Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Ray Sefo is not just the president of World Series of Fighting, he?s also a fighter

The World Series of Fighting makes its debut on Saturday night, with headliners Andrei Arlovski and Devin Cole in the main event. But while they prep for the weekend's bouts that will air on NBC Sports Network, they also are thinking ahead to the next fights.

Ray Sefo, a kickboxing legend and the president of WSOF, is considering putting himself on the card.

"Absolutely," he joked while in studio with MMAjunkie.com Radio "It's my promotion."

Sefo said it became much more likely after he fielded offers to fight in New Year's Eve in Japan, as well as in March in Australia. While Sefo's WSOF partners weren't initially keen on the idea, the outside offers changed their minds.

"I think they're realizing if I'm still very active, why not have it in their own league," he said. "We just talked about it [four] days ago, and they were like, 'We should talk about that.'"

Sefo is a true veteran of combat sports. Though he is known for his kickboxing, he has also tried boxing and MMA. He worked at Xtreme Couture for years, helping several fighters shore up their striking. It was Sefo who helped Randy Couture prepare for his bout with boxer James Toney.

And now, it might be Sefo who could be a fighter and promoter for the same show. Do you think this is a good idea? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ray-sefo-not-just-president-world-series-fighting-174708187--mma.html

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Picture Book Den: How To Talk To Children About Death by Hilary ...

Caroline?s last hours in the hospice were peaceful for her but they were painful for us.? ?When the phone call finally came that she had died, despite the inevitability, the emotion was overwhelming.??


Caroline had battled breast cancer for seven years before dying at the age of 39. ?In the days that followed I thought a lot about her parents, and husband, but I thought also about the children in our families as well as the children at the school where she?d been a much-loved teacher.? ?To help my young daughters through their grief I encouraged them to think about the legacies their Aunt had left in terms of what she had shared, taught and imparted and in what was probably an effort to exorcise the grief, I then wrote a story about a teacher who dies.? The Copper Tree?developed into a?story of a small group of young school children who are encouraged to prepare for, and come to terms with, the subsequent death of their teacher, Miss Evans. ?At the centre of it all I considered the simple needs of young children, many of whom would be exploring the feelings of grief and loss for the first time.?? I realised that a relationship with a teacher mirrored so many relationships in other areas of our lives ? from parents, family, wider family, friends and even pets.? I wanted the story to be real and accessible and revised core elements of the text after seeking advice from bereaved families, from teachers and bereavement consultants.? ?One mother whose seventeen-year-old son had died from cancer told me that those with terminal illness, quite often ? despite the pain and fear ? remain cheerful.? They see and appreciate the pure beauty of life and find joy in simple pleasures.? ??Justine, a young mother of three children who was dying of breast cancer was critical of the lack of books that featured people as main characters, rather than animals, while teachers advised against using ambiguous language ?- saying to a young child we have "lost" someone can lead them to believe that we may find them again and when a friend was told, as a young girl, that her grandmother had died of a stroke, she became then fearful of stroking the cat. ??I also avoided whimsical notions of heave, leaving parents, teachers and carers free to consider those elements in their own respective and personal ways. Dr Paul Fitzpatrick, an expert in bereavement counselling from Cardiff University, explained that ?continuing bonds theory? is now considered by many to be an integral part of helping those who grieve.? Recognising and celebrating the legacies of those who have died is considered far more effective than ignoring, as previous generations have done, the fact that someone had ever existed and this was borne out when our local hospice, St Gemmas, established a Tree Of Life on to which bereaved relatives could hang copper leaves inscribed with the name of a loved one who had died.
So with all this is mind The Copper Tree took shape and in the story?the children are gently taken through the difficult process.? There are light hearted moments and moments of poignancy ? just as in life - and following a period of reflection after the death of Miss Evans, they are encouraged to think about all that their teacher has shared with them - or taught them.? ?These memories are then inscribed on to copper leaves and fixed on to a copper tree as a reminder of her lasting legacy.

We cherish our memories of Caroline and we are proud of the legacies she has left.? The Copper Tree, may not have happened had it not been for her and that, in itself, remains a lasting legacy to her.? We recognise also that, while at times the emotional pain has been difficult to bear, we have, as Caroline did in the end, found some measure of peace.


_____________________________________________________

The Copper Tree?by Hilary Robinson,?
illustrated by Mandy Stanley

Source: http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-talk-to-children-about-death-by.html

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Mars like Hawaii? NASA rover's first soil studies help fingerprint Martian minerals

ScienceDaily (Oct. 30, 2012) ? NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has completed initial experiments showing the mineralogy of Martian soil is similar to weathered basaltic soils of volcanic origin in Hawaii.

The minerals were identified in the first sample of Martian soil ingested recently by the rover. Curiosity used its Chemistry and Mineralogy instrument (CheMin) to obtain the results, which are filling gaps and adding confidence to earlier estimates of the mineralogical makeup of the dust and fine soil widespread on the Red Planet.

"We had many previous inferences and discussions about the mineralogy of Martian soil," said David Blake of NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., who is the principal investigator for CheMin. "Our quantitative results provide refined and in some cases new identifications of the minerals in this first X-ray diffraction analysis on Mars."

The identification of minerals in rocks and soil is crucial for the mission's goal to assess past environmental conditions. Each mineral records the conditions under which it formed. The chemical composition of a rock provides only ambiguous mineralogical information, as in the textbook example of the minerals diamond and graphite, which have the same chemical composition, but strikingly different structures and properties.

CheMin uses X-ray diffraction, the standard practice for geologists on Earth using much larger laboratory instruments. This method provides more accurate identifications of minerals than any method previously used on Mars. X-ray diffraction reads minerals' internal structure by recording how their crystals distinctively interact with X-rays. Innovations from Ames led to an X-ray diffraction instrument compact enough to fit inside the rover.

These NASA technological advances have resulted in other applications on Earth, including compact and portable X-ray diffraction equipment for oil and gas exploration, analysis of archaeological objects and screening of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, among other uses.

"Our team is elated with these first results from our instrument," said Blake. "They heighten our anticipation for future CheMin analyses in the months and miles ahead for Curiosity."

The specific sample for CheMin's first analysis was soil Curiosity scooped up at a patch of dust and sand that the team named Rocknest. The sample was processed through a sieve to exclude particles larger than 0.006 inch (150 micrometers), roughly the width of a human hair. The sample has at least two components: dust distributed globally in dust storms and fine sand originating more locally. Unlike conglomerate rocks Curiosity investigated a few weeks ago, which are several billion years old and indicative of flowing water, the soil material CheMin has analyzed is more representative of modern processes on Mars.

"Much of Mars is covered with dust, and we had an incomplete understanding of its mineralogy," said David Bish, CheMin co-investigator with Indiana University in Bloomington. "We now know it is mineralogically similar to basaltic material, with significant amounts of feldspar, pyroxene and olivine, which was not unexpected. Roughly half the soil is non-crystalline material, such as volcanic glass or products from weathering of the glass. "

Bish said, "So far, the materials Curiosity has analyzed are consistent with our initial ideas of the deposits in Gale Crater recording a transition through time from a wet to dry environment. The ancient rocks, such as the conglomerates, suggest flowing water, while the minerals in the younger soil are consistent with limited interaction with water."

During the two-year prime mission of the Mars Science Laboratory Project, researchers are using Curiosity's 10 instruments to investigate whether areas in Gale Crater ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, manages the project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, and built Curiosity and CheMin.

For more information about Curiosity and its mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/msl and http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl .

For more information about a commercial application of the CheMin technology, visit: http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/mars-rover-technology-helps-unlock-art-mysteries/ .

You can follow the mission on Facebook and Twitter at: http://www.facebook.com/marscuriosity and http://www.twitter.com/marscuriosity .

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/mZC8nY2oOOc/121030154244.htm

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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

(Digital Agency) ? London - User Experience Professionals ...

Posted on: 29/10/2012
Organisation: Digital Agency
Role description:
SENIOR DIGITAL CREATIVE / CREATIVE DIRECTOR ? (DIGITAL AGENCY) ? LONDON (REF:RH00416A, Closing Date: 25/11/2012)

We are seeking a Senior Digital Creative / Digital Designer to join an exciting agency that work for clients extensively within the creative arts sectors. Heading up all creative output you will brainstorm and drive digital concepts, delivering first class digital designs for high profile / high traffic online campaigns. Read on?

Working with many exciting arts organisations including Borough Market and the London Symphony Orchestra (as well as a host of other vibrant brands) our client, since 2001, has created brilliant, ambitious and innovative websites, mobile apps, email marketing and cloud services for organisations that you can really care about.

Joining as a conceptually minded Senior Digital Designer / Creative Director you will lead the visual and user experience output of the agency. Collaborating with User Experience experts, Project Managers, Techies and other Designers you will be at the heart of the creative process, and, in a unique position to implement your design style across all projects within the agency.

Perhaps your current agency stifles your creativity, or is not providing you with enough room to grow? Either way this opportunity provides you with an agency that will run with your ideas and give your career a step up.

To qualify? You should be a highly creative Digital Designer / Creative Director or similar who can show:

? An exceptional online portfolio.
? A passion for digital.
? Core skills in Photoshop and Illustrator.
? Experience in conceptual web design, scoping websites in a commercial environment from a brief.
? Strong appreciation of UX design including skills in prototyping/wireframing.
? An excellent knowledge of web accessibility and usability principles.
? An understanding of designing for mobile devices and desktops.
? Team leadership skills.
? The ability to evolve ideas ? from creative and backend developers alike.

Helping to build on 11 years of brilliant visual output expect to develop a design direction within a highly creative company on highly creative projects for the coming years ahead. This role really is as big as your ambition ? and you will take a step that could take years in a bigger agency. Get in touch?

Keywords: Senior Designer, Senior Digital Designer, Senior Digital Creative, Creative Director, Digital Creative, Digital Designer, Conceptual Designer, Web Designer, Creative Designer, Designer, Digital Creative Jobs in London, Digital Design Jobs in London, Web Design Jobs in London, Creative Director Jobs in London, Senior Design Jobs in London, Brixton, London, Central London, SW9.

Guru are an employment business renowned for delivering careers networking to the Digital sector. In this instance Guru are managing the selection process for this particular Senior Digital Creative / Creative Director campaign on the behalf of our client. We offer a transparent service to both clients and candidates which means that if you pass our initial filtering criteria (based on your CV suitability against our client?s requirements) we will email you with the client?s details and also pass your complete application to the client for consideration. By applying to this role you are granting consent for us to work in this way. One final note, your application will only be used in conjunction with this specific role.

Location: London
Experience level: Mid-level (3-5 yrs) Senior-level (>5 yrs)
Salary: ?40-60k (DOE)
Role type: Permanent
Posted by: Guru Careers
Email: findajob@gurucareers.com
Phone: 0845 051 0851
Website: http://www.gurucareers.com

Source: http://uxpa-uk.org/jobs/senior-digital-creative-creative-director-digital-agency-london/

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Extra inspectors head to nuclear plants in Sandy's path

The federal government is sending extra inspectors to nine different nuclear power plants in the path of Hurricane Sandy, including Three Mile Island and New York's Indian Point, to make sure the plants are prepared.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the extra inspectors will make sure "plant operators are making the proper preparations." All plants already have two inspectors on site equipped with satellite phones.

In addition to Indian Point, which is north of New York City, and Three Mile Island, the Pennsylvania plant famous for a partial meltdown in 1979, the facilities include the Salem, Hope Creek and Oyster Creek nuclear plants in southern New Jersey; Peach Bottom and Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, Calvert Cliffs in Maryland and Millstone in Connecticut.

"Nuclear power plant procedures require that the facilities be shut down prior to any projected hurricane-force winds on-site," said the NRC.

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The agency noted that the plants have emergency diesel generators are available if off-site power is lost during the storm. "Also, all plants have flood protection above the predicted storm surge," said the NRC, "and key components and systems are housed in watertight buildings capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds and flooding."

The NRC will be monitoring the storm from its Incident Response Center in King of Prussia, Pa., and from the Operations Center at agency's headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, outside Washington. However, its headquarters and Northeast regional office are closed except for emergency personnel.

The Oyster Creek and Salem plants are close to where Sandy is expected to make landfall in Delaware and New Jersey late Monday, but their reactors have already been shut down for maintenance, as has the Susquehanna plant in Pennsylvania.

Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant released radioactivity in March 2011 after an earthquake and tsunami were followed by a meltdown.

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Source: http://gma.yahoo.com/nuke-plants-sandys-path-brace-storm-163332606--abc-news-topstories.html

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The Single Life: The Model Man | Black and Married With Kids.com ...

As I continue my adventures in dating, I met a male model. Not the ?I?m really a waiter by day? model, but the ?I?m signed to an international agency and gracing billboards? model. I was blown away by his sparkling smile, smooth skin, piercing eyes and overall goodness. It took a second to concentrate on the words coming out of his mouth. He, too, focused on outer appearances and gave me countless compliments. When he introduced me to his crew, his cousin commented that if I wasn?t pretty, his model relative would definitely get an earful. I smiled and said that pretty isn?t enough. That you have to have substance under the surface. I remembered a joke my aunt told me. When you?re in your twenties, you date someone for their looks. In your thirties, you look for personality. And in your forties, you want someone who is financially secure. I laughed and said, perhaps there?s a man who is all three! Although the model is more than a pretty face?he?s actually pretty funny on dates?I wondered why women let looks distract them at times. I?ve been guilty of this in my past. No matter your age, a good-looking guy gets away with more dirt than the average Joe. So, I thought of five expectations you should still set when dating gorgeous guys.

1. Don?t be a Beck and Call Chick

Don?t be overly available for a man who won?t fit you into his schedule. For instance, does he want you to fly out for a visit but won?t take you on a date when he?s in your town? Does he take you on fake dates? In other words, when you get together, are other people along for drinks? Does he only ask you out for coffee, because he?s still deciding if he should pay for a real meal? Of course, economic times are tough, but there are tons of fun and free activities to enjoy, like taking a walk in the park or going to the museum. Just don?t drop everything and change your plans, because he happens to call or text (See #3). Good looks aren?t enough to take a 15 hour Megabus trip to see someone!

2. Don?t Negotiate Your Non-Negotiables

I know negotiables isn?t really a word, but hear me out. One of my male friends always gives this advice to women in our circle. If you are adamant against dating someone with children, don?t. Don?t waste someone?s time when you are uninterested in signing for the entire package. Don?t believe the hype. There are lots of Black men without children, so don?t date one with kids if you won?t accept them. Unless they are put up for adoption, they aren?t going anywhere anytime soon. Likewise, if your religious rules are something you won?t bend, don?t go out with someone who never goes to church, or reads the Bible if you?re in the choir, and on several committees. I?m not saying not to be open-minded. But I am saying if you know there are things you absolutely won?t reconsider, don?t change your views for a moment, for a good ?looking guy. Trust me, you won?t change your core over time. My sister made up an analogy once about non-negotiables. If someone gives you a plate with mushrooms, peppers, onions and meatballs but no noodles, you aren?t eating spaghetti.

3. Don?t Text Too Much

As mentioned in previous articles, I?m anti too much technology. I love email, social media and cell phones, but I try to strike a healthy balance between my devices. If a man wants to talk to you, he?ll pick up the phone and call! It?s OK to text a question, or a quick line or two, but when you can?t remember what the guy?s voice sounds like and your fingers are developing callouses, there?s a problem. You shouldn?t hold every conversation with texts, or instant messages. Communication is key!

4. Have Fun!

Not everyone you meet is your husband. But, you have to date to get down the aisle. Well, unless there?s an arranged marriage or divine intervention. So, get in a little practice and interact with the opposite sex. That doesn?t mean you have to have sex! But then again, you?re grown. Don?t let others judge you, because chances are they aren?t living up to the standards they?re setting for your life. Dating is a great way to make new friends, travel and live life to the fullest.

5. Get a Confidence Boost

Back to the model at the beginning of this article. He thought I was sexy BECAUSE I was a mom, compared me to Jane Kennedy and loved the things I am a bit self-conscious of concerning my body. I always had healthy self-esteem and never chased compliments. But nonetheless, knowing that I went out with one of America?s sexiest bachelors (Not just my opinion, was actually written up about him?lol), I felt good. I didn?t date for a year, to heal from a breakup and focus on my new baby girl, so it?s a big boost to my confidence to know I won?t have trouble getting a date in the future!

Take my advice for what it?s worth! My father thinks it?s hilarious that I give relationship advice when I?m single. I tell him that I choose to be single. There?s a difference?lol.


About the author

Not long ago, Heather Hopson was an award-winning television host in the Cayman Islands. Today, she?s writing a different kind of story as a new mom at www.diaryofafirsttimemom.com. The site includes fabulous features, such as Gaga Giveaways, The Mommy Experiment, Mom Minutes and a Video Diary.

?

Source: http://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/2012/10/the-single-life-the-model-man/

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Monday, October 29, 2012

Android 4.2's Photo Sphere camera takes on iPhone's panorama mode

Android 42's Photo Sphere camera takes on iPhone's panorama mode

Android 4.2 is teeming with new features and system improvements, but you can bet that Photo Sphere will be the one that's talked about most amongst consumers. While Android phones on the whole have had panoramic modes for years, Apple's iOS 6 update added even more fuel to that fire. Now, Google's taking things to an entirely new level. With Android 4.2, users can snap pictures in every direction, and the system does the stitching. What you're left with are photos that can be navigated, taking viewers "inside of the scene." Photo Spheres are stored as JPEG files, and all of the information required to view them is embedded as open XML metadata in the image itself. You'll be able to peek 'em on your phone or share them easily through Google+, and perhaps best of all, publish them to Google Maps for the world to see. Head on past the break to see what you've got to look forward to.

Continue reading Android 4.2's Photo Sphere camera takes on iPhone's panorama mode

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Android 4.2's Photo Sphere camera takes on iPhone's panorama mode originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/29/android-photo-sphere-panorama-google/

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Restaurant Review Round-Up: Villa Farotto - Chesterfield, MO Patch

Just like last week's pancakes, Italian food is another fiercely debated dining genre in the greater St. Louis area. It's hard to go wrong with a plate full of pasta and a glass of red wine, so the restaurant review round-up is saying buonasera to Villa Farotto.?

The location is the sister store to the well-known Farotto's and specializes in Tusan-inspired cuisine with signature pastas, chicken dishes, seafood, steaks and chops, and pizza. The restaurant's layout allows for different dining "themes" as well, from full-scale dining to a casual cafe visit.?

(Connect with your community by?signing up for Chesterfield Patch's free daily newsletter,?liking us on Facebook?or contributing your ownevent,?announcement?or?blog.)

Chesterfield Patch?did a round-up of reviews to get a flavor of what people are saying about the Villa Farotto.?Add a review of your own right here on Patch, or put your opinions in the comments in the section below. ??

From Patch:

Ann gave it 5/5 stars and said: "I had a 70th birthday party for my mother at VF. great service, great staff, great food, great atmosphere. It was perfect!"

Kirk Rehkop gave it 2/5 stars and said: "I made 12:30 Mother?s Day reservations approximately 4 ? 6 weeks ago for my fianc?e and mother; neither had been before. My first surprise/disappointment was that brunch was the only thing being served .... My family and I were also not satisfied with the service received, sloppy attire, etc. The food selection, in regard to the variety, was not at all sufficient based on price and lacked quality.?

"The overall experience was something less than subpar and what I thought was going to be a very nice occasion turned out to be something entirely different."

From Yelp:?

Natalie M. gave it 3/5 stars and said:?"The food here is lovely. Really delicate. Even though this restaurant is out in the valley in chain-restaurant hell, they actually serve rational portions and thoughtful food. Their seafood is fresh, and the pasta dishes I've had have always been cooked nicely al dente, not mushy and over-boiled. Their risotto is creamy but not heavy. They seem to have a good handle on serving *nice* Italian food.

"The thing that knocked off the stars, though, was the service. The wait staff are all very nice, and very attentive, but whoever decides how many servers they need per shift is way optimistic. I felt bad for our poor waiter who had so much to handle, he at one point took off sprinting to the back."

Andrew R. gave it 3/5 stars and said: "Positives: ?Great service- best waiter (knowledge food, wine and personality) we have had in a while, 12 oz fillet was cooked perfectly and might have weighed 16oz. ?Mussels app looked great though I did not try it. ?They just don't sit right with me anymore. ?Sea Bass was cooked perfectly, juicy with a hint of lemon.?

"Negatives: ?Calamari was average, ambiance was definitely lacking, second night at a fine dining restaurant in West County that had a band in the bar, prices (place is good for West County, but I don't know if it could really hold up in the city)."

Source: http://chesterfield.patch.com/articles/restaurant-review-round-up-villa-farotto

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Five Nights Straight

No, I haven?t changed orientation, not to worry, or speculate ? in fact, you?ll see that at the end of this post. Originally much of this last week looked devoted to Google. Yes, Google. They were having some sort of international team-building event hosted here in BA for their engineers, apparently an annual happening. Upfront, they contacted us about doing a series of dinners for their attendees, ten at a time. Then it whittled down to two nights, and finally to one. So we opened up the schedule for a trio of public nights, filled quickly, and then got a request for another private event and we filled in another night. The two private events had some restrictions that didn?t fit the now planned public menu, so, it all got a bit fun.

Vegan cocoa mousse tartlet

The Google evening came off, more or less, without a hitch. Perhaps a hiccup ? in that two of the attendees were basically vegan (one vegan although he eats honey, and then when he was at the dinner said that actually ?regular vegetarian? would have been just fine, another vegetarian who doesn?t eat eggs, and a third, as it turned out, who preferred vegan even though he hadn?t let the coordinator know about that). So, we planned a vegan menu with the exception of the main course, for which we had a vegan substitution for the two we knew about. That wasn?t the hiccup, which was that the other attendees hadn?t been told it was going to be a vegan evening other than the one course. But they took it in stride and had a great time.

As all the dishes are ones from our past repertoire I?m not going to post all the photos, etc. ? we started off with the mushroom mini-pizza that we?d done the previous week, just leaving out the little bit of butter in the mushroom filling and making the almond crust without the egg. Then on to a broccoli lemon soup with coins of caramelized broccoli stems, and sans the yogurt; heart of palm fritter using flaxseed egg replacer to hold it together, which is actually the original way I?d created the recipe for one of our vegan classes ? served over an avocado puree; for the main course a moqueca of fish and small shrimp ? the two vegans got a moqueca of eggplant; and, finally, a cocoa mousse tartlet.

Ratatouille Galette
Pappardelle with frying peppers, favas and walnuts

The next night, a group of six friends for a private dinner, the only restriction that one person requested a pescetarian option. We started off with our ratatouille galette; then on to a caldillo de congrio; then fresh semolina pappardelle with a saute of frying peppers, fava beans, walnuts, lemon zest, garlic and rosemary; for the main course our spicy green olive chicken, though with cauliflower mash instead of potato; and, finished up the evening with a bittersweet chocolate ganache tartlet.

Cauliflower gazpacho

On to the main public events of the week, a trio of nights in which the only restrictions were several requests for no seafood ? one whom let us know that her dining companion couldn?t actually be in the same room as seafood without an allergic reaction ? thankfully not scheduled on the same night as either of the two pescetarian requests or we would have had to pick and choose. We started off with a chilled cauliflower soup flavored with mint, garlic and onion and drizzled with sesame and cilantro oils, and garnished with some chopped, toasted cashews.

Heart of Palm Fritter

On to our heart of palm fritter, this time the non-vegan version, so the fritter contains egg and the dressing contains some mayo in place of the tofu.

Spring vegetable risotto

A spring vegetable ? fresh peas, leeks and mushrooms sauteed with smoked paprika ? risotto flavored with roasted garlic and a touch of goat cheese inside, and some shaved sheep?s milk manchego on top.

Glazed chicken with fondant potato and carrot hummus

Chicken thighs glazed in a reduction of fresh orange juice, smoked balsamic vinegar and rosemary. Served with a fondant potato (cooked in veg stock for our pescetarian folk rather than the usual chicken stock), and a spicy hummus sauce with the addition of pureed carrot to the mix. For the pescetarians we did the same with ?steaks? of salm?n blanco.

White Chocolate and Pear Cheesecake

The finishing touch, a white chocolate and pear cheesecake topped a Torront?s caramel and a puree of blackberries with Chinese five-spice and port.

And that was the fun-filled week!

Now, off to the Registro Civil ? Henry and I are making it official this afternoon (not that it wasn?t in our eyes anyway, but after nearly eight years this makes it all legal in the eyes of Argentina). Keeping it completely casual, just a couple of friends as testigos, and then Henry?s off to the university for the afternoon. Not, perhaps, the way I?d always envisioned things, but so be it. We?ll have a party soon.

Source: http://www.saltshaker.net/20121029/five-nights-straight

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Sunday, October 28, 2012

Exercise with Zumba Dance Fitness Fun | Fitness Health, Health ...

October 27, 2012 ? Posted by Rene in Body Health, Cardio Fitness, Featured, Workouts ? Tags: circuit training, exercises, lifestyle, wellbeing, workout plans, Workouts ? 0 comments ?
Fitness with Zumba Dance Exercise

Are you bored with your normal ordinary workout??Think that your body might not be accustomed?to any certain routine which does not promote a noticeable change to your weight anymore?

Try and?indulge yourself with the new exercise dance sessions. More and more people have recently switched to sports than
any other activity to achieve their main goal of weight lose. Dance fitness activities are more common just like their past time and help maintain body?fitness with added fun. Today there are already a lot of exercise routines too choose from ?depending on?your interest and capability.

If you are into dance or you want to develop your dancing talents, then Zumba might be the?right workout for you. You not only get to show off your dancing abilities, but you will also have tremendous fun in doing so. ?Get rid of that undesirable body fat with dance training. Aside from maintaining a well-curved hips you can also?tone your muscles helping you burn fat. Normally 300 to 600 calories are burnt per session depending?on the intensity of your Zumba workout.

Zumba Dance is most popularly known for its use of Latin dance moves combined with hip-hop, belly dancing and other active dance styles. The steps are made easy to follow and lively helping cater for all?ages. Zumba was ?created in order to encourage those who are not so fond of exercising outdoors or cardio training for long distance. ?Dance exercise?workouts and great for a number of reasons, good habits and fun help alter ideas for fitness and finally find exercise as something worthwhile.

Zumba does not necessarily need to be done in a gym neither do you need to have a special instructor. Zumba dance can be found at community centers or you can even purchase a DVD set for workouts at home.? Working out with peers is the more enjoyable option also it?s a fun thing?to do. There is no specific gears needed before doing the exercise, various videos all over the web?are readily available to cater those who are still new or those that are yet to start. Having fun while
eliminating calories surely hit?s two birds with one stone and you?ll be sure to feel the burn. Getting your?feet on the floor and try the moves that you have been wanting to brag about surely deserves acknowledgement. The sooner you start with your routine, the sooner you will notice your body?s?changes.

Source: http://fitnesshealth.co.uk/exercise-with-zumba-dance-fitness-fun.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exercise-with-zumba-dance-fitness-fun

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Meredith Miller turns focus to breast cancer awareness as she ...

  • By Jessica Broderick
  • Published 4 hours ago
Meredith Miller, recovering from a hand injury sustained at day 2 of the Providence Cyclocross Festival (shown here on day 1), has turned her focus to breast cancer awareness. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

On October 7, with two laps to go at day 2 of the Providence Cyclocross Festival in Providence, Rhode Island, Meredith Miller felt strong and in control. With five top-six performances in her 2012 ?cross season, she felt confident and ready to execute her race plan.

Instead, a crash and two broken metacarpal bones in one hand ended her day. It did not, however, end her season.

The California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized rider may be sidelined now, but her ?cross season is far from over. She told VeloNews Friday afternoon that she still has her sights on securing one of five spots for February?s world championships in Louisville, Kentucky.

After consulting with several doctors and visiting the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine in Colorado, Miller decided to undergo surgery for the spiral fractures in her right hand. Her checkup on November 18 will, she hopes, confirm her return to competition.

In the meantime, she stays fit by riding indoors, while at the same time raising money for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month through her team?s ?Pretty in Pink? campaign. Miller began wearing pink while racing cyclocross? in 2010, but has since developed the campaign even further.

?Wearing pink is great, but I felt like I was taking the easy way out,? Miller said. ?I wanted to do more.?

To date, Miller has raised $15,000 over the past two years for Hope Lives, a breast cancer awareness center in Fort Collins, Colorado. She aims to raise $10,000 this year alone. By selling socks, T-shirts, and bike jerseys emblazoned with the slogan, ?Pink is the new fast,? Miller is already approaching that goal.

She has also drawn attention and support for the campaign through an online raffle featuring her new ?cross bike, a SRAM-equipped Specialized S-Works Crux with Zipp wheels.

The entire Cal Giant cyclocross team ? whose men?s squad includes junior racer Yannick Eckmann; under-23 rider Cody Kaiser; Tobin Ortenbald, second this year at the national junior cross-country championships; and masters rider Justin Robinson ? is racing in pink this season to raise breast cancer awareness.

Miller aims to rejoin her teammates at races in California and Oregon in early December, race in World Cups in Europe over Christmas weekend, and contest the national championships in January. Racing during the holidays was not what Miller had envisioned for her season, but she said that, once healthy, she will do what?s needed to qualify for her fourth worlds team.

?It is a big deal having worlds in the States this year,? Miller said.

FILED UNDER: Analysis TAGS: Cal Giant Berry Farms-Specialized / Meredith Miller

Source: http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/10/analysis/meredith-miller-turns-focus-to-breast-cancer-awareness-as-she-recovers-from-hand-injury_262727

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Video: Sandy marches toward US



>>> the east coast is on high alert and sitting on a slow motion collision course with what forecasters are calling a storm of historic dimensions. at its heart hurricane sandy, a sprawling system more than 800 miles wide. capturing these amazing images from space. after killing more than 50 people and causing heavy flooding in the caribbean sandy tonight is tracking parallel along the u.s. coast toward a rare and fateful rendezvous monday with two other potent weather systems . call it a hybrid storm. it is expected to send sandy inland with damaging winds and torrential rain. the storm will impact some 64 million people. tonight, eight states and the district of columbia are under states of emergency as officials brace for flooding and power outages. some mandatory evacuations are already under way. forecasters warning just how dangerous the storm is. we've got our team in place to cover it all. let's start in new york with weather channel meteorologist jim cantore . good evening.

>> reporter: good evening, lester. more preparations under way. by the time tomorrow night rolls around we'll feel the impacts across much of the northeast. let's talk about this and lay out the impacts of the storm. the satellite shows a hybrid transition. you have a cloud canopy that stretches over the entire eastern seaboard with the storm's center 730 miles to the south of new york city . here's the track. this wild s-shape that has all of us as meteorologists shaking our heads. we have never seen this left hook. it will bring it 150 miles to the south of new york city early tuesday morning. then there is the impact. let's lay them out. we start with the storm surge . in irene at battery park which is where i am tonight, we had three to six feet. we expect four to eight here and down the jersey shore . that will be higher than what they dealt with during irene . plan on similar scenarios there. look at the rainfall. huge areas of two inches plus, four inches plus. locally ten inches in spots in parts of new jersey and the chesapeake bay . if you remember the state of new jersey was one of those heavily flooded last year with irene . to add insult to injury , west virginia , maryland, pennsylvania and parts of west virginia could get 50 inches of snow with this. add all these ingredients together, that means power outages, some which will last for weeks. pennsylvania, new york , west virginia , an 800-mile-wide damage path with this. on the 108th anniversary of the opening of the subway system in new york we hope in 48 hours , parts of it won't be under water.

>> places are holding their breath

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/49582093/

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Saturday, October 27, 2012

Several Types Of Michael Vick Jersey Auto Insurance You Can Get ...

It is essential to become educated about vehicle insurance. It is an important aspect of any driver?s existence. Creating awful Michael Vick Jersey choices can force you to spend lots of time and funds. Below you will discover some extremely helpful suggestions that could help you save more hassles in the end.

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There are many different varieties of car insurance companies out there. Get quotations from these to find out exactly what is the best value. Most companies now offer you quotations on the web, over the telephone, or enter into any insurance Michael Vick Jersey agencies business office and then make a scheduled appointment to travel above your options.

Being aware of what coverage you have with automobile insurance will help you to determine what particularly you?re investing in. Stuff like collision insurance coverage can deal with problems for your auto but only as much as its publication worth. These kinds of insurance coverage has an insurance deductible. Your top quality will likely be increased when you purchase the lowest deductible.

Are you presently in the market for auto insurance? Do you already have leasing or property owner?s insurance plan? Consider bundling the two guidelines. Keeping yourself with the exact same Michael Vick Jersey company for your car insurance as well as your lease or house owner?s insurance, may often help you get a greater rate and save some costs.

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Go over any career-relevant discount rates with your insurance company. Vehicle insurance is all about statistics, plus some job paths have demostrated a tendency to have a lot fewer mishaps. Going over your brand of work together with your insurance firm could consequently net you a low cost, but they can?t discounted what they don?t find out about.

Insurance coverage is change essential organization, and being familiar with it will make that you simply savvier consumer. Invest some time and analysis nicely to head off being taken advantage of by any vehicle insurance company or business. As you now know these sound advice, you are more intelligent and headed on the route of good results.

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Source: http://traffic-secrets.org/several-types-of-michael-vick-jersey-auto-insurance-you-can-get

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D-Link Wireless AC1200 Dual Band USB Adapter (DWA-182)


D-Link has the distinction of being the first networking hardware vendor with a pre-draft 802.11ac wireless adapter on the market. The Wireless AC1200 Dual Band USB Adapter (DWA-182) ($79.00, street) can connect notebooks and laptops to pre-draft 802.11ac routers and can do so through push-button WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup).However, during testing, I was unable to connect via WPS to a draft 802.11ac router other than D-Link's. Even when connected to D-Link's own 802.11ac router, the D-Link Amplifi Cloud Router 5700 (DIR-856L) , throughput reached nowhere near the touted speeds of up to 857 Mbps on the 5GHz band?and only slighted boosted performance over that of an 802.11n adapter.

Of course, I don't expect any router?to come close to theoretical speeds in real-world environments. However, because the DWA-182 is 802.11ac-capable, when it's paired with an 802.11ac router, I so expect that throughput should be faster than with an 802.11n adapter. Since network speed is only as fast as your slowest link, I expected an 802.11ac adapter tested with an 802.11ac router to provide faster throughput than testing the same 802.11ac router with an 802.11n adapter. Remember, 802.11 only provides theoretical throughout of up to 450 Mbps on the 5GHz band.?

?The DWA-182 supports both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. It's also backward compatible, so you can use it with just about any wireless router?so long as you aren't trying to use WPS.

The adapter is rather wide, measuring 3.8 by 1.1 by 0.5 inches (LWH). If a notebook has stacked USB ports, the DWA-182, when connected to the uppermost port, will likely block the bottom one.

WPA and WPA2 as well as 128-bit WEP, and of course WPS, are all supported. The WPS button and a tiny, blue LED are located on the top of the adapter.

Setup
The adapter is so new that my Windows 7 laptop was unable to install or recognize drivers for it upon connection.? This isn't a problem since D-Link ships a CD with the DWA-182. The CD contains not only the driver, install guide, and user manual, but also free trials of Norton Internet Security 2012 and Norton Online Backup.

The CD kicks off an installation wizard. During install, the wizard prompts to either manually type in the SSID and password to the network you want to connect to, or to use WPS.

I opted to install via WPS. The wizard instructs to click the WPS button on the router and then click the "Connect Now" button on-screen. I first tried connecting to a Linksys draft 802.11ac router but the WPS connection failed. I had no problems connecting to D-Link's AC router, the DIR-865L via WPS.

Now of course, I could manually connect to the Linksys 802.11ac router. However, WPS is a standard and is not supposed to be a proprietary technology; that would defeat the purpose of easy push-button setup of wireless devices. Hopefully, the failure of the DWA-182 to not connect to the Linksys router can be attributed to some wonkiness due to this being pre-draft 802.11ac technology and vendor incompatibility issues won't be a problem when products come to market that are fully 802.11ac? certified.

?During install, you can also opt to scan for wireless networks in proximity and connect to them if you don't know the name of the SSID. It's an easy setup but WPS should work for any WPS-capable router.

Wireless Utility
The installation process also includes the install of D-Link's Wireless Connection Manager. I typically don?t like third-party wireless managers sitting on top of the Windows native wireless management because the utility usually makes adjusting any settings through Windows Network and Sharing interface useless.? D-Link's utility did not prevent me from using Windows wireless networking settings, though.

?The utility displays all wireless networks in proximity. You can connect to a network through the manager and it shows signal strength, the channel the network is on and whether the network is secured or not. I like the fact that it shows percentage of signal strength and the channel the wireless network is operating on, information that Windows does not show natively.

Networks you connect to most frequently are listed in the utility under My Wireless Networks, and there's a quick link to D-Link support. The utility is not necessary to use, but it does provide a bit more insight into a wireless networks than the operating system alone.

Performance
I was disappointed with performance. I did not see anywhere near the speeds vendors are claiming about 802.11ac, and just a sight bump in performance in 5 GHz 802.11ac mode. Below is a table comparing throughput testing D-Link's DIR-865L router using a standard 802.11n 3xe3 wireless adapter versus the DWA-182 in Mixed 11ac mode:

802.11n testing was performed with an HP Elitebook with an integrated Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN wirelessly connected to the DIR-865L; a Windows server machine with a Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet card connected to a LAN port on the DIR-865L and Ixia's IxChariot throughput script.

11ac testing was performed with the same equipment and script but for the exception: the Intel Centrino wireless adapter was disabled on the Elitebook and the DWA-182 adapter installed.

My testing environment has lots of RF interference, and I never see in actual testing the theoretical throughput speeds that vendors put on the packaging of wireless networking products?nor do I ever expect to. Still, I expected better throughput than the numbers in the chart from the DWA-182.

Only 802.11ac Adapter, But Do You Need It?
All of the makers of network hardware are rushing to get pre-draft 802.11ac technology to market and I think it's a waste at this point for the consumer. This includes the DWA-182. I'm just not seeing throughput from any of the products that nears the faster-than-Gigabit Ethernet speeds 11ac is supposed to deliver. This doesn't mean we won't see those speeds in the future, and the near future?we will. But robust 11ac isn't here yet. Unless you have just got to have an early 11ac adopter, the DWA-182 is for you?mainly because it's the only USB wireless adapter available. However, with no performance gains over 802.11n, I don?t see a use-case for this adapter for most wireless router owners. I'm also troubled by the inability of the adapter to connect to router that is not D-Link's. The DWA-182 earns 2.5 stars thanks mainly to easy setup and a cool wireless utility manager.?

More?Networking Reviews:
??? D-Link Wireless AC1200 Dual Band USB Adapter (DWA-182)
??? Linksys WUMC710 Wireless-AC Wi-Fi 5GHz Universal Media Connector Bridge with 4-Port Switch
??? Tufin T-80
??? Norton Hotspot Privacy
??? WiFi Overview 360 Pro (for Android)
?? more

?

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/Y5o3X3UxmS0/0,2817,2411420,00.asp

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Judge rules for U.S. government in fatal Wyoming bear attack

(Reuters) - A judge has ruled the U.S. government cannot be held liable for a grizzly bear attack that killed a man hiking in Wyoming, just hours after the animal had been captured, collared and released by federal researchers.

U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal this week rejected a $5 million wrongful death suit brought by the widow of Erwin Evert, 70, who was fatally mauled by the male grizzly in June 2010.

Evert's widow, Yolanda Evert, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Wyoming, claiming the federal government had failed to warn the family about trapping activities near their private vacation cabin in the Shoshone National Forest.

The judge's ruling was based on a Wyoming law that exempts landowners from any obligation to keep the area safe "or to give any warning of a dangerous condition, use, structure or activity."

That exemption applies when the landowner, in this case the federal government, does not charge a fee for recreational use. Evert was not charged for hiking in the national forest.

A 2010 probe of the mauling found researchers had finished their work in the area and removed warning signs on their way out of the forest, because the weather was bad and they believed no one would be hiking near the trap site.

The investigative report by federal and state agencies found Evert knew of the trapping operation and had been told by a friend to stay out of the forest.

Freudenthal concluded in her ruling that she could not find "the risk of bear mauling was known or obvious to Mr. Evert."

Wildlife officials shot the bear dead from a helicopter shortly after Evert was killed.

(Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and Todd Eastham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/judge-rules-u-government-fatal-wyoming-bear-attack-231210199.html

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Friday, October 26, 2012

Children and Homecoming - Military Family

children and homecomingThe homecoming of a service member is a major change for the children in a household. They have grown physically, emotionally, and socially during the deployment. They are not as skilled at coping with their stress because they have little life experience. As a result, they may become firmly attached to the returning parent wanting their undivided attention or they may seem distant, withdrawn or seem that they just don?t care. There will be a readjustment period (typically four to six weeks) for the entire family. You can greatly enhance your family?s reunion by developing realistic expectations of how your child will respond to the service member?s return based upon the child?s age. Children are developing individuals who change rapidly in their thoughts and behavior. What you can generally expect of different ages, and how you can improve the reunion process with your children is discussed below.

Infants (Birth to 1 year):

As painful as it might be to consider, do not expect an infant to recognize the parent who has returned from a long deployment. Infants have not yet developed a great ability to remember people and events. They may cry, fuss, or pull away when held by the deployed person. Again, go slow. The infant will warm up at his or her own pace.

Toddlers (1 to 3 years):

A typical toddler response would be to hide from the newly returned parent, to cling to his/her primary caregiver, cry, and perhaps regress in potty training. Give your child space and time to warm up to the returning parent. It helps for the deployed parent to sit at eye level with your child and talk with him/her. A gentle offer by the parent to play with the toddler may be helpful, but do not force the issue. Also, the child may have a clearer memory of the deployed parent if the stay behind caregiver frequently showed him/ her pictures of the military member and said ?Daddy? or ?Mommy,? as the case may be. This is helpful because for children at this age, the old adage ?out of sight, out of mind? aptly applies.

Preschoolers (3-5 years):

Children in this age range can tend to think that the world revolves around them. It is not uncommon for your preschooler to think that he or she somehow made their parent go away, or that the parent left because he or she no longer cared about the child. Keeping this in mind, the child may feel abandoned or guilty. They may also express anger and test limits to see if familiar rules still apply. In order to promote the reunion process, it is important for the parent to accept the child?s feelings and focus on rewarding good behavior. Additionally, the returning parent should support the other parent?s rule enforcement but also be careful about stepping into an authoritative role too quickly.

School Age (5-12 years):

In this age range, children are more likely to give returning parents a warm reception, especially if their relationship was strong before the deployment. The child will probably try to monopolize the service member?s attention by showing off accomplishments and hobby items. If their relationship was strained before the deployment, the child may fear that the deployed parent may punish them for misbehavior during deployment. This thought process can lead the child to be shy and withdrawn at first. It is good for the returning parent to be friendly and show interest in what the child has done in their absence, while praising the child for their accomplishments.

Adolescent (13-18 years):

Adolescents can have mood swings? one moment they are solving problems in a reasonable and logical way and the next may be reacting in a purely emotional fashion. So, your adolescent?s reaction to your return may be characterized by mixed emotions. Like the school age child, your adolescent will likely be very excited to see the deployed parent again, if the relationship was good-natured prior to the deployment. Sometimes, however, adolescents are reserved to publicly express their emotions and may be more concerned about acting ?cool? in front of their peers. Adolescents tend to be very sensitive about being unfavorably judged or criticized. With this in mind, be sure to make time to discuss with your adolescent what is going on in his/her life as well as what you?ve experienced. As with sons and daughters of any age, it?s critical to give your adolescent some of each parent?s undivided pleasant attention.

Single Parents

If you are a single parent in the military, there are a few additional issues to consider. If you?re a custodial parent, your children have probably been living with someone else for several months. The bond between this caregiver and your children has strengthened. Your child?s increased bond and loyalty to their caregiver may be painful for you, but go slow. Focus on communicating both with the caregiver and your children, and recognize that you and your children will need to adapt to living with each other again. Your children have been living with someone else who probably had different rules and procedures compared to your own household. Give yourself and your children adequate time to ?shift gears?. The adjustment period can be awkward, but it is helpful to involve the caregiver with the transition.

Since your children have lived with some different family rules and procedures, take time to compare with them the rules of your home. As you?re doing this, seek their input regarding how they would prefer life at home. They should feel included in the process of re-establishing the structure and tone of their home environment.

If you are a non-custodial parent, your children?s living conditions were probably not altered by your deployment. However, your visits with the children have been curtailed. As you re-establish these visits, remember that you and your children have grown and you will need to take time to get reacquainted.

?

Source: http://militaryfamily.com/2012/10/26/children-and-homecoming/

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Cursed: This Is Who We Are.

Forever Forbbiden

An age old battle, a forbidden romance, and the curse that started it all.

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PFT: NFL players says Tebow, Sanchez 'most overrated'

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The online vault at SI.com contains all sorts of treasures that no one has the time to search for.? Fortunately, one of our readers had both the time and inclination to find an article that I vividly recall reading at at time when I was younger than my kid is now.

In 1979, Sports Illustrated pondered the future of pro football.? Here are some of the quotes, each of which were followed by comments from Frank Deford that best can be described as pre-Internet snark.

?In the year 2000, there won?t be any contact below the waist.? ?Bum Phillips, Head Coach, Houston Oilers.? (Said DeFord in response, ?Yeah, O.K.?)

A dozen years after 2000, Bum?s vision has yet to come to fruition.? But it?s moving in that direction.? And it could take another big step there in the offseason, after the 2011 hit by Bills receiver Stevie Johnson on Chiefs safety Eric Berry and the hit from earlier this month by Jets guard Matt Slauson on Texans linebacker Brian Cushing.

?Players will look a lot different: lighter equipment, more formfitting shoulder pads, a different type of helmet, soft rib pads.? ?Dan Rooney, President, Pittsburgh Steelers.

Of course, we won?t notice any of those differences this weekend when the Steelers play; we?ll be too distracted by the prison bumblebee throwback uniforms.

?There?ll be a little metal fleck in the football, so you can tell for sure whether the guy with the ball got over the goal line or was pushed back.? ?Tex Schramm, General Manager, Dallas Cowboys.

Schramm was a sage.? And that?s one change the NFL needs to embrace.

?Everything will become more specialized. On defense, you?ll get pass rushers and run defenders, first-down and third-down defensive ends. You?ll see relief quarterbacks.? ?Tom Flores, Head Coach, Oakland Raiders.

Relief quarterbacks have yet to take root, but for the 2007 season, when the Cardinals would bring out Kurt Warner whenever they fell behind. And then they?d putt Matt Leinart back in when Warner pulled things even.

?It?s a very tough, very hard game, and I think more and more it?s going to be played by the so-called underprivileged. It?s too tough, too physical a game for a society that?s become so affluent. Kids can get the same great cardiovascular exercise from soccer.? ?Marv Levy.

That?s the argument that has been raised in the wake of the new sensitivity to concussions.? Football could become a way out for the have-nots, and the best of the best eventually will entertain the haves and the have-mores.

The article, after the parade of quotes, focuses on Byron Donzis, a then-47-year-old inventor who had developed a flak jacket and who had all sorts of other ideas (some crazy, some sane) about the future of pro football, from an equipment standpoint. But Deford eventually focuses on broader assessments of the game.

?The feeling is that rosters will grow, but the schedule will not (you believe that?), and that the NFL won?t expand abroad because the foreigners wouldn?t be sufficiently interested in an American game played by Americans,? Deford wrote. ?No, even in 2000 the referees won?t use TV replays to assist them in making their calls.?

It?s an intriguing article. And it makes us wonder how different the NFL will be in another 33 years. Feel free to drop some ideas below.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/25/nfl-players-vote-tim-tebow-most-overrated/related

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Thursday, October 25, 2012

The Fall of Silicon Graphics

 silicon graphics Lessons in Sustainable Business change management

Silicon Graphics workstations were featured in Jurassic Park?s computer control room, the ?eyes and ears? of the technologically advanced theme park ? one of the first times a movie featured a live, working computing environment featuring real applications.

The following article is part of our?lessons in sustainable business?series by students at the Presidio Graduate School.

By John R. Talbott
In 1994, Business Week dubbed Silicon Graphics, Inc. the ?Gee-Whiz company? and called the company the most innovative in the world. By 1997, the company was considered a has-been. This is an insider?s story of change management attempts during the fall.

The Problem

Much has been written about the sad saga of the fall of Silicon Graphics, but many articles tend to concentrate on a few exemplars of bad decision-making to show that the company was full of arrogance and plummeting toward the abyss with its collective head in the sand. Nothing could be further from the truth; scores of employees were well aware of the company?s plight and were furiously implementing change management tactics to try and save the organization. This story covers the tactics tried by one marketing team.

Prior to 1992, the market for Silicon Graphics visual supercomputers consisted of scientists and engineers working on advanced visualization problems such as atmospheric modeling and fluid dynamics. These researchers worked in small, special purpose groups in large organizations in a few key markets: research and science, automotive and aerospace, oil and gas, and government. Starting with the release of Terminator 2: Judgement Day in 1991, the company began to gain significant public attention for its role in entertainment. In 1993, the company announced its partnership with Nintendo to build the Nintendo 64. The same summer, Steven Spielberg?s Jurassic Park filled movie theaters around the world with dinosaurs created on Silicon Graphics systems and the company quickly became a household name, though marketing surveys from the time show that almost no one in the general public knew what product the company sold.

In 1991, the company released its first sub-$10,000 workstation, the Iris Indigo. This workstation was designed to take the company into the high-end personal workstation market then dominated by players like Digital Equipment Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Sun Microsystems and to a lesser extent, Apple. Internally, there was a well-understood goal that Silicon Graphics was to replace Apple as the default choice for creative professionals anywhere. To make this happen, the company created expensive marketing programs to bring sophisticated new applications to the platform and to create full product solutions around Indigo that would propel the platform to penetrate a marketspace ten times the size of the highly technical graphics market the company dominated.

The Indy workstation succeeded the Indigo in 1993 and became the first graphics workstation priced under $5,000. With the lower price point, sales volume increased over the Indigo, but only slightly. Some new applications were coming to the platform, but not enough to reach sales targets. As the Indy marketing team began to plan for the next machine, it had become evident that the aggressive marketing approach the company was using for this market segment was failing and would not drive the billion dollar volumes expected for the follow on system to Indy, codenamed ?Moosehead.? With this in mind, this team laid a plan to change the company?s marketing approach.

Strategy and Outcome

The first strategy the team employed was to identify the customer and the associated market segments. The original Moosehead marketing manager did a complete survey of the target ?creative professionals? market and discovered that the available market was small enough that the workstation, even if it was dominant in the market, would not recover its development costs. At the same time, the rest of the marketing team surveyed the company?s sales channels and determined that the direct sales model the company used provided almost no incentive for the salespeople to sell an inexpensive workstation. In order to be profitable, the workstation needed to be sold in lots of hundreds or more but the sales channel was designed to sell single supercomputers. Lastly, the team looked at the marketing results for the Indy workstation and realized that the customers who delivered Indy?s greatest successes weren?t represented in the company?s marketing efforts. If Moosehead was to be a success, the team needed to re-orient the part of the company that worked with software vendors to bring applications to Moosehead that were appropriate for the new market segments not those that company had traditionally dominated.

Confronted with these stark realities, the team knew it needed to change the practices of an organization that Businessweek was lauding as the world?s most innovative. To accomplish this goal, the team tried to isolate change management to three big goals: increase the available market with product enhancements, revamp the distribution strategy to support major contract purchases and change the marketing approach to recruit partners who would embrace the platform and create the augmented applications and peripherals that Moosehead needed to succeed.

Silicon Graphics had developed a famously engineering-centric culture, so any change program needed to start with the engineering leadership. The team identified key executives with enough outside experience to understand the threats that faced the company and began to court their ?input? into the solution for the problem. Activities included retreats and planning meetings with industry luminary consultants such as Geoffrey Moore, who was brilliant at helping execs believe they were discovering the problems themselves. As these executives came on board, the team organized large events, led by these executives but including outside experts from prospective customers, where the leaders could explain to the engineering divisions what was happening. These efforts were sometimes awkward, but there was clear progress as the company began to allow the team to reach out beyond its traditional resources to bring in companies like Lunar, Cheskin Associates, and Lexicon to move the company forward.

At the same time, the marketing team drove constant contact between key engineers and customers who had the problems that would result in hundreds of sales. Systems design involves everything from microprocessors to support and warranty software, so the team had to take a total product view of the process and make sure that the company removed all the barriers to market in each new category. As people became excited about these changes, momentum built toward the launch of the product and the company looked forward to great success.

When Moosehead finally launched in late 1996 as the O2 workstation, the division had clearly innovated in every area, but the product was 18 months late and had missed the market. In the meantime, Microsoft, Intel, nVidia, and ATI (now part of AMD) had all improved their products dramatically. Most importantly, the PC architecture had become good enough to destroy the workstation market, so the carefully laid plans, while dramatically successful at achieving their aims, failed in the face of much larger forces. As soon as the O2 was released, the division was reconstituted to chase after the PC market and the marketing team went on to other places. As the market collapsed, the company panicked and fell back into old habits. SGI did release a PC workstation a few years later, but that system flopped in the market.

Lessons Learned

The story of the O2 workstation brings up several questions. Did the marketing team try to innovate in too many ways and therefore delay the launch of the product to the point that it was irrelevant? Maybe. The product was very innovative, but in the end there wasn?t enough software to take advantage of its unique characteristics and make the product attractive to a wide-enough market. If the company had limited the number of features it attempted to perfect, it might have reached market more quickly, but the market never expanded as expected.

More importantly, should the company have even tried to create Moosehead given the lack of up front market validation? Probably not, but when the product was conceived in 1993, the workstation market was growing boundlessly. The company proceeded on a leap of faith that it could attract the market?s attention if the product was good enough. But between 1993 and 1996, the Internet happened and application development changed forever. While it seems difficult to imagine that the company could have foreseen these dramatic changes, it is extremely important to note that the visionary executive sponsor behind the Indy workstation was Silicon Graphics? founder, Jim Clark. By the time O2 released, Jim had left SGI, started Netscape and become a leader of the Internet boom.

As it turns out, the marketing story behind O2 was too little and too late. The team was successful in bringing change to the organization, but the lessons learned by 1996 needed to be applied in 1993. It would have taken courage to abandon the workstation market at its height, but that move might have saved the company. This is the lesson of Silicon Graphics: if we had been truly innovative we would have been willing to change even at the height of success.

If you can find the release authorization document for the O2 Workstation, you?ll find the signature ?John R. Talbott? above the title ?Product Manager.??

[Screenshot credit: http://www.sgistuff.net]

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Source: http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/10/silicon-graphics/

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