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"Rabbit Hole" is suffocatingly sad, as you can imagine any film would be that deals with the death of a young child. The challenge is to find a way to get people to want to see it, and then want to sit through it, without being filled with abject dread — or at least the feeling that they're slogging through eat-your-vegetables cinema.
Quick facts
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest
Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Run time: 1 hour, 32 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13
John Cameron Mitchell accomplishes that with graceful performances from his stars, Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, which are filled with subtle moments as well as recognizable human frailties and flaws. Everyone deals with grief differently. There is no right answer, especially when it comes to coping with the unthinkable loss of a 4-year-old son. "Rabbit Hole" gets that notion and conveys it vividly, yet also offers some welcome glimmers of humor and even hope.
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David Lindsay-Abaire adapted the screenplay from his own Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Mitchell, who previously directed the subversive and sexually daring "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and "Shortbus," would seem an unusual choice for such traditionally dramatic material. While Mitchell has expanded the scenery a bit, you still can never shake the sensation that you're watching a play on film. That draws attention to the structured theatricality of the work, but also makes the more powerful moments hit home with a piercing directness.
Kidman does some of her most effective work in a while here as Becca, a mother who fills her days methodically gardening and baking in her spacious home in a comfortable suburb along the Hudson River. She keeps herself busy to avoid thinking about her little boy, who was hit by a car eight months earlier. While her mother (Dianne Wiest, great as always) encourages her to talk about what happened, Becca will do anything to shut out the memories, shut off the pain.
But Eckhart, as her husband, Howie, wants to remember his son — wants to trudge through the catharsis at group therapy sessions and revisit videos of the good times they shared. (That we never get a clear look at the boy's face, whether in pictures, videos or flashbacks, is an intriguing approach. It makes him more of a haunting concept, a ghostly presence.) Howie even wants to try and have another baby someday, keeping the child seat buckled inside the car just in case.
At a time when they should be supporting each other, working through their devastation and recovering together, they couldn't be further apart. When Howie tries to nuzzle up to Becca on the couch with some Al Green in the background, she bristles and accuses him of manipulating her, that's how tightly wound she remains. That Kidman is willing to make this character rigid, sometimes cruel and downright unlikable is a testament to her courage as an actress.
From there, the disparate paths they follow are unexpected and fascinating — the relationships they forge come fraught with emotional peril and potential marital harm. Howie strikes up a flirtatious friendship with another grieving mother (Sandra Oh) he meets in therapy, while Becca tries to find closure by secretly seeking out the teenager (Miles Teller) who was behind the wheel that fateful day. "Rabbit Hole" actually could have gotten a little weirder, even — it pulls back just a bit, and too soon.
Again, there's no correct answer when it comes to coping with such a loss. But "Rabbit Hole" suggests that its characters are at least starting to ask the right questions.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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I am often asked by friends who have ecommerce sites what they can do to improve sales. They have noticed current E-Commerce tools like SEO and Pay-Per-Click advertising are no longer delivering the bang they once did. And my friends also know that "social marketing" has become a valuable marketing tool, but they are not sure what terms like word of mouth, grass roots, and viral marketing even mean – much less what they can do to drive business.
So I recently posted an article on HostReview on my top 6 free social marketing technologies for E-Commerce. http://www.hostreview.com/icontent/the-blog/top-6-free-social-marketing-technologies-e-commerce-success
As I wrote in the article, these tools are … "all free … all powerful … to help drive your business."
1) Create an online community.
Why is an online community important for E-Commerce? It allows a company to utilize their customers as evangelists; enlisting them to advocate your brand to potential customers. Additionally, this expands your ability to engage with existing or potential customers. For example, take a look at a case study put together by Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) about how customer recommendations influence buying products and services.
Myspace offer online networking and Paltalk offers free, on-site communal chat rooms that can include webcam chat.
2) Stay abreast of your category by subscribing to Google Alerts.
This is a totally free service that allows a business owner to track trends in their industry. Simply list which keywords you are interested in, and Google will send you news, blogs, web pages, etc…that include those words.
Why is this important? It's because social marketing is about participating in the conversation. Once you see which articles and reporters are relevant to your category, you can participate – and in a meaningful way.
3) Deploy a Customer Feedback platform
E-merchants can also take advantage of free customer feedback platforms. One such platform is UserTrust offered by Comodo, a leading provider in online verification and security infrastructure services. UserTrust is a free tool which allows online merchants to gather customer feedback. Just as important, site visitors can see other user's real experiences. These testimonials provide one of the most powerful social marketing technologies available on the market.
4) Utilize free digital PR
In order to create additional SEO rich content, online merchants can create press releases and distribute them using free digital PR sites such as i-Newswire.com, PR-inside.com, PRLog.org, Free-Press-Release.com and 24-7pressrelease.com. Don't be intimidated to write these releases yourself – they need not be brilliant works of literary art. Your press releases should reflect news that your customers or prospects care about (even if the NYTimes will not). You can announce a new product or a big customer win or even a great review.
The point is that this tactic is mainly about driving improved SEO rankings and ultimately traffic to your site.
5) Blog it
Creating and regularly posting on a blog is another good way to increase SEO value. WordPress.com is a free platform that lets users quickly and easily create a blog.
6) "Birds of a feather" affinity marketing
It's useful to know what your customer profile looks like, not to mention those of your competitors. Quantcast is a free service that gives you a demographic profile of a website's visitors. Their reports also include a fair amount of detail on what your audience likes and even other sites they visit. This information can be invaluable in helping businesses identify opportunities.
So there you have it – my top 6. I will keep adding to this list as I uncover new tools that really work. If you have had great success with a social marketing technology – I'd love to hear about it. Share the knowledge –
Judy Shapiro
Filed under: comodo, Google, Internet, judy shapiro, online marketing, Paltalk, security, social media | Tagged: blog, digital marketing, eCommerce, emarketing, internet marketing, social media, social networks, traffic, viral marketing | 8 Comments »

subset: commoncrawl


text: looking for some help please I have a Garmin 60cxs and just need to know what the difference is in planning a trip on the map in the computer in Basecamp to transfer to the unit - is it better to use the routes or tracks option? cant seem to find any simple expanation anywhere. Cheers


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Carpool2Camp API - Followers
The service helps families to share transportation of campers to remote locations. Applications can embed the functions to collect starting locations and destinations, then match submissions with similar routes. Campers' families can then coordinate trips between home and camp to reduce traffic, driving expense, and carbon emissions. API methods support embedding proprietary the PoolPass® and Ride Match functionality into a camp web site. The API manages the database of ride requests as well as geolocation and ride-matching. Account admin functions provide records for a specific camp and create new user accounts.


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After more than ten years here on and off, I'm moving my blog to Hot Lead, where I'll be talking about fonts in all their glory. Expect lots of content about web fonts, performance, font technology, tools, and more.
It's been a great ride here, and thanks to everyone who's been part of the Advogato community. I'll still be checking in from time to time, and maybe even posting. But if you want to follow what I'm doing these days, follow me at the new place.


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An Internal Affairs captain who helped oversee the investigation into the Bronx ticket-fixing scandal was hauled off in handcuffs for allegedly beating his sergeant girlfriend into unconsciousness yesterday, The Post has learned.
Aaron Wright, 38, commanding officer of IAB's Group 22, was lying in wait for 46th Precinct Domestic Violence Unit Sgt. Nicole McFarlane, 38, at her Queens home at 1:43 a.m., law-enforcement sources said.
When McFarlane pulled up in her 2006 Nissan Altima, Wright came out of the shadows and twice kicked the driver-side door, the sources said. Then he slugged her so hard with his right fist that she lost consciousness, according to court documents.
The next thing McFarlane remembered was being lifted off the ground by a uniformed cop with her left eye and jaw swollen and bruised, court papers and sources said. She was rushed to Jamaica Hospital.
McFarlane later told cops that a stranger in a black Explorer got out and punched her, sources said.
But when investigators reviewed surveillance video, they saw a discrepancy in her account, sources said.
Cops questioned her again, and she said the attacker was her cop boyfriend. Wright was cuffed yesterday at his home in Queens Village.
"I know I f–ked up. I know I shouldn't have done that," Wright told cops, according to court papers.
He was released last night after his arraignment on charges of criminal mischief, harassment and assault.


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When Marvel Comics kicked off its "Ultimate" universe in 2000 (a new, start-from-scratch continuity that exists separately from the "main" Marvel universe that has been around since the 1940s) it did so with the express goal of updating and revamping its core characters like Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Avengers for new audiences.
Nothing says "bold revamp" more emphatically than killing Peter Parker and introducing a new, mixed race Spider-Man, does it?
That's exactly what Marvel has done, putting to rest the "Ultimate" version of Peter Parker and having a teenager named Miles Morales - who is half black, half-Hispanic - assume the mantle of the Spider.
U.S. & World
Morales will have some similar, but also some unique, spider abilities, and he will interact with Spider-Man mainstay characters like Peter's Aunt May and former girlfriend Gwen Stacy.
"What you have is a Spider-Man for the 21st century who's reflective of our culture and diversity," says Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso. "We think that readers will fall in love with Miles Morales the same way they fell in love with Peter Parker."
Marvel's decision to completely redo Spider-Man in this manner certainly shows that it is paying attention to its audience. Back when it was announced that director Marc Webb was going to reboot the movie version of ol' webhead, a grassroots internet effort tried to convince Webb to cast "Community" star Donald Glover in the lead role, arguing that race had nothing to do with the basic story of Peter Parker.
Morales' origin will be unveiled in September, when the series relaunches with a brand new first issue, "Ultimate Spider-Man #1."


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|March 24, 2012 until April 24, 2022
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Code of Conduct - Rules for Posting
Un-civil conduct is not permitted on this board do not post threads or replies for the purpose of abusing members of this board - honest reviews are permitted gratuitous insults are forbidden. Do not respond in-kind if you are personally insulted.
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Use great discretion before posting any remarks solely for the purpose of disparaging persons or groups who may or may not be members of this board. It is not possible to write a rule that is sufficiently inclusive or exclusive on this subject. The management of the board has full discretion to limit this sort of activity in any context where it may appear.
Do not re-post topics that were closed by moderators. If you object to the administrative choices made by the moderators, you are welcome to contact the moderators directly. While it is unlikely that decisions to close topics will be reversed, your opinion will be considered if it is presented in a thorough, coherent and respectful manner.
If you feel a post is in violation of any of these rules, use the Report this post to a moderator tool that appears at the lower right-hand corner of every post on this board.
While this list applies to all areas of the board, this list is not intended to be inclusive of every rule that may apply to this board. The Marketplace forum has a number of rules you should review before posting there. There are separate announcements pertaining to copyrighted material.
Rules may be added, and these rules may change, without particular notice. Members are responsible for using good judgment at all times, and are responsible for knowing the current rules for conduct on this board.


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Your Comments (10000 characters max, no HTML please)
Changed your mind? Decided not to comment right now?
Return to Selena Gomez.
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Celebrity.
This Solo Build It! Site is Owned and Operated byGlennys Savage
Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved by Glennys Savage.


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Body pillow size 18 1/2" x 62". All of our feather and down blend pillows are individually hand made. We use only the highest quality 100% cotton feather and down proof ticking. Each pillow ticking is double stitched to ensure quality and durability. All of our pillows are made so they can be adjusted to fit your level of comfort. Used products cannot be accepted for return. All pillows made in white material unless otherwise requested.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!
INFANT/CHILD USE WARNING: To avoid risk of suffocation, do not allow babies or small children to sleep with any comforter or featherbed. Blankets can cause overheating, which has been linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Down products, such as comforters and pillows, should be kept out of infants' cribs. Tears in the fabric can allow down fill to escape, which, if inhaled by the infant, could block the air passage, leading to suffocation or choking. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly encourages putting infants to sleep on their backs.
Remember to throw away the plastic bag used to protect your pillow, comforter or featherbed during shipping. Babies or small children who play with plastic bags are in danger of suffocation.


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Wolfgang Faust, published 1948.
My apologies for not having an ISBN (I tea it on my kindle).
A firsthand account of the fighting on the Eastern Front by driver of a Tiger 1 in the last year of WW2. Concentrating on the desperate efforts of a diminishing number of panzer men to defend an anonymous bridge. Ultimately futile in this the author is sent to recover from his wounds. There is a latter book by the same author recounting the last battles of the war in Europe geared around escaping from Soviet encirclement in order to surrender to a more forgiving British and American army.
Anyone who thinks war is exciting would be quickly dissuaded by this. The German tanks are mechanical wrecks, the army rejoice when a detachment of SS are wiped out as it means they can retreat without being executed for desertion, both sides, and the driver himself carry out casual acts of atrocities without blinking an eye. In that respect, as is often the case in war stories, it is a very potent anti war novel.
Tiger Tracks: 3 days on the Eastern Front
Anything with a vague historical bent
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Tiger Tracks: 3 days on the Eastern Front
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By Nandita Khanna
Street-style starlet Olivia Palermo and her model boyfriend retreat to Paris's Le Meurice for respite from the paparazzi—and indulgences both sartorial and sweet.
Even if you don't know her by name, it's hard not to recognize the petite Olivia Palermo's enviable, ladylike style, which is documented on countless street-style blogs. "It's so important to take trends that you see on the runway and blend them with your own personal style," says New York–based Palermo from her perch in Paris's Le Meurice hotel, where she decamped after taking in the fall 2012 shows alongside longtime model boyfriend Johannes Huebl. She'll soon return to New York and share her show notes, favorite haunts, and most recent finds with the editorial team of her fashion and lifestyle website, OliviaPalermo.com, of which she serves as executive editor.
Palermo epitomizes the idea that you don't need to wear head-to-toe high-priced clothes to be considered a fashion icon. She's quick to combine, say, a pair of print pants from Topshop, a jacket from Carven, and a Mulberry bag. Her loftiest purchases are investment pieces she treasures and is photographed wearing—a dress from Dior ("The fabrics have beautiful movement"), items from Giambattista Valli ("He cuts a feminine silhouette") and a Miss Dior bag ("It's very wearable; you just throw it on and go"). She continues, "the trick is taking a runway trend and incorporating it into your wardrobe in a way that doesn't break the bank. I love supporting younger, London-based designers like Matthew Williamson and Markus Lufper. I'll wear them, as well as some bigger names from time to time, but it's that mix that is important."
While the couple is rarely out of the public eye, they treasure the quiet moments alone on their travels—Huebl, with his Leica camera in tow, taking snapshots of Olivia's much-documented clothing choices—and stealing kisses and adoring gazes when they think no one is looking. "Olivia is really the one with the interest in fashion—mine isn't nearly as strong as hers," says Huebl, whose modeling jobs take him all over the world. One can't blame the couple for carving out time alone, considering a typical week is chock-full of black-tie events, store openings, and screenings.
Yet it's Palermo's expertise at striking that high-low balance of dress that makes her a style subject worth studying. Her secret weapon is in the accessories. "It's a way for me to feel creative," says Palermo, who just signed on as the face of Rochas's upcoming fragrance campaign. "Accessories add the finishing touch," she explains, holding up an all-black jumpsuit from British label Reiss. "Here, I'd create a '70s-inspired look and add heavy jewelry." It should be noted that Palermo is just as democratic about her love of costume jewelry as she is about her finds from Topshop: "It's not about how much a piece of jewelry costs—if it's $2, well then that's even more exciting."
Click here for more posts on Olivia
credit - Lifestyle Mirror , Photographs by Sofia Sanchez and Mauro Mongiello. Directed by Robert Rabensteiner.
~Kelli at Hills Freak


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|Union Soldiers
Recently he posted a link via Facebook, to his NEHGS lecture titled, "Civil War Pension Research: Union Soldiers," and I immediately asked him if I could copy it to my blog. Without hesitation, he gave me permission to post his talk on researching your Union Civil War Ancestor. There are 26 slides ranging from 16 seconds to 1.39 seconds, each covering a type of document possibly found in the pension file. The pension research lecture starts up immediately and the nice thing about it is, you can start and stop, replay as many times as you like. This makes for easy note taking.
Don't miss viewing slides #12 and 16, covering Forms 3-447 and 3-389.


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Michelle Obama Chimp Image On Google
If you search on for Michelle Obama in Google Image Search you will see a image a chimpanzee. Google removed the image but not its back. This time, Google bought a search ad explaining why the result is there and why Google cannot remove it:
Sometimes Google search results from the Internet can include disturbing content, even from innocuous queries. We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not in any way endorsed by Google.
Search engines are a reflection of the content and information that is available on the Internet. A site's ranking in Google's search results relies heavily on computer algorithms using thousands of factors to calculate a page's relevance to a given query.
The beliefs and preferences of those who work at Google, as well as the opinions of the general public, do not determine or impact our search results. Individual citizens and public interest groups do periodically urge us to remove particular links or otherwise adjust search results. Although Google reserves the right to address such requests individually, Google views the integrity of our search results as an extremely important priority. Accordingly, we do not remove a page from our search results simply because its content is unpopular or because we receive complaints concerning it. We will, however, remove pages from our results if we believe the page (or its site) violates our Webmaster Guidelines, if we believe we are required to do so by law, or at the request of the webmaster who is responsible for the page.
We apologize if you've had an upsetting experience using Google. We hope you understand our position regarding offensive results.
The Google Team
Michelle Obama Monkey Faces Nearly 99 percent alike in genetic makeup, chimpanzees and humans might be even more similar were it not for what researchers call "lifestyle" changes in the 6 million years that separate us from a common ancestor. Specifically, two key differences are how humans and chimps perceive smells and what we eat.
A massive gene-comparison project involving two Cornell scientists, and reported in the journal Science (Dec. 12, 2003), found these and many other differences in a search for evidence of accelerated evolution and positive selection in the genetic history of humans and chimps.
In the most comprehensive comparison to date of the genetic differences between two primates, the genomic analysts found evidence of positive selection in genes involved in olfaction, or the ability to sense and process information about odors. "Human and chimpanzee sequences are so similar, we were not sure that this kind of analysis would be informative," said evolutionary geneticist Andrew G. Clark, Cornell professor of molecular biology and genetics. "But we found hundreds of genes showing a pattern of sequence change consistent with adaptive evolution occurring in human ancestors." Those genes are involved in the sense of smell, in digestion, in long-bone growth, in hairiness and in hearing. "It is a treasure-trove of ideas to test by more careful comparison of human and chimpanzee development and physiology," Clark said.
The DNA sequencing of the chimpanzee was performed by Celera Genomics, in Rockville, Md., as part of a larger study of human variation headed by company researchers Michele Cargill and Mark Adams.
Celera generated some 18 million DNA sequence "reads," or about two-thirds as many as were required for the first sequencing of the human genome. Statistical modeling and computation was done by Clark and by Rasmus Nielsen, a Cornell assistant professor of biological statistics and computational biology. Some of the analysis, which also compared the mouse genome, used the supercomputer cluster at the Cornell Theory Center.
Clark explained: "By lining up the human and chimpanzee gene sequences with those of the mouse, we thought we might be able to find genes that are evolving especially quickly in humans. In a sense, this method asks: What are the genes that make us human? Or rather, what genes were selected by natural selection to result in differences between humans and chimps?"
The study started with almost 23,000 genes, but this number fell to 7,645 because of the need to be sure that the right human, chimp and mouse genes were aligned.
According to Clark, all mammals have an extensive repertoire of olfactory receptors, genes that allow specific recognition of the smell of different substances.
"The signature of positive selection is very strong in both humans and chimps for tuning the sense of smell, probably because of its importance in finding food and perhaps mates," said Clark. In addition to the great departure in smell perception, differences in amino acid metabolism also seem to affect chimps' and humans' abilities to digest dietary protein and could date back to the time when early humans began eating more meat, Clark speculated. Anthropologists believe that this occurred around 2 million years ago, in concert with a major climate change.
"This study also gives tantalizing clues to an even more complex difference — the ability to speak and understand language," Clark said. "Perhaps some of the genes that enable humans to understand speech work not only in the brain, but also are involved in hearing."
Evidence for this came from a particularly strong sign of selection acting on the gene that codes for an obscure protein in the tectorial membrane of the inner ear. One form of congenital deafness in humans is caused by mutations to this gene, called alpha tectorin.
Mutations in alpha tectorin result in poor frequency response of the ear, making it hard to understand speech. "It's something like replacing the soundboard of a Stradivarius violin with a piece of plywood," Clark noted. The large divergence between humans and chimps in alpha tectorin, he said, could imply that humans needed to tune the protein for specific attributes of their sense of hearing. This leads Clark to wonder whether one of the difficulties in training chimpanzees to understand human speech is that their hearing is not quite up to the task. Although studies of chimpanzee hearing have been done, detailed tests of their transient response have not been carried out.
Clark emphasized that a study like this cannot prove that the biology of humans and chimps differ because of this or that particular gene. "But it generates many hypotheses that can be tested to yield insight into exactly why only 1 percent in DNA sequence difference makes us such different beasts," he said.
Also collaborating in the study were researchers at Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.), Celera Diagnostics (Alameda, Calif.) and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The Science report is titled "Inferring non-neutral evolution from human-chimp-mouse orthologous gene trios."
What do you think about a Chimpanzee representing Michelle Obama on search engines? Don't bring in your racist opinions George Bush has the same images floating around search engines also. Why do we suppress creative art related to the OBAMAS.
Join On Twitter
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Michelle Obama's Face Lift/Bleached Skin
Michelle Obama Announces Childhood Obesity Guidelines
Obama's Misress Vera Baker
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Michelle Obama Looks Like Cheeta
Did Michelle Obama Trigger Wave Of Eating Disorders?
Michelle Obamas Pot Belly
Michelle Obama On Hawaii Beach For Christmas
Michelle Obama Barbara Walters Most Fascinating Person Of 2009
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Respected as "a voice for today's generation", Jesse has proven that he is a thought leader and a source of substance. He has published several books on personal development and executive produced the Maximize Your Greatness dvd project. Jesse uses his influence to help teenagers live the type of life that is far above what they could ever imagine. His message helps youth to transform their attitude, boost their self-esteem, overcome peer pressure and enhance their leadership ability. For over a decade, Jesse has worked as a youth counselor, basketball coach, and certified deputy instructor. His motto is K.I.N.G: Keep Investing In The Next Generation.
To find out more about Jesse, click HERE!!!
Order your copy of Walk Like A King.


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The other day at Sprouts, a local grocery store, a woman saw me selecting baby eggplant.
She asked, "Do you like those?"
"Oh, I adore them," I said. "They're much sweeter and more tender than large eggplants."
"How do you cook them?" she asked.
"Lots of ways," I replied. "You can saute them, stuff them, broil them."
She screwed up her mouth, looked perplexed. "Mmmm... I don't know," she mumbled.
I scanned her shopping cart and noticed she had a bag full of baby eggplants in it. I said, "Well, you must like them too."
"Me? No, I don't really like eggplant," she said. "I only bought these cause they're just too cute to pass up."
Blame it on the cute factor — you know, when you buy something not because you love or need it but because it's too cute to pass up.
We continued talking, and I gave her several suggestions of how to cook baby eggplant. She seemed relieved. In fact, baby eggplant are quite versatile: They can be grilled, broiled, sauteed or baked and pair well with Asian, Indian, and Mediterranean flavors.
Here are eight great ways to enjoy baby eggplant:
1. Make eggplant chips: Slice paper-thin, toss in olive oil and salt and bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until crisp.
2. Broil 'em: Thinly slice, brush with olive oil and broil until browned. Douse with fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper and sprinkle with finely chopped fresh mint or basil.
3. Stuff 'em: Cut off the tops and scoop out the flesh. Saute flesh with olive oil and shallots and transfer to a bowl. Add some bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, egg, salt and crushed red pepper. Mix together and stuff eggplants. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tender.
4. Glaze 'em: Thinly slice and broil or grill until tender and brown. Drizzle with a warm balsamic-honey reduction and sprinkle with chopped fresh rosemary.
5. Saute 'em: Saute thin slices in olive oil until browned and tender. Toss with goat cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, and mint.
6. Pickle 'em: Pickled eggplant is a unique addition to an antipasto platter. Check out these pickled eggplant recipes from Punk Domestics.
7. Grill 'em: Slice slightly thicker and brush with olive oil. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until lightly charred. Serve with Romesco sauce or drizzle with a balsamic reduction.
8. Curry 'em: Cut into chunks and saute in olive oil with diced onions and chilies. Add Indian curry powder or other spices such as garam masala and turmeric. Add coconut milk and a thickening agent such as cornstarch, and cook until sauce is thickened. Serve over basmati or jasmine rice.
Or make the Asian Chicken and Baby Eggplant recipe below.
How about you? How do you cook with baby eggplants?
Asian Chicken and Baby Eggplant with Toasted Sesame Seeds and Cashews
Makes 4 servings
Printable recipe.
Chicken marinade:
4 (1/2 -pound pieces) of boneless, skinless chicken breast (2 pounds total)
Chicken marinade:
4 (1/2 -pound pieces) of boneless, skinless chicken breast (2 pounds total)
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
Juice 1 lime
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup wild rice or brown rice
2 1/2 cups water
10 to 12 baby eggplant, stems removed, and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
2 scalions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus extra for garnish
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus extra for garnish
1 tablespoon lightly toasted sesame seeds
2 tablespoons roasted unsalted (or salted, if you prefer) cashew halves
1. In a large Ziploc bag or tightly closed container, add chicken and marinade ingredients and shake well. Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or up to 6 hours.
2. Place rice and water in a medium pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, partially cover and cook for 25 to 30 minutes or until the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked through yet still firm.
3. Take chicken out of the refrigerator 20 minutes before cooking. In a large non-skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon sesame oil. Add the chicken. Cook for 4 minutes without touching. Flip and cook an additional 2 minutes. Add remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil and eggplant slices. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the eggplant begins to soften and brown. Add the scallions and cilantro, and stir. Cook until the chicken is nicely browned all over and the eggplant is tender. Spread rice evenly on a serving dish and sprinkle with sesame seeds and cashews, and, if desired, chopped fresh cilantro.
Here are more baby eggplant recipes you might enjoy:
Chili Eggplants recipe by Teczcape
Lebanese-Style Stuffed Baby Eggplant recipe from Fresh Cracked Pepper
Stuffed Baby Eggplant in Peanut Sesame Sauce recipe from The Steaming Pot
Grilled Baby Eggplant with Queso Fresco and Lime recipe from Not Eating Out in New York


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Download Amoretti Study Guide
The Poem
(Critical Survey of Literature for Students)
Edmund Spenser's sonnet sequence, the Amoretti (meaning "little love gifts" in Italian), ranks among the most notable of the collections produced during the golden age of English poetry, also the heyday of the English sonnet. Beginning in fourteenth century Italy with Petrarch's tributes, in sonnet form, to his beloved Laura, the sonnet cycle describing the lover's pangs and the inamorata's remote beauty quickly became a poetic standard. The introduction of this poetic form to England is generally credited to Sir Thomas Wyatt, who brought it from France and adapted it to the English taste and tongue. Although the prestige of the sonnet had begun to decline by the time Spenser produced his sequence, no notable poet of the period could afford to ignore the sonnet or the sonnet cycle. As had William Shakespeare and Sir Philip Sidney before him, Spenser used the sonnet cycle as part of his claim to literary fame.
The Amoretti differs from Sir Philip Sidney's Astrophel and Stella (1591) sequence and from Shakespeare's sonnets in ways that have too often led to comparisons unfavorable to Spenser. Not only does Spenser use a more labored rhyme scheme (adapted from the French), but also his subject matter is subtler and less dramatic. Shakespeare and Sidney address their rhymes to amorous objects presented in a highly fictionalized and formalized context. Spenser, on the other hand, blends traditional elements of idealization of the love object with elements of the actual courtship of his future wife. For this reason, the Amoretti wavers somewhere between the dramatic outpourings of emotion typical of Shakespeare and the elegantly crafted tributes to the lady's charms typical of Sidney. As a result, Spenser's reader must look beneath the "artificial" elements of the sonnets to see their "natural" appeal. They record the vagaries of real courtship, with all its alternating moments of doubt, despair, hope, tenderness, elation, and joy sketched with characteristic Spenserian delicacy and tact.
This delicacy may create problems for the reader who demands more straightforward vigor; it can best be appreciated by noting how the sonnets' unusual rhyme scheme produces a graceful modulation between and within lines. Although each of Spenser's sonnets closes with a ringing couplet, traditional in the sonnet in English, its scheme as a whole is tighter and subtler than that of the more ordinary form. Ending each quatrain with the rhyme that will begin the next, Spenser achieves a remarkably smooth, graceful, and highly unified effect. While some critics have criticized this rhyme scheme as overly artificial, it is very well suited to the fine modulation of emotions expressed by a forty-year-old poet seeking the hand of a beautiful and socially superior young lady. Similarly, while the character of this lady tends toward the ideal, Spenser ably sketches the personality of a real woman. His Elizabeth Boyle is not the inaccessible mistress of Petrarchan tradition, nor is her lover its traditional victim. Each partner to this courtship exhibits strengths and weaknesses, each ultimately being referred back to the perfecting grace of God. Spenser's sonnet sequence is a remarkable achievement: It is one of the first fully realized attempts in lyric poetry to represent an actual, rather than an ideal, human relationship. The Amoretti creates one of the earliest and greatest tributes to the Protestant virtues of married love and domestic tranquillity.
The sequence also is unique in charting a real-time sequence, the period between late 1592 and June 11, 1594, the day on which Spenser's wedding was finally solemnized, and which his famous Epithalamion (1595) celebrates. The New Year's Days of 1593 and 1594 are observed in the sequence, as are the occasions of Easter, the couple's betrothal, and their separation for a brief period before their wedding. Along with these time markers, many purely conventional elements are included, as...
(The entire section is 2,163 words.)


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Jamie and I had a great time on our road trip over the weekend - and I'll add that with every road trip, I get better at splitting sunflower seeds with my teeth. Maybe one of these days I'll be able to work a whole handful at a time, but for now, it's just one seed at a time. :)
We spent a lot of time with his parents, and his sister and her family, checking out local spots, watching fireworks, and just hanging out relaxing. We ate BBQ pork, cooked low and slow in his dad's smoker, smoked salmon, grilled salmon, and salmon cooked on a salt block, venison sausage, and lots of rhubarb pie with ice cream.
It's amazing to me that something like rhubarb, being so tart raw and looking so strangely like celery can taste so much like apples when it's sweetened and cooked. Jamie's parents gave me some freshly cut stalks of rhubarb from their garden to take home, so I was eager to experiment with a few recipes since I've never cooked with rhubarb before.
My thought was to cook a compote out of the rhubarb and some fresh cherries I picked up at a produce truck on the drive back, and then use the rhubarb puree to create a moist and aromatic bread. I have a fantastic recipe for pumpkin bread which uses pumpkin puree, so with a little tweaking, I revised the recipe to use even more of the rhubarb puree, decreasing the sugar and oil in the recipe to allow for the added liquid.
The bread baked so beautifully, nicely browned on top with a crust on either end and moist and soft inside, studded with tart cherries and flavorful with rich spices. Eat it plain, or spread it with some lemon curd or jam. This would be a wonderful recipe for fall to have with a cup of hot apple cider!
Printable Recipe
Rhubarb Cherry Loaf Bread
- 2 cups cooked rhubarb puree (recipe below)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2/3 cup dried cherries
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray two non-stick loaf pans with cooking spray.
Combine the rhubarb puree, sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla and water in a large mixing bowl; beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.
In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients (except the dried cherries). While mixing on low speed, add the flour mixture a spoonful at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl, and stir in the cherries by hand.
Divide the batter evenly between the two pans. Bake at 350 for 50-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes on a wire rack, then invert onto the wire rack. Turn bread right side up on the wire rack and cover lightly with a clean kitchen towel to cool completely before slicing or wrapping.
Rhubarb Cherry Compote
- 4 cups rhubarb, chopped
- 3 cups fresh cherries, pitted
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup water
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered, stirring frequently, until fruit is softened and sauce is thickened, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool. You can use the compote just as it is if you like; what I did was to separate two cups of the rhubarb puree from the whole cherries and remaining rhubarb puree. I wanted to use the puree in the bread recipe above, and saved the whole cherries with puree for another recipe still to come...
You might also like...
Lemon Curd
Strawberry Apricot Jam
Black Cherry Vanilla Bean Jam
You might also like...
Lemon Curd
Strawberry Apricot Jam
Black Cherry Vanilla Bean Jam


text: A white paper published this past summer titled "The Economic Importance of Western Irrigated Agriculture: Impacts, Water Values and Strategic Policy Questions" offers a pulse on farm water usage across 17 states in the western U.S. In 2011, the report finds, roughly $117 billion of the $171 billion (about 68%) in total production value for states such as Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and Arizona could be traced back to irrigated agriculture. About 42 million acres of production agriculture in those states are under irrigation, including pasture and harvested crops. Total household income impacts are estimated to be roughly $156 billion yearly. Water market values range from $1,500 per acre-foot to $3,000 per acre-foot for irrigation. Pacific Northwest Project of Kennewick, Wash., prepared the report for The Family Farm Alliance and the Irrigation Association. The report is intended to help policymakers understand the economics behind regional water use and address related policy questions. Among the highlights of the report is a look into the future, viewed through the lens of increased international food trade and rising food prices. "There is a marked trend in both increasing food imports to and exports from the U.S.—the food trade business is growing," the writers note. "Expect more demand for U.S. agricultural products well beyond beans and grains." Moreover, while food prices are expected to rise by a modest 2% to 2.5% beginning this year and continuing annually, USDA has suggested that "even under a high food-cost scenario, retail food prices would not likely exceed 15%. But the introduction of worldwide, accelerated food demand and the prevalence of creeping reductions to irrigation water supply (as well as drought impacts) may change the picture."


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Impressed by last year's HX100V model, the arrival of the latest HX200V left team 'Lint excited about what new surprises this Sony superzoom would have in store.
Touting the same 30x optical zoom – or 27-810mm equivalent – lens as its predecessor, the biggest change to this latest model comes in the form of the new 18.2-megapixel sensor that's under the hood. But will this megapixel increase see a shift in image quality for better or worse?
What's the angle?
Like buses, you wait ages for one and then three come along at once. The superzoom market seems to be following the same trend: the release of the Fujifim HS30EXR, Nikon P510 and now the Sony HX200V mean that there's a lot of choice out there. And that's not forgetting last year's Canon SX40HS and Panasonic's FZ150.
The HX200V houses a 30x optical zoom lens instead of the super-wide-angle 24mm of many competitors, it has an ever-so-slightly-longer 27mm equivalent as its widest-angle. It's still good enough for group shots, and while that 3mm may not sound like much it does make a notable difference in how much the frame "opens up". But this also means that once zoomed in to its full potential the camera has an 810mm equivalent zoom. That's some far-reaching stuff, ideal for picking off distant subjects so that they fill out the frame.
- Sky Q update discussed, VanMoof S3 e-bike, and the future of solar charging - Pocket-lint Podcast 61
The Sony's other standout feature is the inclusion of GPS – Global Positioning Satellite – technology. It's not so much a rarity in many gadgets these days, but it's found in only a handful of superzoom cameras.
Activate this feature and it's possible to attribute shots with location data that can come in handy when cataloguing, uploading online or associating to some websites. The HX200V also goes the extra mile by offering log record – a feature able to trace your journey and then play back the route and any associated images in Google Earth.
At the controls
Although the HX200V is a near carbon copy of its HX100V predecessor – excluding a redesigned grip – we're pleased as punch with overall layout.
On the back of the camera there's a 3-inch, 920K-dot vari-angle LCD, complimented by a built-in 201k-dot electronic viewfinder. Although the small size can prove a frustration and the viewfinder resolution isn't especially high – indeed it's the very same finder as its predecessor, or that found in the Nikon P510 – it's still a welcome tool. However, the similarly priced Fujifilm HS30EXR does outperform every other consumer superzoom in the viewfinder department, so the Sony has some catching up to do.
Most compact cameras have a zoom toggle control around the shutter to control zoom. Now, while the HX200V has this control its lens also has a manual ring that can be instead. To make it more versatile the flick of a switch to the side of the lens barrel assigns it manual focus control instead. This means both zoom and manual focus are ideally placed to the hand, and controlling the camera feels more advanced than a standard compact. Whichever control you chose, there's the benefit to different shooting styles - the zoom toggle is great for an extra steady hold in movie mode, or you may zoom with the toggle and manually focus with the lens ring. It's a cracking design.
The lens itself also features Sony's optical SteadyShot image stabilisation technology to counteract handshake. As the technology is lens-based it provides not only a steadier preview image when composing, but also helps keep shots all the sharper. With such long focal lengths available this is an essential to have – and it works a treat.
Another quirky new feature is the display level; a spirit-level-like digital gauge that can overlay the screen or viewfinder to assist with shooting that perfect, straight horizon.
Pro performer?
Just behind the shutter button the HX200V has a dedicated focus button that opens up the autofocus area controls: there's multi, centre point, or flexible spot AF where the focus area can be user-defined on the LCD screen by using the rear d-pad. This last option adds that extra level of control that will be essential for certain shooting situations, though the auto modes are also reliable.
The autofocus system is quick and responsive, and although close-focus isn't the camera's strong point, it's more than capable of acquiring subject focus throughout the full range of the zoom, right to its full extension that's not something that can be said for all its competitors. A quick comparison between the Nikon P510 and Fujifilm HS30EXR sees the Sony come out on top - it's quicker and more accurate.
Just next to the focus button is a custom button that, by default, controls exposure lock but can be also set up to quick-access white balance, ND filter, metering or smile shutter instead.
New sensor: triumph or too trying?
When we reviewed the HX100V in May 2011, we remarked that although image quality was good, the 16.2-megapixel sensor wasn't able to pull off the "critical detail" that we'd hoped for.
So for Sony to squeeze in yet another two million pixels and up the resolution to 18.2-megapixels in the HX200V set alarm bells ringing. More megapixels spread across the same 1/2.3in sensor surface means light is spread more thinly, which can produce a poorer signal and, therefore, poorer image quality.
However the HX200V's images are similar, if not better-processed, than the previous model, in spite of the resolution increase. At the preview launch of the HX200V we were told that this latest sensor is twice as sensitive at the sensor level compared to the HX100V, thanks to a new design. It seems this little nugget of information seems to go some way to explain our findings.
The HX200V's images appear sharper compared to the HX100V's shots, and any purple fringing – those "bleeding" purple edges around some subjects - are cleared up with greater attention.
ISO sensitivity begins at ISO 100 and ranges up to ISO 12,800. High ISO settings can be useful in low-light conditions, where the signal is amplified and processed to produce a bright, accurate exposure. However, such amplification produces image noise which shows as white and/or coloured flecks throughout an image. In-camera processing attempts to remove such nasties, but in so doing softens and blurs detail and mutes true colour presence.
The Sony's ISO 100-200 settings are of good enough quality, while ISO 400-1600 progressively diminish in quality but still remain of use. ISO 3200 is significantly softer, ISO 6400 of little use and ISO 12,800 close to useless. We'd not recommend shooting above ISO 1600 in order to hold on to some of that all-important detail in your shots. Though, ideally it's ISO 100 that's the real winner.
Like its predecessor there's also in-camera controls for sharpness, colour saturation, contrast and noise reduction to add that extra lick of detail. It's only possible to see the results off-camera though, so you'll need to tweak with the settings and view files in full before you know what suits. Not many consumer cameras have such detailed menu settings, so kudos to Sony. It's just a shame that there's no raw file capture available.
As with any superzoom camera, those looking for a DSLR-beater will need to consider the compromises of an all-in-one "big lens compact sensor" purchase. Casual users will be more than happy with the HX200V's image quality, yet those looking to use full resolution files for critical detail prints might not get quite everything they want here.
But there's more
As well as controls for brightness, colour and vividness, the HX200V also introduces a smattering of picture effects. These range from the casual, such as Toy or Pop, to the more extreme, including partial colour, that isolates red, green or blue within a scene and sets everything else to black and white (also known as colour popping).
And if that 30x optical zoom isn't quite enough for you then the inclusion of Sony's latest technology, dubbed "Clear Digital Zoom", is able to digitally zoom from 30x up to 60x while upscaling the image so that the output size is still the same 18.2-megapixels in size. The algorithm that Sony uses to do this isn't too crude either: a bit like Photoshop's clever resampling and the HX200V's shots retain enough detail. Not bad for what is, in essence, a digital zoom mode. There is a cut-off point where it's a bit out of its depth, but this is digital zoom at its best and offers a quick and efficient way to gain a 1620mm equivalent.
The camera's main mode dial is host to a variety of manual and auto modes, including the famed sweep panorama. Sony's pioneering technology, which captures images in real time as the camera is rotated and stitches them together into a panoramic shot, is now available in its latest carnation: iSweep Panorama. This adds the ability to shoot a full 360° shot, or the usual 270° at a higher resolution than its predecessor.
Movie mode, too, is an eye-catching 1080p at 50 frames per second. Activated via a one-touch movie button on the rear of the camera, the settings and autofocus are automated, though it's possible to use the 30x zoom in real time. It's slow to progress through its zoom range, but this keeps the resulting footage smoother as a result. Autofocus can be a little slow to catch up compared to stills shooting, but it does a good job for the most part and the image stabilisation is excellent.
The HX200V takes Sony's already decent superzoom formula and further improves the recipe.
Although we had anticipated that image quality would be a step down compared to its predecessor, the HX200V's new 18.2-megapixel sensor delivers the goods. Sure the shots aren't going to see off those from larger sensor cameras such as DSLRs, but they are sharp and well processed, even if no more standout compared to other compact cameras.
Its the 30x zoom lens with its manual zoom/focus ring and zoom toggle combination that makes the HX200V what it is. Autofocus is fast and image stabilisation is also a winner. There are few moans to be had, though at £429 it is a pricey bit of kit – more expensive than its nearest competitors.
The HX200V may be up against some other tip-top 30x zoom cameras but it more than holds its weight. This is one feature-packed superzoom that delivers across the board.


text:
Radiation dose from diagnostic procedures has become a topic of debate in the popular press. And with the Medicare payments for some higher-dose CT scans on the chopping block starting in 2016, the red flag has been effectively raised.
Perspectives to empower
a healthier tomorrow
Philips' Meera Gopalakrishnan travels to Africa to explore the challenges,
the possible solutions and successes creating the future of healthcare.
By clicking on the link, you will be leaving the official Royal Philips Healthcare ("Philips") website. Any links to third-party websites that may appear on this site are provided only for your convenience and in no way represent any affiliation or endorsement of the information provided on those linked websites. Philips makes no representations or warranties of any kind with regard to any third-party websites or the information contained therein.I understand


text:
Chicken soup is prescribed for the common cold, but, despite its ingredients, this magnificently named broth from the Forgotten Perfume restaurant in Beijing's Shimao Mall somehow manages to cure hepatosplenomegaly and "tuberculosis embolism." Yes, "strong Tibetan sheep placenta nourishing soup AIDS" (a.k.a. "a fish sex") is the lost miracule cure that's been right under our collective nose. Science could learn a lot from dubious translation.
[Spotted on Asia Obscura]


text:
Manufacturing times vary at different times of the year and depend material availablity and production volumes. Coverking manufactures most custom accessories in California, USA - and has been doing so since 1986. During that time, we have worked vigorously to speed up our production time required to make the word's best covers for your vehicle. Your order will be shipped directly to you from Coverking's facility in Anaheim, CA. USA.
Custom Car Covers – 1-2 weeks
Custom Seat Covers – 3-4 weeks
Custom Dash Covers – 1 week
Custom Molded Dash Covers – 1 week
Custom Sunshields – 1 week
Custom Floormats – 1 week
Universal-fit products ship within 1 week.
Production times are not guaranteed. After purchase, you can track the progress of your order through production.


text: Gegic was taken to a jail in Cremona, where match-fixing inquiry is based [AP]Italian police said on Tuesday they have arrested Serbian footballer Almir Gegic, who has been wanted since June 2011 for alleged involvement in a widespread match-fixing case.After more than a year on the run, Gegic turned himself in. On Tuesday, police released a video of his arrival at Milan's Malpensa airport late Monday.Gegic was brought to a jail in Cremona, where prosecutor Roberto Di Martino's match-fixing inquiry is based. More than 50 people have been arrested so far and more than 100 are under investigation.Gegic was allegedly a link between the fixing ring's base in Asia and Italian footballers. He was charged with criminal association and sports fraud and could be interrogated by the end of the week.Gegic played for Vicenza in Italy from 1998-2000. He also played for some Turkish clubs, and was most recently with Chiasso in Switzerland from 2007-11."The magistrates have done a great job. They've uncovered all of the fixed matches - at least the ones I bet on," Gegic told the Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview before leaving Serbia which was published on Tuesday. 'Tired' Gegic said that another wanted alleged fixer, Hristyian Ilievski, is also nearly ready to turn himself in."He's tired like I am,'' Gegic told the Gazzetta. Gegic added that lawyers advised not turning himself in when the case opened last year, and that he had travelled to and from Italy without problem over the past year and a half."They see me as a mafioso, but I never personally fixed matches or threatened anyone," Gegic told the Italian sports newspaper. "They see me as a mafioso, but I never personally fixed matches or threatened anyone" Almir Gegic "Now I hope to clear everything up. I want to put this case behind me."The Cremona case, along with related inquiries in Bari and Naples, has resulted in multiple clubs handed point penalties over the past two seasons.It resulted in a four-month ban for Antonio Conte, the coach of Italian champion Juventus, for failing to report fixing when he coached Siena two seasons ago. Also, former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni was banned from football for 5 1/2 years and former Lazio captain Giuseppe Signori was arrested.Prosecutors have detailed an extensive match-fixing ring stretching as far as Singapore and South America that was allegedly in operation for more than 10 years. "In Singapore it's possible to bet $20,000 on live Serie A matches. Every click is worth $20,000. In 20 minutes you can make a huge amount of money," Gegic told the Gazzetta. "And the over odds rise if there are no goals. That's why often in the phone taps it was asked to keep the score at 0-0 as long as possible."You need to have a lot of players involved to do that. But if you've got someone ready to put 10 million on the table for a match, don't you think they would do everything to be sure of the result?" Gegic said. "Sport betting is a worldwide plague. I don't know how it could be stopped."Italy has only recently recovered from the 2006 match-fixing scandal - known as Calciopoli - that resulted in Juventus being relegated to Serie B for a season, plus point penalties for several other Serie A teams and long bans for club and refereeing officials. SOURCE: AP Sport Football Italy Serbia Singapore


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Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Tuesday September 10, 2013 5:35 pm
iPhone 5S Leather Case protects your next smartphone for $39
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Smartphones
Alongside the announcement of the iPhone 5S, Apple hit us with a leather case for the iPhone 5S as well. As you can see in the image above, the case covers the rear of your iPhone 5S, as well as the sides, all the way up through the chamfered edges. There's a hole on the back that allows your camera, microphone, and flash to operate as expected, and another on the side to give access to the mute switch. You can get them in brown, beige, black, yellow, blue, and (PRODUCT) RED. The iPhone 5S leather case sells for $39, and we wouldn't be surprised if it also fit on your current iPhone 5.
Read More | iPhone 5S Leather Case
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text:
Monday, October 6, 2008
I'm trying ...
4 comments:
blogger is being weird...arrrgh! i love the block you did for rita for sew connected.ReplyDelete
Great pics! I love the owl and mushroom mini quilts:)ReplyDelete
Glad to see you're signed up for Doll Quilt Swap 5! Let me know if you get my name, ok? hehee...
I looked at your flickr pics (very nice, as usual!). I copied the location of the pillow cover. Copy this into a draft Blogger post and click "Preview":ReplyDelete
[a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jqa/2920382268/"][img src="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jqa/2920382268/" width="360" height="354"][/a]
Change all of the [ to < and the ] to >
I did the math to reduce the size of your original to 72%.
Once you learn this, you'll never have to depend on Blogger to be in a good mood (for pictures, at least) again.
That happens with blogger occasionally, hang tough. Great photos of your work!ReplyDelete


text:
VoIP System works with any grade legacy copper.
Press Release Summary:
With one Ethernet connection to access Internet or outside data networks, UltraEdge™ enables access and transport for IP device connectivity at every edge. IP networked solution, providing VoIP Ethernet-on-Demand™ at distances of up to 1,500 ft, is built on Dynamic Adaptive Channeling data prioritization algorithms and supports third party standard Layer 2 and Layer 3 Ethernet switching, QoS, and various network security features.
Original Press Release:
PCN Introduces UltraEdge VoIP System for Any Grade Legacy Copper
Most Reliable System Providing VoIP Ethernet-on-Demand™ at Distances of up to 1500 Feet
San Diego, CA – PCN, the leader in connectivity solutions for legacy copper wiring today announces the introduction and availability of its UltraEdge™ system for rapid cost effective deployment of VoIP and Unified Communication data networks.
With a single Ethernet connection to access the Internet or outside data networks; the UltraEdge™ system requires limited IT knowledge for installation and enables access and transport for IP device connectivity at every edge. Using any grade copper the UltraEdge™ VoIP system easily interfaces to existing junction boxes, legacy PBX consoles, or other wiring infrastructure already in place.
Providing maximum capabilities and feature rich applications; the system is a true IP networked solution leveraging PCN's high-performance 19" Rack Mount Multi-Channel Server (PCN3485-MCS4) for 10/100 IP transport to every UltraEdge™ module (PCN3485-SCC1) which enables access for VoIP enabled phones or other devices. Unlike media converters, each UltraEdge™ module is a true Ethernet switch where each end point has access for up to three Ethernet RJ45 ports.
Unlike DSL extenders and converter technologies; the PCN UltraEdge™ solution is built on PCN's patented "Dynamic Adaptive Channeling" data prioritization algorithms which run over 500 times per second in real time scanning, monitoring and managing the physical layer of legacy copper looking for anomalies and moving IP data to its most optimum spot on the wire. This not only provides 3X the noise immunity of DSL, but enables distance stretching. When combined together this not only allows more reliability and robustness of your VoIP system, but provides access to IP at distances up to 1500 feet and far greater than other solutions.
Across the world there is an abundance of legacy copper that is unusable for IP enabled Ethernet systems and where running new structured cabling is either too expensive, or requires significant shut down and disruption to business operations. This is true for government buildings, hospitals, historic buildings, factories, college campuses and office buildings that have Cat-3 or older wiring.
"PCN provides its UltraEdge™ VoIP and Unified Communication systems and services largely to qualified network providers, system integrators, and large enterprise customers. They continue to tell us they need a solution that not only solves the IP integration problem across legacy copper for any wiring topology, but one that also allows them to continue using existing analog and digital solutions until their entire IP migration is complete. The PCN UltraEdge™ system does just that," stated Jeff Davis, VP of Sales for PCN.
Without having to run any new structured cabling, the UltraEdge™ system allows owners and integrators to instantly leverage and take advantage of legacy wiring as if their facility was just wired with new Cat 5/6 cabling.
The UltraEdge™ VoIP system supports high-speed 10/100Base-T Ethernet-on-Demand™ across any grade copper wiring topology. This includes multi-drop, daisy chain, point to point and others allowing access in the far reaches of a building or installation.
Davis also commented, "Customers love the fact that they can easily install the multi-channel router at their old PBX locations or at other junction wiring; and then simply drop a plug-and-play UltraEdge™ module anywhere to have immediate access to high-bandwidth VoIP networks."
The UltraEdge™ VoIP system supports third party standard Layer 2 and Layer 3 Ethernet switching, QoS and a variety of network security features including port security, multi-level passwords, DoD protections, SSH and SSL for encryption. When combined with PCN's physical layer technologies the result is a comprehensive VoIP and Unified Communications system that is more reliable, more robust and one that goes further.
For detailed information or ordering:
Please visit PCN's UltraEdge Information page at: www.pcntechnology.com or call 858-212-9939 to speak to a representative.
About PCN
PCN is the leading communications company designing, developing and manufacturing robust and reliable networking devices for legacy copper networks. Integrated with patented conductive media technologies, PCN transforms existing copper infrastructure into robust data networks that meet today's critical reliability, security, and application requirements. In support of its products, PCN provides network design, integration, compliance and marketing services. PCN is based in San Diego with additional engineering and support operations in the Midwest and manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest. For more information, go to: www.pcntechnology.com


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Why do we suddenly become generous during the holidays? Why do gifts often bear greater symbolic than economic value? Why do we anonymously give to strangers?
"Because giving back is a societal norm," says Marcel Fournier, a sociology professor at the Université de Montréal. "Human beings are social beings and no society can survive without mechanisms of solidarity and reciprocity. Giving becomes an obligation."
Fournier is a specialist in the works of anthropologist Marcel Mauss who studied tribal exchange rituals in the early 20th century. Mauss identified three obligations that structure any society: giving, receiving and reciprocating.
"In modern societies, this is manifested in a State's wealth redistribution policies," says Fournier. "But these obligations also exist on an individual level, for instance, when we give to charities. It is a way to give back what we have received and contribute to the sharing of wealth."
In this exchange mechanism, a receiver obviously benefits while a giver gains from social prestige. "In certain traditional societies, rituals lead to an escalation in giving until one of the parties can not give any more. The one who gave most benefits from higher social prestige," says Fournier.
Modern Christmas gift-giving has its share of reciprocity mechanisms. "We always feel obliged to someone who gives us a present," says Fournier. "Although there is no reciprocity of gifts given by parents to young children, young ones learn very early to exchange and give back, whether it be cards or school drawings. And children give back what they received from their parents throughout life by eventually taking care of their parents when they get older."
On the Web:
About the Université de Montréal: www.umontreal.ca/english/index.htm


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Disclaimer: This information about Billy Bob Thornton is derived from astrological interpretation of Billy Bob Thornton's date, time, and place of birth.


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From the magnetic stripe to a variety of contactless technologies and mobile access credentials, businesses now have several choices when it comes to access control.
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Byrnes has big decisions looming in offseason
Padres GM would like to see better results from core group of players
SAN DIEGO -- As far as general manager Josh Byrnes is concerned, the Padres are reaching critical mass.
"Time is ticking," he told MLB.com in an interview at Petco Park on Saturday. "When you get a group together with arbitration, free agency and increasing cost, there is no pause button. At some point, hovering in the middle is not what we're out to do. Either we have to start closing in on playoff contention or assess that this group is not good enough to fight another day."
The Padres are 65-77 following a 76-86 season a year ago and haven't been to the playoffs since 2006.
After the first full season under new ownership, Byrnes said the baseball operations staff is now in full evaluation mode heading into the offseason. Byrnes is finishing his second season as GM and third with the club after a nearly five-year stint in the same position with the D-backs.
MLB.com: What's your synopsis of this season?
Byrnes: In some ways, it's similar to last year. We had the stretch where we played pretty well. It was pretty encouraging. Then we got hit with another round of injuries. We've played most of the last month without six of our regulars. It's been an odd couple of years. The middle of last year to the middle of this year, we were 12 games over .500. There were five winning months out of six. Obviously we haven't been able to sustain it. We haven't been able to sync up the pitching with the offense and get our health in order. We're heading into the offseason trying to decide how much we need to change the roster. There have been stretches of good play, but the goal is to play well for six months and we haven't been able to do that.
MLB.com: Have you guys had many games at all where your projected starting lineup has been on the field?
Byrnes: Aside from the injuries, we've had a couple of suspensions that affected things. To give you an example, we've had 14 games when both Everth Cabrera and Yasmani Grandal have been in the lineup. Obviously, Cameron Maybin didn't have much of a year. Carlos Quentin had about half of the year -- so not many.
MLB.com: On July 3 the five teams in the National League West were separated by three games. It's now about 21.
Byrnes: Heading into July we were right in the middle of that race and were looking to even add a starting pitcher, which we did anyway at the end of the month when we added Ian Kennedy. We had a 10-game East Coast road trip to Miami, Washington and Boston, won the first game and lost the next nine. That certainly changed a few things about our season, even our trading strategy. We never overcame that nine-game losing streak.
MLB.com: Plus, you had a tough start to the season again, opening 5-15 for the second consecutive season.
Byrnes: You can't have two of those stretches and we did. During the season, when you're struggling you have to find a way to play out of it. But 5-15 is a big hole. We did dig out of it, but then had that second bad stretch in July. Those two together put us where we are.
MLB.com: With Kennedy, you can slot him in as your No. 1 starter next season as you're putting the team together.
Byrnes: There's a lot of ways you can look at it. Obviously with Kennedy, Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross, that group has pitched very well for us. Eric Stultz has pitched pretty well for us ever since we got him, even though his last few starts have been a little rocky. We have all these guys coming off injuries. As we sort it all out, it's interesting, but it's good to have a number of choices and a core of three or four guys who really should be part of stabilizing things.
MLB.com: Is the pitching going into this offseason better than it was heading into last offseason?
Byrnes: Much better. Pitching, even in the second half of this season, has been a lot better. We've definitely gotten better, and I think we'll continue to get better. What was our weakest area [last year] was our starting pitching. Now, not only is it better, but it will be significantly better as we head into next year.
MLB.com: When you say perhaps you may have to change the roster, what would you like to change and how much money will you have available to do it?
Byrnes: Our payroll is going to go up again. You can't play in fantasyland. If the pitching is as good as I think it's going to be next year and we put that together with the offense we had in the second half of 2012 and the first half of '13, that's a pretty good team. Are we sure that's going to happen? We can control the players to make it happen. We also have to return to health so it can happen. In the meantime, when you keep together a roster as we have for two years, we have to make some choices as the costs go up and players near free agency. We've worked very hard to create a team that can compete and then try to keep it together. If we try to keep it together, that will take up a good chunk of what our payroll increase is going to be. So it then it begs the question: Do we re-allocate a few things, make trades, take money off? That's what we're going to be evaluating during the next month as we head into the offseason.
MLB.com: What are you plans for Chase Headley, who will become just such a free agent after the 2014 season?
Byrnes: That's a big decision. When he's playing well we're a good team. He's a Padre. We're going to have to go into the offseason and find out these critical answers. We have to determine our ability to sign him -- our appetite and his. And if not, what do we do? Do we let him play out the year or do we explore the trade market?
MLB.com: Headley regressed this year. Did that have something to do with his Spring Training thumb injury and then starting the season late? What do you think happened?
Byrnes: I don't know. First of all, his Spring Training was great. He gets hurt, comes off the disabled list and the first month [he] was doing what he did last year. It was only then that he started to struggle. One of the guys we work with, who played a long time in the big leagues, said sometimes that happens with hand and wrist injuries. Initially you do well, and then the effects of the injury begin to set in as you're playing every day. But who knows? It's the beauty of baseball. I've been a Chase fan for a long time. His 31 homers and 115 RBIs last season were big numbers. Probably this year we should have expected a little bit less. As with many things, I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Now, being a year from free agency, there's probably a lot more urgency from both sides.
MLB.com: How disappointing was it that Yasmani Grandal and Everth Cabrera were suspended for drug violations, one during each of the past two seasons?
Byrnes: There's no doubt it hurt our team quite a bit. I look at it in a number of ways. In my role -- watching them go through it, having to deal with the organization, the fans, their teammates and the media -- it was interesting to watch and I tried to help in any way I could. I think they both handled it well. There is a human element. And then, from someone who loves this game and believes very much in the drug program, I give high marks to the Commissioner and the [MLB] Players Association for how far we've come. I view as it a good thing -- that we do need to clean up the game. These are the bumps along the way to get there. And now the players' voices on this issue have been heard.
MLB.com: Do organizations have to take a stand on these kinds of things? If a player gets suspended under your auspices and doesn't have a contract, do you bring the player back? What do you do?
Byrnes: I don't know. We're starting to talk about that now, referring to multiyear contracts. When you sign a player to a multiyear contract and he gets suspended, what kind of player do you have on the other side in terms of performance and fan acceptance? I think jumping into a contract and a club's protection on a contract are still ongoing assessments.
MLB.com: Isn't it also what you want to tell your fan base? Either these guys made a mistake and they're part of the family moving forward or you want to have a clean team and they're not going to part of it?
Byrnes: I think it's important that we all uphold the standards that we're all after with Major League Baseball. That being said, I'm not sure that the club should even implicitly be giving harsher penalties than the Basic Agreement provides by saying, "We don't want this player anymore."
MLB.com: If you go back to the Mat Latos trade, Grandal was suspended and has been hurt, Yonder Alonso has been hurt, you just released Edinson Volquez. Latos with the Reds is one of the top pitchers in the league. Are you OK with the way it's turning out?
Byrnes: Yes and no. We knew we had Volquez for two years. He didn't really work here. Having six years of Alonso and Grandal, having Brad Boxberger, it's a lot of long-term value. For a team that had no offense -- we were desperately trying to balance our offense -- Yonder gives us some offense and tough at-bats. You look at Grandal, you look at our record when he's caught, I want to say it's something like 10 or 15 games over .500. He's a two-way catcher. He can hit. He can run a game. I think Latos is a superlative pitcher, but we got some things back.
MLB.com: How is the new ownership with one full year under its belt? They replaced Tom Garfinkel with Mike Dee as club president and CEO. How has that affected everything?
Byrnes: They've been great. There's no substitute for going through a 12-month cycle in baseball -- all the things that went on, how things went better than we originally forecasted and how things went worse. In some ways, being in it for so long, it's the beauty of the game. You learn to embrace how much happens that you wouldn't have expected. Our job is to plan for as many of those scenarios as possible. Build as deep a roster as you can with talent, [both] long term and short term. Figure out a way with a lower-third payroll to pull this off. It can be done. But it needs to be done over time and with a lot of precision along the way.
MLB.com: You've been here for a good period of time now. What needs to get better?
Byrnes: We all know the cliché: As a franchise you're either going for it or you're not. You're building a talent base. You're re-loading. Whatever! We're a little bit in the middle ground. It's not necessarily where we want to be. Yet, we've seen this team in a calendar year play at an 87-88-win pace. We just haven't done it within the right calendar year. And we haven't been healthy. The June 30 to July 1 pennant race doesn't matter. We've gotten ourselves to a point where we're in range. But we're not there yet. And there are a lot of things we need to do, like improving our health and roster, to get there.


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The Democratic demographic advantages in presidential elections has been predicted for years in works such as The Emerging Democratic Majority published in 2002. There is no doubt that changing demographics played a major role in Barack Obama's victories but Republicans should be cautious about blaming their loses too much on this and ignoring other reasons for their electoral defeats.
The most recent use of this argument comes from an article entitled How to Save the Republican Party by Michael Gerson & Peter Wehner in Commentary:
The first factor is America's changing demographics. Much has been written on this topic, but the essential datum is the long-term shrinking of those demographic groups, especially white voters, who traditionally and reliably favor the GOP: from 89 percent of the electorate in 1976 to 72 percent in 2012. This decline is partially an artifact of a change in the way the Census Bureau classifies Hispanics, who used to be counted among whites before being placed in a separate category. But it has much more to do with a real, ongoing change in the composition of the American populace. In any given contest, the GOP can overcome this obstacle. Over time, however, the obstacle will grow ever larger.
Consider the performance of Mitt Romney, who carried the white vote by 20 points. If the country's demographic composition were still the same last year as it was in 2000, he would now be president. If it were still the same as it was in 1992, he would have won in a rout. If he had merely secured 42 percent of the Hispanic vote—rather than his pathetic 27 percent—Romney would have won the popular vote and carried Florida, Colorado, and New Mexico. Republicans, in short, have a winning message for an electorate that no longer exists.
While demographics were important, this does not mean that Obama or another Democrat could not have won with the electorate of earlier years. Besides demographics, Obama did better than Romney due to using modern technology more efficiently and understanding the electorate better than the Romney campaign. If the demographic changes had not occurred, Obama would have targeted the electorate which actually existed and might have won some of the voters which were written off to Republicans in recent years.
A more important factor is that the white vote, which Romney won, would not have voted as they had if not for the demographic changes. The Republicans have been promoting fear, racism, and xenophobia to win a large percentage of the white vote. Republicans would not have been as effective in promoting fear of minorities among white voters if the percentage of minorities in this country has not been increasing, and Republicans likely would not receive as high a percentage of the white vote as they currently do.
Gerson and Wehner are also making a mistake in concentrating on racial demographic changes and not the effect of losing young voters. The Republicans have taken positions on economics, national security, and social issues which are counter to reality and out of touch with the desires of most voters. Even most remaining Republican voters tend to support Democratic positions in polls where positions are polled without attachment to a party. As people tend to stick with the party they first vote for, Republicans might have lost a generation of young voters who understand the folly of current Republican positions.
Gerson and Wehner are also over-confident about the prospects of Republican recovery because of controlling the House and a majority of governorships. This is due to a combination of gerrymandering, the concentration of Democratic voters in cities, and the electoral advantages for the party which dominates in small rural states. More people voted for Democratic Congressmen than Republican in 2012 but that was not enough to give Democrats a majority in actual House seats. Republicans dominate in state governments due to a combination of victories which were probably an aberration in 2010 and because of holding a large number of small states.
While demographics present a problem for Republicans, in the long run their platform is what harms them more. Republican politicians and the media outlets they control talk about issues in terms which do well in polls and focus groups, regardless of actual Republican policies. While they do still fool a significant number of low-information voters, enough voters see through their propaganda. Republicans cannot win by claiming to be the party of small government when they are the ones who support a government which intrudes in the private lives of individuals. Cutting the deficit polls well, but that does not help Republicans among informed voters who understand that in recent years the deficit problem is the fault of Republican economic policies. Similarly Republican fantasies of winning in 2012 because of the economy didn't come true because informed voters realized that it is Republican policies which are to blame for the recession and for slowing economic recovery.
Republicans have electoral problems as their history of promoting racism and xenophobia is now back-firing against them and because of promoting policies which are unpopular with most voters. Blaming this on racial changes among the electorate as opposed to understanding the faults their entire message will not help the Republicans recover.


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It would be illegal, and wrong, and I might have to move to Ecuador if I had done it.
So I wouldn't have, even if I could.
But I still half-wish I had secretly bugged the private, face-to-face, closed-door meeting on Wednesday between Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight and Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino.
I'd like to hear what they said and — better — how they said it.
Did teeth grind? Did either brandish a Taser?
Knight and DiPino agreed not to tell much, and they didn't when I asked, aside from swearing to a sunny outcome: The talk allowed them to work through potential hard feelings, and they and their agencies now plan to work together in harmony and enthusiastic cooperation to fight crime.
Criminals, look out!
I hope so. And I hope Knight means it that, when he so publicly blasted city police leadership, he never had any thought or desire about what it appeared he was thinking and desiring.
That is, he has no designs on adding the Sarasota Police Department territory to the sheriff's turf.
In case you missed it, this started when Knight publicly painted DiPino as ineptly leading a team of clueless slackers ignoring a blatant violent crime trend in Newtown, one that involves very-late-night, out-of-county gangbangers who come from Manatee County to take advantage of North Sarasota's alleged reputation as a cop-free zone.
Knight had pretty much said the obvious solution was to put himself, with his proven crime-stopping leadership, in charge of policing the city along with the county.
Take that, new police chief!
Well, gosh. DiPino has been here all of six months. This isn't the first time parts of Newtown had a spike in shootings and related troubles, and the current one started on the watch of Chief Mikel Holloway, a local law enforcement veteran Knight speaks of highly and calls their relationship "terrific."
So Knight's public assault on SPD leadership seemed unprecedented and out of the blue, not to mention oddly emotional and somewhat over the top.
Unless Knight was totally right, that is, and there is a growing problem SPD has been royally botching into a major crises, causing Knight's deputies to be called in frequently to bail out hapless and leaderless SPD officers.
DiPino says that's just not fair or accurate. There have been crowd problems and shootings in the city that Knight's deputies helped with, of course. But officers of both agencies, and others, back each other up as needed.
After all, city cops assisted deputies more than 700 times in the past year, the chief told me.
As far as she knew before Knight's verbal assault, she and he had a normal inter-agency relationship with occasional meetings, good communication and no particular issues.
"I thought things were good," DiPino told me. She assumed if Knight had a problem or a suggestion, he would just talk to her, as is normal and expected. So she was amazed that the first she knew of his alleged alarm about SPD was when he went off at a County Commission meeting and claimed his deputies were saving her cops' bacon all the time.
"I was very surprised," DiPino said. "I was blindsided."
DiPino is about nothing if not communication. It's what she preaches. She wants every cop to talk with everyone on the beat. She thinks everyone should get to know each other. So, I don't get it.
I asked, but she wouldn't tell me what she was tempted to say to Knight at their meeting, or whether she gave in at all to that temptation. She says she knew they needed to get on track to work together, so that became her only aim.
According to both, it worked. They will be teaming up now. No one is mad, officially, even if working a bit at letting it all be water under the bridge.
Knight says he knows his behavior wasn't typical of him.
"Rarely do I go public with dissatisfactions," the sheriff said. But he said repeated attempts by his office to share intelligence and important tips — about gang members coming from Manatee to Sarasota to target someone or other preventable crimes — was being handled with a casual "Thanks, we'll handle it" response and no major action until after the violence erupted.
It it is a good thing he spoke out as he did, he insists.
"It worked. She came to the table," and they really worked it out. Now, "I'm optimistic," Knight said. "Very optimistic."
Was this really just a half-cocked and now-denied effort to lay groundwork for a consolidation push?
I don't know, but I've always preferred that consolidation not happen. I like that the two agencies must work together in many ways and can't help but keep an eye on each other. Neither wants to be the slouch, so there is usually friendly competition, too.
It is a matter of opinion which agency usually does better work. Both have had serious management and morale and operational problems at times, and had to recover from them.
At those times, the more stable agency's presence has seemed like a good thing.
Knight is entitled to his opinion about whether his agency is now the one with obviously better management, but a sheriff making that aggressive boast so loudly and unexpectedly, and with so little proof, did nothing to make it sound convincing.
Lyons: Knight-DiPino talk must have been interesting
It would be illegal, and wrong, and I might have to move to Ecuador if I had done it.


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Letter from the Editor: freelance interpreting
You're nearing the end of the morning session and you feel good, even optimistic. Lunch is welcome and you follow it with a coffee, not that you feel in need of a pick-me-up, but it certainly won't hurt. Then back to the booth, where an hour later it hits you with a sucker-punch: your eyes sag, a fog envelops your mind. That old nemesis - jet lag - is back with a vengeance.