become more critical than ever to successful leadership, and while the goal remains the same – creating confident, positive and optimistic stakeholders with the skills and commitment to ensure new initiatives succeed – the accelerated pace and purpose of change, along with people's emotional response to technological advances (especially AI) has added complexity to the challenge.Зөвлөмж харах
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Humble Leaders: What defines them, and how they unlock a high-performance culture
Employee engagement, productivity, growth, and commitment all strongly depend on the effectiveness of leadership. Being a humble leader brings the best out of your people and models for them the type of leadership that will help them to succeed throughout their careerЗөвлөмж харах
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Agility involves seeking out new information and embracing continuous change in a collaborative way – and it promises to become the new competitive advantage.Зөвлөмж харах
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Artificial Intelligence refers to IT systems that sense, comprehend, learn, and act – and it's changing the way we live and work. As organizations deploy AI it will have profound impact on jobs, employee engagement and corporate culture. Understanding what that impact will be and how to prepare people for success will be critical.Зөвлөмж харах
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Understand the Elements of a Strong Corporate Culture In a recent study across four countries, Dale Carnegie set out to examine the perceptions of senior leaders on the strength of their own company cultures, their attitudes about its importance and impact, and actions they are taking to improve it.Зөвлөмж харах
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A decade and billions of dollars later employee engagement levels have barely moved. Find out what companies may be missing in their quest to build a confident, engaged workforce that actually moves the needle on employee engagement.Зөвлөмж харах


text:
Seize the day!
the running knightess in shining armour
A Good Blog is Hard to Find
I am Sidney Ng: Lover of life, Finder of Truth
the running knightess in shining armour
Passion. Motivation. Attitude.
"O' Rise Ye Land of Happy Fools!"
Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle
Welcome to the prettiest place on the internet


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Digital Content & Collections and Digital Library Applications are departments within Library Information Technology (LIT) at the University of Michigan Library. Together - as Digital Library Platform & Services (DLPS) - we work closely with other departments in LIT and departments across the Library, to preserve and provide access to the collections of the library in digital form. Longstanding collaborations with Preservation and Conservation, Special Collections, Michigan Publishing, departments across the campus, and often other institutions, have produced policies, specifications, methods, workflows and applications for digitization, preservation and access.
DLPS strives to serve the needs of the Library first, and is often able to extend services to the university and broader community. Contributing to pioneering, internationally-recognized efforts such as HathiTrust has helped to establish the Library's reputation for innovation and leadership in the digital library realm.
DLPS grew out of the Digital Library Program at the University of Michigan. The unit was formed in 1996 in response to a need for around-the-clock production-level support for digital library resources. DLPS was originally jointly funded by the University Library, Information and Technology Services, the James and Anne Duderstadt Center, and the U-M School of Information. Today, DLPS is supported by the Library, with additional funding from grants and partnerships with other universities. It cooperates closely with other units in LIT and, in particular, depends on Architecture & Engineering for server infrastructure, systems integration, and automation of workflows and processes.
Timeline of Key Developments and Projects
Additional details about the first decade of work can be found in Digital Libraries: A Vision for the 21st Century: A Festschrift in Honor of Wendy Lougee on the Occasion of Her Departure from the University of Michigan (online or in print).
Digitize content:
The University of Michigan Library began building digital collections in the early 1990s and over the course of a decade played important roles in seminal projects including the Humanities Text Initiative, Making of America, the Advanced Papyrological Information System. Today, the Michigan Digitization Project has resulted in the scanning of millions of volumes.
The Digital Conversion Unit within DLPS has staff knowledgeable in the use of a variety of specialized scanners and photography equipment to achieve the library's digital preservation goals. Texts, images, audio and video are handled with a combination of local methods and contracted services.
Provide access to collections:
DLPS is responsible for providing access to digitized books and journals, museum images, archival finding aids, and bibliographies. This work includes the preparation, management and deployment of digital collections as well as the development of digital library software called DLXS. Since the founding of HathiTrust in 2008, DLPS has developed major components of the HathiTrust Digital Library access system and helped to shape repository policies and procedures. DLPS staff contribute to a number of other efforts including Deep Blue, the Copyright Review Management System (CRMS), and MiVideo.
Provide leadership in digital library development:
The University of Michigan Library participates in national and international organizations, partnerships, and collaborations such as the Digital Library Federation, Text Encoding Initiative, Text Creation Partnership, Google Library Partners, National Digital Stewardship Alliance, APTrust, Digital Preservation Network (DPN) and HathiTrust Digital Library where DLPS staff, along with others from across LIT, have the opportunity to participate in the creation of best practices, standards, and cutting-edge research in digital libraries. We provide advice and expertise throughout the University on digital library issues. These efforts are changing the nature of libraries and scholarship.


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A common question asked of writers is where we get our ideas for our stories. Some will say it's the 'Muse". Others might say ideas are born from snapshots of characters who speak to us or a seed of inspiration that drops in from the aethers. Both are probably true, but as for me, I believe ideas are born from life experiences.
PJ Sharon here, coming to you fresh (or a little less than fresh) off a twelve day road trip up the West Coast. Call it a much needed and long overdue vacation, a visit to celebrate with my eldest son who just turned 33 (Holy cow! How did that happen? I turned 33 only yesterday!), or call it what it was…research. Since my last big vacation–a Mediterranean cruise with my mother-in-law back in 2011 that led me to write PIECES of LOVE, hubby and I were happy to splurge on some time away from our daily rat race.
Despite suffering the usual vacation mishaps, such as a missed flight, the dreaded airplane flu three days in with a side trip to the ER in San Rafael, and a questionable hotel stay or two, we had loads of fun and saw some amazing sights! And yes, I took copious notes and tons of pictures. I'd like to share some of my experiences and how they might serve to inspire me and my books.
The trip started in San Francisco with a lovely four day visit with my son who lives in wine country out there–the perfect backdrop for a romance novel. We did the usual touristy things like wine tasting in Napa Valley and a ride out to Bodega Bay to cruise the coast. In the city, we took a trolley up to the cable car museum, then ate at Neptune's on Fisherman's Wharf, and watched street performers on the Embarcadero. And I couldn't visit San Francisco without stopping by Ghirardelli's.
When a tour of Alcatraz landed me behind bars, I imagined the desperate souls who were once imprisoned behind those walls, looking out at the world beyond, the distant voices from the city by the bay a constant reminder of an untouchable freedom.
After a sad farewell to my boy, we headed up the coast, through the rolling green and gold hills of wine country, and beyond to the Redwood Forests. I hugged some magnificent trees, connecting to their ancient life energy. Trees that have stood since the time of Christ and seen generations pass their way. I imagined a native hugging this same tree some five hundred years ago and felt the spirits deep in my soul. Massive creatures 300 feet tall and 30 feet around, whose roots interconnect with one another in a web of underground life. It sounds crazy to people who aren't sensitive to such things (or creative enough to imagine), but in my minds eye, I see limbs that come alive and faces in every knot and outgrowth. Elementals perhaps? I can totally see this being the setting for a paranormal series, fey romance or historical Native American romance…oooh…maybe a time travel story.
We said goodbye to the giant Redwoods and continued our journey. Next came a detour inland to Crater Lake, Oregon–a sight not to be missed! Formed from a volcanic eruption 7,700 years ago, the collapse created a crater almost 2,000 feet deep. Over time, the bed filled with crystal clear rain water and centuries of ice cold snow melt. Through checks and balances of seepage and evaporation, the lake has found its way. The story possibilities boggle the mind!
Winding our way back to the coast led us to the quaint town of Florence, up through the seal caves, and along the twists and turns of route 101 until we reached Cannon Beach in norther Oregon. This was on my darling husband's bucket list, so we splurged on a beautiful hotel room right on the Pacific coastline with Haystack Rock outside our door. Every romance includes long walks on a beach and golden sunsets, a glass of good wine, and two people who would lay down their lives for one another. I'm not sure if I could write romance if i didn't have that in my life.
Not to be underestimated, the power of alone time is also necessary. Waking to the mammoth rock, a cool, dry breeze, and the sound of the Puffins nesting high up on the "haystack" shaped stone, I enjoyed my morning meditation and a much needed yoga practice before we walked around the touristy little town, admiring the glass blown art and lovely beachfront properties.
Then it was up through the small fishing village of Astoria, site of fun and famous movies such as Kindergarten Cop and The Goonies. We ate yummy seafood and visited the Maritime Museum–another of hubby's "must do's".
Our final stay was in my new favorite city, Seattle! An entertaining duck boat tour gave us great views of the sky line and a city tour that helped orient us for the short stay so we could decide what we wanted to see most. Pike Street Market Place and the famous Space Needle were highlights as was the people watching in Westlake Center.
Mount St. Helens made for a fabulous day trip despite the deep bowl being shrouded in clouds the day we visited. We didn't have to imagine what the 1981 eruption might have looked like since there were dozens of pictures taken that fateful day in May over thirty years ago. The twenty minute movie that takes you up close and personal with the destructive force of the event was surreal. Nearly every sign of life in over 200 square miles was destroyed that day, leaving a path of destruction and magma that turned the surface of the Earth to a moonlike desolation. Acres of trees were flattened or swept away, the nearby Spirit Lake filling with lumber and wiping out much of the water life below. But as with all stories, there came a happy ending when life began to emerge from beneath the ground and under the snow covered mountainside. The current state of new life, growth, and natural beauty give hope for a bright future, made possible by the conservationists committed to preserving the land–a labor of true love if I've ever seen it.
Our final adventure occurred on our return trip home. It seemed silly to spend a three hour lay-over in the Las Vegas airport when we could take a shuttle over to the Vegas strip and have breakfast while checking out the scene. I've never been to Vegas before but did a ton of research for WESTERN DESERT, book two in the Chronicles of Lily Carmichael trilogy. I wished I'd been able to take this trip BEFORE I wrote the second book. It was fun to see the MGM Grand, but somehow, I imagined the whole strip to be bigger. All the same, Google didn't do it justice.
Sometimes, the best way to get inspired is to take a road trip.
Have you ever written about a place you've traveled to? Where do you find your inspiration?


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The Maccabee
Hoover's Relief
The Maccabee
Hoover's Relief
When I see news about the price of gas or commercials for new cars and trucks touting twenty-or-thirty-something miles per gallon (or particularly during a shortage, outage, energy disaster or smog test!), it makes me think of Tom Ogle and his vapor-fuel system. I read about Tom a few years ago and his story becomes ever more poignant for its place in geopolitics and time.
Ron Laytner wrote, "In 1978 I first interviewed Tom Ogle who created a device replacing the carburetor [that] allowed his 4,000 pound car to get 100 miles per gallon… Four years later Tom, at age 24, was in his grave and his invention, buried." So Laytner is asking, "Did the world not go green because of a murder?…Tom said the 100mpg..was only the beginning of his newfound fuel efficiency."
"Tom felt confident that on the smaller, lighter cars..he could get nines times as much. That means..900 miles per gallon… 'This is no hoax', said Dr. Hawkins [Texas A&M engineer PhD, who approved and supported Tom's system], 'Ogle eliminated the carburetor and achieved what the gasoline internal combustion engine was supposed to do all along –to operate off fumes'… Seventy years ago Canadian Charles Nelson Pogue made headlines long before Tom Ogle when he drove a 1932 Ford 200 miles on a single gallon of gas…proved..in a test for The Ford Motor Company in Winnipeg…" http://www.editinternational.com/read.php?id=482881ba117d7 ; Pogue's story: http://fuel-efficient-vehicles.org/energy-news/?page_id=986
If Henry Ford was impressed in 1932, it was a complement by design when he unveiled his "Soybean Car", made with soy-based plastic panels, "on August 13, 1941 at Dearborn Days..community festival… The car weighed 2000 lbs [1,000 less than his other models]… The exact ingredients of the plastic..are unknown because no record of the formula exists today… [Ford] also claimed that the plastic panels made the car safer than traditional steel cars; and that the car could even roll over without being crushed." http://www.thehenryford.org/research/soybeancar.aspx . Ford's early cars were designed to run on alcohol.
Then there's Rudolf Diesel who invented his motor to run on peanut oil. Diesel disappeared from a train ride and was found dead 10 days later.
Laytner points out that that another young American inventor who designed a dune buggy to run on water died at the height of his expectant success: "Stanley Allen Meyer..had twenty patents on many water-fueled inventions."
In the '70s
"As the environmental movement began to take shape in the early 1970s, a nationwide panic ensued in 1973 when the Arab members of OPEC cut off exports to the United States and other nations supporting Israel… This was a bold attempt to coerce Israeli forces to leave occupied Arab lands. Much to the relief of those traumatized by rising gas prices and oil shortages..a clever [young] mechanic from El Paso, Texas named Thomas Ogle made headlines when he claimed his invention would allow any V-8 engine to get 160 miles to the gallon… [He] revealed the results of an independent exhaust emissions test, which showed that his system operates nearly pollution-free… Although Ogle was eventually granted his patent, Patent Office examiners..indicated that a patent may already have been issued..similar to Ogle's… [to] General Motors… One of their patents included a vaporized system that eliminated the carburetor, obtained by GM in 1972." http://www.deathofagasguzzler.com/profiles/blogs/tom-ogle-160-mpg-by-a-high
"Scientists were convinced his invention, dubbed the 'Oglemobile', would soon reach world markets… corporate engineers and the US government..were astounded to discover the invention actually worked… A few months after my first interview [Tom's] backer C.F. Ramsay sold out to Advance Fuel Systems Inc, [of Seattle]… Advance Fuel's own engineers would develop the 'Oglemobile'..[and] Ogle was told he'd get no royalties because AFS was working on a device that got similar results but wasn't his invention… [T]hirty years later I can still hear Tom's voice from our recorded interviews promising the world a better future… He believed his system was the answer to the world's pollution problems… Everyone predicted he would become a billionaire… and perhaps one of America's greatest inventors." [Ron Laytner, 2011]


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Linkasaurus #6
'Curated' for you: the latest museum, web and tech news from across the net
Museums and the Web 2011
Had to put this one first. This year's conference has just concluded and by all reports (especially tweets) it was a great success. You'll find an index to a number of interesting posts in the link above.
Looking deeper into our upcoming exhibition
792 people were asked what an exhibition about Deep Oceans should look and feel like. Here's what they had to say.
The digitisation of museum collections
While the first few seconds of this video might make you think you're watching a kids cartoon, a variety of museum professionals (all with American accents however) then give their thoughts (for and against) digitisation.
Museum Metadata Exchange
Essentially a catalogue of collections, check out the Australian Museum's page on the project's website. (The MME is a joint project of the Council of Australasian Museum Directors (CAMD) and Museums Australia.)
Science centres snapshot
What's on and what it costs in science centres across America.
How to make a conference interesting
I would have said smoke machines, lasers, hands-free mics and rollerskates, but I would have been wrong according to this post.
Price of admission: one poem
An innovative idea from the Brooklyn Museum.
The Khan Academy
Thousands of video lessons, all neatly categorised covering biology
cosmology and astronomy, history and many more (the Gates Foundation is now a supporter of the site).
Top 10 quirky science tricks for parties
Because it's Friday (with thanks to www.aschoonerofscience.com).


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Check out the latest RPG news | Podcasts | Twitch Streams
"Zelda: Wind Waker HD can't use any dungeons that were missing in the original version. That's because they were used in future Zeldas – likely Twilight Princess and/or Skyward Sword.Aonuma talked about Wind Waker's cut dungeons and the decision to avoid adding new ones in the HD re-release in an interview with Eurogamer:"Quite honestly, those dungeons we removed we used in other games, so we can't use them in this version!""I've received many questions about additional content beyond what was in the GameCube version of the game, but our desire is to stay true of the story that was in the original. If we add dungeons then that will affect other parts of the GameCube version, which we really want to stay true to. If it felt like there were maybe too few dungeons then I feel that what was wrong with the GameCube version was the pacing. It was thrown off because it took longer to get to certain dungeons. There was a waiting period, and then when you arrived there the experience maybe didn't feel as big, as you'd waited so long to get there. We're tuning the game to alleviate all that. The pacing should feel appropriate to the overall experience this time... we need to tighten those [gaps] and make the overall experience and story feel tighter."Unfortunately, Aonuma couldn't reveal which dungeons were cut in Wind Waker and used in other Zeldas."Source: Nintendo Everything (via: Eurogamer)
Thinking about it though, it'd be a pain in the ass to implement a new dungeon to an already full plot (because then you gotta spring *why* there's a new dungeon and all that). Also, they're making the 3DS game, and they've been [make it sound like they've] really been working on the WiiU game.
Quote from: Dice on June 13, 2013, 07:33:16 PMThinking about it though, it'd be a pain in the ass to implement a new dungeon to an already full plot (because then you gotta spring *why* there's a new dungeon and all that). Also, they're making the 3DS game, and they've been [make it sound like they've] really been working on the WiiU game.Yeah, I suspected that this was the case, which unfortunately for me means that there really isn't enough to justify getting this again. I typically get remakes when they address the problems with the original (or provide something useful like portability), but to me, the biggest problem with OG WW was the feeling of it being incomplete. Sure, getting a faster ship is nice, but my one of my biggest hopes in my original run through of WW was of finding a Treasure Island like environment (kinda like the Gerudo's Training Grounds in OoT but on a larger scale (like say an island bigger than Outset with maybe a small jungle, a few caves, and a mountain with a waterfall) but it didn't happen then and it doesn't look to be happening now.
I *definitely* think the Zelda series needs to be reworked. I'd KILL if we saw something that could still stick to its roots, but maybe made itself more open world or present itself like Xenoblade series almost does. And for fuck's sake....make Zelda playable already (she was definitely stronger than Link, IMO, in Smash Bros games). I'm like 99% sure that Skyrim outsold Skyward Sword even despite the "classic" status the series has. I unfortunately do think the series just kept its roots a little too close to their heart.Lasly, LET LINK JUMP.
^While hardly on topic with a new Zelda game discussion:It depends. Tiers are great and all, but for semi-casual, semi-competitive play I was able to use her like a champion and was (not to toot my own horn) able to school the people I played with or at least keep matches competitive. I never really used Sheik, if I did, it was by accident and maybe rolled with it till I could get away and change back. I'm not and usually not a part of tournaments, so I can't guage those players and tiers but from my personal experiences with my group; either way I found her really enjoyable to use, tiers or no (but if you do want to go on with tiers, of the higher ranks I also rock ass with Toon Link, Ice Climbaz, and Marth). I also hate tiers because you can use the "lowest tier'd" character against a "high tiered" one, a level of skill does come from the player. If someone sucks dick at using Meta Knight, then little is going to help you from owning the battle field if everyone else is simply a better/experienced player. ((again, I'm saying this as a tounrey-avoider)Petty issue: I actually get annoyed with players who stick to one character, I also like to think of myself as a player who is a "jack of all trades", but master of none. I like having fun with a bit of everyone.And with respect to letting Link jump, too many games made his jumping contingent on an item that makes him jump. And I hate that, it wastes a slot and shouldn't be that big a deal to implement (could make for a new adjunct to gameplay).
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD Screenshots -- Source: All Games BetaShiny. @_@'
Quote from: Yggdrasil on August 06, 2013, 12:20:30 AMThe Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD Screenshots -- Source: All Games BetaShiny. @_@'No kidding. While I still feel that, even if it was the more obvious (and thus avoided) choice, Twilight Princess or any other title would have suited an HD remake much more.Nevertheless, this is quite lovely, I'm sure it's even better in motion.
http://gematsu.com/2013/08/nintendo-drops-wii-u-price-confirms-zelda-bundleThe WiiU is getting a Zelda Bundle, but more importantly, it's getting a price drop.Also, fuck you Europe.


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ABC's Sundays shows closed out their fall runs on a good note.
Once Upon a Time held steady with 9.1 million viewers and a 3.1 in the adults 18-to-49 demographic, while Revenge (7.6 million, 2.4) rose two-tenths from its season low last week. Even Dead Man Airing 666 Park Avenue (4 million, 1.4) enjoyed a bump.
Fall TV Report Card: How's the new class doing?
NBC won the night with Sunday Night Football (18.1 million, 6.6).
Fox's whole lineup was down, while CBS' was skewed because of football.
On cable, The Walking Dead went out on a (very) high note. At 9 p.m., the midseason finale attracted 10.5 million viewers, and a whopping 6.5 million viewers in the demo. That's a 58 percent increase and 54 percent increase, respectively, over the Season 2 midseason finale last year.
8 p.m.
CBS: 60 Minutes / The Amazing Race 13.6 million viewers (3.1 demo rating)
ABC: Once Upon a Time 9.1 million (3.1)
Fox: The Simpsons (R) 4.4 million (1.9); Bob's Burgers 3.9 million (1.8)
NBC: Sunday Night Football 18.1 million (6.6) [8-11:30 p.m.]
9 p.m.
CBS: The Amazing Race / The Good Wife 9.7 million (2.2)
ABC: Revenge 7.6 million (2.4)
Fox: Family Guy (R) 4.1 million (1.9); American Dad! 4.2 million (2.0)
10 p.m.
CBS: The Good Wife / The Mentalist (R) 8.8 million (1.5)
ABC: 666 Park Avenue 4 million (1.4)


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It was 2 years ago to this week we extended our Honeymoon a few days extra to have an overnight in London. Zappa Plays Zappa planned a show there. It would have been the perfect end to a perfect Honeymoon. Sadly it was rescheduled for later in the spring. Luckily we did get to hang with Emily's old friends and I got to see Kyle. So two years later we celebrated our Anniversary in DC for a night of great food, drink and Zappa music.
Zappa Plays Zappa is Dweezil Zappa (Frank's 2nd oldest) playing his Father's music for younger audiences. Hearing about this originally was quite moving and inspirational. Because reissues in Ryko simply isn't enough for Frank.
After dropping Lily off for her first overnight with any of the parents, we headed to Dupont to The Tabard Inn. If in DC, I can't recommend this hotel and restaurant enough. We almost had our wedding there, but there would have been serious family drama if we had to whittle the guest list down to 45 people. Regardless we had a spectacular dinner complete with fancy names for everything and wondrous wine that got me tipsy. After dinner we hopped in a cab and made it to Warner Theatre with minutes to spare.
Emily hit the bathroom and I started surveying the stage and started computing all the gear and how it would equate to song choices. Not that there was any correlation at all, but it was simply fun to do anyways. Now because Zappa's catalog is rather vast it was virtually impossible and unrealistic to actually come out with an guess. 60 records in 27 years. That's over 2 records a year. Not to mention the 20 or so records that were released after his death in 1993.
The first song was an instrumental. The person to the left of me thought it was going to be Peaches. I would have loved it as Hot Rats is one of my favorite records. Sadly it was another instrumental, however this one, I believe, was from the late 80s. An era I am not largely fond of from Zappa's catalog. Luckily the next song was a keeper and even had Frank up on the screen sharing a solo with his song. In a Flaming Lips kind of way. Luckily they only did this for one song so it didn't become gimmicky.
At this point I was moderately in tears and quite overwhelmed seeing all the love for this man. I was not the only one. I feel a little alone in my love for this composer. None of my friends really know his music. So it was beyond exciting to see a house full of people who felt what I felt.
Initially I thought we'd stay for a chunk of songs. I thought we'd be bored with it. But we stayed the full 3 hour set. Wildly Dweezil never broke a sweat. Even after at times playing Frank's solos note for note. His ability to channel Zappa's playing amazed me. It's true, if anyone would be able to do this, it would be his offspring, but still. Seeing Dweezil play his father's Gibson SG brought chills to me.
And of course the musicians he played with were phenomenal. Aaron Arntz played keyboards and trumpet. He was sort of a Beck-ish mad scientist. But could comp the jazz like no one's business while at the same time churn out some insane synth patches. I firmly believe that Scheila Gonzalez stole the show. She played keyboards, saxes, flute, oboe, harmonica and sang. She also was in to the music, I felt, the most. Pete Griffin, on bass, looked like he'd be in the newest Indie Rock craze band. But could rip out Zappa licks while rocking like a hurricane. Billy Hulting covered the mallets and percussion. While he was amazing and soulful, he didn't have the charisma Ruth Underwood possessed. But I am not biased and I know it's not a fair comparison. No. And you can't fault him for that. He was simply amazing. Perhaps I just wish there were more songs that highlighted the mallets. Jamie Kime reminded me of Brian Eno and Ric Ocasek. But his guitar work was meticulous. Joe Travers was on drums. He was a little flat and unemotional. But of course, could play it all. Ray White was the guest at our show. I totally couldn't think of his name when he walked out so when Emily's asked who he was I said 'Napoleon Murphy', but she knew it wasn't him, as Napoleon was tall and slender. Again, another reason why I married this wonderful woman. Dweezil was only short of genius. His guitar work was incredible. He could do almost everything Frank could do, if only lacking breath. There were times I wish he would simply take a break and let his guitar vibrate out a little. I guess this is the curse of most guitarists, but man, aside from his occasional cocky side, there were times when I'd look away and think Frank was on that stage. Now that is breathtaking.
Highlights included hearing Hot Rats, Suzy Creamcheese and a few cuts from The Yellow Shark. Oh and and Emily calling out all the funny fans doing funny things.
After cabbing it back to The Tabard Inn we closed the bar out and hung out with some incredible people that worked there over some more beers. It was the perfect closer to a perfect Anniversary.
That and Lily did pretty good with the parents. Yay Lily!


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Wake and Bake: Strawberry Rhubarb Streusel Muffins
Breakfast snacks for those who get peckish first thing in the morning.
Get the Recipe
Rhubarb is like tonic water. I never pause to think about what tonic water tastes like and I never sip it straight. In fact when I finally gave it a go at home, I realized I had been conflating the taste of tonic water with bad quality gin and 3 a.m. mozzarella sticks from the Happy Days Diner. I'd like to formally say, I'm sorry, tonic water. You are your own quininial beast, and I was letting my poor culinary habits drag you down.
I don't think I'm the only person for whom rhubarb is the tonic water of the produce world. I never eat it alone, and, without thinking too much about it, I realized that when I say I'm thinking about rhubarb, I'm really thinking about strawberry. We're in a sad sack marriage and I won't keep up the charade.
In penitence, I spent a whole weekend with rhubarb, using Serious Eats recipe files as my home base. But at the end of the day, I gave into my old pleasures and paired rhubarb up with strawberries. They're just so good together that it's hard to say no.
But this begs another question: at the very least, why don't we spring strawberry and rhubarb from their pie shell? When people think of strawberry and rhubarb, they're probably really thinking about pie. And though I'm sort of mentally cheating on everything with pie, these muffins show just how good the strawberry-rhubarb pairing can be outside of their buttery, flaky home.
First things first: start with a good muffin base. The crumb to these muffins is tender and moist. They're well scented with vanilla, whose floral notes pair nicely with the mellow fruit. If possible, I'd suggest using Mexican vanilla here because of its creamy, sweet taste. The topping is a rich, buttery streusel that adds a flavor bomb to every vertical bite. Of course the strawberry and rhubarb are what make these muffins irresistible. The fruit is sweet but not aggressively so—the muffins remain pleasantly light and berry-ish. They're just the spring treat to eat at breakfast, and they still leave room for pie.


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Views: 3017
To be quite honest, I feared the unknown aspect of it for years despite my atheism until I read a (paraphrased) quote by Pliny the Elder: "I'll be as aware of my life after death as I was before birth." Now I have no fear. The act of dying is still not something that I look forward to but I'll deal with it when it comes.
The fact that Pliny's quote is nonsense doesn't bother you in the least?
According to Trace's paraphrase, the quote (to me) is saying clearly that we are unconscious of existence before we are born, and equally unconscious of it after we die, implying that in both cases, we don't exist. You could say, it's a bit poetical. Do you agree with how I interpret it? Do you agree or disagree with the stated interpretation itself? Myself I disagree, as I believe there is a strong possibility of life after death.
Makes sense to me. What don't you understand about it?
Exactly. Death is inevitable. Since I have know way of knowing yet how it will happen, I can't say how I'll face it. If it's sudden, no problem. If it's a long, dragged out process, I'll have issues with it and I may attempt to find a way to hasten it and since I have no health insurance I'm sure that their are some who won't try to stop me.
Depends what you mean by death? The dying part still scares me somewhat, however I never really had a fear of nothing after death, rather it was a sadness at everything I may miss when I'm gone.
Losing my want of a heaven/afterlife came all of a sudden to me. I had for a while tried to comprehend nothingness after death when all of a sudden I had a click in my brain and I really came to grips with the idea of eternity. Not that I knew what eternity felt like, but rather the idea of something lasting thousands apon thousands of years would no doubt become torture, let alone millions apon millions of years (which still isn't even a dent on eternity). I think as human story tellers we have come to this understanding through the fantasy tales of immortals (vampires etc.) who have lived for a few thousand years and wish for death. We know as a species how torturous that length of time would be, yet we ignore that for our wish for an eternal afterlife.
This epiphany made me thankful of the nothingness we will have after death, as much as the nothingness before my life was just as painless. What is there, really, to be afraid of? Maybe a feeling that our own personal consciousness is so important that it needs to survive?
Me too! As a kid, I actually felt kind of scared of going to heaven, because it seemed like it would be endless and unchanging, even though it was supposed to be happy. I thought that after a while it would become like an uncomfortable forced smile that I would have to wear for all eternity. This seriously worried me.
You won't have nothingness after death because there will be no longer any you to experience anything.
Yeah, I've noticed you saying this a few times after people's comments. What else would you call it except nothingness? You don't exist so your consciousness doesn't exist so there is nothing, hence nothingness. What seriously is your issue?
And Pliny's quote does make sense.
The idea of death has never really bothered me, everything alive eventually dies so why agonize over it? That being said I certainly don't want to die anytime soon since I'm rather young. I also don't want to die in a drawn out painful or terrifying way. I'd much prefer a quick and painless death at a ripe old age.
I didn't.That bitch will have to take me against my will.