More reviews/giveaways coming soon!

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hello and good morning everyone.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been a crazy busy week with the power outage from the storm etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hang tight I've got some more reviews and giveaways coming soon!! </span></div>

More reviews/giveaways coming soon!

Hello and good morning everyone. It's been a crazy busy week with the power outage from the storm etc. Hang tight I've got some more...

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Matt Said, Jay Said 21613

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Matt whimpers…Jay moans…You get their assisted living rooms ready.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMBLl6OvNPHLVtWPabDKQjtLAk57wdxWrVcmEsi-Z517k79KklxVo0LHt5ZB3uv1-MYSjlAUxvP-ceTL0ttHNffg6DpTyr1U_O1-ZD72CIU0GGVnXSp1MiIpeb83gZO2hWnAPZ5KaI_c/s1600/Christopher+Dorner+Sexy+Murderer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMBLl6OvNPHLVtWPabDKQjtLAk57wdxWrVcmEsi-Z517k79KklxVo0LHt5ZB3uv1-MYSjlAUxvP-ceTL0ttHNffg6DpTyr1U_O1-ZD72CIU0GGVnXSp1MiIpeb83gZO2hWnAPZ5KaI_c/s320/Christopher+Dorner+Sexy+Murderer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Matt:  Hellooooo?<br />Jay:  Wait a minute…(garbled noise) (more garbled noise) Okay…Hi.<br />Matt:  What the hell were you doing?  Stuffing a dead hooker in your fridge?<br />Jay:  I was tryi----<br />Matt:  Hold on…my boss is calling me, I’ll you alert as to when he is done.<br />Jay:  Okay.<br /><br />(five minutes pass, Jay calls back)<br /><br />Matt:  Howdy.<br />Jay:  Could you answer your damn phone?<br />Matt:  I just did.<br />Jay:  I mean on the first ring.<br />Matt:  Hell no…I’m old, and my kidneys hurt.  Takes me awhile to get to it.<br />Jay:  Alright.<br />Matt:  How’s your back?<br />Jay:  It has felt like shit since I put together that table this week.<br />Matt:  Whatafuckingshame…What are we going to talk about on Saturday’s show?<br /><br />Jay:  I was going to ask you.<br />Matt:  Well…I had two thoughts.<br />Jay:  Wow, that’s impressive…and unprecedented.<br />Matt:  Cute…Either, Open Phone Line Saturday, or a President’s Day show type thing and...<br />Jay:  Giving up Rose and Steel Reserve has made you more lucid, but I dunno, those ideas seem a bit….<br />Matt:  Orrrrrr…We could talk about guys who are afraid to give up Pepsi for Lent.<br /><br />Jay:  I loooooove the <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/02/17/open-line-saturday" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Open Phone Line Saturday</i></span></a> idea.<br />Matt:  Yeah. I mean the President’s Day thing would be good, but…<br />Jay:  But who really cares?<br />Matt:  Exactly…we want numbers and ratings.<br />Jay:  Damn right, we’re not beneath putting quantity before quality.<br />Matt:  Never have been.<br />Jay:  Never will.<br /><br />Matt:  We can encourage listeners to call-in and get whatever is <i>on</i> their chest, <i>off</i> their chest.<br />Jay:  They could speak their mind about the Russian meteor, Chuck Hagel, or the State of the Union.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBUuKfuypSZtK2leLfgCdhkMs-vLpcWIOHVmwmxJhVYsiWQSh29kH0cl90-d2ZLXIoFKKNLp7B5AaZiZ6i2DrMofwfGMdetxE3cMTZNftZXYLQazyNotzsCFkuA9NGCvParhfmJnpWYk/s1600/Oscar-Pistorius+Murder+Girlfriend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBUuKfuypSZtK2leLfgCdhkMs-vLpcWIOHVmwmxJhVYsiWQSh29kH0cl90-d2ZLXIoFKKNLp7B5AaZiZ6i2DrMofwfGMdetxE3cMTZNftZXYLQazyNotzsCFkuA9NGCvParhfmJnpWYk/s400/Oscar-Pistorius+Murder+Girlfriend.jpg" width="400" /></a>Matt:  They could chime in on Oscar Pistorius the legless sprinter who killed his girlfriend.<br />Jay:  Frankly, I am stumped as to why he did that.<br />Matt:  IKR?<br />Jay:  We could open up the phone lines for opinions on Christopher Dorner, and what constitutes a cabin.<br />Matt:  Excellent!!  We could also talk about the fact that today is Singles Awareness Day.<br /><br />Jay:  It’s what?  Sing---?<br />Matt:  Singles Awareness Day.  After Valentine’s Day, single people have <i>their</i> special day.<br />Jay:  Oh wow…I didn't know that.<br />Matt:  Well now you do, so I guess in this case, an “Awareness Day” actually worked.<br />Jay:  How ‘bout that?  Fascinating.  I’ll make sure to nuke a special Hormel Meal for One today.<br /><br />Matt:  So I guess we’re set.  Hope the listeners support our efforts and call-in, but if not…<br />Jay:  If not, we have plenty of magic with which to work our speculative comedy.<br />Matt:  Alrighty then. I will see you on the air at 11 PM ET tonight!!<br />Jay:  Yep…Provided my back doesn't go out again.<br />Matt:  And my kidney pain doesn't flare back up.<br />Jay and Matt:  I think we’re ready for Open Line Saturday!!<br /><br />If you’d like to listen in, and or call-in LIVE TONIGHT at 11 PM ET on the IWS Open Line Radio Show you can click right : <i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/02/17/open-line-saturday" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i> <br /><i>.</i><br /><i>.</i></div>

Matt Said, Jay Said 21613

Matt whimpers…Jay moans…You get their assisted living rooms ready. Matt:  Hellooooo? Jay:  Wait a minute…(garbled noise) (more garbled noise...

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The Taste

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love watching cooking shows, because well I love to take a recipe and make it my own by adding or removing ingredients to make them healthier options.</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;">This is a great show because it shows contestants making foods that they love!</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;">Don't forget to watch on Tuesday at 8|7c on ABC.</span></div>

The Taste

I love watching cooking shows, because well I love to take a recipe and make it my own by adding or removing ingredients to make them health...

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Tantrums in the morning

<p>Generally my husband takes the dog with him to the office everyday.  However, he decided to leave Bones at home with me as I am off work today.</p><p>I had planned to have a lie in and take it easy.  Well I tell you, that was not going to happen with Bones in the house.  He went berserk when Ciaran left without him.  The dog was so cross that I nearly phoned Ciaran to come back and take him with you.</p><p>The whole day I've had a sulky dog on my hands.  He is really acting up - he won't even eat his food!!</p><p>Not a good boy......and I'm not too pleased with having been woken up early on my day off.</p><p>If you are looking to read another blog about Irish life, pop over to <a href="http://amydublinia.blogspot.ie/">my sister's blog</a></p><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYj_d5L3JqvQx3tmcHwGXfs_P_g_fsl2f_-Bnth5UI94Sw1foFFnJSTkwE3HbGMzKW-lhpZNVGLAafFc7z14rcvAgBKviqyPEcUb_38-yv1wlq2epKO8vbZbIYJVmWDTp6LQkdphIJFqMA/s1600/20130209_225501.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYj_d5L3JqvQx3tmcHwGXfs_P_g_fsl2f_-Bnth5UI94Sw1foFFnJSTkwE3HbGMzKW-lhpZNVGLAafFc7z14rcvAgBKviqyPEcUb_38-yv1wlq2epKO8vbZbIYJVmWDTp6LQkdphIJFqMA/s400/20130209_225501.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFEbqTq2n9ExMaPuwjbHzWKQLXa19MZ3ORf-dQ7SiGnRgs0-LFL-cFACFsmDYEVvvHt6Rjey3F1UrWc4VpnFuY3w_1u0zkAyPx86UeYKloNmZilE6vk3Ha0gbfaCunRLLuV2aJnLeUoaa/s1600/20130215_154719.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFEbqTq2n9ExMaPuwjbHzWKQLXa19MZ3ORf-dQ7SiGnRgs0-LFL-cFACFsmDYEVvvHt6Rjey3F1UrWc4VpnFuY3w_1u0zkAyPx86UeYKloNmZilE6vk3Ha0gbfaCunRLLuV2aJnLeUoaa/s400/20130215_154719.jpg" /> </a> </div>

Tantrums in the morning

Generally my husband takes the dog with him to the office everyday.  However, he decided to leave Bones at home with me as I am off work tod...

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28 in 28 #15: Modern Views

<i>February is Book Month on A Daily Dose of Architecture. The "<a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/search/label/28%20in%2028">28 in 28</a>" series features a different book every day of the month.</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.assouline.com/9782759404674.html"><b><i>Modern Views</i></b></a><br />Assouline, 2010<br />Hardcover, 200 pages<br /><br /><img alt="28-28_modern-views.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/28-28_modern-views.jpg" title="Book cover" /><br /><br />For the month of February I'm hosting <a href="http://glasshouseconversations.org/where-do-you-stand-on-the-traditional-versus-modern-debate-and-why-is-there-a-contemporary-compromise/">a debate at Glass House Conversations</a> on traditional versus modern architecture. My participation prompted me to flip through my copy of the companion book to <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2010/10/modern-views.html">Modern Views</a>, a 2010 project that benefited Mies van der Rohe's <a href="http://www.farnsworthhouse.org/">Farnsworth House</a> and Philip Johnson's <a href="http://philipjohnsonglasshouse.org/">Glass House</a>, both operated and maintained by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  For Modern Views, "One hundred contemporary artists, architects, and designers created and donated works of art and written statements, capturing their inspiration about these iconic buildings and the architects who created them."<br /><br />Beyond the National Trust connection, the two buildings are obviously linked by their form (rectangular boxes), material (glass), and timing (1949 for Glass House, and 1951 for Farnsworth House). It's also been shown that Johnson knew about Mies's design (he started it in 1945) but beat him to the punch. This history often ignores just how distinct each building is from the other—the way each addresses the ground (Farnsworth raised above, Glass House directly upon it); the related structure (Mies carefully detailed the steel to make the building look like it is magically propped up, though the steel structure at the Glass house is more incidental, blending in with the glass framing); the clients (Mies designed it for Dr. Edith Farnsworth while Johnson designed it for himself); the articulation of bathrooms (Mies chose wood, but Johnson opted for brick); and the function (the Farnsworth House is a single building that serves as a country retreat, but the Glass House was built alongside the Brick House that contained Johnson's bedroom). Yes, each house is a glass box, but there are infinite variations within that term to give each house its unique effects.<br /><br />The catalog of approximately 100 works in <i>Modern Views</i> are split into four chapters: Architects, Landscape Architects, Artists, Designers. They are bookended by essays (Paul Goldberger, Phyllis Lambert, Sylvia Lavin) and original drawings of the Farnsworth House and Glass House. About half of the architects (the biggest chapter) simply dug something appropriate out of their archive, which is mildly disappointing. The ones that took the time to create something that addressed each house or the relationship between the two are a hit-or-miss bunch, but they also serve to say as much about the author as they do about the two houses. A good example is Léon Krier's imagining of a "future for the glass house" with timber framing, pitched roof and divided lights; it is more humorous than provocative. My favorite is Jeanne Gang's sketch of the Farnsworth House, where the trees are drawn in colored pencil then erased in part to define the silhouette of Mies's floating structure; nature is the key, not the architecture.<br /><br />Similar distinctions—between old and new creations for the project—apply to the landscape architects, artists, and designers. Overall I'm drawn to the pieces that look at the relationship between the two houses, rather than the ones that look at just one house or find words to convey how an old work relates to the creation of Mies and Johnson. In this vein Fritz Haeg's piece—two pillows stitched with elevations of each house between the names of the clients and architects (Edith/Ludwig, <a href="http://philipjohnsonglasshouse.org/history/bios/whitney/">David</a>/Philip)—is a highlight; it gets at the personal nature of each house, going beyond the abstractions and generalizations that have been applied to them since the 1950s. Now they are museums, so that personal connection is just a memory, sacrificed for people to be inspired by their architecture and settings.<br /><br /><b>Purchase at <a href="http://designstore.philipjohnsonglasshouse.org/modern-views-p43.aspx">The Glass House Design Store</a> or <a href="http://shop.farnsworthhouse.org/SelectSku.aspx?skuid=1000581">Farnsworth House's online store</a> to support your favorite house! </b>

28 in 28 #15: Modern Views

February is Book Month on A Daily Dose of Architecture. The " 28 in 28 " series features a different book every day of the month. ...

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Pregnancy: In the Beginning - Part 2

By the time I could get rescheduled with my doctor, I was desperate for relief.  I tried absolutely every morning sickness aid that was suggested to me, and the list was long:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">1. Sea bands (2 different brands!)<br />2. Preggie pops<br />3. Saltines<br />4. Ginger ale<br />5. Eating before getting out of bed<br />6. Eating before getting out of bed while keeping my head on the pillow and my eyes closed.<br />7. Exercise - which actually helped.  However, it was hard to motivate myself to get up and move when I felt like death.<br />8. Small, constant meals<br />9. Ginger candies<br />10. Ginger root<br />11. Hard candies (Jolly Ranchers, etc)<br />12. Peppermint candies<br />13. Toast<br />14. Chicken broth</blockquote><br />Honestly - none of those worked for me, with the exception of the exercise.  As soon as the exercise was over though, I was sick all over again.  When I was finally able to see my doctor, she gave me a prenatal that had vitamin B-12, which is said to ward off nausea.  It seemed to help at first, but maybe that was just a false positive, because eventually it didn't make any difference.  My doctor tried to prescribe some medicine to me, but my insurance wouldn't cover it.  She said my next best bet was to try Benadryl.  Benadryl is the only thing that gave me any kind of relief!  The relief was almost instant too and it was glorious when I could finally lay on the couch without a perpetual stomachache.  Still, I'm not a fan of pumping myself full of medicine, so I tried to take it sparingly even though my doctor assured me it was safe.<br /><br />I had my first ultrasound a few short weeks later to determine the due date of the baby.  Even though I was certain on the date of conception, I couldn't remember exactly the date of my last period and that was info they insisted on knowing.  By mid-November we knew we were due to have a baby by June 22, 2013! <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFa-H2dLgyzhy3copnUf9oI2cb-J-GqAIfMn5pYnCgoQUtv-kMnF8KF7U8woDfFSzuIyHuUBc51ss__7ccP2y-9O_G4ot5OP39EAEpmiSkZfmIBcVRMMDJV89W9nmhVUyCjWGWn2I-VI/s1600/baby+busbee+9+weeks+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFa-H2dLgyzhy3copnUf9oI2cb-J-GqAIfMn5pYnCgoQUtv-kMnF8KF7U8woDfFSzuIyHuUBc51ss__7ccP2y-9O_G4ot5OP39EAEpmiSkZfmIBcVRMMDJV89W9nmhVUyCjWGWn2I-VI/s400/baby+busbee+9+weeks+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby @ 9 weeks</td></tr></tbody></table>Seeing the little kidney bean on the screen was miraculous.  Everyone I know describes it that same way, but I guess I was still in such denial of being pregnant that when I first saw the little blob on the screen, with it's beating heart, I couldn't believe that was inside of me!

Baby Busbee Pregnancy: In the Beginning - Part 2

By the time I could get rescheduled with my doctor, I was desperate for relief.  I tried absolutely every morning sickness aid that was sugg...

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where's the fire

Happy Friday all!<div><br /></div><div>This week I poured over the new issue of <a href="http://www.matchbookmag.com/" target="_blank">Matchbook</a> probably at least once a day. I tell ya I can't get enough of that thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>One image that I kept coming back to was this one.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvvR9Yh7qO-JQiHT0IHq6y5ZEbfHFvHwoim9qqFs71QM0FwZPdzFRYTnigvp0Ob1JTNtXXlfuMxjipoIisF7w2UEuy8IUWvnrmYvuIqjT1wihpF57bZFaoag5_IsKHGA7Mb27C83D2o-H/s1600/matchbook22013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvvR9Yh7qO-JQiHT0IHq6y5ZEbfHFvHwoim9qqFs71QM0FwZPdzFRYTnigvp0Ob1JTNtXXlfuMxjipoIisF7w2UEuy8IUWvnrmYvuIqjT1wihpF57bZFaoag5_IsKHGA7Mb27C83D2o-H/s640/matchbook22013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.matchbookmag.com/issues/february-2013#99" target="_blank">Bailey's house in Matchbook</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />OK, so really it is three images, but I'm looking at the same thing in each one - the very cool match strike collection.</div><div><br /></div><div>While they are by no means a new thing, I seem to be noticing them more and more in magazines. They are a great sculptural element and make a great addition to a coffee table, mantel or vanity. Much better than the free matchbook in the bathroom for sure. You can find vintage ones in antique stores and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search?q=match%20strike&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US" target="_blank">Etsy</a> and I think they would make a great thing to keep an eye out for on vacations and trips. A unique souvenir to bring home.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenhVtAulzvTZ8DoQj062Ae_Llkm-scK1BEyVLp1I74fe5u5z315o2GwDMsMJWaMbXRRSyLWbtDONyHgIyPhlz8DKKk9kJkOr5ge3Bg-KHSkSPGpxSgaZfT4LX_4tcPxMl0-gSMjzKHMRp/s1600/f6ca4d6e87a8fe25a97b996aaa6c863e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenhVtAulzvTZ8DoQj062Ae_Llkm-scK1BEyVLp1I74fe5u5z315o2GwDMsMJWaMbXRRSyLWbtDONyHgIyPhlz8DKKk9kJkOr5ge3Bg-KHSkSPGpxSgaZfT4LX_4tcPxMl0-gSMjzKHMRp/s400/f6ca4d6e87a8fe25a97b996aaa6c863e.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/111816003218434220/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbWkaCK5xzvU8EJOH3B35Cccgw55qWKiw3KUsN2D0mMtay2ATslxMf4tg1oPF6d4Fs3sJ4bMqMpqHWkYLb7PkH6B_sqMmw4OPLw_LIeF_D_DNy5F60hFek2_FqTmZ5CQEpE-A5HwfTiln/s1600/product.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbWkaCK5xzvU8EJOH3B35Cccgw55qWKiw3KUsN2D0mMtay2ATslxMf4tg1oPF6d4Fs3sJ4bMqMpqHWkYLb7PkH6B_sqMmw4OPLw_LIeF_D_DNy5F60hFek2_FqTmZ5CQEpE-A5HwfTiln/s400/product.jpeg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.outblush.com/women/home/lighting/ceramic-bistro-match-strike-/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd6n_vBvz1eMjypMtrTrNWWUckL_oypDmlMMrt1aZ4T9V-N4iYl9zR5VN0omw4O9RRcTs0TXUTYGt_3ASrZCNTUPAxkuK3otbG69PLEBc9YTi77yQVHQ8LCzZ21UDEta_Hlofr9O3yu4r/s1600/NMH6KNT_mx.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd6n_vBvz1eMjypMtrTrNWWUckL_oypDmlMMrt1aZ4T9V-N4iYl9zR5VN0omw4O9RRcTs0TXUTYGt_3ASrZCNTUPAxkuK3otbG69PLEBc9YTi77yQVHQ8LCzZ21UDEta_Hlofr9O3yu4r/s400/NMH6KNT_mx.jpeg" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/AERIN-Round-Match-Striker/prod152660096/?ecid=NMALRFeedQFGLnEolOWg...&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=prod152660096sku&CS_003=5630585" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfUCYxlh_ymX8oKsIhds9NwyoWqPtcMrhpK_fKLXk049noKEDuLSAGvZUcrHhNBvpBGdg2nxpQT1S_9gyAE-sn6spuJGEJOBWDY5KNYsjqYkdFA5acZI7JLQIpURn5a6BXhJ8xnKK9gba/s1600/_6702662.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfUCYxlh_ymX8oKsIhds9NwyoWqPtcMrhpK_fKLXk049noKEDuLSAGvZUcrHhNBvpBGdg2nxpQT1S_9gyAE-sn6spuJGEJOBWDY5KNYsjqYkdFA5acZI7JLQIpURn5a6BXhJ8xnKK9gba/s400/_6702662.jpeg" width="257" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/jonathan-adler-devil-porcelain-match-strike/3256016?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_ite=jonathan_adler_'devil'_porcelain_match_strike:519425&cm_pla=home:table_placements&cm_ven=Google_Product_Ads&mr:referralID=da5e2019-7524-11e2-97b3-001b2166becc&pprd=0" target="_blank">source</a><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuacHto4h8RT711DSueoy8tna03fB0EiUwe7OZboGuWs4Y6_RAAtGPS6pUrye3A-SP1dpKLX061oSM3IY8rMThOdk9mgd9QH0auhIi-SK4216pouZmoSQzFU8aDcYTL5r0rmw2YfXf0bD/s1600/RollingWords_Book1sdfs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuacHto4h8RT711DSueoy8tna03fB0EiUwe7OZboGuWs4Y6_RAAtGPS6pUrye3A-SP1dpKLX061oSM3IY8rMThOdk9mgd9QH0auhIi-SK4216pouZmoSQzFU8aDcYTL5r0rmw2YfXf0bD/s400/RollingWords_Book1sdfs.jpeg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dangerousminds.net/comments/snoop_doggs_new_smokable_book_rolling_words" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This one is just funny.<br /><br />I think I found a new collection.<br /><br />I'm off to get my arse in gear for tomorrow's celebration. Eve is turning two! It won't be <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/02/very-first-birthday.html" target="_blank">the big celebration we had last year</a>, but good times are on the menu.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3J4MSIU9o88SJ0c9Cr1FBja5qy0TWXJzZrbfPF1cljhbcZ54ApVNdVf212dALGceG4cXixA2Cb82FQrd_WrMkrXQ68NFK5p9wvUG-hRzaXLN4pM7UfNZ-6vds6DUuLP0AuUXQVmB1JhO/s1600/Eveis2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3J4MSIU9o88SJ0c9Cr1FBja5qy0TWXJzZrbfPF1cljhbcZ54ApVNdVf212dALGceG4cXixA2Cb82FQrd_WrMkrXQ68NFK5p9wvUG-hRzaXLN4pM7UfNZ-6vds6DUuLP0AuUXQVmB1JhO/s400/Eveis2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Also, I'm over at <a href="http://alivedinhome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Lived in Home</a> today talking about some things I've learned from DIYing. Make sure to <a href="http://alivedinhome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">check it out</a>.<br /><br />Have a great weekend!</div>

where's the fire

Happy Friday all! This week I poured over the new issue of Matchbook probably at least once a day. I tell ya I can't get enough of that...

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Lent and Lunch are Like Peanut Butter and Jelly ... Or Something

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />Hola y’all! You know what? I’m kind of having a problem with two things, and they both begin with the letter “L.”  There are a lot of things that begin with the letter “L” that really suck. Just of the top of my head I can think of  love, loneliness, lobotomy, losers, litter, lawyers, licorice, lunatic, liars, liver, Lichtenstein, love letter, lizards, leprechauns, lice, lameness, loins, lettuce and well, LIFE!  I’m sure there’s a lot more, but you get the idea. But, like I said, there are two things that begin with “L” that are really pissing me off right now …<br /><br />Lunch and Lent.<br /><br />I really don’t care for either. They’re both stooooopid! And, I can never decide what I should do about either. So, I guess the obvious thing to do is combine the two. No, I’m not giving up having lunch for lent, but there are some things I’m going to give up having for lunch during lent.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNYb1imb1bAbSpfe07EOj3pahtznJ3YQIKxbK_CA2ZbjeeU6pcY0svPpECC7BoV6MceTs-Sf_2I7Gi8voxm66wUVgfpYX2mWvM4YleHFuwlG_8poZT64kpevENHMw8T3wypOQwlzznKI/s1600/Priyanka-Chopra-Hot-Nude-Pepsi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNYb1imb1bAbSpfe07EOj3pahtznJ3YQIKxbK_CA2ZbjeeU6pcY0svPpECC7BoV6MceTs-Sf_2I7Gi8voxm66wUVgfpYX2mWvM4YleHFuwlG_8poZT64kpevENHMw8T3wypOQwlzznKI/s320/Priyanka-Chopra-Hot-Nude-Pepsi.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>Originally I was going to give up Pepsi for lent, but then I thought, fuck that. See, there are some very good reasons not to give up Pepsi for lent. 1) I don’t want to. 2) I won’t do it. 3) It’s not worth it.<br /><br />I’ve done the lent thing a few times. I gave up alcohol one year, which was much easier than it seems. I gave up chips and fast food another year. Again, that wasn’t a really big sacrifice. Now, I know people say you should give up something big that you really love. This somehow brings us closer to God and gives us strength and blah, blah, blah. If that works for you then that’s great and I totally support your lifestyle choices. But, it hasn’t done shit for me. In fact, even after participating in this lent-thing what did I get from God?<br /><br />HEARTACHE!<br /><br />God damn right, bitches! Nothing but heartache. So, what’s the point? Why should I bother? Especially if I try something I know I’m not going to succeed at. Or worse, something I have no intention of succeeding at. In this case, trying and failing will not be superior in any way to not trying at all.<br /><br />So, what to do? Ignore lent? Well, I’d like to. That would also mean ignoring Matt-Man’s attempts and guilting me into observing lent, which really wouldn’t be that hard to do. But, part of me feels like I should do something, if for no other reason to provide moral support for my partner in crime Mattcicle. Oh and that whole “get closer to God” thing too.<br /><br />This is where lunch comes in. I’m terrible at lunch. I always end up eating something “bad.” I tend to have hot dogs, cheeseburgers, frozen pizza, breaded chicken patties, Beefaroni … shit like that for lunch. Well, that’s gonna just have to change. For lent I will give up those “bad” things that I have for lunch (including the chips I would have with some of those items). This way I will not only observe lent, but I will use it for good.<br /><br />Trying to give up Pepsi, and failing, really wouldn’t accomplish a thing. But, if I stop eating unhealthy things at lunch, and replace them with healthier things or at least things not super unhealthy, then I will be doing something positive. It’s fucking brilliant!<br /><br />So, the great Lent Crisis of 2013 has been avoided.*<br /><br />Jayman<br /><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br />@Jayman_IWS<br /><br /><br />*I wrote this post on Wednesday, February 13, 2013, the first day of lent. But, since I had BBQ Pork Sandwich for lunch today, I started lent on the 14th. I checked with Jesus and he’s totally cool with it.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>

Lent and Lunch are Like Peanut Butter and Jelly ... Or Something

Hola y’all! You know what? I’m kind of having a problem with two things, and they both begin with the letter “L.”  There are a lot of things...

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Sex Diseases Cost $16 Billion a Year to Treat, CDC Says - Bloomberg

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/std/" title="Open Web Site" rel="external" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Sexually transmitted diseases</a> cost $16 billion each year to treat in the U.S., with 19.7 million infections diagnosed annually, the nation's health agency found.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">People ages 15 to 24 account for half of the annual cases, according to reports released yesterday by the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/" title="Open Web Site" rel="external" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>. There are about 110 million total infections among U.S. men and women of all ages, the agency said, with the most common infection human papillomavirus, a virus linked to cancer.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">Young people have borne a disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted diseases for as long as the Atlanta-based CDC has kept records, said Catherine Satterwhite, an author of one of the reports and a CDC epidemiologist. They often don't have good insurance or difficulties accessing care, she said.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">"We've seen a disproportionate burden for quite a while," Satterwhite said in a telephone interview. "Young women in particular are at greater risk."</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">The CDC reported data on eight sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, herpes and HPV.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">Drug-resistant gonorrhea is a growing threat, the agency said in a <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6206a3.htm?s_cid=mm6206a3_w" title="Open Web Site" rel="external" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">separate study</a> published today in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. There aren't enough antibiotics in development and more experimental therapies are needed immediately, according to the report. For now, to minimize the spread of resistant strains, more people should be screened and treated, the agency said.</div><h2 style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Trends Persist</h2><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">The sexually transmitted diseases study released yesterday, which uses data from 2008, the most recent comprehensive information available, isn't directly comparable with previous studies because of changes in the reporting methods, the CDC said. However, some trends, including that of younger patients, have persisted.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">All sexually transmitted diseases are preventable, many are curable and all are treatable, Satterwhite said. Getting more people tested effectively, such as making sure more young women are screened for<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002321/" title="Open Web Site" rel="external" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "> chlamydia</a> and all sexually active adults are tested for HIV at least once, would help, she said.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">The costliest STDs are HIV, which requires lifelong care, and HPV, which causes throat, anal, penile, and cervical tumors. Use of vaccines that can prevent HPV, made by <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/MRK:US" class="web_ticker" title="Get Quote" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Merck & Co.</a> and<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/GSK:LN" class="web_ticker" title="Get Quote" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">GlaxoSmithKline Plc</a>, have remained low as rates of HPV-related cancers have risen, according to a study last month in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">Curable sexually transmitted diseases cost $742 million, with chlamydia as the most common and the most expensive.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">Prevention strategies for STDs include abstaining from sex, condom use, and mutually monogamous relationships, Satterwhite said. The HPV vaccine made by Merck called Gardasil is recommended for boys and girls to help prevent cancers.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; position: static; z-index: auto; ">The two reports on sexually transmitted infections' prevalence and cost, were published in the journal <a href="http://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/pages/default.aspx" title="Open Web Site" rel="external" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Sexually Transmitted Diseases</a>.</div></div><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-13/sex-diseases-cost-16-billion-a-year-to-treat-cdc-says.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-13/sex-diseases-cost-16-billion-a-year-to-treat-cdc-says.html</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Sex Diseases Cost $16 Billion a Year to Treat, CDC Says - Bloomberg

Sexually transmitted diseases  cost $16 billion each year to treat in the U.S., with 19.7 million infections diagnosed annually, the nation&...

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From Commodore Criterion to Porcelanosa

Not too long ago I was giving an architectural walking tour in the Madison Square Park area when somebody asked me "what's going on with the Commodore Criterion building?" If you've been by the park you've probably <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/lsX4O">seen the building</a> at the intersection of Fifth Avenue, 25th Street, and Broadway with its name fixed atop the tall stone parapet. I had no answer to the question, except that the Christmas display over the front door had not come down in years, meaning the building was most likely vacant. What I did not know at the time was that Spanish tile/kitchen/bath company <a href="http://www.porcelanosa-usa.com/">Porcelanosa</a> bought the building <a href="http://www.madparknews.com/business/porcelanosa-buys-commodore-criterion-building-on-madison-square-park-for-us-headquarters/">last summer</a>. Since my tour I've also learned that Porcelanosa hired Foster + Partners to transform the six-story building into their US/NYC flagship showroom.<br /><br /><img alt="porcelanosa1.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/porcelanosa1.jpg" title="Image courtesy of Porcelanosa" /><br />[All images courtesy of Foster + Partners and Porcelanosa] <br /><br />The building at 202 Fifth Avenue, which dates back to 1918, has already been gutted, ready for the insertion of a public showroom on the lower levels (above rendering) and a materials library atop the building for architects and designers (below rendering). The showroom is a three-story space that extends from the cellar to the second floor. Plenty of light infuses the showroom through offset openings in the ground floor and second floor. In a statement, Norman Foster describes how "the design will create new visual connections vertically through the building and will introduce a greater variety of spaces, with a series of dramatic interlocking levels." Befitting for the architect, the interior is simple and clean, gallery-like in appearance. <br /><br /><img alt="porcelanosa2.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/porcelanosa2.jpg" title="Image courtesy of Porcelanosa" /><br /><br />The materials library atop the building is a double-height space where additional light comes in through new skylights that recall James Turrell's skyspaces. The below sketch—an east-west section looking south—shows these spaces at the top and bottom of the building, with two floors of offices in between. More importantly, this section shows the location of the stairs and services along the west facade (as they are in the existing), meaning that light previously entered the narrow building only through windows on the south and east sides. Hence Foster's decision to cut up the floor plates and insert skylights atop the building. A good deal of the budget will probably go toward these structural changes, but these renderings make it clear that it's worth it.<br /><br /><img alt="porcelanosa3.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/porcelanosa3.jpg" title="Image courtesy of Porcelanosa" /><br /><br />The building sits within the southern tip of the <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/maps/madison.pdf">Madison Square North Historic District</a> (PDF link), meaning that any changes to the building have to be reviewed by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Comparing the photomontage below with the <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/lsX4O">Google Street View</a> I'd wager that won't be a problem, given that new windows on the ground floor and the new name atop the building are the only noticeable changes. Again Foster says, "the design will restore historic aspects of the exterior and create a new interior experience of large–volume showroom spaces ­– all within the context of a sustainable agenda." (LEED Gold is the target.)<br /><br />Manuel Prior, U.S. Branch Director for Porcelanosa says in a statement: "As a staple of New York’s Flatiron district for years, the Commodore Criterion is the ideal location for Porcelanosa’s new flagship showroom as the neighborhood is the epicenter of New York’s architecture and design community." Epicenter may be overstating it, but I can vouch that a lot of architects and other designers work in the area; I worked for an architect about four blocks up Broadway (near the <a href="http://www.acehotel.com/newyork">Ace Hotel</a>, a magnet for designers and other "creative types") and <a href="http://www.pentagram.com/">Pentagram</a> is right next door (note the abstracted P on the flag in the below photo).<br /><br /><img alt="porcelanosa4.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/porcelanosa4.jpg" title="Image courtesy of Porcelanosa" /><br /><br />Porcelanosa's flagship showroom is one of three projects in New York City that Norman Foster is currently working on, including the high profile <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2012/10/425-park-avenue.html">425 Park Avenue</a> and the controversial <a href="http://www.fosterandpartners.com/News/486/Default.aspx">transformation of the New York Public Library's main building</a> into a circulating library. By comparison the 1,700-square-meter (18,000 sf) renovation overlooking Madison Square Park may be a walk in the park. We'll see if that's the case—literally, as I'll be making occasional site visits between now and the showroom's completion in spring 2014, documenting the construction on this blog. So check back here to see Foster's design for Porcelanosa take shape.

From Commodore Criterion to Porcelanosa

Not too long ago I was giving an architectural walking tour in the Madison Square Park area when somebody asked me "what's going on...

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Valentine's meal

<p>Here's what we had for Valentine's....</p><p>Wicklow Blue Cheese<br>Prawns in parsley butter<br>Steak and chunky chips (fries) with pepper sauce<br>Chocolate torte<br>Chocolate truffle</p><p>Washed down with a bottle of Cab Sauv.</p><p>What did you do for Valentine's Day?</p><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_5eUyHeKQ2xFZcDdersOuULHfq-Y3fbMg50LmZbduc6JXd6qJnJb5LDN4xP2U777eVpe4_4v8HiCeP3IenKE8dhZDNe05lVUDx72P3YyqNzQ74Od5dHw3XUx7CbZYLtNIgXdHhLpTCV-/s1600/20130214_194903.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_5eUyHeKQ2xFZcDdersOuULHfq-Y3fbMg50LmZbduc6JXd6qJnJb5LDN4xP2U777eVpe4_4v8HiCeP3IenKE8dhZDNe05lVUDx72P3YyqNzQ74Od5dHw3XUx7CbZYLtNIgXdHhLpTCV-/s400/20130214_194903.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTJfvklPcTF-pNMUlaj4qZ44HSEnWwG0Rlv182T8uCfC1P0r7gFjlolJERpH9VQGKPRre7BfV4hcgw5v6aaq8cT8nveSbiMv_Ov5lwwLrDgZBWG1y_pG5NcmYJVU9_6Am6ZFWBBG2im5B/s1600/20130214_183359.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTJfvklPcTF-pNMUlaj4qZ44HSEnWwG0Rlv182T8uCfC1P0r7gFjlolJERpH9VQGKPRre7BfV4hcgw5v6aaq8cT8nveSbiMv_Ov5lwwLrDgZBWG1y_pG5NcmYJVU9_6Am6ZFWBBG2im5B/s400/20130214_183359.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODN2i71Es3dbWybvoD89rdI0H_M9ef3CFfkipIhGLCK-D7QCl_xqWPrnY9SCgw1PLUMR89xekXgOWB_n8bs0X3sedtJZEOUbD36iADxoxQ44DAGy46XZSRxi-LWz4cffEucpuJzDJBOgU/s1600/20130214_190853.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODN2i71Es3dbWybvoD89rdI0H_M9ef3CFfkipIhGLCK-D7QCl_xqWPrnY9SCgw1PLUMR89xekXgOWB_n8bs0X3sedtJZEOUbD36iADxoxQ44DAGy46XZSRxi-LWz4cffEucpuJzDJBOgU/s400/20130214_190853.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl5CiyaQtj051dAb1g59JZtsDyWeahSMv8fWysMiZhmexigs2GQpPn3GicUO6jwUn8r-1UStuw1QxOiKYZjSdAQvkLHUKteo3wUoxv2XzzXjUbfr3nwI7VfG-HU5I98G56D0tMw4LOhmp/s1600/20130214_190052.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl5CiyaQtj051dAb1g59JZtsDyWeahSMv8fWysMiZhmexigs2GQpPn3GicUO6jwUn8r-1UStuw1QxOiKYZjSdAQvkLHUKteo3wUoxv2XzzXjUbfr3nwI7VfG-HU5I98G56D0tMw4LOhmp/s400/20130214_190052.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-YVNxXeci2G9U5uo4_QXkJnID-Bb8aDWlAUdh1oQV8MQt7s0TEwSRD7QE98_FcNSk7d_VQ9lEkNzW4ucrtqtPW2-TgoApzFrqvFTeqXzeuJrObT3SLpvf5MOWauvbnRBCmhr9473joX0/s1600/20130214_192211.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-YVNxXeci2G9U5uo4_QXkJnID-Bb8aDWlAUdh1oQV8MQt7s0TEwSRD7QE98_FcNSk7d_VQ9lEkNzW4ucrtqtPW2-TgoApzFrqvFTeqXzeuJrObT3SLpvf5MOWauvbnRBCmhr9473joX0/s400/20130214_192211.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheajSovWqgAQrTSMiTRGyGvJSaKqXpEDLQkYBnmfx3tB3sJ1V0IP2FgnZMQvhvFK4DfILkde7AdZUZG_t096uRr9eFtl-pU3yOOh54LHFpeLrrM3BRA88Sr44AYfo8pzeGUbgJxTCxob2K/s1600/20130214_191248.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheajSovWqgAQrTSMiTRGyGvJSaKqXpEDLQkYBnmfx3tB3sJ1V0IP2FgnZMQvhvFK4DfILkde7AdZUZG_t096uRr9eFtl-pU3yOOh54LHFpeLrrM3BRA88Sr44AYfo8pzeGUbgJxTCxob2K/s400/20130214_191248.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJ8hklrCNOHk5qOlslxNYUgtuwgw-nhcpqwjv2YQNAoFJ8Mu2UH7eIVDHjzEbCwkfQuNJYuv1sNyaD5q2YpljlV4-yquzFw-2p-2in67utNkeLl9CwruTVK-Z5nzbCJl2mLfKbywwwf6n/s1600/20130214_183223.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJ8hklrCNOHk5qOlslxNYUgtuwgw-nhcpqwjv2YQNAoFJ8Mu2UH7eIVDHjzEbCwkfQuNJYuv1sNyaD5q2YpljlV4-yquzFw-2p-2in67utNkeLl9CwruTVK-Z5nzbCJl2mLfKbywwwf6n/s400/20130214_183223.jpg" /> </a> </div>

Valentine's meal

Here's what we had for Valentine's.... Wicklow Blue Cheese Prawns in parsley butter Steak and chunky chips (fries) with pepper sauce...

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U.S. Approves First Method to Give the Blind Limited Vision - NYTimes.com

<div><div class="articleBody"><nyt_text><p itemprop="articleBody">The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the first treatment to give limited vision to people who are blind, involving a technology called the "artificial retina."</p></nyt_text></div> <div class="articleBody"><p itemprop="articleBody"> With it, people with certain types of blindness can detect crosswalks on the street, burners on a stove, the presence of people or cars, and sometimes even oversized numbers or letters. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> The artificial retina is a sheet of electrodes surgically implanted in the eye. The patient is also outfitted with a pair of glasses with an attached camera and a portable video processor. These elements together allow visual signals to bypass the damaged portion of the retina and be transmitted to the brain. The F.D.A. approval covers this integrated system, which the manufacturer calls Argus II. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> The approval marks the first milestone in a new frontier in vision research, a field in which scientists are making strides with gene therapy, optogenetics, stem cells and other strategies. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> "This is just the beginning," said Grace Shen, director of the retinal diseases program at the <a href="http://www.nei.nih.gov/index.asp">National Eye Institute</a>, which helped finance the artificial retina research and is supporting many other blindness therapy projects. "We have a lot of exciting things sitting in the wings, multiple approaches being developed now to address this." </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> With the artificial retina or retinal prosthesis, a blind person cannot see in the conventional sense, but can identify outlines and boundaries of objects, especially when there is contrast between light and dark — fireworks against a night sky or black socks mixed with white ones in the laundry. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> "Without the system, I wouldn't be able to see anything at all, and if you were in front of me and you moved left and right, I'm not going to realize any of this," said Elias Konstantopolous, 74, a retired electrician in Baltimore, one of about 50 Americans and Europeans who have been using the device in clinical trials for several years. He said it helps him differentiate curbs from asphalt roads, and detect contours, but not details, of cars, trees and people. "When you don't have nothing, this is something. It's a lot." </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> The F.D.A. approved <a href="http://www.2-sight.com/SSMP_ARVO_2009.pdf">Argus II, </a>made by Second Sight Medical Products, to treat people with severe <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002024/">retinitis pigmentosa</a>, a group of inherited diseases in which photoreceptor cells, which take in light, deteriorate. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> The first version of the implant had a sheet of 16 electrodes, but the current version has 60. A tiny camera mounted on eyeglasses captures images, and the video processor, worn on a belt, translates those images into pixelized patterns of light and dark. The processor transmits those signals to the electrodes, which send them along the optic nerve to the brain. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> About 100,000 Americans have retinitis pigmentosa, but initially between 10,000 and 15,000 will likely qualify for the Argus II, according to the company. The F.D.A. says that up to 4,000 people a year can be treated with the device. That number represents people who are older than 25, who once had useful vision, have evidence of an intact inner retinal layer, have at best very limited light perception in the retina, and are so visually impaired that the device would prove an improvement. Second Sight will begin making Argus II available later this year. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> But experts said the technology holds promise for other people who are blind, especially those with advanced age-related <a href="http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.asp">macular degeneration</a>, the major cause of vision loss in older people, affecting about two million Americans. About 50,000 of them are currently severely impaired enough that the artificial retina would be helpful, said Dr. Robert Greenberg, Second Sight's president and chief executive. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> In Europe, Argus II received approval in 2011 to treat a broader group of people, those with severe blindness caused by any type of outer retinal degeneration, not just retinitis pigmentosa, although it is currently only marketed in Europe for that condition. In the U.S., additional clinical trials need to be completed before the company can seek broader FDA approval. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> Eventually, Dr. Greenberg said, the plan is to implant electrodes not in the eye, but directly into the brain's visual cortex. "That would allow us to address blindness from all causes," he said. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> Initially, the artificial retina will be available at seven hospitals in five states: New York, California, Texas, Maryland and Pennsylvania. It will cost about $150,000, not including the surgery and training sessions to use the device. Second Sight said it was optimistic that insurance would cover it. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> Developed over 20 years by <a href="http://www.usc.edu/programs/neuroscience/faculty/profile.php?fid=45">Dr. Mark S. Humayun</a>, an ophthalmologist and biomedical engineer at the University of Southern California's Doheny Retinal Institute, the artificial retina was inspired by cochlear implants for the deaf. Some financing came from a cochlear implant maker and other private sources, but about $100 million was provided by the National Eye Institute, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, all federal agencies. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> Dr. Humayun said he envisioned applying the technology to other conditions than blindness, implanting electrodes in other parts of the body to address bladder control problems, perhaps, or spinal paralysis. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> "We don't think of the human body as an electrical grid, but it runs off electrical impulses," he said. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> The Argus II has had relatively few safety problems, mostly post-surgical infections and occasional erosions of a thin layer in the eye that covered the implant. Those problems have been addressed, Dr. Greenberg said, and only two people needed to have the implant removed. An F.D.A. advisory panel voted unanimously last September to recommend approval, finding that benefits outweighed the risks. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> Some patients experience more improvement than others, for reasons the company has not been able to determine. Kathy Blake of Fountain Valley, Calif., said she has had success with a Second Sight exercise to see if patients can identify large numbers or letters on a computer screen. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> Dean Lloyd, a lawyer in Palo Alto, Calif., said he initially wondered, "Is it really worth all the time and expense? I, at first, did not think so." Early on, only nine electrodes were working, but over time his implant was adjusted so more electrodes responded, and now 52 of them work. He can see flashes of color, something not every patient can, and he wears the glasses and video processor constantly. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> "If I don't wear it, it's like I don't have my pants on," he said. "I've even fallen asleep with the blooming thing." </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> Stephen Rose, the chief research officer for the <a href="http://www.blindness.org/">Foundation Fighting Blindness</a>, which supported Dr. Humayun's very early work but has not financed it since, said the artificial retina would eventually be only one of the options to help blind people. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> "I think there are tremendous possibilities," he said. "I'm not downplaying the retinal prosthesis, don't get me wrong. It's huge for some individuals, and it's here now." </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> Barbara Campbell, 59, relishes how the device helps her navigate Manhattan streets, locate her Upper East Side bus stop, and spot her apartment building's foyer light while riding in a taxi. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> Most exciting, though, is how it enhances her experience of museums, theater and concerts. </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> At a performance by Rod Stewart, "I could definitely see his hair," she said, which was white-blond under the lights. At a concert by Diana Ross, even though Ms. Campbell sat far away from the stage, she said Ms. Ross "was wearing a sparkly outfit, and I could see her." </p><p itemprop="articleBody"> No such luck at a performance by James Taylor, though. His low-key clothing created no contrast for the artificial retina to register. Alas, Ms. Campbell said, "He wasn't so sparkly."        </p></div></div><div><br></div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/health/fda-approves-technology-to-give-limited-vision-to-blind-people.html?_r=0&pagewanted=all">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/health/fda-approves-technology-to-give-limited-vision-to-blind-people.html?_r=0&pagewanted=all</a>

U.S. Approves First Method to Give the Blind Limited Vision - NYTimes.com

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the first treatment to give limited vision to people who are blind, involving a te...

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TeachMeet at Somerset House on Weds 13th Feb–an inspiring evening

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDwk6gduCcOEjJOE760_Wo2lkaTSXjZSoXMLe1P_MDOyQVjULl-5C032eDFWnav2CCqB9iRXQ48hx3gSpilO4E9hMtPZii_2LHhK3JY2KSDnYoiCIMxWMdUD-QJxdksSMvg3YKl4CRVo/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jaJb6tZHyBHrW15ftGpmr2YDmYPT7NUdezxHfVkGv8hq8uFprPBbmNjWBpnUCjwRZxk8mPfD-xOTkMAOTJqhPtq3R7EBzEel65uhx-D7zPRHDvUTJsdaWTQpwUtkCicULxLZDdjd7OA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><em><br /></em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Submitted by Fiona Beal</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After attending the TeachMeet at Somerset House Preparatory school in Somerset West last night, I left with a feeling of great hope for education in South Africa. The teachers who presented were so enthusiastic about what they do, and the ideas shared about how to make education inspiring and relevant made me wish I was back in the classroom!</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Somerset Prep – a primary school that embraces BYOD</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somerset House Prep is a very go-ahead primary school nestled in the heart of the Helderberg Basin mountains. I always love to hear about the latest developments at the school. Their whole campus has been wi-fied and it is not uncommon to see parents sitting on the grass working on their computer devices as they wait to collect their children from school. The school embraces the BYOD policy of 'Bring your own device' from Grade 6 upwards, and the principal Chris Storey reports that the engagement of the students is incredible. This is a fine example of “teaching children the way children learn best”. The school works hand in glove with the parents in every change they make. One of the great advantages of BYOD, says Chris Storey, is that one has to be task-orientated as opposed to application-orientated since every device is so different. The students also have the knack of knowing what works better on the different devices and they share this knowledge with one another. Best is, the teachers benefit enormously from the students’ knowledge of technology. This year they are piloting project-based learning in Social Sciences in one of the grades and this has been hugely successful. This school has big ideas and plans. Next on the cards is changing the traditional library to a 'knowledge centre’' and building has already started for this project. They have also started a teacher exchange programme with another very progressive school in Cape Town, Elkanah House, where two teachers from the one school will spend a day with their corresponding teachers at the other school and vice versa sharing ideas all the while. Amazing idea! No wonder I strongly feel that this is a school to watch closely!</span><br /><strong><br /></strong><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The TeachMeet</span></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The evening started off with a a light supper so that teachers could meet each other and network. The TeachMeet itself was led by the enthusiastic Michele Botha, Head of the Intermediate Phase and Chris Storey, the principal, welcomed everyone. I thought I would show the opening video here as it really set the tone for the evening. It is called ‘What is 21st Century Education?’ </span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ax5cNlutAys" width="420"></iframe> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were 10 presentations, and we first had the Windows machines' presentations followed by Apple machines' presentations. Since they only used one data projector Michele gave us a programme for the evening. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPwwzsGNq_IdccsLI6o6YM-rZG5IEF8Uw5bqTXRuwLf2Efk2Cnmu21w4rj2M5KakY9kxVykPjaukYZlWP3J2JYYs4ej9Mse-H8bStz7-fHi0NzKlmVQCiRRXawAETHdqAFLUyBDSdAyI/s1600-h/teaachmeet%25255B6%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="teaachmeet" border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I-lnmo6RKdupbPYDtpRzb9gnNjiIQT5GNil1Nr_q8BzkNvOakuoB6t_MiZW0yp-s4eIE1Ghy72BhgMjJbMZ0ipkxXLMnr1o4H3VRaPTRLV52fyUQ7y3xIsbzN3JwGgIk2uEr-qJlA14/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="teaachmeet" width="246" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Youblisher.com </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pam Roberts, who teaches Grade 1 at Somerset House, gave an inspiring presentation on how she uses Youblisher.com in her Grade 1 classroom.  She demonstrated this by showing a lovely e-book that her Grade 1 class had created. Each student contributed an illustrated page of writing. Pam also showed how you can make lovely 2nd language books on various topics with Youblisher, and ways of using Youblisher to encourage reading in a Grade 1 class. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHKbCQlWqe3AciB8J0jXbYM8nzVbt5cw4ty2Vmi7DvKC4-jb23DzUIIWTrlZDJ3cEaXCcRL7klQLM-D0I42G42dwSxZKxLbbBZhUbAg0BxE3P0S4TRbH-He9dvymoMpSvlhecP3wlRQY/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_BgFCtnTW-gUHL9hZWfSPVLIVCgx-kPTahBxiNViy25n-LCEum4TTCuZ93gW-E9JTRSel3bmBsDaf3Flz5cSlXmLrVySDKHfa-ui0Fv4dV-JXiZvYG6D2QHsuQDNrghhooK0vlHJYIs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. Edcanvas.com </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jenny Martin, who teaches Grade 7 at Somerset House, showed her use of an application called Edcanvas which is perfect for a flipped classroom environment. This was a very fascinating presentation and I definitely want to try out this tool very soon. Jenny has started a blog called ReachaTeacha.weebly.com on which she displays all her amazing edcanvas lessons. I do hope she won’t mind if I give the link here <a href="http://www.edcanvas.com/lessons/jOvzAkmpnVCE6g/nouns-a-collection-of-resources" title="http://www.edcanvas.com/lessons/jOvzAkmpnVCE6g/nouns-a-collection-of-resources">http://www.edcanvas.com/lessons/jOvzAkmpnVCE6g/nouns-a-collection-of-resources</a></span><br />. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcuimiG3c-UnF7N-APD5js8VeHTQMPOnNYoy3UcTMJIPW4yxWnmTUD5D_IDBDsemKq7m4IjdCHM1QJjq2_WohKIhlZaYELcANy9u9veCJic21cOstpV0IDuZx_DrLopkzZa4zbvzTc9g/s1600-h/image%25255B11%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1EPpMiz4iUmPuRUG2yQ2-MDKA_IfnAM-qWfYfRQ-VWpannniZOwXYb899CjrWTq2iVIAoJJwVgloDhpGkll-wVw8SpXFmxSTK-ruFfwQdzOt3LglqyefnAtt9o5xkooP7okaRaKB268/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved the way Jenny summed up the benefits of using <a href="http://www.edcanvas.com/">http://www.edcanvas.com</a></span> <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1g1HtRZ-KqWPZ0X-zsvy9JSzROLid1pr5mp_uWi5XLSoX9R7iDeIvlumvd_Y3rstqg_vmVHm5zaem9BdjrtB4R9pzdBKH_lkq2jFbh6Lxu9PLW0QhXhT-Vi6NvUDlgxRztWLTemsi6FU/s1600-h/image%25255B14%25255D.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWrbmExuSUy1vCzjmbl-UxOqOtGSFlX9KZTyJmlwlQfDDX6d9G_91LQgayTdJZ26yho-spZ2wgEMO3r1FfudYsW-P_T2vXPXw8Jop3K94DKxLG0LN6bqr11qaAAJrvU3khXG7hnleA3U/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Teenpower</b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michele Botha who is the Head of the Intermediate Phase at Somerset West and also their Technology Integration specialist, gave her presentation on Teen Power using Prezi. There were six steps in this superb project. This investigated the likes and dislikes of teens and used survey tools of choice (i.e. Survey monkey, Poll Daddy) plus data interpretation techniques using Excel. The groups had a lot of leeway in their choice of tools to use. It was fascinating to note how a teacher can make concepts that have the potential to be considered boring really come alive when using the right approach. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. Inspire your students to write the right stuff</b></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a presentation by Fiona Beal of SchoolNet (that’s me!) on creative writing tools. I used this presentation to lead up to introducing the upcoming ‘African Storybook Project’ (which will soon be piloted in four countries in Africa) and the writing opportunity it presents for our learners.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfQ9JRPXt-jjxdGbrIgyx2F5CxDTJdQsndJGpGdTq3D27oEQol_wWQ0pDvuk3YSs0Iw8foCq2mS5BoEk0YMxszqxGN83g1FWzbEveLUOUeQdxQEsoP-NgzlQzhGf9RAp1jC31J7DGLQM/s1600-h/image%25255B19%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-HGZ3kqO6fr-i2yoQfH_wCWFKJPl-6ajm6kJNfapPB2-YDDtSiZ_jrWOZDXhAApmvd4QBgQMuDzdCcq9KqdYAafNNIsNAZycoHeN6N1CnrPq97daFFr2_RrnvmC377ryX4PHdR8B44A/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have put my presentation on the SchoolNet blog for anyone who would like the links that I used: </span><br /><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2013/02/inspire-your-students-to-write-right.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inspire your students to write the right stuff – a TeachMeet presentation</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. One stop shopping!</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was another lovely presentation by Michele Botha on all the amazing tools one can find in <a href="http://classtools.net/">http://classtools.net</a>. This is the place where the Random Name Picker can be found that is often used at TeachMeets (sometimes referred to as the ‘Fruit Machine’). Michele outlined some of the useful tools and showed how one could use them in a classroom setting. She showed The random Name Picker, Fakebook, Countdown Timer, QR codes Game Generator, Timelines, and some of the others with their potential for being used in the classroom.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77kGcJ_1TT3Owx_xOI0gkLkloYoi0EXhmLMykOx49roSHyV_HYjjxokY0U5rtZu32RzJRaUVRiYgppHn2juccwR0N6nX0HdYoBGbA1U_ZSxHdTIhbn_qRg_RAoy9sBR0KHxQRsozVrT4/s1600-h/image%25255B25%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzYbUj30tnmeSRJ7ivNyIbuPVZZIGVlabSP3b4fjMEYgkPVLwrx5XEIwNViqwYo6vxnv4-ttNIxuYjX4sQgufZLE7Mlkt5sHnRpfgEhQ_F_GmHfAnPUnyjRK23ycCfBrq68XijGQj8jU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now the Apple presentations started, mainly iPad presentations, and unfortunately there are no presentations for these in the Dropbox folder as they were all hands on demonstrations..so I can't show the opening slides.</span><br /><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>6. You can play games at school!<br />7. You don’t even know you are learning</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>8. Making friends all over the world</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These three were all presented by Dianne de Villiers who is the librarian at Somerset College ( another school in Somerset West). She spoke on gaming and told us how she uses critical thinking apps which are presented as 'games' as rewards for work completed. These are exceptionally motivating, Di says, and the students love them. Di demonstrated some of these apps and I must add that they were very indeed captivating.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Foundation Phase kids have fun in the library<br />9. Foundation Phase and Story Apps</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These two presentations were by Kerry Dunkley from Somerset College. She showed us some of the ideas she used in her stop animation club. The club made the most gorgeous stop animation videos using iMotionHD. These videos were accompanied by lively, enjoyable music. Kerry's second presentation demonstrated iBooks, e-books and story apps on the iPad. What is great about these books is that they can include text, images, videos and some form of interaction with the reader which makes them really engaging. She also showed some of the story apps she uses for reading on the iPad and how appealing they are to the students.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry demonstrated a lovely Cinderella story that has interactive features. I m not sure if this is the one – but it was captivating!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFynJu0dFfdQjapddPKWbHa17BpmRTUOFgab3HZW0DGX9ds-m6HdkX0wiYPGi6nPDnjuqYUIp5Y8puO0jb8yOTDqHqDNkqe0KZPgkVhamJ8lA8Y_F-VT5fBDLvENPre_bmestOfQwRHc0/s1600-h/image%25255B29%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoGOxx0DRdyySc6MKTLQiJdNPKO7jb7zrE_MTAPlLukbggL1zSeQiJ-OcjTaqci_xMSIbZQHGnk3B-1hRE7VUwIGErdMt-vKMtu9ptyG2XcuiKV4dGzr6-2o148fMfk1k_JeWadwPN2s/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10. Zanzibar – Hakuna Matata </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carolyn Bruton gave a demonstration of how Book Creator on the iPad can be used to give a scrapbook-like effect when recording a holiday or an event. She used her recent holiday to Zanzibar as an example where she used video, sound, pictures, and  words to easily create a wonderful memory of a holiday. This could be made into a fun task for students in their holidays.   </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkUbps207CqDW8y4f1mEIQSwuJDdw0FhdodwKLudOweYuv6JnQrtBNRW6somXY6hg_pweXLxlFQ3L_Rfkm596pteeT5S7JgtgcN7Tf7SXOZ4_qlwKbCNoS0QbU7vxW1y1dX6s4x83VQg/s1600-h/image%25255B33%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoVGKOS18Zn0q1vgEpxuGryPuAoSUR2iZxuQSSqnba7tzPDTfkFYj2spS7vE0ypUTtjmUmKUuOsgg9SdA-icFw4mnMq3uP8QWic7PI-xiz1f1ErajovdvbuBgslRP-AAJ53WL13HL7fc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><br /><strong><br /></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tweet archive</span></strong> <br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a summary of the tweets for the night archived in an application called<a href="http://storify.com/" target="_blank"> Storify:</a> You can read the tweet summary at: </span><a href="http://storify.com/edchatsa/tweet-summary-of-the-teachmeet-at-somerset-house-p"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tweet summary of the TeachMeet at Somerset House on 13 Feb 2013</span></a><br /><strong><br /></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conclusion</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a really wonderful and inspiring evening. I must say a big thank you to Michele Botha and the Somerset House staff for hosting this TeachMeet. I believe the next one is going to be hosted at Somerset College which is also in Somerset West – so we look forward to that!</span></div>

teachmeets TeachMeet at Somerset House on Weds 13th Feb–an inspiring evening

Submitted by Fiona Beal After attending the TeachMeet at Somerset House Preparatory school in Somerset West last night, I left with a feelin...

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Sr SAP CRM Analyst ( functional ) (#108467)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Title:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Sr SAP CRM Analyst<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Fulltime<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job title: <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">We are currently seeking an energetic self-starter to work as a senior SAP CRM Business Process Analyst (Sr. CRM BPA). The Sr. CRM BPA will be responsible for conducting business process analysis, needs assessment, and preliminary cost/benefit analysis to support business requirements.  They will work closely with business partners to assess business requirements and build design specifications. They will perform required SAP system configuration changes and work with technical team to build new system functionality or to change existing system functionality.  Their work will span both system enhancements and projects in ECC –Sales & Distribution (SD), CRM (SAP) and other application platforms.  They are expected to support key Service business functionalities such as Case Management, Service Logistics, Contract & Quote management, and Pricing. They will collaborate with other IT departments such as Architecture, Business Engagement, Governance and Infrastructure to build and improve information system solutions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Preferred Qualification / Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Candidate should be able to think independently, be comfortable with sharing and accepting ideas in an open manner.  Should possess solid written and oral communication skills and should have an aptitude for thriving in complex business situations. Candidate should enjoy working in a fast-paced, self-directed, diverse and customer service-oriented environment. Candidate should be able to translate business requirements into system & process solutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Candidate should possess good understanding of IT change management and ticket release processes & systems (e.g. ServiceNow, Remedy). Must possess ability to work with global application service vendors <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Candidate may possess project management skills such as planning, execution and control of project/task deliverable. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Candidate should have following technical and process skills: <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">1.5-7 years of IT industry experience<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">2.3-5 years proven SAP ECC & CRM (Service) experience <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">3.Specific system knowledge of SAP ECC-SD and CRM Service modules/functionalities such as Case, RPA, Contracts, Quote, Order management, Pricing & Configuration, Partner determination, Billing/Invoicing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">4.Good business understanding of key service processes in areas of Interaction Center, Service Delivery, and, Commercials<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Additional experience:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">1.IPC, Business partner management, CRM middleware, and ECC integration.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">2.CRM 7 Web UI and Interaction Center<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">3.CRM Service Delivery experience for a large/midsize global company.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">4.Understanding of SAP CRM Sales & Marketing modules (Opportunity, Campaigns, Contacts etc.) is a plus <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">5.Project management experience is a plus<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">6.Additional certification in an industry group or related SAP module(s) is a plus. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minimum Qualification:  <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Bachelor's Level Degree (Engineering or Business) with at least 7 years of IT industry, and 5 years of SAP ECC  & CRM experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Master's Level Degree (Engineering or Business) with at least 5 years of IT industry, and 3 years of SAP ECC & CRM experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Please send your resumes to vinod.sanker@kla-tencor.com</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div></div>

Sr SAP CRM Analyst ( functional ) (#108467)

Job Title: Sr SAP CRM Analyst Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Fulltime Job title: We are currently seeking an energetic self-starter to...

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Library Associate: Acquisitions - Bay Path College, Longmeadow (MA)

<strong>Library Associate: Acquisitions -</strong> <strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Bay Path College</span></strong>, Longmeadow (MA). Part Time. Become part of a vibrant community of world-class professionals transforming the lives of a motivated and diverse student population. A pioneer in innovative academic programs since 1897 and one of the fastest growing colleges in New England, Bay Path College seeks a Library Associate for acquisitions, interlibrary loan, and other related tasks as assigned. The Library Associate will oversee and maintain acquisitions functions for library materials in all formats using WMS software; assist in interlibrary loan functions using OCLC and other automated systems; and perform public services, including circulation of library materials, reserves, and general office support. Twelve-month position, approximately 30 hours per week during regular business hours; occasional evening and/or weekend hours may be required. Qualifications: academic degree, business focus preferred; familiarity with academic library services; knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel software; Internet search skills; library experience desirable; experience with WMS and OCLC software a plus. To apply, send a curriculum vitae and cover letter that includes a summary of your qualifications, and names and contact information of four professional references to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:hr@baypath.edu" href="mailto:hr@baypath.edu">hr@baypath.edu</a>. Application materials should be sent in MS Word format. For questions about the position or the curriculum, email Michael Moran, Director of Library and Information Services, at <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:mmoran@baypath.edu" href="mailto:mmoran@baypath.edu">mmoran@baypath.edu</a>. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. An equal opportunity employer, Bay Path College is committed to fostering diversity in its student body, faculty, and staff.

Library Associate: Acquisitions - Bay Path College, Longmeadow (MA)

Library Associate: Acquisitions - Bay Path College , Longmeadow (MA). Part Time. Become part of a vibrant community of world-class profes...

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28 in 28 #14: Detail in Contemporary Concrete Architecture

<i>February is Book Month on A Daily Dose of Architecture. The "<a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/search/label/28%20in%2028">28 in 28</a>" series features a different book every day of the month.</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.laurenceking.com/en/category/architecture/detail-in-contemporary-concrete-architecture-1/"><b><i>Detail in Contemporary Concrete Architecture</i></b></a> by David Phillips and Megumi Yamashita<br />Laurence King Publishing, 2012<br />Hardcover, 224 pages<br /><br /><img alt="28-28_concrete.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/28-28_concrete.jpg" title="Book cover" /><br /><br />Previously I've reviewed a couple of Laurence King's <a href="http://www.laurenceking.com/en/catalogsearch/result/?dir=asc&order=relevance&q=detail+in+contemporary"><i>Detail in Contemporary ...</i></a> series, both by Virginia McLeod: <i><a href="http://www.archidose.org/books/mcleod.html">... Residential Architecture</a> </i>and <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2011/11/23/detail-in-contemporary-glass-architecture/"><i>... Glass Architecture</i></a>. Those books varied from each other in terms of what they emphasized, but also in how they were presented; the former grouped details of the 100 houses into chapters (walls, floors, roofs, etc.), while the latter presented each project with its details, one after the other. I can see the value in both approaches, but just like a set of working drawings, as long as cross-referencing is considered the titles will work; they will have value in educating architects and students about details, and allowing them to compare different ways of detailing where walls meet roofs and various other conditions.<br /><br />Not surprisingly <i>... Concrete Architecture</i>, written by David Phillips and Megumi Yamashita, follows the same format as <i>... Glass Architecture</i>, putting about 50 projects into four chapters by building type (cultural, residential, commercial and public, and educational). Of course the emphasis is on concrete as a material, but it varies from overtly expressive concrete shells (Ryue Nishizawa's <a href="http://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/teshima-art-museum-/">Teshima Art Museum</a>) to buildings that use concrete to achieve similar ends even as they cover the material with metal panels (Zaha Hadid's <a href="http://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/evelyn-grace-academy/">Evelyn Grace Academy</a>). But in this series it's all about the details. And in this regard the book is hit or miss, partially because each building is different and because the architects supplied the drawings; what they're willing to share obviously varies. For example, Toyo Ito's drawings for the <a href="http://www.toyo-ito.co.jp/WWW/Project_Descript/2005-/2005-p_11/2005-p_11_en.html">Tama Art University Library</a> are fantastic, going so far as to show the rebar layout in the hybrid steel-and-concrete arches. On the other hand, Nishizawa's Teshima Art Museum is documented with three long sections with absolutely no detail; they are laughable and probably should have been left out of the book, if it weren't for the fact the project is so unbelievable (part of the reason the drawings look preliminary). Thankfully the majority lean toward Ito rather than Nishizawa.<br /><br />But if those sections are laughable, they pale in comparison to the Imperial conversions that are found throughout the book. Yes, people outside of the United States may hate inches, feet, and other units of measurement, but nevertheless there are standards to it that should be followed, just like one follows metric standards. When it comes to the small sizes of details—less than an inch—that is especially important. Fractions of an inch are 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16. But what do we find in these details? Exposed concrete that is 3-9/10" thick; insulation that is 7/10" thick; a 2/5" thick piece of glass. These are not real measurements. Pick up an Imperial ruler and try to make these measurements; it's not possible. And that's a shame, for it's a distracting detail in an otherwise good book of details.<br /><br /><b>US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1780670095/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=aweeklydoseof-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1780670095" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.com" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan.gif" /></a> CA: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1780670095/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=aweeklydoseof-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1780670095" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.ca" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-ca.gif" width="90" /></a> UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1780670095/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=aweeklydoseof-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1780670095" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.co.uk" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-uk.gif" width="90" /></a></b>

28 in 28 #14: Detail in Contemporary Concrete Architecture

February is Book Month on A Daily Dose of Architecture. The " 28 in 28 " series features a different book every day of the month. ...

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For the Love of Skunks!

<strong>Skunk love is in the air on this Valentine's Day</strong>. Literally! Have you noticed an increase in these odiferous creatures this time of year? That's because it's breeding season for skunks in Ohio in late February.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtu3YQ3rNXH9buUJNfkKsmGyXGYNogioFyW0daaQ8stzhbLJ0QtazTT5jwGmuctWIYT7ervcI_rFHfDF3GyEmbu-n1GiL79xakIAHsGnag2MfNNtU5bic7pLVyFHACZ5cM5Cc3fWrOvLE6/s1600/6753_stripedskunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtu3YQ3rNXH9buUJNfkKsmGyXGYNogioFyW0daaQ8stzhbLJ0QtazTT5jwGmuctWIYT7ervcI_rFHfDF3GyEmbu-n1GiL79xakIAHsGnag2MfNNtU5bic7pLVyFHACZ5cM5Cc3fWrOvLE6/s320/6753_stripedskunk.jpg" width="291" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The common Striped Skunk</td></tr></tbody></table>The striped skunk is the only native skunk found in Ohio. Found throughout most of North America, it is one of four species of skunks on this continent. They include the more southern spotted skunk, and the southwestern hooded and hog-nosed skunks.  All are members of the <em>Mephitidae </em>family, which is Latin for "stench."  All skunks have a gland around their anus that is capable of projecting a foul-smelling secretion up to 15 feet.  This defense mechanism, while rarely used, is what makes the skunk an unlikely prey for most predators.  Animals remember the bold black and white stripes and learn from experience to stay away.  The exception is the great horned owl.  Since owls have little to no sense of smell, they could care less about getting sprayed.  Just ask the unfortunate grad student who has to conduct nest surveys on great horned owls.<br /><br />Skunks are not true hibernators.  They do, however, take a lot of really long naps.  They will store up body fat for the winter and, when the weather is bad, will take to their dens for weeks to a month at a time.  By the time February rolls around, they are ready to roam about looking for love.  Skunks are omnivores and will eat just about anything they come across.  However, they have pretty poor eyesight.  You might notice an increase in road kill skunks this time of year as they are out wandering around looking for food and a mate. And, like our friend Pepe Le Pew, the males are promiscuous, mating with several females during the season.  Gestation is approximately two months and the females give birth to litters of 2-10 young.  They are born hairless and with eyes closed and remain in the den for about 6 weeks.  They are weaned at 6 weeks and begin to join their mother on her nightly ramblings.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSyDArzJM6Hf5f7SKN1efcHkWe721NnsQMRWLzH40nRoMinQZae0rHftmw0HnXfJTTPZfL9DlEoQrxbBEwtHQ21c-Zc8xWAY7kN5tVtg_IQSfW9AoZMjcWHq-lNYUDFuu8ofryYU6UsYf/s1600/imagesCAN4TQMT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="This famous "Looney Tunes" skunk was always looking for love in the wrong places." border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSyDArzJM6Hf5f7SKN1efcHkWe721NnsQMRWLzH40nRoMinQZae0rHftmw0HnXfJTTPZfL9DlEoQrxbBEwtHQ21c-Zc8xWAY7kN5tVtg_IQSfW9AoZMjcWHq-lNYUDFuu8ofryYU6UsYf/s320/imagesCAN4TQMT.jpg" title="Pepe Le Pew" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This famous "Looney Tunes" skunk was always looking for love in all the wrong places.</td></tr></tbody></table>Striped skunks are very adaptable and can become habituated to humans and their trash, pet food, and other sources of food.  In particular, they love our nicely manicured lawns, which tend to be full of grubs in the spring.  If you notice some morning that your lawn looks like someone went over it with a spade, you've probably had a visit from a family of skunks in the night.  They use their long claws and heavily padded feet to tear up your sod and eat the grubs of Japanese beetles and other yard bugs.  While you can probably appreciate the reduction of the grubs, it doesn't look pretty.  There's not much we can do about it except to let them pass on by.  After all, would you want to try to persuade a skunk to leave?<br /><br />For more information about Ohio's striped skunk, and other Ohio mammals, check out our <a href="http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/species_a_to_z/SpeciesGuideIndex/stripedskunk/tabid/6774/Default.aspx" target="_blank">A to Z Species Guide</a>.  And Happy Valentine's Day!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>

For the Love of Skunks!

Skunk love is in the air on this Valentine's Day . Literally! Have you noticed an increase in these odiferous creatures this time of yea...

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