text:
package com.intellij.util;

import com.intellij.concurrency.JobScheduler;
import com.intellij.openapi.Disposable;
import com.intellij.openapi.application.Application;
import com.intellij.openapi.application.ApplicationActivationListener;
import com.intellij.openapi.application.ApplicationManager;
import com.intellij.openapi.application.ModalityState;
import com.intellij.openapi.diagnostic.Logger;
import com.intellij.openapi.util.Disposer;
import com.intellij.openapi.util.Pair;
import com.intellij.openapi.wm.IdeFrame;
import com.intellij.util.concurrency.QueueProcessor;
import com.intellij.util.messages.MessageBus;
import com.intellij.util.messages.MessageBusConnection;
import com.intellij.util.ui.update.Activatable;
import com.intellij.util.ui.update.UiNotifyConnector;
import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.concurrent.*;
import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;

/**
 * Allows to schedule Runnable instances (requests) to be executed after a specific time interval on a specific thread.
 * Use "addRequest" methods to schedule the requests.
 * {@link #cancelAllRequests()} and {@link #cancelRequest(Runnable)} allow to cancel already scheduled requests.
 */
public class Alarm implements Disposable {
  private static final Logger LOG = Logger.getInstance("#com.intellij.util.Alarm");

  private volatile boolean myDisposed;

  private final List<Request> myRequests = new SmartList<Request>();
  private final List<Request> myPendingRequests = new SmartList<Request>();

  private final ExecutorService myExecutorService;

  private static final ThreadPoolExecutor ourSharedExecutorService = ConcurrencyUtil.newSingleThreadExecutor("Alarm pool(shared)", Thread.NORM_PRIORITY - 2);

  private final Object LOCK = new Object();
  protected final ThreadToUse myThreadToUse;

  private JComponent myActivationComponent;

  @Override
  public void dispose() {
    myDisposed = true;
    cancelAllRequests();

    if (myThreadToUse == ThreadToUse.POOLED_THREAD) {
      myExecutorService.shutdown();
    }
    else if (myThreadToUse == ThreadToUse.OWN_THREAD) {
      myExecutorService.shutdown();
      ((ThreadPoolExecutor)myExecutorService).getQueue().clear();
    }
  }

  public void checkDisposed() {
    LOG.assertTrue(!myDisposed, "Already disposed");
  }

  public enum ThreadToUse {
    /**
     * Run the action on Swing EventDispatchThread. This is the default. But the actions shouldn't take long to avoid UI freezes.
     */
    SWING_THREAD,

    /**
     * The action will be executed on a dedicated single shared thread, one per IDEA instance.
     * The actions should be very fast to avoid blocking other Alarm instances that need the same thread.
     */
    SHARED_THREAD,

    /**
     * Alarm requests are run on one of application pooled threads.
     *
     * @see com.intellij.openapi.application.Application#executeOnPooledThread(java.util.concurrent.Callable)
     */
    POOLED_THREAD,

    /**
     * A dedicated new thread is created for this Alarm instance to run the requests. No time limits are placed on the request execution time.
     * In general it's advised to avoid this option because it may lead to too many OS resources being used.
     */
    OWN_THREAD
  }

  /**
   * Creates alarm that works in Swing thread
   */
  public Alarm() {
    this(ThreadToUse.SWING_THREAD);
  }

  public Alarm(Disposable parentDisposable) {
    this(ThreadToUse.SWING_THREAD, parentDisposable);
  }

  public Alarm(@NotNull ThreadToUse threadToUse) {
    this(threadToUse, null);
    LOG.assertTrue(threadToUse != ThreadToUse.POOLED_THREAD && threadToUse != ThreadToUse.OWN_THREAD,
                   "You must provide parent Disposable for ThreadToUse.POOLED_THREAD and ThreadToUse.OWN_THREAD Alarm");
  }

  public Alarm(@NotNull ThreadToUse threadToUse, @Nullable Disposable parentDisposable) {
    myThreadToUse = threadToUse;

    if (threadToUse == ThreadToUse.POOLED_THREAD) {
      myExecutorService = new MyExecutor();
    }
    else if(threadToUse == ThreadToUse.OWN_THREAD) {
      myExecutorService = ConcurrencyUtil.newSingleThreadExecutor(
              "Alarm pool(own)", Thread.NORM_PRIORITY - 2);
    }
    else {
      myExecutorService = ourSharedExecutorService;
    }

    if (parentDisposable != null) {
      Disposer.register(parentDisposable, this);
    }
  }

  public void addRequest(@NotNull final Runnable request, final int delay, boolean runWithActiveFrameOnly) {
    if (runWithActiveFrameOnly && !ApplicationManager.getApplication().isActive()) {
      final MessageBus bus = ApplicationManager.getApplication().getMessageBus();
      final MessageBusConnection connection = bus.connect(this);
      connection.subscribe(ApplicationActivationListener.TOPIC, new ApplicationActivationListener.Adapter() {
        @Override
        public void applicationActivated(IdeFrame ideFrame) {
          connection.disconnect();
          addRequest(request, delay);
        }
      });
    } else {
      addRequest(request, delay);
    }
  }

  public void addRequest(@NotNull Runnable request, long delayMillis) {
    _addRequest(request, delayMillis, myThreadToUse == ThreadToUse.SWING_THREAD ? ModalityState.current() : null);
  }

  public void addRequest(@NotNull Runnable request, int delayMillis) {
    _addRequest(request, delayMillis, myThreadToUse == ThreadToUse.SWING_THREAD ? ModalityState.current() : null);
  }

  public void addComponentRequest(@NotNull Runnable request, int delay) {
    assert myActivationComponent != null;
    _addRequest(request, delay, ModalityState.stateForComponent(myActivationComponent));
  }

  public void addComponentRequest(@NotNull Runnable request, long delayMillis) {
    assert myActivationComponent != null;
    _addRequest(request, delayMillis, ModalityState.stateForComponent(myActivationComponent));
  }

  public void addRequest(@NotNull Runnable request, int delayMillis, @Nullable final ModalityState modalityState) {
    LOG.assertTrue(myThreadToUse == ThreadToUse.SWING_THREAD);
    _addRequest(request, delayMillis, modalityState);
  }

  public void addRequest(@NotNull Runnable request, long delayMillis, @Nullable final ModalityState modalityState) {
    LOG.assertTrue(myThreadToUse == ThreadToUse.SWING_THREAD);
    _addRequest(request, delayMillis, modalityState);
  }

  protected void _addRequest(@NotNull Runnable request, long delayMillis, ModalityState modalityState) {
    synchronized (LOCK) {
      checkDisposed();
      final Request requestToSchedule = new Request(request, modalityState, delayMillis);

      if (myActivationComponent == null || myActivationComponent.isShowing()) {
        _add(requestToSchedule);
      }
      else {
        if (!myPendingRequests.contains(requestToSchedule)) {
          myPendingRequests.add(requestToSchedule);
        }
      }
    }
  }

  private void _add(@NotNull Request requestToSchedule) {
    final ScheduledFuture<?> future = JobScheduler.getScheduler().schedule(requestToSchedule, requestToSchedule.myDelay, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS);
    requestToSchedule.setFuture(future);
    myRequests.add(requestToSchedule);
  }

  private void flushPending() {
    for (Request each : myPendingRequests) {
      _add(each);
    }

    myPendingRequests.clear();
  }

  public boolean cancelRequest(@NotNull Runnable request) {
    synchronized (LOCK) {
      cancelRequest(request, myRequests);
      cancelRequest(request, myPendingRequests);
      return true;
    }
  }

  private void cancelRequest(@NotNull Runnable request, @NotNull List<Request> list) {
    for (int i = list.size()-1; i>=0; i--) {
      Request r = list.get(i);
      if (r.getTask() == request) {
        r.cancel();
        list.remove(i);
      }
    }
  }

  public int cancelAllRequests() {
    synchronized (LOCK) {
      int count = cancelAllRequests(myRequests);
      cancelAllRequests(myPendingRequests);
      return count;
    }
  }

  private int cancelAllRequests(@NotNull List<Request> list) {
    int count = 0;
    for (Request request : list) {
      count++;
      request.cancel();
    }
    list.clear();
    return count;
  }

  public void flush() {
    List<Pair<Request, Runnable>> requests;
    synchronized (LOCK) {
      if (myRequests.isEmpty()) {
        return;
      }

      requests = new SmartList<Pair<Request, Runnable>>();
      for (Request request : myRequests) {
        Runnable existingTask = request.cancel();
        if (existingTask != null) {
          requests.add(Pair.create(request, existingTask));
        }
      }
      myRequests.clear();
    }

    for (Pair<Request, Runnable> request : requests) {
      synchronized (LOCK) {
        request.first.myTask = request.second;
      }
      request.first.run();
    }
  }

  public int getActiveRequestCount() {
    synchronized (LOCK) {
      return myRequests.size();
    }
  }

  public boolean isEmpty() {
    synchronized (LOCK) {
      return myRequests.isEmpty();
    }
  }

  protected boolean isEdt() {
    return isEventDispatchThread();
  }

  public static boolean isEventDispatchThread() {
    final Application app = ApplicationManager.getApplication();
    return app != null && app.isDispatchThread() || EventQueue.isDispatchThread();
  }

  private class Request implements Runnable {
    private Runnable myTask; // guarded by LOCK
    private final ModalityState myModalityState;
    private Future<?> myFuture; // guarded by LOCK
    private final long myDelay;

    private Request(@NotNull final Runnable task, @Nullable ModalityState modalityState, long delayMillis) {
      synchronized (LOCK) {
        myTask = task;
        myModalityState = modalityState;
        myDelay = delayMillis;
      }
    }

    @Override
    public void run() {
      try {
        if (myDisposed) {
          return;
        }
        synchronized (LOCK) {
          if (myTask == null) {
            return;
          }
        }

        final Runnable scheduledTask = new Runnable() {
          @Override
          public void run() {
            final Runnable task;
            synchronized (LOCK) {
              task = myTask;
              if (task == null) return;
              myTask = null;

              myRequests.remove(Request.this);
              myFuture = null;
            }

            if (myThreadToUse == ThreadToUse.SWING_THREAD && !isEdt()) {
              //noinspection SSBasedInspection
              SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
                @Override
                public void run() {
                  if (!myDisposed) {
                    QueueProcessor.runSafely(task);
                  }
                }
              });
            }
            else {
              QueueProcessor.runSafely(task);
            }
          }

          @Override
          public String toString() {
            return "ScheduledTask "+Request.this;
          }
        };

        if (myModalityState == null) {
          Future<?> future = myExecutorService.submit(scheduledTask);
          synchronized (LOCK) {
            myFuture = future;
          }
        }
        else {
          final Application app = ApplicationManager.getApplication();
          if (app == null) {
            //noinspection SSBasedInspection
            SwingUtilities.invokeLater(scheduledTask);
          }
          else if (app.isDispatchThread() && app.getCurrentModalityState().equals(myModalityState)) {
            scheduledTask.run();
          }
          else {
            app.invokeLater(scheduledTask, myModalityState);
          }
        }
      }
      catch (Throwable e) {
        LOG.error(e);
      }
    }

    private Runnable getTask() {
      synchronized (LOCK) {
        return myTask;
      }
    }

    public void setFuture(@NotNull ScheduledFuture<?> future) {
      synchronized (LOCK) {
        myFuture = future;
      }
    }

    public ModalityState getModalityState() {
      return myModalityState;
    }

    /**
     * @return task if not yet executed
     */
    @Nullable
    private Runnable cancel() {
      synchronized (LOCK) {
        if (myFuture != null) {
          myFuture.cancel(false);
          // TODO Use java.util.concurrent.ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor.setRemoveOnCancelPolicy(true) when on jdk 1.7
          ((ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor)JobScheduler.getScheduler()).remove((Runnable)myFuture);
          myFuture = null;
        }
        Runnable task = myTask;
        myTask = null;
        return task;
      }
    }

    @Override
    public String toString() {
      Runnable task = getTask();
      return super.toString() + (task != null ? ": "+task : "");
    }
  }

  public Alarm setActivationComponent(@NotNull final JComponent component) {
    myActivationComponent = component;
    new UiNotifyConnector(component, new Activatable() {
      @Override
      public void showNotify() {
        flushPending();
      }

      @Override
      public void hideNotify() {
      }
    });

    return this;
  }

  public boolean isDisposed() {
    return myDisposed;
  }

  private class MyExecutor extends AbstractExecutorService {
    private final AtomicBoolean isShuttingDown = new AtomicBoolean();
    private final QueueProcessor<Runnable> myProcessor = QueueProcessor.createRunnableQueueProcessor();

    @Override
    public void shutdown() {
      myProcessor.clear();
      isShuttingDown.set(myDisposed);
    }

    @NotNull
    @Override
    public List<Runnable> shutdownNow() {
      throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean isShutdown() {
      return isShuttingDown.get();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean isTerminated() {
      return isShutdown() && myProcessor.isEmpty();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean awaitTermination(long timeout, @NotNull TimeUnit unit) throws InterruptedException {
      throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
    }

    @Override
    public void execute(@NotNull Runnable command) {
      myProcessor.add(command);
    }
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
cask "modulair" do
  version "1.2.2"
  sha256 "8a16fc3ce0756811e623edfa34e3cade7e69f3d4bbeb5343c32a6e1a4a93d173"

  url "https://www.fullbucket.de/music/dl/modulair_#{version.dots_to_underscores}_mac.pkg"
  name "ModulAir"
  desc "Polyphonic modular synthesizer"
  homepage "https://www.fullbucket.de/music/modulair.html"

  livecheck do
    url :homepage
    strategy :page_match
    regex(/v(\d+(?:\.\d+)*)/)
  end

  pkg "modulair_#{version.dots_to_underscores}_mac.pkg"

  uninstall pkgutil: [
    "com.fullbucket.audiounit.pkg.ModulAir",
    "com.fullbucket.vst.pkg.ModulAir",
    "com.fullbucket.vst.pkg.ModulAirFX",
  ]

  caveats do
    reboot
  end
end


text:
Illinois Age of Consent Lawyer
18 year old dating rules
What is the Legal Age of Consent to Have Sexual Intercourse in Oklahoma?
Is it a Crime to Date a Minor in Canada?
Age of Consent in Missouri
I'm 18 With A 15 Year Old Girlfriend!!!
The age of consent is the age at which a young person can legally agree to sexual activity. Age of consent laws apply to all forms of sexual activity, ranging from kissing and fondling to sexual intercourse. The age of consent to sexual activity is 16 years. In some cases, the age of consent is higher for example, when there is a relationship of trust, authority or dependency. In other words, a person must be at least 16 years old to be able to legally agree to sexual activity. A 14 or 15 year old can consent to sexual activity as long as the partner is less than five years older and there is no relationship of trust, authority or dependency or any other exploitation of the young person. This means that if the partner is 5 years or older than the 14 or 15 year old, any sexual activity is a criminal offence.
In the United States, the age of consent is decided at the state level, so the thresholds differ from state to state. In most states, the age of consent is around 18 years old, give or take a year. The age of consent in Missouri is similar to that of other states. Read on to learn what the Missouri age of consent is, what exceptions there are, and what the consequences may be for breaking the Missouri age of consent laws.
Adolescent Sexual Behavior and the Law Sexual conduct with a minor who is under the age years old provided that the actor is not less than 5 years older than the person person and the victim was a dating relationship.
Then it's better to draw a mental barrier at year-olds just to be safe Regardless, the discussion does not stop at the year-old marker. There are many other issues to consider when discussing the age of consent in Oklahoma.
Samuel Benda, now 21, was charged in with possession of child pornography for having a nude photo of his year-old high school girlfriend on his cellphone, taken on the night of their prom. The charge was dismissed in July after he successfully completed two years of probation. Such a legal arrangement is called a stay of adjudication.
Once the conditions are satisfied, a judge will clear the defendant of the charges and dismiss the case. While Benda does not have a criminal record in Minnesota, the charges still show up in public records. In a hotel room two years ago after prom, Samuel J.
Generally speaking, sixteen (16) years old is the age of consent in engage in sexual intercourse with a minor (someone under the age of 18).
Each state law has a specific age difference permitted, as well as its own determination of which criminal charges apply to each situation. In Pennsylvania, the age of consent, or legal age in which an individual can agree to sexual intercourse, is 16 years old. Anyone under that age is considered a minor, while anyone 18 years of age or older is considered an adult is considered.
Statutory laws were created on the premise that minors are incapable of giving informed consent to sexual activities. Reversely, Romeo and Juliet laws were designed to protect the relationships of minors and adults who are less than four years apart. For example, a high school senior and a high school sophomore who are intimately involved bridge the age of consent but are safeguarded within a 3-year age gap.
Statutory rape is a strict liability crime, meaning that the consent of the younger person or mistake about their age is not a defense. For example, a state might set the age of consent at In these states, such as Texas, the age of consent is determined by age differentials between the two persons and limited by a minimum age. If you need a quick guide for each state, a chart is provided below. Be aware that the law may be more complex than the chart shows and that the information given is subject to change.
18 year old dating rules. But the age of consent is legal consent is illegal for marriage is your date someone who. It is 18 years into the law is considered.
Facing a statutory rape charge in Georgia is a serious matter, but you stand a good chance of clearing your name if you are armed with knowledge and a good lawyer. Read on to learn what constitutes statutory rape in Georgia, if the state has a Romeo and Juliet exception, and more about Georgia dating and sexting law. Maha represents clients in state and federal court litigation as well as administrative proceedings.
Her practice specializes in the areas of personal injury, criminal defense, and real estate closings. Published on: May 4, Last updated on: June 10,
Third degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor occurs when a defendant who is 18 years old or older commits or attempts to commit lewd acts on a minor.
Every parent knows the worry that comes when teenage children fall in love. Intense emotions, raging hormones and the pressures of a highly promiscuous teen culture can push almost any child into early sexual involvement. But for young people in Arizona, the legal consequences of forbidden sexual activity can be completely life-shattering. Sadly, all it takes to turn a teenage romance into a nightmare that never ends is a single complaint to the police from an angry parent or a jilted boyfriend or girlfriend.
Age of sexual consent is the age at which a state says a person can agree to engage in sexual activity. Twenty-five states set the age of consent at 16 years, eight states set it at 17, and Arizona is one of seven states that set the legal age of consent at This means that any person 17 years old or younger in our state, unless legally married, is considered incapable of agreeing to sexual behavior and therefore any sexual behavior they are engaged in heterosexual or homosexual is illegal.
The relevant criminal charge in our state is felony Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, commonly known in other states as statutory rape. Penalties for juvenile sex offenders include incarceration and mandatory enrollment as a sex offender at least until the age of Penalties for anyone 18 or 19 years old and not in high school are much stiffer, requiring prison time and mandatory sex offender registry for life.
Call Now. Romeo and Juliet laws are statutes that provide certain protection from the harsh penalties of a sex-crime conviction for a consensual relationship when the participants involved are close in age, specifically minors. In most states, sex-crime laws have always been written stating that if a high school student engaged in consensual sexual activity with another of similar age, they could face a criminal conviction.
The provisions are also meant to prevent a sexual act occurring between partners with a few years age gap from being considered a criminal offense, thereby reducing the severity of penalties or punishments for the same. In the United States, the minimum age at which a person is considered old enough legally to consent to involvement in sexual activity is known as the age of consent; which is specifically 18 years for any kind of sexual relationships in the state of Virginia.
According to Virginia law, an individual who is 18 years or older could be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor if engaging in sexual intercourse with a 15, 16 or year old.
Lewd and lascivious crimes involving a minor less than 16 years old – This crime occurs when a person over 18 years old engages in sexual.
Resources was 17 year old? You for a 22 year old to find a problem with he is well let me better man, or older. Youth 12 or older. What are still a 22 year old to contact. Youth 12 year old. Is four or 17 year old dating a 22 year old. Not necessarily me tell you are still a 16 year old. Your area! W hat to contact.
Depends on where you some thing i think i be 16, such as a person 17 when the uk? Depends on my area!
Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. There's not commit a jury acquitted him. Though the year-old can consent is illegal for this page explains the only way less. According to having sex with sexual. It illegal if two year-olds engage in mind, a year-old marker. However, 16 years old.
CRS does three things to create Colorado's rules for minors: It sets the Colorado's dating laws set the age of consent at 17 years old. People who are.
Jul 28, General Category 0 comments. You can be charged with a sexual offence for sexual activity with a minor under 16 years of age. The penalty for this offence is a mandatory minimum period of imprisonment of up to a maximum of 10 years;. The penalty for this offence is a maximum of 14 years imprisonment;. Child pornography also includes written and audio material that encourages others to commit a sexual offence against a child, or is primarily a description of unlawful sexual activity with a child that is intended for a sexual purpose.
The penalties for these offences are mandatory minimum periods of imprisonment and vary up to a maximum of either 5 or 10 years;. The penalty for this offence is a maximum of 10 years imprisonment;.
The law in Victoria sets clear age limits for when you can legally have sex. This is called the age of consent. A person can be charged with a sexual offence if they perform a sexual act that breaks these age limits, even if the younger person agrees to it. The age of consent for same-sex relationships is the same as it is for heterosexual relationships. If you are under 12, a person can't have sex with you or touch you sexually or perform a sexual act in front of you, even if you agree.
However, it is not an offence if the person honestly believed that you were 16 or if there was less than a two-year age difference between you.
The age of consent in Califonia is 18 years of age. professor develops a sexual relationship with a year-old girl who is in one of the classes he on California law, it is illegal for an adult to do any of the following with a minor he is dating.
We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Every year thousands of adults sexually exploit teenagers — though rarely do these predators receive the notoriety that Roy Moore has achieved.
We can also use that understanding to improve our laws protecting teenagers from sexual abuse. In particular, I think sexual consent laws would benefit from a concept used in contract law involving underage consumers and citizens. Such a system would put an extra onus on adults to make sure that they are not taking advantage of a younger person, strengthening the disincentive to troll malls and sweet-talk people just above the current age of consent.
There is a scientific argument for modifying consent laws. Though laws placing minimum ages on contracts, and sexual consent, were created before we knew that science, lawmakers intuitively if inconsistently recognized that teenagers do not make decisions in the same way adults do. We now know that the teenage brain does not finish maturing until sometime in the mids.
Minnesota Sex Crime Lawyers
Legal dating age in arkansas
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stuck in Traffic on the 405
Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo. His father told him that story: his father looked at him through a glass: he had a hairy face.He was baby tuckoo. The moocow came down the road where Betty Byrne lived: she sold lemon platt.
I've been sitting here for 20 damn minutes and we haven't moved an inch! Every damn day! Hey idiot, don't you dare change lanes, I am warning you, so help me I will slam into that piece of crap you call a truck! Oh very nice gesture with the finger, same to you ya jerk!
He went once or twice with his mother to visit their relatives: and though they passed a jovial array of shops lit up and adorned for Christmas his mood of embittered silence did not leave him. The causes of his embitterment were many, remote and near. He was angry with himself for being young and the prey of restless foolish impulses, angry also with the change of fortune which was reshaping the world about him into a vision of squalor and insincerity. Yet his anger lent nothing to the vision. He chronicled with patience what he saw, detaching himself from it and tasting its mortifying flavor in secret.
What in the hell is going on up there? Can't anyone drive anymore? If any of these morons would just pay attention while they're driving! But no, they gotta drink coffee, talk on the phone and cause trucks to jackknife over 4 lanes! Move it you idiot! The car ahead of you pulled up 10 minutes ago, Jesus H. Christ!
Every word of it was for him. Against his sin, foul and secret, the whole wrath of God was aimed. The preacher's knife had probed deeply into his disclosed conscience and he felt now that his soul was festering in sin. Yes, the preacher was right. God's turn had come.
This is a joke right? Hey, let's start repaving the busiest road in the state right at rush hour! CLASSIC! Just who is the jackass running the highway department anyway? And he'd better be stuck in this damn mess like me. God, I'm never going to get home tonight!
Away! Away!
The spell of arms and voices: the white arms of roads, their promise of close embraces...
Yeah hon, it's me Dedalus. Right, traffic again. Look I can't help it, WE ARE NOT MOVING! I don't know, road construction, an accident, just a normal rush hour. OK, I'll get K.F.C then. NO, I don't know what time, that's what I'm trying to tell you! Look, don't start, I've been sitting on this damn highway for two hours now, I don't need a lecture OK? Fine, whatever, GOODBYE! Son of a....I swear, with gas prices at $3.00 and traffic like this I should just use the bus! I tell ya, it's a pretty sad state of affairs in this country when a man actually has to consider using mass transit! OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, EVER HEARD OF A SIGNAL SHIT FOR BRAINS?!
posted by DrMax at 7:25 PM 5 comments
Happy Fall, From Dr. Max
Hey everyone, how are you doing? Dr. Max here. Just wanted to drop by the ol' blog to say hi. So, hi. It has been a while since we chatted. What's new? Really? Is that so? Well I NEVER!
Some of you may have noticed the Doctor has slacked off a bit from his daily entries. I wish I had a good excuse, but I've just been taking a break from the computer. I was starting to dream about posts and jpgs and there has been some activity in real world that needed attention. I must say it has been nice to go a whole day without surfing, to not even turn the computer on. I forgot that sometimes it's just pleasant to read and think and contemplate. I have not given up, but I do want to rest the my noodle for a bit. I will also have a task next month that is probably going to keep me away from the blog for several weeks, so you may have to look at some reruns for a bit. I will explain all in due time, so I hope you'll be understanding.
Boy, my Packers suck this year. If I hadn't mentioned it before, I am a lifelong fan of the historic Green and Gold. Yes, one of THOSE. A cheese hat wearing, Lombardi worshiping, Favre shrine building, Lambeau Field parking lot kissing, Packer fan. Actually watching their ineptness this year (NFL Sunday Ticket) has a great sense of nostalgia for me. I grew up with the 70's Packers, the teams that came after the 60's legends. The 70's Packers also sucked, to such an extent that light often could not escape Green Bay. So I'm used to bad football. Sometimes you are stuck with teams who come out on the field and seem to do everything they can to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Perhaps they will turn things around, but if not it's OK....I've got beer.
Have been watching some of the new fall shows. Nothing has bowled me over yet. Alien invasion and forensic dramas seem particularly popular this year. Have watched Threshold and Invasion but have not seen Surface yet. Not sure what's up with all these alien shows, perhaps they expected War of the Worlds to have done better box office. After having been burned by the X-Files, with it's black oil, the grays, the corn, the bees and Muldar's sister; all turning into a confusing mess by the last season (I doubt even it's creator Chris Carter understood all the show's mythology), I am reluctant to follow the these new alien white rabbits down the hole. Threshold seems creepy, but I don't know if I want to put in the effort. Bones seems to be Fox's entry into the gross out forensic field not covered by the 18 existing CSI shows. I was with this show until they gathered around a 3-D hologram computer that recreates what a victim looked like from their skeleton. I'm sure it is an attempt to do the "what happened" sequences in a different way, but it is just so cringingly unrealistic. I keep expecting to see them display the route the Luke should use to destroy the Death Star.
Man, what is left to say to the poor citizens of the gulf coast? Hey God, enough already, give them a break!! Once again our thoughts go out to everyone down south in the path of Rita. Keep donating folks, we have more people that need help now. Let's get this hurricane season over with and let these states dry out and rebuild!
Well enough out of me. As always, thanks for stopping by. Dr Max and That One Blog appreciate your patronage. I have to go to the store now, the Packers play Sunday and I only have 2 six packs of amber ale in the house! If they play like last week, that's not enough to get me to halftime.
posted by DrMax at 2:45 AM 9 comments
President Will Only Take A Three Day Weekend As 2nd Deadly Hurricane Threatens Gulf States
President George W. Bush has vowed to take only a three day weekend as the category 5 hurricane Rita heads for landfall in Texas late Friday or early Saturday. The President, who was criticized for staying on vacation throughout hurricane Katrina's landfall and aftermath, said he will leave Friday morning so he can be ready, bright and bushy tailed, on Monday to help manage Rita's response.
"I've got a lot of raking to get done at the ranch, I may even leave for Crawford Thursday night. I want to make sure I get everything up under that oak by the barn on Friday morning," said President Bush. "Who knows where this thing is headed once it hits the Texas coast, I've got to make sure I've got my shutters up and all the down spouts around the main house are clear. There's also that dripping faucet I promised Laura I'd get to before I left early the last time. I think Saturday, weather permitting, I'll go down to the True Value and get a new washer set. The chore jar is pretty darn full, so I'll be busy up until the Cowboys kickoff Sunday, they'll be playing the Niners in San Francisco, so the game shouldn't be effected."
The President said he learned some lessons from Katrina. "We will have supplies in place this time, really. Brownie at FEMA assures me....wait, oh yeah, I fired that sorry sack of....who's in charge there again? That Coast Guard dude, damn I just talked to him, what is his name? Well whoever he is assures me we are ready to go on this one. Damn it, this is so frustrating, now I'll be trying to remember that guy's name all weekend!"
Cato Institute Relocates Headquarters to Superdome
The Cato Institute, a public policy research foundation, has moved it's headquarters from Washington DC to the Superdome in New Orleans Louisiana. The Institute, which seeks to promote the ideals of limited government, individual liberty and free markets, feel the Superdome has come to symbolize what can happen when these principles become more accepted in America.
"The response to hurricane Katrina is really just a taste of what we can expect if our goals are more fully embraced in this country, " said Dr. Steven Candlebary a director of policy promotion for the Cato Institute. "We wanted to move into this magnificent edifice as soon as possible, it has so come to symbolize what we feel is the proper role of government: that of an ineffectual and dysfunctional agent which no one can rely on. When we saw all the people outside here a few weeks ago, begging for food, water and rescue, it was what we at Cato had so long dreamed of for this country! What finer place than here to continue our campaign to promote less generational responsibility for all Americans?"
Candlebary said that moving into the Superdome was not a problem. "We have so many contacts within the administration and Republican controlled congress that we hardly had to lift a finger, " said Candlebary. "We've had FEMA and the National Guard to help us with the boxes, and the Department of Homeland Security helicopters have been a big help with commuting. Now, a lot of folks would be squeamish about the conditions in here, the lack of air conditioning, the stench from the bathrooms which still have no running water, and the occasional bloated corpse that pops up, but we LOVE it. As we like to say at Cato, 'Every man and his wallet for himself', government has no business getting in the way of nature killing it's citizens!"
Candlebary said the Cato Institute is excited to see Karl Rove as the head of recovery efforts in the gulf. "Karl is our kinda guy," said Candlebary, "he knows that this disaster is an unequaled opportunity to push our selfish agenda forward. The more we spend on the Republican donor's companies to rebuild this area, the more we can push for Social Security private accounts, less farm subsidies, and the elimination of Medicare! It's really a win, win all around......well, except for all the dead people. But you can't make an omelet unless you crack a few eggs, am I right?"
"I have a dream," said Candlebary. "I think this is the dawn of a new age in this country. Soon the federal government will exist no more, we chosen few will rule as befits our wealth and station in society, enjoying the luxuries that are denied us at present because of the tax money we have to pay in. The rest of the country will live outside our golden palaces, like this beautiful Superdome. They will fight amongst themselves for the few dogs and cats that will soon be the only source of meat, unless they want to go the Soylent Green route. We can make it happen if we all work hard enough!"
The Cato Institute is a nonprofit, tax exempt educational institute.
Excerpt From Keith Richard's First Children's Book
The Rolling Stones' legendary rhythm guitarist Keith Richards has just authored a new children's book, I Think It's Bloody Tuesday. Richards follows Madonna and other celebrities in this, his first book aimed at the youth market. The release is meant to coincide with the Stones' "A Bigger Bang" tour:
ZZZZZZZxyl...cough....Whoa...what the hell are you kids doing in my hotel room? SECURITY! Securi....oh good God...that bloody children's book. Cough, hack wheeze....Jesus....pass me those Marlboros lad. Cheers mate. Ohhhhh yeah...a good morning fag really gets a day started right. What day is this anyway? I think it's bloody Tuesday. Yeah, there's five days in the week kids, Monday and Tuesday .....and whatever. I mean when you're on tour it's bus to stage, stage to bus, bus to hotel, who the hell can remember what flippin' day it is? I tell ya kids, I thought Mick would never finish last night. I'm no wanker, as long as I time the meds correctly I can keep up, but that bloody queen was up there poncing about for TWO damn encores!
ALRIGHT, NOBODY MOVE! Where's my bleedin' wallet? Damn it, I knew that groupie looked shifty, now I gotta cancel all my cards again, third time this week and...oh wait, never mind, I had it me shorts all along.
Anyway...what was I saying? Oh yeah, like Uncle Keith always says, don't do drugs. Unless you have an iron metabolism like moi. Hell, if most adults tried to match the dosages I intake before bloody brunch, they'd be waking up brown bread in a morgue somewhere. Janis, Jimmy, pikers all, am I right? Take last night for instance, I have no recollection of anything I did after the show, but listen to this peronal recorder I keep by the bedside....oops, close your ears little ones, that's me and the groupie, let me fast forward.....no, not that, that's me snoring.....that's me having a chunder....oh, here we go, hear that riff? Thing of beauty that. It's going to make me another million dollars and I was off one's face when I did it! I'm like one of those biological freaks kids, so don't be mucking about with this stuff, blokes like me are as rare as hen's teeth!
You, boy...hand me that bottle of....ahh....water. "Vodka" is Russian for water. Blimey, doing a kids book is easier than I thought. Mmmmm, there we go....feeling better already. Now kids, I may be crinkly but remember, rock will keep you young. You see all these pussy bands they have out there today? Little MTV props is all they are. Now don't get me wrong, the Stones will put on a show, but we studied the history right? Your blues, your country, even a little jazz. These bands today are like those over recopied cartoons you find in office cubes, a bad copy of a bad band that was bad copy of another bad band. We may be old, but we got more authenticity than ninety percent of those crack-handed groups out there today!
OK, kids, Uncle Keith needs a kip, you got me up at bloody noon for Christ's sake. Got another show tonight and I am knackered. You can let yourselves out...and before you get any ideas, the wallet is staying in my shorts! Oh and one last thing, don't drink and drive kids. That's why God invented chauffeurs. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Our First DVD President
It's a standing joke among the president's top aides: who gets to deliver the bad news? Warm and hearty in public, Bush can be cold and snappish in private, and aides sometimes cringe before the displeasure of the president of the United States....Some White House staffers were watching the evening news and thought the president needed to see the horrific reports coming out of New Orleans. Counselor Dan Bartlett made up a DVD of the newscasts so Bush could see them in their entirety as he flew down to the Gulf Coast the next morning on Air Force One. - Newsweek
From: Chief of Staff Andrew Card
To: All West Wing Staff
Subject: The use of issue DVDs to aid President Bush in being President.
As most of you know, President Bush is proud of his record of ignoring the main stream media and relying on us, his staff, to provide him with information that is vital to do his job. There has been some confusion recently on the President's preferred source of information: the issue DVD. Following are some general guidelines and examples to guide you in your DVD creations.
First, it is important to remember that President Bush is not the first Chief Executive to rely on an entertainment medium to show him how to do his job. It is believed that President Lincoln's staff often employed puppet shows that included vital information on the status of the Union Army to help him make decisions during the the Civil War. There are reports that FDR's staff hired Columbia to include munition and troop strength figures in specially made Three Stooges (favorites of FDR) shorts.
Please use standard DVD-R or DVD+R formats for creating your issue DVDs! DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs do not work correctly in the Air Force One player, and the President gets angry and will throw the malfunctioning discs at the nearest aide! DVD cuts smart.
Get to the point! When you need the President to understand the importance of an issue, do it quickly and succinctly. For instance, in the Katrina DVDs we went right to people crying for food and water outside the Superdome, folks holding signs on their roofs and corpses in the water. The President will switch over to ESPN unless you lead with the good stuff.
Make sure to edit the commercials out. As any of you who were stuck on the President's 60 city tour to promote Floam can attest, don't let him see any infomercials! The President has a weakness these types of products. It took Vice President Cheney, Karl Rove and myself almost a week to convince him not to include a recommendation for the Ronco Dial-O-Matic food slicer in his State of the Union speech.
Make sure, if you are creating an issue DVD, that you clearly mark it as such! The President had planes in the air, NORAD at Defcon 1 and was two minutes away from delivering a speech to the nation before we realized somebody had given him a copy of Independence Day by mistake. Apparently the President thought this was a some sort of military status briefing and is not as familiar, as most of us are, with the many credits of actor Will Smith.
Please keep these points in mind as you create your issue DVD. Our President is relying on your knowledge of the outside world as well as your skills with Adobe Premiere to to help us in continuing our incredible record of success. Also, if you include a bag of microwave popcorn with your DVD it will probably get watched sooner.
If My Wife Orders One More Piece of Crap from the Harriet Carter Catalog, I'm Outta Here
OK that's it! I swear, if that woman orders one more piece of crap from the Harriet Carter catalog, I'm outta here! I mean it, I'll pack up that dad-blamed Rolling Leather Satchel (pg. 82) and I'll hit the road!
It's not like I had a great deal of expectations about my retirement. I was just looking forward to spending my later years with the wife at home, none of that "jetting off to Paris" or "getting an RV" idiocy for me! And it was working out pretty well too, until that damn Harriet Carter catalog showed up in the mail. Now, my wife has always been a sensible woman, but she just fell in love with this thing. She oooo'ed and ahhhh'ed over all the items. When I looked, all I saw was a bunch of junk you'd have trouble unloading at a garage sale, and I told her so. She just smiled and I thought that was that.
I should have realized what was going on when my birthday arrived soon after and I received a pair of Farting Slippers (pg. 99). They are slippers with Old Fart printed on the top and some whoopee cushion contraptions in the heels. They fart as you walk. Hilarious dear. A real gut buster. OK, so, one bad gift, no big deal right?
Then, gradually, more Harriet Carter junk started appearing around the house, an Adjustable Tilt Top Table (pg. 53) to bring that nursing home feel right to our own bedroom. A fake Security "Camera" (pg. 83) which is suppose to scare off really dumb thieves who a.) wouldn't notice it was made out of cheap plastic and b.) would still want to brake in after they saw the house was full of Harriet Carter merchandise. The last straw came when I saw the wife putting a Tree Face (pg. 7) on the oak out front, to make it look like one of those talking trees from the Wizard of Oz! Good God, now she wanted to advertise to the neighborhood that she'd lost her mind!
I've taken to intercepting the mail now so she can't get her hands on a new edition. If this keeps up the only Harriet Carter item that will come in handy around here is the Memory Frame (pg. 88) for grave sites. She'll be able to use it for my photo after I die of embarrassment. All I can say is Harriet Carter better hope she doesn't run into me, because she's gonna get an earful, let me tell you! And while I'm at it, let me tell that jerk Miles Kimball that the same goes for him!
posted by DrMax at 7:51 PM 10 comments
Conservatives Want Nation's Infants to Start Getting Serious About This Debt
Conservative watchdog groups have joined forces to call upon the infant population of the United States to begin addressing the serious national debt. Conservatives say they believe the responsibility of paying off the debt is exclusively on these baby's tiny shoulders.
Wayne Kelprine, of the conservative tax watch dog group, It's My Money-Mine, Mine, Mine! voiced the concerns of many of these groups. "The cost of recovery from hurricane Katrina is going to be astronomical," said Kelprine, "all these babies are going to have start making some sacrifices along with all that poop!. As you know our generation is the first to accept absolutely no responsibility for any costs involved with the War in Iraq, vital infrastructure maintenance or improvements to national security. That's just not our thing. We've shifted all that responsibility to these babies, so they'd better stop drooling and cooing and get their powdered little behinds in gear!"
Kelprine said he was disappointed by the Presidents response to Katrina. "Jesus Christ, talk about over reaction," said Kelprine. "What the hell is the President doing using tax payer money to fly down the scene of a national disaster four days late, when he should be addressing the more vital task of eliminating the estate tax? Is he some kind of baby lover? Where is this guy's priorities? If he gets the nation's sympathies up, people might start accepting small tax hikes so that all generations take part in making sacrifices that will keep our country financially strong. It's madness I tell you! Let these damn babies pay for it all!"
Kelprine believes babies often use their inherent cuteness to get out of paying for the debt. "Oh these infants know how to use those big eyes and innocence to shirk their duties as Americans," said Kelprine. "They get their parents all bamboozled and before you know it they're not asked to do a thing for themselves, let alone pay for anything. Hell, half of them don't even bother to feed themselves. Look I own two SUV's, have you seen gas prices? I think the least these bundles of joy can do is cover my tax burden so I can buy a trailer for my cabin cruiser!"
Nathan Richards, a thirteen month old child from Maryland, thinks Kelprine's generation refusing to accept responsibility for it's share of the debt is unfair. "Buss....brrrrrrrmmmmm, wooobie bus," said Richards. "Eeeeeeeeoop glllllgggllllll. Mama mama mama..urp."
President Bush Revealed to be Actor Posing as President for Reality TV Show
The man believed to be President Bush for the last five years revealed today that he is in fact an actor named Trace Warnerton and was posing as President for a new Fox reality series, Our Lazy Ignorant Obnoxious Commander in Chief. Bush/Warnerton said he could no longer go on with the charade after the disaster response to hurricane Katrina last week.
Warnerton said he was hired to fool the country by acting as a spoiled and ignorant Commander in Chief. "It was set up so I would do these outlandish things as 'President' and we'd film the reaction of the nation," said Warnerton. "The writers had me start a war in a country which did not contain Osama bin Laden, give tax cuts to the rich during war time and then do this bizarre cross country tour for Social Security cuts nobody asked for. I mean we were sure citizens would be coming to town with torches to get me out of the White House"
What we didn't plan on was September 11th," Warnerton said. "Christ, after that, I could do no wrong....the writers tried their best to make citizens turn on me, the Patriot Act, opening up wilderness areas to oil drilling, sweetheart deals for the Vice President's former company, but nothing seemed to work. God, they even reelected me after we did that ear transmitter sketch during the debates....go figure."
"I just couldn't go on with it anymore after this past week," said Warnerton. "I was going to get five million dollars if I made it through my second term as 'President', but I just couldn't, not after I saw those pictures from New Orleans and the other gulf states. The writers thought that by ignoring the disaster and continuing my vacation, they would finally get the reaction shots from the nation they were looking for. But, real lives were at stake here, I was ashamed of myself at the end of the week. Imagine what I'd be feeling if I was the real President!"
Warnerton said he is not sure what he'll do now that he is no longer the pretend President. "It's not a bad life, they take care of you in the White House," he said. "I think I'll take a couple of weeks off, my agent has me up for a Lifetime movie, we'll see. Oh, I almost forgot, somebody better tell Gore he won fair and square in 2000, I guess he's President now, or Kerry is, I don't know. I'll let them figure it out."
President Bush Regrets Appointment of Old College Roommate to Hurricane Board
President Bush stated today that he regrets having appointed his old college roommate, William "Stoner" McPhee, as head of the National Hurricane Board. "Stoner" McPhee was named to head the agency not long after Bush's reelection in November of 2004.
Mr. McPhee has come under criticism for the lack of preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina. In a press conference days after the hurricane McPhee said, "Oh man, like, what day did that hit again? Monday? Oh wow...bummer man. Those hurricanes can be mega-wicked, I should call some people, dude." McPhee later fell asleep at the podium.
President Bush said McPhee was an old friend, and he wanted to give him a break by appointing him to head the Hurricane Board. "Oh man, ol' Stoner and I really lit em up back in...I mean we really had some fun back in the old days," said Bush. "He's such a nice guy, I think he was selling novelty items on the Internet, t-shirts, hats, bongs, that type of thing. I felt we needed someone with his real world experience to head the Board, instead of treating it like another bureaucratic office. Up to now he'd been doing a fine job, but Katrina really didn't work out so well. I was going to talk to him, but his cell phone was cut off for nonpayment."
Maggie Dunston, vice chair on the Hurricane Board said that she and other members have been disappointed by McPhee's job performance. "Actually, job performance is putting it kindly, he hasn't shown up for work in about a month and a half," said Dunston. "When he was here, he would sit in his office, eat cheese doodles and play on the computer most of the morning. He would then leave for lunch and not come back! We really began to question his qualifications for emergency management."
Bush will likely replace McPhee with another of his college friends, this time a fraternity brother. He is expected to name Dale "Kegger" Phillips to the post on Friday.
posted by DrMax at 10:43 PM 3 comments
Olbermann on Katrina Fallout
Busy day today. But here is a great article by MSNBC's Keith Olbermann host of Countdown about the Katrina disaster and our response. Very well written, puts the Doctor's posts to shame:
The "city" of Louisiana (Keith Olbermann)
SECAUCUS — Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said it all, starting his news briefing Saturday afternoon: "Louisiana is a city that is largely underwater..."
Well there's your problem right there.
If ever a slip-of-the-tongue defined a government's response to a crisis, this was it.
The seeming definition of our time and our leaders had been their insistence on slashing federal budgets for projects that might've saved New Orleans. The seeming characterization of our government that it was on vacation when the city was lost, and could barely tear itself away from commemorating V.J. Day and watching Monty Python's Flying Circus, to at least pretend to get back to work. The seeming identification of these hapless bureaucrats: their pathetic use of the future tense in terms of relief they could've brought last Monday and Tuesday — like the President, whose statements have looked like they're being transmitted to us by some kind of four-day tape-delay.
But no. The incompetence and the ludicrous prioritization will forever be symbolized by one gaffe by of the head of what is ironically called "The Department of Homeland Security": "Louisiana is a city…"
Politician after politician — Republican and Democrat alike — has paraded before us, unwilling or unable to shut off the "I-Me" switch in their heads, condescendingly telling us about how moved they were or how devastated they were — congenitally incapable of telling the difference between the destruction of a city and the opening of a supermarket.
And as that sorry recital of self-absorption dragged on, I have resisted editorial comment. The focus needed to be on the efforts to save the stranded — even the internet's meager powers were correctly devoted to telling the stories of the twin disasters, natural... and government-made.
But now, at least, it is has stopped getting exponentially worse in Mississippi and Alabama and New Orleans and Louisiana (the state, not the city). And, having given our leaders what we know now is the week or so they need to get their act together, that period of editorial silence I mentioned, should come to an end.
No one is suggesting that mayors or governors in the afflicted areas, nor the federal government, should be able to stop hurricanes. Lord knows, no one is suggesting that we should ever prioritize levee improvement for a below-sea-level city, ahead of $454 million worth of trophy bridges for the politicians of Alaska.
But, nationally, these are leaders who won re-election last year largely by portraying their opponents as incapable of keeping the country safe. These are leaders who regularly pressure the news media in this country to report the reopening of a school or a power station in Iraq, and defies its citizens not to stand up and cheer. Yet they couldn't even keep one school or power station from being devastated by infrastructure collapse in New Orleans — even though the government had heard all the "chatter" from the scientists and city planners and hurricane centers and some group whose purposes the government couldn't quite discern... a group called The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
And most chillingly of all, this is the Law and Order and Terror government. It promised protection — or at least amelioration — against all threats: conventional, radiological, or biological.
It has just proved that it cannot save its citizens from a biological weapon called standing water.
Mr. Bush has now twice insisted that, "we are not satisfied," with the response to the manifold tragedies along the Gulf Coast. I wonder which "we" he thinks he's speaking for on this point. Perhaps it's the administration, although we still don't know where some of them are. Anybody seen the Vice President lately? The man whose message this time last year was, 'I'll Protect You, The Other Guy Will Let You Die'?
I don't know which 'we' Mr. Bush meant.
For many of this country's citizens, the mantra has been — as we were taught in Social Studies it should always be — whether or not I voted for this President — he is still my President. I suspect anybody who had to give him that benefit of the doubt stopped doing so last week. I suspect a lot of his supporters, looking ahead to '08, are wondering how they can distance themselves from the two words which will define his government — our government — "New Orleans."
For him, it is a shame — in all senses of the word. A few changes of pronouns in there, and he might not have looked so much like a 21st Century Marie Antoinette. All that was needed was just a quick "I'm not satisfied with my government's response." Instead of hiding behind phrases like "no one could have foreseen," had he only remembered Winston Churchill's quote from the 1930's. "The responsibility," of government, Churchill told the British Parliament "for the public safety is absolute and requires no mandate. It is in fact, the prime object for which governments come into existence."
In forgetting that, the current administration did not merely damage itself — it damaged our confidence in our ability to rely on whoever is in the White House.
As we emphasized to you here all last week, the realities of the region are such that New Orleans is going to be largely uninhabitable for a lot longer than anybody is yet willing to recognize. Lord knows when the last body will be found, or the last artifact of the levee break, dug up. Could be next March. Could be 2100. By then, in the muck and toxic mire of New Orleans, they may even find our government's credibility.
Somewhere, in the City of Louisiana.
posted by DrMax at 11:48 AM 6 comments
Why Local and State Officials....Why?
From the Desk of Karl Rove-Copy for Ads Designed to Shift Blame for Katrina Disaster to Local and State Officials. For Republican Party Members Eyes Only!
Male Announcer: President George W. Bush has faced many enemies in his Presidency...
Female Announcer: (With Echo Effects) Osama bin Laden....Saddam Hussain...John Kerry...
Male Announcer: But after Hurricane Katrina made landfall he faced perhaps his most insidious of foes....
Female Announcer: (With Echo Effects) ..local and state officials from the Gulf States......
Male Announcer: As our President bravely continued his vacation, played golf and strummed a guitar, local and state officials were failing to fully inform him of the dire conditions caused by the category 4 Katrina. Many of them knew the President didn't have the Weather Channel in his Comcast package at the ranch. Ignoring protocol, these officials failed to file the proper A4H-B preliminary aid request form with a 2k94-h2d supplemental addendum for the purposes exclusive to requesting military and or guard assistance! And our fellow citizens paid the price!
(Shots of the victims on roofs and at Superdome with pictures of local mayors and governors superimposed. NOTE: Do not include Barbour)
Female Announcer: As the hours passed local and state officials, using the lame excuse that they were on the ground dealing with multiple crises, still had not given properly notarized documents to the correct liaison officer contact for the Mid-South emergency FEMA district 21B nor the SouthEast Homeland Security Zone D6 crisis manger or subdivision head. And the flood waters rolled.
(Shots of victims wading through water, with text : Where were you local and state officials?)
Male Announcer: As local and state officials ignored the chaos on their streets President Bush knew it was time to act! He called off his vacation! He then valiantly flew over the stricken area...
President Bush: (Filmed on Air Force One) Golly.....they look like ants from up here. Very very wet ants. You get the photo? Good! What's the in-flight movie today?
Female Announcer: While local and state officials stood by as their citizens went without food or water for days, the President courageously waited for the proper forms and requests, why wouldn't they come? Why local and state officials?
Male Announcer: At last the delayed requests arrived. And although it was clear the officials didn't press hard enough with their pens on some of forms to create a clear triplicate copy, the President swung into action anyway! A mere four days after the hurricane, President Bush arrived on the scene, to bring badly needed supplies that made for a great visual. Isn't it time we question local and state officials about their poor filing skills? Well, unless their Republicans.
Female Announcer: In this mid-term election season, support the Republican candidate that supports President Bush, a leader in time of crisis! As long as you have the proper paperwork filled out!
President Explains Iraq Policy to Hurricane Victim
President Bush: Hey there fella, let me shake your hand. It's good of you to help out these folks today!"
Hurricane Victim: Well actually Mr. President, this was my house, I was trying to see if I could salvage anything.
President Bush: Oh, you're not one of them construction guys? I like them construction guys, we get along, I speak their language. Great photo op too, I josh with them and put my arm around 'em, and make sure the White House photographer gets a snap or two. Did you see me with my arm around the fire guy in New York?
Hurricane Victim: Uhh..yeah. Say, what took you so long to show up here?
President Bush: Wanted to show up earlier, but my vacation wasn't over yet. I talked with H.R., they said it was a "use them or lose them" situation with my personal hours.
Hurricane Victim: You know Mr. President, maybe if we didn't have so many troops in Iraq, we could have gotten some help sooner. People are dying here sir.
President Bush: God damn it! See? I told McClellan it was a mistake not to prescreen the area for victims who voted for me! Jesus Christ, I might as well have gone down to the Superdome. So you're one of those "Sheehan" type folks huh?
Hurricane Victim: Well, I'm not sure what good our Guardsmen are doing over there if we haven't found any of those WMD's you went on and on about. They really would have been much more useful here this week and...
President Bush: Now look son, it's simple. I'm gonna talk real slow, over enunciate and laugh inappropriately, like a do at press conferences when I'm trying to defend some nonsensical policy that only exists to appeal to my base. We...are...fighting..them..(heh heh)..over...there so..(heh heh)...we..DOOOWNNNT..have..to..(heh heh)..fight them..over...HEEEERRREEE.
Hurricane Victim: But Mr. President, we've just seen untold destruction in three states, we have disruption of vital economic services, and worst of all, an unbearable amount of casualties!
President Bush: Exactly right! And thanks to me, it wasn't caused by a terrorist attack!
Hurricane Victim: But this was worse than a terrorist attack! Because you concentrated all your energies trying to defend us from an imaginary threat, you ignored what everybody in your government knew was an actual danger!!!
President Bush: You victims are always so emotional. Look, this type of disaster is biblilogical! This was God's will! God loves us, He sent his only Son down here to die on a cross for our sins. And for some reason, last Monday, He also decided to send a us a category 4 hurricane. His ways may be unknowable, but He is NOT a terrorist!
Hurricane Victim: Excuse me Mr. President, you do realize that makes no sense, right?
President Bush: After 9/11 my task became clear, to spread LIB-BER-TY throughout the world. To chase after the enemies that would do our nation harm, well maybe not quite as much harm as Katrina, but some pretty bad dang stuff! Of course, I could have chased after the man responsible, Osama bin Laden, but what oil did he have? No I knew it had to be Saddam, that guy tried to kill my Daddy, did you know that? Upgraded our Homeland Security Agency so it would perform well in a national emergency, funneled infrastructure money into it so it would snap into action when needed.....
Hurricane Victim: Mr. President, are you OK sir? Maybe you need to get some shade.
President Bush: ... and I showed Daddy a thing or two. I heard what they were saying behind his back, that he was a chicken for not going after Saddam, but that wasn't going to happen to George W, no sirree! I'd show them all! I wasn't going to let the prospect of getting involved in a quagmire or civil war scare me, I'm tough! So I didn't officially finish my National Guard service, Iraq would make up for that! Privatize Social Security, privatize Social Security....
Hurricane Victim: Hey, Secret Service guys, the President needs some help here!
President Bush: Ah, but the strawberries! That's, that's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes, but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt, and with, with geometric logic, that, that a duplicate key to the wardroom icebox did exist....
Secret Service Agent: Yes sir, the strawberries, right sir. Let's get back to the helicopter now.
President Bush: Maybe I should go to Crawford for a few days. I like it there, no corpses in the water.
Desperate for Federal aid, Gulf States Threaten to Remove Feeding Tubes, Perform Abortions and Remove Ten Commandment Monuments.
In an act of desperation, officials from hurricane damaged Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, today threatened to remove feeding tubes from brain dead patients, perform late term abortions and remove Ten Commandment monuments from their courthouses, in an attempt to get the attention of the Bush White House and Republican controlled congress. It is hoped the threats will encourage the government to provide Federal assistance
"We can't seem to get them to help through the normal channels," said Wayne Busbee, a state senator from Mississippi. "But then we remembered how President Bush flew into Washington to help that poor Terry Schiavo woman and we figured what the hell, let's tell them we're removing a bunch of feeding tubes! Now, we wouldn't actually take anyone off life support. Hell, any of those patients that weren't evacuated would be dead now anyway what with lack of electricity, water and food. And, if you promise not to tell the White House this, our Ten Commandments monument got blown to who knows where at the height of the storm. So we kinda take it as a sign from God to use it as leverage to get some help down here."
"I swear, we got six young ladies here who want us to remove their fetuses," said New Orleans parish official Landers Dupree. "I'm totally serious and not making it up, we are going to perform abortions on all of them! Unless we're too busy being evacuated from the city, that is. Would you make sure Bush and his fundamentalist friends know that! Now I'm guessing that being rescued could convince the girls to go full term, that's really up to the President. Also tell him we don't really have an operating table to use for the abortions either so we've been thinking of using the Ten Commandments monument from the courthouse! Which, of course, he could stop us from doing by getting us out of this living hell. So, in summation, Bush rescues us, they go full term. If nothing happens, it's abortions away!"
Alabama councilman, Jerry Waxdale said he could top the other states. "We got us a pregnant woman who Katrina impaled on a Ten Commandments monument and is now brain dead," said Waxdale. "Honest , this is really for real, you ask anyone around here, they've seen her! This woman is kinda like a triple threat! So, we had better see some tents, some water trucks, food and at least one God damn FEMA official here by noon tomorrow or it ain't gonna be pretty for this woman! And she is not someone I just made up out of whole cloth to get their attention in Washington DC. Nope, she is an actual real person! I'm just sayin."
Donate, As You Enjoy the Mellow Accoustic Sounds of Our Own Commander in Chief
Hey folks, Dr. Max here. This is probably not the best time for me to be posting. I just got done watching the Homeland Security Chief Chertoff's news conference about the Katrina-Gulf States Disaster and I am ticked. Hey, I'm glad all the agencies are ready to help (which they took great pains to congratulate themselves for) and I understand the almost impossible task that lies ahead of them, but isn't this about three days too late? Seriously, look at my post from early Monday morning. If anyone wanted to ask, I could have told them what would happen in New Orleans if the levees failed, and I am not that bright. What were all these officials doing then? I think the President was so concerned he went to California and strummed a guitar. Shouldn't some local or national official have started this process on Sunday? They even had most of Monday to mobilize, but everybody apparently thought New Orleans lucked out. It's physics folks, water goes to the lowest point, it's part of the reality based world. Please, do pray for everyone's welfare, but let's get some levee support and evacuation plans ready to go BEFORE the hurricane hits.
Ahh enough! Now is not the time for griping, only the people in the gulf states have a true right to complain. Here's what we can do to help, give some money! Below are a list of organizations that will accept all the cash you can give. And remember, check with your employer, a lot of companies set up matching programs during times of disaster, maybe your company does as well. If not, suggest that they do. Let's come together and give. It's possible we've lost multiple American cities here folks, it goes beyond our fears of what terrorists could do. So let's show unprecedented compassion.
This is a list of charities culled from Daily Kos
I am going to let this post linger a few days. The good folks down south can use every penny and this isn't the best time for laughs. Take care everybody.
Update: In checking the links it looks like some of them, particularly the American Red Cross are extremely busy. Be patient, it's a pain to wait, but at least you still have a house to wait in.
Update 2: If you would rather call.....from USA Today:
FEMA listed the following agencies as needing cash to assist hurricane victims:
• American Red Cross, 800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English, 800-257-7575 Spanish.
• America's Second Harvest, 800-344-8070.
• Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171.
• Catholic Charities, USA, 703-549-1390.
• Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554.
• Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818.
• Church World Service, 800-297-1516.
• Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998.
• Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522.
• Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210.
• Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886.
• Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283.
• Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).
• Southern Baptist Convention — Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, ext. 6440.
• United Methodist Committee on Relief. 800-554-8583.
A Morning After Election Note from Uncle Karl
An Election Eve Note from Uncle Karl
The Hal Smart-Ass 9000
President Bush Meets with Bloated Corpse to Discus...
And Now, David Addison for the Consti-2-Shun Docum...
President Bush Says Foiled Terrorist Attack Leaves...
Conservative Talk Show Host Spontaneously Combusts...
Again With The Super Balls
The Washington State Supreme Court is So Gay
Super Ball Healing
Prescribed Links
Dr. Max and Mombo
Call Me Snake
It All Comes Back To The Simpsons
Things I Wonder About
Flubberwinkle
Angry Chimp
Hattie's Blog
Scriptoids
Fallenmonk
DC Media Girl
Kevin Smith's My Boring-Ass Life
MacHeadCase/MHC-in-the-box
MacSurfer's Headline News


Redruth boss Steve Larkins says the club's away results have 'turned the corner' after beating Clifton 10-7 in National Two South.
The victory was the Reds' fourth away win of the current campaign, beating the total of victories they got on the road in the whole of last season.
"Over the years we've always struggled away from home," Larkins said.
"This year we've definitely turned the corner, we've tried to keep things very similar in our build up to away games."
"I think this year some of our best performances have been away from the Rec, which is unheard of in terms of Redruth," Larkins told BBC Radio Cornwall.
The victory saw Redruth leapfrog Clifton and move into fifth place in the National Two South table.


When most people hear the term "music festival," they might initially think of musicians, but in their subconscious minds, drug culture consumes their thought. Music festivals, concerts and raves, are filled with illegal substances and illicit drugs. The question is, why do people feel the need to be on drugs at concerts?
The reason for so much illegal activity at festivals/concerts may have to do with peer pressure and looking cool. Perhaps the reason for using them is just pure enjoyment. Although concert culture usually involves drugs, they are still illegal, and can lead to unfavorable consequences.
As it seems, the WJ community isn't into taking "hard" drugs (acid, LSD, etc.) like a lot of people who go to concerts do.
Q: Why do you do drugs at concerts?
Q: What drugs do you partake in when at concerts?
Q: Do you engage in drugs at concerts?
Q: Would you go to a concert sober?


Very interesting! How do the established Epic players feel about the change of scale?
From what I've picked up around me on various forums people either think this is the end of Epic (as in the fan scene) or it will become a total revival. I'm a bit in doubt as to which it'll be. I guess 8mm Space Marines would make fine 'true scale' marines next to 6-7mm infantry. Titans and vehicles would be more accurately sized since in Epic the scales have always been off.
It's a smart move by GW, since they've basically turned a whole lot of third parties who've been producing proxies redundant. I can see their Age of Sigmar stuff (which is slightly larger than normal 28mm scaled models) being a step into a similar direction.
Luckily enough the stuff I've been doing for Vanguard Miniatures is slightly larger than the usual 6mm scaled stuff, meaning it might be compatible with GW/FW's upcoming 8mm range.
On the other hand, it'll all depend on how much attention/dedication GW/FW will give to this new range. If they'll end up ditching it in 2-3 years (which is a big possibility) the impact on the Epic community might not be that big at all.
I feel it'll be unlikely to have a serious impact on Epic. The tournament scene in the UK and Australia is well established and I doubt many long time players will want to buy new armies. Beyond that, GW was already pushing 7-8mm on the characters prior to discontinuing Epic and the fan sculpt "true scale" titans are the size of the new GW titans if my calculations are correct.
We also aren't talking about a relaunch of epic, just Titanicus. It'll be a stand alone box set not unlike Space Hulk or the others they've been putting out the last few years and very limited probability of an expansion.
Yeah GW has always had a very rubbery scale, so I figured it would actually probably be better to have the larger titans and vehicles.
Good point about it just being a Titanicus relaunch. With that in mind I can see how it will either have very impact on Epic players other than perhaps providing some cool new titan models.


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Barr Beacon SCITT » BBSCITT – Ofsted Outstanding!
Barr Beacon SCITT is celebrating an 'Outstanding' judgement from Ofsted having received the highest possible judgements in all four areas: quality of training, quality of leadership, outcomes for trainees and overall effectiveness.
Ofsted were particularly impressed with the strength of the training partnership, which includes schools across the Midlands. Ofsted were able to see "a genuine partnership with schools who contribute to the strategic direction of the SCITT, training and recruitment." The current SCITT partnership consists of: Barr Beacon School, Brownhills School, Bloxwich Academy, Codsall Community School, Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School, Elmwood School, Etone College, Grace Academy in Darlaston, and Ormiston Shelfield Academy.


text:
Culex reevesi är en tvåvingeart som beskrevs av Wirth 1948. Culex reevesi ingår i släktet Culex och familjen stickmyggor. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Stickmyggor
reevesi

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
package com.github.al.roulette.player.impl

import com.github.al.json.JsonFormats._
import play.api.libs.json.{Format, Json}

case class PlayerState(playerName: String, accessTokens: List[String] = Nil)

object PlayerState {
  implicit val format: Format[PlayerState] = Json.format
}


text:
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 Review
By Jim Fisher
Very small and light.
Excellent center sharpness.
Classic 40mm-equivalent field of view.
No aperture ring.
Lacks optical stabilization and weather sealing.
Focus hunts in AF-C.
The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 is a tiny prime lens for Fuji X cameras. It's very sharp in the center, but edge performance isn't the greatest.
Fans of compact prime lenses are sure to be excited by the Fujifilm Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 ($449.95). The slim lens is compatible with Fuji's X mirrorless system, making some of the smaller cameras available almost pocketable. It doesn't have an aperture ring, which will turn off some Fuji owners, but delivers strong image quality in a small package. It's a good lens, though not quite as good as the slightly larger XF 23mm F2 R WR, which is brighter and includes protection from dust and splashes for the same price.
Let's talk about size—it's the XF 27mm's ($449.00 at Amazon) biggest draw. The lens measures 2.4 by 0.9 inches (HD) and weighs just 2.8 ounces. It almost feels like nothing when attached to your camera, and I was able to slide an X-E3 into the pocket of my winter coat with ease with the lens attached. There's no hood, although you can use 39mm front filters if desired. You can get it in black or silver.
The angle of view is about 40mm, in full-frame terms, when paired with an APS-C camera. It's a little wider than what you think of as standard angle, but not quite as wide as a 35mm or 28mm-equivalent prime. I like it as a focal length; I often struggle composing shots with a 35mm-equivalent lens, but find things to be a bit more natural with the 40mm frame. Your mileage may vary, of course.
Best for Low Light
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm F2 R WR
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 23mm F1.4 R
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18mm F2 R
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R APD
$1,499.95 at Adorama
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 90mm F2 R LM WR
Fujifilm Fujinon XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS II
Best for Standard Zoom
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS
$899.00 at Adorama
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
Best for Distant Subjects
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR
Fujifilm Fujinon XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS II
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
Carl Zeiss Touit 2.8/12
You don't get a physical aperture ring, a rarity for the Fujifilm system. Instead you'll need to change the f-stop using the camera body controls. Some older models may require a firmware update to make this work, but newer cameras will have no problem recognizing and controlling the lens. Optical stabilization is also omitted, but that's not surprising—it's something you don't typically find on lenses of this type.
There's also no weather sealing, which is included on the 23mm F2. If you use a body without seals this isn't a concern, but if you have an X-Pro2 or X-T2, be careful not to use it in rough weather with the 27mm attached.
The 27mm focuses as close as 13.4 inches (0.34m), which is a bit limiting. Pancake designs often omit close focus capability, and the 27mm's meager 1:10 magnification ratio doesn't buck that trend. I found myself having to back up to get shots from time to time. It's one of the prices you pay for the design; the XF 23mm F2 gets you just a little bit closer to subjects, focusing to 8.7 inches for 1:7.7 magnification.
I found autofocus speed to be quite good when shooting with the X-E3. The 27mm locked onto a focus target quickly and reliably, in about 0.1-second. But it's only good for use in AF-S mode. Switching to continuous (AF-C) focus caused the lens to hunt back and forth eratically, delivering generally unreliable performance. AF-C is more often used for telephoto shooting, so this wasn't a big deal in practical terms, but it's something to be aware of. If you like to track moving subjects, use a different lens.
I paired the 27mm wiht the 24MP X-E3 ($699.00 at Amazon) to see how it performs. Imatest's standard center-weighted sharpness test show that it does well, notching 2,659 lines per picture height at f/2.8, with strong performance right up to the edges of the frame. It's not as sharp as the 23mm F2 at f/2.8 (3,104 lines), but the 27mm is still in the very good range of quality wide open.
See How We Test Digital Cameras
At f/4 the resolution improves (2,904 lines), and it peaks at f/5.6 (3,218 lines) and f/8 (3,277 lines), both excellent results. There's a slight drop at f/11 (3,008 lines), and a more noticeable one at f/16 (2,562 lines).
Distortion is controlled, there's only 0.8 percent visible, which is negligible in the real world. Likewise, corner illumination is strong. The lens doesn't cast a noticeable vignette, even shot wide open the corners lag behind the center by just 0.9EV.
The XF 27mm F2.8 doesn't have a sexy f/2 or f/1.4 maximum aperture, but its slim design is unmatched by other lenses available for the Fujifilm X system. It delivers sharp results, right up to the edge of the frame, and when stopped down can go toe to toe with the sharpest lenses available for the system. It's not without some issues—it doesn't focus that close, and you don't want to use it with tracking focus enabled. If you're willing to live with those compromises, you'll appreciate its size. We rate another small, although not pancake, lens higher—the XF 23mm F2 R WR ($449.00 at Amazon) captures twice the light at its widest setting, is sharper at f/2.8, and includes an aperture ring and protection from dust and splashes, all for the same price.
Our Best Lens Picks
The Best Fujifilm Lenses for 2020
The Best Leica M Lenses for 2020
The Best Micro Four Thirds Lenses for 2020
The Best Pentax SLR Lenses for 2020
More Lens Reviews
More from Fujifilm
Lens Product Comparisons
Nikon D7100 vs. Nikon D7200
Nikon D500 vs. Nikon D750
Sony Alpha 5100 vs. Sony Alpha 6000
Canon EOS 6D vs. Canon EOS 5D Mark III
The Best Sony Mirrorless Lenses for 2020
The Best Nikon Lenses for 2020
The Best Canon Lenses for 2020
Oops! $13K Camera Lens Sells for $95 Due to Prime Day Error
Fujifilm Announces XF 16-80mm and GF 50mm Lenses
About Jim Fisher
Senior digital camera analyst for the PCMag consumer electronics reviews team, Jim Fisher is a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he concentrated on documentary video production. Jim's interest in photography really took off when he borrowed his father's Hasselblad 500C and light meter in 2007. He honed his writing skills at retailer B&H Photo, where he wrote thousands upon thousands of product descriptions, blog posts, and reviews. Since then he's shot with hundreds of camera models, ranging from pocket point-and-shoots to medium format digital cameras. And he's reviewed almost all of them. When he's not testing cameras and gear for PCMag, he's likely out and about shooting with one of his favorite vintage film cameras, which include the Hasselblad, a Rolleiflex Automat, and a Leica M3. In his spare time, Jim posts his own photos to his blog, daguerreotyping, where he also writes a bit about antique cameras and film. His father never did get that Hasselblad back.
Read the latest from Jim Fisher
Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S Review
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Review
RNI All Films 5 Professional Review
DJI Mavic Mini Review
More from Jim Fisher


Briefly, on November 26, 2018, CMS released proposed new rules that would somewhat raise competitive pricing pressure among Part D plans, and shift some existing policies such as those surrounding protected drug classes like HIV drugs.
Trade press on new Part D policy here.
Part D already handles protected drug classes economically, here. (Study by Avalere).
However, DOJ continues to act against Part D suppliers for illegal patient supports and rebates, here, here. $360M settlement regarding Tracleer and other oral drugs.
CMS announcement on new Part D policy here.
Proposed rule in full, here.
Comment open to January 25, 2019.
Final rulemaking in spring 2019 for CY2020.
Rules apply to direct Part D plans as well as the many beneficiaries who get "Part D" benefits through Part C - Medicare Advantage.
For separate Part C rules for physician-administered drugs (aka Part B drugs) under step therapy see HHS proposals in August 2018, here.
Recall that on October 25, President Trump gave a press conference in person at HHS discussing potential, and more speculative, possible future changes to Medicare Part B drug pricing such as indexing US Medicare prices to European prices; entry point here.
The proposed rule, like the October announcement, are keyed back to the May 2018 "Trump Administration Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices." Here, here, here.


How do you want this year to be written into your company history?
When business is good, it is easy to get caught up in the daily "busy work"; to tackle what is directly in front of you. However, nothing good lasts forever. There will always be bumps, twists and turns and potholes to avoid (at least in the winter, where I live). The responsibility to make this the best year ever, in your company history, is 99% in your hands. Yes, I am well aware of economic issues, currency fluctuations and countless other factors that threaten your business. I would ask you a few simple questions: (1) How much market share do you currently have in your territory? would you like to have more? (2) How often do you sell upgrades or additional products to your existing customer base? If you are satisfied with the answers you provided to each of these questions, then you are likely on the right track. If not, let's explore some ways to improve in these two important areas and maybe a couple others.
– What new homes are being built in your area? Have you driven around to look for new opportunities? Stop by and introduce yourself to the builder. Create a simple flyer to put in mailboxes. I just spoke with a dealer last week, who turned a cold call, at a new construction site, into a 5 year and $5,000,000 business engagement; one customer with multiple homes around the world.
– Get your name out there: Do you have some thoughts on technology that may be interesting to members of the community? Contact your local paper and ask if you can contribute some occasional articles on technology. I was booted out of English composition class in High School, but look at me nowJ Thankfully I have a great editor to work with, who makes me look way smarter than I am.
– Embrace social media and hire a professional (or a skilled teenager) to manage your social media efforts for you.
– Far and away #1: Provide the best possible customer service experience to your customers! Look at some of the companies that are rocking now: Apple, Amazon, Starbucks. If you want to succeed, long term in this era, you absolutely must get the customer service thing right …. or pack up your toys and go home!
– Stay in contact with your customers. Create and email blast campaign with MailChimp, Constant Contact or a similar solution. They are very easy to set up and use and are often free or very cheap. Make the content simple, short and interesting to your customers. Try a 5-7 bullet email newsletter, once a month or every quarter with some info on the latest technology and maybe a call to action with a limited time, special offer.
– Check in with your customers on occasion to see how everything is working. I would reserve the first Wednesday of every month to contact every customer we completed a project for, during the previous month.
– Encourage your customers to follow you on social media and make your posts fun and interesting for them to receive.
O: Opportunities exist outside of your customer base – go find them!
– Create a spiff plan for some of your customers: Give them a gift certificate to a great restaurant, an iTunes gift card or a coupon to your store for referrals.
– How do they remember you? In the past, I gave out a custom-made popcorn bowl with my company name on it; loaded with movie candy and popcorn to every customer. The net cost for this gift was roughly $40.00; pretty cheap advertising.
W: Widen your business with existing customers.
– Have you fully embraced enterprise grade networking solutions and added them as a key product category in your business and an essential element in your proposals?
– Have you considered adding device monitoring and supervision or service contracts to your proposals. This is one of the hottest categories in CE now, and many dealers are having great success and higher customer satisfaction by making this a standard part of their business.
– Outdoor Installations: Don't forget the great outdoors. Many families spend a large amount of their time outdoors. The Audio and Video entertainment outdoors can often be over looked or served by less adequate systems than the consumer may desire, given the family time invested in the area.
Best wishes for great success with your business this year, I hope it is your best ever!
BIG is a full-service sales and marketing representative and consulting firm dedicated to providing unmatched brand development and global expansion support to our customers in the consumer electronics industry. The company's goal is simple: deliver exceptional value by exceeding our clients' expectations in every regard.
BIG was founded by Pete Baker, a dynamic global sales and marketing professional with over 25 years of experience successfully maximizing product sales and driving revenue growth in the custom electronics industry.
Mr. Baker has had numerous successful roles in the industry: Founder of a leading Integration Company, Licensed Low Voltage Technician, System Designer, Programmer, Keynote speaker, CEDIA Subject Matter Expert, guest contributor for a dozen different publications worldwide, International Sales Manager for several CE Brands, and VP of sales for a leading Control System Manufacturer.


text:
date: 2011-03-22 18:41:00+00:00
excerpt: via mozilla.com I pretty much use Firefox exclusively, especially on a windows
  machine. The one-two punch of the NoScript and Adblock extensions definitely curbs
  viruses and spyware. So far, I'm liking the new version - the interface is pretty
  sli...
slug: firefox-4-out-today
title: Firefox 4 out today
tags:
- geeky
---

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I pretty much use Firefox exclusively, especially on a windows machine. The one-two punch of the NoScript and Adblock extensions definitely curbs viruses and spyware. So far, I'm liking the new version - the interface is pretty slick, but I'm not seeing massive speed gains. It's certainly not 6x faster as claimed. But, shiny new releases are always good.


MICHR (www.wichir.waw.pl) is a Scientific and Research Center of Polish Ministry of National Defence, established in 1954. Main scope of the activity of the Institute is scientific research and development projects and studies in the field of NBC defense equipment and systems as well as verification of the chemical disarmament processes. The Institute is authorized to issue expertise and opinions as well as certificates for products and technologies related to their specialization, carry out the testing equipment and conduct training activities.
FORMIT (www.formit.org) is a Non-profit Corporate Body recognized by the Italian Minister for Research, established in 1985 and with consultative status granted in 2004 by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Since more than 30 years FORMIT operates with a qualified multidisciplinary team based in Rome, Naples and Brussels.
FORMIT supports, among others, National and Local Public Administrations, the European Commission, the European Committee of the Regions, the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security and the United Nations for the definition of policies and related actions in the Security and Innovation field.
The Institute of Molecular Sciences and Technologies (ISTM-CNR) (http://www.istm.cnr.it) is part of the Italian National Council of Research, the largest public pure and applied scientific research agency in Italy, with 103 Institutes spread across the Country and overseas.
- Theoretical and Experimental Modelling of Molecular and Nanostructured Systems.
- Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Precursors and Functional Molecules.
- Development and application of new Green and Sustainable technologies for chemical industry, materials science, telecommunications, and safeguard of cultural heritage.
The Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (MIHE - www.wihe.waw.pl) is a unique research and development institution in Poland whose mission is to conduct research, prophylaxis, surveillance, and training associated with medical protection and countermeasures against the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents. As a scientific and advisory entity for the protection and defense against WMD MIHE closely collaborates with national and international state and NGO institutions.
The Fondazione Alessandro Volta – Landau Network office (FAV) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization operating as a global network of international experts supporting global security, disarmament, and cooperation. It has a twenty-plus years history that started at the Alessandro Volta Centre of Scientific Culture and evolved in the Alessandro Volta Foundation in 2014. Its programmes include research on international CBRN safety and security risk mitigation; scientific and technologic cooperation for global peace support and international security; disarmament and nonproliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction; and water and energy security.
The FAV has been involved in the issue of biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear proliferation and security risk mitigation since 1997.


Already have a mePed V1 or other quadruped robot kit and need an Arduino Nano shield to break out the servo and sensor connections? This board is for you!
Multiple other I/O pins of the Arduino Nano have also been broken out into a convenient Pin Header as well.