What is a credible webpage? Let Easybib help you decide!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G8xrySFQo5LSJ-D07Aq8ouLlmVB21XQXAgG3c_IVWzb2l4A9NG2TDjZUyydI4cZGg9e6PmG_kTjcss0sC2n3RD7K_wv3fLHC5sZ3W_OiTL4virET_AbzNUFCM5yjWe7cO3ZEl3SkvDk/s1600/Easybib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G8xrySFQo5LSJ-D07Aq8ouLlmVB21XQXAgG3c_IVWzb2l4A9NG2TDjZUyydI4cZGg9e6PmG_kTjcss0sC2n3RD7K_wv3fLHC5sZ3W_OiTL4virET_AbzNUFCM5yjWe7cO3ZEl3SkvDk/s1600/Easybib.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Easybib is a free Chrome extension that has two useful functions:</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first is to tell you whether a website is credible or not. If the source has not yet been evaluated Easybib will let you know.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its second function is to enable to to provide a quick citation of your sources in a bibliography. The bookmarklet will create a properly formulated citation for you.</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really like the <a href="http://content.easybib.com/students/research-guide/website-credibility-evaluation/">Easybib website</a> that gives a clear description of how to evaluate a website. It has been embedded belo</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">w. The website gives a lot more useful information for students and teachers. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Visit the Easybib website</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span>Click on the bottom right hand corner of this image to be taken to the original enlarged PowerPoint web app for easier viewing</span><br /><br /><br /></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="560px" src="https://skydrive.live.com/embed?cid=105696C4BC0FB6D1&resid=105696C4BC0FB6D1%21191&authkey=ANv5jvFTIyM7LFw&em=2&wdAr=0.75&Embed=1" width="406px">This is an embedded <a target='_blank' href='http://office.com'>Microsoft Office</a> presentation, powered by <a target='_blank' href='http://office.com/webapps'>Office Web Apps</a>.</iframe><br /><a href="http://content.easybib.com/students/research-guide/website-credibility-evaluation/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://content.easybib.com/students/research-guide/website-credibility-evaluation/</a><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Find out more about Easybib in this YouTube tutorial</span></b><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pOL43ggmivs" width="420"></iframe></div>

Chrome extensions Easybib Web tools What is a credible webpage? Let Easybib help you decide!

Easybib is a free Chrome extension that has two useful functions: The first is to tell you whether a website is credible or not. If the sour...

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Tru Whip Review

<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uGwGPzNB_pk/UjNjRbJAC0I/AAAAAAAAJr4/SekKJPmy-78/s1600/13+-+2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uGwGPzNB_pk/UjNjRbJAC0I/AAAAAAAAJr4/SekKJPmy-78/s320/13+-+2" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Ever think something is missing when you have some ice cream or smoothie, especially to add a little more sweetness to it!</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What's better on top of ice cream than a dollop of  <a href="http://truwhip.com/">Tru Whip</a> !?</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What is it!?</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>An all natural whipped topping for:</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Smoothies</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Fruits</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Cakes</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Pies</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I was sent some coupons for review and couldn't wait to try it!</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Banana cheesecake smoothie:</i></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0sauP4V_m4/UjodpuaqqAI/AAAAAAAAJvI/oVUTAGVdzho/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0sauP4V_m4/UjodpuaqqAI/AAAAAAAAJvI/oVUTAGVdzho/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Wow I made a new recipe I came across on Pinterest and it tasted just like cheesecake!</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Any who I topped it off with a dollop of tru whip and a graham cracker! </i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It was heaven !</i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Peanut butter banana Smoothie:</i></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDj1C7yYyHU/UjNjRfsNVMI/AAAAAAAAJrw/ihPN9HsWBDE/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDj1C7yYyHU/UjNjRfsNVMI/AAAAAAAAJrw/ihPN9HsWBDE/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I put some on top of a smoothie and wow was it delicious!</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It was sweet and it didn't taste oily like other whipped toppings do which is great!</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Links:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://truwhip.com/"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>http://truwhip.com/</i></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Twitter:</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><a href="https://twitter.com/truwhip"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>https://twitter.com/truwhip</i></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Facebook:</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/truwhip?ref=ts&fref=ts"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>https://www.facebook.com/truwhip?ref=ts&fref=ts</i></span></a><br /><br /></div>

Tru Whip Review

Ever think something is missing when you have some ice cream or smoothie, especially to add a little more sweetness to it! What's better...

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Idol Albums Sales Hold Steady, Less Than A Month Until the Next Winner Release!

<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW76NgzmtDjSvrUlEeR0hWx01xVBrky06WWFn-8x_wTo8bO_El3tKki3FVfq1vjpGgI6kIEXiLYm-dj382C4zAIBBRwGnZwwbp9jVci6JuNoPZCgZmPUoe1qdXzTxR25-hp0jejShrkZhu/s1600/bb200-20130913.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW76NgzmtDjSvrUlEeR0hWx01xVBrky06WWFn-8x_wTo8bO_El3tKki3FVfq1vjpGgI6kIEXiLYm-dj382C4zAIBBRwGnZwwbp9jVci6JuNoPZCgZmPUoe1qdXzTxR25-hp0jejShrkZhu/s400/bb200-20130913.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">green = Mandisa, maroon = Phillip, dk green = Kelly, lt blue = Carrie, <br />orange = Fantasia, lt green = Jessica, med blue = Colton</td></tr></tbody></table>This week there are again five American Idol albums in the <a href="http://www.mjsbigblog.com/billboard-chart-date-092113.htm">BillBoard 200 chart</a>, with Mandisa again leading the way, this time at #45 from #29 last week. Albums on the Christian charts tend to last a pretty long time, with Colton Dixon's "A Messenger" still among the Top 40 Christian albums on that chart (increasing to number #33 from #39 last week.) If you notice his darker blue line in the chart, his album first came out about 30 months ago and is still selling fine in the Christian market, with his single "Never Gone" sitting at #1 on the Christian Hot AC chart.<br /><br />The other Idols on the chart all saw only slight movements on the chart. Phillip Phillip's "The World From the Side of the Moon" has been very steady for the past six weeks, just shifting around in the 50's (#57 this week after #55 last week.) Kelly Clarkson's "Greatest Hits: Chapter One" drops only a little from #75 to #84 this week, and Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" finally drops out of the Top 100, landing at #101 after 71 weeks (that is a long time!). Fantasia's "Side Effects of You" actually improved for a second week in a row to #115, so her sales are holding pretty well too.<br /><br />Now that it is September 13, that means that Candice Glover's "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Speaks-Candice-Glover/dp/B00CTX6EUG">Music Speaks</a>" will be released in just three weeks from next Tuesday on October 8. Unfortunately there appears to be nothing going on to promote the album yet, which is scary indeed. Scotty McCreery's "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/See-You-Tonight-Scotty-Mccreery/dp/B00EV1AT96">See You Tonight</a>" album is officially on sale a week later, and he just released a new <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFlv4O7VE-A">music video</a> for the lead title single (which has been solidly stuck at around #40 on the country singles chart seemingly forever.) Scotty's fans might complain about having his single stuck at #40 for so long (thank the messed up state of country radio these days), but, frankly, that would be quite a nice "problem" for Candice to have, if she actually had a single playing on the radio at all! Candice does not even seem to have her own official website. Is her album going to be released on October 8th or not? Scotty's fans were able to figure out from the order numbers for his <a href="http://www.scottymccreerystore.com/index.php">pre-sales</a>, that he already should have <a href="http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=705521&st=580">sold around 10,000 just in first 48 hour pre-sale orders</a> pretty easily. What fraction of that will Candice sell on her release? Somebody help her out please!!<br /><br />Since Candice does not have a website or single or anything else to help promote her album, I may as well link to Scotty's new music video. At least there will be one recent Idol winner who will sell a lot of albums this fall!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dFlv4O7VE-A" width="420"></iframe>

Idol Albums Sales Hold Steady, Less Than A Month Until the Next Winner Release!

green = Mandisa, maroon = Phillip, dk green = Kelly, lt blue = Carrie, orange = Fantasia, lt green = Jessica, med blue = Colton This week th...

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Restaurant Sales vs. Wages

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1BYG3wHb-aEp9EJ7jXRlKB5geh9k-xgnnv1xyq3HiEb4xcJvE6ThLDifM_1kkf7LTigu1zttLFjOQ847K9hi8P-WqHAtc_T-bdbmpChTsgaTPgZ3aZBLe7nT0_HBcjkxZvXoU_LUJL8/s1600/Restaurant+Sales+vs.+Wages.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1BYG3wHb-aEp9EJ7jXRlKB5geh9k-xgnnv1xyq3HiEb4xcJvE6ThLDifM_1kkf7LTigu1zttLFjOQ847K9hi8P-WqHAtc_T-bdbmpChTsgaTPgZ3aZBLe7nT0_HBcjkxZvXoU_LUJL8/s320/Restaurant+Sales+vs.+Wages.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nZZ504TGDpE" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=mnh">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

Restaurant Sales vs. Wages

Click to enlarge. Source Data: St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart

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Something’s fishy with the TPP

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TPP is an abbreviation for the much-maligned Trans-Pacific Partnership. But it also works as shorthand for Terrible Policy for Pescatarians and is equally apt.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5GNPh4L9dyFEjafZgdiLgok9fpP5_M0vgNOuTOWAXZejHvGXGnGsP1spLECr7NtKsbzE1Y7RlXgK3QNdhzmGV_vRO4iWp0vuqjkx_b7TV33eLlje3d5hnhidRw71jJ4kMMouyRMMkqih/s1600/tpp.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5GNPh4L9dyFEjafZgdiLgok9fpP5_M0vgNOuTOWAXZejHvGXGnGsP1spLECr7NtKsbzE1Y7RlXgK3QNdhzmGV_vRO4iWp0vuqjkx_b7TV33eLlje3d5hnhidRw71jJ4kMMouyRMMkqih/s320/tpp.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://foodandwaterwatch.org/blogs/trading-away-our-safe-seafood/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Capitol Hill panel looking at seafood and the TPP</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> raised serious concerns about what a flood of fish coming in from the 11 other nations involved in negotiations of the trade pact would mean both for consumers and industry workers. Lawmakers and experts said the livelihoods of fishermen and the health of the American public could be at stake.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mitch Jones, Food and Water Watch’s director of the common resources program who moderated the program, said as it stands the U.S. can’t keep up with imported fish:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2010 the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] had 92 full time equivalent border inspectors, which means that in that year each border inspector was responsible for inspecting 56.5 million pounds of seafood. No wonder less than 2 percent of our seafood is actually inspected before being allowed into the country and sold in our stores.</span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In an effort to stop the soaring importation of unsafe fish, lawmakers and experts agreed it is </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/help-derail-fast-tracking-of-TPP.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">key to stop fast track</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, which would allow a quick up-or-down vote on the TPP with little demand and no chance to amend the deal. Having Congress fully consider the agreement would not only help consumers’ health, it would protect hard-working Americans in many different industries.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reps. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.) and Walter Jones (N.C.), who hosted the briefing, were joined by Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.) on a </span><a href="http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/11/members-of-congress-ask-obama-administration-to-ensure-seafood-safety-in-trade-negotiation/#.UjMrA2zD_cs" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">letter sent to the Obama administration last year asking that public health be a key focus</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> of negotiators during TPP discussions. Unfortunately, due to the secretive nature of the pact’s negotiations, the public doesn’t know where things stand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As talks between trade negotiators begin to wind down, the Obama administration and Congress need to carefully weigh any deal. While Americans are for open markets, that doesn’t mean they want to trade good U.S. jobs and safe products made here for lost jobs, lower wages and foods that make their families sick. They demand fair trade.</span></div>

fair trade fast track food safety TPP Something’s fishy with the TPP

TPP is an abbreviation for the much-maligned Trans-Pacific Partnership. But it also works as shorthand for Terrible Policy for Pescatarian...

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Today's archidose #705

Here are some photos of a <a href="http://www.idisturato.com/project/komunalna-i-skolska-dvorana-krk/">Sports Hall</a> in Krk, Croatia, by <a href="http://www.idisturato.com/">Idis Turato</a>, photographed by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/m-tjon/">Maurice Tjon</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/m-tjon/9630245416/" title="Sports hall Osnovne Škole Krk [1] by m-tjon, on Flickr"><img alt="Sports hall Osnovne Škole Krk [1]" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/9630245416_f9e8f89fa4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/m-tjon/9630244856/" title="Sports hall Osnovne Škole Krk [4] by m-tjon, on Flickr"><img alt="Sports hall Osnovne Škole Krk [4]" height="800" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3732/9630244856_f741dd4e75_c.jpg" width="532" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/m-tjon/9627012379/" title="Sports hall Osnovne Škole Krk [5] by m-tjon, on Flickr"><img alt="Sports hall Osnovne Škole Krk [5]" height="800" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5465/9627012379_9a2a5890f6_c.jpg" width="532" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/m-tjon/9630244990/" title="Sports hall Osnovne Škole Krk [3] by m-tjon, on Flickr"><img alt="Sports hall Osnovne Škole Krk [3]" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7283/9630244990_5f859bc94f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just:<br /><blockquote>:: Join and add photos to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/archi-dose/">archidose pool</a>, and/or<br />:: Tag your photos <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/archidose/">archidose</a></span></blockquote>

Today's archidose #705

Here are some photos of a Sports Hall in Krk, Croatia, by Idis Turato , photographed by Maurice Tjon . To contribute your Flickr images for...

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The Family: Dysfunction reigns

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><i>The Family</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span><b>(2013) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thefamily/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b> </b><br /><b>Three stars. Rating: R, for violence, considerable profanity and brief drug use</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>By <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12885694730612878577" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">Derrick Bang</a></b></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comedy is hard. Dark comedy is much harder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15vuc5pohZizfzTLLL2z7YC4B59eKuaEzOcIKnsZe9o4eYcKhSiez4FTJ92F_rSCXkMWVwcpCdQELtXVardJdF0P5Mo-F-XSggrxYUOk3S2Ffeac_F858h2OJ-KAehwt1b5ER1EhfWU4/s1600/The+Family+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15vuc5pohZizfzTLLL2z7YC4B59eKuaEzOcIKnsZe9o4eYcKhSiez4FTJ92F_rSCXkMWVwcpCdQELtXVardJdF0P5Mo-F-XSggrxYUOk3S2Ffeac_F858h2OJ-KAehwt1b5ER1EhfWU4/s400/The+Family+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Giovanni (Robert De Niro) and Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer, back to ccamera) naturally wish<br />to know how their children fared, during their first day at a new French school. Warren<br />(John D'Leo) and Belle (Dianna Agron) downplay their activities, unwilling to admit that<br />their larcenous instincts — a family quality — will allow them to <i>own</i> the school by the<br />end of the week.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In theory, this film is the droll saga of a Mafia family trying to maintain the low profile demanded of the Witness Protection Program, while too easily sliding into former bad (i.e. violent) habits, much to the ongoing consternation of their FBI handler. That’s a premise with considerable comedic potential, particularly when the handler is played by Tommy Lee Jones at his morose, long-suffering best.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And things would have been fine, had our protagonists confined their lethal behavior to the various goombahs trying to find and whack them, and if said goombahs had limited <i>their</i> nasty tendencies toward each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But far too many innocent bystanders get killed along the way, sometimes quite unpleasantly. It’s rather hard to chuckle when another inquisitive neighbor gets shot between the eyes. That simply isn’t funny, and it, ah, kills the mood. Repeatedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The trouble is, veteran French action director Luc Besson doesn’t seem to know what kind of movie to make this time; his script — co-written with Michael Caleo, from Tonino Benacquista’s comedic novel <i>Malavita</i> — keeps sliding back and forth between the grim “straight” drama of <i>La Femme Nikita</i> or <i>The Professional</i>, and the far lighter, satiric tone of <i>The Fifth Element</i>. These styles are mutually incompatible, and the result is rather a mess.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caleo, I note, co-wrote one episode of TV’s <i>The Sopranos</i> with that show’s creator, David Chase. That may have been the serio-comic mood Besson hoped to achieve, since Chase masterfully blended sarcastic humor with heinous violence in his groundbreaking show. And, at times, Besson and Caleo almost get there ... but then they spoil it with another dollop of brutal behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giovanni Manzoni (Robert De Niro) and his family have spent years on the run, at various locations in the States and now France, due to the persistence of mob bosses infuriated by his having ratted them out. Giovanni’s wife, Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer), has grown accustomed to packing and unpacking; teenagers Belle (Dianna Agron) and Warren (John D’Leo) have resigned themselves to the constant uprooting faced by military kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, newly ensconced in a sleepy French village in the Normandy countryside, saddled with the fresh identity of “Fred Blake,” Giovanni attempts, once again, to blend. On impulse, he greets neighbors by claiming to be a writer of history; trouble is, the locals know far more about his fabricated topic — the D-Day invasion — than he does.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FBI handler Robert Stansfield (Jones) isn’t amused; that’s precisely the sort of sloppy thinking that could get “Fred” exposed as ... well, as somebody other than who he claims to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maggie attempts to maneuver through a nearby market with her limited French, earning nothing but snooty contempt from a shopkeeper who sneers at her desire for peanut butter, and then disses all “arrogant Americans” to the general agreement of a few locals. With a grim smile that Pfeiffer delivers with elegant grace, Maggie arranges for a small propane canister to come into contact with lighter fluid and a match, and casually exits the establishment before its contents erupt through the plate glass windows.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, <i>that’s</i> funny, particularly since Besson clearly plays on the long-established American belief that the French are arrogant snots. No flying limbs, just mangled groceries. We can imagine the store’s inhabitants somehow escaped with minor injury.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elsewhere, Belle and Warren warily navigate their first day at this new school with the precision of a veteran “dirty tricks” squad. Initially feigning innocence (Belle) and vulnerability (Warren) in order to suss out the various social cliques and pecking orders, within days they’re clandestinely calling the shots.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This, too, is wonderfully amusing, particularly when Belle unexpectedly goes postal on a gaggle of hormonally charged boys who imagined she would be easy pickings. Warren, as well, methodically demonstrates “fixer” skills that evoke pleasant memories of master larcenists in caper thrillers such as <i>Ocean’s Eleven</i>. D’Leo evokes the sort of clinical maturity that we’d expect from a kid forced to grow up quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Giovanni — ah, no, <i>Fred</i> — finds his limited (<i>very</i> limited) patience tried by a local plumber who arrives late and then cheerfully tries to take advantage of the situation, assuming that <i>all</i>Americans are loaded with money and therefore ripe for the plucking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sounds perfect, right? And it would be, except that, back in the States, a mob assassin (Jon Freda, appropriately scary as Rocco) is following leads and murdering likely families — husband, wife, teenage son and daughter — in the hope they <i>might</i> be the Manzoni clan. Identification is checked by sending severed fingers to the local Mafia don, who has lost none of his juice, despite being in a federal prison.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watching Rocco murder children — more than once — rather destroys the attempt at light-heartedness, even if the executions are fairly bloodless and (mostly) take place off-camera. It soon becomes clear that, with the possible exception of our main characters, <i>nobody</i> else is likely to survive the carnage that we can predict will consume the third act.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rest assured — this being a Luc Besson movie — a bazooka will be involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The jarring tonal shift notwithstanding, Besson and Caleo also squander some of their script’s can’t-miss plot elements. The dynamic between De Niro and Jones is rich with potential, the wheedling, easily irritated Giovanni constantly getting under Stansfield’s last nerve. But despite his co-star billing, Jones isn’t in much of this film; it looks as though he spent perhaps two days on the set, and did a few quick scenes before beetling back to some other project.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heck, the family dog gets more screen time than Jones. Great part for a canine, I might add.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giovanni’s decision to write his memoirs — on a lovingly preserved manual typewriter — is another plot element that doesn’t really accomplish anything, except perhaps to fill time as De Niro carefully places paper in roller and attacks the keyboard with two-fingered precision. Granted, Giovanni needs <i>something</i>with which to fill his time, and the possibility of dire revelations eventually sparks a droll exchange with Stansfield ... but the whole writing thing just sorta drifts off.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few sidebar developments are handled more successfully. Maggie has developed a fondness for the two FBI “babysitters” — Caputo (Domenick Lombardozzi) and Di Cicco (Jimmy Palumbo) — who’ve apparently followed the family from one location to the next. Their delight over Maggie’s authentic Italian cooking becomes a droll running gag.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Agron, well recognized as Quinn Fabray on television’s <i>Glee</i>, is allowed the greatest character range; aside from her amusing skills as a schoolyard enforcer, Belle also succumbs to every girl’s fantasy when living in France: to fall in love. Her target: a hunky substitute math teacher. Agron navigates her character’s two extremes with panache; it’s fun to watch Belle be swoony one moment, and then, in the next, beat on a loutish boy with a tennis racket.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She also shares a touching moment with De Niro, when Giovanni laments the mess that he has made of his life, and the hardship his family has endured as a result; Belle, firmly devoted to her father, insists that he is, nonetheless, the best dad in the world. Given the circumstances, that’s a tricky sentiment to sell, but Agron nails it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pfeiffer is equally memorable, her Maggie spitting fire with every spoken word ... or, alternatively, taking solace in a doobie while wondering, with the stricken concern of an exhausted mother tiger, just what is to become of them. Unlike many of the other actors in this uneasy farce, Pfeiffer knows <i>precisely</i>how to play each scene, having navigated similar waters for director Jonathan Demme back in 1988, with <i>Married to the Mob</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">De Niro, happily, does <i>not</i> overact, as he has done too frequently in recent years. He treats this role fairly seriously, which adds comic weight to the moments when poor Giovanni loses his temper yet again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film certainly looks good; production designer Hugues Tissandier makes the most of the sleepy village setting, and the gated little chalet in which our family has been sheltered. Thierry Arbogast’s cinematography is similarly warm and inviting. Besson and editor Julien Rey orchestrate these events fairly calmly, eschewing rat-a-tat pacing in favor of longer, slower scenes that reflect the drowsy countryside setting, while also allowing the cast some richer character moments. (That said, this film feels a bit <i>too</i> slow, at 110 minutes.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evgueni and Sacha Galperine deliver a robust score that lends comic punch to the story’s lighter moments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite its many enjoyable elements, though, <i>The Family</i> can’t shake the mean-spirited interludes that completely overwhelm it. Even the climax leaves us with a bitter taste, likely not the mood Besson intended us to have, upon departing the theater.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Too bad, because this could — should — have been much better.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment-->

2013 crime drama Dark Comedy Dianna Agron Domenick Lombardozzi Jimmy Palumbo John D'Leo Jon Freda Luc Besson Michelle Pfeiffer Robert De Niro Tommy Lee Jones The Family: Dysfunction reigns

The Family   (2013) •  View trailer   Three stars. Rating: R, for violence, considerable profanity and brief drug use By  Derrick Bang ...

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U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander James Hoeft going ashore ... thanks for 20 years of service

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbs9palj5_Emt_xwjVvKdlwnDqYhZlrhGCPlukRdIIL4Vz38vVzGF78duuKiDKuRmIxB7rNlyolxVZNoX086JoJAWrwEdz3uyiPwWSELnDWZ7HdPxjqX593QI90Qg2RSOH4Bz5055NBs7/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbs9palj5_Emt_xwjVvKdlwnDqYhZlrhGCPlukRdIIL4Vz38vVzGF78duuKiDKuRmIxB7rNlyolxVZNoX086JoJAWrwEdz3uyiPwWSELnDWZ7HdPxjqX593QI90Qg2RSOH4Bz5055NBs7/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Watch</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aye mates, for 20 years</div><div style="text-align: center;">This Sailor has stood the watch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While some of us were in our bunks at night</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seaman Hoeft stood the watch</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />While some of us were in school learning our trade</div><div style="text-align: center;">Electronics Technician Third Class Hoeft stood the watch</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In those years when the storm clouds of war were seen<br />brewing on the horizon of history,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ensign Hoeft stood the watch</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many times he would cast an eye ashore</div><div style="text-align: center;">and see his family standing there</div><div style="text-align: center;">Needing his guidance and help</div><div style="text-align: center;">Needing that hand to hold during those hard times</div><div style="text-align: center;">But Lieutenant Junior Grade Hoeft stood the watch</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He stood the watch for twenty years</div><div style="text-align: center;">He stood the watch so that we, our families and</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our fellow countrymen, could sleep soundly in safety,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Each and every night,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Knowing that Lieutenant Hoeft stood the watch</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, we are here to say</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shipmate ... the watch stands relieved</div><div style="text-align: center;">Relieved by those you have trained, guided, and led</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lieutenant Commander Hoeft, you stand relieved</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have the watch! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Boatswain, stand by to pipe the side, shipmate going ashore! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3AeDvioAfE_gL9fURGSjLNT-pHbGDtjctkBe1gVRycnHjPueeB_oSybqed-cu5KwpnNINJRyHBZOnapuGhF94xzmwx5PoTWvbtL45CEAdtiV9eTBgunOwg1dTzrLXVN6CsnrjCftB63c/s1600/_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3AeDvioAfE_gL9fURGSjLNT-pHbGDtjctkBe1gVRycnHjPueeB_oSybqed-cu5KwpnNINJRyHBZOnapuGhF94xzmwx5PoTWvbtL45CEAdtiV9eTBgunOwg1dTzrLXVN6CsnrjCftB63c/s400/_12.jpg" width="383" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Jim Hoeft sits at the Governor's conference table in Richmond. </i><br /><i>Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling's <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2011/02/part-2-bloggers-at-bill-bollings.html">4th Annual Bloggers Day</a> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>February 16, 2011</i></div><br />We know him as Jim or JR who was the founder of <a href="http://www.bearingdrift.com/">Bearing Drift</a> and now has founded <a href="http://www.vapolitics.us/">Virginia Politics On Demand,</a> recruiting top-notch bloggers to help provide news and information to the Virginia blogosphere. He has covered Republican Advances, Eric Cantor's Republican Roundup, candidate events, interviewed elected officials and those running for office, and fill in for radio personalities. That is the Jim I've known since 2006.<br /><br />Jim's other career was as an officer in the U.S. Navy and, in a ceremony in Virginia Beach on Friday, September 13, 2013, he retired after 20 years of service.<br /><br />His Naval career began in 1992 at the Recruit Training Center in Orlando, Florida. From 1992-93 he was at Nuclear Power Training Command in Orland, and in 1993-94 part of Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, SC. He ended up in Newport News, Va, from 1994-96 with the PCU Cheyenne (SSN 773). He spent 1996-99 at Old Dominion University NROTC, 2000 in Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, RI, and returned to the USS Mitscher (DDG 57) from 2000-02 and the USS Ponce (LPD 15) from 2002-03.<br /><br />Jim found his niche in public affairs:<br /><blockquote>2003-06: U.S. Fleet Forces Command<br />TAD: Hurricane Katrina<br />Navy Expedition Combat Command<br /><br />2006-07: Navy Personnel Development Command<br /><br />2007-08: Navy Public Affairs Support Element<br />TAD: Amphibious Squadron 8 embarked<br />USS KEARSARGE (LHD 3)<br /><br />2008-11: Joint Public Affairs Support Element<br />TAD: Operation Assured Delivery<br />Operation Odyssey Dawn embarked USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC 20)<br />Pakistan Flood Relief<br />Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill<br /><br />2011-13: Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command<br />IA: United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti</blockquote>Congratulations to our friend and colleague with best wishes for the next chapter in his life and a sincere thank you for 20 years of service to our country.<br /><br />Cross-posted at <a href="http://vapolitics.us/2013/09/u-s-navy-lieutenant-commander-james-hoeft-going-ashore-thanks-for-20-years-of-service/">Virginia Politics On Demand </a><br /><br /><i>Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell</i>

Bearing Drift Bill Bolling Bloggers Day Jim Hoeft Lieutenant Commander James Hoeft Lynn R. Mitchell U.S. Navy Virginia Politics On Demand U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander James Hoeft going ashore ... thanks for 20 years of service

The Watch Aye mates, for 20 years This Sailor has stood the watch. While some of us were in our bunks at night Seaman Hoeft stood the watch ...

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Teamster snags a Miss. monster!

<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A night-long battle in the Mississippi River yielded record results for one Teamster. Local 891 member Dustin Bockman captured the heaviest alligator in Mississippi history when he pulled in a 727-pound gator.</span></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAa20BCTSdl7oB338g-9V3MvFzLQFN3BEYEI5pG1YbiOVTEogDWuhCjNYlFQKYivCLX1n8g3EZruYK5hYzzsflY7KUCFZjsBId4eW40lnbRKU5jKXoCXGeKdhA47jPwgfC9svOEC9nW7m/s1600/9.13.13gatorphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAa20BCTSdl7oB338g-9V3MvFzLQFN3BEYEI5pG1YbiOVTEogDWuhCjNYlFQKYivCLX1n8g3EZruYK5hYzzsflY7KUCFZjsBId4eW40lnbRKU5jKXoCXGeKdhA47jPwgfC9svOEC9nW7m/s320/9.13.13gatorphoto.jpg" title="This photo is of Dustin Bockman's record-setting catch." width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bockman's record-setting gator.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After five hours of searching the inky black river during the first weekend of hunting season, Dustin Bockman, his brother Ryan Bockman (also a Local 891 Teamster), and friend Cole Landers finally caught sight of the behemoth. The story is even more amazing when you realize Dustin was on his first-ever gator hunt:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friends were just like, ‘Oh my god, it’s so huge.’ You couldn’t fold him in half to put him in the truck.</span></span></blockquote></div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The team gave chase for more than two hours. Finally around 3 a.m., they managed to tether it to a fishing pole and then a snare. The fishing line broke. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bockman’s team managed to get another line around the alligator. It also broke. After two hours and more snapped lines, Dustin Bockman finally ended the chase with a shot from a crossbow.</span></span><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At 13 feet, 4 inches, their catch was almost the size of the team’s boat. After three hours straining to haul the animal aboard, they gave up and called in reinforcements. State wildlife authorities confirmed Bockman’s new record four hours after another record-breaking hopeful had hauled back a 723.5-pound catch.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bockman plans to hand out most of the alligator meat to friends and cook the rest himself. After all, the hunting season has just begun.</span></span></div>

Local 891 mississippi Teamster snags a Miss. monster!

A night-long battle in the Mississippi River yielded record results for one Teamster. Local 891 member Dustin Bockman captured the heavies...

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Today's Teamster News 09.13.13

<a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamster-proposal-fedex-independent-board-chair-backed-leading-proxy-advisers" rel="nofollow">Teamster Proposal for FedEx Independent Board Chair Backed by Leading Proxy Advisers</a>  teamster.org   ...The country’s two largest proxy advisers, ISS and Glass Lewis, have both recommended that FedEx shareholders support a Teamster proposal calling for an independent chairman of the board at the company’s annual meeting Sept. 23...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/thom-hartmann-teamsters-and-allies-fighting-workers%E2%80%99-rights-worldwide" rel="nofollow">Video: Teamsters and Allies Fighting For Workers’ Rights, Worldwide</a>  Thom Hartmann’s The Big Picture   ...Tim Beaty, Teamsters Director of Global Strategies, was interviewed about the relationships the union has with labor organizations around the world. Jim Hoffa recently signed an agreement with a top Brazilian labor leader that will help both organizations fight for workers’ rights...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/dhl-teamsters-approve-national-master-portions-tentative-new-agreement-and-all-operational" rel="nofollow">DHL Teamsters Approve National Master Portions Of Tentative New Agreement And All Operational Supplements</a>  teamster.org   ...Teamsters working at DHL Express across the country overwhelmingly approved the new tentative National Master Agreement. However, a small number of local riders were not approved...<br /><a href="http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/277505/group/business/" rel="nofollow">35 to lose jobs at Franklin Foods</a>  Duluth News Tribune   ...Dairy giant Kemps on Monday told workers at its Duluth milk processing facility that production was being shifted to a Minneapolis facility, meaning 35 workers will be out of a job at Franklin Foods on Oct. 4...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/dhl-teamsters-approve-national-master-portions-tentative-new-agreement-and-all-operational" rel="nofollow">BMWED Members: Amtrak Arbitration Agreement</a>  teamster.org   ...The Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition has finalized an agreement with Amtrak to arbitrate and settle the BMWED contract dispute...<br /><a href="http://www.infoworld.com/d/the-industry-standard/verizons-diabolical-plan-turn-the-web-pay-view-226662" rel="nofollow">Verizon's diabolical plan to turn the Web into pay-per-view</a>  Industry Standard   ... The country's No. 1 carrier is fighting in court to end the Federal Communications Commission's policy of Net neutrality, a move that would open the gates to a whole new -- and wholly bad -- economic model on the Web...<br /><a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/euro-zone-leaders-to-discuss-bank-problems-in-slovenia-a-921815.html" rel="nofollow">Bailout Nr. 5? Euro Zone Eyes Slovenia's Troubled Banks</a>  Der Spiegel   ...The euro crisis has been on the back burner lately, but the problems facing banks in Slovenia are coming to a head. Billions of euros in bad loans make the country a candidate for the next bailout...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/why-do-we-spend-billions-national-security-state-while-we-let-detroit-go-bankrupt" rel="nofollow">Why Do We Spend Billions on the National Security State While We Let Detroit Go Bankrupt?</a>  Alternet   ...During a peace-time economy, the budgets of the five intelligence agencies have grown exponentially while urban cities and social services have dwindled...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/california-legislature-passes-historic-laws-protecting-immigrant-workers-abusive-employers" rel="nofollow">California Legislature Passes Historic Laws Protecting Immigrant Workers from Abusive Employers</a>  teamster.org   ...The California State legislature has passed new protections designed to stop unscrupulous employers from retaliating against immigrant workers who stand up for their rights. The bills await signature by Governor Jerry Brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">..   </span><br /><a href="http://abc10up.com/u-p-man-reappointed-to-truck-safety-commission/" rel="nofollow">Gov. Rick Snyder announces appointments to truck safety commission</a>  ABC 10 News   ...Michigan’s Gov. Rick Snyder today announced two appointments and five reappointments, including Dave Goller, a Teamsters Local 406 business representative, to the Michigan Truck Safety Commission...<br /><a href="http://www.tnonline.com/2013/sep/10/bike-night-and-car-show-has-great-attendance-slatington" rel="nofollow">Bike night and car show has great attendance in Slatington</a>  Times News   ...The Slatington Fire Department in Pennsylvania held a bike night and car show in honor of longtime firefighter Milt "Bup" Greene, who passed away last year. The event was hosted by the Teamster Horseman Motorcycle Club of which Greene, a firefighter for 35 years, was a member... <br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/lehman-brothers-anniversary" rel="nofollow">5 Years Later, Wall Street Still Sucking Life Out of America Like Vampires at a Blood Drive</a>  AlterNet   ...On Sept. 15, 2008, the Lehman Brothers collapse became the 9/11 of the financial world, sending the global economy into panic, leading to the ugliest financial episode since the Great Depression—mostly because the financial sector had gotten out of control…<br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/09/11/why_doesnt_nsa_spy_on_wall_street/" rel="nofollow">Why doesn’t NSA spy on Wall Street?</a>  Salon   ...The government claims NSA conducts surveillance to avert financial crises. Seems like they have the wrong suspects...<br /><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57602427/report-new-trade-pact-will-hurt-u.s-wages/">Report:New Trade Pact Will Hurt U.S. Wages</a>  CBS Money Watch ...The new trans-Pacific trade pact being pushed by the U.S. government will hurt most American workers' wages despite promises it will help them, according to a new report...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-12/ge-ex-labor-chief-switches-to-defend-retirees-benefits.html" rel="nofollow">GE Ex-Labor Chief Switches to Defend Retirees’ Benefits</a>  Bloomberg News   ...Ten years ago, Dennis Rocheleau sat across the bargaining table from <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GE:US" rel="nofollow">General Electric Co. (GE)</a>’s unions, pushing <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2003-06-01/ge-and-labor-this-could-get-ugly" rel="nofollow">health-care cuts</a> so deep they led to the first nationwide strike at the company in three decades...<br /><a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/09/task-force-takes-shape-to-study-mandatory-paid-sick-leave.html" rel="nofollow">Florida task force takes shape to study mandatory paid-sick-leave</a>  Miami Herald   ...Florida Senate President Don Gaetz has announced the first four members of a task force that will study how state law affects the benefits companies can offer employees, including mandatory paid-sick-leave...<br /><a href="http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130912/NEWS/309120028/?gcheck=1" rel="nofollow">Oregon’s Revenue Department violated labor laws, state says</a>  Statesman Journal   ...The Oregon Department of Revenue has been violating its agreement with employees for years by refusing to pay for some meal periods, according to a recent ruling released by the Employment Relations Board...<br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0912-garcetti-labor-unions-20130912,0,6072971.story" rel="nofollow">L.A. Mayor Garcetti working to rebuild ties to labor unions</a>  Los Angeles Times   ...Months after much of organized labor fought hard to block his election as mayor of Los Angeles, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/eric-garcetti-PEPLT007524.topic" rel="nofollow">Eric Garcetti</a> tried to mend fences Wednesday with a call for solidarity with unions in their struggle for jobs that pay middle-class wages...

Today's Teamster News 09.13.13

Teamster Proposal for FedEx Independent Board Chair Backed by Leading Proxy Advisers   teamster.org   ...The country’s two largest proxy adv...

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How research paywalls keep today's research from becoming best practice

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8083MyMbnH5FSAtvr8gz4Lpc5KKwkwjLerzJ_7tgrT6Y26oo7_QcCNOtiSgUPy59dOT1POts2Pi4491RnaqODfD70JlALXeGntIn71GwQuG6SzdzRXAtEB_riC2cE7V-oLUexB3M5LSYZ/s1600/iStock_000007804776XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8083MyMbnH5FSAtvr8gz4Lpc5KKwkwjLerzJ_7tgrT6Y26oo7_QcCNOtiSgUPy59dOT1POts2Pi4491RnaqODfD70JlALXeGntIn71GwQuG6SzdzRXAtEB_riC2cE7V-oLUexB3M5LSYZ/s400/iStock_000007804776XSmall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dominant logic often isolates higher learning research<br />from the teachers who need to apply it.</td></tr></tbody></table>There are pay walls that keep average everyday teachers like me from nosing around in matters reserved for ivory towers.<br /><br />It sort of ticks me off sometimes. Why can't ivory tower people "adopt" classroom practitioners (like me and many others) who really "get into" reading research and applying it in our classroom so we can actually access the material we need to read?<br /><br />You would think that people would want "real" teachers to read the research on learning and teaching. Instead we often get insulted for not knowing it or using it when we don't have access in the first place.<br /><h2>No entry allowed</h2>Today I was perusing around research around what makes learning meaningful to students and came across this article "<a href="http://rer.sagepub.com/content/60/4/531.abstract" target="_blank">Phases of Meaningful Learning</a>" but have to be a "member" or pay a one time $25 to access the article. Well it may just be $25 but considering this happens at least 5 or 6 times a week... it isn't doable.<br /><br />We need to support our research organizations and researchers, no doubt about it. But there should be some creative ways to give access to or even have some "qualified" teachers apply to be allowed to access research. (A "qualified" teacher should be any teacher who wants to read it, in my opinion.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lPA8BHXzs-U8PP8F-tkde0UAkBooYmGvM2OWQfjpcxarsXbB9JKhtZU_-Uf6HsBQEvNJLwTe-ekdSlsCPjsfnOPqRyDGhoIyF3_jzfP4bPJMr6LZUhGpy_NGeJ8amo-qQiJmqTUrr75a/s1600/need-to-subscribe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lPA8BHXzs-U8PP8F-tkde0UAkBooYmGvM2OWQfjpcxarsXbB9JKhtZU_-Uf6HsBQEvNJLwTe-ekdSlsCPjsfnOPqRyDGhoIyF3_jzfP4bPJMr6LZUhGpy_NGeJ8amo-qQiJmqTUrr75a/s400/need-to-subscribe.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><h3>Should public research be publicly readable?</h3><br />Of course there's the question that <a class="g-profile" href="http://plus.google.com/109526159908242471749" target="_blank">+Stephen Downes</a> and others always ask... that if the research was paid for by public funds that perhaps the public should have access.<br /><br />Try explaining that one. Here we are trying to do everything we can to improve education when the very research principals and teachers need to make that change is hiding behind paywalls that will likely not be in the budget for most K12 schools. More than that, the US taxpayer is paying for it and then it can't be viewed by the schools it is meant to help.<br /><br />Come on. Wake up someone. It is a new day where we can all be scholars if we can just have access.<br /><br />Paywalls prevent putting research into practice. Period.<br /><br />We're blocking innovation. We're promoting isolation. We're continuing to promote the "<b>dominant logic</b>" of an education system that is in a stellar need of reform and reorganization.<br /><h2><i>How dominant logic creates a domineering, unhealthy educational culture</i></h2>The term "dominant logic" is used in the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1422157644/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1422157644&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" style="background-color: white; color: #996633; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Reverse Innovation</a> by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/people/vg/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Vijay Govindarajan">Vijay Govindarajan</a> and Chris Trimble.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkQFJf7uk-dSmOWUeOcUNpGOBLV-Hy_mi1NPpsNeOyf0KolEYCyCJbi1WB9OdfTUEiSbnok8sTvzYZsuzFCsdweReTG0_ld4e1QRnBzhWT540aQRTYiXZ1cB3qNM1HHBsE8eZmsPIK9_q/s1600/iStock_000000047780XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkQFJf7uk-dSmOWUeOcUNpGOBLV-Hy_mi1NPpsNeOyf0KolEYCyCJbi1WB9OdfTUEiSbnok8sTvzYZsuzFCsdweReTG0_ld4e1QRnBzhWT540aQRTYiXZ1cB3qNM1HHBsE8eZmsPIK9_q/s400/iStock_000000047780XSmall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Govindarajan and Trimble talk about that a dominant logic emerges in companies and organizations when "you achieved your success in a particular kind of market and culture."<br /><br />The dominant logic of an organization prevents organization in new and emerging markets and they recommend the creation of "<b>local growth teams</b>" (LGTs) to start from scratch (but remain connected to the parent organization to use resources.)<br /><br />Education as a whole is in dire need of innovation in how we think, how we share information, and how we research. New, creative partnerships and teamwork between higher ed, high schools and just about any type of school need to emerge in ways no longer constrained by geography.<br /><br />Teachers can be scholars and scholars can be teachers. We can work together daily and interact in creative ways. Knock down the towers, flatten the walls, and connect. Or just start by waking up and realizing that the world has changed just a tad in the last 20 years and it is time for education to as well.<br /><br />I think the dominant logic in education is flawed. What got us to where we are today will not get us to a better place tomorrow.<br /><br /><br />Photo Credits: iStock Photo<br />----<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Disclosure of Material Connection</b>: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s <a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" target="_blank">16 CFR, Part 255</a>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</span><br /><br /> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=de547b0d-1ccc-4b00-8241-a7eda8795b39" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

book review EDUCATION highered innovation research How research paywalls keep today's research from becoming best practice

Dominant logic often isolates higher learning research from the teachers who need to apply it. There are pay walls that keep average everyda...

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The Closest You Will Ever Get To The Real Thing

If you <i>EVER</i> get the chance,<br /><br />Go See This Show!<br /><br />I was fortunate enough to see <a href="http://www.aussiefloyd.com/">Aussie Floyd</a> over in Portland several years ago and it still makes the hair on my arm stand up thinking about it.<br /><br />I see by this video that their light show is even more fantastic than it was back then.<br /><br />Even then I told all my friends that the light show alone was worth the price of admission and I meant every word of it.<br /><br />These people are literally the closest you will ever get to seeing a live Pink Floyd concert again.<br /><br />I can not find the words to tell you just how fucking awesome they are, right down to the backup singers.<br /><br />They come to the states so get on the internet and find out how close they will be to you and make concrete plans to go see them even if you have to travel and stay in a fucking hotel overnight.<br /><br />You will remember that concert till the day you die.<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3npNCauZXJE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/anOOJaCAabw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Closest You Will Ever Get To The Real Thing

If you EVER get the chance, Go See This Show! I was fortunate enough to see Aussie Floyd over in Portland several years ago and it still m...

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fess up friday - animal prints

I'm about to tell y'all something that is probably a big no no in the blog world.<br /><br />I'm not down with animal prints.<br /><br />I know that's probably like telling a room full of kids that I hate Santa but animal prints have never been my jam. They always make me think of that horrible lycra outfit Michelle Pfeiffer wore in Married to the Mob. Eww.<br /><br />The funny thing is, I like them in magazines, and in other people's home, but I've just never gotten on board. But the more I study, the more I find that some of my favorite images have animal prints involved.<br /><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBXCUrOOJtR4iAsyLHddj0skXLsiqHPhsNPKLzpTDebncAUgEfn5xECIVFov04s_adaj-LhGQLgwzRtF6uQftZwLyVaIbeBdOjtFuc24q2dl1jea-WdtzClZT-ERZDfXGJ6eNcP3WFWho/s1600/January+February+2013+Issue+leopard+print+uDu2_3Gf-Hdl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBXCUrOOJtR4iAsyLHddj0skXLsiqHPhsNPKLzpTDebncAUgEfn5xECIVFov04s_adaj-LhGQLgwzRtF6uQftZwLyVaIbeBdOjtFuc24q2dl1jea-WdtzClZT-ERZDfXGJ6eNcP3WFWho/s640/January+February+2013+Issue+leopard+print+uDu2_3Gf-Hdl.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lonny.com/photos/January+February+2013+Issue/uDu2_3Gf-Hd" target="_blank">Jessika Goranson</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVcPeE-ksMWLXERfhdchgAsttpsb-iXjVeNB2S1sfAFNyDW3gvuQWt78huhomBKqgs97AOA5DYsg6o7Z2OuqFI-bgKBWSM8RCG-RO_9wHcDZvgsYJZht_LkpcrgVmni0Q0meTJyX24QdA/s1600/michelleadamsbookshelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVcPeE-ksMWLXERfhdchgAsttpsb-iXjVeNB2S1sfAFNyDW3gvuQWt78huhomBKqgs97AOA5DYsg6o7Z2OuqFI-bgKBWSM8RCG-RO_9wHcDZvgsYJZht_LkpcrgVmni0Q0meTJyX24QdA/s640/michelleadamsbookshelves.jpg" width="526" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://alovelybeing.com/journal/tag/library" target="_blank">Michelle Adams</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayOMjI1b7JwfjxSznnQO5ATgQ6rmk7pjLketPMnDjgbZ0QzzPF29wduoXKXpUbb36LcSs7i1d3LseoA7PttPR0vw3OtyDmeFMWTVpJaGAOJiRpkLEkYuNcmmI6CJ5rWuB89e5LHsN7OjI/s1600/812-630x393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayOMjI1b7JwfjxSznnQO5ATgQ6rmk7pjLketPMnDjgbZ0QzzPF29wduoXKXpUbb36LcSs7i1d3LseoA7PttPR0vw3OtyDmeFMWTVpJaGAOJiRpkLEkYuNcmmI6CJ5rWuB89e5LHsN7OjI/s640/812-630x393.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://katejacksondesign.com/" target="_blank">Kate Jackson</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzpKlBf117RYHULAsown8W24d95VVKdQcbMmfZEtRX6MBfGS6MuIlnbUhei3ux7zT7C_D-YWagBFuMnKYTOT0Tp-RN4DkBGzKQGYy-JDSqfClfub0JPunQEBrlSar5NYZKbHFjXztBbEj/s1600/dc8a8e74a3d7d4c80d925ca65f127b6c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzpKlBf117RYHULAsown8W24d95VVKdQcbMmfZEtRX6MBfGS6MuIlnbUhei3ux7zT7C_D-YWagBFuMnKYTOT0Tp-RN4DkBGzKQGYy-JDSqfClfub0JPunQEBrlSar5NYZKbHFjXztBbEj/s640/dc8a8e74a3d7d4c80d925ca65f127b6c.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/94434923407303499/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0p5SyQXZobAIorq7KAZ4h8Eb4sb_WoNjYH0_QYBMkHn2ElMcG7mNNqAEhzb1_fEDvhQtBMKdrofS48xukLZNosyRyh-xLXruqx1HRsFpU26FfRCegshFTDS17TEqmfHHmJtnxnq3IPsZ/s1600/jessnellgravesbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0p5SyQXZobAIorq7KAZ4h8Eb4sb_WoNjYH0_QYBMkHn2ElMcG7mNNqAEhzb1_fEDvhQtBMKdrofS48xukLZNosyRyh-xLXruqx1HRsFpU26FfRCegshFTDS17TEqmfHHmJtnxnq3IPsZ/s640/jessnellgravesbooks.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://alovelybeing.com/journal/tag/library" target="_blank">Jess Nell Graves</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwnAAgkPVmVnVOngY9e2OoyNP743OqRFDpvCFItXYFlWVz5-u1nyBSIJF415HVNXavEtd97DP4heOU3x0_MhhEeaS6ehr_29re5AJRNm_1GmoDKP63fvTQd5Ale_XMrMWmT93QWVSpFvD/s1600/742f6de147b17d094f5ef194b1375ebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwnAAgkPVmVnVOngY9e2OoyNP743OqRFDpvCFItXYFlWVz5-u1nyBSIJF415HVNXavEtd97DP4heOU3x0_MhhEeaS6ehr_29re5AJRNm_1GmoDKP63fvTQd5Ale_XMrMWmT93QWVSpFvD/s640/742f6de147b17d094f5ef194b1375ebe.jpg" width="606" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cottage Living</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I'm thinking I need to go with a 'What About Bob' approach and take baby steps into this whole animal print thing. Here are some ways to dip your toe into 'the jungle'.<br /><br /><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYkAZ2ixr4LtUhRpgDk2Tsgy6-FUURruDHvBwOi2ZLh_z-khxac-nEzW9k5wuT3u-KBR51VJIFeBoDG-N614NZiq_OYIKM_udAB4gFK4vg1OFBghMGNAx6EVEDlGK6IliuCef9rpAX5X8/s1600/AnimalPrintAccessories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYkAZ2ixr4LtUhRpgDk2Tsgy6-FUURruDHvBwOi2ZLh_z-khxac-nEzW9k5wuT3u-KBR51VJIFeBoDG-N614NZiq_OYIKM_udAB4gFK4vg1OFBghMGNAx6EVEDlGK6IliuCef9rpAX5X8/s640/AnimalPrintAccessories.jpg" width="570" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/158547494/ysl-leopard-loafers-watercolor-print-11" target="_blank">1</a> / <a href="http://www.furbishstudio.com/tortoise-hurricane-small/#.UZKHqoJZDh9" target="_blank">2</a> / <a href="http://www.ebay.com/bhp/i-married-adventure-1940" target="_blank">3</a> / <a href="http://www.cwonder.com/Categories/Home-%26-Decor/Tabletop/Leopard-Dinnerware/product/F13-LEOPARDDINNERWARE.html" target="_blank">4</a> / <a href="http://www.zhush.com/Zebra-Trays-p/twos-17.htm" target="_blank">5</a> / <a href="http://ariannabelle.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=118" target="_blank">6</a> / <a href="http://www.cwonder.com/Categories/Home-%26-Decor/Animal-Dessert-Plates/product/CW-H-F13-TT-SRVW-308-242.html" target="_blank">7 </a>/ <a href="http://search.brunschwig.com/Brunschwig-and-Fils-Print/8012138.7-1328/CoverInformation.aspx" target="_blank">8</a> / <a href="http://www.jonathanadler.com/zebra-bath-rug/#googlebase" target="_blank">9</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />So now its your turn to fess up - what design secrets are you keeping? Share!<br /><br />And one last reminder, today is the last day to <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/09/ao-at-home-giveaway.html" target="_blank">sign up for your chance to win a $200 gift card to Target</a>! (oh yeah). <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/09/ao-at-home-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Giveaway</a> ends tonight at midnight!

fess up friday - animal prints

I'm about to tell y'all something that is probably a big no no in the blog world. I'm not down with animal prints. I know that&#...

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Images and Features Leaked: Nexus 5

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The specification and images of next generation smartphone from Google is leaked by FCC. The site claimed that smartphone will manufacture by LG and will tag with Nexus 5. The device will running on Android’s latest version Android<a href="http://pc-gadgetworld.blogspot.in/2013/09/android-44-kitkat-latest-versions-name.html" target="_blank">KitKat</a>.<br /><br /><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/-gtYVzIRJGMY/UjLAAduja5I/AAAAAAAAAV8/cYOwtvprwqQ/s1600/600x707xnexus_5_2_png_pagespeed_ic_birj5J4GWT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="google nexus 5" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gtYVzIRJGMY/UjLAAduja5I/AAAAAAAAAV8/cYOwtvprwqQ/s1600/600x707xnexus_5_2_png_pagespeed_ic_birj5J4GWT.jpg" title="" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ndtvgadgets</td></tr></tbody></table>                                          <br />According to rumours the devices comes with 2300mAh battery with 5.2-inch full HDdisplay. The <a href="http://pc-gadgetworld.blogspot.in/2013/05/lg-and-google-launch-nexus-4-in-india.html" target="_blank">previous</a>  version of Nexus have 4.96-inch display. Nexus 5 is powered by Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3 GHZ and 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM. The device will run on the OS of Android and the version of Android will be KitKat. You can charge your device without wire and it have option of 7-band LTE connectivity with Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GSM/EDGE, dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac.<br /><br /><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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nPgrXa_JNu8/UjLBXVkgwfI/AAAAAAAAAWI/pWezOz9qFUE/s1600/150x150xnexus-5-internal_2-150x150_png_pagespeed_ic_V9adMQQ4q_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="google nexus 5" border="0" height="132" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nPgrXa_JNu8/UjLBXVkgwfI/AAAAAAAAAWI/pWezOz9qFUE/s1600/150x150xnexus-5-internal_2-150x150_png_pagespeed_ic_V9adMQQ4q_.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">androidos</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The shape of smartphone is same as the previous one but size is slightly large. It is hurry to say anything about the smart device.<br /><br /><br />The Nexus 5 is expected to be announced next month with the latest version of Android, Android KItKat. Android 4.4 KitKat will also made entry through Nexus 5.<br /><br /><div><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 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author"><br /></a></div></div>

android 4.4 proceesor smartphone Images and Features Leaked: Nexus 5

The specification and images of next generation smartphone from Google is leaked by FCC. The site claimed that smartphone will manufacture b...

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JK Rowling to Develop New Movie Based on Harry Potter World

<div class="MsoNormal">I know what you’re thinking, the world needs another Harry Potter movie.  Luckily it seems that JK Rowling, the brilliant mind behind the Potterverse that should have her imagination insured for a billion dollars, is getting ready to develop an extension to the wizarding world made famous by Harry, Ron, and Hermione.  <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">According to Bloomberg, Rowling will be <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-12/j-dot-k-dot-rowling-will-pen-a-new-film-set-in-harry-potters-world">writing a screenplay</a>for Warner Bros. (who else, she only made them a billion dollars already) that is an adaption of “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439321603?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0439321603&linkCode=xm2&tag=whisgooninmym-20">Fantastic Beasts and Whereto Find Them</a>.”  As Potter fans already know, that book was written as part of fund raising effort by Rowling and was an entertaining read.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The movie adaption will be <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/09/12/jk-rowlingharry-potter-fantastic-beasts/">set in New York</a> some 70 years before Harry enters the wizarding world, according to EW.  So while the movie will lack Harry and his faithful companions, one has to wonder if some of the older faces around Hogwarts will not make an appearance or two.  <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">While I’m usually the one complaining about sequels and franchises not coming up with new ideas (really “Finding Dory”?), this is one of those ideas that really captures the essence of what spin-offs should be.  There will be just enough of the Potter world in the book to be familiar, but at the same time “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” should provide a nice and entertaining story about the writing of textbook (okay nobody knows what it will be about because it hasn’t been written yet), but let the speculation run wild.<o:p></o:p></div>

fantastic beasts and where to find them jk rowling new potter movie JK Rowling to Develop New Movie Based on Harry Potter World

I know what you’re thinking, the world needs another Harry Potter movie.  Luckily it seems that JK Rowling, the brilliant mind behind the Po...

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Yom Kippur: An Ex-Catholic's Road to Damascus

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3KCfkwovs7DRnkFmq8L2mio1BILkUretznhyphenhyphenWfXMVxwN32VwsJR-tpc3s6PhIgzkYAYp-o0Q-ylxsE40wCKQeGbmz-tzil0AmQ-ILSJv50oy64ySxEFs1KG_CLCrmTMCELSiQoPw6L3H/s1600/yom+kippur+quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3KCfkwovs7DRnkFmq8L2mio1BILkUretznhyphenhyphenWfXMVxwN32VwsJR-tpc3s6PhIgzkYAYp-o0Q-ylxsE40wCKQeGbmz-tzil0AmQ-ILSJv50oy64ySxEFs1KG_CLCrmTMCELSiQoPw6L3H/s400/yom+kippur+quotes.jpg" width="400" /></a>Cheers and L’chaim my fellow inglorious bastards…<br /><br />Matthew Patrick Mahoney here for <i>IWS Radio</i>.<br /><br />Why do I utilize my entire and actual name during this address to you?<br /><br />Because today at sunset begins Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, and I want to participate.<br /><br /><i>“That’s great.”</i>, you say…but why do you long to be Jewish now, you ask?<br /><br />Because my name Matthew is Hebrew (Gift of God), and Patrick in Latin, means “nobleman.”<br /><br />So just shut the hell up and listen to me...THE Gift of God Nobleman, and truthfully?<br /><br />You don’t even know, bitches.<br /><br />Anyhoo…<br /><br />As I am assuming the role of a Jew gone wrong, I’d like to atone for some of my sins this year…so far.<br /><br />I’d like to say first and foremost, that I should simply be professional at the Beer Mine, and attend to our customers without flirting.<br /><br />A nubile, 30 something customer with gorgeous Strawberry blonde hair and plump, yet awesome thighs, comes through on a daily basis.<br /><br />Today, she asked me, <i>“Don’t you love this cooler weather?"</i><br /><br />To which I said, <i>“No, I like it hot; and when it’s hot it only takes me two minutes to dress.”</i><br /><br />She responded, <i>“Well, I do understand that.”</i><br /><br />And I said, <i>“When it’s winter; it takes me twenty-five minutes to dress, of course, if I had a helper, it would only take twelve point five minutes.”</i><br /><br />She giggled, looked down at the lack of a bulge in my pants, and drove off.<br /><br />Why do I have to drive a completely innocent and good-natured customer/sales guy relationship into the perverse ground of sex?<br /><br />Because I can…I do…and I shall stop.<br /><br />Well, except for Kristina...Kristina who comes through late nights and told me that she likes to watch my biceps flex when I pick up her case of Bud Light bottles.<br /><br />I mean. c’mon…she likes to watch my less than average biceps flex, so to deny her that less than special moment, would be a less than special sin, and plus…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-bRJJu5H-MKExGhL44MWEBGGpIvydjSmxGPZ_qZnf2dKbSV3dgeoxgaKvBO-wQypFmkRF63aRDeQqgelWMPVoPHRiDeMLeFf2BfBZHbeB6DLrOLmRIZK4Ap4wCwGtu6ebr3OU_T3r9ci/s1600/mila+kunis+hot+jewish+babe+naked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-bRJJu5H-MKExGhL44MWEBGGpIvydjSmxGPZ_qZnf2dKbSV3dgeoxgaKvBO-wQypFmkRF63aRDeQqgelWMPVoPHRiDeMLeFf2BfBZHbeB6DLrOLmRIZK4Ap4wCwGtu6ebr3OU_T3r9ci/s400/mila+kunis+hot+jewish+babe+naked.jpg" width="400" /></a>I call her Special K, she calls me Special M, and well, it gives her a giggle, and seriously, that’s what I’m all about, but I guess even then, I may be truly ripping apart her femininity when I do that, so I shall stop.<br /><br />I know what I won’t do FOR SURE next year…<br /><br />I won’t post a picture of a Happy 9-11 Anniversary Cake on my Facebook page, because people hate <strike>satirical pictures and or writings</strike> anti-American electorate images and posts on their Facebook news feed.<br /><br />And well that's because they are stupid…er…I mean…they have different sensibilities than I do, and I have to accept that…and I will.<br /><br />You know what’s funny?<br /><br />I have spontaneously apologized for flirting with my customers at work and posting “controversial” stuff on the internet.<br /><br />But you know what’s sad?<br /><br />At least for this year, I think in all truthfulness, those offenses are pretty damn lame.<br /><br />And because of those two things being the nadir of my current offensiveness...I apologize to you all, and seek atonement from myself...for evidently growing old.<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Matt-Man</i><br /><br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</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></div>

Yom Kippur: An Ex-Catholic's Road to Damascus

Cheers and L’chaim my fellow inglorious bastards… Matthew Patrick Mahoney here for IWS Radio . Why do I utilize my entire and actual name du...

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The Corporate Profit Singularity (Musical Tributes)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiJXQzJe9GG9pEqCoT9TS185VI3Dqfq_-WHkrk8vGj_2pkRf7EyimoznhaVPHu6I6x9IsnZbtT0OLNLPU83OfhKHj7yMbhmWg4E8PnYv6Zr0gORCL_SLPL2xKT9d9yLC2wTv2s_iUmLs/s1600/Real+Corporate+Profits+per+Nonfarm+Payroll+Employee.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiJXQzJe9GG9pEqCoT9TS185VI3Dqfq_-WHkrk8vGj_2pkRf7EyimoznhaVPHu6I6x9IsnZbtT0OLNLPU83OfhKHj7yMbhmWg4E8PnYv6Zr0gORCL_SLPL2xKT9d9yLC2wTv2s_iUmLs/s320/Real+Corporate+Profits+per+Nonfarm+Payroll+Employee.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initial_singularity">initial singularity</a> formed in the second quarter of 1968. What a moon shot!<br /><br /><b>April 18, 1968</b><br /><a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yY1jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_XkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7190,5627572&dq=apollo+program&hl=en">The Telegraph: American Space Program Now Gearing Down to Slower Pace</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>There is a growing feeling in the space establishment that once astronauts have landed on the moon, they will have no other place to go for several years because of budget cuts that have trimmed to the bone all preparations for future missions.<br /><br />It is as if the astronauts are heading for a dead-end on the moon.</i></div><br />Poppycock! We established an entire moon colony back in 1999. That's common knowledge to everyone who relies on the television for their mainstream information.<br /><br /><b>Space: 1999 - TV intro (season 1) HQ (1975)</b><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8WZW4groJro" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />There is no rational reason to panic at these altitudes. Why are we even talking about panicking anyway? I certainly didn't bring it up. What? It was something I said? Just ignore all those <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/search/label/exponential%20trend%20failure">exponential trend failures</a> I have posted here in the past if you are that worried about it. The exponential trend channel in the chart above is different. It is totally sustainable. And don't you worry about us being near the top of that trend channel again either. In sharp contrast to 1989, 1997, and 2006, only good things can happen from here. See? No reason to panic! You can invest with the same level of confidence you had back in 1982. Other than an inflation adjusted $8,000 per worker differential in corporate profits between then and now, nothing has actually changed.<br /><br />The future's so bright I gotta put my space helmet on! We ain't done moon shootin' until I say we're done moon shootin'!<br /><br /><b>David Bowie- Space Oddity Original Video (1969)</b><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/D67kmFzSh_o" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles<br />I'm feeling very still<br />And I think my spaceship knows which way to go<br />Tell my wife I love her very much (she knows!)</i></div><br /><b>See Also:</b><br /><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2010/06/sarcasm-disclaimer.html">Sarcasm Disclaimer</a><br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=mm1">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

The Corporate Profit Singularity (Musical Tributes)

Click to enlarge. The initial singularity formed in the second quarter of 1968. What a moon shot! April 18, 1968 The Telegraph: American Sp...

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Mrs. Glee's Foods Review!

<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Easy to prepare instead of following all of those boring long directions on the back of the box!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Are you missing something in your daily diet such as fiber or protein?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>These delicious prepared foods I was sent for review courtesy of <a href="http://mrsglees.com/">Mrs. Glee's</a> gluten free foods uses the navy bean for the base of their ingredient in their foods being high in fiber and nutritious as well!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Best part of all I got to pick what I wanted to review!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>What I chose:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pizza crust</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Alfredo noodles</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Brownie mix</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Oatmeal cookie mix</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Other products:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Navy bean flour</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Rigatoni</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Elbow macaroni</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And more!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Alfredo noodles:</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kyrZPqf5O8Q/UjJVkAGIFFI/AAAAAAAAJqo/lD9WqGVzF-E/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kyrZPqf5O8Q/UjJVkAGIFFI/AAAAAAAAJqo/lD9WqGVzF-E/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I can't remember when the last time I had Alfredo noodles was especially one that's more healthier for me.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The best thing about these noodles was that it didn't have the cheese added in just like they do in the pasta side mixes so you have to get those creative juices flowing and whip up your own cheese sauce or if your not a cheese eater you can use red sauce with meatballs!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I loved these noodles they were fantastic. Super cheesy and delicious with grilled chicken.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I can't wait to test out the other products! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Facebook:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mrsglees">https://www.facebook.com/mrsglees</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Twitter:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/mrsglees"><i>https://twitter.com/mrsglees</i></a></div>

Mrs. Glee's Foods Review!

Easy to prepare instead of following all of those boring long directions on the back of the box! Are you missing something in your daily die...

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Food Employee Growth Anarchy! (Musical Tribute)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJlY6rjpg9_4kuJjuV5_7AmB4qArTilFDIQEOvueAcn9AYJKlNFksAIEzfhj7YSV1n072Mqh-zOLy66MvfW4edYcoQZ0pb2S8La8fG4JdoxwDwcxKS-hjcCv_-EnV1JtfuYVYdOrrhy0/s1600/Food+Employee+Growth+Anarchy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJlY6rjpg9_4kuJjuV5_7AmB4qArTilFDIQEOvueAcn9AYJKlNFksAIEzfhj7YSV1n072Mqh-zOLy66MvfW4edYcoQZ0pb2S8La8fG4JdoxwDwcxKS-hjcCv_-EnV1JtfuYVYdOrrhy0/s320/Food+Employee+Growth+Anarchy.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />This "recovery" might not end well, but it will end. I have no doubts about that.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZcJjMnHoIBI" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>You better listen, better do what you're told<br />You haven't even touched your tuna casserole<br />You better chow down or it's gonna get cold<br />So eat it</i></div><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/CES4244500001">St. Louis Fed; All Employees: Retail Trade: Food and Beverage Stores</a><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/CES7072200001">St. Louis Fed: All Employees: Leisure and Hospitality: Food Services and Drinking Places</a><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/POP">St. Louis Fed: Population</a>

Food Employee Growth Anarchy! (Musical Tribute)

Click to enlarge. This "recovery" might not end well, but it will end. I have no doubts about that. You better listen, better do w...

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Eat Smart Bathroom Scale Review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HqPj7zbBw7s/UjIwKJysqOI/AAAAAAAAJoQ/9T9yRwUizig/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HqPj7zbBw7s/UjIwKJysqOI/AAAAAAAAJoQ/9T9yRwUizig/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Let me just say for all of you out there that has struggled with weight loss you are not alone, I've been there and it's an everyday struggle.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Especially when you've been heavy or slightly your whole life it's not easy because maybe you've always wanted to be a runner, an athlete or cheerleader and it's holding you back because you just don't have it in you.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thing is I've started dieting and exercising on and off practically my whole life and quit because I just wasn't ready, it's a lot of work and if you don't get out there and give it all you've got then you'll give up.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h35tXZIh-C4/UjIw2fnCySI/AAAAAAAAJpE/bEC9rIDup98/s1600/13+-+6" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h35tXZIh-C4/UjIw2fnCySI/AAAAAAAAJpE/bEC9rIDup98/s320/13+-+6" width="320" /></a></div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So that's why I'm here today with this review, I've received a bathroom scale for review  from <a href="http://www.eatsmartproducts.com/">Eat Smart </a>so I could stay on track with my progress at home and not just at the gym!</i><br /><br /><i>I couldn't wait to test out the scale because I've recently started jogging while walking and I just knew it had to be doing something !</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qce-LSSHIfY/UjIw2TZqBgI/AAAAAAAAJpk/FyVchnzPNP4/s1600/13+-+7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qce-LSSHIfY/UjIw2TZqBgI/AAAAAAAAJpk/FyVchnzPNP4/s320/13+-+7" width="320" /></a></div><i><br /></i><i>I've never felt better in my whole life than I do right now from changing my life by eating better and a whole lot of exercise!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vCyW2TBE9tU/UjIw2b4ymqI/AAAAAAAAJo8/RY-djp3Mzok/s1600/13+-+4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vCyW2TBE9tU/UjIw2b4ymqI/AAAAAAAAJo8/RY-djp3Mzok/s320/13+-+4" width="320" /></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have to admit it I've given up many times before on eating healthier and exercising, but when I joined the gym all that has changed. I can not and will not give up on myself I've come too far to just throw it all away now.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy8B_ILvWMo/UiE1IEE3Q7I/AAAAAAAAJeA/s-CzQOpLEPo/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy8B_ILvWMo/UiE1IEE3Q7I/AAAAAAAAJeA/s-CzQOpLEPo/s320/13+-+1" width="213" /></a></div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sure I have my days where I want throw in the towel but I go for a walk or go to the gym and push myself that much harder. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've come to realize that ever since I've changed my habits of eating and exercising that I've become a stronger person and have a whole new perspective on life. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've always been the type that never liked to workout especially when I was younger I was known as the fat kid in school, but all that's changed for the better and now I love exercising!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Not only does exercising release endorphins that make you feel good but it can help with a lot of problems such as high blood pressure and losing weight.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVbfzrOjuh4/UjIw2eO8MtI/AAAAAAAAJpc/ZUyzWoltbPo/s1600/13+-+3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVbfzrOjuh4/UjIw2eO8MtI/AAAAAAAAJpc/ZUyzWoltbPo/s320/13+-+3" width="320" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Yes it's hard work but you've got to stick to it even when times get tough.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FEHbvvyyJJY/Ui9yo7tilnI/AAAAAAAAJl4/a60AHA2d8Zc/s1600/20130910_125845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FEHbvvyyJJY/Ui9yo7tilnI/AAAAAAAAJl4/a60AHA2d8Zc/s320/20130910_125845.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LIO90vzEVJI/UjIv-tgW3tI/AAAAAAAAJn0/s7twPlu5DgY/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LIO90vzEVJI/UjIv-tgW3tI/AAAAAAAAJn0/s7twPlu5DgY/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hgGMOEBuYG0/UjIw2R8NFqI/AAAAAAAAJpM/8qLjVtZCA0A/s1600/13+-+8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hgGMOEBuYG0/UjIw2R8NFqI/AAAAAAAAJpM/8qLjVtZCA0A/s320/13+-+8" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Here's a photo of the scale set up in the bathroom before I tried it out!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Now many things can fluctuate the number on the scale whether it's the surface that the scale is on, which was my problem at first.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>So then I put it on the floor in the kitchen and was totally shocked when I saw the number on the scale!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_otQymAMho/UjI1vD_uWAI/AAAAAAAAJqE/YOCdXqFEkyk/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_otQymAMho/UjI1vD_uWAI/AAAAAAAAJqE/YOCdXqFEkyk/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I was ecstatic seeing the number on the scale just flashing away before my eyes, it was the lowest number that I've ever been at in a long time and I'm so proud of myself! </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/EatSmartProducts">https://www.facebook.com/EatSmartProducts</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/EatSmartScales">https://twitter.com/EatSmartScales</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Eat Smart Bathroom Scale Review

 Let me just say for all of you out there that has struggled with weight loss you are not alone, I've been there and it's an everyda...

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