The Bowery Changing

On Saturday, April 6 at 11am, I'll be giving a walking tour of the Bowery, focusing on new buildings on and near the famous street. More information and a link for tickets can be found at <a href="http://www.92y.org/Tribeca/Event/The-Bowery-Changing.aspx">92Y Tribeca</a>.<br /><br /><img alt="barkow-bowery.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/barkow-bowery.jpg" title="Bowery photograph by Amy Barkow" /><br />[Sperone Westwater Gallery and New Museum facing the Bowery | Photo (c) <a href="http://barkowphoto.com/">Amy Barkow</a>, from my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393733262?ie=UTF8&tag=aweeklydoseof-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=211189&creativeASIN=0393733262&link_code=as3&creative=373489"><i>Guide to Contemporary New York City Architecture</i></a>]

The Bowery Changing

On Saturday, April 6 at 11am, I'll be giving a walking tour of the Bowery, focusing on new buildings on and near the famous street. Mor...

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Google #21: Have you see the new #G+eduhangout site? Take a look…

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the participants at the amazing Google Teacher Academy New York in October 2012, Brent Catlett, has created an awesome new site called #G+Eduhangouts. </span><a href="http://eduhangout.org/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" title="http://eduhangout.org/">http://eduhangout.org/</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This is what Brent says about the site: </b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucrgBeIu77RzejW7yM1fGD7OBLYwTPCA87TVJWAlZDFHBJdHHraKptWoPZhlA0zpI7wXf1Yn6Q2m0PL4mH4Vzt6wo7h94V3OpGVQzkrsCRMwqH_BffoYyz0tmFEER6XopcIseF23Ca4s/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="187" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: right;">This is Brent</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><br />"<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#G+eduhangout has been designed to:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Connect educators together all across the world using Google + Hangouts. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bring experts, authors, and kids together. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Share the wonderful things happening in your classroom with others. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn from others that are willing to share. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and a whole lot more. . ."</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ideas for using #G+eduhangout</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brent  gives a whole page of ideas on how to use the site: " </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#G+eduhangout was created with the idea of flattening the globe, connecting students in classrooms with other students, and sharing the #edugood things going on inside classrooms all over the world.  This lists of ideas is simply some thoughts.  The creativity in which educators spin things is merely up to them.  Run with these ideas, build off them, create new ones.  Please do not hestitate to contact me to add your idea to this page."</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><li>These ideas cover Reading / LA / Writing / English, Maths, Science, Social Studies etc.</li><li>Have a Virtual Book Club</li><li>Conduct a Math Bee with multiple classes</li><li>Show off an experiment</li><li>Use it for mapping / geography skills</li><li>Conduct a global research project together and report back via #G+eduhangout</li><li>Book talk</li><li>Share projects and demonstrations</li><li>Share writing & get feedback from other students</li><li>Have students show younger students something they are working on & vice versa</li><li>Have people from different places talk to you about the weather in their area at the time</li><li>Parts of lessons, perhaps 3 or 4 groups each take a part in the lesson</li><li>Connect with Authors and Poets.  Here is a GREAT list of Authors on Twitter:  <a href="http://goo.gl/as03t">http://goo.gl/as03t </a></li><li>Perhaps share Apps that are being used and share how they are being used.</li><li>Experiments could be looked at from week to week with students hypothesizing and questioning possibilities</li><li>Discuss qualities of your school, city, state, country like size, population, weather, tourist attractions, etc. with other places</li><li>Connect with students to discuss their coursework and papers for a research course</li><li>English classes could do characters from stories and compare and contrast novels</li><li>Show off a class pet, live creatures, or exotic animal from local zoo visit to your classroom</li><li>Have a Quest to connect with every State or multiple countries to gain research data for a project</li><li>Interview experts and leaders in the field and record #G+eduhangout on air and then have for use in class later</li><li>Connect your BLOGGERS with their audience </li><li>Have a Mystery Hangout with other classes from all over the world and have students ask questions to guess where they are from.</li><li>For PE the class could have athlete, Olympian, or fitness gurus join the Hangout</li><li>Use it to collaborate with other schools reading the same text</li><li>Celebrate special events or holidays.  For example, during World Read Aloud Day our high school students read to our elementary students in different buildings</li></span></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and loads more ideas! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whew, this all looks awesome. Brent gives detailed instructions of how he envisions this site developing:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lb9p2lqlmTE" width="420"></iframe></span></div>

30 Days of Google Google #21: Have you see the new #G+eduhangout site? Take a look…

One of the participants at the amazing Google Teacher Academy New York in October 2012, Brent Catlett, has created an awesome new site calle...

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Baidu, China's Google, Is Developing Product Similar To Google Glass

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9c6W4CCU9M4?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe><img height="640" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/219749/slide_219749_857580_free.jpg" width="562" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Baidu Inc </span><bidu .o="" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, China's largest search engine, is developing prototype digital eyewear similar to Google Inc's <goog .o="" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Google Glass that will leverage Baidu's strengths in image search and facial recognition, a Baidu spokesman said on Wednesday.<br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />Internally known as project "Baidu Eye", the glasses are being tested internally and it is not clear whether the product will ever be commercialized, said Kaiser Kuo, Baidu's spokesman.<br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />Kuo said the device will be mounted on a headset with a small LCD screen and will allow users to make image and voice searches as well as conduct facial recognition matches.<br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />"What you are doing with your camera, for example, taking a picture of a celebrity and then checking on our database to see if we have a facial image match, you could do the same thing with a wearable visual device," Kuo said.<br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />Baidu's first foray in wearable technology will draw comparisons to Google's Google Glass product, which is a piece of electronic eyewear that can live-stream images and audio and perform computing tasks. Earlier this year Google launched the Google Glass Explorer program, opening up the eyewear for early enthusiasts to test.<br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />Kuo said comparisons to Google Glass were premature as Baidu has not decided whether or not to commercialize the product.<br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />"We haven't decided whether it is going to be released in any commercial form right now, but we experiment with every kind of technology that is related to search," Kuo said. Kuo declined to comment on the other functions of the Baidu Eye or whether Baidu is working on other forms of wearable technology.<br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />Wearable technology is the latest technology initiative with many firms, including Google and Apple Inc <aapl .o="" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, set to roll out devices based on the belief that users will increasingly seek to stay connected without being tethered to a desktop, laptop or tablet computer.<br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />Apple is experimenting with a device similar to a wristwatch that would operate on the same platform as the iPhone and would be made with curved glass, the New York Times reported in February.<br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: none; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />(Reporting by Melanie Lee; Editing by Matt Driskill)</aapl></goog></bidu><br /><bidu .o="" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><goog .o="" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><aapl .o="" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img height="640" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/219749/slide_219749_857579_free.jpg" width="562" /></aapl></goog></bidu></div>

Google Glass news Baidu, China's Google, Is Developing Product Similar To Google Glass

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Baidu Inc  , China's largest search engine, is developing prototype digital eyewear similar to Google Inc's  Go...

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Brittney Griner responds to Mark Cuban's offer

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/VxWgHTL.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><i>Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports</i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Mark Cuban might have to keep a spot open on the Dallas Mavericks' Summer League squad. After the Mavs owner made waves Tuesday night by hinting that he might consider <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/03/dallas-mavericks-mark-cuban-baylor-ncaa-brittney-griner-nba-draft/2048459/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/03/dallas-mavericks-mark-cuban-baylor-ncaa-brittney-griner-nba-draft/2048459/">drafting Brittney Griner</a>, the former Baylor star <a href="https://twitter.com/Brittney4Griner/status/319526083106074624" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="https://twitter.com/Brittney4Griner/status/319526083106074624">responded to his offer</a>over Twitter.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">This is looking like more than just a publicity stunt. Griner is clearly just as open to the idea as Cuban. Questions about whether a woman could cut it in the NBA have been brought up, including doubts expressed by University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma. And while it's unlikely that Griner would actually make an NBA roster, it sounds like she would be more than motivated to prove herself. There doesn't appear to be any kind of downside to an owner like Cuban at least giving her an invite to Summer League or training camp invite.</div></div>

Brittney Grine Brittney Griner responds to Mark Cuban's offer

Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports Mark Cuban might have to keep a spot open on the Dallas Mavericks' Summer League squad. After the Mavs ow...

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Monologue: Jay Leno congratulates 'Tonight Show' replacement Fallon

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="Jay Leno -- here in May -- began hosting "The Tonight Show" in 1992. In 2009, he launched "The Jay Leno Show," but after seven months and poor ratings, he resumed his post on "The Tonight Show" in 2010." src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130321142234-leno-moments-1-horizontal-gallery.jpg" /><br /><br /><div class="cnn_strylftcntnt" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="cnn_strylctcntr" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 166px;"><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">STORY HIGHLIGHTS</strong></div><ul class="cnn_bulletbin cnnStryHghLght" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 9px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jay Leno announced Wednesday that he's leaving 'Tonight'</li><li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jimmy Fallon will replace him in spring 2014</li><li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leno first left the show in 2009 but returned after his new show failed</li><li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">The new "Tonight Show" will also return to New York</li></ul></div></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(CNN)</strong> -- Outgoing "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno congratulated his replacement Jimmy Fallon at the start of his opening monologue on Wednesday night, while taking another swipe at the NBC executives that are showing him the door.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph2" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">"I just have one request of Jimmy. We've all fought, kicked and scratched to get this network up to fifth place, okay? Now we have to keep it there." he deadpanned. "Jimmy don't let it slip into sixth. We're counting on you."</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leno will wrap up his 22-year run as host in spring 2014, with <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/04/showbiz/tv/leno-tonight-show-exit/index.html" style="border: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Jimmy Fallon officially signing on as his replacement</a>.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph4" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to a statement from NBC, "As part of the transition, 'The Tonight Show' will be returning to its original home in 30 Rock in New York" from Leno's base of Los Angeles.</div><a href="" name="em1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div class="cnnGalleryContainer cnn_strylftcntnt" id="expand15" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="cnnStoryElementBox" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="cnnArticlePhotoContainer cnn_strylftcexpbxnv" id="photoContainer15" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 122px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 27px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 214px;"><img alt="Photos: 'Tonight Show' hosts" border="0" class="cnnArticleBoxImage" height="360" id="photo15" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130321064718-01-tonight-show-hosts-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 122px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 214px;" width="640" /><cite class="expCaption" id="cite15" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: black; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; bottom: 0px; height: 20px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 214px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: white; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; left: 4px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">Photos: 'Tonight Show' hosts</span></cite></div></div></div><a href="" name="em2" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div class="cnn_strylftcntnt cnn_strylftcexpbx" id="expand25" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 27px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="clickToPlay" id="clickToPlayvideoContainerexpand25" style="background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/video/416_player_Click_to_play_off.png); border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 42px; left: 45px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 27px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 136px; zoom: 1;"></div><img alt="" border="0" class="box-image" height="120" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130403124344-pmt-tv-wars-jay-leno-jimmy-fallon-late-night-kim-masters-ken-auletta-00005622-story-body.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="214" /><cite class="expCaption" style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; bottom: 0px; height: 20px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 214px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: white; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; left: 4px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why TV brass hates Leno</span></cite></div><a href="" name="em3" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div class="cnn_strylftcntnt cnn_strylftcexpbx" id="expand35" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 27px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="clickToPlay" id="clickToPlayvideoContainerexpand35" style="background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/video/416_player_Click_to_play_off.png); border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 42px; left: 45px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 27px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 136px; zoom: 1;"></div><img alt="" border="0" class="box-image" height="120" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130402061152-exp-early-leno-fallon-duet-00011520-story-body.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="214" /><cite class="expCaption" style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; bottom: 0px; height: 20px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 214px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: white; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; left: 4px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hear Leno, Fallon belt out duet</span></cite></div><a href="" name="em4" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div class="cnn_strylftcntnt cnn_strylftcexpbx" id="expand45" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 27px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="clickToPlay" id="clickToPlayvideoContainerexpand45" style="background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/video/416_player_Click_to_play_off.png); border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 42px; left: 45px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 27px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 136px; zoom: 1;"></div><img alt="" border="0" class="box-image" height="120" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130321171421-jimmy-fallon-on-the-tonight-show-with-jay-leno-story-body.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="214" /><cite class="expCaption" style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; bottom: 0px; height: 20px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 214px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: white; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; left: 4px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why is NBC dumping Jay Leno?</span></cite></div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph5" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised the move, saying in a statement "on behalf of all New Yorkers" that he's "pleased to welcome 'The Tonight Show' back to its first home."</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph6" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">When it began in 1954, the "original 'Tonight Show' ushered in the modern era of television," Cuomo continued. "It is only fitting that as 'The Tonight Show' returns to our state, it will be headlined by New York's own native son and resident, Jimmy Fallon."</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph7" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/03/opinion/bark-leno-fallon/index.html" style="border: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Opinion: How Twitter helped Fallon get Leno's job</a></div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph8" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">The expectation that Leno would leave NBC's legendary late-night program has been building recently, and Fallon's appointment isn't surprising in the least. He's had a swift rise to "Tonight's" chair, having hosted "Late Night" for just four years, but Fallon's transition was treated as such a near certainty that both hosts worked the headlines into their nightly routines.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph9" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">While Fallon initially downplayed the rumors, Leno went after his employer on a regular basis. He's compared NBC executives to snakes, joked about the network's sagging ratings and kidded that the rumored late-night shuffle was like NBC's version of March Madness.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph10" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Just two days before the big announcement, Fallon and Leno again made light of the reports with a parody of the song "Tonight" from the musical "West Side Story."</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph11" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">With Leno's contract set to expire in fall 2014, industry observers said the move was only a matter of time.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph12" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leno first exited "Tonight" in 2009 after 17 years as host, passing the torch to Conan O'Brien, who was then the host of "Late Night."</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph13" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leno was moved to prime time with his own program, "The Jay Leno Show," in the fall of 2009. But when that brought dismal ratings, NBC decided to put Leno back in charge of "Tonight" at the start of 2010, leaving O'Brien without a job.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph14" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">The flame-haired comedian eventually moved to TBS to host his own show, "Conan," in the 11 p.m. hour, but the entire scenario generated ill will toward Leno and NBC. (TBS shares a parent company with CNN.)</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph15" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yet as the years went on, Leno has proved to be resilient. As NBC's prime-time ratings suffered, Leno's "Tonight Show" was still able to rise above the rest in its time slot. At the end of March, "The Tonight Show" hit a seven-week high in total viewers, with 3.52 million watching.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph16" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, NBC was said to be concerned about losing younger viewers to ABC's Jimmy Kimmel, whose "Jimmy Kimmel Live" was moved up to compete with Leno and David Letterman's "Late Show" at the beginning of 2013.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph17" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">"The more time Jimmy Kimmel is in that slot, the more the young audience goes that way, the harder it is for (Fallon) to keep that audience," one source familiar with the network's thought process told The Hollywood Reporter in March.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph18" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">At 62 years old, Leno represents a more traditional form of hosting, as he's known for his "Las Vegas-style comedy," said the New York Times. Fallon, 38, regularly incorporates the Web and social media into his act, offering "a more contemporary and varied brand of entertainment," the Times said.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph19" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">This changing of the guard is one of the most closely watched exercises in pop culture, especially as it takes place at one of TV's mainstay productions. Even with its decline in ratings over the years, it remains a solid profit center for NBC, making between $25 million and $40 million for the network, according to The New York Times.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph20" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although it's been on the air for almost 60 years, "The Tonight Show" has had just a handful of regular hosts: Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Leno and O'Brien.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph21" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">"The Tonight Show" isn't what it was during the long tenure of Carson, who hosted the show from 1962 until 1992. In those three-network times, Carson dominated late-night TV like nobody before or since. He dominated the ratings and routinely sat down challengers like so many duck targets at a carnival shooting gallery. Joey Bishop, Dick Cavett, Joan Rivers, Pat Sajak -- they all tried to dethrone the king, and they all came up short.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph22" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carson sat behind "Tonight's" desk for 30 years before passing the torch to Leno, and "Johnny" is still the model against whom all are measured.</div><div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph23" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;">Interestingly enough, "Late Night" producer Lorne Michaels, who's now executive producer of "The Tonight Show," has called Fallon "the closest thing" this generation has to Carson. It appears it's now time for Fallon to show and prove.</div></div>

Jay Leno Monologue: Jay Leno congratulates 'Tonight Show' replacement Fallon

STORY HIGHLIGHTS Jay Leno announced Wednesday that he's leaving 'Tonight' Jimmy Fallon will replace him in spring 2014 Leno firs...

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Daddy Yankee: Rapper’s Rep Denies Gay Rumors

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="Daddy Yankee Gay" src="http://pmchollywoodlife.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/daddy-yankee-gay-lead1.jpg?w=600" /><br /><br /><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">After a photo of a man who appeared to be the ‘Gasolina’ rapper kissing another man surfaced on the internet on Apr. 3, a rep has publicly refuted the swirling rumors and stated that Daddy Yankee NEVER came out. Keep reading for more details.</h3><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; padding: 0px;">With rumors of <strong><a href="http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/04/04/daddy-yankee-gay-rumors-denies-twitter/hollywoodlife.com/tag/daddy-yankee" style="color: #ff0099; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Daddy Yankee’s</a> </strong>sexual orientation building up online, and after multiple Spanish-language websites published stories claiming that the rapper had officially come out as homosexual, his publicist released a statement denying all claims.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; padding: 0px;"><span id="more-1057994"></span></div><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">Daddy Yankee’s Rep Refutes Gay Rumors</h3><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; padding: 0px;">“Online blogs and social media are once again to blame for the spread of false news reports, which other media outlets have also shared regarding a public figure,” said Mayna Nevarez, president of public relations firm Nevarez Communications. Mayna continues, saying that one unreliable website’s report gained steam through social media, but not on merit: “The reports circulating regarding Daddy Yankee’s declaration of homosexuality was falsely written by an online outlet known for fabricating false information and spreading it through social media sites.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; padding: 0px;">The rumors around Daddy Yankee really took off on Apr. 3 when several Spanish-speaking websites posted stories with a picture of a man who looked like the rapper, kissing another man. The stories claimed that the rapper had released a statement officially coming out. However, fans remained skeptical and many pointed out that there were minor physical differences between Daddy Yankee and the man in the picture.</div><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">Daddy Yankee Condemns Rumors On Twitter</h3><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; padding: 0px;">Both Daddy Yankee and his rep have been quick to squash what they say is a false story. Besides Mayna’s statement, Daddy Yankee also posted a quote — in Spanish — from Albert Einstein saying, “I fear the day when technology overlaps humanity. It will be then that the world will have permanent ensuing generations of idiots.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; padding: 0px;">A pretty appropriate quote for the situation — sounds like Daddy Yankee is upset about the rumors!</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 19px; padding: 0px;">What do you think, <strong>HollywoodLifers</strong>? Let us know!</div><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">WATCH: Daddy Yankee – “Gasolina”</h3><div><br /></div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qGKrc3A6HHM?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Daddy Yankee Daddy Yankee: Rapper’s Rep Denies Gay Rumors

After a photo of a man who appeared to be the ‘Gasolina’ rapper kissing another man surfaced on the internet on Apr. 3, a rep has publicly r...

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North Korea Moves Missile to Coast, but Limited Threat Seen

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="articleBody" style="margin-bottom: 1.7em; margin-top: 1.5em;"><nyt_text><div data-key="SSKTdc" data-num="0" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em;">SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s defense chief said on Thursday that North Korea had moved to its east coast a missile with a “considerable” range, but that it was not capable of reaching the United States. The disclosure came as the Communist North’s military warned that it was ready to strike American military forces with “cutting-edge smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear strike means.”</div></nyt_text></div><div class="articleInline runaroundLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin: 6px 15px 10px 0px !important; width: 190px;"><div class="inlineImage module" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 12px; width: 190px;"><div class="image" style="margin-bottom: 2px;"><div class="icon enlargeThis" style="background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 16px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8896966065785019252" style="background-image: url(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/icons/multimedia/enlarge_icon.gif); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666699; display: inline; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; padding-left: 15px; text-decoration: none;">Enlarge This Image</a></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8896966065785019252" style="color: #666699; display: block; text-decoration: none;"><span itemid="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/04/04/world/asia/04korea/04korea-articleInline.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><img alt="" height="131" itemprop="url" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/04/04/world/asia/04korea/04korea-articleInline.jpg" style="border: none;" width="190" /></span></a></div><h6 class="credit" style="color: #909090; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.9em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.223em; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: right;">Jung Yeon-Je/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images</h6><div class="caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.2727em;">Trucks from South Korea were turned back after being banned from entering a jointly operated industrial park in Kaesong, North Korea, on Wednesday.</div></div><div class="columnGroup doubleRule" style="background-image: url(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/global/borders/doubleRule.gif); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-width: 0px !important; clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 7px; padding-top: 12px; width: auto !important;"></div></div><div class="articleInline runaroundLeft collectionHeader" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin: 6px 15px 10px 0px !important; width: 190px;"><h6 class="sectionHeader flushBottom" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2857em; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Multimedia</h6></div><div class="articleInline runaroundLeft firstArticleInline" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 15px !important; margin-top: 0px; width: 190px;"><div class="story expandAssetContainer" style="clear: both; cursor: pointer; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 126px; position: relative; width: auto; z-index: 1;"><div class="thumbnailContainer"><div class="wideThumb" style="margin-bottom: 4px; width: 190px;"><img alt="" border="0" height="126" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/04/03/world/video-tc-130403-nkorea-kaesong/video-tc-130403-nkorea-kaesong-thumbWide.jpg" style="display: block;" width="190" /><a class="playOverlay" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8896966065785019252" style="background-image: url(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/global/icons/Play_34.png); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666699; display: block; height: 31px; margin: 5px 0px -37px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; top: -45px; width: 34px; z-index: 10;"></a></div><h6 style="font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px;"><a class="video" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8896966065785019252" style="background-image: url(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/icons/multimedia/video_icon.gif); background-position: 4px 4px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666699; padding: 4px 4px 3px 21px; text-decoration: none;">Inherited Tactics in North Korea</a></h6></div><div class="assetContainer" style="height: 0px; width: 190px; z-index: 1;"></div></div></div><div class="articleInline runaroundLeft lastArticleInline" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 15px !important; margin-top: 0px; width: 190px;"><div class="story" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="wideThumb" style="margin-bottom: 4px; width: 190px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/02/05/world/asia/northkorea-timeline.html?ref=asia" style="color: #666699; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="126" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com//images/2013/02/05/world/asia/northkorea.jpg" style="border: none; display: block;" width="190" /><span class="mediaOverlay interactive" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/icons/multimedia/interactive_icon.gif); background-position: 4px 4px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: black; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.182em; margin-top: -20px; opacity: 0.8; padding: 3px 4px 4px 20px;">Multimedia Feature</span></a></div><h6 style="font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/02/05/world/asia/northkorea-timeline.html?ref=asia" style="color: #666699; text-decoration: none;">Timeline on North Korea’s Nuclear Program</a></h6><h6 class="byline" style="color: grey; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 2px 0px 0px;"></h6></div></div><div class="articleInline runaroundLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 15px !important; margin-top: 0px; width: 190px;"><div class="articleInline runaroundLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin: 6px 15px 10px 0px !important; width: 190px;"></div><div class="columnGroup singleRule" style="background-image: none !important; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: both; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 7px; padding-top: 8px; width: auto !important;"><ul class="headlinesOnly multiline flush" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><li style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px;"><h6 style="font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/03/30/world/asia/estimated-range-of-north-korean-missiles.html?ref=asia" style="color: #666699; font-size: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="media icon graphic" style="background-image: url(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/icons/multimedia/graphic_icon.gif); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8em; padding-left: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;">GRAPHIC</span>: Estimated Range of North Korean Missiles</a></h6></li></ul></div><div class="columnGroup doubleRule" style="background-image: url(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/global/borders/doubleRule.gif); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-width: 0px !important; clear: both; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 7px; padding-top: 12px; width: auto !important;"><h3 class="sectionHeader" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2857em; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Related</h3><ul class="headlinesOnly multiline flush" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><li style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><h6 style="font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/world/asia/north-korea-blocks-workers-from-south-at-border.html?ref=asia" style="color: #666699; font-size: 1em; text-decoration: none;">U.S. Speeds Missile Defense to Guam After North Korea Bars South’s Workers</a> (April 4, 2013)</h6></li><li style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><h6 style="font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/31/world/asia/north-korean-sites-are-down-in-possible-cyberattacks.html?ref=asia" style="color: #666699; font-size: 1em; text-decoration: none;">North Korea Threatens to Close Factories It Runs With South</a>(March 31, 2013)</h6></li><li style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px;"><h6 style="font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/30/world/asia/in-pyongyang-bluster-fakery-and-real-risks.html?ref=asia" style="color: #666699; font-size: 1em; text-decoration: none;">Pyongyang Blusters, and U.S. Worries About Quieter Risks</a>(March 30, 2013)</h6></li></ul></div><div class="columnGroup doubleRule" style="background-image: url(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/global/borders/doubleRule.gif); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-width: 0px !important; clear: both; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 7px; padding-top: 12px; width: auto !important;"><h3 class="sectionHeader" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2857em; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">Related in Opinion</h3><ul class="headlinesOnly multiline flush" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><li style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px;"><h6 style="font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/opinion/its-north-korea-again.html?ref=asia" style="color: #666699; font-size: 1em; text-decoration: none;">Editorial: It’s North Korea, Again</a> (April 4, 2013)</h6></li></ul></div><div class="doubleRule" style="background-image: url(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/global/borders/doubleRule.gif); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-width: 0px !important; clear: both; margin-bottom: 12px; padding-top: 12px;"><div class="story" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="runaroundRight" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin: 2px 0px 6px 6px;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/nytimesworld" style="color: #666699; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="World Twitter Logo." height="75" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/04/26/world/nytimesworld-twitter-icon/nytimesworld-twitter-icon-thumbStandard.jpg" style="border: none;" width="75" /></a></div><h4 style="font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.1429em; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/nytimesworld" style="color: #666699; text-decoration: none;">Connect With Us on Twitter</a></h4><div class="summary" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 5px;">Follow<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/nytimesworld" style="color: #666699; text-decoration: none;">@nytimesworld</a>for international breaking news and headlines.</div><div class="summary" style="font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.25em;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/nytimesworld/nyt-foreign-journalists/members" style="color: #666699; text-decoration: none;">Twitter List: Reporters and Editors</a></div></div></div><div class="inlineImage module" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 12px; width: 190px;"><div class="image" style="margin-bottom: 2px;"><div class="icon enlargeThis" style="background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 16px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8896966065785019252" style="background-image: url(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/icons/multimedia/enlarge_icon.gif); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666699; display: inline; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; padding-left: 15px; text-decoration: none;">Enlarge This Image</a></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8896966065785019252" style="color: #666699; display: block; text-decoration: none;"><span itemid="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/04/04/world/asia/04korea2/04korea2-articleInline.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><img alt="" height="127" itemprop="url" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/04/04/world/asia/04korea2/04korea2-articleInline.jpg" style="border: none;" width="190" /></span></a></div><h6 class="credit" style="color: #909090; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.9em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.223em; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: right;">Jeon Heon-Kyun/European Pressphoto Agency</h6><div class="caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.2727em;"> South Korean soldiers with tanks prepared for a drill on Wednesday at the Mugeon-ri drill field near Paju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.</div></div></div><div class="articleBody" style="margin-bottom: 1.7em; margin-top: 1.5em;"><div data-key="NKhIil" data-num="1" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">North Korea has been issuing a blistering series of similar threats in recent weeks, citing as targets the American military installations in the Pacific islands of Hawaii and Guam, as well as the United States mainland. In its latest threat on Thursday, it did not name targets but said it was authorized to “take powerful, practical military counteractions” against the threats from B-2 bombers from the United States, B-52 bombers from Guam and F-22 Stealth jet fighters from United States bases in Japan that have recently run missions over the Korean Peninsula during joint military exercises with South Korea.</div><div data-key="Tmohbp" data-num="2" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">“The moment of explosion is approaching fast,” the general staff of the North Korean People’s Army said in a statement carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. “The U.S. had better ponder over the prevailing grave situation.”</div><div data-key="MadSwt" data-num="3" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Most analysts do not believe that North Korea has a missile powerful enough to deliver a nuclear warhead to the United States mainland or that it is reckless enough to strike the American military in the Pacific. Still, with the North’s bellicose postures showing no signs of letting up, the United States announced Wednesday that it was speeding the deployment of an advanced missile defense system to Guam in the next few weeks, two years ahead of schedule, in what the Pentagon said was a “precautionary move” to protect American naval and air forces from the threat of a North Korean missile attack.</div><div data-key="TbaTnm" data-num="4" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Testifying before a parliamentary hearing, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin of South Korea said the missile North Korea had moved to the east coast, possibly “for demonstration or for training,” appeared not to be a KN-08, which analysts say is the closest thing North Korea has to an intercontinental ballistic missile, though its exact range is not known. The new missile was unveiled during a military parade in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, last April.</div><div data-key="SKmGin" data-num="5" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">South Korean media quoted unnamed military sources as saying that the missile was a Musudan. Deployed around 2007, the Musudan is a ballistic missile with a range of more than 1,900 miles, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. Guam is nearly 2,200 miles from North Korea.</div><div data-key="WYaWYa" data-num="6" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Wee Yong-sub, an army colonel and deputy spokesman for the Defense Ministry, would say only that the South Korean and American military have been closely monitoring the movements of all North Korean missiles, including the Musudan.</div><div data-key="CanBgt" data-num="7" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">“Chances are not high that they will lead to a full-scale war,” said Mr. Kim, the defense minister, referring to the North Korean threats. “But given the nature of the North Korean regime, it’s possible that they will launch a localized provocation.”</div><div data-key="OTfIaw" data-num="8" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">On Thursday, for a second straight day, North Korea blocked South Koreans from crossing the border to enter a jointly operated industrial park, threatening the future of the last remaining symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. It also warned that it would pull out more than 53,000 North Korean workers from the joint factory park, located in the North Korean city of Kaesong, if taunts from the South Korean news media continued.</div><div data-key="AtNAtN" data-num="9" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">After the North’s threat to close the industrial complex last week, some South Korean media reports said the North Korean leader, <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/k/kim_jongun/index.html?8qa" style="color: #666699;">Kim Jong-un</a>, would be all talk but no action when it came to the park because he did not want to risk one of his most precious sources of hard currency.</div><div data-key="AtUOTi" data-num="10" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">After the United Nations Security Council imposed <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/world/asia/north-korea-warns-of-pre-emptive-nuclear-attack.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" style="color: #666699;">further sanctions</a> against the North for its launching of a three-stage rocket in December and its third nuclear test in February, North Korea has appeared to harden its stance considerably. It said it would never negotiate away its nuclear weapons arsenal, but would instead expand it. On Tuesday, it declared that it would restart a nuclear reactor that gave it a small stockpile of plutonium and would readjust its uranium-enrichment plant for weapons efforts.</div><div data-key="PpWOot" data-num="11" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Photographs published Wednesday on the Web site <a href="http://38north.org/" style="color: #666699;">38 North</a>, which follows North Korean developments, show new construction at the aging reactor, dating back several weeks. Once operational, the reactor can produce one bomb’s worth of plutonium a year.</div><div data-key="TPdTPd" data-num="12" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">The Pentagon’s decision to deploy a new missile defense system to Guam now is the latest in a series of steps intended to deter the North from either military action or new missile tests.</div><div data-key="EtwTwg" data-num="13" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">Earlier this week, the Defense Department announced that two of the Navy’s Aegis-class missile defense warships were positioned in the Pacific to monitor North Korea. Installing the land-based missile system in Guam will free up the ships, which have radar and interceptor missiles, to be repositioned closer to the North Korean coast. That would give President Obama a wider range of options if the North Koreans fire their missiles in a test or at a target.</div><div data-key="WhmBww" data-num="14" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;">“We haven’t made any decisions,” a senior administration official said. “But we want as many options as possible.”</div><div><br /></div><nyt_author_id><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><div class="authorIdentification" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 2.8em;"></div></nyt_author_id></div></div>

North Korea North Korea Moves Missile to Coast, but Limited Threat Seen

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s defense chief said on Thursday that North Korea had moved to its east coast a missile with a “considerabl...

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Hokey Pokey

Hokey Pokey - all the way from New Zealand!<br /><br />'twas very nice - tasted a bit like Cadburys Crunchy pieces in chocolate. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDBjPRBUWNKqsx1qxr4diXTXBKOSB4O9qPTNuqDrZwTc0sb5KKfL4XxZecUuQ4DPfJUyEIGvKEvRLLfTMvedIxkRSPQY1rFz7N0E-0D5xYGFITyqlB8GARq7iieGBUwDGM63MxENf41xT/s640/blogger-image-531761197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDBjPRBUWNKqsx1qxr4diXTXBKOSB4O9qPTNuqDrZwTc0sb5KKfL4XxZecUuQ4DPfJUyEIGvKEvRLLfTMvedIxkRSPQY1rFz7N0E-0D5xYGFITyqlB8GARq7iieGBUwDGM63MxENf41xT/s640/blogger-image-531761197.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbMzcRlkKkWYVKPTrRVRXejW-JNxyLDdfgZAzAPuD3WIzS5mlWW_iDYhOXhJyHOcYostaFO_M9boz6LkcQjvUwMJJnm1rQcSvVSsE3HVcZsfCSPCFk_JPCg2RdluQ_97dokaaxo0echyphenhyphenO/s640/blogger-image-171652174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbMzcRlkKkWYVKPTrRVRXejW-JNxyLDdfgZAzAPuD3WIzS5mlWW_iDYhOXhJyHOcYostaFO_M9boz6LkcQjvUwMJJnm1rQcSvVSsE3HVcZsfCSPCFk_JPCg2RdluQ_97dokaaxo0echyphenhyphenO/s640/blogger-image-171652174.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BNruLfcl5P1ayn65yUXXS7L7f2YXMkAtNk2W5PVD5KPyS5AtFKTmDUlCjXXKxGWGhDmmHnwClS31bePWLNBlTuElz_9TLcO5jrvTJS5EG0LRer-RIClZqRulqWJdLW1FVYzLq0ET5h9M/s640/blogger-image-1373153153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BNruLfcl5P1ayn65yUXXS7L7f2YXMkAtNk2W5PVD5KPyS5AtFKTmDUlCjXXKxGWGhDmmHnwClS31bePWLNBlTuElz_9TLcO5jrvTJS5EG0LRer-RIClZqRulqWJdLW1FVYzLq0ET5h9M/s640/blogger-image-1373153153.jpg" /></a></div>

Hokey Pokey

Hokey Pokey - all the way from New Zealand! 'twas very nice - tasted a bit like Cadburys Crunchy pieces in chocolate.

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The Nocebo Effect: How We Worry Ourselves Sick : The New Yorker

Many of us hope to find Wi-Fi wherever we go, preferably for free. But some people devote their lives to avoiding Wi-Fi altogether. Sufferers of Wi-Fi syndrome say that the radio waves used in mobile communication cause headaches, nausea, exhaustion, tingling, trouble concentrating, and gastrointestinal distress, among other symptoms. Some of the most afflicted take drastic action. According to the Agence France-Presse, one woman left her farmhouse in southeastern France after the arrival of mobile-phone masts (which, like Wi-Fi, use radio waves) and fled for a cave in the Alps. A handful of others have moved to homes within the United States National Radio Quiet Zone, a vast area of mountainous terrain on the Virginia-West Virginia border, where Wi-Fi, cell phones, and other technologies are severely limited to protect a nearby radio telescope. Scientists have given the syndrome a mouthful of a name: "idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields," or I.E.I.-E.M.F. But no one has found any good evidence that we are at any risk.<br /><br><br /><br>Wi-Fi syndrome does, however, make sense in the context of a larger phenomenon: the "nocebo effect," the placebo effect's malevolent Mr. Hyde. With placebos ("I will please" in Latin), the mere expectation that treatment will help brings a diminution of symptoms, even if the patient is given a sugar pill. With nocebos ("I will harm"), dark expectations breed dark realities. In clinical drug trials, people often report the side effects they were warned about, even if they are taking a placebo. In research on fibromyalgia treatments, eleven per cent of the people taking the equivalent of sugar pills experienced such debilitating side effects that they dropped out.<br /><br><br /><br>The nocebo effect is not confined to clinical trials. After the 1995 Aum Shinrikyo sarin nerve-gas attack in Tokyo, for example, hospitals were flooded with patients suffering from the highly publicized potential symptoms, like nausea and dizziness, but who had not, it turned out, been exposed to the sarin. This is common in disasters where the agent is invisible, as with chemicals or radiation. At the extreme are the occasional outbreaks of mass symptoms with no discernable physical cause, such as a famous case at a Tennessee high school that was evacuated after a teacher reported a "gasoline-like" smell and feelings of dizziness. About a hundred students and staff were taken to the emergency room, and thirty-eight were kept overnight. An extensive investigation found no evidence of any chemical presence, and researchers have since concluded it was a "mass psychogenic illness."<br /><br><br /><br>As for Wi-Fi syndrome, a recent analysis of forty-six studies involving nearly twelve hundred volunteers concluded, similarly, that the signals do not cause the symptoms. In one experiment, researchers in Austria had people spend several nights sleeping in a cocoon of custom-engineered bed netting, but found it made no difference whether or not the netting stopped electromagnetic signals. One careful study of mobile-phone waves found a significant pattern of headaches, but it turned out the headache cluster fell in the control group—those who had not been exposed to signals. (There is also no convincing evidence of a link between cell phones and brain cancer, another common fear.)<br /><br><br /><br>I spoke recently with Michael Witthöft, a German scientist who has been looking into medically unexplained syndromes for more than a decade. The results of his latest inquiry, conducted with a colleague at Kings College London, should make any journalist cringe. Witthöft recruited volunteers, gave them a bevy of psychological tests, and then divided them into two groups. He showed one group a BBC broadcast about the "dangers" of Wi-Fi, featuring all the usual tropes of scare TV: ominous music, uncritical interviews, alarmist narration, and jarring cutaways to cell-phone towers. Witthöft showed the second group a program on mobile-phone security. Then each volunteer was brought into a small room, seated in front of a computer, and fitted with an ungainly headband holding a silver antenna described as a "Wi-Fi amplifier." They were told to push a button—a red Wi-Fi symbol flashed on the screen—and wait fifteen minutes.<br /><br><br /><br>There was, in fact, no Wi-Fi in operation, but Witthöft still observed dramatic effects. Sitting in the room with the (fake) Wi-Fi caused tingling in fingers, hands, and feet; pressure and tingling in the head; stomachaches; and trouble concentrating. Two of the subjects found the experience so unpleasant that they had to stop before their time was up. (Only the more anxious volunteers who saw the scare TV reacted badly.) Witthöft's work, and a similar experiment just published on wind-turbine complaints, draws a direct line between irresponsible journalism and health problems. Following a first scare, Witthöft told me, some people seem to get caught in cycles of negative reinforcement. They experience physical symptoms, leading them to pay closer attention to how their body feels. Hypervigilance leads them to notice more symptoms—is that a new tingle?—and become more alarmed. They then withdraw in an effort to avoid what ails them, which can lead to depression, which can itself aggravate the symptoms. In the worst case, they might head for the nearest cave.<br /><br><br /><br>"Placebo" has come to mean fake, but, as Michael Specter explained in a feature last year, that's not quite right. The effects are real—so real, in fact that some scientists argue that doctors should receive more training in using placebos, and make them a regular part of their practice. Patients given placebos experience biochemical changes that improve their condition. Placebo painkillers activate the body's natural analgesics. Parkinson's placebos prompt the brain to release dopamine; anxiety and depression placebos elicit changes in the areas of the brain that regulate emotion. One particularly remarkable study recruited patients with irritable-bowel syndrome and told them that their treatment would be "pills made of an inert substance, like sugar pills, that have been shown in clinical studies to produce significant improvement in I.B.S. symptoms through mind-body self-healing processes." Even though the treatment was a placebo, and even though the patients knew it was a placebo, they showed significant improvement.<br /><br><br /><br>With the recognition of the nocebo effect, though, some doctors now speak of an odd ethical dilemma: the Hippocratic Oath dictates "do no harm," but being honest with patients about potential side effects increases the odds that they will experience them. One suggestion is to adopt an ignorance protocol: ask patients for their permission not to tell them about minor drug side effects. A less fraught alternative is for doctors to speak more carefully, working hard to put the negatives into their proper place. If doctors say "the great majority of patients tolerate this treatment very well" before giving a flu shot, patients experience fewer "adverse events." The larger problem lies outside the clinic: the Internet has become a powerful—and, to some, irresistible—nocebo dosing machine. In another day, it took weeks or even months for a person to gather enough reading to become very, very afraid. Now one can achieve a state of dread in a few short hours, surrounded by the comforts of home.<br /><br><br /><br><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/04/the-nocebo-effect-how-we-worry-ourselves-sick.html?printable=true">http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/04/the-nocebo-effect-how-we-worry-ourselves-sick.html?printable=true</a>¤tPage=all

The Nocebo Effect: How We Worry Ourselves Sick : The New Yorker

Many of us hope to find Wi-Fi wherever we go, preferably for free. But some people devote their lives to avoiding Wi-Fi altogether. Sufferer...

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It's bright!

It is a lovely bright day in Dublin (but deceivingly cold). I snapped a pic of Christ Church as I drove to work. The sky is a gorgeous blue colour. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq8Rl62pdq567hAKkbbNG6ZngoLY4EorovYlEZIcGN79kBDd8xhIfFimhIsVIFNoYLBnVUQdYpRX1lUBYOyQm0zB92STXZ7nv2K0-G8vOZVksfUPxw_hVngVXDLrrhViRgVVDDJmDZgYB/s640/blogger-image-2070955465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq8Rl62pdq567hAKkbbNG6ZngoLY4EorovYlEZIcGN79kBDd8xhIfFimhIsVIFNoYLBnVUQdYpRX1lUBYOyQm0zB92STXZ7nv2K0-G8vOZVksfUPxw_hVngVXDLrrhViRgVVDDJmDZgYB/s640/blogger-image-2070955465.jpg" /></a></div>

It's bright!

It is a lovely bright day in Dublin (but deceivingly cold). I snapped a pic of Christ Church as I drove to work. The sky is a gorgeous blue...

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Belgian Truffles

Have you ever tasted authentic Belgian Truffles? We are lucky to have a Leonidas Chocolate Shop in Dublin.<br /><br />My sister and I popped in for a sweet treat last week. We each had the delicious fresh cream coffee flavour "Manon"<br /><br />I told my sister about my trip to Belgium about a year ago and how just about every third shop is a chocolate truffle shop!! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4ac1IIJb_qindK3p6j-tW6enmfV2nAK-IEL9y4YOwHt02UhBpxJigMrnko7bSyPdS8LLOX0c65aVf_6nOFPj2Fon5T3dOnzsWXndwqYZmmMOC2KRRDNWUtyJpFQJEbTjo4nf8vACRqYc/s640/blogger-image--2020202524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4ac1IIJb_qindK3p6j-tW6enmfV2nAK-IEL9y4YOwHt02UhBpxJigMrnko7bSyPdS8LLOX0c65aVf_6nOFPj2Fon5T3dOnzsWXndwqYZmmMOC2KRRDNWUtyJpFQJEbTjo4nf8vACRqYc/s640/blogger-image--2020202524.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH-3lJQzOS5xcicL1zKSUt_ERWTIGP7loQiXd6VDgvgs4WfXTTUl-qD38nYgaSqC87zBxp1N6KERp7tbAKqZuuW0AvXB8NJKYbsNJdbeph66iaiXF8QCC-NCFxGHGDZB1IWQb8LGgn3pW/s640/blogger-image-49143096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH-3lJQzOS5xcicL1zKSUt_ERWTIGP7loQiXd6VDgvgs4WfXTTUl-qD38nYgaSqC87zBxp1N6KERp7tbAKqZuuW0AvXB8NJKYbsNJdbeph66iaiXF8QCC-NCFxGHGDZB1IWQb8LGgn3pW/s640/blogger-image-49143096.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5t96_X-Qu0oY9wv9kl7v6iAr7q1WpkG-n6jozsVbm0CdxNLaoi4RMaD4oFcXKlqc0N_vQE6awdMjcU2LKWg0arBvIT7voDw3s_QDkeqpX8QNVKk5WeJaXLzowtjvYpaTFbRDbwIDfjUH/s640/blogger-image-840339248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5t96_X-Qu0oY9wv9kl7v6iAr7q1WpkG-n6jozsVbm0CdxNLaoi4RMaD4oFcXKlqc0N_vQE6awdMjcU2LKWg0arBvIT7voDw3s_QDkeqpX8QNVKk5WeJaXLzowtjvYpaTFbRDbwIDfjUH/s640/blogger-image-840339248.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpFTiu5cb12BxYb2oX61il0LJWd7fJD8Z6q4j-HYjp8iXrpg5Hof3aA7oR6DIRyL_usnIjSD3qe3B9hIetncBNCZCWj84c9SVRR6ChgLBvjfTJ23hiT9Nb84DFBmYFbMT7X8p2c4VgVRs/s640/blogger-image-1701074035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpFTiu5cb12BxYb2oX61il0LJWd7fJD8Z6q4j-HYjp8iXrpg5Hof3aA7oR6DIRyL_usnIjSD3qe3B9hIetncBNCZCWj84c9SVRR6ChgLBvjfTJ23hiT9Nb84DFBmYFbMT7X8p2c4VgVRs/s640/blogger-image-1701074035.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCn5GZ2a3A43prAHfEcRp0fVoetOIrjV4kznz3XJ7gpw-ARa8oH9DpykTN8L9hNJvUCVYszZ7vYiptIJYttA9A9XOY8RQZSyZS7BKKAbyHQ_FI1c_JTQewiNGwXNwu16-4q_-T3J2PDwZ/s640/blogger-image--1089419878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCn5GZ2a3A43prAHfEcRp0fVoetOIrjV4kznz3XJ7gpw-ARa8oH9DpykTN8L9hNJvUCVYszZ7vYiptIJYttA9A9XOY8RQZSyZS7BKKAbyHQ_FI1c_JTQewiNGwXNwu16-4q_-T3J2PDwZ/s640/blogger-image--1089419878.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipthCcv4eUdMVN0dcXpabk6erCuhrtIQYA3lnERjkoCssjgGQz3NAEhsKmBdEeseyoAw29xTHEEXUL1j6041Bt0c5rv-pUOPKzggbQ15uxom7ORpwO6ssKopYgIH_uERl5VEZG8BdroGG7/s640/blogger-image--1789715517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipthCcv4eUdMVN0dcXpabk6erCuhrtIQYA3lnERjkoCssjgGQz3NAEhsKmBdEeseyoAw29xTHEEXUL1j6041Bt0c5rv-pUOPKzggbQ15uxom7ORpwO6ssKopYgIH_uERl5VEZG8BdroGG7/s640/blogger-image--1789715517.jpg" /></a></div>

Belgian Truffles

Have you ever tasted authentic Belgian Truffles? We are lucky to have a Leonidas Chocolate Shop in Dublin. My sister and I popped in for a ...

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Men's Fashion Rules are Confusing

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hola fashionistas! As you probably know I’m not the most fashionable guy. Sometimes I think that I should up my game a bit and wear fancier clothes but then I think why bother? Actually, I guess should because going with the modern homeless look doesn’t exactly impress the babes. <o:p></o:p><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What has brought this on you ask? Lately I’ve noticed this trend of men wearing jackets but no tie along with a dress shirt that is unbuttoned at the top.  That putz Chris Hayes is dressing this way for his new show on MSNBC and then some dude named Dave Briggs doing the same opposite the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=589378177747462&set=a.158774970807787.33506.158398094178808&type=1&relevant_count=1" target="_blank">OH SO GOOD-LOOKING Thomas Roberts</a> Wed morning. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When did this become a thing? Has it always been okay to do this? It seems a bit too casual to me. I doubt anyone wants their lawyer looking all kicked back and casual like that. Like maybe he was already done for the day at the 8 am trial or something. Same goes for your financial adviser  Tie off means he’s already called it a day and isn’t worried that the market is going down faster than Jay Leno’s ratings. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Maybe Hayes and the rest in the media are going for the “Hey, I’m just a regular guy like you” look? Best of luck with that y’all. You’re not a regular working stiff and you don’t relate to, or care about people in flyover country. I say go back to the more formal and trustworthy look of the tie and jacket. Would Walter Cronkite or Tom Brokaw go jacket and no tie? Hell no! Edward R Murrow was damn good at the loosened tie, unbuttoned shirt, no jacket look though. That totally worked for him and was an indication of how hard he went every day. Kind of like the Tony Bennett bow tie is off shirt is unbuttoned singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” at the end of the show look. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cxmzn5UAf2eQjx5NoHgnpg5_o0wJkkwkpjArH3BQ3dQiNnF_VIrxTWXjm5pOthqWHIsV7fPzQhrJc6o0Q-BemZO7uwStbxND76IMXiOxZ02rxVweUOyXJyxr59hzH_92Z5vKh8NbU7c/s1600/Jay+Tie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cxmzn5UAf2eQjx5NoHgnpg5_o0wJkkwkpjArH3BQ3dQiNnF_VIrxTWXjm5pOthqWHIsV7fPzQhrJc6o0Q-BemZO7uwStbxND76IMXiOxZ02rxVweUOyXJyxr59hzH_92Z5vKh8NbU7c/s1600/Jay+Tie.jpg" /></a>It’s also my understanding that while “jacket, no tie” is acceptable, “tie, no jacket” isn’t. This kind of sucks <o:p></o:p></div>because that’s actually MY preferred look because the jacket is usually uncomfortable and makes me too warm. It seems like if you take the jacket off AND roll up the sleeves that should be perfectly acceptable, especially in the summer. <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I mean, I get that you have be careful not to do the white shirt, black tie, no jacket look. If you do that everyone will think you’re a Mormon and nobody will sit with you at lunch. So be sure to wear colors. Pink, yellow, blue, red and even lavender shirts will all reassure your coworkers and others that they can sit next to you without you trying to convert them. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Also, the <a href="http://www.thesilktiefactory.com/zipperties9.html" target="_blank">Zipper Tie</a> is perfectly acceptable right? Because if it isn’t I’ll have to reassess my position on the jacket, no tie situation. The only kind of tie I can wear is the Zipper Tie because tying a tie is like the hardest think in the history of the world. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Jayman68" target="_blank">Facebook.com/Jayman68</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS </a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Men's Fashion Rules are Confusing

Hola fashionistas! As you probably know I’m not the most fashionable guy. Sometimes I think that I should up my game a bit and wear fancier ...

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Cascade Ice Waters Review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever feel like your water you drink is just dull and needs a little bit of a kick with some flavor?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cascadeicewater.com/">Cascade Ice</a> makes the most delicious flavored waters that I have ever tried!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are lightly sweetened, refreshing, tons of great flavors and you can mix them into an alcohol imaginable.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These amazing flavors such as lemonade and coconut remind me of sitting on the beach relaxing and hearing the waves crashing with the scent of suntan lotion, it's like summer in a bottle!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I came across their drinks online I just knew I had to try them!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love flavored waters especially coconut! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h1TkoCPtSkA/UVzb6ruAW4I/AAAAAAAAHZU/9LtJz6q06lU/s1600/Cascade+Ice+drinks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h1TkoCPtSkA/UVzb6ruAW4I/AAAAAAAAHZU/9LtJz6q06lU/s320/Cascade+Ice+drinks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was sent some flavors to try for review and was so excited when I saw the lemonade and coconut flavor!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love the bottles and the tags that were tied on them!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A thought popped into my heard when I saw them!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are the perfect baby shower/birthday gift for someone!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Low in calories and a drink you can enjoy!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lemonade:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So delicious and not to much of a lemon flavor where you have to pucker your lips because it's too sour.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coconut:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yum, so delicious and refreshing! I was in absolute awe of how great this flavor tasted!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pink Grapefruit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not bad! Delicious</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The drink mixes:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Works really well in cocktails or mojitos </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can check them out online here:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Face Book:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CascadeIceWaters">https://www.facebook.com/CascadeIceWaters</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/cascadeicewater">https://twitter.com/cascadeicewater</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pinterest:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/cascadeice/">http://pinterest.com/cascadeice/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/CascadeIceWater"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/CascadeIceWater</span></a></div>

Cascade Ice Waters Review

Ever feel like your water you drink is just dull and needs a little bit of a kick with some flavor? Cascade Ice  makes the most delicious fl...

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Ola Granola Review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether it's sprinkled on top of yogurt, layered in a parfait, on ice cream or in trail mix granola is by far my most favorite thing to eat!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's healthy, delicious, fruity, nutty and chocolaty!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, indeed some kinds aren't good for you but my gosh when it's all natural ,healthy and has got that crunch and touch of sweetness it's the perfect snack!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For breakfast practically every morning I make a parfait and add in fruit with sunflower seeds and works perfect with some coffee or juice!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With each brand of granola I've tried I've noticed that each one is different from the other whether it's crunchy, chewy, fruity,seedy, nutty,chocolaty, crumbly but most importantly healthy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While browsing the net one night I came across <a href="http://www.olafoods.com/index.php">Ola Granola</a> and realized they make their granola by hand and also I saw that they had a Cranberry Orange Pecan Flavor and thought to myself I have got to try their granola's!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got a response immediately from an email I sent them asking them if I could review their products and was so excited when I got the go!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I couldn't wait to try them!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For my review I was sent 2 travel sized packs of granola (vanilla almond and No nut vanilla)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(below photo)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also received three big bags of their Cranberry Orange Pecan, No Nut Vanilla and Vanilla Almond!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2zrqw_Okb_U/UVzUZoe50_I/AAAAAAAAHZE/Aajqz7zpyeE/s1600/Ola+Granola+package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2zrqw_Okb_U/UVzUZoe50_I/AAAAAAAAHZE/Aajqz7zpyeE/s320/Ola+Granola+package.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Couldn't stop thinking about the Cranberry Orange Pecan it was just calling out to me, try me!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I scooped out some yogurt and then sprinkled on sunflower seeds and the granola.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLXZSN76IDM/UVzZ4kxbVjI/AAAAAAAAHZM/5FW10cS3_7U/s1600/Ola+Granola+Cranberry+orange+pecan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLXZSN76IDM/UVzZ4kxbVjI/AAAAAAAAHZM/5FW10cS3_7U/s320/Ola+Granola+Cranberry+orange+pecan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The granola was crunchy, delicious and not too over powering with cranberry orange taste like some products are.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be sure to check them out online!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Also before I get to mention go their online website and order some, with this code here <span style="background-color: white; color: #1f497d; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f497d; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">KBW2013</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f497d; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">  </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">you will receive free shipping on your order!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, Enjoy!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Order products here:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.olafoods.com/products-page/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.olafoods.com/products-page/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Face Book:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/olafoods">https://www.facebook.com/olafoods</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/olafoods">https://twitter.com/olafoods</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sold at:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whole Foods</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stop & Shop</span></div>

Ola Granola Review

Whether it's sprinkled on top of yogurt, layered in a parfait, on ice cream or in trail mix granola is by far my most favorite thing to ...

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Wang Shu Lecture

Last night Wang Shu spoke in the Great Hall at The Cooper Union, in <a href="http://archleague.org/2013/04/wang-shu/">a lecture sponsored by the school and the Architectural League of New York</a>. His talk was titled "The Meaning of Time: An Alive Construction," and it focused on a few built projects ("<a href="http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/35800_tiled_garden/">Times Garden</a>" and "Times Theatre," <a href="http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/35792_ningbo_history_museum/">Ningbo History Museum</a>, and <a href="http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/1759_china_art_academy_new_campus_of_xiangshan_school/">Xiangshan</a> <a href="http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/35795_china_art_academy_new_campus_of_xiangshan_school_phase_ii/">Campus</a>) and a couple in-progress projects that are illustrated below. Beyond the actual projects that he and partner Lu Wenyu are executing as <a href="http://www.world-architects.com/amateur/">Amateur Architecture Studio</a>, he spoke a good deal about China's modernization and concomitant demolition—per Wang Shu, 90% of culture has been destroyed in the country's rush to be modern. I've been to the Great Hall many times, but this is the first time when the venue seemed appropriate to the crowd; about 600 people listened to Wang Shu speak for an hour, followed by 30 minutes of Q&A. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8617145496/" title="Wang Shu Lecture by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Wang Shu Lecture" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8262/8617145496_ef528cb2ce_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />As the photo below shows, Wang Shu presented old Chinese paintings (left in the image, next to his Ningbo History Museum) as a means of interpreting the relationship between the artificial and the natural, between cities and countryside, between tradition and modernity. Yet, as the buildings of Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu indicate, looking at traditional sources for inspiration does not equate with building in a traditional manner—old materials, many of them reclaimed from demolished buildings, are used in unexpected ways. As he said, "I am not interested in the past and traditional things, but rather the difference between the past and the contemporary." The two projects that follow attest to this continued position, one that sets him apart from many of his contemporaries.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8617145358/" title="Wang Shu Lecture by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Wang Shu Lecture" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8266/8617145358_caf0c8dc33_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The "Shi Li Hong Zhuang" (Traditional Dowry) Museum in Ninghai, Ningbo, China, under construction and scheduled for completion next year:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8617145574/" title="Wang Shu Lecture by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Wang Shu Lecture" height="526" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8617145574_0ddc3ee46e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8617145656/" title="Wang Shu Lecture by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Wang Shu Lecture" height="524" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8528/8617145656_852aa33e7a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8617145764/" title="Wang Shu Lecture by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Wang Shu Lecture" height="526" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8114/8617145764_648075a9d4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The Guest House at Xiangshan Campus, nearing completion in Hangzhou, China:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8616039993/" title="Wang Shu Lecture by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Wang Shu Lecture" height="486" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8117/8616039993_c342a20cc5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8616039973/" title="Wang Shu Lecture by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Wang Shu Lecture" height="429" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8616039973_a95e632446_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/8617145474/" title="Wang Shu Lecture by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Wang Shu Lecture" height="428" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8242/8617145474_ee7842e6b4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>

Wang Shu Lecture

Last night Wang Shu spoke in the Great Hall at The Cooper Union, in a lecture sponsored by the school and the Architectural League of New Yo...

Read more »