News for today's 2018

DIVERSITY OF MIDDLE EASTERN POLITICS

10:11 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpcGG5LnX5F2RETYeKjMjsaFjjMg3znIUjHuzqpm7UR97UzlYGXfE-8oXvaUA8k512ow9YmLZbSW4YZVEUuTBD2FjfH1wk_Ta0MkkNvbgOPAgcZdGjUoG9uILS96Yhttg4cVp4L5anLZZ/s1600/85328479_89f3b31dfa_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpcGG5LnX5F2RETYeKjMjsaFjjMg3znIUjHuzqpm7UR97UzlYGXfE-8oXvaUA8k512ow9YmLZbSW4YZVEUuTBD2FjfH1wk_Ta0MkkNvbgOPAgcZdGjUoG9uILS96Yhttg4cVp4L5anLZZ/s320/85328479_89f3b31dfa_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">WELCOME TO THE MIDDLE EAST</span></b></span></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">IRAN is backing Assad. The GULF STATES are against Assad! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Assad is against the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood and Obama are against General Sisi. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">But the GOLF STATES are pro-Sisi! Meaning they are against the Muslim Brotherhood! <br />Iran is pro. Hamas, but Hamas is backing the Muslim Brotherhood! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Obama is backing the Muslim Brotherhood, yet Hamas are against the US! <br /><br />The GULF STATES are pro US. </span></span></b></span></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">TURKEY is with GULF STATES against Assad; yet TURKEY is pro-Muslim Brotherhood and against General Sisi, and General Sisi is being backed by the GULF STATES! <br /><br /><span style="color: #134f5c;">Welcome to the MIDDLE EAST and have a nice day. </span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Posted by KN Al-Sabah, London, UK on readers comment forum of Austrian daily “Der Standard” (<a href="http://www.derstandard.at/">www.derstandard.at</a> ) </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Article Title: “ASSAD: US- ANGRIFFSPLÄNE ZUM SCHEITERN VERURTEILT”</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Translation: US INTERVENTION PLANS ARE DOOMED TO FAIL</span></span></i></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>

DIVERSITY OF MIDDLE EASTERN POLITICS

WELCOME TO THE MIDDLE EAST IRAN is backing Assad. The GULF STATES are against Assad! Assad is against the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim B...

Spaces for Learning

9:45 AM Tukiyooo 0

Spaces for Learning

The "Insight" feature in this week's World-Architects eMagazine looks at 10 schools of architecture. Given that many schools a...

What Is The Key To Getting Six Pack Abs?

7:25 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Frederic Leblanc</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>The six pack abs is a much desired "product" nowadays. A six pack is not simple to get and anybody who is telling you can get it in just few days is either advertising a magazine or he/she is just lying. If getting six pack abs was so easy to get, we would all have them today and nobody would be complaining about not obtaining them. In fact, it is easy when you know what you are doing, when you possess a exercise plan and a diet plan personalized for you, it may be achievable in a matter of weeks. You will by no means lose 10-20 lbs a week using "magic pills" or perhaps a "magic workout program" that some individuals trying to sell you, the only time you are able to lose that kind of weight is if you weight way too much and that you're just beginning working out. The first factor you have to keep in mind is this: when it comes to the body, you need to work out and also you require to manage your diet plan.<br />  <br />  Diet to getting six pack abs<br />  <br />  To begin with, if you believe you are able to gorge down massive amounts of foods, consume whatever you would like, train in a lousy manner and do plenty of cardio to get six pack abs, you seriously require to change the way you think. The people you see on television, and in real life, with six pack abs have really disciplined themselves. Changing your lifestyle is the initial step you must take to be able to attain your goal of getting six pack abs. Here are a few of the things you need to do:<br />  <br />  -Throw out any junk meals you see around you<br />  <br />  -Get plenty of fish and lean meat cuts (chicken)<br />  <br />  -Buy some pulses<br />  <br />  -Get loads of green vegetables<br />  <br />  -Look for organic vegetables and fruits, not the ones in cans because these have preservatives and such like<br />  <br />  -Remember that junk food is merely food that has no nutritional value or objective<br />  <br />  -Do not consume at restaurants<br />  <br />  Stick to home-made foods<br />  <br />  -Avoid any sort of junk food for a couple of month<br />  <br />  Work out to getting six pack abs<br />  <br />  Because you have to be able to get rid of the fat in order to reveal muscles, you first need to lift weights to build your muscles and by following a diet plan, you will be able to shed physique fat and gain muscle, both at the same time. How do you do this? Here's how:<br />  <br />  -Concentrate on different sorts of workouts every few weeks<br />  <br />  -Lift heavy weight<br />  <br />  -Use compound exercises<br />  <br />  -Perform 20-30 minutes of cardio two to 4 times a week<br />  <br />  -Make sure that your workouts are intense<br />  <br />  -Focus upon your exercises<br />  <br />  -Following a meal plan for fat loss<br />  <br />  -Being in a calorie deficit<br />  <br />  They are some common, basic recommendations to getting six pack abs. Keep in mind to be patient because obtaining them is not easy if you're overweight. These guys you see on tv and in magazines have spent years trying different techniques to obtain where they're these days.<br />  <br />  Getting six pack abs might be easier for you now by just following these simple tips :)<br />  <br />  </div><br />  <div class='uawresource'><br />  	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />  		About the Author:<br />  	</div><br />  	<div class='uawlinks'>Feel free to browse my website for more fat loss tips to getting a six pack by <a href="https://www.empowernetwork.com/white700/blog/category/fat-loss/">clicking here</a> or in the event you wanna know some tips about how to acquire muscle you are able to <a href="http://tips4musclegain.com/">visit my other blog</a> as well.</div><br />  </div><br />

What Is The Key To Getting Six Pack Abs?

By Frederic Leblanc The six pack abs is a much desired "product" nowadays. A six pack is not simple to get and anybody who is ...

Technology on Your Eyes: Top 5 Glasses of Future With Full Specifications

4:25 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In my previous <a href="http://pc-gadgetworld.blogspot.in/2013/08/now-smartphone-on-your-wrist-samsung.html" target="_blank">post</a> I have been talking about technology on your wrist, but now you will wear technology on your eyes like specs. Google is also working on wearable technology but Google is not confirming the specification yet. Other options are also available in market rather than Google glasses. We will be talking about top five specs which are available now and you can start using those.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recon Jet:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JzAqtMer1wM/Uhs30URdwhI/AAAAAAAAAOk/zX5nB4rTtrg/s1600/RECON.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="128" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JzAqtMer1wM/Uhs30URdwhI/AAAAAAAAAOk/zX5nB4rTtrg/s1600/RECON.png" title="wearable technology from Recon jet" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recon Jet wearable Glasses running on 1GHz of Dual Core Arm Cortex Processor with 1GB ram and 8GB internal space. The device is powered with 9 Axis Sensors like pressure, altimeter and barometric apps sensor. It’s not over yet beyond this device has more advance option like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Micro USB support, HD Camera and built-in speaker with Microphone. Device is comes in ultra-compact design which packs in a wide screen of 16:9 WVGA Display. This is most advanced wearable device of world at present.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Price: $599.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meta Space Glasses:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The specs come with 3D Glasses with twin 960-by-540 pixel resolution.  The TFT LCD display is available to provide you 23 degrees of field view with a 720p RGB camera. The different and best thing about this device is that it comes with reality apps like 3D Sculp Print tool, Chess, Voxel editor, Metacraft and Laser Tag.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Price: $667.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vuzix Smart Glass M100:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>                               <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wIZ0aXAf2Y/Uhs4DsehylI/AAAAAAAAAOs/lRIK_CmMXBA/s1600/VUZIX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wIZ0aXAf2Y/Uhs4DsehylI/AAAAAAAAAOs/lRIK_CmMXBA/s1600/VUZIX.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This device is awarded by CES Innovation Design Award in 2013. Vuzix Smart Glass M100 is the cleverest Hands free Display for smartphones. The WQVGA colour Display with ratio of 16:9 is available in device with ICS Android 4.0 display. The device is powered with the OMAP 4430 1GHz processor with 1GB RAM and 4GB flash memory.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For connectivity device have two options one is Wi-Fi and another is Bluetooth.  Smart glass has 9 optical sensors like build in compass parameters, Gyro and accelometer. A slot for SD card is also present there.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Price: $400- $500.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pivot head:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WN8b9RMXQA8/Uhs4Wjvmi5I/AAAAAAAAAO0/nao6jQNiyjg/s1600/PivotHead-Sunglasses-300x243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WN8b9RMXQA8/Uhs4Wjvmi5I/AAAAAAAAAO0/nao6jQNiyjg/s1600/PivotHead-Sunglasses-300x243.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This device is looking like sunglasses that are capable to record the visual with support of 8MP camera. The technology of camera is based upon Sony CMOS image sensor that have different capture mode. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Price: $299.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Telepathy one:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5zwLqZnLW8/Uhs4jZMaQDI/AAAAAAAAAO8/kCfRt-jMq6s/s1600/telepathy-one1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5zwLqZnLW8/Uhs4jZMaQDI/AAAAAAAAAO8/kCfRt-jMq6s/s1600/telepathy-one1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">     </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is strongest competitor of Google glass and will come in the market by early 2014. It will come with full HD 16:9 resolution powered by 1 GHz of Quad Core processor with 2 GB RAM. The price detail and other specifications are not available yet.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

HD processor RAM sensors specs Technology on Your Eyes: Top 5 Glasses of Future With Full Specifications

In my previous post I have been talking about technology on your wrist, but now you will wear technology on your eyes like specs. Google i...

Today's Teamster News 08.26.13

3:14 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://www.nationofchange.org/congress-public-waking-trans-pacific-partnership-threat-1377322701" rel="nofollow">Congress, Public Waking Up to Trans-Pacific Partnership</a>  Nation of Change   ...Members of Congress are starting to pay attention to the upcoming, secretly negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) “trade” agreement that isn’t really about trade. And the public is also becoming aware that this runaway job-loss express train is coming straight at us...<br /><a href="http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/americas-outsourcers-be-reclassified-manufacturers-5342" rel="nofollow">America's Outsourcers to be Reclassified as Manufacturers</a>  Economic Populist   ...Don't like the trade deficit, low GDP and the public outrage over the offshore outsourcing?  Change the accounting method to make it go away!  Such is the agenda of government statisticians it appears...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacy-mitchell/walmart-buy-america_b_3795011.html?utm_hp_ref=business&utm_source=buffer&utm_campaign=Buffer&utm_content=bufferf298e&utm_medium=twitter" rel="nofollow">Walmart's Latest 'Buy America' Sham</a>  Huffington Post   ...Walmart's growing control of the grocery sector is pushing down wages throughout food production...<br /><a href="http://americanmanufacturing.org/blog/governors-applaud-made-usa-do-their-laws-support-american-manufacturing" rel="nofollow">Governors applaud Made in the USA, but do their laws support American manufacturing?</a>  manufacture this   ...Eight governors were quick to applaud Wal-Mart for their U.S. manufacturing efforts. But do their states' laws promote U.S. manufacturing through “buy America” provisions for state public works projects?...<br /><a href="http://www.policymic.com/articles/60771/fast-food-workers-will-strike-on-august-29-here-s-what-you-need-to-know" rel="nofollow">Fast-Food Workers Will Strike On August 29 — Here's What You Need to Know</a>  PolicyMic   ...Fast-food workers and labor groups are now calling for a $15/hour minimum wage and many are also asking for opportunities to unionize. Beginning with walk-outs in individual fast-food restaurants last year, the movement has progressed from the local to a national scale. A national strike by fast-food employees is set to take place on August 29...<br /><a href="http://jaredbernsteinblog.com/dr-king-the-march-on-washington-and-full-employment/">Dr. King, The March on Washington, and Full Employment</a>  Jared Bernstein Blog   ...[f]ifty years ago, the unemployment rate was 5 percent for whites and 10.9 percent for blacks, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Today, it is 6.6 percent for whites and 12.6 percent for blacks...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-22/elizabeth-warren-may-control-larry-summers-s-fate.html" rel="nofollow">Elizabeth Warren May Control Larry Summers's Fate</a>  Bloomberg   ...Warren indicated that Summers was too friendly to Wall Street, where he has made a lot of money as a consultant during his time away from government...<br /><a href="http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/318577-architects-of-obamacare-reap-windfall-as-washington-lobbyists" rel="nofollow">ObamaCare's architects reap windfall as Washington lobbyists</a>  The Hill   ...ObamaCare has become big business for an elite network of Washington lobbyists and consultants who helped shape the law from the inside...<br /><a href="http://therealnews.com/t2/component/hwdvideoshare/viewvideo/76778/best-of-the-web/cash-hoarders-devastate-economy" rel="nofollow">Cash Hoarders Devastate Economy</a> The Real News   ..The wealthiest Americans are sitting on trillions of dollars in cash. They aren't reinvesting,...<br /><a href="http://www.alan.com/2013/08/23/oregon-man-holds-up-bank-for-1-waits-to-be-arrested-to-get-health-care/" rel="nofollow">Oregon Man Holds Up Bank For $1, Waits To Be Arrested To Get Health Care</a>  Liberaland   ...Timothy Dean Alsip, 50, is homeless and needed health care, so he <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2013/08/clackamas_bank_robber_demands.html">allegedly robbed a bank so he could medical attention</a>...<br /><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/08/21/2507061/report-lost-decade-for-us-workers-underscores-need-for-wage-hikes/" rel="nofollow">REPORT: American Workers Have Seen A ‘Lost Decade’ In Wage Growth</a>  ThinkProgress   ...Despite productivity gains of nearly 25 percent from 2000 to 2012, “wages were flat or declined for the entire bottom 60 percent” of the workforce, according to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI)...<br /><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/08/25/2523781/colin-powell-republican-voting-restrictions-going-backfire/" rel="nofollow">Colin Powell On Republican Voting Restrictions: ‘It’s Going To Backfire’</a>  ThinkProgress   ...These kinds of procedures that are being put in place to slow the process down, and make it likely that fewer Hispanics and African Americans might vote I think is going to backfire, because these people are going to come out and do what they have to do in order to vote and I encourage that...<br /><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/new-york-attorney-general-schneiderman-sues-donald-trump-40-million-fraud-suit-article-1.1436105" rel="nofollow">New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman files Donald Trump 'University' $40 million fraud </a><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/new-york-attorney-general-schneiderman-sues-donald-trump-40-million-fraud-suit-article-1.1436105" rel="nofollow">suit</a>  Daily News   ...Schneiderman’s office accuses Trump of defrauding more than 5,000 people nationwide through his “Trump University” that offered free seminars to help them get rich by teaching real estate-investing techniques used by the billionaire developer-turned-reality TV star...<br /><a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175803/afl-cio-exploring-new-investments-alt-labor-and-texas-organizing#axzz2d4E1bBaO" rel="nofollow">The AFL-CIO Is Exploring New Investments in Alt-Labor and Texas Organizing</a>  The Nation   ...the past two decades have seen an explosion in the number of “alt-labor” groups organizing and mobilizing workers outside of traditional union representation or bargaining; such groups currently mostly rely on union or foundation funding...<br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/private-lobbyists-public-pensions-20-states-140450550.html" rel="nofollow">Private lobbyists get public pensions in 20 states</a>  Associated Press   ...hundreds of lobbyists in at least 20 states ... get public pensions because they represent associations of counties, cities and school boards, an Associated Press review found. Legislatures granted them access decades ago on the premise that they serve governments and the public. In many cases, such access also includes state health care benefits...<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/24/child-poverty-social-apartheid-ncb" rel="nofollow">Child poverty in Britain is causing 'social apartheid'</a>  The Guardian   ...Britain risks "sleepwalking into a world where inequality becomes so entrenched that our children grow up in a state of social apartheid", according to a leading charity...<br /><br />

Today's Teamster News 08.26.13

Congress, Public Waking Up to Trans-Pacific Partnership Nation of Change ...Members of Congress are starting to pay attention to the upc...

yep, that pier 1

2:00 AM Anonymous 0

This is a big week for me. I've got my first photo shoot and I'm pretty excited. It's too early to divulge any details (as soon as I can promise) but I will say that my sourcing adventures have led me to a place I hardly ever go.<br /><br />Pier 1.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwq0rpaFlEgY7VE_8A1IiGr3mZg7s1BC5HXhcRSyFglHkuHG6jLHHbDJ7hDV3H8HbjNrc-cQhRwbK-vHp38bmc73TCcfPzQNuhoSEmGRGGutrikbLRMxti0cWm6tGpIdsq6ShyphenhyphenUBY4cuF/s1600/pier1instagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwq0rpaFlEgY7VE_8A1IiGr3mZg7s1BC5HXhcRSyFglHkuHG6jLHHbDJ7hDV3H8HbjNrc-cQhRwbK-vHp38bmc73TCcfPzQNuhoSEmGRGGutrikbLRMxti0cWm6tGpIdsq6ShyphenhyphenUBY4cuF/s640/pier1instagram.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Crazy, I know. I posted this picture on <a href="http://instagram.com/littleblackdoor/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (you should totally <a href="http://instagram.com/littleblackdoor/" target="_blank">follow me</a> btw, we'll have great fun together) and everyone was as surprised as I was to find such goodness at old Pier 1.<br /><br />Look what other lovelies I found.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JAgs97v8b7JVu2Ss_CcBu9PjG-af-60JUULLMxYVNFwgzZwd2pa7ikQqlgFj4Gec27HSJWJnCvwfXBEJfmS7H45ktuXsUZEvcUKSmyp2VSjDkp4Chb7spK9L2CtgfIiG-Qg07sOzcVOr/s1600/Pier1Stuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JAgs97v8b7JVu2Ss_CcBu9PjG-af-60JUULLMxYVNFwgzZwd2pa7ikQqlgFj4Gec27HSJWJnCvwfXBEJfmS7H45ktuXsUZEvcUKSmyp2VSjDkp4Chb7spK9L2CtgfIiG-Qg07sOzcVOr/s640/Pier1Stuff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Next time you're out running errands, stop in. You might be surprised.<br /><br />Happy Monday!

yep, that pier 1

This is a big week for me. I've got my first photo shoot and I'm pretty excited. It's too early to divulge any details (as soon ...

Working weekend

1:26 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ciaran is heading off to Prague for the European Masters Squash Championships on Wednesday.  As he will be missing a few days in work for this event he needed to work over this weekend.  I said I would go along with him to the office and keep him company and help with paperwork.  He said he would buy me lunch because I was giving up my weekend.  A fair compromise, I think!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">While he was working, I snapped a few pictures.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHdt0ZvanqmA0JCc1OjBPZqTYvLwygGmW6vO-P8VC5MIRhOrQNBjJ1Ow0cz4qtPm97aEZtsv2YzTGmcVLcq-f_lLQk4C6aUjM7n-R6428oTgSDdZWVOcDvQwNr4DKWA5Lrv6SuP20sWok/s640/blogger-image--1473094036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHdt0ZvanqmA0JCc1OjBPZqTYvLwygGmW6vO-P8VC5MIRhOrQNBjJ1Ow0cz4qtPm97aEZtsv2YzTGmcVLcq-f_lLQk4C6aUjM7n-R6428oTgSDdZWVOcDvQwNr4DKWA5Lrv6SuP20sWok/s640/blogger-image--1473094036.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's <a href="http://odkmarchitects.com/">ODKM's</a> recently hung award plaque - a special mention in the Irish Architecture Awards for best Emerging Practise.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGn_b50S8PNEDiMeNo0pGQO2XHmmp14skg7m6RlKbW4YICsrPlRobftFUxwPIURqv9oHgAzUF6ePGSW1gZ8sy6SwSHVnT_5amV4zexonjOHOS_RqNt0I24S3VT3zWXiJTvhXn-HV-3TtzR/s640/blogger-image--490076907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGn_b50S8PNEDiMeNo0pGQO2XHmmp14skg7m6RlKbW4YICsrPlRobftFUxwPIURqv9oHgAzUF6ePGSW1gZ8sy6SwSHVnT_5amV4zexonjOHOS_RqNt0I24S3VT3zWXiJTvhXn-HV-3TtzR/s640/blogger-image--490076907.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday, after completing an important piece of work Ciaran had a bit of fun sketching on the front window of the office.  He really enjoyed this and it was great to see him relax before we went home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhCC_PaQsbZ3ytbYN5bG1ENqE9sLRoA4Bqx15oh-dmjlBFcO3GwPEZ4gmZaCRdCp6wzXpc3FR4QLfGjI45BOhL6PaLybXFKHwgQZ81HRISOwIjWh9xGmC2jVuQx5c2a0RYBZ9Pl7hamlW/s640/blogger-image--1514308143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhCC_PaQsbZ3ytbYN5bG1ENqE9sLRoA4Bqx15oh-dmjlBFcO3GwPEZ4gmZaCRdCp6wzXpc3FR4QLfGjI45BOhL6PaLybXFKHwgQZ81HRISOwIjWh9xGmC2jVuQx5c2a0RYBZ9Pl7hamlW/s640/blogger-image--1514308143.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to follow ODKM Architects on Facebook and see all of their great projects and work that they do, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ODKMarchitectsanddesigners">click here</a>.  They'd love to have you as a follower!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhdxfIH0QyPQno7Gqc7N1EGFDuGyGT3vuBNBUvR5wK0d3-xrABIWDrccFYK0oJI5L3o6Bx3KLHtAHfWpVxneXuhjFPuxPcy0SxA-jcYWmikoldrL61P1Jbtq77uPg6wvQtBFd20rXCfFS/s640/blogger-image-1090794883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhdxfIH0QyPQno7Gqc7N1EGFDuGyGT3vuBNBUvR5wK0d3-xrABIWDrccFYK0oJI5L3o6Bx3KLHtAHfWpVxneXuhjFPuxPcy0SxA-jcYWmikoldrL61P1Jbtq77uPg6wvQtBFd20rXCfFS/s640/blogger-image-1090794883.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">By the way for lunch, on Saturday, we went to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lovely-Food-Co/223770180967160?fref=ts">Lovely Food Co.</a> in Terenure where we were looked after by Margaret and her team.  Delicious food in a wonderful setting.  Terenure has lots of great places to eat (including great Fixx Coffee from Nolan's) but the Lovely Food is quite possibly the best!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAFMopaLuTq9GD9pvpFSzrmXCVm8cNuavd3Z-zFffdbtWda1yMFgdkH6-wqz6FSbkYH6ySVp2YtxCrPdSAMOFLpUN4vwUb0-zNf4BEwR5ntjQoYy2KJWrW7Awt657cglcdJtdQR5BcPTW/s640/blogger-image-1648865601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAFMopaLuTq9GD9pvpFSzrmXCVm8cNuavd3Z-zFffdbtWda1yMFgdkH6-wqz6FSbkYH6ySVp2YtxCrPdSAMOFLpUN4vwUb0-zNf4BEwR5ntjQoYy2KJWrW7Awt657cglcdJtdQR5BcPTW/s640/blogger-image-1648865601.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />

Working weekend

Ciaran is heading off to Prague for the European Masters Squash Championships on Wednesday. As he will be missing a few days in work for th...

According To Cops, America's Neighborhoods Are "Battlefields"

1:03 AM Tukiyooo 0

If you have any doubts about how the police forces in this country have been acting more and more like military fighting groups, it's time to put them to rest.<br /><br />American citizens are now "Enemy Combatants" and our neighborhoods are now "Sectors" to be patrolled with miltary equipment and military tactics.<br /><br />This country is at war with its self and has been for a long damn time,it is just now that people are finally waking up to the undeniable rise in the rates of SWAT teams being deployed around the United States for formerly routine police duties.<br /><br />If you still don't believe your lying eyes, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/18/swat-cop-says-american-ne_n_3776501.html">go read this article </a>that quotes several police officers from around the country.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href=" SWAT Cop Says American Neighborhoods Are 'Battlefields,' Claims Cops Face Same Dangers As Soldiers In Afghanistan "><b>SWAT Cop Says American Neighborhoods Are 'Battlefields,' Claims Cops Face Same Dangers As Soldiers In Afghanistan </b></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />By Radley Balko Posted: 08/21/2013 <br /><blockquote>One of the central themes of my book is that that too many cops today have been conditioned to see the people they serve not as citizens with rights, but as an enemy. My argument is that this battlefield mindset is the product of a generation of politicians telling police that they're at war with things -- drugs, terrorism, crime, etc. -- and have then equipped them with the uniforms, tactics, weapons, and other accoutrements of war.<br /><br />Over the last several days, the popular online police magazine PoliceOne site has been rolling out a series of opinion pieces in response to my book. As you might expect, most of them are critical, although a couple have been thoughtful.<br /><br />One essay by Sgt. Glenn French was particularly disturbing. French serves as commander of a SWAT team in Sterling Heights, Michigan. French doesn't criticize me for arguing that too many police officers have adopted this battlefield mindset. Rather, he embraces the combat mentality, and encourages other cops to do the same. Referring to an article I wrote here at HuffPost, French writes:<br /><br />“What would it take to dial back such excessive police measures?” the author wrote. “The obvious place to start would be ending the federal grants that encourage police forces to acquire gear that is more appropriate for the battlefield. Beyond that, it is crucial to change the culture of militarization in American law enforcement.”<br /><br /><i>  We trainers have spent the past decade trying to ingrain in our students the concept that the American police officer works a battlefield every day he patrols his sector.</i><br /><br />Note the choice of words. Not neighborhood, but "sector." Although I suppose such parsing isn't even necessary when French just comes right out and declares America a battlefield. Note too that French isn't even referring to SWAT teams, here. He's suggesting that all cops be taught to view the streets and neighborhoods they patrol in this way.</blockquote><br /><br />My emphasis.<br /><br />This is going to come to a head someday in the near future, mark my words.<br /><br />He is right that we  already have cities in this country that have neighborhoods that resemble war zones and this constant escalation of force by the police departments is going to be met with an equal force one of these days.<br />It's just a matter of time.<br /><br />You can bet your homesick ass the day that happens is the day you see the real military in our streets.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

According To Cops, America's Neighborhoods Are "Battlefields"

If you have any doubts about how the police forces in this country have been acting more and more like military fighting groups, it's ti...

Hate the Mom, But Love the Son

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBDUDpVC9k-qT58Zo_k1XOzNnm5TOYbTwPm76NsuNxuaLzPoXhp1j7PnUHI8cfnHTzml4uJZ_HFfAhCj6pswtCzmViPLrkkVaFvO_KsQ3M_rGu2HX8PGyNmGpgC-rvunUwBtkO5vKWDOn/s1600/Ryno+Frisch%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBDUDpVC9k-qT58Zo_k1XOzNnm5TOYbTwPm76NsuNxuaLzPoXhp1j7PnUHI8cfnHTzml4uJZ_HFfAhCj6pswtCzmViPLrkkVaFvO_KsQ3M_rGu2HX8PGyNmGpgC-rvunUwBtkO5vKWDOn/s400/Ryno+Frisch%2527s.jpg" width="400" /></a>Cheeeers Bitches!!<br /><br />Guess what’s happenin’ today…<br /><br />My son began college. <br /><br />No…no shit, I’m not kidding.<br /><br />I am taking the little cretin out to breakfast today, and guess what?<br /><br />When was all is said, done, and eaten, he will still want to attend lectures given by hippie bastards who hate capitalism, yet who wrote all of the books that he has to buy for their class.<br /><br />Anyhoo…and well, you know what?<br /><br />In spite of getting up at 6 AM with a hangover in order to take one college Freshman out to breakfast, I am enjoying back to back days off for the first time in eight months, so you know what that means?<br /><br />It means that today at 6 AM, I am awaking with a hangover, taking a shower, and then meeting my son at 7 AM for the breakfast bar at Frisch’s.<br /><br />My son is going to be pressed for time, going to be nervous, and going to be cloaked within the shadow of his mother who lives vicariously and academically through him, however…<br /><br />He came to see me Saturday, and he is excited.<br /><br />I like that.<br /><br />I want him to be excited.  I want him to be so damn excited that he takes on the world and makes it better.  I want that boy to be able to say…<br /><br /><i>“The World is my Bitch.”</i><br /><br />And hopefully, that is what his time in college will do.<br /><br />Hopefully it will enable him to crawl out from beneath that <strike>hypocritical, monastic and maternal wing of suffocation</strike> cloud of trepidation under which he has been suffering, and make a go of it.<br /><br />Eh, I don’t want to get maudlin and mommy blogger on any one.  I just want him to be who I know who he is and what he can be, and he won’t wait as long as I did to do so.<br /><br />I want Ryno to go down every avenue of interest, walk along every boulevard of believability, and ford each and every stream of life, and then…<br /><br />No matter if it is today or six years down the road, say to me, his mom, and more importantly, to himself…<br /><br />THIS is what I am supposed to be doing.<br /><br />Hell…If he can say that six years from now, he will live to be a happy man, and his dad can die a happy man.<br /><br />Listen to everyone, and listen to no one, buddy.  I love you.<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br />Matt-Man<br /><br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com"><span style="color: blue;">mattmaniws@ymail.com</span></a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mattmaniws" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">My Facebook Page</span></a><br /><br />Annnnnnnnnd if you missed yesterday's hilariously funny ending to season three of IWS RAdio you can catch it all, right here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="370" src="http://player.cinchcast.com/?show_id=5316453&platformId=1&assetType=single" width="400"></iframe></div><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;"><br /></div>Jay, Matt, Mike, "Gloria", Schmoop, Dana, and Jamie were all there, along with a cast of thousands...Listen to it, and be healed; listen to it not, and you will surely <br />die.</div>

Hate the Mom, But Love the Son

Cheeeers Bitches!! Guess what’s happenin’ today… My son began college. No…no shit, I’m not kidding. I am taking the little cretin out to bre...

Mail Delivery

2:48 PM Tukiyooo 0

I miss writing.  I've got so many things swirling in my head that I want to write about and started to a few times.  Then the moment is gone... oh well.  Then I have moments of time here and there to catch up on blogs but little time to comment.  I'm not trying to ignore you!  Another week or two and back to normal - well as normal as it gets 'round here!  But this too was funny not to share.  Even grumpykins hubby laughed in the end.  <br /><br />I was scolded yesterday.  <br /><br />Not like there's any rules other than watching my mouth and going to bed, and even then not like he's gonna do anything about it.<br /><br />But this was something that really got to him.<br /><br /><b>"You need to be careful where you order from."</b><br /><br />"Okay...."<br /><b><br /></b><b>"You should screen the reviews and make sure things are packaged appropriately."</b><br /><br />"Okay.... Is there a problem with something I ordered?"  Mind you I order things all the time, mostly Amazon.  Between stuff for me and family and the businesses... and everything's cheaper online.  No clue what he's talking about with this one though.  Yet.<br /><br /> <b>"You know the kids got it?"</b><br /><br />"SO????  What is the problem?"<br /><b><br /></b><b>"Don't you already have enough toys?"</b><br /><br />"What are you talking about!!??"  ----- Nobody ever has enough toys.  I don't care how old you are.  <br /><br /><b>"Well they didn't exactly pack it discreetly."</b><br /><br />Giggling on the inside, I rescued the plasticky envelope from the kids.  To his horror, I tore it open in front of the whole family.  Yup, right there in the kitchen on display for the kids.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5YDUvemoaf-mi3BHda6aRBNUGbBTR6lWwEnvV0PgF-mPVW0nJpAi_xC4pOp4rWQWLt40m5HkMr8fD_OGWnbfcQO9qrDn58PoHqzn1KzyLjBN_ZXas_r_M4McI_mwByJuZapYRRRp3ec/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5YDUvemoaf-mi3BHda6aRBNUGbBTR6lWwEnvV0PgF-mPVW0nJpAi_xC4pOp4rWQWLt40m5HkMr8fD_OGWnbfcQO9qrDn58PoHqzn1KzyLjBN_ZXas_r_M4McI_mwByJuZapYRRRp3ec/s200/photo.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Like my new car charger for my phone?  He's right, it really is a shame they weren't more discreet with the packaging.<br /><br />And for the record, the feel of this through the envelope didn't even remotely suggest that it was something naughty inside.  And if it was something naughty, seems the size would be a little disappointing...

Mail Delivery

I miss writing. I've got so many things swirling in my head that I want to write about and started to a few times. Then the moment is ...

Exploring Saline’s Secret Costs - NYTimes.com

2:38 PM Tukiyooo 0

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><nyt_text style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div id="articleBody"><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">It is one of the most common components of emergency medicine: an intravenous bag of sterile saltwater.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Luckily for anyone who has ever needed an IV bag to replenish lost fluids or to receive medication, it is also one of the least expensive. The average manufacturer's price, according to government data, has fluctuated in recent years from 44 cents to $1.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Yet there is nothing either cheap or simple about its ultimate cost, as I learned when I tried to trace the commercial path of IV bags from the factory to the veins of more than 100 patients struck by a May 2012 outbreak of <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/campylobacter-enteritis/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Campylobacter enteritis." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">food poisoning</a> in upstate New York.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Some of the patients' bills would later include markups of 100 to 200 times the manufacturer's price, not counting separate charges for "IV administration." And on other bills, a bundled charge for "IV therapy" was almost 1,000 times the official cost of the solution.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">It is no secret that medical care in the United States is overpriced. But as the tale of the humble IV bag shows all too clearly, it is secrecy that helps keep prices high: hidden in the underbrush of transactions among multiple buyers and sellers, and in the hieroglyphics of hospital bills.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">At every step from manufacturer to patient, there are confidential deals among the major players, including drug companies, purchasing organizations and distributors, and insurers. These deals so obscure prices and profits that even participants cannot say what the simplest component of care actually costs, let alone what it <em>should</em> cost.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">And that leaves taxpayers and patients alike with an inflated bottom line and little or no way to challenge it.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; "><strong>A PRICE IN FLUX</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">In the food-poisoning case, some of the stricken were affluent, and others barely made ends meet. Some had private insurance; some were covered by government programs like <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medicare/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="Recent and archival health news about Medicare." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Medicare</a> and<a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medicaid/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="Recent and archival health news about Medicaid." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Medicaid</a>; and some were uninsured.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">In the end, those factors strongly (and sometimes perversely) affected overall charges for treatment, including how much patients were expected to pay out of pocket. But at the beginning, there was the cost of an IV bag of normal saline, one of more than a billion units used in the United States each year.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">"People are shocked when they hear that a bag of saline solution costs far less than their cup of coffee in the morning," said Deborah Spak, a spokeswoman for <a href="http://www.baxter.com/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Baxter International</a>, one of three global pharmaceutical companies that make nearly all the IV solutions used in the United States.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">It was a rare unguarded comment. Ms. Spak — like a spokesman for Hospira, another giant in the field — later insisted that all information about saline solution prices was private.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">In fact, manufacturers are required to report such prices annually to the federal government, which bases Medicare payments on the average national price plus 6 percent. The limit for one liter of normal saline (a little more than a quart) went to $1.07 this year from 46 cents in 2010, an increase manufacturers linked to the cost of raw materials, fuel and transportation. That would seem to make it the rare medical item that is cheaper in the United States than in France, where the price at a typical hospital in Paris last year was 3.62 euros, or $4.73. One-liter IV bags normally contain nine grams of salt, less than two teaspoons. Much of it comes from a major Morton Salt operation in Rittman, Ohio, which uses a subterranean salt deposit formed millions of years ago. The water is local to places like Round Lake, Ill., or Rocky Mount, N.C., where Baxter and Hospira, respectively, run their biggest automated production plants under sterility standards set by the Food and Drug Administration.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">But even before the finished product is sold by the case or the truckload, the real cost of a bag of normal saline, like the true cost of medical supplies from gauze to heart implants, disappears into an opaque realm of byzantine contracts, confidential rebates and fees that would be considered illegal kickbacks in many other industries.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">IV bags can function like cheap milk and eggs in a high-priced grocery store, or like the one-cent cellphone locked into an expensive service contract. They serve as loss leaders in exclusive contracts with "preferred manufacturers" that bundle together expensive drugs and basics, or throw in "free" medical equipment with costly consequences.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Few hospitals negotiate these deals themselves. Instead, they rely on two formidable sets of middlemen: a few giant group-purchasing organizations that negotiate high-volume contracts, and a few giant distributors that buy and store medical supplies and deliver them to client hospitals.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Proponents of this system say it saves hospitals billions in economies of scale. Critics say the middlemen not only take their cut, but they have a strong interest in keeping most prices high and competition minimal.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The top three group-purchasing organizations now handle contracts for more than half of all institutional medical supplies sold in the United States, including the IVs used in the food-poisoning case, which were bought and taken by truck to regional warehouses by big distributors.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">These contracts proved to be another black box. Debbie Mitchell, a spokeswoman for Cardinal Health, one of the three largest distributors, said she could not discuss costs or prices under "disclosure rules relative to our investor relations."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Distributors match different confidential prices for the same product with each hospital's contract, she said, and sell information about the buyers back to manufacturers.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">A huge Cardinal distribution center is in Montgomery, N.Y. — only 30 miles, as it happens, from the landscaped grounds of the Buddhist monastery in Carmel, N.Y., where many of the food-poisoning victims fell ill on Mother's Day 2012.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Among them were families on 10 tour buses that had left Chinatown in Manhattan that morning to watch dragon dances at the monastery. After eating lunch from food stalls there, some traveled on to the designer outlet stores at Woodbury Commons, about 30 miles away, before falling sick.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The symptoms were vicious. "Within two hours of eating that rice that I had bought, I was lying on the ground barely conscious," said Dr. Elizabeth Frost, 73, an anesthesiologist from Purchase in Westchester County who was visiting the monastery gardens with two friends. "I can't believe no one died."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">About 100 people were taken to hospitals in the region by ambulance; 5 were admitted and the rest released the same day. The New York State Department of Health later found the cause was a common bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, from improperly cooked or stored food sold in the stalls.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; "><strong>MYSTERIOUS CHARGES</strong></p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The sick entered a health care ecosystem under strain, swept by consolidation and past efforts at cost containment.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">For more than a decade, hospitals in the Hudson Valley, like those across the country, have scrambled for mergers and alliances to offset economic pressures from all sides. The five hospitals where most of the victims were treated are all part of merged entities jockeying for bargaining power and market share — or worrying that other players will leave them struggling to survive.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The Affordable Care Act encourages these developments as it drives toward a reimbursement system that strives to keep people out of hospitals through more coordinated, cost-efficient care paid on the basis of results, not services. But the billing mysteries in the food poisoning case show how easily cost-cutting can turn into cost-shifting.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">A Chinese-American toddler from Brooklyn and her 56-year-old grandmother, treated and released within hours from the emergency room at <a href="http://www.stlukescornwallhospital.org/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital</a>, ran up charges of more than $4,000 and were billed for $1,400 — the hospital's rate for the uninsured, even though the family is covered by a health maintenance organization under Medicaid, the federal-state program for poor people.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The charges included "IV therapy," billed at $787 for the adult and $393 for the child, which suggests that the difference in the amount of saline infused, typically less than a liter, could alone account for several hundred dollars.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Tricia O'Malley, a spokeswoman for the hospital, would not disclose the price it pays per IV bag or break down the therapy charge, which she called the hospital's "private pay rate," or the sticker price charged to people without insurance. She said she could not explain why patients covered by Medicaid were billed at all.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Eventually the head of the family, an electrician's helper who speaks little English, complained to HealthFirst, the Medicaid H.M.O. It paid $119 to settle the grandmother's $2,168 bill, without specifying how much of the payment was for the IV. It paid $66.50 to the doctor, who had billed $606.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">At White Plains Hospital, a patient with private insurance from Aetna was charged $91 for one unit of Hospira IV that cost the hospital 86 cents, according to a hospital spokeswoman, Eliza O'Neill.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Ms. O'Neill defended the markup as "consistent with industry standards." She said it reflected "not only the cost of the solution but a variety of related services and processes," like procurement, biomedical handling and storage, apparently not included in a charge of $127 for administering the IV and $893 for emergency-room services.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The patient, a financial services professional in her 50s, ended up paying $100 for her visit. "Honestly, I don't understand the system at all," said the woman, who shared the information on the condition that she not be named.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Dr. Frost, the anesthesiologist, spent three days in the same hospital and owed only $8, thanks to insurance coverage by United HealthCare. Still, she was baffled by the charges: $6,844, including $546 for six liters of saline that cost the hospital $5.16.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">"It's just absolutely absurd." she said. "That's saltwater."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Last fall, I appealed to the New York State Department of Health for help in mapping the charges for rehydrating patients in the food poisoning episode. Deploying software normally used to detect Medicaid fraud, a team compiled a chart of what Medicaid and Medicare were billed in six of the cases.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">But the department has yet to release the chart. It is under indefinite review, Bill Schwarz, a department spokesman, said, "to ensure confidential information is not compromised."</p><nyt_correction_bottom><div class="articleCorrection" style="font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 2.8em; "></div></nyt_correction_bottom><nyt_update_bottom></nyt_update_bottom></div></nyt_text><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; 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); display: inline !important; float: none; "></span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><center style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "></center></div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/health/exploring-salines-secret-costs.html?hp&_r=0&pagewanted=print">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/health/exploring-salines-secret-costs.html?hp&_r=0&pagewanted=print</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Exploring Saline’s Secret Costs - NYTimes.com

It is one of the most common components of emergency medicine: an intravenous bag of sterile saltwater. Luckily for anyone who has ever need...

Alternative CredAbility Consumer Distress Index

2:01 PM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/CCDIOAQ156N">St. Louis Fed: CredAbility Consumer Distress Index</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>The Index score is tied to one of 5 general rating categories, which reflect the strength and stability of the consumer’s position.<br /><br />Less than 60 Emergency / Crisis<br />60 – 69 Distressed / Unstable<br />70 – 79 Weakening / At-Risk<br />80 – 89 Good / Stable<br />90 and Above Excellent / Secure<br /><br />What Does the Index Measure?<br /><br />We measure the 5 categories of personal finance that reflect or lead to a secure, stable financial life—Employment, Housing, Credit, Household Budget and Net Worth. All are equally important, so have given each category equal weighting.</i></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprMcSt_TDxqCV5VykJrccrfyJKTh1pKhLqKAtOFf_EK1Ezo32S_e75HX711jggRo0-bAMkkgal47EJAdR3ohY15XjFfvmIU73KyPUJj0Jodln19hkmH5aaBntftVdR7YACYo2k8XKsjc/s1600/CredAbility+Consumer+Distress+Index.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprMcSt_TDxqCV5VykJrccrfyJKTh1pKhLqKAtOFf_EK1Ezo32S_e75HX711jggRo0-bAMkkgal47EJAdR3ohY15XjFfvmIU73KyPUJj0Jodln19hkmH5aaBntftVdR7YACYo2k8XKsjc/s320/CredAbility+Consumer+Distress+Index.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />That index is showing a relatively strong recovery from "distressed/unstable" to "weakening/at-risk". Yay.<br /><br />As seen in the following chart, I have chosen to use the median instead of the average. Why? <a href="http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/one+bad+apple.html">A few good apples can't purify the barrel!</a> Put another way, I think the median can generally do a better job of describing the core trend (and where we are within it).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg_pF5itKLtfOaRJ1HJJJDH8XT2Rz9pmVTi8R81Z3IvBoocZs033Wye6F9DWMXHhRcaqkXqSSBYb__YJ2LLY5HiAQqftTS9gZLkULU2JlWe2QrU6SEl69-eB2ZpAMdmpGK-nEw5HM3tc/s1600/Alternative+CredAbility+Consumer+Distress+Index.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg_pF5itKLtfOaRJ1HJJJDH8XT2Rz9pmVTi8R81Z3IvBoocZs033Wye6F9DWMXHhRcaqkXqSSBYb__YJ2LLY5HiAQqftTS9gZLkULU2JlWe2QrU6SEl69-eB2ZpAMdmpGK-nEw5HM3tc/s320/Alternative+CredAbility+Consumer+Distress+Index.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />As of the first quarter of 2013, the median index value was 65.5 (solidly "distressed/unstable"). The index most responsible for the recent decline in this chart was the <a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/CCDIHBQ156N">household budget distress index</a>. It's doing some serious damage to this alternative consumer distress index (just like it was heading into the last two recessions).<br /><br />The long-term trend (seen in the red trend line) is definitely not our friend. In my opinion, we're in rearranging deck chairs mode. We can temporarily boost some of the indices apparently (but only at the expense of the others). And why might that be?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHA0i7ezcyFtKKcN8-yGcDr5gf_qBlaSlApAE6ZJdZdvmAE4qdkjODB66wSAn3hU_hDbY8Wtb0W7xk9fIc721JqRUEzFvl67uAf_3PgT71o2LsI5_ekiRtspRuxK7D0vdrW930pmGY6RM/s1600/Income+Gini+Ratio+of+Families.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHA0i7ezcyFtKKcN8-yGcDr5gf_qBlaSlApAE6ZJdZdvmAE4qdkjODB66wSAn3hU_hDbY8Wtb0W7xk9fIc721JqRUEzFvl67uAf_3PgT71o2LsI5_ekiRtspRuxK7D0vdrW930pmGY6RM/s320/Income+Gini+Ratio+of+Families.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />The looting will continue until morale improves.<br /><br /><b>July 30, 2013</b><br /><a href="http://pandodaily.com/2013/07/30/america-can-kiss-its-ass-and-consumer-economy-goodbye-the-view-from-dystopia/">PandoDaily: America can kiss its ass and consumer economy goodbye: The view from dystopia</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>Entrepreneurs and digital marketers spend their days dreaming about the next hot thing that will drive the American consuming class into lucrative paroxysms of purchasing. The looming problem with this dream is that the consuming class appears to be on the endangered list.<br /><br />A new non-partisan government study confirms that income inequality in America has been rising for four decades and projects it will continue getting worse for at least 22 more years. If this keeps up much longer, eventually the super rich will have all the money and the rest of us will be locked into poverty. Forever.</i></div><br />Nail... on... the... head.<br /><br />Just opinions! Once again, this is not investment advice.<br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=lMM">St. Louis Fed: CredAbility Consumer Distress Indices</a><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/GINIALLRF">St. Louis Fed: Gini Ratio of Families</a>

Alternative CredAbility Consumer Distress Index

St. Louis Fed: CredAbility Consumer Distress Index The Index score is tied to one of 5 general rating categories, which reflect the strength...

Could Be Spotty Posting

12:58 PM Tukiyooo 0

Could Be Spotty Posting

My Dad has been in the hospital for over a week, I don't want to go into the details but now he is having repeated heart "episodes&...

Sunday afternoon in Augusta County

11:33 AM Tukiyooo 0

Appalachian Mountains Augusta County summer in Shenandoah Valley tourism Virginia Is For Lovers Sunday afternoon in Augusta County

Looking west toward the Appalachian Mountains on a sunny, low-humidity late summer day with temps in the upper 70s. Photo by Lynn R. Mitchel...

So You Want to Learn About: The Basics

10:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<i>The "So You Want to Learn About" series highlights books focused   on a particular theme: think "socially responsible architecture" and   "phenomenology," rather than  broad themes like "housing" or "theory."   Therefore the series aims to be a  resource for finding decent reading   materials on certain topics, born of a  desire to further define   noticeable areas of interest in the <a href="http://www.archidose.org/books/books.html">books I review</a>. And while I haven't reviewed every title, I am familiar with each one; these are not blind recommendations.</i><br /><br /><i>It's late August, meaning that students are heading to architecture schools, either returning or going for the first time. The books collected below are geared to the latter, though it's a long enough list that all architecture students in their early years should find something of value. With sufficient interest, architecture can take hold of a person for a lifetime. Therefore it's beneficial to start off on the right foot with some quality books establishing architecture's basics.</i><br /><br /><b>Classics:</b><br /><img alt="about03-1.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/about03-1.jpg" title="So You Want to Learn About covers" /><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471752169.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Architecture: Form, Space, and Order</span></a></b> <br /><b>By Francis D.K. Ching</b><br /><b>Wiley, 3rd edition 2007 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471752169/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0471752169&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><b><i></i> </b><br />The form and layout (from landscape to portrait, and from handwritten to a Ching-like font) may have changed since the first edition since 1979, but the focus on "the basic elements, systems, and orders that constitute a physical work of architecture" remains. Like Ching's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470087811/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470087811&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20"><i>Building Construction Illustrated</i></a>, this one is indispensable for beginning students in architecture.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/experiencing-architecture"><span style="font-style: italic;">Experiencing Architecture</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Steen Eiler Rasmussen</b><br /><b>MIT Press, 2nd edition 1964 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262680025/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0262680025&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />Ideally a good architecture book for students is intelligent <i>and</i> accessible. In the preface Danish architect Steen Eiler Rasmussen states, "I have endeavored to write the present volume in such a way that even an interested teenager might understand it." With depth of history and clear prose, he ultimately promotes deriving pleasure form architecture, something all architects should try to achieve.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://global.oup.com/academic/product/a-pattern-language-9780195019193"><span style="font-style: italic;">A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Christopher Alexander, et. al.</b><br /><b>Oxford University Press, 1977 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195019199/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0195019199&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />When I was in undergrad architecture school in the early 1990s—the heyday of Deconstructivist architecture—Christopher Alexander's bible-like Pattern Language was out of fashion. Many architects still find the book overly prescriptive, but the methodical insight into people's use and appreciation of architecture at all scales is still influential, giving students an understanding of the impacts of design and space on people's emotions and actions.<br /><br /><b>Precedents:</b><br /><img alt="about03-2.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/about03-2.jpg" title="So You Want to Learn About covers" /><br /><br /><b><a href="http://books.wwnorton.com/books/978-0-393-73311-2/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Key Buildings of the 20th Century: Plans, Sections and Elevations</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Richard Weston</b><br /><b>W. W. Norton, 2010 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393733114/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0393733114&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />Considering that architects reappropriate rather than invent, it's important to learn as much as possible from historical and modern precedents. Norton's <a href="http://books.wwnorton.com/books/book-template.aspx?ser=Key%20Architecture%20Series&lastpage=4&currentpage=1">Key Architecture Series</a> presents modern and contemporary buildings as photos but more importantly as the two-dimensional drawings architects still depend on for learning and for expressing their designs: plans, sections, and elevations. Each book also comes with a CD-ROM for looking at the drawings in PDF and CAD. <br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470946741.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Precedents in Architecture: Analytic Diagrams, Formative Ideas, and Partis</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Roger H. Clark</b><br /><b>Wiley, 4th edition 2012 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470946741/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470946741&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-review-precedents-in-architecture.html">Review</a>)</b><br />Early architecture studios teach analysis, not just rote redrawing of precedents. This book is like an analytical cheat sheet as it compares historical and modern buildings via circulation, hierarchy, symmetry, geometry, and so forth. It would be great if the diagrams were larger, but the breadth of buildings in one place makes up for that deficiency.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-style: italic;">Buildings Without Architects: A Global Guide to Everyday Architecture</span> </b><br /><b>By John May</b><br /><b>Rizzoli, 2010 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DI8GC8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005DI8GC8&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://www.archidose.org/books/may.html">Review</a>)</b><br />Ideally architects are influenced by buildings that fall outside of the traditional confines of architectural culture—prehistorical buildings, vernacular architecture, aboriginal dwellings, what can be called buildings without architects. (Bernard Rudofsky's earlier, visually rich <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0826310044?ie=UTF8&tag=aweeklydoseof-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0826310044"><i>Architecture Without Architects</i></a> is of course also valuable in this vein.) May's guide is set up like a dictionary or encyclopedia, with clear drawings highlighting the myriad of examples around the world we can learn from.<br /><br /><b>History/Theory:</b><br /><img alt="about03-3.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/about03-3.jpg" title="So You Want to Learn About covers" /><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.phaidon.com/store/architecture/understanding-architecture-9780714848099/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Understanding Architecture</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Juhani Pallasmaa and Robert McCarter</b><br /><b>Phaidon, 2012 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0714848093/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0714848093&link_code=as3&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/02/11/understanding-architecture/">Review</a>)</b><br />Even though many schools of architecture have reduced history classes, learning about what became before us is crucial, as is learning about architectural history beyond authorship, dates, and other rote memorization. Pallasmaa and McCarter focus on a thematic approach to architecture rather than a chronological one, prioritizing experience over everything else; this is accentuated by the way the photos are keyed to plans, so readers can get a sense of how one moves through the buildings.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.laurenceking.com/us/thinking-about-architecture-an-introduction-to-architectural-theory/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Thinking about Architecture: An Introduction to Architectural Theory</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Colin Davies</b><br /><b>Laurence King, 2011 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/185669755X?ie=UTF8&tag=aweeklydoseof-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=185669755X">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2011/09/06/the-embodied-image-and-thinking-about-architecture/">Review</a>)</b><br />Architectural theory (or what has come be known by that phrase) can be incredibly dense, often to the discouragement of students and professionals interested in architectural ideas. By focusing on the ideas rather than the people expressing them, Davies made a highly accessible introduction to different ways of thinking about architecture's relationship to people and the earth we occupy.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/what-architecture-essay-landscapes-buildings-and-machines"><span style="font-style: italic;">What Is Architecture? An Essay on Landscapes, Buildings, and Machines</span></a></b><br /><b>By Paul Shepheard</b><br /><b>Museum of Modern Art, 1994 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262691663/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0262691663&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />What follows from the apparently simple question of "What is architecture?" is typically more questions. It is the type of philosophical question that prompts discussion more than a definitive answer. Shepheard wrote the book when the prevailing answer to the question was, "everything," but he opts for an alternative through a fresh and intriguing narrative.<br /><br /><b>The Elements of Architecture:</b><br /><img alt="about03-4.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/about03-4.jpg" title="So You Want to Learn About covers" /><br /><br /><b><a href="http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/chambers-memory-palace"><span style="font-style: italic;">Chambers for a Memory Palace</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Donlyn Lyndon and Charles W. Moore</b><br /><b>MIT Press, 1996 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262621053/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0262621053&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />One way of understanding architecture is through elements—physical constructions that exhibit similar formal and spatial tendencies. This book explores architecture through the correspondences of Lyndon and Moore, as they discuss how architectural elements make places memorable, and how we use our imagination to structure our own environments for remembering.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://us.macmillan.com/howarchitectureworks/WitoldRybczynski"><span style="font-style: italic;">How Architecture Works: A Humanist's Toolkit</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Witold Rybczynski</b><br /><b>Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374211744/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0374211744&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />In this forthcoming book, Rybczynski (pronounced Rib-chin-skee) presents a layperson's guide to architecture, moving from the general (ideas and the setting) to the specific (details and taste). The author embraces all types of architecture, though his favored positions can be hinted throughout and are made clear in the last two chapters. Regardless, he gives readers a toolkit for understanding and appreciating the buildings around us.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-style: italic;">Opening Spaces: Design as Landscape Architecture</span> </b><br /><b>By Hans Loidl and Stefan Bernard</b><br /><b>Birkhauser, 2003 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3764370130/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=3764370130&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://www.archidose.org/books/opening.html">Review</a>)</b><br />Defining space through elements is hardly the sole purview of buildings, and this graphically rich guide to landscape architecture is particularly helpful in explaining how space is abstractly defined both inside and out. It's a hard to find, out-of-print book worth searching for, but one that the publisher should really consider publishing again, 10 years after its release.<br /><br /><b>Series:</b><br /><img alt="about03-5.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/about03-5.jpg" title="So You Want to Learn About covers" /><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.laurenceking.com/us/architectural-drawing/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Architectural Drawing</span></a> </b><br /><b>By David Dernie</b><br /><b>Laurence King, 2010 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1856696790/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1856696790&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />Many publishers gear books specifically to students, presenting them in series that tap into various practical areas. Laurence King's Portfolio Skills series touches on modelmaking, CAD, landscape architecture, and drawing. The titles benefit from clarity, helpful step-by-step illustrations, and a variety of examples illustrating how to do this or that. <br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781568988702"><span style="font-style: italic;">Model Making</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Megan Werner</b><br /><b>Princeton Architectural Press, 2011 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568988702/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1568988702&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2011/08/book-review-three-books-on-models.html">Review</a>)</b><br />PAPress's <a href="http://www.papress.com/html/book.list.page.tpl?action=seriessearch&__searchfield=Architecture%20Briefs">Architecture Briefs series</a> runs the gamut from philosopy and writing to sustainable design and material strategies. Megan Werner's title on making models is particularly good example, highlighting how different materials can be shaped to achieve different ends. Computer renderings be damned! Architectural models are still an integral part of architectural education and expression.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-style: italic;">The Fundamentals of Architecture</span> </b><br /><b>By Lorraine Farrelly</b><br /><b>AVA Publishing, 2007 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2940373485/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=2940373485&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-review-two-ava-academia-titles-by.html">Review</a>)</b><br />AVA's Fundamentals series focuses on the process of architecture, how a project moves from concept to design development and beyond to completion. The books look at architecture but also landscape architecture and <a href="http://www.archidose.org/books/basics.html">urban design</a>. Since spring 2013 AVA's books are published under Fairchild Books, an imprint of Bloomsbury Press.

So You Want to Learn About: The Basics

The "So You Want to Learn About" series highlights books focused on a particular theme: think "socially responsible archite...

Smartphone along Slide-Out Keyboard: Motorola Droid 5

9:10 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Motorola has introduced a <a href="http://www.pc-gadgetworld.com/2013/07/googles-nexus-7-tablet-powered-by-asus.html" target="_blank">number</a> of smart devices including three new Droid smartphone but it’s not over yet, another droid is ready to launch. Some images have leaked by Chinese social network Weibo and it will be known as Droid 5.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bz6HpudjVo4/Uhop2fGOdGI/AAAAAAAAAOE/FdmWSFzR_Sc/s1600/6666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bz6HpudjVo4/Uhop2fGOdGI/AAAAAAAAAOE/FdmWSFzR_Sc/s1600/6666.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">geeky gadgets</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most unusual and new feature of this smartphone is slide-out QWERTY keyboard.  According to rumors the size of screen will 4.3 to 4.5 inches and the body of device will be dust and water resistant. If your eyes are strong enough, you can see Verizon logo located on the display and it will be Verizon exclusive like to all the former Droids.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wek3T5g1IwQ/UhorEbMXfEI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/f2h12-lmEOA/s1600/droid56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wek3T5g1IwQ/UhorEbMXfEI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/f2h12-lmEOA/s1600/droid56.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">geeky gadgets</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to leaked images, it shows camera UI of the device but not sure about the technology that is used for camera. Possibly used technology will similar to other Droids like Droid Maxx, Droid Mini, and Droid Ultra.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The launching date is not confirm yet, but some features  like NFC, wireless charging are came out, no other specification are available right now.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a courageous movement from Motorola, where other major companies are moving towards bigger screen and fewer buttons or you can say no button, Droid 5 will came with a QWERTY keyboard. Will Droid 5 make a revolution in market of smartphone or it will straggle for its position. It is interesting to see the future of Droid 5.   </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

motorola NFC QWERTY keyboard wireless charging Smartphone along Slide-Out Keyboard: Motorola Droid 5

Motorola has introduced a number of smart devices including three new Droid smartphone but it’s not over yet, another droid is ready to lau...