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Kim Kardashian West: Top 5 Dresses
Kim Kardashian’s BEST Red Carpet dresses
From the runway to the red carpet, Kim is lucky to wear top fashion designers like Balmain, Lanvin and Givenchy. Most dresses are tailored to fit Kim’s amazing hour-glass (and petite) figure. Kim is curvier and shorter (5’3”) than most runway models, her actual measurements are 38-26.5-40. Popular high fashion runway models, like her sister Kendall Jenner, have long and lean figures. Kendall is 5’10” and her measurements are 34-24-34. It is interesting to see how the same dress looks on contrasting body types.
CLICK HERE to See Kendall vs Kylie Jenner on “Who Wore It Best?”
Kim Kardashian makes some dresses look better than the models! Take a look at her best fashion moments:
CLICK HERE to see Rihanna model for Balmain!
Kim Kardashian West and her husband Kanye West both share an appreciation for style and design. Kim started as singer Brandy’s stylist before DASH clothing store and the Kardashian fashion brand was created.
But just for fun, lets take a vote:
Does Kim Kardashian West dress better now that she is married to Kanye?
Want to see Kim as a blonde, CLICK HERE!
Here are our Top 5 Kim Kardashian Fashion Moments so far this year:
Kim Kardashian In Ralph Russo Couture for 2014 GQ Awards
For an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, Kim Kardashian wore Ulyana Sergeenko Couture
See Kim Kardashian and Shay Mitchell in a Fashion Fight of Who Wore It Best, Lace Crop Top Edition, CLICK HERE!
This braided signature Balmain dress is the most coveted look RIGHT NOW- Kim Kardashian flaunted her curves in the white version- Who do you think wore it best?
Kim, Khloe and Kourtney share clothes often, see which Kardashian sister ‘Wore It Best’, CLICK HERE!
Kim Kardashian wearing Balmain at the 2014 Teen Choice Awards
Kim Kardashian wearing Balmain at the 2014 MTV VMAs Red Carpet
CLICK HERE to see Kim and baby North wearing matching outfits, trés chic!!


Seasonal asymmetry in the evolution of surface ocean pCO2 and pH thermodynamic drivers and the influence on sea‐air CO2 flux
Rodgers, Keith B.
Palevsky, Hilary I.
Sabine, Christopher L.
MetadataShow full item record
It has become clear that anthropogenic carbon invasion into the surface ocean drives changes in the seasonal cycles of carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) and pH. However, it is not yet known whether the resulting sea‐air CO2 fluxes are symmetric in their seasonal expression. Here we consider a novel application of observational constraints and modeling inferences to test the hypothesis that changes in the ocean's Revelle factor facilitate a seasonally asymmetric response in pCO2 and the sea‐air CO2 flux. We use an analytical framework that builds on observed sea surface pCO2 variability for the modern era and incorporates transient dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations from an Earth system model. Our findings reveal asymmetric amplification of pCO2 and pH seasonal cycles by a factor of two (or more) above preindustrial levels under Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5. These changes are significantly larger than observed modes of interannual variability and are relevant to climate feedbacks associated with Revelle factor perturbations. Notably, this response occurs in the absence of changes to the seasonal cycle amplitudes of dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, salinity, and temperature, indicating that significant alteration of surface pCO2 can occur without modifying the physical or biological ocean state. This result challenges the historical paradigm that if the same amount of carbon and nutrients is entrained and subsequently exported, there is no impact on anthropogenic carbon uptake. Anticipation of seasonal asymmetries in the sea surface pCO2 and CO2 flux response to ocean carbon uptake over the 21st century may have important implications for carbon cycle feedbacks.
© The Author(s), 2018. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles 32 (2018): 1476-1497, doi:10.1029/2017GB005855.
Suggested CitationGlobal Biogeochemical Cycles 32 (2018): 1476-1497
The following license files are associated with this item:
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
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Air-sea CO2 fluxes and the controls on ocean surface pCO2 seasonal variability in the coastal and open-ocean southwestern Atlantic Ocean : a modeling study Arruda, R.; Calil, Paulo H. R.; Bianchi, A. A.; Doney, Scott C.; Gruber, Nicolas; Lima, Ivan D.; Turi, G. (Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union, 2015-10-12)We use an eddy-resolving, regional ocean biogeochemical model to investigate the main variables and processes responsible for the climatological spatio-temporal variability of pCO2 and the air-sea CO2 fluxes in the ...
Evaluating Southern Ocean biological production in two ocean biogeochemical models on daily to seasonal timescales using satellite chlorophyll and O2 / Ar observations Jonsson, Bror F.; Doney, Scott C.; Dunne, John P.; Bender, Michael L. (Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union, 2015-02-04)We assess the ability of ocean biogeochemical models to represent seasonal structures in biomass and net community production (NCP) in the Southern Ocean. Two models are compared to observations on daily to seasonal ...
Relationships between oceanic epizooplankton distributions and the seasonal deep chlorophyll maximum in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean Ortner, Peter B.; Wiebe, Peter; Cox, James L. (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1981-04)The potential significance of the Deep Chlorophyll Maximum (DCM) as a food resource for pelagic food chains was studied in three hydrographic regimes of the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean: the Slope Water, the Northern ...


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Imagine a place where all the treasures and pieces of art that you came across during your travels in Asia and wished you could keep were all housed. A reminder of a distant place, of fond memories and beauty that can only be found in the East. Welcome to Gecko Gecko your destination to find all the artwork from Asia you wish you had but never able to bring back. Amron Yuwono, Co-Founder and Manager, is fortunate to find a profession that allows him to fuse business with lifestyle and passion. Flying from destination to destination in Asia, Amron handpicks the exciting items you will find in Gecko Gecko. Don’t expect to find the touristy, mass-produced items in his store. Each piece is unique and captures the personality of the area or region it came from…
A Young Professional Cheat Sheet
Jacie Almira of Asian America Women Artists Alliance
Share Your Story
Confessions of a Slacker
News you need
Happenings across the country
The number, in millions, of searches done by Google (the most used search engine).
A Young Professional Cheat Sheet As a young professional, you’re stressed out about a multitude of things: finding a job you’re happy with, getting ahead, staying ahead and trying to enjoy it all at the same time. In an attempt to make your life a wee bit easier, weve created a hot list of useful resources that caters to the important facets of your professional life.
Jacie Almira of Asian America Women Artists Alliance There are many individual voices in America. With time, many of those voices merge to form a collective shout. In 1998, that shout was the Asian America Women Artists Alliance (AAWAA). The AAWAA was formed to bring the experiences of upcoming and established women artists together in a space that fosters their diverse and unique experiences, with help from individuals such as Board Member Jacie Almira, 32. From paintings and installations to performing arts, artists of all levels…
Confessions of a Slacker You know you shouldn’t do it. But sometimes it’s a pain to go to work
5 days out of the week; and sometimes you need to be a little, let’s say, creative to get your boss to give you the day off. What was your
best excuse to get out of work? We want to know. And don’t worry, we won’t tell on you. We’ll just use it on our next lazy day and be very appreciative of the tip. Submit your professional confessional here.
Gecko Gecko, San Francisco’s only studio boutique that is home to authentic Indonesian art and clothing, announces its move to the Castro District with a New Home Opening celebration on Sunday, November 19, 2006. The celebration kicks off (rain or shine)
SAMMY! The incredible journey of Mahatma Gandhi
4:58 pm (PST); 2 hours
Spangenberg Theatre, 780 Arastradero Road , Palo Alto 94306 in Palo Alto, CA

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Learning to garden in a natural earth friendly way seems accessible to only the most experienced of gardeners but kip zonderkop brings organic gardening within anyones reach in kick ass cannabis veggies. Http wwwkickassorganicscom organic gardening guide exposes 8 step diy process for growing quality buds and vegetables. Kick ass cannabis and veggies organic gardening soils teas and tips for growing marijuana and nutrient rich vegetables english edition ebook kip zonderkop amazonde kindle shop. Kick ass cannabis veggies 426 likes learn how to grow organic cannabis medical marijuana and nutritious veggies with nature. I recently sat down to read a book titled kick ass cannabis and veggies organic gardening soils teas tips for growing marijuana nutrient rich vegetables by kip zonderkop
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New Delhi: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday questioned protestors for raising 'azadi' slogans when the country is already free, and slammed the opposition for "demeaning" constitutional bodies in public.
He said freedom of speech is exercised in the country under Article 19 (1) of the Constitution, but reminded of "reasonable restrictions" on such freedom.
"We hear slogans of 'azadi-azadi' these days at some places. Azadi from what? The country is free. People criticise the government freely. They can elect or vote out anyone. Some of them even gherao universities and resent against police also. Then azadi from what?," Prasad said on Twitter.
Addressing the 'Times Now Summit', the senior BJP leader said, "Your freedom is to the level where you even gherao your university, even fight with police. Then from whom do you want freedom? This question has to be debated".
He also accused the opposition of filing "collusive" public interest litigations with an agenda to run the country through the corridors of Supreme Court.
Prasad slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his series of allegations against the government and constitutional bodies.
"Who castigated the Election Commission of India? Who publicly derided the CAG? Who gave oblique comments against the Supreme Court? Who is making these kinds of allegations against the media, because Rahul Gandhi cannot face you (government) directly.
"Who compromised the integrity of Indian armed forces and other institutions? Who was seeking evidence of Balakot? These are very troubling moments in the polity of India," he said.
The Union minister also hit out at those personalities who had offered to return their awards in protest against the government.
"I want to ask those who are so excited about occasional and selective Award Wapsi Programme as to why they maintain silence when young Hindu girls are raped and minorities forced to convert in Pakistan? Does their plight not provoke them?" Prasad said.

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If you have information about this name, share it in the comments area below!
Numerology information Jhereg:
Name Number: 8 Meaning: Outer, Body, Physical, Ambition, Power, Progress, Career, Success, Respect, Fame, Means, Karma
Definition funny of Jhereg:
An imaginary animal created by Steven Brust. Small, and dragon-like with poisonous fangs. The only tame jhereg are ones who have been earned by witches to be familiars. Also, a branch of people are called Jhereg.(You can tell if he means the animal or the people by the capitalization) Also in the books by Steven Brust, these people are the lowest house and are mainly involved in black market type business. Such as: Assassins, Thieves, Pimps, and they run gambling houses and many other things.
Loiosh is a wise-ass jhereg and is Vladimir's sidekick in the Jhereg series, or Adventures of Vlad Taltos. Vladimir is an Easterner (human)who became a Jhereg when his father spent his life earnings to buy a title in the House Jhereg. Jhereg Hustler: I think one of my wizards betrayed me... Another Jhereg: Well what did you expect from a Jhereg.
Books about Jhereg:
Jhereg by Steven Brust (Mar 25, 1987)
The Book of Jhereg by Steven Brust (Aug 1, 1999)
The Book of Athyra (Jhereg) by Steven Brust (Feb 4, 2003)
The Book of Taltos (Jhereg) by Steven Brust (Jan 8, 2002)
Jhereg 02: Yendi by Steven Brust (Dec 1, 1986)
Jhereg: Vlad Taltos, Book 1 by Steven Brust and Bernard Setaro Clark (Aug 14, 2012) - Unabridged
Wiki information Jhereg:
Jhereg is a fantasy novel by Steven Brust in his Vlad Taltos series, originally published in 1983 by Ace Books. Ace later republished it in 1999 as part of the three-book omnibus, The Book of Jhereg. Marvel Comics adapted the story into a graphic...
Jhereg has three meanings, all of which are linked to the fiction of Steven Brust: Jhereg is the name of the first novel in the Vlad Taltos series, which was published in 1983. Steven Brust's JHEREG is a graphic novel adaptation published by Marvel...


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Heavy duty 3/16" single speed chain great for hardcore street rippers who need the strongest chain possible. - Extra-wide, for non-derailleur bikes: BMX, cruisers and tricycles - Compatible with 1/8" x 1/2" single speed set-ups but oversized for extra strength and durabilityLinks (links): 98 - Width: 13.1 mm - Drivetrain Speeds: Single Speed 1/2" x 3/16" - Chain Connection Type: Reusable Master Link - Half Link Chain: No - Weight: 800g
SRAM’s premier 10-speed chain features hollow pins and cut-out outer plates for accurate shifting in all conditions, light weight, strength and smoothness. Plus, it's compatible with all industry-standard 10-speed systems. And, with its great PowerLock connecting link, installation and removal is a snap.
SRAM's PC-850 Chain makes a trusty partner over hill and dale. It's easy to install, too, thanks to the no-tools-needed PowerLink. Quiet, smooth, reliable and very affordable, the PC-850 is a fine value.
SRAM's PC-1 Single Speed Nickel Chain is designed for singlespeed bicycles so it won't jump off when you're laying down the power. It comes with a connector link for easy installation and removal.
- Links (links): 136 - Defined Color: Silver - Color: Silver - Designed for ebike: Yes
Campagnolo's Record 11-Speed Chain is the right choice for Campagnolo 11-speed drivetrains. This fine chain is engineered for excellent strength, long wear and brilliant shifting thanks to a unidirectional design and an anti-friction treatment that lets it glide across your cassette. It also boasts hollow pins to keep your bicycle as light as possible.
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SRAM’s 11-speed chain features heavily chamfered outer plates for improved shifting and quiet running. And, with its great PowerLock connecting link, installation and removal is a snap.
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Designed from a long line of dependable, lightweight chains that are built for toughness, the recommended chain for APEX 1, PC-1110. Designed with SRAM’s trusted XX1 geometry, the PC-1110 features solid pin construction, 11-speed PowerLock and smooth, efficient shifting that you can count on every time out. - Optimized to work with X-SYNC rings for precise and dependable 11-speed performance - Fully compatible with all SRAM 1x drivetrains - Closing Link: PowerLock - Outer Plate: Polished grey - Inner Plate: Polished grey - Pin Treatment: Chrome Hardened - Weight: 232 - 273 grams - Rivet Type: Solid Pin - Speeds: 11
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The all-new SRAM RED chain was redeveloped from the ground up. The unique link shape allows the chain to be narrower and lighter while increasing strength and providing more space between the outer plates of the chain and the cogs on either side. The result: a quieter chain with faster, more precise shifts. - Flattop technology enables a narrower chain with quieter operation and increased strength and durability - Hard Chrome plated inner link plates and rollers for reduced wear and prolonged life - HollowPin construction for increased strength and efficiency - Chain length: 114 links
- Steel 1/2 x 3/32 derailleur chain - For use with index shifting systems - For 5-/6-speed drivetrains - 116 links - 300 grams
The Campagnolo C13 EKAR Chain was developed specifically for the EKAR 1x13-speed gravel system. - Wide-narrow design allows for efficient drive, smooth shifts and high security - The narrow profile is lightweight, strong, and efficient - Strong, durable, links feature different grades of steel and coatings for strength and to withstand wear - Unique ultrasound bath lubrication impregnation system for long chain life - C-Link allows for easy removal and cleaning Specifications: - Links: 117 - Chain Connection Type: Quick Link - Drivetrain Speeds: 13 - Weight: 242g
Shimano Ultegra CN-6600 10-Speed Chain - Hyperglide 10-Speed chain - Ultegra 6600 and 105 5600 chains are recommended for use in conjunction with Ultegra 6703 and 105 5703 triple - Optimized chain for HG sprocket which provides a fast and precise rear shifting performance (especially during downshifts) - Chromized rivet pins improve wear resistance - Zinc-alloy plated outer link surface treatment - Chain Connection Type: Pressed Pin - Color: Silver/Gray - Defined Color: Silver - Drivetrain Speeds: 10 - Half Link Chain: No - Links (links): 116 - Weight: 280 grams - Width: 6.1mm
Shimano's Deore-level 10-speed Chain offers excellent power transfer and top-notch durability. It showcases a mud-shedding design and Shimano's directional design with engineered inner and outer plates for smooth, fast and precise shifting.
Solid pins, inner and outer plates make for an economical chain choice with all the performance of higher level KMC X-Series chains. - Includes KMC Missing Link 11 - Optimized chamfer angles for superior stability in extreme chainlines - Upgraded outer plate chamfering for minimized cassette tooth interference - Double X-Bridge structure technology for improved shifting performance - Mushroomed Pin Riveted - Compatible with Shimano, SRAM & Campagnolo 11 Speed Systems
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X-Superlight series chains are high-quality, high performing chains offering amazing shifting performance on any drivetrain you choose. For athletes looking for the lightest, strongest, smoothest shifting chain look no further. The main characteristic of the black Diamond Like Coating (DLC) is reduction of abrasive wear. Besides this, it’s surface hardness is higher than most coatings, this ensures a long-term function, optimal stability and higher durability. - Includes KMC Missing Link 11 - Compatible with all 11 speed systems (including Campagnolo/Shimano/SRAM) - Weight: 243g
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Shimano's Ultegra 10-speed Chain offers crisp shifting and excellent durability. Smooth, precise shifts come courtesy of the meticulously engineered inner and outer plate chamfers that are specifically designed to accommodate the unique requirements of a moving chain. And, the plates are perforated to trim precious grams. - Weight: 267g
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CN-HG701-11 Super Narrow HG-X11 Chain (11-speed) FEATURE - Directional 11-speed chain - More efficient and silent, less maintenance - MTB, Road, E-BIKE 11-speed compatible - Reinforced chain for E-BIKE use BENEFIT - Smooth and reliable shifting performance - Weight: 257g (116 Links)
- 1/2" x 11/128" - 116 Links - EPT anti-rust coating - 9-speed - Compatible with Shimano, SRAM & Campagnolo 9 Speed Systems - Mushroomed Pin Riveted - 277 grams
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Really popular solid selling half link chain. Extra wide and heat-treated mushroomed pins, stronger rollers and heat treated side plates provide maximum strength and durability. - 1/8" size, includes 98 links and 2 master pins - Colored chains are Teflon coated for low friction - Compatible with 8T driver and up - Links (links): 98 - Color: Pink - Width: 1/2 x 1/8" - Drivetrain Speeds: Single Speed - Chain Connection Type: Pressed Pin - Half Link Chain: Yes
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- X9SL: superlight chain for use with 9-speed, 252g - X9.93: upgraded version of the Z-9000 chain stretchproof, super-narrow chain for use with 9-speed - Pink Lady chains are a limited edition with 15% of sales going directly to the Pink Ribbon Foundation
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The poppy is history in the making
Never has wearing a poppy been so controversial. The shocking aerosol attack on a 15-year-old poppy seller in Manchester has instigated fear while the apparent politicisation of the poppy by politicians who have been accused of using it to advocate current wars has divided opinions on wearing it.
The meaning of the poppy is history in the making which means the history it represents is being forgotten – or worse, rewritten. The true meaning of the poppy has been lost on a battlefield between politics and religion.
Red-coloured poppies are the predominant flower that grows wild in many fields in northern France and Belgium where some of the most fatal battles of World War One took place. Therefore, they are worn as an emblem to remember those who fought in the war. A war that saw various religions and races fighting for this country, its freedom, and for our freedom.
A white poppy signifies remembering those who fought in the war while placing emphasis on commitment to peace. A purple poppy is to remember the animals who were victims of war.
Jon Snow famously coined the term ‘poppy fascism’ for people that coerced others into wearing the poppy as he believed they were undermining its symbolism of freedom – including the freedom of choice.
However, it is no longer about freedom and choice but about who is wearing it, how it is worn and what it means in the present day.
And now sparking more controversy is 24-year-old designer Tabinda-Kauser Ishaq, final year student at the University of Arts, with her poppy hijab. The Newstatesman states: ‘They [hijabs] become a politically correct way of airing a suspicion that all Muslims are “basically terrorist sympathisers”.’
Tabinda-Kauser’s reasons for the poppy hijab is to remember those who fought in WWI including Muslims that fought for Britain.
The significance of the poppy should not be lost on words such as ‘Islamophobia’, interpretations of why a certain religion or race is wearing it, or who is in Parliament right now and why they are wearing it. These are not the reasons thousands of men died for this country.
Instead of tainting history with present day conflicts, let us remember that the soldiers united and died for the United Kingdom and therefore we should unite in remembering them; whether we wear a poppy or not.
Watch my interview with Jon Snow who talks about the poppy here.


We’re just under a week out from Valentine’s Day, and streamers everywhere are taking note. The week is dominated by romances, dramatic and comedic alike. Of course, that’s not all that’s on offer: eager viewers also have a crazy high school comedy, a sun-drenched horror story and a series that takes on fashion history.
What to watch on Netflix
To kick off your Valentine’s Day week with some romance, One Day takes that kind of Normal People, When Harry Met Sally approach to relationships, tracking its central couple across the years as they grow together, apart and back together again. Leo Woodall (of The White Lotus Season 2 fame) and Ambika Mod star as Dexter and Emma, two individuals who meet for the first time the night that they graduate from university. Each episode takes place one year after the other, finding them in new spots in their lives while they stay inexplicably drawn to each other. One Day premiered Thursday, February 8th.
For another Valentine’s offering, Players has everything you want in a rom com: a charismatic ensemble cast, a protagonist who’s scared of commitment and a look into a weirdly niche career path. The film revolves around Mack (Gina Rodriguez), a sports journalist who has spent her years in New York concocting strategies for “plays” (read: one night stands) with her bestie (Damon Wayans Jr.). But when her newest beau (Tom Ellis) makes her want to abandon her playbook, everything Mack thinks she knows about relationships goes out the window. Will this guy be a home run, or will she strike out? Players premieres Wednesday, February 14th.
What to watch on Hulu
Fresh off its Sundance premiere comes Suncoast, a coming-of-age movie that wrestles with family and death. Nico Parker plays Doris, a teenager weary from the emotional weight of having her brother suffer from brain cancer. Their mother (Laura Linney) has recently moved him into a hospice center, one which happens to be the center of a major right-to-die case, but that troubling development actually gives Doris more space to grow than she’s had for quite some time. Rather than stay mired in grief or become hardened by it like her mother, Doris decides to move forward as much as she can. Suncoast premieres Friday, February 9th. Read Observer’s review.
What to watch on Amazon Prime
As another rom com this week, Upgraded features a fun spin on the international travel and working women angles that the genre so often loves. Camila Mendes stars as Ana, an intern for one of the most powerful women in the art world (Marisa Tomei). Ready to go above and beyond on a chance work trip to London, Ana is happy to get upgraded to first class on her flight across the pond, and she certainly won’t correct an attractive stranger who mistakes her for her boss. As her lie stretches thin, can Ana keep up this new romance all while keeping her job? Upgraded premieres Friday, February 9th.
One of last year’s funniest films lands on streaming this week, and boy does Bottoms pack a punch. Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott, and Emma Seligman make for quite the dream team in this surrealist high school comedy, with Edebiri and Sennott starring as the “gay, untalented and ugly” students Josie and PJ. Determined to hook up with some girls before they graduate, the two buy into a baseless rumor that they went to juvie over the summer and initiate an all-female fight club as a ruse to get close to their crushes. Bottoms streams starting Tuesday, February 13th. Read Observer’s review.
What to watch on Max
As A24 projects continue to make their way to Max, one of the indie studio’s most iconic films is now available. Ari Aster put a pastel spin on horror with Midsommar, a movie centered around a particularly cursed seasonal Swedish festival. Florence Pugh stars as Dani, a woman traumatized by a twisted family tragedy. When her boyfriend (Jack Reynor) begrudgingly brings her along on a research trip to rural Sweden, it seems like a great opportunity to escape from her old life—but that escape isn’t without sacrifices. Midsommar started streaming at the start of the month.
What to watch on Apple TV+
The New Look
Largely taking place in post-WWII Paris, The New Look tracks the formation of some of the most iconic modern fashion houses. Ben Mendelsohn stars as Christian Dior, the visionary fashion designer whose new take on beauty marked a mid-century turning point. While his work shined a new light on Paris and all but reinvented the fashion world, it stood as a threat to the world-renowned Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche). The series is a deep dive into the history of Paris fashion, from its bitter rivalries to its stunning creations. Maisie Williams, John Malkovich, and Glenn Close also star. The New Look premieres Wednesday, February 14th.
What to Watch is a regular endorsement of movies and TV worth your streaming time.


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Lately I've been playing around with the old watercolors and it has been hit and miss with the results. It's been hit and miss because I've been experimenting with a new type of paper and I just tend to ruin things the more they don't turn out the way they were supposed too in my head. The new type of paper I've been using is hot press watercolor paper instead of the cold press, which I've been taught to use with an iron fist for watercolor since I first starting taking classes for it 20 years ago. The 1st two images are quick paintings I did of my daughter. The first one is on hot press paper (140lb) and was finished in about 20 minutes. The wet into wet technique and the dry brush work both responded well and my only complaint is that wet into wet is MUCH harder to control because the paper is so smooth. The major plus is because of the smooth paper you lose none of the images quality in the scan process. The second painting is on cold press paper (140lb as well) and it reacted just like I always remembered, the water goes wherever you want (for the most part) because of the slight texture in the paper. So besides a few mistakes I made with her hair I really liked how this one turned out. It is too large for a scanner so thats why I have a photo of it in it's frame. However, the cold press images I have scanned tend to seem a shade lighter than if you were looking at it in person and I'm not sure if it's because of the textured paper or my old scanner just sucked. Both paper stocks still warp at 140 lb so you have to get them under a flat surface with heavy weight after painting or you are stuck with the warped paper. If you try to fix it after it has set a couple of days you take the chance of getting creases and they look much worse. The second image is the first relatively big watercolor painting I've done in about 4 years and they just seem to be getting better... oh wait, I haven't gotten to the giant mess up at the bottom of the post yet.
The 3rd image is the inside of my new sketch book, I just decided to mess around with some markers and color pencils and I sort of liked the results.
So the last one... this thing has been annoying me for about 2 weeks now. I've even painted over it some more since this photo was taken (and have yet to fix it.. it seriously looks terrible now). I've been trying to get a more classical look in my work and this is the perfect example of why not fully planning out a painting will 90% of the time just completely screw up any possibility of it being any good. The other 10% is that time when free form experimentation just truly works and you make something that is just amazing... then you just kill yourself to try and repeat it( this is for me, other artists out there are the opposite. I have to plan to my skills). Medusa is lost in the curtains... the curtains just look terrible in general, they were a last second addition. I wanted this thing to have stark contrasts of light to dark with the characters popping out with the bright/ darker images and the background being kind of this off white marble look... then I added those curtains... I just thought they would make it look more like a throne room... oh well. I may fix it or re do the painting, or just call it a learning experience and move on.


text:
1UP has posted their 10 most anticipated Wii games on the year. Team Mario slaughters the list peppered with expected games and a few surprises.
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Super Paper Mario
- Super Mario Galaxy
- SSX Blur
- Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
- No More Heroes
- Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
- Dragon Quest Swords
- Cooking Mama: Cook Off
SSX Blur (out tomorrow) took the fourth spot and I would have thought Metroid Prime 3 would have been a little higher. As for me? I’m excited for some original IP like Disaster: Day of Crisis. Not that it will be good, I’m just hoping another Wii Sports-esque game (in terms of it being a hit surprise) graces our little white boxes this year.


text:
As part of our commitment to advanced orthopedic medicine, Orthopaedic Associates uses digital X-rays and open scan MRI machines for investigating orthopedic conditions that affect the bones or muscles.
When your pain is becoming unbearable, every minute counts. Digital X-rays offer an extra convenience for patients because the images are reviewed by the doctor instantly, enabling us to start the treatment process faster. Digital X-rays allow the patient to stand for the majority of procedures, allowing for greater comfort and ease. Digital X-rays are available at all of our Northeast Ohio locations.
If the X-ray is inconclusive, you may need an MRI, CT scan, or bone scan. Open MRI is available at our Westlake location. Our office will coordinate other diagnostic services for you as necessary, in order to provide the quickest and most convenient appointment.
Make an appointment today by calling (440) 892-1440 or (866) 362-7624.

domain: medical


text:
iRig Nano Amp is a super-compact battery-powered self contained micro amp and interface for iOS that you can use by itself, with headphones or even an external speaker cabinet — this power-packed amazing little amp can drive up to a 4x12" guitar cab! But what makes it more versatile than any other micro amp is that it features the iRig circuitry so you can plug your iPhone or iPad into it with the included TRRS cable and tap into the limitless world of AmpliTube guitar tone and more on your iPhone and iPad.
- Palm-sized guitar amp and interface for iOS
- Integrated iRig circuitry for iOS connection
- Standalone amp with British tone stack, gain & volume
- Connect external speaker cab — up to 4x12"
- 3-watt A/B power amp
- 3" speaker
- 1/8" headphone out for use with DEVICE mode
- 1/4" Guitar input
- Normal/Bright response switch
- Integrated kickstand tilting foot
- Powered by 3 AA batteries, included
- Free versions of AmpliTube iOS available from the App Store
iRig Nano Amp
7-day Easy Return or Refund
Should you find dissatisfaction due to a factory defect; incomplete delivery; wrong item delivered; or a change of mind due to feature, color, size, or model – except for defects due to misuse beyond the manufacturer’s usage recommendation under normal conditions - you may return this product within 7 days after delivery for a replacement or a refund. Please refer to our FAQ page for more details.

domain: hobby


text:
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said on Wednesday domestic flight operations would resume at the various airports across the country on July 8.
Sirika, who disclosed this on his official Twitter handle, said the restart of commercial flight operations would begin with the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 8.
The minister added that the airports in Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Maiduguri would be reopened for flight operations from July 11.
He wrote: “I am glad to announce that Abuja and Lagos airports will resume domestic operations on the 8th of July, 2020. Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri, and Maiduguri are to resume operations on July 11th.
“Other airports will resume on June 15th. Date for international to be announced in due course. Bear with us.”
The Federal Government ordered the closure of the airports in March following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Monday approved the reopening of the airports for flight operations after about four-month lull.
- EDO: Oba of Benin calls for peaceful campaigns, election - August 8, 2020
- JUST IN: Buruji Kashamu succumbs to COVID-19, dies at 62 - August 8, 2020
- Police arrests protesters of Southern Kaduna killings - August 8, 2020


text:
Budleigh Salterton launched its 2019 Poppy Appeal shop with ribbon cutting celebrations at the town’s High Street headquarters.
Budleigh’s deputy mayor Cllr Michael Hilliar on Saturday launched this year’s appeal watched on by dignitaries and onlookers.
Words of welcome were said by Reverend Martin Jacques, Raleigh Mission Community vicar for Budleigh, Otterton and East Budleigh.
Budeigh’s Poppy Appeal shop – where you can buy a poppy to wear in aid of the Royal British Legion, or leave a donation – will be open for a fortnight, Monday to Saturday, from 10am until 1pm.
The organisers thanked all who gave their time and help to make the town’s 2019 poppy shop possible.
Jo Vanstone said: “This year we have been very lucky to secure premises on the High Street – many thanks to the owner.
“Thanks also to Nick Loman for his tireless work setting up the shop which we all think looks splendid.
“Deputy town mayor Michael Hilliar did the honours cutting the ribbon and Reverend Martin Jacques officiated.”
This year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is aiming to raise £50million nationally.
Funds raised will help support serving and ex-serving members of the armed forces and their families.


text:
Effects of Gamma Ray as Oxidative Stress on Several Blood Parameters of Male Chickens
Keywords:male chicken, hematological parameters, gamma ray, grape seed oil, free radical
The present work aims to detect the effects of gamma ray radiation emitted from Co-60 on several blood parameters (PCV, Hb, WBCs and RBCs) of male chickens. Also, the potential antioxidant impact of grape seeds oil exposed to cold plasma as a protective material to lower the damage caused by gamma ray was tested for a long time and low dose rate. Healthy male chickens were used in this study which had an age range of 2 to 3 months and a weight range of 1.5 to 2 kg. Animals were kept in plastic cages (100 x 400 x 40 cm dimensions) within humidity and temperature preserved at limited values. Four experimental groups were included; the first was the un-exposed control. The second group was administered with a dose of grape seed extract. The third group was exposed to gamma ray radiation only. The fourth group was administered with a dose of grape seed extract and irradiated with gamma waves. Forty male chickens were used in this work as they were parted and administered with the selected doses. The control group was considered as the first group that contained 10 male chicken without being exposed to waves of gamma rays. The next group also contained 10 male chicken irradiated with 5 Gy/lh at interval 7 hour/day for 20 days as second group. Another group contained 10 male chicken and was dealt with oil of grape seed 400 mg/kg wt) with orally administered dose for 20 days as third group. The fourth group contained 10 male chicken irradiated with 5 Gy/h at interval of 7 hour/day for 20 days and dealt with orally administered dose (400 mg/kg wt) of grape seed oil for the same time. Overall groups (2-4), male chicken number became 30 used for 40.60 days at 7 hours per day. The schedule of work was achieved at 5 Gy/h of radiation equivalent dose with different exposure time for (20 and 40,60 days) on male chicken and at period 7 hours daily. The grape seed extract was bought from local market in Mosul City and filters from impure, as we found significant decrease in ratio of blood factors RBCs, WBCs, Hb and PCV with increasing of exposure time. This data changes with adding antioxidant materials as (grape seed oil) were the value of blood factors ratio enhancement by increasing the time of dose of these material compared with control group. The blood factors ratio of male chickens change with exposure time, with significant decrease by increasing exposure time, however, the protective material ( grape seed oil ) reduces the change in ratio % of the some blood factors compared with control group.

domain: chemistry


text:
Cairns hip hop and sneaker artist, Nicolette 'Sydney' Worth says she hopes networking with rappers and music labels in the United States last year will help her career in the industry.
Ms Worth, a former ABC Heywire winner, spent half of last year in North Carolina and plans to move to Melbourne to continue studying graphic design.
She says social media had played a big part in helping her build on her contacts within the music industry and has approached several artists about contributing artwork to albums, websites and promotional packages.
"I continue to do sneaker art but I've also gone more in the direction of doing portraits so maybe I can get more into working for hip-hop labels," Ms Worth says.
"I'm sticking to the whole urban art idea, doing a lot more stencils in my works and just experimenting and evolving as an artist."


text: Rani doesn't fit in. Ever since she had to cut off her wings to save Mother Dove, she doesn t feel like she belongs with the water talent fairies. In fact, without wings, she doesn t feel like she belongs with any fairies at all. Rani sets off on a perilous journey to find a home, a journey that leads her underwater, deep into the lagoon, where the mermaids live. Maybe there Rani will discover who her true friends are "


Pitco backs question on the entrance
Aspen Times Staff Writer
The Pitkin Board of County Commissioners showed strong support Tuesday for letting their constituents sound off on the Entrance to Aspen debate this November.
The four commissioners present unanimously approved on first reading a resolution that will place an advisory question on the ballot this fall. It will ask county residents for their opinions on the alignment of State Highway 82 on the outskirts of Aspen. Commissioner Patti Clapper was not present to vote.
The county’s question is identical to the city of Aspen’s ballot item for the Nov. 5 election. It will ask voters whether they prefer the S curves of the existing alignment, or a “Modified Direct Alignment across the Marolt/Thomas property.”
The Aspen City Council last week approved the simply worded question for the general election ballot. The direct alignment, also known as the “straight shot,” would pass through the Marolt/Thomas open space, the fields between the golf course and the hospital.
“Some of these residents have a deep commitment to the community,” said Commissioner Dorothea Farris. “By saying no, you can’t vote on the transition in and out of Aspen, we’re saying they have no concern for this town. I think they have a right to be asked.”
She argued that a growing number of people who work in Aspen but live downvalley use the entrance to town daily.
Commissioner Mick Ireland said the vote will serve the purpose of “reminding people in Aspen whatever decision they make, it will affect the people they depend on for their prosperity.” He said the needs of a large number of people entering the city each day should be considered.
“We have to weigh aesthetics and nostalgic concerns against efficiency,” Ireland said.
Commissioners also agreed that county residents’ tax dollars support the valley’s regional bus system, which is often affected by traffic jams caused by the “S” curves.
Both the city and county questions are advisory, nonbinding votes for state and local officials. Colorado Department of Transportation officials have said that with their budget shortfall, they will not spend money to realign the highway if the voters don’t support the project.
The final reading for the county’s resolution is set for Tuesday, Sept. 10.
[Naomi Havlen’s e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.org]
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text: Many of today's demanding applications require thin-film coatings with high hardness, toughness, and thermal stability. In many cases, coating thickness in the range 2-20 μm and low surface roughness are required. Diamond films meet many of the stated requirements, but their crystalline nature leads to a high surface roughness. Nanocrystalline diamond offers a smoother surface, but significant surface modification of the substrate is necessary for successful nanocrystalline diamond deposition and adhesion. A hybrid hard and tough material may be required for either the desired applications, or as a basis for nanocrystalline diamond film growth. One possibility is a composite system based on carbides or nitrides. Many binary carbides and nitrides offer one or more mentioned properties. By combining these binary compounds in a ternary or quaternary nanocrystalline system, we can tailor the material for a desired combination of properties. Here, we describe the results on the structural and mechanical properties of the coating systems composed of tungstenchromium- carbide and/or nitride. These WC-Cr-(N) coatings are deposited using magnetron sputtering. The growth of adherent nanocrystalline diamond films by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition has been demonstrated on these coatings. The WC-Cr-(N) and WC-Cr-(N)-NCD coatings are characterized with atomic force microscopy and SEM, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and nanoindentation. Copyright © 2012 American Scientific Publishers. All rights reserved.


text:
Created by: Emily Kapnek
Directed by: Alex Hardcastle
Written by: Andrew Guest, Drew Hancock
Produced by: Patricia Breen, Trey Coscia, Jill Danton, Annie Weisman
Cast Members: Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy, Carly Chaikin, Rex Lee, Ana Gasteyer, Alan Tudyk, Cheryl Hines
Released date: January 23, 2003
Episode(s) Number: 2.10
Episode(s) Title: Chinese Chicken
Tessa Altman is used to the big city but when her dad moves her away, she has to adapt to her new suburban life in Chatswin.
George convinces Noah and Fred to start a “dad band” as a way to escape their significant others. Tessa discovers what it means to be the girlfriend of a football player.


DR Hamish Meldrum was elected chairman of the BMA council in 2007 but has long been active in medical politics. He first joined the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) in 1991 and was part of the team that negotiated the current GMS contract, serving as GPC chairman from 2004 to 2007.
In November he was ranked third in the Health Service Journal 100 most influential people in health, moving up from 32 on the 2009 list with the BMA now having a crucial voice in debate over proposed NHS reform in England. Professor Steve Field, former chair of the RCGP, writes in the HSJ100:
“The fact Hamish has held the position of council chair for three years is no small feat and says much for his abilities. I have seen him in action, he is incredibly skilled and the BMA is stronger because of him.”
Dr Meldrum graduated from Edinburgh in 1972 and in 1978 became a GP in Bridlington, East Yorkshire where he still practises one day a week. He is married with three children and two grandchildren. He has been a member of MDDUS since he qualified.
Back in July of 2010 you described the Government White Paper on NHS reform as a curate’s egg – “good in parts, bad in parts, unclear in parts and even internally inconsistent in parts.” Have your views changed over the past few months?
Not really, the BMA has sent in a detailed response, outlining the areas we support, those with which we have concerns and those where we need far more information. The government is due to respond just before Christmas with a bill coming out early in the New Year. We will see whether the curate’s egg has improved or turned more rotten!
In its response to the White Paper the BMA has spoken out against a “market-based approach” to healthcare? Do you think any form of competition is useful in a national health service?
I think healthy competition between clinicians, based on good-quality data on their performance, is fine. What we object to in many of the recent policy developments in England is the fragmentation, increased bureaucracy and increased administration costs of the market-based approach. It also runs counter to the principle of social solidarity on which the NHS is based.
You said recently that some of what has been proposed by the Government is what doctors have been demanding for years. Can you expand on this?
There is no doubt that clinicians feel that they have become relatively detached from the decisions that affect the way they practise. In principle, giving doctors more say in the design and running of services, greater patient involvement and a focus on high-quality outcomes rather than crude targets can only be a good thing.
The recently published NHS Atlas of Variation exposed a postcode lottery in some key treatment areas such cancer and diabetes. Will GP consortia with ‘localised’ decision-making improve or worsen this situation?
I would hope that with improved data on outcomes this will help to narrow the quality gap but the recent announcement potentially to lessen the input from NICE in determining which treatments will be available could undermine that. Do you think the White Paper plans would inevitably open the door to some form of privatisation? There is no doubt that some of the proposals – all hospitals moving to FT status, the idea of “any willing provider” and the economic regulator being asked to encourage competition – are all very worrying signs that there could be increasing private provision of NHS services. Another concern is that, in a time when funding is constrained, patients may be encouraged or even forced to “top up” their treatments from private sources and the NHS will cease to be comprehensive.
What if any benefits do you see in eliminating practice boundaries in primary care?
Very few and those that there may be – such as increased choice for patients – may be greatly outweighed by additional bureaucracy, loss of continuity, fragmentation of care and funding allocation problems.
Do you see any dangers in the diverging approaches to healthcare provision among the devolved UK national governments?
Well, we no longer have a UK NHS; we have four national NHSs with many distinct differences. There are worries about moving away from UK terms and conditions for doctors and devolution of training, education, workforce and regulation which would create unnecessary cross-border tensions.
Do you think a £20 billion cut in spending in the NHS is achievable and where do you think savings could be achieved?
The suggestion is that the service needs to identify £15-20 billion to reinvest to meet rising demand. As yet, we do not have a narrative, either national or local, which might suggest how this could be done and the NHS has never achieved such savings in the past. Getting rid of the bureaucracy of the market would be a good start, as would trying to reduce the expensive impact of the PFI. The NHS workforce has already agreed to accept a two-year pay freeze so NHS employees are already doing their bit.
Is the public sector bearing an unfair burden in the economic crisis?
In the sense that it didn’t create the problems, yes, and there is no doubt that there have to be some reductions in public spending together with some increase in taxation, but I think the public sector still feels it is being made to pay, unfairly, for other people’s mistakes.
Is the EWTD (European Working Time Directive) dead in the water now that the Government seems to have stopped monitoring compliance?
No, the EWTD remains part of EU law. Although its introduction may have exacerbated some problems in junior doctor cover and training, it didn’t cause them and simply ignoring the legislation or attempting too repeal it, will not work and would be retrograde. Addressing the problems of junior doctor training is a complex business and the EWTD should not be used as a scapegoat for long-term failings in this area.
Do you think the GMC is getting close to a workable revalidation system?
It’s often seemed a case of one step forward and two steps back over the 12 years that revalidation has been on the cards. It is absolutely vital that any system is not overambitious, has the confidence of the vast majority of doctors and is properly resourced both in terms of the revalidation process itself and any remedial issues that arise from it.
Professor Steve Field has described your role as chair of the BMA council as the most unenviable job in medical politics and likened it to herding cats. What inspired you to take on the role?
Whether it was inspiration or more a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, I don’t know! Seriously, wanting to try to make a difference rather than just complain from the sidelines is what got me into medical politics in the first place. I certainly had no burning ambition to be chairman of the BMA, or any expectation that I would end up there but I enjoy a challenge and want to try to do what is best for doctors and the wider NHS in which most of them work. Luckily, most of the time, these two ambitions share much common ground.
No doubt you are very busy – can you describe a typical week?
I still try to spend one day a week in my East Yorkshire practice – usually a Monday which I try to keep free of BMA activity, not always successfully! I travel down to London on Monday evening and my week consists of office work, meetings – both internal and external, conferences, speaking engagements, media and parliamentary works as well as chairing Council and several other major committees in the BMA. Many people forget that the BMA has a much-respected professional side covering ethics, science and international issues as well as a very successful publishing group. As chairman of the BMA I have a role in overseeing all of these. I suppose I deal with 100-150 emails a day and that, together with associated reading and evening meetings and (sometimes working!) dinners, doesn’t leave a lot of time to spare. I try to spend most weekends at home, though there is still a lot of paperwork to catch up on plus quite regular phone calls, but if there is a window of opportunity, I try to squeeze in a game of tennis – in a vain attempt to get rid of the side effects of the working dinners!
Interview by Jim Killgore, editor of MDDUS Summons
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Honored - Volume 2
You Can Do Magic -- John O'Banion
This album was a "home-rolled" compilation of several covers of songs that were also performed by America. John Corbett compiled the songs and burned CDs with them for other fans back in 1999. John also wrote the liner notes for this CD and they are included here in their entirety:
You Can Do Magic (John O'Banion) Originally hailing from Kokomo, Indiana, John O'Banion originally came to fame with his Top 40 hit from 1981, "Love You Like I Never Loved Before." In addition to making vocal records, O'Banion has also starred in movies such as 1992's religious-themed "The Judas Project," in which he plays a modern-day Christ- like figure. On his 1997 album Hearts, O'Banion gives America's 1982 classic "You Can Do Magic" a decidedly jazzy flavor.
Right Before Your Eyes (Ian Thomas) While a relative unknown in the United States, north of the border Ian Thomas has been recognized as one of Canada's finest singer/songwriters. Artists such as Santana and Manfred Mann have had hits with his material. His debut single, "Painted Ladies," made the Top Ten in Canada and the Top 40 in the U.S. in 1974. During the latter half of the 1970s and early 1980s, Thomas consistently put out critically-acclaimed albums such as Calabash from 1976, from which came the classic "Right Before Your Eyes." Producer Bobby Colomby (Blood, Sweat & Tears) fell in love with the song and wound up producing it for America's 1982 album View From The Ground. Ian's brother is actor Dave Thomas, best known for his role as Doug McKenzie in the 1983 Canadian spoof, "Strange Brew," and as Russell Norton on the 1990s ABC-TV show "Grace Under Fire."
The Last Unicorn (Kenny Loggins) Kenny Loggins originally made a name for himself as one half of the early 1970s duo Loggins & Messina before going on to even greater fame as a solo artist during the late 1970s and 1980s. His 1994 album Return To Pooh Corner is an endearing set of children's songs inspired by his own experience as a father. From it comes his moving cover of "The Last Unicorn," originally penned by Jimmy Webb and performed by America for the 1982 movie of the same name.
Cast The Spirit (Russ Ballard) By 1983, America was intimately involved with Russ Ballard on the production of Your Move. Ballard briefly became the unofficial third member of the group, playing nearly all the instruments, singing backing vocals, and writing the majority of the songs. His composition "Cast The Spirit" became the follow-up single to the Top 40 hit "The Border." This lengthy version of "Cast The Spirit" was originally recorded on Russ's own excellent solo album from 1978, At The Third Stroke.
See How The Love Goes (Pointer Sisters) The Pointer Sisters had already had commercial success during the 1970s, but after Bonnie Pointer left to go solo in 1978, the remaining trio went toward a more mainstream pop direction and became unstoppable during the late 1970s and early '80s. "See How The Love Goes" was recorded for their 1982 album, So Excited, and featured Waddy Wachtel's distinctive guitar work. America covered this song on their 1984 electronic pop album, Perspective, an album which featured many of the same players on this Pointer Sisters song, including Nathan East, Paul Jackson, Jr., and Paulinho da Costa.
Special Girl (Meat Loaf) Although he had previously gained visibility in the musical production "Hair," along with a role in the 1975 cult classic film, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," it was his 1977 rock-opera album Bat Out Of Hell which catapulted Meat Loaf to superstardom with his uniquely melodramatic vocals. After splitting with talented songwriter Jim Steinman, Meat Loaf covered outside material such as "Special Girl," produced by Frank Farian and recorded for his 1986 album, Blind Before I Stop. In 1993, Meat Loaf reunited with Steinman for the enormously successful Bat Out Of Hell II. Meanwhile, Farian went on into infamy in the early 1990s for his central role in creating and producing the notorious pop music hoax, Milli Vanilli.
Hope (Project Hope) This track from the 1994 America album Hourglass became an unlikely country music anthem two years later when it was turned into a charity single for the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, AIDS and Cancer Research by producer George Briner. Country music's hottest artists gathered for the recording under the name Project Hope, including Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Terri Clark, Trisha Yearwood, and Tim McGraw, among others. On April 24, 1996, many of these artists gathered to sing "Hope" on the Academy of Country Music Awards telecast, an excerpt from which is included as the introduction to this track.
Honey (Ultramarine) Canterbury, England, ambient techno duo Paul Hammond and Ian Cooper, who teamed up in the 1990s under the name Ultramarine, won great praise for their blending of techno, folk, and classic rock into intriguing new forms of music. Hammond, a veteran of the British progressive rock outfit Atomic Rooster, and Cooper, a seasoned studio engineer, reworked the opening riff of America's "Muskrat Love" into the foundation for an atmospheric track called "Honey" on their highly-regarded 1992 album, Every Man And Woman Is A Star. Rumor has it that the "Dewey" quoted in the album liner notes is Dewey Bunnell, but Dewey has spent the last couple decades living in Northern California, not Sweetleaf County, Arkansas. Still, Ultramarine was heavily influenced by America. Listen closely to the end of the track and you can hear a sample from another famous America song.
Ventura Highway (Paul Hardcastle) Paul Hardcastle made his mark in a crowded field of electronic pop instrumentalists in the 1980s with his outstanding commentary on the Vietnam War, "19," a song which reached the Top 20 in the summer of 1985. His 1999 album, The Jazzmasters III, takes a country-rock classic like "Ventura Highway" and gives it an aquatic, New Age feel. Lead vocalist Helen Rogers, a frequent contributor to Hardcastle's albums, lends a bluesy touch to the track.
I Need You (Julian Lennon) Son of famed Beatle John Lennon, Julian scored hits in the 1980s in his own right, climbing into the Top Ten with "Valotte" and "Too Late For Goodbyes" in 1985. After a seven-year recording hiatus, he returned in 1998 with Photograph Smile, from which his somewhat raw cover of "I Need You" was released as a B- side.
I Need You (Barnes & Barnes) Art and Artie Barnes, aka Bill Mumy and Robert Haimer, took a mellow classic like "I Need You" and gently applied a sledgehammer to it on their classic 1981 misadventure, Spazchow. Mumy and Haimer have a right to destroy America's songs -- they've created enough of them. The two have been involved in the writing of "Love On The Vine," "Someday Woman," "Can't Fall Asleep To A Lullaby," as well as the production of "Nothing's So Far Away (As Yesterday)." Mumy is also well known as a science-fiction actor, having starred in the TV series "Lost In Space" as a child and more recently in "Babylon 5." Longtime friend and songwriting partner Gerry Beckley applies the finishing blow to this uproarious version of his own song with his contributions on bass and backing vocals.
Muskrat Love (The Captain & Tennille) The Captain & Tennille burst on to the pop music scene in a hurry with their 1975 smash hit, "Love Will Keep Us Together," which ultimately knocked America's "Sister Golden Hair" out of the Number One position in June 1975. They made amends the next year by taking an old America hit, "Muskrat Love," all the way to the Number Four position. Most people not familiar with America's work assume that The Captain & Tennille wrote "Muskrat Love." The Captain & Tennille themselves assumed that it had been written by America. Poor Willis Alan Ramsey -- no one ever remembers him. Old America cohort Hal Blaine contributes percussion on the track.
Con Tu Pelo Tan Dorado (Sister Golden Hair) (America) While America had enormous commercial success in the United States during the early 1970s before losing steam, the group has had continued success around the globe all along. This version of their 1975 chart-topper, "Sister Golden Hair," features Gerry singing a credible lead vocal in Spanish over the identical backing vocal and instrumental tracks from their original English-language version.
Sister Golden Hair (Spanic) This 1994 cover of "Sister Golden Hair" turns the tables on the previous version by featuring a native Spanish-speaking vocalist taking a crack at singing the song in English. Spanic is a dance outfit from Spain, where despite the lingering popularity of disco, America has had significant successes, most recently in their Number One hit, "From A Moving Train."
A Horse With No Name (Mark Thornton) This enjoyable country take on "A Horse With No Name" keeps to the song's original acoustic flavor while adding a dobro and harmonicas. This version appeared on the 1996 album Country Picks Classic Rock, in which over a dozen noted country musicians got together to perform some of rock's classic cuts. Although Mark Thornton played guitars and produced the track, technically this agglomeration could be considered A Group With No Name. Thornton over the years has made a living out of making similar themed cover albums, such as tributes to Garth Brooks and Patsy Cline.
Lonely People (Dan Peek) Although he focused on making Christian songs such as the Grammy-nominated "All Things Are Possible" and "Doer Of The Word" after leaving America in 1977, Dan Peek was unable to fully escape the influence of America in his solo albums. For his self-produced 1986 album Electro Voice, Dan returned to his biggest success with America, the 1975 Top Ten hit "Lonely People." In its eighties incarnation, "Lonely People" was transformed into a song asking listeners to "give your heart to Jesus Christ." The production remained similar to the original, with the exception of a synthesizer replacing the piano bridge, and an extended coda featuring a new harmonica solo.
Last Revised: 16 February 2020


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Peter Fankhauser, Thomas Cook UK and Ireland’s CEO, said: “Thomas Cook is a much loved brand that needs to make the proposed changes to secure our future and provide continued employment for many thousands across the UK and better meet the needs of our customers going forward.
"It is essential that we operate with the right number of people as we move forward into the next era for our company.
“It is never easy to make decisions that impact directly on our people, but we also owe it to our customers to operate efficiently and ensure that when they book their holiday with us our administrative costs are as low as possible.
“We firmly believe these proposals will mean a better – more profitable – Thomas Cook that continues to be a major employer in the UK and offer the widest range of holidays for travellers and voyagers in the future.
"We are already consulting with our Unions and employee representative bodies to minimise the impact of these changes and I am speaking personally to all employees today to provide information and support through this period of consultation."
More top news
Sir Vince Cable, Caroline Lucas, Tony Robinson and Gina Miller led a demonstration on the second anniversary of the EU referendum.
Turning hot over the next few days. High pollen and UV levels.
The march took place on the second anniversary of the EU referendum.


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Girl with casual hijab outfit illustration with girlish color theme by Abdurrahman Al Hanif
Grey & Jingga fan art by Zen Vuitton
Kids are adorable, so with kitty. I know it gonna be perfect if I stick them together in an artwork.
Anandya Linta Muslima
it’s been awhile since my last post of my art… Now I wanna show you my latest work. They are my friends and they are sisterhood… Why I drew them because they are cute so I wanna make an impact for my...
Casual hijab outfit illustration by Abdurrahman Al Hanif a.k.a @zenvuitton - for my Mina <3


Mon, 04 Jun 2012  /  808heinz808The breakthrough producer tells The Independent about a trip to Ibiza that inspired her to take up DJ lessons.
Tue, 05 Jun 2012  /  andrewryceFollowing last year's Instrumentals Mixtape—which later received a full vinyl release on Type—the New Jersey hip-hop producer has released a second package of free beats on his twitter account.
Tue, 05 Jun 2012  /  matt_unicombBeatportal takes a look at some of the best songs to emerge in 2012 that use the influential drum machine.
Mon, 04 Jun 2012  /  placebofxThe US veteran talks about the resurgence of '90s house music while answering a series of questions from fans. More ›
Sun, 03 Jun 2012  /  andrewryceSee the video for the duo's new single "Away With Me," featuring a whole lot of footage of creepy puppets and singer Tamara Blessa. More ›
Sun, 03 Jun 2012  /  808heinz808Portishead's Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury discuss the inspiration and motivation behind their new Drokk project with The Quietus.


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Leaked emails provide some insight into why several famous authors were inexplicably excluded form the Hugo Awards. Read on to discover what those emails entailed.
Disturbing evidence was of White House interference in the dissemination of Covid-19 Vaccination publications. Read on for more details.
Bomb threats and rising censorship tactics are two of the most pressing problems plaguing public libraries today.
Authors express themselves through writing, readers find themselves through reading. Censorship takes this opportunity away from both readers and writers.
The recent book bans and burnings make us fearful for the future of literature. But there is hope, in the form of a movement called #FReadom Fighters.


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How many trains are running from Mumbai to Varanasi?
There are 8 weekly trains and 5 daily trains that run from Mumbai to Varanasi , covering the shortest distance of about 1508 km by DARBHANGA EXP(11061).
How can I go to Varanasi from Mumbai by train?
The first train to Varanasi from Mumbai is 22177 Mahanagari Exp. From Mumbai, the train takes 27hr 25min to reach Varanasi. This train starts at 00:10:00 from Mumbai CSMT and reaches Varanasi BSB at 03:35:00. It operates on a few days namely Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun.
How many trains are running from Mumbai to Uttar Pradesh?
mumbai to lucknow Trains Route Details
|Number of Trains from mumbai to lucknow||14 Trains|
|Distance from mumbai to lucknow By Train:||1411 Km|
|Fastest Train from mumbai to lucknow :||ANTYODAYA EXP(12597)|
|Slowest Train from mumbai to lucknow :||AVADH EXPRESS(19038)|
Which is the fastest train for Varanasi?
Covering a distance of 769 kms in 11 hours and 30 mins, Poorva Express is the fastest among all the trains that run along this route.
How can I go to Varanasi from Mumbai?
Mumbai to Varanasi train services, operated by Indian Railways, depart from Dadar station. Train or fly from Mumbai to Varanasi? The best way to get from Mumbai to Varanasi is to fly which takes 4h 18m and costs ₹4,800 – ₹9,000. Alternatively, you can train, which costs ₹650 – ₹3,000 and takes 26h 46m.
How much time take from Mumbai to Varanasi?
Distance Between Mumbai to Varanasi
|Distance between Mumbai to Varanasi by Road is||1611 Kms|
|Distance between Mumbai to Varanasi by Flight is||1249 Kms|
|Travel Time from Mumbai to Varanasi by Road is||26:56 hrs|
|Nearest Airport in Mumbai||Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (19.08, 72.88)|
Can I travel from Mumbai to Lucknow?
You can reach Lucknow from Mumbai by travelling in a train. Mumbai to Lucknow train takes approximately 21 h 45 m. You can catch a train from Mumbai and get down at Lucknow. The price of the train ticket is approximately Rs.
Which is the best time to visit Varanasi?
The best time to visit Varanasi is during the winter months (November to February). Although it gets fairly cold during the winters, this is the best time when you can explore the holy city without getting tired. The average low temperature is around 5°C.

domain: geography


Connecting corporates and consumers with climate
Communities around the world experience profound positive ecological, cultural, and economic impacts that wouldn’t exist without carbon offsetting projects.
Tasman Environmental Markets (TEM) is Australia’s largest carbon offset provider. TEM connects businesses with carbon offset solutions from over 50 projects worldwide to address climate change by reducing or eliminating their carbon footprint. Today we talk with Andrew Grant about the vital role carbon offsetting plays in mitigating climate change.
When I asked Andrew if he ever thought his degree in science as a trained botanist would lead him to an executive position in the carbon offset business, he said, “never in my wildest dreams.”
Working as a botanist at national parks in Victoria straight out of university was Andrew’s dream job. This subsequently led to a long career immersed deeply in nature in diverse regions such as the desert, the coast, and remote tropical islands, from Australia to overseas.
But when Andrew went into executive management and undertook an executive MBA, he realised where the real challenge lies – “it hit me that I was really in a castle and the battlefield was around corporate Australia.”
However, when working in corporate as the founding global practice head of sustainability and climate change, Andrew longed to get his fingers back in the soil on the day-to-day basis. “You are like a trusted counsel, but really not responsible for anything, and my natural disposition is around solution – implementing things that make a difference”, he explained.
That’s what led Andrew to the carbon offset business. “At that time, carbon policy was very young, but it had a particular feature about it which I still like today; that the language is universal and the action has an equivalence, which is quite unique. In the natural environment, a carbon offset – irrespective of the country and irrespective of the method – has an equivalence. So it has a bit of a cool feature to it, that enables you to be able to put forward solutions that work with people from across boundaries, across countries, and across seas.”
Communities around the world experience profound positive ecological, cultural, and economic impacts that wouldn’t exist without carbon offsetting projects. Andrew reflected on the carbon offset project that impacted, and continues to impact him, deeply – the April Salumei project in Papua New Guinea on the Sepik river. The most remote and beautiful natural landscape he’s ever seen, the April Salumei forest management area covers over half a million hectares of pristine tropical rainforest.
The rainforest is home to 170 villages that live the traditional sustainable lifestyle. “The only external funds they’ve ever received has come from carbon offsetting. They use that money to invest in sustainable development plans, led by the villages and owned by the villages”, Andrew explained. “The money has gone to solar lights, clean water, shelter for schools, basic medical supplies… You’re there in that community thinking, ‘that’s coming about because someone flew from Melbourne to Sydney and voluntarily offset their flight.’ How would that community ever access those funds? So that’s when it really hit home to me – what an enabler TEM is and the role TEM can play in connecting people who care about their footprint and want to make a positive contribution.”
So how has TEM grown from a small start-up to now hosting a portfolio of blue-chip clients? Andrew and his team combine a deep knowledge of domestic and international carbon markets. He recognised what the need is, was, and will be in the market. Due to Andrew’s high-level experience working with project developers at global organisations, carbon offsetting was a very real and feasible concept to him. “I had a strong sense of what was possible, and my personal view was that there’s a substantial gap in the market, and that gap was that we were trying to pass carbon project development through the eye of the government before it got to the community at large.” Andrew stated that the essence of TEM is to bypass government by connecting corporations and individuals to positive climate outcomes, and to accelerate that connection. “It started off as an idea. That idea became real and has just systematically grown year in year out since the beginning.”
“Globally significant”, Andrew said, when I asked him where TEM will be in the next 5 years. “Our immediate goal is to enable exponential growth in offsetting. Our starting premise as a business is that to be meaningful we’ve got to be big, because we need to accelerate solutions.” He added that the urgency of climate change is making the climb steeper and more immediate. “Carbon offsetting isn’t the complete solution, but it’s a significant contribution to the solution… It’s incredibly valuable and can play an important role, and it can be a part of the transition to low emissions technology and sustainable economies”, Andrew affirmed while explaining why TEM’s future trajectory is so big.
“We do it differently than other people. The carbon market is largely dominated by project developers looking to find customers, where we started with the premise of ‘how do we support customers by connecting them to projects?’ And in doing so we start first and foremost with ‘what are the needs of our clients?’ and ‘what are the barriers that prevent them from undertaking more significant action?’”
Technology is the second key piece of what TEM does. For example, organisations often outsource travel to a third party, making it impossible for them to be carbon neutral if their third-party service provider doesn’t have the technology to enable that to occur. More often than not they don’t, Andrew said. “Not only do we concentrate on the corporation as a whole, but also the way technology works and how technology can be adapted and enhanced to enable the opportunity to offset. And we lead the market in that as well…. Our whole focus is around the customer, rather than the carbon market. And we bring our expertise in the carbon market to their benefit.”
When I asked Andrew why it’s important for companies to invest in climate action, he replied, “It has a number of dimensions. Companies, by definition, to be successful have to be excellent in everything they do.” Part of that success includes environmental planning and responsibility. “It’s a core competence for every organisation.”
“People don’t want to work for companies that have a negative impact on the environment. If you want to attract the best talent and the people that want to stay connected to your organisation, you’ve got to respect and acknowledge that investors don’t take the risk anymore. They have a much more attuned understanding of the risk – and that it’s their risk – because it’s their money. And they’re not tolerating it anymore.”
And it’s not just what’s happening inside your company that can determine your success, but also how your consumers view your brand. Andrew explained that over just the last two years consumers’ brand loyalty and rapid response to environmentally responsible brands has been inspiring, and its growing. Consumers’ fidelity to a product can be either positive or negative for your company. If consumers see positive environmental qualities about the way in which your company operates, you’ll have a more loyal customer base, making it advantageous to your business model.
So, what does a future without climate action look like? Very bleak. Andrew has been studying the science of climate change and working around the industry since his university years. He says, “everything that is happening now is exactly what was forecast to happen, and we’re at the beginning. It’s going to get uglier.”
But Andrew believes that society at large is up for the challenge of tackling these issues. We already see society taking action and bypassing government with solar power. “If you can empower community with really good technology and tools, community will embrace it… I am optimistic and confident that the community is totally motivated by an alternative future and alternative ways of living and being.”
Andrew says that there is a very narrow band of conditions which humans prosper in, and we cannot wait for governmental policy perfection to start protecting that. “You don’t have the luxury of not acting because you’re waiting for better information, you have to make a judgement based upon the best information before you as to how you deploy your resources where you’re going to have the best impact.”
“You’ve got finite resources and an ever-increasing challenge, and you have to act, and you have to act swiftly, and you have to make judgement calls. “


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We've got a new "Think Again" column here called "Getting Iraq Right," which is particularly relevant in light of the below. And today's Why We're Liberals item is this lovely kvetch by Tim Graham, who, if I am not mistaken, is employed by Brent Bozell. In this post he breaks the story that Stephen Colbert is not really a conservative, he only plays one on TV. Why did no one ever tell me this before? Anyway, this is my favorite line: "This raises the natural rebuttal: If Jesus were a liberal, why wouldn't liberals take orders from Him?"
Um, Tim, I'll be glad to help you on that one: Because we don't take orders from anyone with regard to what to think. We think for ourselves. See under "Enlightenment, The."
(Also, I know it's unfair to pick on commenters -- conservatives do it all the time, but we don't -- still I find this comment quite funny:
Jonathan Altermann does not believe that God is the "author of life".
In the first place, the guy manages to get my first name wrong and my last name misspelled; that's two -- count 'em, two -- mistakes in two words. Second, this joker has absolutely no idea what I think about the origin of life since I've never discussed it publicly nor have written a single word about it. And yet he states my views as fact. While we're at it, he also puts his period outside the quotation mark. Anyway, the Colbert episode is here.)
Here is an in-depth Times report on Basra, of the kind for which we need to be thankful that we still have a newspaper industry of sorts, but we need to be critically thankful. In it, we learn that U.S. strategy is still basically one of ignorance and screw-ups, and the Iraqis, five years after "Mission Accomplished," remain both politically and militarily dysfunctional. If this so-called "surge" is so successful, why is absolutely everything such a mess there? Just what are our soldiers dying (and killing) for again? Let's look at some highlights:
[T]he Iraqi operation was not what the United States expected. Instead of methodically building up their combat power and gradually stepping up operations against renegade militias, Mr. Maliki's forces lunged into the city, attacking before all of the Iraqi reinforcements had even arrived. By the following Tuesday, a major fight was on.
"The sense we had was that this would be a long-term effort: increased pressure gradually squeezing the Special Groups," Mr. Crocker said in an interview, using the American term for Iranian-backed militias. "That is not what kind of emerged."
"Nothing was in place from our side," he added. "It all had to be put together."
[I]nterviews with a wide range of American and military officials also suggest that Mr. Maliki overestimated his military's abilities and underestimated the scale of the resistance. The Iraqi prime minister also displayed an impulsive leadership style that did not give his forces or that of his most powerful allies, the American and British military, time to prepare.
"He went in with a stick and he poked a hornet's nest, and the resistance he got was a little bit more than he bargained for," said one official in the multinational force in Baghdad who requested anonymity. "They went in with 70 percent of a plan. Sometimes that's enough. This time it wasn't."
As the Iraqi military and civilian casualties grew and the Iraqi planning appeared to be little more than an improvisation, the United States mounted an intensive military and political effort to try to turn around the situation, according to accounts by Mr. Crocker and several American military officials in Baghdad and Washington who spoke on condition of anonymity.
[Crocker said,] "I have not found any element of the Iraqi government that will admit to being consulted."
"It was a unilateral decision by Maliki," said an American official familiar with the session. "It was a fait accompli." For the Americans, the timing was not good. The American military had little interest in seeing a hastily conceived operation that might open a new front and tempt Mr. Sadr to annul his cease-fire, which had contributed to the striking reduction in attacks over the past several months. Mr. Crocker and General Petraeus were also scheduled to testify to Congress the next month on the fragile political and security gains achieved in Iraq.
How do the Bush apologists and enablers of failure react to such news? Check out the Wall Street Journal op-ed by one of the top surge protectors, Kimberly Kagan, to whose family this war has all-but-been outsourced. Her strategy is to blame Iran (and you know where that leads with these people ...).
What is Daniel Henninger's strategy here? It is to attack the patriotism of his opponents, naturally, for what he insists is a liberal "loser" mentality. What a tough-minded liberal might point out in this situation is the fact that the conservatives are the ones who "lost" this war and now they want to keep American soldiers fighting and dying because they lack the guts to face up to their failure, much less their responsibility for much purposeless death and destruction.
"It's very hard to be neutral. People laugh at us because we call ourselves 'Fair and Balanced.' Fact is, CNN, who's always been extremely liberal, never had a Republican or conservative voice on it. The only difference is that we have equal voices on both sides but that seems to have upset a lot of liberals. ... The more voices the better."
Oh, I see. Robert Novak is a liberal Democrat. William Bennett is a liberal Democrat. Tucker Carlson is a liberal Democrat. Jonah Goldberg is a liberal Democrat. OK, so the guy is a business genius. Politically, he's an idiot. Or else he thinks you're one. It's here.
This is the kind of thing that helps sow hatred among people, dontcha think?
Someone wake the agencies: For the second time, the Environmental Protection Agency is being sued in an effort to get the agency to actually do its job:
Today, officials from 18 states and a number of environmental groups, filed a petition to force the EPA to do what the Supreme Court said one year ago. In the landmark ruling -- itself the result of a lawsuit against the EPA -- the court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency had the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and that it had to act. Except it didn't.
It's become clear that the EPA staff did, in fact, do the work to determine the agency's response. But EPA chief Stephen Johnson and the White House put a lid on it last December, and since then nothing has happened -- except that Johnson has deployed a succession of transparent delaying tactics.
Oh, and remember all those FEC complaints that were filed against John McCain? Well don't hold your breath for a resolution on that matter, or any matter involving public financing or a wide array of election-related issues during this, you know, presidential election campaign. Why? There isn't really an FEC right now!
[B]ecause of a congressional standoff over confirming new members, the FEC is now operating with just two members out of the six it is supposed to have. This means that, in addition to being frozen on public financing, the FEC is unable to write regulations, launch enforcement actions or issue advisory opinions. ... The reason for the logjam is that Senate Democrats have opposed confirming the pending Republican nominee, Hans A. von Spakovsky, because of concern about his actions on voting rights while he was a Justice Department official. Republicans, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), have refused to hold separate up-or-down votes on all four nominees for fear that Mr. von Spakovsky would lose -- and they would be outnumbered at an unavoidably political agency that is supposed to be equally divided between the two parties.
That the party elected to run the government is currently unconcerned with running large parts of the government should be made into a pretty large issue by liberals. But, as one of my new favorite books argues, liberals should be sure to frame their protests around the lost goals of these shuttered agencies, not simply the loss of the agency itself. In other words, the argument should be that "conservatives are uninterested in fair elections and protecting the environment," not "conservatives are uninterested in operating the FEC and the EPA and some other alphabet-soup agencies." Government can be the means to ends that we're all concerned about - ends that are currently suffering a great deal.
The sun rises.
Bill Moyers Journal takes viewers on the ground in the Democratic Republic of the Congo -- a country almost one-fourth the size of the U.S. -- to follow aid workers and local relief efforts that are bringing hope to a forgotten land. "The aid agencies are almost substituting for a social welfare system that hasn't operated in these areas for decades," says Dominic MacSorley, Emergency Director for Concern Worldwide, an international aid organization. The broadcast profiles an innovative program that employs locals to bike food to remote areas. "The spirit of the people ... hasn't dampened," says MacSorley. "The future for this country should be much, much brighter than it is."
Hometown: Kennesaw, Georgia
Unlike you, I did take advantage of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage a few years ago. When we bought our current home, however, we shopped around until we found a fixed rate Mortgage because it seemed to me that interest rates tied to T-bills were going to rise. I feel like my family and I did very well for ourselves.
I generally agree with your proposition that there should be no bail-out of irresponsible home buyers. Even if they fell for the line -- one which I heard from multiple sources -- that they could just refinance when or if the interest rates went up too high.
I don't feel "financially literate" but that line never made sense to me. How could I refinance to a fixed rate which was bound to be higher than the rising adjustable rate?
During our shopping I got offers which were completely outlandish -- if not criminal. One Mortgage Broker offered me a deal that started at a very low rate, which stayed flat for 3 years. He tried to keep the rest of the picture hidden, and if I had let him I would not have found out until it was too late that the remaining 27 years of the Mortgage were written so that the rate could go up every 6 months. There was no mechanism for the rate to adjust down, ever.
It does not surprise me that some people got caught in such loans believing they could just refinance out of those incredible terms.
Even so, those "victims" don't really deserve to be bailed out. The one proviso I keep coming back to, though, is that if so many people default on their mortgages, and that wave of houses come onto the market at fire-sale prices, what happens to the relative value of my house?
My self interest makes me want something done to prevent that occasion.
Normally I would agree that it's a bad idea to bail out borrowers who have gotten themselves in trouble through their own foolishness. However, this is not a normal situation. The mortgage crisis is having an effect on the entire economy, not just on those who accepted loan terms they couldn't afford.
To use an analogy, if a passenger on a boat drills a hole in his cabin floor, it's not just his cabin that will sink. It's in the interest of all on board to patch the hole.
Come on, Eric, you're a PhD. Let's cut the vulnerable and uneducated some slack here.
There are numerous heavily-documented abuses in the mortgage system (many of them criminal) that took advantage of these low-information home buyers.
It was only predictable if you had the time and cognitive skills to put it all in context. Most of these people didn't, and to blame them isn't much different from blaming the residents of New Orleans who didn't evacuate during Katrina.
This is, after all, why we're liberals.
So, at least a portion of the mortgage mess is due to ARM -- those happy little products that were advocated as friendly devices by folks as high up the food chain as the man who printed our money -- your favorite Randian and mine -- Alan Greenspan (seriously, how does a man enthralled by a loon rise so high in our society?)
But others have been ensnared as well; home prices were rising so fast in some key markets -- like my home city of Miami, FL -- that people purchased homes with fixed rate mortgages and sat back to watch their equity grow due to home price appreciation. The backside of that is home prices have fallen so far many people now owe more on their homes than they are worth.
Some of those folks are making the decision to walk and that leads to foreclosure; and that rebounds on every other home in the vicinity -- especially in condo properties.
Before I would wash my hands of people facing such this situation, I might want someone -- preferably one of the elected representatives or appointed executives whose job it is to make sure things like this do not happen -- does some work on determining the proper solution.
And if that means bailout, I am all for it. We are all in the same boat.
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments regarding the situation in the Middle East. It was obvious to me that you had taken no position on the righteousness of any party, or on a suitable resolution, and never did you purport to lay blame or have the answers.
Rather, you simply pointed out that conflicts can sometimes be solved, or at least eased, by attempting to understand the position of the other party. Too often we prefer to demonize and marginalize our opponents, instead of trying to assess and maybe even address some of their legitimate concerns.
This phenomenon is, unfortunately, not limited to the Middle East. Witness the hysteria when Mr. Obama said he would talk to Cuba, or other countries.
Many former politicians during the Vietnam era, including the former Secretary of Defence, have concluded that the Vietnam war could have been largely avoided had American leaders taken the time to understand that the VietCong were nationalists before they were communists, and had no interest in the ambitions of China or the USSR. For anyone doubting this, I highly recommend the documentry, "Fog of War."
Since when is talking a bad thing? How can additional information and understanding possibly hurt? Maybe people should actually try talking to someone with a different viewpoint and actually listening to what they have to say? It seems to me that we as a society, and in this I include myself, are way too eager to pass judgment and deal death from our living room couches.
Finally, as this is always relevant in these sorts of discussions, I am indeed a Jew. As well, please note that I have not advocated anything besides an intelligent and informed conversation and debate on the Israel-Palestine conflict, as I understand Mr. Alterman was doing as well.
For those of you who oppose such a debate, and see no use for a silly thing like context, obviously your mind is already made up. I am truly sorry for you, but some of the rest of us would actually like to consider whether there might actually be a way to end this never-ending war.
Sorry to see that you were attacked for pointing out the obvious deficiencies in the Times' article about Hamas' propaganda. Your commentary pretty much echoed what went through my head beforehand as I was reading said article. Keep up the good work.
Mr. Alterman -- I know I am preaching to the choir, but liberals have championed voting rights, civil rights, the environment, health care and the working class. Conservatives have fought against every single one of these issues. Shouldn't conservative be the dirty word? Shouldn't newspapers be writing articles about McCain and the L-Word? But instead McCain's problem in the election won't be that he is too conservative, but that he isn't conservative enough. Something is just terribly wrong with this.