Library Office Assistant: Circulation Substitutes - West Hartford Public Library

<strong>Library Office Assistant: Circulation Substitutes - </strong><strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">West Hartford Public Library</span></strong></strong> seeks customer service-oriented individuals to join our staff as on-call substitute circulation assistants. Duties: Charging/ discharging materials; answering phones and routing calls; collecting fines; issuing cards; assisting patrons in the use the self-checkout stations; placing holds and performing other duties as requested. Hours & Pay: Currently $ 17.77 per hour. Hours may include nights and weekends. Requirements: Excellent communication and customer service skills; previous library experience and knowledge of SIRSI is preferred as is availability during daytime. To apply: applications are available at the Noah Webster Library’s Customer Service Desk or online at <a _fcksavedurl="http://71.6.170.26/revize/westhartford/living_here/town_departments/support_services_to_town_departments/employee_services/docs/employmentapplication.pdf" href="http://71.6.170.26/revize/westhartford/living_here/town_departments/support_services_to_town_departments/employee_services/docs/employmentapplication.pdf" target="_blank">http://71.6.170.26/revize/westhartford/living_here/town_departments/support_services_to_town_departments/employee_services/docs/employmentapplication.pdf</a>. Completed applications may be dropped off or mailed to: West Hartford Public Library, 20 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT, 06107, Attn: Ann Marie Salerno. Review of applications will begin immediately and applications will be accepted until a pool of substitutes is developed. EOE.

Library Office Assistant: Circulation Substitutes - West Hartford Public Library

Library Office Assistant: Circulation Substitutes - West Hartford Public Library seeks customer service-oriented individuals to join our st...

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Systems Librarian for Public Services - Library Connection, Inc., Windsor

<strong>Systems Librarian for Public Services -</strong> <strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Library Connection, Inc.</span></strong></strong> (Windsor), a consortium of one academic and 26 public libraries, seeks an experienced individual to serve as a Systems Librarian for Public Services at its office in Windsor, CT. This staff member will initially manage the consortium’s migration to a new ILS. After the migration is complete, the position will transition into a full time Systems Librarian for Public Services. Migration Manager duties include planning, scheduling, and managing all aspects of the migration: database cleanup; simplifying and standardizing data categorization; accommodating transaction and fee data; data extraction; consortium and library staff training; testing and quality assurance; customization of library patron interfaces; and new member migration. System Librarian for Public Services duties include working with member libraries, committees, vendors, and Library Connection staff to support and enhance our shared Integrated Library System; troubleshooting, developing and enhancing system capabilities and consortia functionality that further consortium goals. This individual must possess general knowledge of all modules of an integrated library system. Familiarity with web development tools and the ability to write or modify scripts and programs is preferred. MLS or MLIS and 5 years experience required. See the <a _fcksavedurl="http://www.libraryconnection.info/pdfs/positionAnnounce.pdf" href="http://www.libraryconnection.info/pdfs/positionAnnounce.pdf" target="_blank">complete job description</a> for full requirements. Salary range is $60,000-$80,000. Applications, along with three references, should be submitted to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:gchristian@libraryconnection.info" href="mailto:gchristian@libraryconnection.info">gchristian@libraryconnection.info</a>. Applications will be accepted through <span style="color: red;">July 1, 2013</span>.

Systems Librarian for Public Services - Library Connection, Inc., Windsor

Systems Librarian for Public Services - Library Connection, Inc. (Windsor), a consortium of one academic and 26 public libraries, seeks a...

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So You Want to Learn About: Le Corbusier

<i>The "So You Want to Learn About" series highlights books focused on a particular theme: think "socially responsible architecture" and "phenomenology," rather than broad themes like "housing" or "theory." Therefore the series aims to be a resource for finding decent reading materials on certain topics, born of a desire to further define noticeable areas of interest in the <a href="http://www.archidose.org/books/books.html">books I review</a>. And while I haven't reviewed every title, I am familiar with each one; these are not blind recommendations.</i><br /><br /><i>With the exhibition </i><a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1321">Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes</a><i> opening Saturday, and the architect occupying much of my time and thoughts since <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2013/06/le-corbusier-atlas-of-modern-landscapes.html">seeing the exhibition</a> before the </i><a href="http://cfa.aiany.org/index.php?section=calendar&evtid=5806">Le Corbusier/New York</a><i> symposium last week, I've put together a list of books and essays by and on the architect. Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, 1887-1965) wrote more than 30 books, and the books written about him must be well over 100—not to mention the essays devoted to one of the most influential architects of the 20th century—so the list below is extremely partial, based on what I know and what's in my library.</i><br /><br /><b>Le Corbusier's Writings:</b><br /><img alt="about02-1.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/about02-1.jpg" title="So You Want to Learn About covers" /><br /><br /><b><a href="http://store.doverpublications.com/0486253325.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The City of Tomorrow and Its Planning</span></a></b> <br /><b>By Le Corbusier</b><br /><b>Dover Publications, 1987 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486253325/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0486253325&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><b>, originally published in 1925 as <i>Urbanisme</i> </b><br />Le Corbusier was not content designing houses; he wanted to rebuild cities. Many critics, even to this day, blame him single handedly for the urban renewal projects executed decades after he first published this classic treatise on the contemporary city. Necessary reading, if anything for recognizing how later architects and bureaucrats misinterpreted many of his ideas.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://store.doverpublications.com/0486250237.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Towards a New Architecture</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Le Corbusier</b><br /><b>Dover Publications, 1985 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486250237/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0486250237&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>), originally published in 1923 as <i>Vers une Architecture</i></b><br />Le Corbusier's first book (a compilation of essays from his magazine <i>L'Esprit Nouveau</i>) lays out many of the ideas that have persevered both in terms of his oeuvre and modernism as a whole, particularly the inspiration found in industrial buildings (grain elevators) and machines (cars, airplanes, ships). The book is required reading in most early-level architecture classes, so most architects have read it and are familiar with his "unvarnished opinions and innovative theories."<br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781568981536"><span style="font-style: italic;">Oppositions Reader</span></a> </b><br /><b>Edited by K. Michael Hays</b><br /><b>Princeton Architectural Press, 1998 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568981538/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1568981538&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />Le Corbusier wrote plenty of other books that are well known (<i>When the Cathedrals Were White</i> and <i>Le Modular and Modular 2</i>, to name just two), but his essay "In Defense of Architecture"—a 1933 response to Karel Teige's 1929 "Mundaneum" dissertation—is recommended by architect George Baird as "one of the most touching and frank texts of his whole career." Baird translated the text for the fourth issue (1974) of the journal <a href="http://www.modernism101.com/eisenmann_oppositions_set.php"><i>Oppositions</i></a>.<br /><br /><b>Monographs:</b><br /><img alt="about02-2.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/about02-2.jpg" title="So You Want to Learn About covers" /><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.phaidon.com/store/architecture/le-corbusier-le-grand-9780714846682/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Le Corbusier Le Grand</span></a> </b><br /><b>Edited by Phaidon</b><br /><b>Phaidon, 2008 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0714846686/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0714846686&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />Le Corbusier receives the massive-Phaidon-book treatment, à la <i>Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary Architecture</i>. And what better way to take in the 2,000 images and documents, many unpublished? The 768-page tome includes an "insightful introductory essay by France’s most authoritative architectural historian and critic, Jean-Louis Cohen."<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.degruyter.com/view/product/200493?rskey=snRIaE&result=19&q=corbusier"><span style="font-style: italic;">Le Corbusier: Oeuvre Complete</span></a> </b><br /><b>Edited by Willy Boesiger, Oscar Stonorov, Max Bill</b><br /><b>Birkhäuser, 1995 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3764355158/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=3764355158&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>), originally published 1929-1970</b><br />This eight-volume set of complete works, done in close collaboration with the architect himself, is the model for just about every monograph that has followed. Since 1995 Birkhäuser has published the books, available individually or as sets.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.abramsbooks.com/Books/Le_Corbusier-9780810934948.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Le Corbusier: Architect of the Twentieth Century</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Kenneth Frampton</b><br /><b>Abrams, 2002 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0810934949/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0810934949&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2003/10/05/le-corbusier/">Review</a>)</b><br />The first sentence in historian Kenneth Frampton's presentation of 16 completed Corbu projects is honest and telling: "We shall never finish with Le Corbusier." As the exhibition and crop of books here shows, that is certainly the case, particularly as people reconsider previous views and interpretations of his buildings and writings. Frampton's text is balanced by beautiful color photos in this coffee table book.<br /><br /><b>Historical Analysis:</b><br /><img alt="about02-3.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/about02-3.jpg" title="So You Want to Learn About covers" /><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781568989808"><span style="font-style: italic;">Le Corbusier, Homme de Lettres</span></a> </b><br /><b>By M. Christine Boyer</b><br /><b>Princeton Architectural Press, 2011 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568989806/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1568989806&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />Epic would be an apt word for describing this examination of "Le Corbusier's many writing projects from 1907-1947." When Swiss-born Le Corbusier became a French citizen in 1930 he indicated "homme de lettres" (man of letters) as the profession on his national identity card, rather than architect or painter. Boyer's clear text dissects the architect's evolution as an architect (and writer) through his voluminous written output—books, but also diaries, letters, sketchbooks, lectures, and essays.<br /><br /><b><a href="https://papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781616890681"><span style="font-style: italic;">Le Corbusier Redrawn: The Houses</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Steven Park</b><br /><b>Princeton Architectural Press, 2012 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890681/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1616890681&link_code=as3&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a> / <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/02/04/le-corbusier-redrawn-the-houses/">Review</a>)</b><br />This book of 2-D and 3-D drawings contributes greatly to understanding Le Corbusier's architecture, especially for students, but Park's book is even more valuable for collecting 26 of the architect's houses in one place, with orthographic drawings all to the same scale.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.artbook.com/9780870708510.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes</span></a> </b><br /><b>Edited by Jean-Louis Cohen</b><br /><b>Museum of Modern Art, 2013 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870708511/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0870708511&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />The companion to the MoMA exhibition goes well beyond the drawings, models, and photos found in the sixth floor galleries, with roughly 30 essays contributed by historians and critics. Appropriately, the "atlas" takes the reader on a journey through space and time, tracing the output of the first international architect. Historian and exhibition curator Jean-Louis Cohen's ambitious project looks at Le Corbusier's architecture and urban plans through the lens of landscape, a tactic that addresses a deficiency in the architect's scholarship and offers lessons to those practicing today.<br /><br /><b>Essays about Le Corbusier:</b><br /><img alt="about02-4.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/about02-4.jpg" title="So You Want to Learn About covers" /><br /><br /><b><a href="http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/mathematics-ideal-villa-and-other-essays"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mathematics of the Ideal Villa and Other Essays</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Colin Rowe</b><br /><b>MIT Press, 1982 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262680378/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0262680378&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />Three essays in this collection look in part or wholly at Le Corbusier's buildings: Villa Stein at Garches in the title essay; the same villa and the Palace of the League of Nations project in "Transparency: Literal and Phenomenal" (with Robert Slutzky); and one essay devoted to La Tourette. Dense but necessary reading.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.monacellipress.com/book/?isbn=9781580932707"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Scenes of the Street and Other Essays</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Anthony Vidler</b><br /><b>The Monacelli Press, 2011 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580932703/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1580932703&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />In Anthony Vidler's first published essay, "The Idea of Unity and Le Corbusier's Urban Form" (in <i>Urban Structure</i>, 1968, edited by David Lewis), he draws parallels between Corbu's architecture and urban planning and the writing of 19th-century social thinker Charles Fourier. In this, Vidler sees a continuity of earlier ideas underlying the changes in form and technical means of the modern era.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-style: italic;">Essays in Architectural Criticism: Modern Architecture and Historical Change</span> </b><br /><b>By Alan Colquhoun</b><br /><b>MIT Press, 1985 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262530635/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0262530635&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />Colquhoun's 1972 essay "Displacement of Concepts in Le Corbusier" (originally published in <i>Architectural Design</i>, vol. 43) looks at how Le Corbusier's "Five Points" and other design methods are a displacement of traditional architecture, rather than breaks from them. Colquhoun argues that all architecture and theory is part of a larger architectural culture, and he sees Corbu's approach as a way of carrying cultural meanings forward.<br /><br /><img alt="about02-5.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/about02-5.jpg" title="So You Want to Learn About covers" /><br /><br /><b><a href="http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/projective-cast"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Projective Cast: Architecture and Its Three Geometries</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Robin Evans</b><br /><b>MIT Press, 2011 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262550385/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0262550385&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br />A chapter on Le Corbusier's "Comic Lines" analyzes the geometries in the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Haut, Ronchamp (1950-55), particularly the roof. Those familiar with Evans will not be surprised by the rigor and the inventiveness of his examination, in this case of a sculptural building that would seem to defy geometrical analysis.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/theory-and-design-first-machine-age"><span style="font-style: italic;">Theory and Design in the First Machine Age</span></a> </b><br /><b>By Reyner Banham</b><br /><b>MIT Press, 1980 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262520583/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0262520583&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>), originally published in 1960</b><br />A couple chapters in Banham's classic first book are devoted to Le Corbusier, one on <i>Vers une Architecture</i> and one on "town planning and aesthetics" as explored by Corbu in later writings. The former is a particularly thorough dissection of the book, chapter by chapter, but ultimately Banham find the writings of the latter "better-reasoned."<br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781568981536"><span style="font-style: italic;">Oppositions Reader</span></a> </b><br /><b>Edited by K. Michael Hays</b><br /><b>Princeton Architectural Press, 1998 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568981538/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1568981538&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">Amazon</a>)</b><br /><a href="http://www.modernism101.com/eisenmann_oppositions_set.php"><i>Oppositions</i></a> published two special double issues devoted to Le Corbusier: 15/16 (covering the period 1905-1933) and 19/20 (covering 1933-1960). From those, three are collected in this reader: "Aspects of Modernism: Maison Dom-ino and the Self-Referential Sign" by Peter Eisenman; "Antiquity and Modernity in the La Roche-Jeanneret Houses of 1923" by Kurt W. Forster; and "Le Corbusier and Algiers" by Mary McLeod. Respectively these are an obtuse argument for a sign system in architecture, an analysis of one of the architect's classic houses from the 1920s, and a thorough documentation and analysis of one of his most ambitious projects.

So You Want to Learn About: Le Corbusier

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

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CBC News - Can you patent a disease?

The outbreak of a novel coronavirus in the Middle East is not only raising worldwide health concerns but triggering questions about the ability of organizations to patent the genetic sequences of diseases for profit.<br /><br><br /><br>The World Health Organization reports that there have been 53 lab-confirmed cases of infection with a new coronavirus called the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). Thirty-one of the people infected with the disease have died.<br /><br><br /><br>Saudi Arabia has seen the most cases, but the infection has also been found in countries such as Tunisia, Jordan and Qatar, as well as in Germany and Italy.<br /><br><br /><br>The virus was identified in September 2012, three months after the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, acquired a sample of it. The centre has taken out a patent on the virus's genetic sequence.<br /><br><br /><br>While Saudi officials and the WHO have said the patent will impede the process of containing MERS-CoV and developing treatments, Erasmus has defended the move.<br /><br><br /><br>Albert Osterhaus, a virologist at Erasmus, told Bloomberg News that patenting the virus was a "normal thing to do."<br /><br><br /><br>Indeed, the patenting of genetically modified or isolated viruses is nothing new, says David Schwartz, a patent lawyer and partner at the Canadian intellectual property firm Smart & Biggar.<br /><br><br /><br>"You can't patent a disease condition per se, such as cancer or influenza," says Schwartz. "But if you're talking about patenting a lifeform like a bacteria or virus, if altered by man, the answer there is yes."<br /><br><br /><br>A patent is a form of intellectual property that allows the patent holder to control the use of a product or method of doing something. That control includes the ability to charge royalties for its use.<br /><br><br /><br>Schwartz says that obtaining a patent on a simple mechanical invention, such as a Christmas tree stand, in a single country might cost about $10,000. But getting a patent on a more complex technology - such as one involving chemical synthesis - that also covers multiple countries can run $200,000 or more.<br /><br><br /><br>While patent law differs somewhat from country to country, in the area of microorganisms most nations agree on general principles, says Schwartz.<br /><br><br /><br>You can't patent something that is naturally occurring, he says, but if an organism is modified in some way, it is patentable.<br /><br><br /><br>One of the most famous cases of biological patenting is the so-called "Harvard mouse," a type of laboratory mouse genetically modified by scientists at Harvard University to carry an "oncogene," which makes the animal susceptible to cancer. It was patented in the United States, though not in Canada.<br /><br><br /><br>"Ninety-nine point nine per cent of the mouse is God's creation, but in its totality, as you would claim it as the subject for a patent, it's a non-naturally occurring, man-made thing," says Schwartz.<br /><br><br /><br>In the case of a gene, modifying its information or removing it from its chromosome typically would be enough to warrant a patent, says Schwartz, because the snippet of chromosome would not appear in nature by itself.<br /><br><br /><br>This is a key point in the case of the novel coronavirus. To pinpoint it, Erasmus likely used what is called "deep sequencing," says Earl Brown, executive director of the Emerging Pathogens Research Centre at the University of Ottawa.<br /><br><br /><br>In this process, the infected sample would be run against databases of known genes and viruses to determine its genetic composition. Brown says the researchers would then typically remove the sequence from its chromosome and copy it in order to conduct further tests.<br /><br><br /><br>The rationale for patenting a genetic sequence such as the novel coronavirus is to be able to develop products, such as diagnostic tests or a vaccine, that could be marketed and sold, says Bernard Dickens, professor emeritus of Health Law and Policy at the University of Toronto.<br /><br><br /><br>"Profit is what underlies the whole patent system," he says.<br /><br><br /><br>But as the science of biotechnology advances, people are taking a second look at some of the original patent decisions that helped set precedent.<br /><br><br /><br>The boom in biological patenting began with the identification of the gene for breast cancer, says Dickens.<br /><br><br /><br>In 1994, the University of Utah, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and Myriad Genetics filed a U.S. patent on BRCA1, a gene that indicates a woman's susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer. The patent was granted in 1997. (In 1995, the same consortium filed a patent on the BRCA2 gene, which was granted in 2000.)<br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br>BRCA1 was recently in the news after Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie announced that she had undergone a double mastectomy after learning that she had a "faulty" BRCA1 gene that greatly increased her risk of breast cancer.<br /><br><br /><br>The problem with the breast cancer patent, Dickens says, is that Myriad Genetics was charging exorbitant rates for the use of its diagnostic tests.<br /><br><br /><br>"They were prohibiting hospitals, including in Canada, from undertaking the test using their technique. They were imposing charges that were really at a prohibitive level," says Dickens.<br /><br><br /><br>The dispute over the BRCA1 and BRCA2 patents has sparked a legal challenge that is currently before the Supreme Court in the U.S.<br /><br><br /><br>Depending on the court's decision, the case could either strengthen or undermine what can and can't be patented.<br /><br><br /><br>Meanwhile, at the World Health Organization's annual conference in Geneva in May, WHO Director General Margaret Chan stressed that countries need to share information on the novel coronavirus.<br /><br><br /><br>"Making deals between scientists because they want to take [intellectual property], because they want to be the world's first to publish in scientific journals, these are issues we need to address," she said.<br /><br><br /><br>Albert Osterhaus, the virologist at Erasmus, has said that his organization is sharing this coronavirus "with everyone who wants to do public health research."<br /><br><br /><br>The aim of patenting, says Dickens, is to encourage organizations to pour investment into solving a specific problem.<br /><br><br /><br>"The balance, and it still hasn't been satisfactorily resolved in every case, is giving investigators an incentive to invest in research to produce products, which they can then license and receive results on," says Dickens.<br /><br><br /><br>Some universities patent particular inventions for the purpose of preventing commercial exploitation, Dickens says. They get the patent and then publish it widely, so it's available to all researchers.<br /><br><br /><br>"That's part of the mission of universities, of course: to make investments for the public good," says Dickens. "So it doesn't follow that [a patent] is necessarily going to be exploited for profit."<br /><br><br /><br>Schwartz says that while some may see biological patents like a hindrance to gaining a handle on potentially lethal organisms such as a coronavirus, they are ultimately intended as an incentive for researchers to find solutions.<br /><br><br /><br>"Perhaps there are also other ways of advancing industry and science, but this is the globally accepted system," he says.<br /><br><br /><br><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/2013/06/07/f-gene-patenting.html">http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/2013/06/07/f-gene-patenting.html</a>

CBC News - Can you patent a disease?

The outbreak of a novel coronavirus in the Middle East is not only raising worldwide health concerns but triggering questions about the abil...

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Flaming Buoy Fillet Co.

For dinner on our first night in Key West we ate in Flaming Buoy, which is one of our favourite places to dine.<div><br></div><div>We had our choice of tables and we took what we think is the best table.  It is a little table wedged in to a very private area.<br><div><br></div><div>We ordered a really delicious Malbec -  tasted so good and went really well with the steak.  </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6ZXCgnUzv1jclDubz6Sa_BjKkJ8eQUoN9z4PQkoTxnpBSpkmpoiqbq_0N2IMLtRNjWkqBv_YlHL-9L31MWvxE4aLBGo0n3zuzjeBwrn36VdgAISB-Lva-mxDmICU51qK50hPwf_370zr/s640/blogger-image--1496389995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6ZXCgnUzv1jclDubz6Sa_BjKkJ8eQUoN9z4PQkoTxnpBSpkmpoiqbq_0N2IMLtRNjWkqBv_YlHL-9L31MWvxE4aLBGo0n3zuzjeBwrn36VdgAISB-Lva-mxDmICU51qK50hPwf_370zr/s640/blogger-image--1496389995.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>For starter, Ciaran had shrimp (or prawns as we call them in Ireland).  He enjoyed them!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHQKwrgApV6dZl1_tT8IRKIlHYNcUhuNOX_l8QLB0fvgYURDRM-KLZvsdB-nJrBwlkmugQJ8v_gQmsW-RuctpecmRPFIbRyuRyXm6sjE6abK_yKbjMC-Ovh19l_DfGkolqX3I-PT7DXFp/s640/blogger-image--1295230241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHQKwrgApV6dZl1_tT8IRKIlHYNcUhuNOX_l8QLB0fvgYURDRM-KLZvsdB-nJrBwlkmugQJ8v_gQmsW-RuctpecmRPFIbRyuRyXm6sjE6abK_yKbjMC-Ovh19l_DfGkolqX3I-PT7DXFp/s640/blogger-image--1295230241.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I ordered off the small plates menu (salad, 3 small plates + a dessert for $22 - bargain!!) and I chose the blue cheese wedge salad to start.  I meant to ask what type of blue cheese it was but I forgot to :-(</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiXvpcJ_92tLEyFba8Tlg_dPO4HFez_Egm-nV8xVJKb9NEu5Yzt0C0VEOnXP42hrpPWGvxYLRfXqf7PIRfGM53VQpO0eKG4gxPVx6JF5FUS4sZFqc3fPsSWK2pryQGCxDGCh3GBrnjmfm/s640/blogger-image--1836845837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiXvpcJ_92tLEyFba8Tlg_dPO4HFez_Egm-nV8xVJKb9NEu5Yzt0C0VEOnXP42hrpPWGvxYLRfXqf7PIRfGM53VQpO0eKG4gxPVx6JF5FUS4sZFqc3fPsSWK2pryQGCxDGCh3GBrnjmfm/s640/blogger-image--1836845837.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>For main, Ciaran had the NY Striploin which was huge!! He ordered it rare and it was cooked perfectly.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXXjXmddYr_nUeZU-0aPGwKMSFmUcq9spVOtmNjaFaHM_-UXUGXKWySf83FdtunwcVvaHZU47jEHr6jolS8hgHBb7DSwFqYQGmgydkoTi_hkW3fUdvHERawD46VWox0HtggXtFbyEsSH5/s640/blogger-image-982395402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXXjXmddYr_nUeZU-0aPGwKMSFmUcq9spVOtmNjaFaHM_-UXUGXKWySf83FdtunwcVvaHZU47jEHr6jolS8hgHBb7DSwFqYQGmgydkoTi_hkW3fUdvHERawD46VWox0HtggXtFbyEsSH5/s640/blogger-image-982395402.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuy3WrCXijH_DLGIKMF09kbNz61AfAnVM1GGiSywSZR9ZS66p0R858hGlmGoE9Koe-i0PyNKFYzIljuZ2QuXX4_wLSq593AbDV7ky8DKwHuT4HfcqQmzPyjDc8qK-dlFszutl9e2imqynZ/s640/blogger-image--1265110231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuy3WrCXijH_DLGIKMF09kbNz61AfAnVM1GGiSywSZR9ZS66p0R858hGlmGoE9Koe-i0PyNKFYzIljuZ2QuXX4_wLSq593AbDV7ky8DKwHuT4HfcqQmzPyjDc8qK-dlFszutl9e2imqynZ/s640/blogger-image--1265110231.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>My main consisted of their popular lobster & mac (divine as always), steak on crispy bread (yum) and a small bowl of chilli (which I wish I had ordered a bacon wrapped scallop instead) - I left off the sour cream.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFFnUY4PKaRfMhFDMvJtoy_wJzbP6eWOBAWn2wKdxKkfYIX7ZhR28kX3lJyRimo745KJV_j4DD2mkfE5r7FEraQRxAKyPt6KMKsGkAraIzXVB10hHMWMvMcD2ZGI0UURWJJRkm_yACB_R/s640/blogger-image--974471768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFFnUY4PKaRfMhFDMvJtoy_wJzbP6eWOBAWn2wKdxKkfYIX7ZhR28kX3lJyRimo745KJV_j4DD2mkfE5r7FEraQRxAKyPt6KMKsGkAraIzXVB10hHMWMvMcD2ZGI0UURWJJRkm_yACB_R/s640/blogger-image--974471768.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkDFv27vegVK2gGl4uaH4ANCEtOVNs7roUnHpce44bj3mL2eh3Ae2G-SqJdmIyw21LUyO7mbgp7vuIITsivqEsX57wtqfJkPyoQ90zhBVioRBmlsAP-6sJIEw79Ao2mlL_GlwB3UiOh2O/s640/blogger-image--1863371899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkDFv27vegVK2gGl4uaH4ANCEtOVNs7roUnHpce44bj3mL2eh3Ae2G-SqJdmIyw21LUyO7mbgp7vuIITsivqEsX57wtqfJkPyoQ90zhBVioRBmlsAP-6sJIEw79Ao2mlL_GlwB3UiOh2O/s640/blogger-image--1863371899.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPfr5x_WVbrTvujDTX-s9wyXaEFlBO1t5Soih4O2jVBtv7IncyhvnUvNZmVcfOSuxjmdmNnSigowxYkLB9Kadfb5Uh3ZRfaPNCO7pJrfdFTLxYWaVeFz378QYstW5hFPAew0f6Ytz4227/s640/blogger-image-1460900805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPfr5x_WVbrTvujDTX-s9wyXaEFlBO1t5Soih4O2jVBtv7IncyhvnUvNZmVcfOSuxjmdmNnSigowxYkLB9Kadfb5Uh3ZRfaPNCO7pJrfdFTLxYWaVeFz378QYstW5hFPAew0f6Ytz4227/s640/blogger-image-1460900805.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Then for dessert, on the advice of our server (Alberto from Queens), I chose the Banana Bread Toast with maple syrup & Tahaitian Vanilla Ice Cream from Flamingo Crossing.  All I can say is Wow!!  It was fantastic - I would return to Flaming Buoy in a shot for it!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wtiu-DDZcby4jcCsXNDs1j1rhG7pqR6_p0a99D_lEyVDftvcDQO36q6P1oWu0oK0SDg15BFtINEUDXh-qp35zDbQNGne2A3ZxKRKPqKyO0sBFwUt8_Z_1_T1salAGoCxqXei2BeexUes/s640/blogger-image--1397164736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wtiu-DDZcby4jcCsXNDs1j1rhG7pqR6_p0a99D_lEyVDftvcDQO36q6P1oWu0oK0SDg15BFtINEUDXh-qp35zDbQNGne2A3ZxKRKPqKyO0sBFwUt8_Z_1_T1salAGoCxqXei2BeexUes/s640/blogger-image--1397164736.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Flaming Buoy is a great option for a romantic meal off the beaten path.  It's a quirky KW restaurant that is so charming.  You will enjoy it!!</div><br></div></div>

Flaming Buoy Fillet Co.

For dinner on our first night in Key West we ate in Flaming Buoy, which is one of our favourite places to dine. We had our choice of tables ...

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Tablet are the future computing thatswhy anything will not be like as in future in place of computers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Not only India but also worldwide the tablet market is growing rapidly. In March 2011 Steve Jobs announced the iPad 2 tablets and said it's  a "post - PC device. He also said that one day the world do the work on it then it feels strange but it is changing because the PC has been with us a long time so it will happen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8s1IP55V9PXhoDiHblAq8UuMHTT-e9hs018yuUa8IMV4G-ZkvNQ-fSgEUr6Ab-nTgQYtV8qu7F9CNTEgMX0aSh8U4aPh1Brg42v_2XqK3UUYTZ_s7YFk4yuDIRDId-Blm_0wtczaOJac/s1600/tablet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8s1IP55V9PXhoDiHblAq8UuMHTT-e9hs018yuUa8IMV4G-ZkvNQ-fSgEUr6Ab-nTgQYtV8qu7F9CNTEgMX0aSh8U4aPh1Brg42v_2XqK3UUYTZ_s7YFk4yuDIRDId-Blm_0wtczaOJac/s1600/tablet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If we accept the knowledge data sources and expert advice then  Steve Jobs were right in their place. Because it  turned out to be changed. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to a report released in last year in U.S. Market research firm International Data Coprereshn (IDC) in March 2013, The sales of the tablets in 2012 is 78.4 percent. This year 12.8 million tablets were sold worldwide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to an IDC report , This is just the beginning in 2013 sales of the tablet computer sales will overtake. Moreover by 2014 sales of tablets will overtake the sales of portable PCs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to expert advice in place of centric board keyboard mouse. Indeed, Touch Computing 'Natural User Interface' is placed efficiently and attractive way. That means more natural way of using this method electronics, which is much simpler. That is believed to be the future of tablet computing. On the other side of the mouse and the software industry in the last 30 years - board software is designed primarily for the device.  Now the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="13d646fb-9e0d-4de7-9aa6-7703c618900d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="91ee389f-c312-451b-a858-86d4a46cfb46" grcontextid="focusTouch:0">focusTouch</span> computing has been on the platform. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because The future seems bright of Tablet computing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br />Published by <br /><a href="https://plus.google.com/102418621855646948908" rel="author">Narendra Kumar</a>

gadget gadgets google I/O HD laptop mobile news Revews review Science Security smart phone Tablet Technology wireless charging Tablet are the future computing thatswhy anything will not be like as in future in place of computers

Not only India but also worldwide the tablet market is growing rapidly. In March 2011 Steve Jobs announced the iPad 2 tablets and said it...

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Window On the World: Back roads of Western Virginia

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANg9hSv5xTLdi6A2fxP4LQw10l6XXj0bFvZfZzCgjBHfHIP6vAzRHuNDcV-9YmNCAphSatCFaixGR93Izb9-qnG-y58g7KvCer8OM-1Q4Z7GRkWMGoH4zvOPktZElk4wZ8FbbHBEc_qsA/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANg9hSv5xTLdi6A2fxP4LQw10l6XXj0bFvZfZzCgjBHfHIP6vAzRHuNDcV-9YmNCAphSatCFaixGR93Izb9-qnG-y58g7KvCer8OM-1Q4Z7GRkWMGoH4zvOPktZElk4wZ8FbbHBEc_qsA/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A lone silo stands abandoned in a field.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKk-yaq0OkXLW6lsyBu2pjhf7gGlCyvPPDzK8esxJX6cQGG3fXt2W8GnaThEhCO-UpeqPeF9AucRInB6YeorfogoHl3D6k99Tb0Db8loNmImfs-s2-jj8RGpf57hnKJYPK4gnTsPK1Gnl7/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKk-yaq0OkXLW6lsyBu2pjhf7gGlCyvPPDzK8esxJX6cQGG3fXt2W8GnaThEhCO-UpeqPeF9AucRInB6YeorfogoHl3D6k99Tb0Db8loNmImfs-s2-jj8RGpf57hnKJYPK4gnTsPK1Gnl7/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cattails and wildflowers along the Calfpasture River.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUwX4DTe3yoKBk9SHrqogRXFkfb1n4w0vy8o1WIiiEfiur0kyk04Hahp6lChqQxDJEdNNOveolVvqep-7GoZBQJVcieujGyK0rMUWu3l-jjQDcv6aradrTVFrMpeyygbfrD2WIRYsBcjF/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUwX4DTe3yoKBk9SHrqogRXFkfb1n4w0vy8o1WIiiEfiur0kyk04Hahp6lChqQxDJEdNNOveolVvqep-7GoZBQJVcieujGyK0rMUWu3l-jjQDcv6aradrTVFrMpeyygbfrD2WIRYsBcjF/s400/19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">June wildflowers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi3vWFf8TwKPWgia_dH61bHxDVlZlFSukbunlDio_Hc8MEemMKl3eHd-zvbc7aemtM_U4h0cwaPfAYQC_mdTI9B-oxDHESCBDXX40BAjkN8uKqaAn41pGu-dXPsGUrlQhwMXFJvbXn3MP/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi3vWFf8TwKPWgia_dH61bHxDVlZlFSukbunlDio_Hc8MEemMKl3eHd-zvbc7aemtM_U4h0cwaPfAYQC_mdTI9B-oxDHESCBDXX40BAjkN8uKqaAn41pGu-dXPsGUrlQhwMXFJvbXn3MP/s400/20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9QFrVThowNPN6bcRLvBEd0f5BSVeZYgRJFQtj3nCrPkiKULBd5RY4Z7MegKdahmAg3mXr1KhYxIjq4X3Hq99P5OxkTbnWVXArBqtYl8c_YK-eE9-6fdvA9qdHCUat0O6P6UgkRJWU9T2/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9QFrVThowNPN6bcRLvBEd0f5BSVeZYgRJFQtj3nCrPkiKULBd5RY4Z7MegKdahmAg3mXr1KhYxIjq4X3Hq99P5OxkTbnWVXArBqtYl8c_YK-eE9-6fdvA9qdHCUat0O6P6UgkRJWU9T2/s400/32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZm-SrO_hsBqLsLASjC73TgPAJacBUb2CNtbDVyL0f4DUdpGNoZSNL7Z771PGC6PHU9bLf0eqWAZRGziwk7R9gQ8d_SUswXt9JZYH53xLIfp0qFp8KemSY42VKg9W_JEr3oBEtRR4CE4Z/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZm-SrO_hsBqLsLASjC73TgPAJacBUb2CNtbDVyL0f4DUdpGNoZSNL7Z771PGC6PHU9bLf0eqWAZRGziwk7R9gQ8d_SUswXt9JZYH53xLIfp0qFp8KemSY42VKg9W_JEr3oBEtRR4CE4Z/s400/34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWHyjnjRd3inXbWsjh5XJD9e5ZcJV0hA6dWY0AXKlCC5M5wZER2A_751BM_tFA5ObRiMi7dbB_aEwKSmNMFARSwz0dLL0Fo2jJx4JurA5oaf0nDBE1XKNgEUKWMM-aFll_4Gx_ky3dt7S/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWHyjnjRd3inXbWsjh5XJD9e5ZcJV0hA6dWY0AXKlCC5M5wZER2A_751BM_tFA5ObRiMi7dbB_aEwKSmNMFARSwz0dLL0Fo2jJx4JurA5oaf0nDBE1XKNgEUKWMM-aFll_4Gx_ky3dt7S/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjPBL-ZmXbF9nfHIeEOq4E8mgoBqkobkry67E95KaD7-Im3FKTCBScLBQFgVmZ8YqiV-UYfYm0E0sLEgE5g7ZikMNm0LuqnpVfyM1YDQLhXT0SEcTq-HqeVJQV83bP0z-0wkdryLpwv4c/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjPBL-ZmXbF9nfHIeEOq4E8mgoBqkobkry67E95KaD7-Im3FKTCBScLBQFgVmZ8YqiV-UYfYm0E0sLEgE5g7ZikMNm0LuqnpVfyM1YDQLhXT0SEcTq-HqeVJQV83bP0z-0wkdryLpwv4c/s400/26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vjuyRKRnH6yEZMjQywRZwrYFzNXSSJjGPq5UcC50FudsKuviw3E32Y59RckvN9lG006YFVd3fSFNlr1aKN0A-giH-XZFmBrGL75Crs8oj9fAph7hSDtAtvcMRXOoMsuv8bMKTMO1GkNH/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vjuyRKRnH6yEZMjQywRZwrYFzNXSSJjGPq5UcC50FudsKuviw3E32Y59RckvN9lG006YFVd3fSFNlr1aKN0A-giH-XZFmBrGL75Crs8oj9fAph7hSDtAtvcMRXOoMsuv8bMKTMO1GkNH/s400/29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNi907ZYvO_qb6Gub_3ECwVVzwcRKdbCXuKO8dXT6piyjDytswnDTiDCib_HQhXfCuMV-juCiu9TbLO0oTEV3AiXCp-jIx2C7K4h7IBFDDOGN6py6VnFdFP3Z50kgWc7jb0zx778ioY5J/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNi907ZYvO_qb6Gub_3ECwVVzwcRKdbCXuKO8dXT6piyjDytswnDTiDCib_HQhXfCuMV-juCiu9TbLO0oTEV3AiXCp-jIx2C7K4h7IBFDDOGN6py6VnFdFP3Z50kgWc7jb0zx778ioY5J/s400/36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />My Window On the World: Back roads of Western Virginia<br />June 12, 2013

Augusta County back roads of Virginia Bath County Rockbridge County rural America tourism Virginia Is For Lovers Window On the World: Back roads of Western Virginia

A lone silo stands abandoned in a field. Cattails and wildflowers along the Calfpasture River. June wildflowers. Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell ...

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Alert: Stay safe your smart phone from High Tech Threats or cheating in buying of smart phone in India

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">There are buyers cheating in India when they buy samsung galaxy s4  in they get half the memory space rather than paying full price. On this phone there 16 GB internal memory is given but its half memory is already full by the installed applications and softwares.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_k61HdyMZfbZPfbsEeEjERv8Mzqky4LeqVifn2ZPNQGjiLNTMxMxG4mgjMM2RW9q2PYlhk4weZqlsiLatm1JFAjBHAF3BI5jM1eMojKf67DIdJ6ngMNHX9N8boxeA599eF-ymIUccUQ/s1600/samsunggs4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_k61HdyMZfbZPfbsEeEjERv8Mzqky4LeqVifn2ZPNQGjiLNTMxMxG4mgjMM2RW9q2PYlhk4weZqlsiLatm1JFAjBHAF3BI5jM1eMojKf67DIdJ6ngMNHX9N8boxeA599eF-ymIUccUQ/s320/samsunggs4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So the user can download new apps on the phone memory only 9.15 GB due to its already memory using<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b6f67019-928f-4a99-b5f0-bb30ce60c9f8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cbc4af69-cc38-4c10-88a1-174f0fc3ec4f" grcontextid=".:0">.</span>so this is the main drawback of samsung galaxy s4 smart phone but the company is going to plan to solve this problem  by update its software.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkTAl08ZsswDkFKZDTrUNl7CdKJWqtfHnbfdutdxpltzGFX-qNkO5x4m3iZ3Nd4Y7W6pUd2gGa9XpbWExm9BWwtCM-JP4Q7b6gR6wOW8vskcL3HJDkg6X2qYysQMg00HJNCUn-hKXb1E/s1600/smgpaa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkTAl08ZsswDkFKZDTrUNl7CdKJWqtfHnbfdutdxpltzGFX-qNkO5x4m3iZ3Nd4Y7W6pUd2gGa9XpbWExm9BWwtCM-JP4Q7b6gR6wOW8vskcL3HJDkg6X2qYysQMg00HJNCUn-hKXb1E/s320/smgpaa1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the software updated the apps can be shifted into the SD card <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="37ab1183-61d9-4686-81bf-bd4445f5e510" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0cdd9f6e-74ea-405b-994a-9e17e634e233" grcontextid="thatswhy:0">thatswhy</span> users can use the remaining 9.23<span style="text-align: left;"> GB memory space in this phone.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmii2tV7J72pfN39LGvMJS93FIapoTKNHME0-em_6_WBQKRIxYquTnaqOZfInJ0Ybd5sIEqVudg427yHrpj1nrjJasQlHV0hV0GzKfM2nZ0KvLZmFvuOqCDrGUT58kDdT7eYGulmwOIIM/s1600/smgpass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmii2tV7J72pfN39LGvMJS93FIapoTKNHME0-em_6_WBQKRIxYquTnaqOZfInJ0Ybd5sIEqVudg427yHrpj1nrjJasQlHV0hV0GzKfM2nZ0KvLZmFvuOqCDrGUT58kDdT7eYGulmwOIIM/s320/smgpass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the update, the phone will have a semi-Transparent notification bar from which user can easily make a smart pause ON or OFF.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMNCw0kYl8MNnf8FlAONsL21Apatp3V7Hlx47eoEU9qWhCLxp4JAULrS9zxyXbJR25pf77OYoEWYOCb3ainFCf2jeUN2yECij72EGz0WTUgDcdLVJ0x1kEcAaGqeXEjs6Jws5zN874Yw/s1600/smgs41.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMNCw0kYl8MNnf8FlAONsL21Apatp3V7Hlx47eoEU9qWhCLxp4JAULrS9zxyXbJR25pf77OYoEWYOCb3ainFCf2jeUN2yECij72EGz0WTUgDcdLVJ0x1kEcAaGqeXEjs6Jws5zN874Yw/s320/smgs41.png" width="252" /></a></div><br />This phone OS first update in Jerman Snapdragon phone and running  S4 users have to wait.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-P3bB6Ufxmp9NRbXzk3ywMJAmlUPUPqPPpyWdQIVxscIsMHsOph84Qg7VmEoZE0k9CgZw4zK9vZbDo8eCudXWjn6Sy8M93s5fmrNH1xVDyIGaMwTtVEAuF5a-zMRGG_vQYxTcPeSjlQU/s1600/smgs42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-P3bB6Ufxmp9NRbXzk3ywMJAmlUPUPqPPpyWdQIVxscIsMHsOph84Qg7VmEoZE0k9CgZw4zK9vZbDo8eCudXWjn6Sy8M93s5fmrNH1xVDyIGaMwTtVEAuF5a-zMRGG_vQYxTcPeSjlQU/s320/smgs42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCE0YeW6kUP9_Qso-Ovxl4hgK669a5KroXMsUutCEZINEHxr6FgOvXzM1CJMts3Gv3w1BCA-N51lIu7QJmPBKg0T_vlB1vEzx9J2hk1u4IDWCFavy6dc-JGYqBPH-2rDP67rpq2P68-tc/s1600/smgs411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCE0YeW6kUP9_Qso-Ovxl4hgK669a5KroXMsUutCEZINEHxr6FgOvXzM1CJMts3Gv3w1BCA-N51lIu7QJmPBKg0T_vlB1vEzx9J2hk1u4IDWCFavy6dc-JGYqBPH-2rDP67rpq2P68-tc/s320/smgs411.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>Published by <br /><a href="https://plus.google.com/102418621855646948908" rel="author">Narendra Kumar</a> </div>

Accessories Camera computer Dispaly gadget gadgets galaxy Revews samsung Security sensors Tablet Technology Alert: Stay safe your smart phone from High Tech Threats or cheating in buying of smart phone in India

There are buyers cheating in India when they buy samsung galaxy s4  in they get half the memory space rather than paying full price. On this...

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Creative Writing #14: Have you explored using Kerpoof for digital storytelling?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerpoof as a writing tool was brought to my attention by one of our SchoolNet members, Warren Sparrow from Rondebosch Boys Prep. He has a post about Kerpoof on his blog (<a href="http://wsparrow.blogspot.com/2013/06/kerpoof.html">http://wsparrow.blogspot.com/2013/06/kerpoof.html</a>) and he has even created the first part of his own fairytale.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is Kerpoof?</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what it says on the Kerpoof website </span><a href="http://www.kerpoof.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.kerpoof.com/</a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Kerpoof's multimedia software is used by kids worldwide to create original artwork, animated movies, stories, greeting cards and more. The site is meant to be fun, but we're serious about its educational value. Elementary and middle school teachers can use Kerpoof in many ways to enhance classroom activities while meeting a range of educational standards.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrWriKMBGJt6ix4jrQUtG41_HsBrz7KT-0OwrC2XG_z1qizkcSRPh2LtKmW9DudgPPa77TGQ-T-1hbKcl5fWo7cvbWe561WNXkYJimenQQFix13OBZLYkie04PsYchOccc5iCu_boMNu9/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></span></div><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What does a Kerfoof video look like?</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what Warren Sparrow writes on his blog. “<i>Make your own animations. This is SUPER COOL and easy to use.Ideal for younger learners! Click below to see my start of a fairytale</i>”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://wsparrow.blogspot.com/2013/06/kerpoof.html">http://wsparrow.blogspot.com/2013/06/kerpoof.html</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for this Warren. I have put this into a Screencastomatic video for easier viewing on the blog. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="498" scrolling="no" src="http://screencast-o-matic.com/embed?sc=cI16Q4VwjA&w=420&v=3" width="420"></iframe></span></div>

30 Days of Writing Creative writing Web tools Creative Writing #14: Have you explored using Kerpoof for digital storytelling?

Kerpoof as a writing tool was brought to my attention by one of our SchoolNet members, Warren Sparrow from Rondebosch Boys Prep. He has a po...

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Webinar recording from 12 June 2013 'Did you know that PowerPoint can do all this?'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8VZF0t_z8Wpyj1YUcNRM1K5eokX-l3Qdre75AvUrrfozzpbSP9kF3ZcLHXIWWzu-kErcSoUBRlC35c4_awPvZNOEcV4Hf-CzUcpriCI-1-_uhaY8FwON9Y0LSbZqt1Og1hGLrSgu4Vs/s1600/flamingtext_22973154611741195.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8VZF0t_z8Wpyj1YUcNRM1K5eokX-l3Qdre75AvUrrfozzpbSP9kF3ZcLHXIWWzu-kErcSoUBRlC35c4_awPvZNOEcV4Hf-CzUcpriCI-1-_uhaY8FwON9Y0LSbZqt1Og1hGLrSgu4Vs/s400/flamingtext_22973154611741195.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday Our SchoolNet webinar was entitled 'Did you know that PowerPoint can do all this?'  (presenter Fiona Beal)  Our webinar quota was reached and consequently Adobe Connect excluded several people from participating in the webinar. We apologise for this and we are adding the presentation plus the recording to this post. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The webinar summary</span></b><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">This webinar was the first in a two part series about Microsoft's PowerPoint. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Often one hears the words 'Death by PowerPoint' but in fact this programme has a HUGE variety of wonderful uses that you may not know about. There are many exciting ways to conduct presentations - Keynote and Prezi just to name two.  </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">In this first webinar we introduced some of the amazing things that can be done with PowerPoint other than just being used for presentations.  A subtitle for this webinar could be '<i>Ten things that you can do using PowerPoint apart from the normal use of making a presentation</i>'. But these amazing uses won't be all - next week we'll continue with more PowerPoint features that you might not know about. Join us!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Webinar recording </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(20 mins)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to those who attended or wanted to attend. Here is the link to the recording. </span><br /><a href="http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/p5ae57e6jn7/" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/p5ae57e6jn7/</span></a><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The presentation used for the webinar</span></strong><br /><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/22876939" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="427"> </iframe> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><strong> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/did-you-know-powerpoint-could-do-all-this" target="_blank" title="Did you know PowerPoint could do all this?">Did you know PowerPoint could do all this?</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal" target="_blank">Fiona Beal</a></strong> </div></div>

webinars Webinar recording from 12 June 2013 'Did you know that PowerPoint can do all this?'

Yesterday Our SchoolNet webinar was entitled 'Did you know that PowerPoint can do all this?'  (presenter Fiona Beal)  Our webinar qu...

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Dr. Scholl's Footwear...Guilty of Malpractice!!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGLsqpC7Zd2mww5r-NT3eg9Ec2SbPv7uUFwesUsBGXazzyMzXf83rCE-qlmmHk9Q-hPaSoHi6dojMEIBeFlATwsAqqP09dyX4-cZ9tBqu0c9dX9P_aa_ZhemIWxH3CxC-LimF8hgbXUU/s1600/Dr.+Scholl's+Logo.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/AVvXsEjBGLsqpC7Zd2mww5r-NT3eg9Ec2SbPv7uUFwesUsBGXazzyMzXf83rCE-qlmmHk9Q-hPaSoHi6dojMEIBeFlATwsAqqP09dyX4-cZ9tBqu0c9dX9P_aa_ZhemIWxH3CxC-LimF8hgbXUU/s200/Dr.+Scholl's+Logo.jpg" width="200" /></a>Cheeeeers and Happy End in Sight to the Weekend Day!!<br /><br />I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thursday, a wonderful weekend, and if you’re a dad, I wish you a Happy Pre-Father’s Day Day, Day, Day.  Let’s see…<br /><br />Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday…yeah I got that correct, so…anyhoo.<br /><br />In early March of this year, I received my income tax refund.<br /><br />I was in desperate need of new tennis shoes, so I traveled five minutes up the road to one of the Wal*Marts here in Springfield, Ohio and purchased (along with some new underwear and a headset/microphone if you must know) this…<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvQEK6RqjQIGxWwiHVxTI1n_ShGOLAheTPLcQFWPdjSxEoLLlJtgAE7arM9OJK7p7VCGIsRni0usJP3U_KA8brKtidU38z37tJX5c0PgG_mGtdeBlgsApc4EalLqDWMNHpxn0cytuuMk/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvQEK6RqjQIGxWwiHVxTI1n_ShGOLAheTPLcQFWPdjSxEoLLlJtgAE7arM9OJK7p7VCGIsRni0usJP3U_KA8brKtidU38z37tJX5c0PgG_mGtdeBlgsApc4EalLqDWMNHpxn0cytuuMk/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />A shoe…Well, actually a <i>pair</i> of shoes, but this one in particular (it's the right shoe), is the subject of my post today, and is and has been the bane and pain of my ambulatory and fiduciary torment.<br /><br />You see folks…that above picture is that of the right side of right shoe that I purchased barely three months ago; the left side of my right shoe, after only three months as I reiterate, looks like this…<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1C3IvA8aMmivaIYP0u4O2_KciCC-7ZUnxa17Paj2U4JPOQo8OaZXpBYcjXqlkIyHWTKUlkFnxgnSrx7dgq18t0TnyIx6MHHmlhiKlIXCjik8fQKSuRMiAlmiWOukQ5TgQEoFRGrntC4/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1C3IvA8aMmivaIYP0u4O2_KciCC-7ZUnxa17Paj2U4JPOQo8OaZXpBYcjXqlkIyHWTKUlkFnxgnSrx7dgq18t0TnyIx6MHHmlhiKlIXCjik8fQKSuRMiAlmiWOukQ5TgQEoFRGrntC4/s320/002.JPG" width="317" /></a></div><br />I Know, Right?  What the hell?<br /><br />As you can gather from the title of this post, the manufacturer of said show is Dr. Scholl’s, and I would like to have a word or two with them.  Here…Now, and yet…cordially.<br /><br />The shoe itself is, er was...quite comfortable, and I was initially happy with my purchase which was somewhere between 29 and 34 dollars as I recall.  They felt good as did I, and then?<br /><br />A couple of months into the life of the shoes?  Instead of walking on air, I began to walk on heartache, tarsal ache, and an ache associated with a quickly diminishing arch which resembled gout and Elephantiasis.<br /><br />Here’s another picture of said, sad shoe…<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgm6Eg8Zw61Pb8kaiFQcIQ_thlj0H3X-a5Ida-1hcNGA8IMsPdh4aERVscGMRNy_70hDCWbruSNPGcpJy42O4BcGTMLaPLza9jmVisKtAuUhMWQY8pNZX3xIn_WzPLEXz4aerMZnG9B7c/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgm6Eg8Zw61Pb8kaiFQcIQ_thlj0H3X-a5Ida-1hcNGA8IMsPdh4aERVscGMRNy_70hDCWbruSNPGcpJy42O4BcGTMLaPLza9jmVisKtAuUhMWQY8pNZX3xIn_WzPLEXz4aerMZnG9B7c/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />It’s odd, but while the stitching of the shoe remains intact, the sole is completely divesting itself of the leather, and man-made material upper!!<br /><br />When I first noticed this some weeks ago, as I tied my shoes to go to work, I tied them in a double knot...of OUTRAGE!!<br /><br />In spite of my farcical sarcasm, I truly <i>am</i> somewhat pissed.  I mean c’mon.  I know 29-34 dollars isn't the national debt, but to me and for those with whom I live and help to take care of and contribute, it is not an insignificant amount of money.<br /><br />I don’t want to get nasty with Dr. Scholl’s footwear, I just want to get a new pair of shoes, because three months for the life of a pair shoes is unacceptable.<br /><br />Sure, it could have been an aberration...a rare substandard pair that I bought.  Perhaps this particular pair of shoes utilized glue from not only a losing horse, but one which never even made it to the gate.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD94d4pQFA0nmPgfVlZxQMXWpKW-q8OIa2UgOA55BJslnMnF2Toioudloeh5hRDiuWx2bJIBdpRJDT4ooDjAV291TujJUmYUiN7GiBV1XXHmFqZP8K6bS2SEMUdVR11oZjr_M5cpCQBI/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD94d4pQFA0nmPgfVlZxQMXWpKW-q8OIa2UgOA55BJslnMnF2Toioudloeh5hRDiuWx2bJIBdpRJDT4ooDjAV291TujJUmYUiN7GiBV1XXHmFqZP8K6bS2SEMUdVR11oZjr_M5cpCQBI/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />And of course, I am not the type of guy who wants to give a black eye to a fine American company such as Dr. Scholl’s who raises Old Glory everyday and salutes their offshore accounts while selling Chinese made shoes, however…<br /><br />I will contact them with a link to this post and voice my dissatisfaction, and I am sure they will recompense me with a new pair of shoes, and if they do that?<br /><br />I will loudly and proudly say, <i>“Way to go Dr. Scholl’s for doing the right thing!!”</i><br /><br />However, if they do not…<br /><br /><span id="goog_1921786784"></span><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><i>IWS Radio</i></span></a><span id="goog_1921786785"></span> will be all over them like a foot fungus, and they will quickly feel what Achilles felt, lo those many centuries ago.<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br />Matt-Man<br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a> </div>

Dr. Scholl's Footwear...Guilty of Malpractice!!

Cheeeeers and Happy End in Sight to the Weekend Day!! I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thursday, a wonderful weekend, and if you’re a da...

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom smartphone launched with 16-megapixel CMOS Sensor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwZvowcjTtEvuzIfVhSG54DKHg6groNyJhJYv8kTd7hBY2ibrRQJa9LhQg3HQgKncG4S0MRED-G81F0F1PaFs0iwBpMe-JYeuOKg4fWbpVjCJXfpM2rlR3lSeMYVeYNTcrFgQweTZ-9s/s1600/samsung-galaxy-s4+Zoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwZvowcjTtEvuzIfVhSG54DKHg6groNyJhJYv8kTd7hBY2ibrRQJa9LhQg3HQgKncG4S0MRED-G81F0F1PaFs0iwBpMe-JYeuOKg4fWbpVjCJXfpM2rlR3lSeMYVeYNTcrFgQweTZ-9s/s320/samsung-galaxy-s4+Zoom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Samsung has officially announced the<strong><u> Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom</u></strong>. The device is the first camera-focused Android smartphone from the South Korean manufacturer. With a 16-megapixel CMOS Sensor, 16x optical zoom, Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) and Xenon Flash, the smartphone might be an interesting device for photography enthusiasts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom comes with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display with a resolution of 540x960 pixels. It is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and offers 8GB of internal storage expandable via microSD card. Along with the 16-megapixel rear shooter, the device also comes with a 1.9-megapixel front facing camera. The device runs on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system with Samsung's TouchWiz UI.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The phone also comes with Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/5GHz (ac), NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), A-GPS connectivity options and a 2,330mAh battery. On the sensor front, the device has Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyroscope and RGB Light sensors.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The smartphone camera hybrid comes with a dedicated shutter button. Along with the hardware, Samsung has incorporated various features and modes in the software of the device as well to add to the camera capabilities of the device. The hybrid can be used to click continuous shots at 4fps max with auto focus. The camera also comes with up to 25 smart mode options. These smart modes are namely Beauty face, Best photo, Continuous shot, Best face, Kids shot, Landscape, Dawn, Snow, Macro, Food, Party/Indoor, Action freeze, Rich tone (HDR), Panorama, Waterfall, Animated photo, Drama, Eraser, Sound & Shot, Silhouette, Sunset, Night, Fireworks, Light trace and Smart mode suggest.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Samsung has also introduced special functionalities to the 'Zoom Ring'. When you're in the middle of a phone call, a twist of the Zoom Ring will activate the in-call photo share feature. The feature lets you capture and send an image directly via MMS to whoever you are talking to.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With all these features, the phone will also come preloaded with Samsung apps such as Samsung Hub, Samsung Link, Samsung ChatON, S Voice and S Translator.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Most key specifications:-</u></strong> </span><br /><div align="justify"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The first camera-focused Android smartphone from the South Korean manufacturer</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div style="text-align: justify;">4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD touchscreen display</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;">Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;"> Resolution of 540x960 pixels</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;">Dual-core 1.5GHz processor</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;">8 GB internal storage, expandable up to 64GB via microSD card</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;">1.5GB RAM</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;">Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/5GHz (ac), NFC and Bluetooth 4.0</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;">16-megapixel rear camera with Xenon flash, 10X Optical Zoom and 1.9 megapixel front camera</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;">Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyroscope and RGB light sensors</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;">2,330mAh battery</div></li><li><div style="text-align: justify;"> Samsung apps such as Samsung Hub, Samsung Link, Samsung ChatON, S Voice and S Translator.</div></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Published by <br /><a href="https://plus.google.com/112865615030946176397" rel="author">Priyanka</a></div>

galaxy HD mobile news samsung Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom smartphone launched with 16-megapixel CMOS Sensor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display

Samsung has officially announced the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom . The device is the first camera-focused Android smartphone from the South Kore...

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Controls engineer - Electrical (Stepper OR servo OR Galil motors | motion control | subsystems) (#109651)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Title:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Sr Controls Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Fulltime<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job description:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The successful candidate will be a member of a team developing the control electronics subsystem of an advanced wafer inspection system. The subsystem includes multi-axis controllers driving a complex mix of sensors and actuators of various types.  The candidate will be responsible for all design related aspects of the subsystem including cable and PCB design, prototype test and debug, subsystem integration, test and ECO release.  In this role they will work closely with mechanical, manufacturing and reliability engineers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The successful candidate will be experienced in the following areas:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1.Stepper and servo motor control design<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2.Galil (or similar) controller programming<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3.Cable design<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4.PCB Design using OrCAD schematic capture<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5.Prototype PCB test and test fixture set up<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6.Electrical/Mechanical subsystem integration, test and troubleshooting<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">7.ECO release and documentation<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">8.Writing manufacturing/service documentation and provide training<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The successful candidate must also have the following:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1.Strong written and verbal communications skills<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2.Self-motivation with the ability to work independently and with a team<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3.The ability to multi-task<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4.A desire to expand his/her knowledge through self-study and training<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5.Strong troubleshooting skills<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minimum Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 2 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Master's Level Degree with at least 4 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 5 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kindly send in your resumes to vinod.sanker@kla-tencor.com<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></div></div>

Controls engineer - Electrical (Stepper OR servo OR Galil motors | motion control | subsystems) (#109651)

Job Title:  Sr Controls Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Fulltime Job description: Responsibilities: The successful candidate wil...

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Western Augusta County

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-TxnRORmGV8SMSpm6NJHmOYL5a25EkdZrhA9diUEf-g1Nq1YkjnWtPfjUcI7v3Xx08L64k6cgtgu5A0XN_cb_I3_pqx3xLUwOEhZBztwekZ3sVFnf3rBZPChMpOV2gh0qRz1C0joFyFh/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-TxnRORmGV8SMSpm6NJHmOYL5a25EkdZrhA9diUEf-g1Nq1YkjnWtPfjUcI7v3Xx08L64k6cgtgu5A0XN_cb_I3_pqx3xLUwOEhZBztwekZ3sVFnf3rBZPChMpOV2gh0qRz1C0joFyFh/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The honeysuckle is blooming....</div><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />June 12, 2013

Alleghany Mountains Appalachian Mountains Augusta County Shenandoah Valley tourism Virginia Is For Lovers Western Augusta County

 The honeysuckle is blooming.... Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell June 12, 2013

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Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie

<div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script> I have the hardest time with food right now.  Nothing looks good to me on a daily basis.  I have been absolutely all over the food map with variety during this pregnancy.  One minute I love peanut butter (as I normally would), the next it makes me nauseous   This has been the same pattern with all foods (except, miraculously, milk!) throughout these last 8.5 months.<br /><br />Add to that my issues with preparing food.  Normally, I love cooking.  For most of this pregnancy, cooking has been non existent for me.  I simply cannot do it.  The smells of the food, the texture of raw meat - gag. me. now. <br /><br />Still, as I'm nearing the end of this journey, I know it's time to start getting my mind back into the weight loss game.  I have been eating out during this pregnancy like it's going out of style.  The reason for this is mainly due to the changing tastes.  I could like spaghetti one day, and hate it the next.  I am convinced that all that eating out has certainly played a huge part in the weight gain department. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVm4Rt-f2Ewsg8GSmAimlPyh1BveAnXVmBkXKCAVjwAQxuSJOhgrfCoHfKySNCN6Ie4lBmMVsu8Q6SfzzldjjS86XEtWu9kunDiJ2iwTx9K6hj0ddK1_O7mM9k6UQr28Me72eRj95caq4/s1600/oatmeal+raisin+smoothie+after+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVm4Rt-f2Ewsg8GSmAimlPyh1BveAnXVmBkXKCAVjwAQxuSJOhgrfCoHfKySNCN6Ie4lBmMVsu8Q6SfzzldjjS86XEtWu9kunDiJ2iwTx9K6hj0ddK1_O7mM9k6UQr28Me72eRj95caq4/s400/oatmeal+raisin+smoothie+after+1+copy.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>So, I've been indulging in smoothies lately.  One of which is the one I plan to share with you today - the <a href="http://happyherbivore.com/2010/05/oatmeal-cookie-smoothie/" target="_blank">Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie</a>.  I discovered this tantalizing drink on Pinterest Lord knows how long ago.  I made it for the first time last Thursday.  It honestly tasted like an oatmeal raisin cookie, but with far more nutritional benefits.  (I apologize in advance that I cannot give any Weight Watchers Points for this, seeing that I put my membership on a hiatus until postpartum).<br /><br />Have you seen this one floating around on Pinterest?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiju4OLj2AJcT0pP4lKQFGZp9D1Svhuq-dLGdh3Rz807NowKlXOlDP6tUY4fpu4d9pdCJOsin-aZQ8hKkIiIXDHXTF3iWw307yAyUKix3B-oMhykgGgRby07mdP3efjsWoqiJCkurMLgXE/s1600/oatmeal+raisin+smoothie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiju4OLj2AJcT0pP4lKQFGZp9D1Svhuq-dLGdh3Rz807NowKlXOlDP6tUY4fpu4d9pdCJOsin-aZQ8hKkIiIXDHXTF3iWw307yAyUKix3B-oMhykgGgRby07mdP3efjsWoqiJCkurMLgXE/s400/oatmeal+raisin+smoothie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie</b><br /><i>adapted from the <a href="http://happyherbivore.com/2010/05/oatmeal-cookie-smoothie/" target="_blank">Happy Herbivore</a></i><br /><br /><i>Ingredients:</i><br /><ul><li>2 whole bananas</li><li>1 c. ice</li><li>1/4 c. rolled oats</li><li>1/4 c. Light Vanilla Silk</li><li>1/2 tsp ground cinnamon</li><li>dash of cardamom</li><li>1 Tbsp raisins</li></ul><i>Notes: The original recipe calls for 2 frozen bananas, for which I did not have.  I added in the cup of ice figuring it would help thicken the consistency, and it did.  Additionally, the cardamom is "optional" but I had some on hand and it added a great flavor to it.  If you are a chai tea lover, then you will love cardamom, since it's once of the main ingredients!</i><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Step 1:</i></span></b> Be very excited to use your new <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ninja-XL-Master-Prep-Professional-Blender-NJ600/15436117" target="_blank">Ninja</a>!  Just the other night, I had to go out and buy a new blender because my trusty Hamilton Beach from college decided to burn up during one of my smoothie making festivities.  This puppy had some great reviews on Walmart.com and so I went out and bought her (from Target.. since they had her in stock and Walmart did not).  It wasn't a sad departure - the HB blender was pretty much always awful at blending drinks that involved a lot of frozen goods.  This fine girl though, man did she deliver at all 1000 watts of power in her motor!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoz4I1VfPwo2BZBODM60-rKnrjGOJiceuIHyKZgJsOFr-Gf9kx1egAPcoDkPYo8bFUvUwP63rGXMCrzv_yuyauuE9gySxmyiSUTYhYfFL_U5SaDvJTa4AYtEpwhMJBM9Qx23Ih2OQfoZc/s1600/ninja+ingredients.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoz4I1VfPwo2BZBODM60-rKnrjGOJiceuIHyKZgJsOFr-Gf9kx1egAPcoDkPYo8bFUvUwP63rGXMCrzv_yuyauuE9gySxmyiSUTYhYfFL_U5SaDvJTa4AYtEpwhMJBM9Qx23Ih2OQfoZc/s400/ninja+ingredients.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><br /><br /><i><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Step 2:</span></b> </i> Combine all ingredients in your blender and.... blend!  I had to blend mine for about a minute.  There isn't a ton of liquid in this concoction to formulate a quick blend.  With the oats and raisins, it took some time to puree it all, but it tasted great!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQXZchbEgO2WuiQNe-bl3uRaBCAYYwR91G9uBJ68pFN4LxZUtZ5HAoU82sOyCb0KGrerSV5jfW2dp5alZPAGy3aaXQ31mBC_0_ijCc35TGBOB9DwCOoKiErJxMSG3wJR9GKLcNcHDrGs/s1600/oatmeal+raisin+smoothie+inside+blender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQXZchbEgO2WuiQNe-bl3uRaBCAYYwR91G9uBJ68pFN4LxZUtZ5HAoU82sOyCb0KGrerSV5jfW2dp5alZPAGy3aaXQ31mBC_0_ijCc35TGBOB9DwCOoKiErJxMSG3wJR9GKLcNcHDrGs/s400/oatmeal+raisin+smoothie+inside+blender.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><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/AVvXsEgX7niaTRsJ2hwKPwtZFXRmue-cW9E2jgQHpKtuN1fLyhHHDVHaxKtbe0a-jYXPOCnShgpRXMLGmDOTKYq54a9ueNbZ69GvGu7RoPIKVROQbhpWxLjgflOsB4339uyo87hHSae9k7dv2Ug/s1600/oatmeal+raisin+smoothie+after+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7niaTRsJ2hwKPwtZFXRmue-cW9E2jgQHpKtuN1fLyhHHDVHaxKtbe0a-jYXPOCnShgpRXMLGmDOTKYq54a9ueNbZ69GvGu7RoPIKVROQbhpWxLjgflOsB4339uyo87hHSae9k7dv2Ug/s400/oatmeal+raisin+smoothie+after+2.jpg" width="322" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">What are some of your favorite smoothie recipes?</span></b></div><br /><script data-pin-hover="true" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie

I have the hardest time with food right now.  Nothing looks good to me on a daily basis.  I have been absolutely all over the food map with...

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Stormy weather

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Lots of rain and thunderstorms here in Key West, Florida.<div><br></div><div>There was a half hour break in the weather where we sat by the Community Pool.</div><div><br></div><div>I also took an afternoon nap to get over the jet lag.  Ciaran was on the deck at this time and said it was unbelievably hot!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XavfwQVLi6KRqsfNI7Pcr9vdcJzqgSv_dBJkJ0AFPtpCpKPamB9JlYGrPBrCysCtP-Ogw0uktwwpBdnJFW5lDSLhxxOnZiDp2T5-er91nQDn_86I3RMlNrGlWkXQsuLpoy18tQ_T0eNz/s640/blogger-image-2074174055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XavfwQVLi6KRqsfNI7Pcr9vdcJzqgSv_dBJkJ0AFPtpCpKPamB9JlYGrPBrCysCtP-Ogw0uktwwpBdnJFW5lDSLhxxOnZiDp2T5-er91nQDn_86I3RMlNrGlWkXQsuLpoy18tQ_T0eNz/s640/blogger-image-2074174055.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Check out all the great vehicles I spotted on the walk to the Old Town Bakery this morning.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK6IsLdTGpxsSbYq7TR_9lGCgDJbj9Z-GqhGsNiJPRDZ_vkR_F3HNRZXAF5UOqiTj0PZOKZv6Ksqt9LH-EHqAtzbZqBHIKP_Ih14VlgWS_XYITgGaAoUozXYn0j1dGZ3oqtzTLq8NJTq-/s640/blogger-image--1889670841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK6IsLdTGpxsSbYq7TR_9lGCgDJbj9Z-GqhGsNiJPRDZ_vkR_F3HNRZXAF5UOqiTj0PZOKZv6Ksqt9LH-EHqAtzbZqBHIKP_Ih14VlgWS_XYITgGaAoUozXYn0j1dGZ3oqtzTLq8NJTq-/s640/blogger-image--1889670841.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mTKB2DUWa9TdEk3OyTqd-3sTRZ9fS8YyF4-pWs-ach__Ly2w_Le2qMnDkgnwUzlcBIXbPnb78QmT3YlD5ZJI3Q6OYvLcZh98Q04WFTVWQrQUqu-SxSisNrEIUQkG0z22-cr-pnEsHP2e/s640/blogger-image-1850780594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mTKB2DUWa9TdEk3OyTqd-3sTRZ9fS8YyF4-pWs-ach__Ly2w_Le2qMnDkgnwUzlcBIXbPnb78QmT3YlD5ZJI3Q6OYvLcZh98Q04WFTVWQrQUqu-SxSisNrEIUQkG0z22-cr-pnEsHP2e/s640/blogger-image-1850780594.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We also called to my parents and sisters on Southard.  My parents rented a house for the month of June.  It's a great traditional Key West Conch house with balconies.  At the top of the house is a huge bar area with large deck off it - perfect for socializing!  My sister will probably blog about it and I will link it when she does.</div><br></div></div>

Stormy weather

Lots of rain and thunderstorms here in Key West, Florida. There was a half hour break in the weather where we sat by the Community Pool. I a...

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Early Literacy Librarian - Hartford Public Library

<strong>Early Literacy Librarian - </strong><strong></strong><strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Hartford Public Library</span></strong></strong> seeks a full-time Early Literacy Librarian in support of early literacy and childhood literacy, within the Library’s broader program of services. This position requires substantial application of professional knowledge and experience. Responsibilities: responsible for the system wide support of the Library’s strategic initiatives of providing early literacy experiences to infants through preschoolers, connecting with parents and caregivers, providing outreach to child care providers, and developing school-age readers and life-long learners. Minimum requirements: Masters Degree in library science, supervisory experience preferred. Applicant must have extensive knowledge of early literacy standards. Full requirements, job description and application are available online at <a _fcksavedurl="http://hplct.org/about/job-openings" href="http://hplct.org/about/job-openings" target="_blank">http://hplct.org/about/job-openings</a> or Administrative Office, Hartford Public Library, 500 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103. Applications accepted until <span style="color: red;">July 10, 2013</span>.

Early Literacy Librarian - Hartford Public Library

Early Literacy Librarian - Hartford Public Library seeks a full-time Early Literacy Librarian in support of early literacy and childhood l...

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This Is the End: Out with a whimper

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>This Is the End</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>(2013) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/thisistheend/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Two stars. Rating: R, and quite generously, for pervasive profanity and drug use, violence, gore, relentless crude and sexual content, and impressively graphic nudity (not all of it human)</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="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></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-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-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The devoutly religious are certain to disagree, but this tiresome vanity production is too stupid to be blasphemous.<o:p></o:p></span></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/AVvXsEgtwvrhKvSHVxNU9tbgVW90Vcob0wT3Wqn2i_asP_mqne0L7uHqxd4oZiAOmzyV6It0vDTOPF6RxqzOvR1ZP0lYecqP9fPu8ct_gWvG9GKYmqIRPLfdMTl1N0ip1wVn0q-y8-eFQF6sKpc/s1600/This+Is+the+End+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwvrhKvSHVxNU9tbgVW90Vcob0wT3Wqn2i_asP_mqne0L7uHqxd4oZiAOmzyV6It0vDTOPF6RxqzOvR1ZP0lYecqP9fPu8ct_gWvG9GKYmqIRPLfdMTl1N0ip1wVn0q-y8-eFQF6sKpc/s400/This+Is+the+End+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">After Emma Watson re-thinks her ill-advised decision to place her safety in the hands of<br />half a dozen self-centered horn dogs, she mounts an escape with the help of a handy<br />axe. Unfortunately, this may be a classic case of leaping from the frying pan and<br />directly into the fire...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s relentlessly vulgar, however, in the arrested adolescent manner that we’ve come to expect when Seth Rogen, James Franco and their homies assemble for “something fun.” In this case, the “fun” comes from playing themselves — no stretch there, since most have been doing that all along — and behaving badly when God proves that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Book of Revelations</i> wasn’t mere biblical filler.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like so many of today’s limp-noodle, man-boy comedies, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Is the End</i> stretches a mildly amusing concept far beyond the average viewer’s patience. Actually, we know this to be true, since this film is “expanded” from a 9-minute 2007 short titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jay and Seth Versus the Apocalypse</i>. Honestly, beefing up the cast and adding another 98 minutes (!) did nothing to improve the material.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although Rogen and Evan Goldberg uncork an impressively apocalyptic third act — they collaboratively wrote and directed this case study in wasted celluloid — one must wade through nearly an hour of tedious, contrived and self-indulgent “banter” in order to get there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Riffing the stoner culture may have been novel and slightly daring when Cheech & Chong made <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Up in Smoke</i> way back in 1978, but I’d like to think film comedy has progressed a bit since then. Rogen and Goldberg apparently didn’t get that message, since they clearly believe that merely showing a baggie of weed is enough to prompt a belly laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the same toke(n), it’s time to declare a moratorium on the faux homoeroticism that seems to pass for “cool” among some of today’s Hollywood types. When Rogen and his fellow “reality stars” aren’t chortling over how blasted they’ve gotten, they trade barbed comments apparently intended to demonstrate their hip, quasi-gayness, while nonetheless retreating to safer hetero territory whenever the tone threatens to become emasculating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Safer territory,” in turn, emerges in strained one-liners that make sport of bodily functions: the sort of lowest-common-denominator crudeness that once remained the province of little boys trading bad words behind the woodshed, but now has become something of a badge of pride among today’s lazy comedy writers. It’s apparently shorthand for rugged manhood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This overworked 21st century cliché hits low ebb here during an ejaculation exchange — merely verbal, I’m happy to report — between James Franco and Danny McBride, which goes on and on and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">on</i> and on. Constant Companion and I exchanged glances, and the unspoken message was obvious: Seriously? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This</i> is what film comedy has descended to?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually, this film is quite obsessed with the anatomical male member that still remains mostly taboo in mainstream cinema, although Rogen and Goldberg stretch that envelope quite impressively, from limp dick jokes to the massively erect phallus sported by a particularly nasty demon with nothing good in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey, I guess if you can sucker a major studio into parting with $30 million in order to film little more than an extended party with your best friends, that’s a pretty good gig. Too bad they had to share it with the rest of us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fairness, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Is the End</i> does manage a few half-hearted stabs at social commentary, as during the opening scene, when Rogen — playing himself, as everybody does here — tries to dodge an intrusive fan with a videocam, who hovers in the hopes of provoking some sort of reaction. That’s life in our world of fame for its own sake, thanks to reality TV “stars” run amok.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It could be said, of course, that this entire film riffs that concept, but I can’t grant much credit for overstating the obvious for 107 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, Rogen’s at the Los Angeles Airport to collect good buddy Jay Baruchel, a Canadian colleague from back in the day, when both were stars of the under-appreciated 2001 TV series <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Undeclared</i>. That longstanding bond sets up some “tension” in this limp-noodle script, because Rogen’s “new friends” — Franco, Craig Robinson and Jonah Hill — keep insisting that Baruchel is a drag on Rogen’s blossoming Hollywood career.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which is why Hill doesn’t really “like” Baruchel, while outwardly feigning bonhomie. Such trite, superficial behavior is all this film offers in the way of actual characterization, so don’t set your expectations high.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a debauched day of weed, alcohol, video games and other wild ’n’ crazy hijinks, Rogen hauls a reluctant Baruchel to a massive party at Franco’s upscale, fortress-like mansion. (That latter quality will prove useful.) It’s quite the happening, with a guest list that includes Emma Watson, Michael Cera, Mindy Kaling, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and even Rihanna.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it isn’t Baruchel’s bag; he’s not entirely comfortable in this hedonistic scene. (Actually, Cera is the only party guest being truly hedonistic, in an offensively condescending and arrogant manner.) Rosen agreeably joins Baruchel on a trip to the local convenience store, for some cigarettes, at which point All Hell Breaks Loose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quite literally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baruchel immediately recognizes the significance of the brilliant blue lights that transport numerous folks heavenward, a detail lost on Rogen. They hustle back to Franco’s place, dodging driverless vehicles, spontaneous sink-holes and gouts of fire, only to discover the party proceeding without incident, nobody inside having noticed anything amiss.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> moment delivers a well-deserved laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the interior calm doesn’t last long, thanks to foundation-shaking earthquakes and the smoke-laden debris that rains down as the entire Hollywood hillside bursts into flame. Amid mindless panic and a huge express sinkhole to Hell that opens in Franco’s front yard, our cast dwindles to a precious few: Rogen, Baruchel, Franco, Hill and Robinson.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Signaling a Monty Python-esque approach to unexpected gore, one of the other party guests perishes in a dramatically gruesome — albeit fully deserved — manner. Accompanied by, yes, a darkly amusing smart phone joke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s the truly frustrating part about this film: Rogen, Goldberg <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">et al</i>do indeed demonstrate an occasional talent for genuine humor. They simply don’t do it often enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hunkering down in the manner of survivors they’ve watched in end-of-the-world movies and TV shows, our heroes carefully ration their supplies and settle in for ... they know not what. Tension arrives when McBride joins the gang, having slept through the initial horror but now brought up to speed with a fresh burst of über-violence. Trouble is, nobody likes McBride, whose intimidating, alpha-male attitude interferes with the group’s half-hearted efforts to embrace the bigger picture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baruchel also disrupts the uneasy group dynamic, although not intentionally, by citing biblical passages to support his view of what’s actually happening. Nobody wants to hear that stuff, preferring to believe that “rescue” eventually will arrive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bulk of the film then settles into variations on a theme of what Hollywood morons would do, if faced with the apocalypse. Naturally, their efforts to get by, from one day to the next, involve their limited comfort zone. Trouble is, that sort of self-indulgent “what the hell” resignation works as a blackly humorous joke only for a few seconds, as Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard understood when they had Kristen Connolly and Fran Kranz exchange a fatalistic look while lighting a final joint in the penultimate scene of 2011’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://derrickbang.blogspot.com/2012/04/cabin-in-woods-ghoulish-and-giddy.html">The Cabin in the Woods</a></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to milk such a moment over an entire act merely prompts tedious scenes where Rogen, Franco and the others improvise banal dialogue while trying to kill time (if not each other). Oh, sure, we get some homages to the likes of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mist</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Exorcist</i> and cannibal-culture horror flicks — the latter including a hilariously surprising cameo — but the material is thin, the parodies clumsily forced.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visual effects supervisor Paul Linden and the resourceful team at Modus in Montreal deserve considerable credit for their monster-making; they uncork some truly frightening demons, and a few scenes involving these nasties are well-paced and quite suspenseful. That’s actually one of this film’s few genuine treats: Linden and his crew get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> impressive results from all their apocalyptic mayhem, on a meager effects budget of $3 million.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the day, though, <i>This Is the End</i> is little more than an insufferably long-winded inside joke. Rogen and Goldberg really should have paid more attention to <i>Cabin in the Woods</i>, <i>Shaun of the Dead</i>, <i>Zombieland</i> and other far more successful blends of self-referential horror humor. This self-indulgently masturbatory twist on “Hey, kids, let’s put on a show!” is nothing but an insult to patrons who worked hard for the money wasted on a ticket purchase.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->

2013 Craig Robinson Danny McBride Dark Comedy Emma Watson Horror films James Franco Jay Baruchel Jonah Hill Michael Cera Seth Rogen This Is the End: Out with a whimper

This Is the End   (2013) •  View trailer   Two stars. Rating: R, and quite generously, for pervasive profanity and drug use, violence, gore,...

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