Grappling With Nostalgia

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Cheeeeeers Chuckleheads, and Happy Friday!!<br /><br />Recently the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it is dropping wrestling from its list of sporting events effective with the 2020 Olympic Games.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7eRTj3ErSY9JgAfVKhbzaIAopAXLcTaDzjJMBVvt3bhDSq3SSbvWDEvzfjQ5GEFYPyFDvp6cvfNy_f3hXBU6Oq6QzFMQGtYCVDLnnNCDsNw0S2__WPk_8YA4r7dh_JGpYlJq44Jyv1w/s1600/Olympic+Wrestling+2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7eRTj3ErSY9JgAfVKhbzaIAopAXLcTaDzjJMBVvt3bhDSq3SSbvWDEvzfjQ5GEFYPyFDvp6cvfNy_f3hXBU6Oq6QzFMQGtYCVDLnnNCDsNw0S2__WPk_8YA4r7dh_JGpYlJq44Jyv1w/s320/Olympic+Wrestling+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a>I was shocked.  After all, wrestling is one of the most purest forms of sport ever, and I feel it is a sport that embodies the “Olympic spirit”, but evidently the IOC feels that while that may be true, it doesn't draw enough ticket sales or TV ratings.<br /><br />I’m not a big wrestling fan myself, but I am a bit of traditionalist and one who can be very sentimental at times, and this news led me to think of things and people that I have experienced in my forty eight years that have gone to the wayside or been kicked to the curb.<br /><br />So my friends…What follows is a list of people (excluding family, which is a given) and things that I miss from days gone by.<br /><br /><b>Rotary Phones…</b><br /><br />Ah, the clickity clack sound of the rotary dialing.  I miss those big, black, ten pound, wall huggin’ phones.  I still remember the one we had at 1508 S. Limestone when I was 4 or 5 years old.<br /><br />I remember one day standing on a chair and being handed the phone so I could talk to my sister Anne who was an army nurse in Vietnam.  It was mind altering hearing her from so far away.  The call was made even cooler by the fact that we had to say “over” when we finished our sentences.<br /><br />I remember Anne telling me that she was sending my brother Marty and I piñatas.  We got them weeks later, but there was no candy inside. Darn clever those yellow devils, but I still do miss that phone.<br /><br /><b>Bunting…</b><br /><br />Do some of you not know what a bunt is?  I’m sure you don’t, because today nobody in Major League Baseball knows how to lay down a good bunt.  When I played Little League, I received a trophy because I was so damn good at it.  The pitcher throws the ball and you either square around and bunt it where you want it to go, or drag it down the baseline at the last minute.<br /><br />These days when the manly major leaguers go to bunt, they look like a female softball player takin’ a slap swing at the ball.  Pathetic!!<br /><br /><b>Phil Hartman…</b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHA1UubHt1d-OrPSD0iYDAnBAl_chT7CA6xGCfMXp4tsUqhs6g96QAQwU2m6DYHcY84uS73VUQ9Eb7-czUic9dC-U38WPILRWrJBxWYWbL8t3sj_fwW2ZuXtnC-B298KuWJr8UgPRLIg/s1600/Phil+Hartman-Bill+Clinton+SNL+Warlords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHA1UubHt1d-OrPSD0iYDAnBAl_chT7CA6xGCfMXp4tsUqhs6g96QAQwU2m6DYHcY84uS73VUQ9Eb7-czUic9dC-U38WPILRWrJBxWYWbL8t3sj_fwW2ZuXtnC-B298KuWJr8UgPRLIg/s320/Phil+Hartman-Bill+Clinton+SNL+Warlords.jpg" width="248" /></a>I am not one who even comes close to being a person who suffers from celebrity worship syndrome, but Phil Hartman is one celeb that I did, and still do, adore.  Hartman was so damn talented in so many areas.  He was an actor, graphics guy, and just naturally funny.<br /><br />You may know him from <i>NewsRadio</i>, or from SNL as the Anal Retentive Chef, but he always killed me when he played Bill Clinton.  That bastard had me at, <i>“Warlords.”</i>  Sadly, his drug addicted wife murdered him in 1998.  To this day I miss him, his talent, and the decades of laugh giving he had left in him.<br /><br /><b>Radio…</b><br /><br />When I speak of radio, I specifically mean AM and short wave radio.  When I was a kid I would go to bed in Springfield, Ohio with an AM transistor radio and it was so cool, because at night I could pick up stations from NYC, Chicago, St. Louis, and hold on…Canada!! I thought that was so cool. Shortwave was the same thing only HUGE.  I could listen to stations all over the world!!<br /><br />I still can, but it’s not a challenge.  I can just Google any radio station and click on to listen.  Back in the day it was work, I had to carefully get the tuner knob just right.  It was an accomplishment, and I miss that.<br /><br />Yes, I just turned 48 recently, and I am not going through one of those “back in my day” things.  I love technology.  I love being able to talk to people I would otherwise never know. I love doing the IWS Radio show, but…<br /><br />Just as wrestling was and is one of the roots of Olympic competition, the things that I have mentioned are part of my root system as a person, and I need to hold on to them if only in memory, and I hope that you too, take time to acknowledge things from your past that no matter how trivial, bring a smile to your face or make you reflect.<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br />Matt-Man<br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank">@mattman_iws</a></div>

Grappling With Nostalgia

Cheeeeeers Chuckleheads, and Happy Friday!!Recently the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it is dropping wrestling from its list of sporting events effective with the 2020 Olympic Games.I was shocked.  After all, wrestling is one o…

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The Cecil Hotel: What a Dead Body in a Water Tank Does for Your Yelp Reviews

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="AP" height="400" src="http://timenewsfeed.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/hotel-roof-body-side.jpg?w=260" width="229" /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Tourists in Los Angeles were shocked to learn this week that the body of a Canadian woman had been found at the bottom of a water tank at their hotel in the city’s downtown area. Elisa Lam, 21, was last seen at the Cecil Hotel on Jan. 31, according to L.A. police. Her parents reported her missing earlier this month, and a maintenance worker discovered the body Tuesday as he was looking into complaints about the water pressure in the building. It seems very possible that guests have been drinking and bathing with water contaminated by a body that has been decomposing for nearly two weeks.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">But the suspicious death of the 21-year-old is only the latest in a series of unfortunate incidents that have taken place at the Cecil, which dates back to the 1920s and is located near the city’s seedy Skid Row. “There were murders there in the 20s and 30s,” Chris Nichols, associate editor of <em>Los Angeles Magazine,</em> <a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2013/02/20/36038/long-dark-history-cecil-hotel-downtown-los-angeles/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">told</a> South California Public Radio. In 1962, a 27-year-old woman jumped out of a window, killing herself and the pedestrian she landed on. In 1964, Goldie Olsen — a former telephone operator known as the pigeon lady of Pershing Square — was found strangled to death in her room, <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2008/oct/26/travel/tr-lizzieside26" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">according to</a> the <em>Los Angeles Times.</em></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Two infamous serial killers, <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/richard-ramirez-12385163" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Richard Ramirez</a>, the “Night Stalker,” and Austrian journalist <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/jack-unterweger-12103266" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Jack Unterweger</a>, are believed to have stayed at the Cecil during the 1980s. Ramirez was a regular who <a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2013/02/20/36038/long-dark-history-cecil-hotel-downtown-los-angeles/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">reportedly</a> checked in for 14 days, paying $14 a night. He was later found <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/richard-ramirez-12385163" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">guilty of 13 murders</a> and is currently on death row in California. Unterweger, who had been convicted of murder in 1974 in Austria but released in the 1990s, was later charged with killing 11 prostitutes while on parole, including three found strangled <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1994-06-30/local/me-10223_1_los-angeles" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">“with their bras”</a> during his stay in Los Angeles. He was convicted of nine of the murders in 1994 and hung himself in his cell the following day.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">While the Cecil Hotel now markets itself as a boutique hotel — and underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation five years ago — sightseeing buses still stop at the historic building as part of a <a href="http://esotouric.com/mainhotel" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">“Hotel Horrors and Main Street Vices”</a> tour. In 2008, a <em>Los Angeles Times </em>headline <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-body-water-tower-20130220,0,3005517.story" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">billed</a> the lobby as a place where “the hip and the near-homeless meet”: “The rooms are small, bugs scamper across the floors and in the dim hallways, one sometimes encounters guests who have been using drugs or alcohol.” At the moment, rooms are a bargain, <a href="https://www.reservations-page.com/c00574/h09919/be.ashx?vl=b7d2288c-3c5f-47ae-90d3-51d7a90d510c" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">according to</a> the hotel’s website.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Yelp reviewers agree, complaining about everything from cockroach infestations and cigarette burns in the bed sheets to homeless people loitering. In light of this week’s events, there has been an influx of new reviews of the two-star hotel — “this hotel definitely offers something for the macabre tourist” — on its Yelp page.</div><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /><br /></span></div>

The Cecil Hotel The Cecil Hotel: What a Dead Body in a Water Tank Does for Your Yelp Reviews

Tourists in Los Angeles were shocked to learn this week that the body of a Canadian woman had been found at the bottom of a water tank at their hotel in the city’s downtown area. Elisa Lam, 21, was last seen at the Cecil Hotel on Jan. 31, according t…

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PlayStation 4 Not Backwards Compatible With Retail or Digital Games

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/80i_6UnnsRg?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe> <h2 class="article_subtitle" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px;">A new console brings a new, dedicated ecosystem.</h2><div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-right: 6px;">In a roundtable conversation with journalists, President of Sony’s Worldwide Studios noted that PS3 games of both the retail and downloadable variety will not be compatible with PlayStation 4, at least not natively. In other words, your PS3 discs won’t work in the new console nor will the games you downloaded. This means that hits like Journey, The Unfinished Swan, Shatter and hundreds of other games available in the digital space will not be carried over to PlayStation 4 in addition to the collection of PS3 discs sitting on your shelf.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-right: 6px;">There’s a catch, though: emulation. The PlayStation 3 doesn’t read PlayStation 2 discs (at least not anymore), but it can play PS2 games via the PlayStation Store in an emulated environment. Yoshida concedes that this is possible for PlayStation 4 supporting legacy PlayStation consoles as well. Indeed, the Gaikai presentation during PlayStation 4’s reveal touched on this “everything, everywhere” mentality. But for now, downloaded PS3 games won’t work “unless, somehow, some games work on emulation. And the easiest thing, technically, would be to make PSone games work on PS4 with emulation. But we’re not talking about our emulation plans as yet.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-right: 6px;">In short, “There are two ways [to play legacy content]: emulation or cloud services [from Gaikai]. But native support [of digital games from PS3], no, sorry. It doesn’t work.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-right: 6px;">But how about some good news to close? Yoshida reaffirmed that “disc-based games on PS4” will work on any other PlayStation 4. So, <a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02/21/sony-exec-playstation-4-doesnt-block-used-games" style="border: 0px none; color: #003399; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; resize: none; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">as first reported yesterday</a>, PS4 will have no used games/shared games lock for retail, store-bought titles.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-right: 6px;"><br /></div></div></div>

PlayStation 4 PlayStation 4 Not Backwards Compatible With Retail or Digital Games

A new console brings a new, dedicated ecosystem.In a roundtable conversation with journalists, President of Sony’s Worldwide Studios noted that PS3 games of both the retail and downloadable variety will not be compatible with PlayStation 4, at least…

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Google Glass tech offers vision of the future

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;">The wearable internet-connected gadget, not expected to hit the market until 2014, will retail for under $1,500.</span><br /><img src="http://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2013/2/21/2013221173553943734_20.jpg" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">The glasses will handle most of the same tasks as smartphones, but respond to voice commands </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></span><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">A new <a class="InternalLink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1uyQZNg2vE" style="color: #fb9d04; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">promo video</a> for its internet-connected glasses technology known as <a class="InternalLink" href="http://www.google.com/glass/start/" style="color: #fb9d04; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Google Glass</a> has given potential early adopters a chance to buy the as yet unreleased product.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The video, posted on Wednesday, touted the wearable technology as one of the biggest advancements in personal computing in many years.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">In the video, people wore the glasses while skydiving, riding a rollercoaster, skiing, and swinging on a trapeze, but Tom Royal, editor of the London-based magazine <em>Popular Science UK</em>, cautioned that the product will require a great deal of investment and infrastructure.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">"It's going to require a huge investment around the world to make these things work" anytime and anywhere as the video purports, Royal told Al Jazeera.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Though he says the glasses come in "a clever looking, quite attractive package", Royal, like other analysts, said consumers should temper their expectations.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">"The danger of hyping something this much is that clearly the technology is far behind where the hype is right now," Rocky Agrawal of reDesign Mobile, said, adding, "there's a real danger of setting the expectations bar too high".</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The glasses will handle most of the same tasks as smartphones, but respond to voice commands instead of fingers touching a screen.<br /><br />The glasses include a tiny display screen attached to a rim above the right eye and run on Google's Android operating system for mobile devices.<br /><br />Google has said the mass-market version of Google Glass will cost less than $1,500 - the price paid by an exclusive number of computer programmers last June - but more than a smart phone.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The California-based company does not plan to start selling "Google Glass" in the mass market until 2014.</div></div>

Google Glass tech Google Glass tech offers vision of the future

The wearable internet-connected gadget, not expected to hit the market until 2014, will retail for under $1,500.The glasses will handle most of the same tasks as smartphones, but respond to voice commands A new promo video for its internet-connected …

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PS4: We recap the best moments, from ‘Watch_Dogs’ to ‘Destiny’

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img src="http://latimesherocomplex.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/original1.jpg?w=600" /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The PS4 was unveiled last night — did you miss it? Don’t worry, we’ve got your recap. In an event that stretched on for hours, Sony showed off the Playstation 4 for the world to see, even if it didn’t show what the physical console itself looks like.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amid Sony’s hype, bold promises and the claims of the PS4’s inevitable superiority were a number of game demos, conceptual trailers and more from both first- and third-party publishers. Look below for every clip you may have missed, or wish to re-watch, from last night’s event.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Killzone: Shadow Fall”</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sony’s premier first-person shooter, the fourth installment of “Killzone” follows in its predecessors’ footsteps, looking to be a continued spectacle of explosions, iron-sight gunplay and a seemingly never-ending stream of Helghast.</div><span class="embed-youtube" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xWKgGdTyQZc?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="text/html" width="600"></iframe></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />“Watch_Dogs”</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ubisoft’s new IP stole the show during last year’s E3 conference, and it may have done the same for Sony’s PS4 reveal. On display was what Ubisoft claimed was an example of the emergent gameplay offered by its new open-world effort. “Watch_Dogs” is a confirmed PS4 launch title.</div><span class="embed-youtube" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EtBh4QzZKz4?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="text/html" width="600"></iframe></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />Quantic Dream’s tech demo</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong>Perhaps the most impressive display of the PS4′s graphical power, “Heavy Rain” developer Quantic Dream unveiled just a taste of the tech it’ll be using for future PS4 projects.</div><span class="embed-youtube" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MUMOHSL53L8?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="text/html" width="600"></iframe></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />“Deep Down”</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Capcom’s latest IP looks like a mix between its own “Dragon’s Dogma” and the “Dark Souls” series, serving as a fantasy-focused showcase for the company’s new engine, code-named “Panta Rhei.”</div><span class="embed-youtube" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VXAa5TCrUfM?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="text/html" width="600"></iframe></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />“Destiny”</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bungie, now a third-party developer after leaving Microsoft and the “Halo” franchise behind, confirmed Wednesday that not only will upcoming FPS “Destiny” be on the PS3 and the PS4 (on launch at that), but the game will feature exclusive Playstation content.</div><span class="embed-youtube" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6kJkiwDeWqQ?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="text/html" width="600"></iframe></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />“Infamous: Second Son”</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The third entry in Sucker Punch’s “Infamous” series, “Second Son” appears to take a break from series star Cole MacGrath in favor of a new protagonist, one with a decidedly more political focus.</div><span class="embed-youtube" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tHSeyPl--Fw?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="text/html" width="560"></iframe></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />“The Witness”</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The long-awaited successor to the indie darling platformer “Braid,” Jonathan Blow’s “The Witness” looks like a “Myst”-inspired next-gen offering, one that Blow promised would be a lean, mean puzzle-focused machine.</div><span class="embed-youtube" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Brd0F7rlXCI?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="text/html" width="600"></iframe></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />“DriveClub”</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Instead of tantalizing racing fans with another installment in the “Gran Turismo” series, Sony revealed a new racing game with a focus on social integration.</div><span class="embed-youtube" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLol_ykYs3OQ65y4avMdbMk_k96z3lMt6W&hl=en_US" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="text/html" width="600"></iframe></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />“Knack”</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The very first game unveiled at Sony’s conference, “Knack” evokes the character-based titles like “Crash Bandicoot” and “Spyro” that helped fuel the first Playstation’s success.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="embed-youtube" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLol_ykYs3OQ65y4avMdbMk_k96z3lMt6W&hl=en_US" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="text/html" width="600"></iframe></span><br />And finally, Sony unveiled a trailer for the PS4 itself:</div><span class="embed-youtube" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/x7QhUL8NUK4?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="text/html" width="600"></iframe></span><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weigh in on your own favorite moments, or your skepticism about Sony’s upcoming hardware and lineup of games, below.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">– Morgan Little</div></div>

Sony PS4 news PS4: We recap the best moments, from ‘Watch_Dogs’ to ‘Destiny’

The PS4 was unveiled last night — did you miss it? Don’t worry, we’ve got your recap. In an event that stretched on for hours, Sony showed off the Playstation 4 for the world to see, even if it didn’t show what the physical console itself looks like.…

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Sony PS4 event gets skewered in animated parody

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/q0vcqayut0E?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia, 'Time New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Taiwanese animators Next Media Animation is taking the Sony PlayStation 4 event to task.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia, 'Time New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><ul class="arrows gray" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-image: url(http://asset2.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d/i/cbs/generic/genericSprite.png); background-position: -15px -911px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 1.1em; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57570387/sony-announces-playstation-4-dual-shock-4-controller/" style="border: 0px; color: #b12124; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sony announces PlayStation 4, DualShock 4 controller</a></li><li style="background-image: url(http://asset2.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d/i/cbs/generic/genericSprite.png); background-position: -15px -911px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 1.1em; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57570518/ps4-wont-block-used-games-143-developers-on-board/" style="border: 0px; color: #b12124; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">PS4 won't block used games, 143 developers on board</a></li></ul><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia, 'Time New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia, 'Time New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sony announced its next-generation video game console at a press event in New York City, but the PS4 itself was a no-show.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia, 'Time New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia, 'Time New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sony says that the PS4 features a PC-like body architecture, x86 CPU, enhanced PS GPU, 8 gigabytes of unified memory, local storage hard drive and an updated DualShock 4 controller.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia, 'Time New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia, 'Time New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia, 'Time New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The animation group created a video mocking the PS4 at Wednesday's press event. Sony treated members of the press to experience what using the next-generation console might feel like with live demonstrations, but did not actually show the video game console or hint at a price point.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #202022; font-family: Georgia, 'Time New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch the video below. Parental discretion is advised for mild animated nudity and violence.</div><br /><br /></div>

Sony PS4 news Sony PS4 event gets skewered in animated parody

Taiwanese animators Next Media Animation is taking the Sony PlayStation 4 event to task.Sony announces PlayStation 4, DualShock 4 controllerPS4 won't block used games, 143 developers on boardSony announced its next-generation video game console at a …

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Patrick saves her car for 500 start

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="Tony Gibson, left, shakes hands with driver Danica Patrick" src="http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2013/02/21/022113-Nascar-Danica-Patrick-Tony-Gibson-DG-PI_20130221195806759_660_320.JPG" /><br /><br /><h3 style="background-color: white; color: #1a303a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.</h3><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;"><a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/driver/danica-patrick/288175" style="color: #5c6e70; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Danica Patrick</a> was teasing us all along.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;">Patrick promised to mix it up during the first Budweiser Duel qualifying race on Thursday. But the polesitter for Sunday’s Daytona 500 never led a lap. She quickly fell out of the lead pack in the first few circuits and after 10 laps was 22nd in the field.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;">After the 60-lap exercise, Patrick finished 17th in her qualifier — not that it matters since she’s locked in to the pole position.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;">“Yeah, it’s not an exciting mission when you’ve just got to bring it home,” Patrick said. “But, it is for the Daytona 500, so you’ve got to keep that in mind. I learned that the outside (line) is strong and it carries a lot of good momentum.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;">“And then I learned that you need some friends. I also learned that you can’t be too tight because that outside is what’s good but you can’t be too tight, which mine was. It was way too tight at the start. But we wanted to be conservative. We didn’t want to have any issues with the GoDaddy car. We wanted to make sure we’ve got it on that front row for Sunday."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;">Patrick acknowledged that her afternoon was far from scintillating. With the exception of her tachometer breaking — which made it impossible to ascertain her speed on pit road — Patrick had no major mechanical issues.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;"></div><div class="parentWrapper" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #252525; float: right; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; padding: 4px 0px 4px 8px;"><div class="fs-partner-includes" style="border-left-color: rgb(186, 192, 196); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-right: -10px; margin-top: 11px; padding-left: 20px; width: 240px;"><a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/gallery/The_best_of_Danica_Patrick" id="inline-num-1 - link-num-1" style="color: #265970; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="best of danica"><img align="middle" alt="best of danica" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/gallery/The_best_of_Danica_Patrick" src="http://o.static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2013/01/10/danica_20130110124048156_202_97.JPG" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: none;" target="_blank" /></a><h3 style="color: #1a303a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/gallery/The_best_of_Danica_Patrick" id="inline-num-1 - link-num-2" style="color: #265970; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">DANICA'S BEST</a></h3>There's no one like Danica, both on and off the track. Check out some of our favorite <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/gallery/The_best_of_Danica_Patrick" id="inline-num-1 - link-num-3" style="color: #265970; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">photos of Danica in action</a>.</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;">“I knew there was something wrong and then when I got out there on the track it showed I was going 10,000 rpm,” Patrick said. “I’m sure I’d love to have the kind of speed that comes with 10,000 rpm gives you, but it wasn’t right. So, it’s good to get those little bugs out of the way. We’ll fix them and be solid for Sunday.”</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;">For crew chief Tony Gibson, surviving the Duel was the goal for his rookie driver.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;">“The important thing is the car is in one piece for Sunday,” Gibson said. “She learned what she needed to learn, but the car is in one piece for the big race. We’ll tear the car down and change everything out, the tachometer obviously too, and do some practice on Friday and Saturday.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;">“It’s always a challenge to get through the Duels clean and we did that.”</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;">Patrick will make her second Daytona 500 start on Sunday. Last year the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet barely made it to the second lap before she was collected in a wreck. Patrick soldiered home in an ill-handling car and finished 38th, 64 laps down.</div></div>

NASCAR Patrick saves her car for 500 start

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.Danica Patrick was teasing us all along.Patrick promised to mix it up during the first Budweiser Duel qualifying race on Thursday. But the polesitter for Sunday’s Daytona 500 never led a lap. She quickly fell out of the lead pack i…

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28 in 28 #21: BIM in Small-Scale Sustainable Design

<i>February is Book Month on A Daily Dose of Architecture. The "<a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/search/label/28%20in%2028">28 in 28</a>" series features a different book every day of the month.</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470590890,subjectCd-CS30.html"><b><i>BIM in Small-Scale Sustainable Design</i></b></a> by François Lévy<br />Wiley, 2011<br />Hardcover, 312 pages<br /><br /><img alt="28-28_BIM.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/28-28_BIM.jpg" title="Book cover" /><br /><br />At its core BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a pretty simple idea: A 3-dimensional virtual model is embodied with data that can be used to generate drawings, spreadsheets, and other relevant output. But the complexities are many, partially due to the fact that the shift from CAD to BIM is a much greater one than the shift from hand drafting to CAD. The earlier transition from paper to digital still involved the drawing of plans, sections, elevations, and so forth via lines, but BIM dispenses with drawing (for the most part, at least) in favor of the modeling of systems (walls, windows, doors, roofs, etc.). On top of that fact is learning BIM software, determining how to integrate BIM into an office's and project's workflow, and coordinating with consultants, among many other considerations.<br /><br />When it comes to integrating BIM within a project's workflow, it is often used purely for construction documents, coming after schematic design and entering the picture sometime within design development, depending on the firm. <a href="http://francoislevy.com/">François Lévy</a>, an architect in Austin, Texas, believes that for small, skin-load dominated buildings (versus large, systems-heavy buildings) BIM is best introduced in the early phases of a project, where it can be used to aid with site analysis, massing, solar studies, passive heating/cooling, and hydrology, to name a few areas where the intelligent modeling can be queried for information. This is not to say that a highly detailed and "figured out" model needs to be generated in the conceptual or schematic design phase; BIM software enables models with respectively "lo-fi" information to be created and still carry intelligent data.<br /><br />Lévy's argument unfolds over eleven chapters that address the uses of BIM mentioned above, as well the relationship between BIM and sustainable design, BIM software, and collaboration. Each chapter is accompanied by a brief case study that is helpful in grounding Lévy's ideas in specific practices, most of them external to his own. Falling somewhere between a technical textbook and a theoretical exposition, the book is helpful as a guide for architects interested in integrating BIM into their workflow. With an emphasis on small buildings (single-family houses, mainly), that pool is large, and the book makes a convincing argument for working BIM into the early stages of a design. That argument would be even stronger if the book were illustrated in color; as is, many of the renderings and model views lack contrast and differentiation between surfaces to make them fully legible. This is unfortunate but not a fatal flaw for a book that intelligently embraces a technology's impact on making buildings better and more responsible.<br /><br /><b>US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470590890/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470590890&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.com" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan.gif" /></a> CA: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0470590890/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470590890&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.ca" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-ca.gif" width="90" /></a> UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0470590890/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470590890&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.co.uk" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-uk.gif" width="90" /></a></b>

28 in 28 #21: BIM in Small-Scale Sustainable Design

February is Book Month on A Daily Dose of Architecture. The "28 in 28" series features a different book every day of the month.BIM in Small-Scale Sustainable Design by François LévyWiley, 2011Hardcover, 312 pagesAt its core BIM (Building Information…

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The Benefits of Exercising Outdoors - NYTimes.com

<base href="data:"><div style="text-align: left; "><div class="postContent" style="color: black; margin-left: 126px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">While the allure of the gym — climate-controlled, convenient and predictable — is obvious, especially in winter, emerging science suggests there are benefits to exercising outdoors that can't be replicated on a treadmill, a recumbent bicycle or a track.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">You stride differently when running outdoors, for one thing. Generally, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3266869/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">studies find</a>, people flex their ankles more when they run outside. They also, at least occasionally, run downhill, a movement that isn't easily done on a treadmill and that stresses muscles differently than running on flat or uphill terrain. Outdoor exercise tends, too, to be more strenuous than the indoor version. In studies comparing the exertion of running on a treadmill and the exertion of running outside, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8887211" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">treadmill runners expended less energy</a> to cover the same distance as those striding across the ground outside, primarily because indoor exercisers face no wind resistance or changes in terrain, no matter how subtle.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17127577" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">same dynamic has been shown to apply to cycling</a>, where wind drag can result in much greater energy demands during 25 miles of outdoor cycling than the same distance on a stationary bike. That means if you have limited time and want to burn as many calories as possible, you should hit the road instead of the gym.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">But there seem to be other, more ineffable advantages to getting outside to work out. In a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21291246" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">number of recent studies,</a> volunteers have been asked to go for two walks for the same time or distance — one inside, usually on a treadmill or around a track, the other outdoors. In virtually all of the studies, the volunteers reported enjoying the outside activity more and, on subsequent psychological tests, scored significantly higher on measures of vitality, enthusiasm, pleasure and self-esteem and lower on tension, depression and fatigue after they walked outside.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Of course, those studies were small-scale, short-term — only two walks — and squishy in their scientific parameters, relying heavily on subjective responses. But a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22846594" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">study last year of older adults</a> found, objectively, that those who exercised outside exercised longer and more often than those working out indoors. Specifically, the researchers asked men and women 66 or older about their exercise habits and then fitted them all with electronic gadgets that measured their activity levels for a week. The gadgets and the survey showed that the volunteers who exercised outside, usually by walking, were significantly more physically active than those who exercised indoors, completing, on average, about 30 minutes more exercise each week than those who walked or otherwise exercised indoors.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Studies haven't yet established why, physiologically, exercising outside might improve dispositions or inspire greater commitment to an exercise program. A <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22472137" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">few small studies have found</a> that people have lower blood levels of cortisol, a hormone related to stress, after exerting themselves outside as compared with inside. There's speculation, too, that exposure to direct sunlight, known to affect mood, plays a role.</p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">But the take-away seems to be that moving their routines outside could help reluctant or inconsistent exercisers. "If outdoor activity encourages more activity, then it is a good thing," says Jacqueline Kerr, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, who led the study of older adults. After all, "despite the fitness industry boom," she continues, "we are not seeing changes in national physical activity levels, so gyms are not the answer."</div></div><footer class="postMeta" style="display: block; clear: both; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 21px; padding-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><div class="postRelated module wrap" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 12px; clear: both; display: block; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; position: static; z-index: auto; "><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/the-benefits-of-exercising-outdoors/">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/the-benefits-of-exercising-outdoors/</a><div class="relatedArticlesModule column lastColumn" style="float: left; display: inline; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; margin-right: 0px !important; width: 427px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 15px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div></div></footer></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

The Benefits of Exercising Outdoors - NYTimes.com

While the allure of the gym — climate-controlled, convenient and predictable — is obvious, especially in winter, emerging science suggests there are benefits to exercising outdoors that can't be replicated on a treadmill, a recumbent bicycle or a tra…

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Boylan Bottling Company Review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcasB6vn3GKtBxIyaaKwVUnMbfp08WnPpt7NTZIn6mxn_U4B7KBLMDQb_tvdPOGsxS4TnQiXbRAVHst4jqqn8iMoAwWQJ1SkwEFgm2xzQjyAi6H268YJQkHhg1b2MArzmgW3My_UEhVQ/s1600/boylan+bottling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcasB6vn3GKtBxIyaaKwVUnMbfp08WnPpt7NTZIn6mxn_U4B7KBLMDQb_tvdPOGsxS4TnQiXbRAVHst4jqqn8iMoAwWQJ1SkwEFgm2xzQjyAi6H268YJQkHhg1b2MArzmgW3My_UEhVQ/s320/boylan+bottling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was sent Boylan Shirley Temple sodas for review.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First though let me tell you a little bit about the company and how it got the name.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1981 William Boylan developed an elixir in his Paterson, New Jersey apothecary. He named it Boylan's Birch being a derivative from birch trees.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through out the years they were distributed in many forms and packages.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marketed as a soda fountain beverage in the early days before it was bottled in the 1900's.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the prohibition in the the 1920's it was actually contained in beer barrels!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The birch beer was sold primarily in kegs to taverns in New Jersey.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their 12 ounce bottles that are creative by structure are well known.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boylan still today can be found in soda fountains at restaurants. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only do they have birch beer, they have a wide selection stemming from regular, club, seltzers, and diet!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Flavors:</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cola</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grape</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Orange</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Black Cherry</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ginger Ale</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Creme</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Root Beer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shirley Temple</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boylan's Creamy Red Birch Beer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Story:</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I absolutely loved drinking soda as a kid.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remembered when my family and I would go to the Malt Shoppe right up the road from where I live and we would get a soda and ice cream.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just the look of the bottles from Boylan took me back to my childhood, reminding me of the great memories of the Fourth of July when we would be patiently awaiting for the fireworks to be set off while snacking on our ice creams and sipping our sodas.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So sad that it went out of business many years ago though.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We need businesses like these again!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh to be young again! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check them out online!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like their face book page! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love the old fashion soda bottles and that you can save them!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.boylanbottling.com/">http://www.boylanbottling.com/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boylanbottling">https://www.facebook.com/boylanbottling</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/boylan_bottling"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://twitter.com/boylan_bottling</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Boylan Bottling Company Review

I was sent Boylan Shirley Temple sodas for review.First though let me tell you a little bit about the company and how it got the name.In 1981 William Boylan developed an elixir in his Paterson, New Jersey apothecary. He named it Boylan's Birch being …

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Cost Accountant ( Product Costing | Inventory flows ) (#108844)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Position: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cost Accountant<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Milpitas, CA<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Full time<o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><br /></o:p>Job Description:<br />Responsibilities:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />Primary responsibility will be to provide financial, analytical and technical support to the Operations Accounting, Corp Services, and Regional Finance groups.  Ideal candidate will have the skill set to gain an advanced understanding of the Cost accounting business processes on the SAP system and develop, oversee and drive corporate-wide processes improvements in the Operational Accounting area.  In addition, the candidate will also need to thoroughly understand the Regional Balance Sheet review process, including a review and audit of multiple global legal entities financial statements.  Lastly, the candidate will also aid in supporting the development and maintenance of the financial accounting systems and business processes to support Operations Accounting, Corp Services (AP, Payroll, etc), and Regional Finance. Candidate will participate in a number of system enhancement projects and may also lead some small to medium sized projects as well.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />The ideal candidate will have proven success in the following areas:<o:p></o:p><br />1) Advanced Cost Accounting process knowledge, with a strong working knowledge of Supply Chain and Materials Management processes<o:p></o:p>.<br />2) Experienced in analyzing and/or auditing financial statements, analyzing trends and reviewing for completeness and accuracy.<br />3) Ability to lead small project teams for policy reviews/updates, system conversions/updates, and business process improvements<o:p><b>.<br /></b></o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Key skills the candidate must have demonstrated include:<o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />1) Ability to perform at a high degree of accuracy, achieves results with diligence and precision.<br />2) Is meticulous with details, and conforms to high standards expected of finance team.<o:p></o:p><br />3) Effectively communicates with all levels of management, and effectively explains and interprets organizational policies and procedures<o:p></o:p>.<br />4) Ability to succeed in a challenging and fast paced environment<o:p></o:p>.<br />5) Comfortable working and aligning across functional boundaries, and comfortable working in a matrixed/multi-divisional environment<b>.<br /></b><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minimum Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />Bachelor’s degree is required with at least 5 years of business experience, or equivalent.<o:p></o:p><br />Master's in Business Administration is desired.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p>Kindly send your resume to <a href="mailto:sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com">sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</a><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div></div>

Cost Accountant ( Product Costing | Inventory flows ) (#108844)

Position: Cost AccountantLocation: Milpitas, CADuration: Full timeJob Description:Responsibilities:Primary responsibility will be to provide financial, analytical and technical support to the Operations Accounting, Corp Services, and Regional Fina…

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Supply Chain Manager (# 109133)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Position:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">  Supply Chain Manager<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Full time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Job Description:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">KLA-Tencor has manufacturing sites across the globe, including Belgium, China, Germany, Israel, Singapore and Milpitas (CA). The Global Operations (GOPS) team, comprised of Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Installation, and Quality is responsible for manufacturing our leading-edge technology. We partner with our world-wide supply base and our design engineering teams to bring new products to market. The GOPS team is continuously working to build our products Better, Faster, Cheaper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Technology Supplier Account Manager (TSAM) is Supply Chain Management role that requires technical background particularly in optics, light sources, and sensors as it relates to their application in KT Tools. This position will work with external suppliers of those products on existing products and next generation products. This position will internally coordinate with operations, supply chain, engineering, and advanced technology groups to understand their requirements and help identify suppliers and develop sourcing strategies for these critical needs. This position will also negotiate key supplier agreements.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Basic Qualifications</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 4 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Master's Level Degree with at least 3 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kindly send your resume to <a href="mailto:raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com">raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

Supply Chain Manager (# 109133)

Position:  Supply Chain ManagerLocation: Milpitas, CADuration: Full timeJob Description:KLA-Tencor has manufacturing sites across the globe, including Belgium, China, Germany, Israel, Singapore and Milpitas (CA). The Global Operations (GOPS) team, co…

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Juil's Sandals Review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0rDW0c2PKm1ittXvbnV_36JQhhGbS7FcsL8-UJtjo1lfGS6Zry9ZD7sGysC8TUIJLsiQcxPCjk1tImzgyykHLBEnaYF22xGVoy6P8YKUx1RSpefhN9yOHykSnkyr6mz67tOy68XqFv0/s1600/sandals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0rDW0c2PKm1ittXvbnV_36JQhhGbS7FcsL8-UJtjo1lfGS6Zry9ZD7sGysC8TUIJLsiQcxPCjk1tImzgyykHLBEnaYF22xGVoy6P8YKUx1RSpefhN9yOHykSnkyr6mz67tOy68XqFv0/s320/sandals.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was sent a pair of these beautiful sandals from <a href="https://juil.com/">Juil</a> for a review.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I opened the box the wow factor was set!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could not believe my eyes at how beautiful these looked and to add the perfect touch they added in a bag to put them in!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Above in the photo is the super cute bag!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They even have little toe inserts where your toes go right inside of the sandals!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How cute is that!?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When it comes to my feet I don't know about you but I need something that is comfortable and easy to walk in.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Especially in the Summer time!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being at the beach is just enough sometimes walking on that hot sand all day without sandals or flip flops!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Am I right?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your feet get burned and then you are uncomfortable and want to leave the beach which is no fun.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or even when you go out somewhere fancy and you have to dress up just a bit, these are the perfect footwear for that!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are pretty, comfortable and match just about any color or type of clothing you may have in your wardrobe!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_U91X0fXA5x6B3EOCl5gugZ8XlViqWeuKEZGDRpX5iJMImE6Jrv06ygbRSCQZj8w5pHkHJpuOSb2HDVkP2qCUUIgEkyqUjW6qS-rjVXDuvocTqb_CjHaHSwHwBd6m16rZZh7P7khTKU/s1600/omg+love+them!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_U91X0fXA5x6B3EOCl5gugZ8XlViqWeuKEZGDRpX5iJMImE6Jrv06ygbRSCQZj8w5pHkHJpuOSb2HDVkP2qCUUIgEkyqUjW6qS-rjVXDuvocTqb_CjHaHSwHwBd6m16rZZh7P7khTKU/s320/omg+love+them!.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They offer a wide selection from men's to women's in sandals, flip flops and shoes!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For all of you shoe lovers you need to go and take a peek!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://juil.com/">https://juil.com/</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Juilfootwear?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/Juilfootwear?fref=ts</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/JuilConnect">https://twitter.com/JuilConnect</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://instagram.com/juilconnect?ref=badge">http://instagram.com/juilconnect?ref=badge</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/113836701438267269180/posts"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://plus.google.com/113836701438267269180/posts</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Juil's Sandals Review

I was sent a pair of these beautiful sandals from Juil for a review.When I opened the box the wow factor was set!I could not believe my eyes at how beautiful these looked and to add the perfect touch they added in a bag to put them in!Above in the ph…

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Library Circulation Assistant - Lyme Public Library

<b>Library Circulation Assistant -</b> <b><span style="color: #48286d;">Lyme Public Library</span></b>. 13 hrs./wk – Tues. & Thurs. eve. and Sat. for small public library. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Library’s centennial celebration in 2013 and opening of a new library building in 2014. Opportunity to work additional hours substituting for other staff as needed. Responsibilities include working circulation desk and assisting both adult and juvenile patrons with reference and reader’s advisory. Must possess good customer service and computer skills. Previous library experience a plus. Starting wage $11.00/hr. Send résumé, cover letter, and names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references to: Theresa Conley, Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371-3110 or email to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:tconley@lymepl.org" href="mailto:tconley@lymepl.org">tconley@lymepl.org</a>. Application deadline <span style="color: red;">March 16, 2013</span>. EOE.

Library Circulation Assistant - Lyme Public Library

Library Circulation Assistant - Lyme Public Library. 13 hrs./wk – Tues. & Thurs. eve. and Sat. for small public library. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Library’s centennial celebration in 2013 and opening of a new library buildi…

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Optical Engineer ( Zemax/Code V | optics | design |sub-systems | metrology) (#108787)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Title:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Optical Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Fulltime<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Description:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">The Wafer Inspection Division (WIN) of KLA-Tencor designs and manufactures systems that are used for capturing yield-impacting defects at the front-end-of-line (FEOL) and the back-end-of-line (BEOL). A successful candidate will be joining a world leader in wafer inspection products and technologies designing and manufacturing the next generation of products.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">The Wafer Inspection Division (WIN) is seeking an Optical Engineer in our Milpitas, California campus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Within this role, the selected Optical Engineer will-<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">1.Develop experiments to investigate new optical design concepts and optical components.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">2.Design optical sub-systems and alignment procedures.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">3.Interact with vendors to qualify optical assemblies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">4.Help solving critical production issues related to optical systems.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">5.Provide optical analysis support to help solving optical system issues and improve overall equipment performance<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">1.MS in optics with 5 plus years relevant experience focusing on optical engineering. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">2.Strong background in optical imaging and optical system design. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">3.Hands-on experience aligning optical systems. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">4.Working knowledge of opto-mechanical systems<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">5.Experience with Zemax/Code V optical design software and stray ray analysis software. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">6.Excellent communication skills and ability to work in within a dynamic team environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">7.Ability to carry out a project from design phase to production. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minimum Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 5 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">OR <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Master's Level Degree with at least 3 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">OR <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 0 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Please send you resumes to vinod.sanker@kla-tencor.com</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></span></div></div></div>

Optical Engineer ( Zemax/Code V | optics | design |sub-systems | metrology) (#108787)

Job Title: Optical EngineerLocation: Milpitas, CADuration: FulltimeJob Description:The Wafer Inspection Division (WIN) of KLA-Tencor designs and manufactures systems that are used for capturing yield-impacting defects at the front-end-of-line (FEOL) …

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What seems obvious to you may be AMAZING to others! Keep sharing…

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We live in the social networking age, the age of sharing information generously with others. But how often does it happen that we want to share something but we think it is too ordinary – that everyone knows about it. Everybody’s idea seems obvious to them. But maybe what’s obvious to you is amazing to others!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thoughts expressed in this video by David Sivers are so inspirational that I thought it would be good to embed the whole video here.</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xcmI5SSQLmE" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy sharing! Just do it!</span></div>

Inspiration What seems obvious to you may be AMAZING to others! Keep sharing…

We live in the social networking age, the age of sharing information generously with others. But how often does it happen that we want to share something but we think it is too ordinary – that everyone knows about it. Everybody’s idea seems obvious t…

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Soft Scrub All purpose cleaner review and giveaway

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Congratulations to Angel Poling, Allison Downes and Sally!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPTPYSBlmkZEt5OkN_ETbXZifg-mOu4ys8iR0X_-eTDx9LBcV-ML6nB0BoDbOpvmxc3J_XkRJYu1mxpwu-Qwp3VtrOLQUgjTu-AHHWbWXUnSXXh6yQqw9xooOEsrrH4bHf_IqF_adxig/s1600/soft+scrub+all+purpose+cleaner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPTPYSBlmkZEt5OkN_ETbXZifg-mOu4ys8iR0X_-eTDx9LBcV-ML6nB0BoDbOpvmxc3J_XkRJYu1mxpwu-Qwp3VtrOLQUgjTu-AHHWbWXUnSXXh6yQqw9xooOEsrrH4bHf_IqF_adxig/s320/soft+scrub+all+purpose+cleaner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soft Scrub has provided me with a free sample of Soft Scrub Total All Purpose Bath and Kitchen Cleaner to review.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't you wish there was a cleaning product that cleans everything, instead of having different bottles for glassware, surfaces and tubs?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well now there is!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soft Scrub all Purpose bath and kitchen cleaner is tough on those stains you just can't seem to get rid of.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You scrub and scrub and it's still on the surface!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With this wonderful stain fighting cleaner it's also gentle on surfaces.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's new and improved formula has a lot more whitening power with less residue for better rinsing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Works oh so fantastic on tile,sinks, grout and even tubs!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only did the product get a makeover but the bottle did too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's new and improved cap has improved to prevent spills and makes your cleaning experience a lot better and easy too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time to get scrubbing with the new and improved Soft Scrub All purpose bath and kitchen cleaner!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ahh, fresh lemon scent! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can try it too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will be selecting 3 winners to win a coupon for a free bottle!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.softscrub.com/OneSurfaceSweepstakes">http://www.softscrub.com/OneSurfaceSweepstakes</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1. What do you hate cleaning the most?</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Want an extra entry? </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Follow my blog.</span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3.Then also follow me via Twitter, here. https://twitter.com/kelli_bliss </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. then Re tweet my post about the giveaway and if you tweet on your own make sure you use #softscrub</span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. leave me a link here to your tweet.</span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. like the soft scrub face book page please! </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SoftScrub?ref=ts&fref=ts"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/SoftScrub?ref=ts&fref=ts</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Soft Scrub All purpose cleaner review and giveaway

Congratulations to Angel Poling, Allison Downes and Sally!Soft Scrub has provided me with a free sample of Soft Scrub Total All Purpose Bath and Kitchen Cleaner to review.Don't you wish there was a cleaning product that cleans everything, instead of …

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Honey Bunches Of Oats:Tropical Blends Review and Giveaway

<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Congratulations to Elisabeth, Kelsey and  Elena! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwA3D1B18Ni0u7etYMIsI5Lps8XuK7d4lg_N_4_TMoreaFs8xHfe-BGWjs6ZEQFCrE_Z1L-WkWorgp_C1FRY4tv95Sf_r6wbJLge5jzxhr1pHtaus00z1EoYTW6M0SCbVxcwKZSkHpJ9k/s1600/Honey+Bunches+of+Oats+Tropical+Blends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwA3D1B18Ni0u7etYMIsI5Lps8XuK7d4lg_N_4_TMoreaFs8xHfe-BGWjs6ZEQFCrE_Z1L-WkWorgp_C1FRY4tv95Sf_r6wbJLge5jzxhr1pHtaus00z1EoYTW6M0SCbVxcwKZSkHpJ9k/s320/Honey+Bunches+of+Oats+Tropical+Blends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a Purex insider and was sent this delicious cereal from Honey Bunches of Oats to review and host a giveaway with my readers!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With all of the snow and cold weather don't you wish you could just take a vacation?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With just one bite of Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blend cereal you will feel like you are on an island!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's just that amazing!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRfo3RCBwxyIpx8qiG40n4RUNvDX0WffZvqzjBLF2QHycFjGEAYVrEE14ZAPW9rDVBdueOuAAyOeq4e5HdoVnJYrZBMB40_2sx9TLTrmPCoj3NSA0-R7ErZv3ds9fzTeB9LJ7ufQGzTA/s1600/Tropical+Blends+yogurt+bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRfo3RCBwxyIpx8qiG40n4RUNvDX0WffZvqzjBLF2QHycFjGEAYVrEE14ZAPW9rDVBdueOuAAyOeq4e5HdoVnJYrZBMB40_2sx9TLTrmPCoj3NSA0-R7ErZv3ds9fzTeB9LJ7ufQGzTA/s320/Tropical+Blends+yogurt+bowl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This morning I made breakfast the healthy way.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used some Vanilla Chobani Greek yogurt, some berries and a sprinkle of Tropical Blends Honey Bunches of Oats.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was blown away by how good the cereal tasted!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Along with the berries, yogurt and the little Tropical Blend clusters it was all I needed for a delicious and healthy breakfast. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can hear the waves already and just smell the scent of suntan lotion!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether it's in a bowl or layered on top of some delicious yogurt you are sure to love it, your taste buds will too!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ladies and gents, it's time for some tropical goodness because it's giveaway time!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've got three coupons to giveaway.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Winner will win a coupon good for a box of Tropical Blends!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Where would you like to go on vacation if you could go?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Want an extra entry? </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Follow my blog.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3.Then also follow me via Twitter, here. https://twitter.com/kelli_bliss </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. then Re tweet my post about the giveaway and if you tweet on your own make sure you use #HoneyBunchesOfOats</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. leave me a link here to your tweet.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. like the Honey Bunches of Oats Face Book page</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/honeybunchesofoats?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/honeybunchesofoats?fref=ts</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How many of you would love to go on a vacation? </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.purex.com/tropical-trio-sweepstakes">http://www.purex.com/tropical-trio-sweepstakes</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You will not want to miss out on this!</span><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Purex Brand has teamed up with Honey Bunches of Oats as well as Outrigger hotels and resorts to launch a huge prize giveaway!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First place winner- five winners in total. will win a year supply of Purex's natural elements Tropical splash detergent and the Honey Bunches Of Oats Tropical Blends.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Second place winner- 100 winners selected will receive coupons for the Purex Natural Elements Tropical Splash and The Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grand prize winner- One winner will win a four night stay for two at Outrigger Waikiki on the beach! </span><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div>

Honey Bunches Of Oats:Tropical Blends Review and Giveaway

Congratulations to Elisabeth, Kelsey and  Elena! I'm a Purex insider and was sent this delicious cereal from Honey Bunches of Oats to review and host a giveaway with my readers!With all of the snow and cold weather don't you wish you could just take …

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