Towards addressing Nigeria's mounting development problems, including enhanced quality of life, the Federal Government has called for the transformation of urban water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) utilities into financial viable entities.
It noted that the pathway to be taken to accomplish utility transformation is rough as it cuts through difficult terrains of institutional reform, organizational strengthening, infrastructural development and injection of innovations and proactive response to climate change.
The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, an engineer, who made the call at the opening of the first International Conference of Nigeria Water Supply Association (NWSA) on the theme: "Transforming Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Utilities into financial viable entities" in Abuja; sought for focused leadership, strong management and support of the citizenry for the mission to be accomplished.
In recognition of this, he said the ministry has been supporting urban water supply and sanitation sector reform and recently approved national WASH action plan, including declaration of emergency for the sector to reinforce efforts.
Adamu disclosed that numerous governance tools and utility operational manuals have been developed.
He said: "The available statistics in Nigeria indicate regression in the urban water services to pipe borne water regressed from to 7 per cent in 2015 due to high rate of urbanization, failing infrastructure, institutional weaknesses and low investment.
Adamu stressed that the reforms by the Ministry and approval of the National WASH Action Plan, including declaration of state of emergency for the sector is meant to reinforce the efforts.
"The results of these initiatives have been encouraging but still far from the vision envisaged.
A major accomplishment will be realized, when the water cycle is finally closed and current institutional fragmentation in the sector is closed and fully addressed, through integrated delivery of sustainable sanitation," he said.
NWSA President, Dr. Eugene Pam said that the conference will address gaps in the sector, such as problems being encountered by State Water Agencies (SWAs) namely- limited financial and operational autonomy, accelerated urbanisation, lack of investments in projects, absence of statutory regulations, monitoring, policies and trained personnel to provide WASH services.
Represented by Dubagari Abisabo, challenges, he noted includes excessive high leakage rates, aging water pipelines and poor quality water as well as high operational costs dues to unreliability of electricity supply and non existent tariffs.
For the Executive Director, African Water Association, Sylvain Usher, an engineer, the theme is apt and reflects on the will of the association to fight against water insecurity, and lies within the framework of reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.
"The imposing threats of water scarcity places immense pressure on the capacity of states to ensure water security for economic and human development," he added.
The Coordinator, Network of Civil Societies Working on Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) in Northern region, Sani Adamu, re-emphasized the need for synergy between the public and private sector to achieve well-being of people living within communities and reduce water borne diseases.
Meanwhile, the chief executive officers the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC), Muminu Badmus has stressed that all water utilities could be self-sustaining through structured reform programme.
He listed various challenges facing typical utilities in Nigeria.
They include unreliable, Intermittent and in some cases lack of Water Supply; Inadequate water supply infrastructure to meet ever growing demand; low capacity utilization; Aging Infrastructure (Production, storage and pipeline infrastructure); lack of reliable customer data base and billing system and very High non-revenue water characterised by high rate of leakages.
Other are illegal water connections and inappropriate billing/under billing; poor relationship between customers and utilities; limited revenue collection platforms where most utilities are on cash basis but with limited cash offices and limited access.
The highpoint of the event is the election of Abisabo as the president of NWSA and the decoration of the WaterMan Awardees by the minister.
The shortlisted states for the award are Taraba, Delta, Kaduna, Bauchi, Lagos, Enugu and Cross River.
The minister, the grand patron of the organization was also honoured.


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Mr. H and I haven't been to brunch in a while, so that was our goal this weekend. But...where to go? That's always the tough decision. Cleveland just has so many solid brunch options. Well, we tried a new-to-us restaurant in Lakewood...Borderline Cafe on Detroit Avenue by the West End Tavern.
It's a small cash-only cafe, with Southwest twists on many classic breakfast dishes. Immediately, I loved the hot sauce display on the wall by the entrance.
Something like this could be really fun in a home kitchen for displaying spices and sauces.
They have a section of the menu dedicated to their most popular items, and we were both enticed by two dishes. So, we shared!
First, the Huevos Rancheros Carnitas ($9.50) with a flour tortilla, house made roasted pork, eggs your way (we did over-medium), black beans and served Christmas-style with sour cream and scallion.
A dash of hot sauce, and this dish was really good. The pork was a unique twist on huevos rancheros.
We also shared the Bacon Avocado Benedict ($9.50) with a toasted English muffin, house made guacamole, tomato, bacon, poached egg, chipotle lime sauce, and fresh cilantro with a side of fruit.
We slightly preferred this dish, but both were a little unique and truly hit the spot on Sunday morning.
A great find in Lakewood, and one that I'd certainly recommend! The staff was also super friendly, even though the place was slammed.
Congratulations to Dan! Please check your email, and claim your tickets by Monday or a new winner will be selected.
If you didn't win, you can still purchase tickets here.
Thank you to everyone that entered the giveaway, and to Autism Speaks for the opportunity. Now, go enjoy the weekend and get out and support our local businesses! Many of them took a hit this week. But, congratulations to Cleveland for keeping it classy, safe, and beautiful.
Mr. H and I popped in to the newly opened The Plum Cafe & Kitchen on Saturday night. After almost three years in the making, I think it was worth waiting for.
The patio was packed, but we were quickly seated in the main dining room. With tons of light pouring in, and the crisp white everywhere, it was almost as good as sitting outdoors.
The interior is getting rave reviews, as is the food. With the stark white, sleek lines, subway tiles, exposed brick, and playful features like the pineapple wallpaper, it's easy to see why.
But, we were there for the food. And some cocktails. The important stuff.
I started with a Bird '86 ($9) with green chartreuse, pineapple, lime, and velvet falernum. It was beyond delicious!
The menu changes often, depending on the local products they receive at this farm-to-table restaurant. The dishes are designed to be shared, so the plates are served family-style and are on the smaller side, encouraging sharing and sampling multiple things on the menu. Just how Mr. H and I like to eat.
We decided to share the Tomatillo Picadillo & Puri with cilantro rice, cauliflower, smoked olive, raisin, and vegan lime yogurt ($10).
A flavorful tapenade. We did enjoy it, but it was a little hard to eat without using our hands, and pretty messy.
Next up, Rabbit Merguez Sausage with crispy hominy, baked cheese, and grilled piadina ($12).
The sausage was crumbled on top, and again, the dish had wonderful flavor, but required some digging in with our hands and it got a little messy.
Lastly, we shared the Smoked Ohio Raised Pork Shank with carrots, yogurt pudding and alcaparrado jam ($23).
The star of the show. This dish was exceptional, and I'd head back there just to get it again.
They also have a great lunch menu, a beer and wine list, and three rotating seasonal beers on tap. Their patio backs up to the Platform Brewery patio, and you can even walk through a gate directly into Platform. The Plum is open Monday - Saturday from 11AM - 1AM.
Another great addition to the up-and-coming Lorain Avenue area, and one that we'll certainly revisit.
The 3rd Biennial Autism Speaks Cleveland Chef Gala on Saturday, August 6, 2016 is just around the corner. Chef Gala is a unique culinary extravaganza with all proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks to help change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorder.
The event, hosted by The Chew's Chef Michael Symon with Special Guest Bobby Flay will honor Shari and Michael Goldberg for their tireless support of Autism Speaks over the last 10 years.
The evening begins with a cocktail reception highlighting close to thirty renowned Cleveland chefs preparing one-of-a-kind dishes. After the reception, all guests will be treated to a sit-down dinner featuring an interactive dinner preparation by Iron Chefs Michael Symon and Bobby Flay. This year's event will be held at the Cleveland Convention Center.
The Cleveland chef line-up for the cocktail reception is impressive. You can check it out here.
Tickets to the event include two drink tickets, complimentary valet, tastings from the Cleveland chefs, and family-style service during the interactive dinner demonstration. The general admission tasting tickets, for $250 each, are still available online here, but they do traditionally sell out.
But, it's your lucky day, because I am giving away two general admission tasting tickets to the 2016 Cleveland Chef Gala. Just use the Rafflecopter form below for multiple ways to enter. Don't forget that you can tweet daily for additional entries. The winner will be selected on Friday, July 22nd.
Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed more than $550 million to its mission, the majority in science and medical research. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 100 cities across North America. On the global front, Autism Speaks has established partnerships in more than 60 countries on five continents to foster international research, services and awareness. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit AutismSpeaks.org.
I attended this event two years ago, and it was a gorgeous evening filled with great food, a unique setting, and a special cooking demonstration that was quite entertaining to watch. Chef Symon brings his Cleveland charm, and hearty laugh, to the stage. This is one culinary event that you won't want to miss, and for a very worthy cause that is near and dear to many.
Disclosure: I was provided with four general admission tasting tickets to this event in exchange for this giveaway and a post-event review. All opinions stated are 100% my own. Images was provided by Autism Speaks.
The 2016 Cleveland Host Committee and Destination Cleveland, and really all of Cleveland, are preparing to welcome visitors from across the world to our city for the Republican National Convention this week. Visitors are encouraged to engage with our city through social media, by using and following the hashtag #AskCLE. There is even an #AskCLE headquarters set up in Downtown.
To help visitors navigate the booming Cleveland dining scene during the RNC, here are my top 10 dining destinations (close to Downtown) that you really shouldn't miss. I left out some of my favorite locations that I know are already booked for private groups all week.
1. Sokolowski's University Inn- Cleveland's oldest family-owned restaurant, located in the heart of Tremont. This James Beard "American Classics" winning restaurant serves up Polish and Eastern European cuisine with views of the Cuyahoga River and the downtown skyline. Lunch is served Monday - Friday, and dinner is served on Friday and Saturday. I recommend the Pierogi.
2. Flying Fig- Located in Ohio City, just across the bridge from Downtown, this staple of the Cleveland dining scene has one of our city's best chefs at the helm. Chef Karen Small is dedicated to locally sourced product, and artful preparations. I recommend the Tempura Green Beans.
3. Momocho- Also in Ohio City, this restaurant has been featured on the Food Network for its modern Mexican fare. Don't miss the Cucumber Margarita!
4. Dante- Located on Professor Avenue in Tremont, this gem is a highlight on a popular "culinary row" in Cleveland. Guests enjoy quite the culinary, and visual, delight as they dine in a former bank building. I suggest the Linguine alla Carbonara. You can also step downstairs for high-quality sushi from its sister restaurant, Ginko.
5. Slyman's Restaurant- A retro breakfast and lunch deli known for their corned beef sandwiches. Don't be thrown by the simple diner atmosphere, it's a well-known Cleveland classic that even locals stand in line for.
6. Superior Pho- In the mood for Vietnamese? Many feel that they have the best Pho and Banh Mi in town.
7. Mitchell's Ice Cream- Stop by the Ohio City headquarters for an after-dinner scoop of homemade ice cream. Personally, I love the Toasted Pistachio and Caramel Sea Salt, but they always have great seasonal flavors as well.
8. Urban Farmer- Located in The Westin on E. 6th Street in Downtown, I personally think that it's the best steakhouse in town. Try the NY Steak Tasting for something different, and don't miss the warm cornbread served in a tin can.
9. Flip Side- A local Cleveland hamburger chain. You can soak in the newly developed The Flats on the East Bank of the Cuyahoga River in Downtown, while enjoying locally sourced burgers, like the One Red Door Burger (crispy shallots, melted brie cheese, and a date and applewood bacon aioli).
10. Barrio- Custom-made tacos, designed by you. The local chain provides diners with a checklist of taco toppings, and you build your own creation. Wildly popular across Cleveland, this casual restaurant is now open for Friday lunch and weekend brunch, in addition to daily dinner hours. I suggest using the Stoner tortilla as your base.
Honestly, I could go on, and on, and on about the Cleveland dining scene. Oh wait, that's what I do on a weekly basis. It's kind of my favorite topic to talk about. I encourage you to utilize my Search function, or scroll through the list of restaurants and neighborhoods reviewed on the right-hand side of my blog.
RNC visitors- use #AskCLE all week long as you explore our city. Enjoy your time here!
Part of the Hub 55 Project that plans to revitalize the East 55th Street and St. Clair neighborhood, Goldhorn Brewery (next to historical Sterle's and connected to Cafe 55) is set to open this Saturday, July 16th to the public. The opening party will include live music and the Sterle's food truck, and then they will fully open on the 19th.
A handful of media and social media influencers gathered last week for a preview. We got a tour of the facility from Head Brewer, Joel Warger.
They purposefully built the facility enclosed in glass, so that guests can feel like they are a part of the process.
We headed straight for the beers, to see what Joel has been up to since he left Great Lakes Brewing.
A few crowd favorites were the Polka City Pilsner, Numbered Street Wheat, and Fire Plug Pale Ale. I chose to do a sampler, and all of them were smooth, easy-sipping. I don't care for beers that are very hoppy, so I was able to enjoy all four that I tried. They were all unique, but not too boldly flavored.
A sampling of the menu was available at the preview.
The food was really good! I enjoyed the tacos, Cuban Panini, and chips with beer cheese and sausage. Mr. H and I had dinner plans, so I didn't indulge in everything available. However, it left me wanting more, which is always a good sign.
Goldhorn is a neighborhood brewery that honors the rich Slovenian culture of the area, and will feature a rotating roster of classically themed beers. With 50+ seats, plenty of open space, and a full menu, it'll be a good place to gather with friends. They will also host private breakfast or lunch events/meeting in the space, and they have some A/V equipment in-house. There is also a small kids menu available, so they hope to attract families as well.
I hope that you all enjoyed the long holiday weekend, and that it was filled with family, friends, fireworks, and food. That's how I just spent the last week, and it was glorious.
We took our annual summer trip up to visit my family in Northern NY. The Thousand Islands region is just a disgusting place to visit. Very ugly, not relaxing at all, and there's nothing to do there.
I could not BE more sarcastic. It's pretty much wonderful there, and we always enjoy our time with my family. I was lucky to be able to spend my summers there growing up.
...three bonfires, with plenty of s'mores.
Ribs just scream "Summer!" and it was a real treat. We never make them at home.
Mr. H and I also escaped on the last night there to dine at our favorite restaurant in the area, Tin Pan Galley in Sackets Harbor, NY.
The French Onion Dumplings were a highlight, and something that I'd like Mr. H to try and recreate at home. They have the most charming patio, and the food is top notch.
I'm still working on drafting my Cleveland Dining Bucket List, but one item that has been on there for several years is attending a Plated Landscape Dinner from Spice of Life Catering Co.
Luckily, when this year's schedule was released, a friend emailed me with an invitation to join her and her husband for one. It was just what I needed to finally pull the trigger and attend. For the first time, they are all being held on the Spice Acres farm.
...and a cocktail. We were off to a good start.
The evening began with a cocktail hour in the Pines, a wooded area with live music, high top tables, appetizers, and bug spray. Mr. H and I started to poke around the farm a bit, before the official tour began.
Then, it was time for Chef/Owner Ben Benenroth and his Farm Manager to take the group around the farm's grounds.
This included two food stations, with wine pourings. At the first, we enjoyed house andouille sausage and pickled items. At one point I looked down, and I had some friends gathered at my feet.
I must have looked like a sucker for a pup face, and I could tell that they were hoping I'd drop a little sausage their way!
At the next station, we noshed on some mini steamed pork buns with a fermented rhubarb glaze, while we got to hang out with the chickens.
They currently have about 250 chickens. Wine in hand, delicious food, animals, a gorgeous evening...I was pretty much in heaven.
But, then it was time to head to the barn for the main courses.
It was a beautiful, rustic setting, and I can see why weddings are hosted here.
They have fields of flowers planted too. It's Spice's goal to be able to provide your catering, cake, florals, and venue all in one.
We settled in for the Spice Acres Head Lettuce Salad with a caramelized fennel Spruce dressing.
The main course was served family-style, so I didn't snap any pictures. But the Spice Acres Porchetta and Carolina gold rice with mushrooms were a big hit. We finished the meal with a Woolf Farm Strawberry Napoleon.
Good food, good wine, good conversation, a gorgeous setting, and feeling the passion radiating from Ben and his staff just made for a perfect summer night.
As of writing this post, most of the dinners are sold out. However, it looks like Thursday, August 4th and Thursday, October 13th are still open.
I'm so glad that I finally attended one. At $150 a person, it can feel steep, but it's worth every penny.


By Tyler_Ingle on Sat, 02/05/2011 - 1:34pm.
Harrison BarnesThe pre-season consensus top overall NBA prospect in college basketball is finally producing, and he's doing it in a big way. We've already seen his clutch heroics propel North Carolina to the upper echelon of the ACC standings over the last few weeks. He made the late triple that put the Tar Heels in the lead against the Clemson Tigers, scored 8 points in the final few minutes in a victory against Virginia Tech and then hit the game-winning three against Miami with 6.6 seconds left. That's a handful of ACC magic. This week, there has been no need for his sweaty late-game touch, as he's putting the Tar Heels in the lead by comfortable margins. The Black Falcon (sick nickname, by the way) is averaging 25.5 points (61%) in only 26 minutes in his last two games, with 6 rebounds per, just to add to good measure. He's been utilizing skill (step-back jumpers and catch-and-shoot opportunities) with hustle (put-backs and fast-break points) to produce like many of us expected him to before the season started. His court demeanor is rock-solid, and he hasn't had to resort to selfishness to put points on the board. On top of all this, his defense has been superb. He shows great intensity and good fundamentals. He makes mistakes on this end of the floor, but the effort he puts into closing out and crashing the boards give him a lot of potential in this area. Confidence is obviously a factor for Barnes, and you could tell by seeing the huge smile on his face for the duration of last Saturday's game against North Carolina State. If he can keep his confidence up, then he turns into one of the most potent weapons in the ACC and North Carolina becomes a much better team.
The Black Falcon has been putting in work, but he isn't the only one. After all, it takes a team effort to beat the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Boston College Eagles by a combined 52 points. Let's start by looking at Kendall Marshall, who recently replaced the struggling Larry Drew II (Drew left the program on Friday, possibly due to playing time concerns) in the starting lineup. Marshall is second in the ACC in assist/turnover ratio at 2.4. UNC is undefeated since Marshall has been starting, and even though his statistics don't jump out at you, Marshall is a very talented playmaker who fits in well with the Tar Heel's starting lineup. Then in the frontcourt, is Super Noodle Boy John Henson. Henson had a career game against North Carolina State with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocked shots. Henson's ridiculous length, agility and bounce help make him the top shot blocker in the ACC (3.0). He teams up with 7'0" center Tyler Zeller to make the Tar Heels the best rebounding team in the conference. The two are slight-of-frame but mobile enough to beat opposing frontcourts in transition and long enough to challenge shots around the rim. North Carolina's roster matches up well against the rest of the ACC, but this week they will be tested. They face Florida State at home on Sunday and then play at Duke on Wednesday. These two games should be very telling. Don't miss 'em.
Reggie Jackson and the Boston College Eagles are suddenly free-falling, losing four of their last five games. Jackson has been cold for a couple weeks, and because of the Eagles' dependency on him, they have been just as cold. The team has lost their last three games by 16, 18 and 32 points respectively. During that time span the usually productive and efficient Reggie Jackson has only averaged 8.7 points on 26.4% shooting from the field and 8.3% shooting from behind the arc. All are sharp contrasts from his season averages of 18.0 ppg, 50.4 FG% and 42.7% 3P%. In his last performance against North Carolina, he scored a season low 6 points as Boston College suffered their worst defeat of the season, losing by 32 points (at home no less). The Eagles were considered one of the best teams in the ACC before this slide. Now they've fallen to the middle of the pack, tied with Clemson and Maryland; behind Duke, North Carolina, Florida State and Virginia Tech. On Saturday they'll play the Virginia Tech Hokies giving them a chance to either climb back up the ACC standings, or fall below a .500 conference record.
1. Nolan Smith - Smith is a National Player of the Year candidate, due to his impressive play on both ends of the floor. He's leading the ACC in both points (21.0) and assists per game (5.5) by comfortable margins.
2. Kyle Singler - He's one of the most versatile players in college basketball. He provides toughness, scoring, rebounding, passing, experience and an excellent complement to the aforementioned Nolan Smith.
3. Malcolm Delaney - Delaney is one of the most dynamic scorers (18.3) in the ACC. He is remarkably skilled at getting to the free throw line where he converts at a high 86.4 percent.
4. Jeff Allen - The inside yin to Delaney's outside yang. Allen is adept on the block where he uses his wide frame and solid athleticism to score on the block and crash the glass (9.6 rpg). His Virginia Tech team is looking to gain momentum to avoid missing out on the NCAA tournament yet again.
5. Jerai Grant - Grant's offensive improvement from a year ago is keeping Clemson from falling to the bottom of the ACC standings. He's also improved on the defensive end with averages of 1.0 SPG and 3.5 BPG.
Black Falcon? Who came up with this glorious name.
But story goes something liek this- Sullinger, Irving and Barnes were taking a tour of espn (not sure on that) and that they gave nicknames to the 3 of them. Harrison wanted to be an animal since Jordan was Black Cat and Kobe was Black Mamba- so hence the Black Falcon!


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Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge (sometimes referred to as Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge) is a "game show-themed" edutainment computer game for kids ages 8–12 (although PC Mac suggests it is suitable for ages 10 and up). The title, which is a part of the Carmen Sandiego franchise, was released by The Learning Company on June 1, 1999. It can be played by up to 4 players, and runs on the Mohawk engine.

Development
The 1000 questions over 7 subjects in the game were written and developed by teachers. The game was first to give Carmen Sandiego players a multiplayer option. The title reviews curriculum for fourth- through sixth-graders.

There was a promotion where if players picked up their copy from CompUSA8, they would be entered into a draw with the chance to win Carmen Sandiego prizes. There was also a competition called "2000 TECHNOLOGY & LEARNING Teacher of the Year Awards program", with Learning Company as one of the sponsors and offering copies of the game as prizes for state winners.

Plot
Carmen Sandiego and her six Master Thieves (Gnash, Madame Le Zaarde, Snarla Swing, Dr. Depth, Count Hypno, and Jane Reaction) have sent KnowBots (SynicBot, HALieBot, Pure-EBot, BruiserBot, DimBot, and Touchy-FezlyBot) to steal the world of its data and information from various texts. In response Acme Agent Chase Devineaux recruits additional agents to counter this worldwide threat. Carmen Sandiego, eager for a challenge awaits the agents.

There is no actual end to the game, as after the defeat and capture of Carmen's minions, the game will just restart with them free as if the previous events never happened.

Gameplay
The object of the game is to get past Carmen's KnowBots and correctly answer questions to capture Carmen's Master Thieves. At the beginning of each mission, Chase Devineaux, the ACME Detective Agency's top agent will describes the suspect and the vital stolen knowledge. There are three difficulty levels, that cater for three age groups respectively and start players with a certain number of Energy Points. Up to four players or teams can play.

Players outwit KnowBots in a game-show type competition. In a regular game, players visit two locations, each with two KnowBots, alternating every three questions. Each KnowBot is knowledgeable in different subject areas: History, Geography, Math, Crime scene (which is similar to a memory game), English, Life Science, Physical Science, or Art and Music. If the player(s) answer correctly, they gain a certain number of Knowledge Points dependent on the type of question being asked (For example, Multipick questions are worth 950 Knowledge Points, and Rapid Fire Sort questions are worth 200 Knowledge Points each). If they get a question incorrect, they lose one point of Capture Energy, which is essential to the capture of the Master Thief. Once at the Master Thief's hideout, the player needs to solve a unique puzzle to enter. The player with the most Capture Energy will have the opportunity to capture the thief, but if there is a tie in Capture Energy, the player with the most Knowledge Points will have the opportunity to capture the thief.

Players and school teachers also have the option to create their own questions sets of up to 50 questions using Multipick, YinYang (True/False), Sequencer, Matchmaker, and Gridlock (Finding all the answers in a grid).

Critical reception
In a review of a package entitled Adventure Workshop: 4th-6th Grade which featured the games The ClueFinders Reading Adventures Ages 9-12, Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge, and Super Solvers Mission: T.H.I.N.K., Hilary Williams of AllGame said that it is "one of those rare compilations where all of the included titles are superb", adding that ThinkQuick was "another great [Carmen] game that will interest older kids due to its international espionage theme" and that the game "retains the educational value of previous titles in the series, without losing entertainment value". Newsday commented "[the game is] great, because four kids can play it together on the computer, and it has more than 1,000 questions in seven subject areas, so you are never bored". SuperKids praised the "superb graphics", "intricate storyline", and gameplay that would "amaze and delight" Carmen Sandiego fans, though it may prove tiresome for those who had become tired of the quiz-based gaming genre. Infotech said it was a gaming title of interest. ThinkQuick was selected as one of the games offered for this project where games were donated to the Harmony Public Library for students' learning. Teacher Librarian deemed it "another Carmen Sandiego hit" and a "CD-ROM title of interest". The Daily Herald wrote that the "high-qualify, easy-to-use" title "shows why [the Carmen Sandiego] franchise has been so successful", praising the gameplay mechanic whereby players are alternating between competing in a trivia contest and cooperatively catching Carmen's crooks. Poughkeepsie Journal thought the game bore similarities to the fast-paced quiz game You Don't Know Jack, and thought the kids who have grown weary of the saccharine "Good job" would "love the edgy attitude of a [KnowBot] challenger who snaps" quips like "Enjoy your little victory, Blue. It won't last". The Cincinnati Enquirer noted that this game saw a costume change from Carmen Sandiego's iconic red dress to a black catsuit. The Straits Times thought the game was "exciting and challenging".

In a negative analysis, Robin Ray of the Boston Herald commented that ThinkQuick was part of a growing trend of gaming franchises in which previous titles which "could wholeheartedly [be] recommend[ed]", "[were not] a complete waste of time", and "[were] near-perfect combination of fun and learning" contrasted greatly with the new releases which instead "cause...slow burn". She said "this is not Think Quick, this is Spit Quick". Home Computer Buying Guide said the game had a weaker and less interesting theme than previous Carmen Sandiego titles. Anne Sushko of The Book Report recommended the game as "well developed and of high interest", though noted that it was not compatible with Windows NT. The Boston Herald gave the game a scathing review, writing that the game has lost the girl customer, that the questions are "random, narrow,[and] boring", and that "the Knowbots sneeringly insult you if you give an incorrect answer", concluding that whoever designed the game "should be asked to clear off his or her hard drive".

References

External links
 ThinkQuick in School Library Journal: SLJ, Volume 46
 Game manual

1999 video games
Carmen Sandiego games
Children's educational video games
Classic Mac OS games
The Learning Company games
Video games developed in the United States
Windows games

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This paper revolves around religious ritual, street youth organizing, and queer world making in U.S. tenderloin vice districts. Drawing on new oral histories and archival research, I consider the significance of a small group of queer street youth and itinerant ministers who in 1966 founded the activist organization Vanguard and also created their own extra-ecclesiastical "street churches" in San Francisco's Tenderloin district. These individuals drew on Christian narratives, iconography, and ritual to reinterpret the emotional impact of social exclusion and structural violence, I argue, opening up opportunities for a variety of challenges to normative assumptions about sexuality, gender, and ability, and representative of an ongoing tradition that is collectively shared and specific to tenderloin districts across the country.


text:
Digital Cribs- a project by Mike Koerbel, Sean Conaty, and Camila Tanabe
Our DP on our still-to-be-completed documentary just finished up an awesome video project with Cisco systems. Give it a watch and show your support by visiting Digital Cribs and letting them know what you think! Just clicking the aforementioned link can help them win!
Thanks in advance, and again, happy holidays from Scott's Blizzog.
And a very happy holiday from all of us here at Scott's Blizzog. So...I guess, just me.
In any event, the blog will be on hiatus for a few weeks as I make the pilgrimage back to the east coast (of Kentucky) to battle tundra-like conditions and wild packs of ducks (so wild, they didn't even fly south for the winter. I know, right? Hardcore.)
So if you're a regular visitor, or you're here for the first time, enjoy your break, and look forward to my "2008 Year in Review" in early 2009. In the meantime, have fun trying to caption this picture. I'll go first: "you want me to stick that yule log where?"
enjoy, and again, all my best to you and yours.
Overkill: A Love Story | Episode 3: Meet the Parents
Three Guys One Book: Maria Semple's "This One is Mine"
Head on over to Three Guys One Book to check out an awesome article with author Maria Semple. Buy her book, and shoe your support. Or act quickly on the blog and get a free copy today!
Overkill: A Love Story, Ep 2
Wedding Night | Overkill: A Love Story Ep. 2 - watch more funny videos
Help Kath & Kim win a people's choice award!
Dead Man Walking | Overkill: A Love Story, Ep. 1
The newest in web serialized content, Overkill: A Love Story shows the...well...disturbing side of love, with a nice subtle touch of comedy. Also, look for Tom Arnold with hilarious hair.
Edited by the fantastic Ryan Case (of Kath & Kim fame), be sure to keep checking youtube for future episodes!
Bring me the Head of Zilla Rocca
This fall, outstanding hip-hop producer and free-flower Zilla Rocca released a mix tape entitled "Bring Me the Head of Zilla Rocca." Enjoy the above video as he describes the mix, and gives you insight into who Zilla is.
His mix is, without a doubt, one of the best mix tapes I've heard in recent memory. Zilla also contributes to Passion of the Weiss, so I feel it is my civic duty, both as a fellow columnist and a friend, to let you all know about it.
If you'd like to download, especially before he puts this on amazon and itunes, follow this link right here.
passion post!
Hey gang! Head on over to Passion of the Weiss and check out my take on the best sit-coms of the fall.
Or, don't. See if I care.
I couldn't agree more.
Posted by The Editor at 6:02 PM 1 comment:
Scott vs. Obama
That's right folks, it's all on me. Happy Friday!
Posted by The Editor at 9:57 AM 1 comment:
...and the Emmy goes to...
I know, I know, I'm 10 years old. But good lord is this funny.
SELMA BLAIR CRAZY PAPARAZZI VIDEO!
Is there anything this woman can't do? Kudos to Mikey for yet another hilarious video.
Banksy's Village Pet Store
Rarely does an artist create work that shocks people right out of the gate. Typically, art takes time to sink it before it is appreciated. Banksy has done the opposite his entire career. From street art to the classroom, he proves with his newest installment that art is meant to act as a social commentary on the times we live in.
My friend Nik Schiller turned me on to this, citing that this is the first time he's used animatronic devices in his work.
Kath & Kim
When Lewis and Clark set out to 'discover' the western half of America in the 1800s, no one had any idea what they were in for. Sure, there were the journals of other explorers, their past failures and successes detailed to the last drop of blood. And, granted, they had the knowledgeable native guides to show them a land they already knew better than we ever would. But no one knew what the next 6 months held in store for those two guys: Lewis and Clark.
See, that's the great irony of America. We live in a country that has been 'discovered' several times over, each time with more acclaim than the last. First the Vikings. Chris Columbus. Then we settled the west with what we called manifest destiny. Today America is it's own version of a blown out reality show, where virtually nothing is unscathed and nothing needs discovering.
That is, until this Thursday when NBC premieres the Reveille produced Aussie-import Kath & Kim, starring Molly Shannon, Selma Blair, John Michael Higgins and Mikey Day. The series, originally born out of a sketch written by Gina Riley and Jane Turner followed a dysfunctional mother-daughter duo through the course of their disillusioned scope on life. Kim, lost in her own sense of self, and Kath, reinvigorated (or so it would seem) by a gentleman caller in her life's second wind.
The newly adapted American version follows the same format, but has been adjusted to fit American television better, a move that many imports could take a cue from (sitting through that first season of the U.S. Office was like pulling teeth).
Rest assured, however, that Kath&Kim US is much stronger out of the gate than any import thus far (and just as funny too!) But somehow, there's already been a critical backlash, with many reviewers citing that it doesn't hold true to the Australian version.
Whether or not these critics have firm footing to stand on, I don't know. But I will say this: neither Lewis nor Clark had any idea that the Louisiana Purchase would become larger than our original thirteen colonies. And many people resented the notion at first. After all, it took almost one-hundred years until people even considered moving to our western territory, and now it's home to America's greatest modern export: entertainment. Point being, you really never know where you're going to wind up until you give something a chance. It seems to have paid off for this great country 200 years later, and I have a feeling Kath & Kim will have the same impact on the programming block. Something new, something that forges ahead to places we never thought television would go. Something, that for once, isn't just your run of the mill program.
Working on this show with it's talented writers and cast, it's producers and amazing crew, I'm too closely married to it to voice how much I like this show. So I'll let you be the critic. Tune in to NBC this Thursday @ 8:30 PM EST to see what all the fuss is about! If you're as much of a comedy fan as I am, you'll be like Pavlov's dog every time 8:30 rolls around every Thursday.
Phish outta water
Scott's blizzog is both happy and proud to report that Phish will in fact be reuniting for a series of shows at the famed Hampton Coliseum March 6-9, 2009 according to phish.com. Pre-order for online sales has already begun, with general tickets being released to the public on October 18th. When I put my name in the lottery this morning, I was already # 21,000. So if you're after tickets- claw, scratch, kill your granny, do what ever it takes cause they are going to go quickly.
According to their site, they should be announcing more dates in 2009, but I'm not one to hope. Get while the gettin's good as I always say.
This marks the band's first "official" return (and no, I won't do the ph puns everywhere, I think it's obnoxious) since 2004, a time when Trey, the band's front-man and lead guitarist, said the band wanted to leave on top of their game. I guess Trey and Jerry Seinfeld would get along nicely, huh? Either way, it's a happy Rosh Hashanah to them both with all the cash that is about to come pouring in.
Just thought you all might like to know the good news! See you in Virgina!
Remember when Matty ate the anchovies?
Anchiovies!
I sure do! Wow, look at how poor we used to be!
Fat Kid Episode 1
Greetings fellow blog readers and pop culture fanatics. Today I come to you with a groundbreaking new show. Oprah called it 'edible.' Joan Van Ark dubbed it, 'a show worthy of me getting a sound bite.' All jokes aside, this is the co-creation of Jeff and Liz Astrof. The series centers around Peggy Fatasse, a self conscious girl who is always judged and held back by her weight. Which, by the way, is no small feat, given her size. I mean lets face it, if this girl came at me, I'd cower in fear. Not so much because of her size, but more so because if animated characters ever come to life, you can consider me 'checked out.' I saw Who Framed Roger Rabbit and you know I ain't messin' with that shit. Not-uh.
Anyway, in the otherwise stagnant world of animation today (save for my eager hopes and dreams for HBO's new series "Tim"), this is the only glimmer of hope we have left. Make sure to tune in for future episodes, interviews with the creator, and jello shots! (I can't promise the interview or the jello. The economy sucks.)
Great Scott: Hardknocks Life
Greetings fellow earthlings! I recently got the chance to view the HBO series "Hardknocks," and gave it a quasi-review over at Passion of the Weiss. So if you get the chance, head on over and give it a read.
And prepare for two fantastic games tonight:
Minnesota at Green Bay
Denver at Oakland
Hazaa for the Shopkeep!
Arpil of 2007, I starred in a short horror/comedy called "The Paranormalists," produced by those fine young cannibals at Tomorrow the World. Since it's completion, we've been selected to the Dragon*con film festival in Atlanta, GA.
For more details on the film, simply click these blue words.
For specific info on my film, simply click these eerily similar blue words.
Thanks in advance to everyone on our crew, my talented co-stars, and the producing/directing genius Matt Bolish.
Finally, for showtimes (of which there is one), simply click these additionally similar and additionally eerie words. Please note that my film is in a non-block screening, falling on Day 2 @ 5:30 PM. Our film will be shown in conjunction with one of the only features showing at the fest: Red Victoria.
If you're in Atlanta over labor day weekend, head on over and check it out. Location and hotel arrangements can be found by, you guessed it, clicking these itty bitty blue words.
Posted by The Editor at 1:01 PM 2 comments:
Bore-lympics
This Sunday, the one billionth Olympiad comes to a close. I couldn't be happier, personally, as it seems like the only event NBC wants to broadcast is beach volleyball. I've got no problem with beach volleyball. I actually enjoy it. What I have a problem with is the fact that I haven't seen 1 Redeem Team game, one javelin thrown, one discus spun. It's bull shit. The Olympics aren't about speed walking and bmx biking (though you'd be hard pressed to tell anyone otherwise), rather the Olympics are about all those ancient Greek games we once did- and cared about. The decathalon. The Marathon. Things that sound like Greek gods from the outset.
Not that volleyball is without it's merits...
In fact, I've noticed that in all the female sports I watch, they're wearing next to nothing. And hell, if I have to sit there and watch 2 hours of volleyball a night, there better be some T & A. And this trend seems to sweep across the board. All the female athletes are wearing less and getting hotter by each Olympic game. And I guess it makes sense...the winter Olympics isn't exactly a 'show some skin affair,' so they have to make up for it in the summer, appeasing all the child molesters in the world with scantily clad gymnasts, divers, volleyball players, and deliciously thick softball players.
She's good with oversized balls.
Yet a twinge of irony still hangs over these games every year. From the middle eastern track stars wearing head to toe Burqas, slowing them down immensely, to the firewalled itunes due to a Free Tibet mix that was released to the athletes, it almost seems like we're pushing and pulling at the same time. In one sense, our American women put their bodies on display, while we sit back and watch the rest of the world get oppressed. Worse yet- they still only show volleyball!
So when the Olympics come to a close this weekend, be thankful that you won't see Michael Pheelps 24/7 anymore. Be thankful that somewhere in the world little girls won't see softball as a 'career path.' Be thankful that by the next Olympics the volleyball players will be wearing nothing but paisleys and a blur mark on their nether-region.
Burger Time for Kanye West
Earlier today, it was announced that Kanye West would be co-opening a Fatburger Restaurant in Chicago. Read the full article here. Greater Chicago-land area residents should be jumping for joy that the formidable chain has made it's way from California to the midwest. These burgers are superb. Arguably the best fast food burger I've ever eaten, as noted in my LA's Best write up just last year.
As you can see by the screen shot above, Kanye has his work cut out for him, having to assemble several burgers before the salt shaker or egg crosses his path and he meets his most certain doom. And don't even get me started about hot dogs chasing you around (how the phallic driven theme of weiners chasing you got into a kids video game is well beyond me). Yet somehow I don't think this will be much of a problem for Kanye, as he continually boasts his blue-collar youth. I'm sure flipping burgers is a sight none too familiar for him. Kudos, Kanye, you got your real job back. And this is eerily reminiscent of Greg Garcia's (the creator of My Name is Earl) stint at Burger King flipping burgers during the strike. Who's next? Michael Jordan already did McDonalds, and Jared conquered Subway, so we're running out of places where these former-greats can find a home.
change points to dollars
In any event, this seems to stay true with Kanye's career thus far: taking something that is extremely "pop" and taking it to some strange new height. In this case, he'll take full credit for introducing Fatburger to an entire new audience of already fat people. That should end well, with Kanye sitting in front of a federal grand jury, swearing, under oath mind you, that he is the living incarnation of the "triple king burger." For those of you keeping score, that's 3 1/2 pound patties and three slices of cheese. Or maybe they're pound patties. Either way, yuck. But the plus side is, they'll hang your picture on the wall so everyone can see just how hideously obese you once were.
Now, if only he could figure out how to get Daft Punk on the jukebox, he'd have another #1.
Great Scott: Static Fragments
Once again, my drivel has somehow found it's way onto Passion of the Weiss. God he makes me feel special. Like new implants or a robotic dog.
Anyway, I hate viral video and I talk about it there. Go give it a read! And have one of those amazing days that only infants have. Let someone push you around on a stroller. Spill on yourself. Shit your pants. Then cry.
After a good burp and a nap, you'll be ready for Wednesday.
Culinary Cunning: Las Papas and Beer
Restaurant: Las Papas and Beer (potatoes and beer, best name ever)
Location: 7015 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90038
The Breakdown:
Home of the best taquitos de camarones (shrimp taquitos) this side of the Great Wall of America, this simple yet affordable Tex-Mex restaurant delivers nothing but top notch food at a reasonable price. This is easily the best Tex-Mex I've had in L.A., surpassing my favorite go-to spot, El Coyote. In El Coyote's defense, they do have a liquor license, so you can get a fantastic margarita there, but the food at Papas beats it hands down.
And who needs margaritas when you can get flvored blended wine based drinks and 4 dollar 32 oz. beers? Booze aside, the food at Papas is the best in town, and you'll never wait for a table. A group of friends and I have gone there over 20 times in the past 4 months, and we try not to order the same thing twice. And guess what? They continue to impress me with every dish they serve (and the complimentary chips and bean dip doesn't hurt either). Their tortilla soup? Traditional and fantastic. Their tacos? It's like finding god. Their corn cake? Your corn cake! Get some!
They also boast 4 huge tvs (both inside and on the patio) that are always tuned-in to sports, sports center, or the likes there of. It's the perfect place to post up and watch a game. You can sit all day and get hammered for less than 20 bucks.
All in all, it's an affordable place, great for families, dates, family dates, and worth every peso. Total cost for a meal for 4 (with appetizers and drinks)...75 bucks. That includes tip! I mean, this place is a steal.
The Future of Papas?:
Papas and Beer is never as crowded as I want it to be. So if you go, and you like it, tell your friends. That's the only way we'll be able to keep these guys in business. Hell, invite this humble author, he'd go. Or look for him there. Chances are if it's a Sunday afternoon, he'll be drinking beers enjoying the best Tex-Mex in town.
Live from your esophagus, this is Scott Towler, reporting.
Great Scott: The Day the Music Died
Head on over to Passion of the Weiss for my long awaited return to regular writing and witty urbane banter. If you like what you see, why not read my archives there by simply clicking this link here.
This here is a quintessential cartoon from my youth. I post it here in the hopes that someday future children will read this blog and see what it was like to be a child in the 80s.
As I get ready for a weekend of Dodgers / Cardinals, I thought the world might enjoy a fantastically funky and amazing video from the 70s. Give Lou Rawls your praise, then go back and watch the South Park episode "Ladder to Heaven." I think you'll find they're quite similar.
Enjoy the holiday weekend, fans!
This year's world series
This year's series will no doubt be a match up of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox. In light of that, my friend Rob thought it prudent to create a fan-tacular special product, available to everyone in the universe: me as a bobblehead!
Now, I know this is a lot of fun, but this isn't even the half of it. If you visit XM Baseball you can make your own as well!
Now, let's just hope the Cards don't go 4 and out like the did against the Sox last time they faced 'em.
On First Listen: Death Cab For Cutie's Narrow Stairs
I hate when people say 'at first glance' when they're talking about a record. Then again, I guess I've never heard anyone say that before, so good on ya people! You're saving me precious energy and wit.
Death Cab For Cutie returns in 2008 with their 8th full length studio effort, the latest since Plans, which opened the band up to the largest audience they've ever had. Well, that and Seth Cohen. What his character, and, in turn, The O.C. (and creator Josh Schwartz) did for the band may not be possible to quantify, but the proof is irrefutably there.
It almost makes me wonder if they were working hand-in-hand, and now Adam Brody is tasting the profits. In any event though, this record is pretty good for 2 simple reasons. First and foremost, it doesn't try and recreate Plans, or come off as a shoddier version of the record. I can't stand when bands put out b-sides and outtakes as if they were to take the place of a new album. Not to say the music is without merit, but it becomes clear within 2 or 3 songs if you're listening to a Yankee Hotel Foxtrot alternate versus something from A Ghost is Born. You get what I mean. Broken Social Scene's You Forgot it in People versus Feel Good Lost. That being said, this record is kind of a return for DCFC. It plays to me a lot like their first couple of albums before they really hit that signature sound they found on Transatlanticism.
The second reason I like this record is more of a general note than anything. Death Cab is basically at the top of the heap of the 'mainstream indie' scene. The band you expect to be headlining one of these obnoxious summer event. While this may not be their best record to date, I'm much happier knowing that people with less of an in depth musical knowledge are gravitating towards this sound. People think that music has died recently, but I think it's finally getting it's legs again. I anticipate 2008 to be chock full of fantastic releases from some of our favorite artists.
Finally, for the Death Cab haters out there, what can I say. If you don't like their other stuff, you won't like this. In my opinion, Plans is still their greatest (and most complete record). It shines as an archetype of what Death Cab is in their finest moments.
Great Scott, he's done it again!
Hey gang-
It's friday, you ain't got a job, and you ain't got shit to do! Head over to Passion of the Weiss and read my take on the political system in America.
What do the Wiggles have to do with Politics? Well, I guess you won't know til you read!
McCain, in New Orleans, Says Katrina Response `Disgraceful'
I picked up the AP feed on this story, because I think I finally have something to say. Give the old girl a read, then we'll discuss.
by Edwin Chen
April 24 (Bloomberg) -- John McCain toured a New Orleans neighborhood still reeling from Hurricane Katrina and issued a new and scathing critique of the ``terrible and disgraceful'' failure of the Bush administration's response to the disaster.
McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said that had he been president he would have immediately visited the area after the storm hit in August 2005. While he's been critical of the administration's Katrina response before, the Arizona senator's remarks today were some of the sharpest he's used.
``Never again will a disaster of this nature be handled in this terrible and disgraceful manner,'' McCain said after a walking tour of the Lower Ninth Ward, a predominantly black neighborhood that was devastated by Katrina. ``History will judge this president,'' he said. ``This was an unacceptable scenario.'
The New Orleans stop was part of McCain's outreach to voters in economically struggling regions of the country and to black voters who historically have voted overwhelmingly for Democratic presidential candidates. He also has been seeking to show how he would be different from fellow Republican Bush, whose approval ratings are at all-time lows for a president.
McCain also blamed the spending habits of Congress, one of his signature campaign issues, for part of the devastation suffered in New Orleans.
``I would also place some of those responsibilities on the Congress, which funded pork barrel projects that were not only not needed but certainly not as important as some of the projects that were needed here,'' he said.
The hurricane is blamed for more than 1,100 deaths, most of them in New Orleans. Thousands of the city's residents were left homeless by flooding. For days, people seeking refuge at the Super Dome were largely left to their own devices there, without adequate food or water or sanitation.
``All I can say is, it will never, ever happen again,'' McCain said after his walk, accompanied by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a Republican.
Done? Read it? Good. Let's talk.
So McCain doesn't think Bush got the job done, eh? Well here's a little newsflash for you, McCain: you've got a little bit of power yourself. If Bush didn't get the job done, and you've got something to say about it, you had better be willing to lend a hand and fix it, as opposed to just 'touring' New Orleans.
But this is typical, isn't it? In a country that can't stand Bush anymore, even his own party calls him out, in a pathetic attempt to get more people on his side. And you know what? Good for him. He's got the political game down.
But Katrina isn't a word game. It requires action. And if you're going to go to all the effort to go down there, do a press tour, and all that crap, you had better be ready to act on those words. Cause enough people have already shown up and said, "yup, something needs to be done." We know that. Hell, America thinks the problem is already solved because it's been 3 years and we don't hear a word about it til someone needs more points from their superdelegates to win an election.
It's the same theory I apply to the news: you never hear about killer bees until it's a slow news day. So apparently McCain has nothing to say about Iraq today, so he wants to refresh everyone's memory about Katrina, while at the same time hammering home the fact that Bush dropped the ball.
Well, all I can really say is, bravo- we've got our next president. Ignorance sure is bliss, ain't it?
My reason to live
Thanks to Travis, who always knows what's up.
Inside the Edge on 97.1 Free FM
My pals over at Inside the Edge have entered into a contest that could win them a show on 97.1 FM!
Visit the 97.1 contest site for all the details, and to listen/vote for their first 'mini episode' (plus you'll get to hear little old me chime in!)
97.1's official contest site
Once there, scroll down to listen to the episode. You can star it just like a youtube video, and after that, you can vote for it in the middle column at the top.
Keep tuning in for future mini-sodes and vote Inside the Edge to greatness!
Oasis: still a mirage to me
We're like the Beatles, but much more pompus. Oh, and not as talented.
Earlier today, I read an article from the Associated Press that left me a bit miffed. Apparently, Oasis is still talking, even though they haven't put out a new record in quite some time. 2006 to be exact. Yet somehow, these windbags still have something to say. I'll let you be the judge, but suffice it to say they ain't too happy with Jay-Z.
British music festival is criticized for inviting Jay-Z
Tue Apr 15, 2:29 PM ET
Organizers of one of Britain's best-known music festivals on Tuesday defended their decision to book Jay-Z as their headline act after Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher blamed the U.S. rapper for disappointing ticket sales.
The outdoor Glastonbury festival is a cornerstone of Britain's music calendar. But this year's festival has yet to sell out, in contrast to past years when tickets were snapped up within hours.
Gallagher, whose band headlined the festival in 1995 and 2004, said rap was to blame.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Gallagher said in an interview, an audio of which was posted to the British Broadcasting Corp.'s Web site Monday. "If you break it, people ain't gonna go. I'm sorry, but Jay-Z? ... No chance." He explained that the inclusion of a hip-hop act went against the festival's tradition of guitar music, adding: "I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. No way. No. It's wrong."
Glastonbury Festival co-organizer Emily Eavis said the 38-year-old festival had a long history of attracting rap acts, including Cypress Hill and The Roots. She said the media stir over Gallagher's comments revealed an "innate conservatism" in some sectors of British society.
"There is also an interesting undercurrent in the suggestion that a black, U.S. hip-hop artist shouldn't be playing in front of what many perceive to be a white, middle-class audience. I'm not sure what to call it, at least not in public, but this is something that causes me some disquiet," she said in an article published Tuesday in The Independent newspaper.
Eavis said she thought Jay-Z was "absolutely the right act" for the festival.
On the Net:
http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/
Whatchu talkin bout Oasis?
My thoughts? I'm glad you asked. Oasis needs to shut their faces and put out a new album that shatters every record in it's path. It needs to go quadruple platinum, and the single has to be one of the greatest songs every written, or at least the one most-widely-listened to. Something along the lines of Happy Birthday or, Oops I did it again. Either that, or this 'Gallagher' fellow needs to return to what he knows best: smashing watermelons with a sledgehammer.
I can't stand when people run their mouths just for press, but I'm doing the same thing here, so I guess I can't really complain. But to me, if I was British, I think I'd say something like, PLEASE QUIT SPEAKING ON MY BEHALF. After all, the U.K. has brought us some fantastic hip hop acts like The Streets and The Herbaliser. Now, I'm not so much a 'streets' fan, but then again, you don't hear Prodigy saying how much they hate the Spice Girls reunion tour either.
Just some things to ponder on this, the day of our bored.
Guest Blog Post!
Yay! I did it again!
Visit Passion of the Weiss to give it a read! Thanks a million, hope everyone's week is going famously.
No, not baseball players, I mean the boys of summer the Don Henley song. And I know what you're thinking...you're thinking, but what about that poster there, the one that came from some 8 year old kid's room in Watts (the kind that looks like it could be a biggie and tupac spray painted tee shirt...or one of those boxing tee shirts where mayweather beats whatever whitey's name was.)
Short long of all this...? Quite simple actually. It's summer, and your cable provider has been giving you a week of free MLB Extra Innings programming. It wraps up after today, so if you haven't already, visit your dvr and ask it for baseball. It should comply, as robots do what we say...most of the time.
I'm on a half day today, and working tomorrow, so I'll be brief. Yep. Enjoy this photo as if I were a star.
Now, I wasn't aware of this sexytown, or that I'd even run for Mayor, but apparently I won. Go me.
Go me yourself. Happy weekend!
Dodgers at the Coliseum
115,000 people can't be wrong...
This weekend I took in the Dodgers/Red Sox game at the Coliseum down at the Unviersity of Southern California. While I had heard USC's Coliseum was basically one giant party, I had no idea what they meant.
Luckily it was a bit tamer than a giant frat party. There were more families, everyone was maybe a little bit more sober than a group of college drunks. Anyway, I had three issues with that place that will hopefully make it run a bit smoother next time.
50 bucks to park?
Fark that noise. I'll pay fifty dollars to park when it's my own driveway and my kid has been out shoveling show off it all day. Even then, I'd tell him he should go out and get a job if he wants fifty bucks. What does a 10 year old need with fifty bucks anyway? Is my child a drug addict? Where's this supposed 'wife' I have, and why did she help me procreate a drug addict child?
These are just some of the questions that come to mind when I see a sign that says "Cheap Parking here- $50!" Yeah, right. What got me was all the hood rats standing in their yards saying, park in my yard- 10 bucks. Yeah, so my car can get stripped and sold for spare parts while I half enjoy wading through 100 thousand people? No thanks.
Could I get a tinier beer?
I'm not sure how they get away with charging 10 dollars a beer ANYWHERE, unless it's in Germany and you get one of those Giant boots. That could be worth it. But 10 bucks for a 14 oz cup of flat MGD? Who the funk n' wagnalls do they think they're fooling? Mind you, I did have a few beers, but it became very clear very quickly that I wasn't going to get drunk at this game. And it made me sad.
No cash, no service
Since when does everywhere in the world not take credit? They were like, "no credit, but we have ATMs all over the stadium." Really? Then why not put a credit card machine in the fucking food area? Couldn't hurt. Unless you don't want a paper trail...maybe the Coliseum is just a drug ring. And maybe all the guys that work the parking lots are the drug lords that were put out of work by an off season sporting event in their fine neighborhood.
Either way, I had fun. And I know you wish you were there. But you weren't. SUCKERS!
March 24th, 2008: Mark this day
Well...it happened. So long cell phone, so long Missouri area code. Although, I guess on the plus side, now when Ja Rule says he's got ho's in different area codes, I finally get what he means. He means that people should hold onto their phone numbers even when they move far far away from that area that prompted the area code.
So I say goodbye to the old 636 and hello to the 323. Los Angeles, I'm yours.
As for you St. Louis...we had a good run, but it's time to say goodbye. Take it, Charlie Brown...
Paste follow up
What a response I've gotten to this whole Paste magazine debacle. Aside from hearing back from their editor again, I've also stumbled upon another battle waged against Paste Magazine through my buddy Sean Russell. Read it by clicking here.
The through line of it revolves around them not wanting to publish the advertisement I pasted above (get it, Paste, I pasted). What did Matador records have to say exactly?
"[W]e'd like to offer a shout-out (ie. "fuck you") to the cowards and thought-cops at the Ad Dept at Paste Magazine who have deemed our proposed advertisement for 'Face The Truth' to be beyond the bounds of "good taste." God forbid that anything might challenge the sensibilities of Paste's Yep Roc-loving, Starbucks-guzzling, Wes Anderson-worshipping readership. Seriously, if there's anything we or SM have done that is a poor fit with Paste's Ad Dept's narrow worldview, that is the highest compliment we've been paid since the last time Spin refused to run one of our ads."
wow. Paste...what's the deal?
Anyway, thought you all might enjoy this one! Have a wonderful day!
Today, my lovely words grace another page over at Passion of the Weiss. That's why I included that nifty picture of a passion fruit. See how deep I am?
Anyway, give it a read by clicking the link above, or find Passion in your own life by looking in the link list to the right.
Paste Magazine vs. Scott Towler
In this month's paste magazine, a silly review about the band moe. was written that got me going. The column, 'Dischord,' runs almost every month. Maybe's it does run every month. I'm not sure. I don't subscribe to the magazine, but I read it from time to time (most notably when my roommate gives me a copy he is done with). Anyway, in this section they launched a debate about moe's newest studio record Sticks and Stones (shown below) which really got me mad. Essentially, two critics write 200 word peices about the album. Maybe 20 people do. Then they pick 2 of them: 1 nice, and 1 not so nice, and run them side by side in the magazine.
In my tenure as a musician and music listener, I have never seen a more ridiculously written piece in my life. To be honest, it was so bad, I had to write to the editors of the magazine themselves to fully vent my frustration:
To: letters@pastemagazine.com
From: me (duh, ya jerk offs)
Subject: Issue #40, March 08
"In response to Dischord: 1 album, 2 opinions : moe. - Sticks and Stones by Kate Kiefer
I'm not sure who you let write 'No Mo' moe.' but they seem too ignorant to be a writer. Then again, I know how pompous most music writers are to begin with, so maybe this is an exercise in futility. But it's like they're the same as acting coaches: they couldn't act themselves, so they take time telling people what good acting is. In this case though, it's some failed musician who insists that moe. sucks because they can't be in the band themselves.
PASTE- you're a magazine. It's your job to hire writer's that aren't complete buffoons; ones that actually know how to write, not just bitch. Sure, maybe moe.'s lyrics aren't Shakespeare, and maybe they spell their name all funny lookin' (creating an editor's nightmare I'm sure), but you've got to give them better coverage than some intern/assistant's opinion about jam bands and how much they hate that their Microsoft word program always capitalizes the next letter after 'moe.'
I guess I'm just peeved cause this magazine always seems to present level-headed reviews (whether good or bad) of almost every artist under the sun. Why you let this blurb pass as 'acceptable' writing blows my mind. I encourage you to find one bit of writing Kate Kiefer has done that's better than this. Please. For me. For humanity. Cause the fact that she's made it as a writer and I haven't really makes me feel like this life is complete bull shit."
I closed with my name, so don't think I'm a total prick. Anyway, lo and behold, this afternoon I got an email back! And not just from anyone, but Kate herself! Read on while I sip this cognac...
"Hi Scott,
The purpose of the Dischord is to show two very different opinions--it's the part of the reviews section where we actually ask our writers to go a little over the top, and it probably wouldn't be very entertaining if one writer didn't love the record and the other didn't hate it. Jeff Leven certainly made some good points about moe.'s strengths. But I've listened to moe.'s studio recordings, and I've seen them perform live (they even played Paste's SXSW showcase last year), and I stand by my opinion that the band's name is ridiculous, its lyrics are cliched and trite, and its music is better live.
I'm sorry that the fact that I've made it as a writer makes you feel like this life is complete bullshit. That's very sad--for both of us. But I assign and edit the reviews section, so I'm going to take the part about the usually level-headed reviews of almost every artist under the sun as a compliment.
moe. is lucky to have a passionate fan like you.
Kate"
Anyway, I thought that was pretty bold of her. Good show. What I don't like, however, is that somehow this letter got into her hands, along with my email address. Now I understand if she's the editor in chief of this magazine. And if she is, bravo. But then are we to consider that this magazine is such a two bit operation that the EIC is reading letters to the editor? Or did someone simply pass this along to her, knowing she's as bull headed as I was, so that she'd write back? If that's the case, then what magazine allows their readers to pass along my info to someone so that they can then fire back/hunt me down and kill me?
So I implore you, Kate, please consider it a simple letter to the editor and don't come to my house and kill me! I mean, you can come over if you want, but it's not going to be all apples and merry-go-rounds. Cause while I may like apples, I get motion sickness.
Passion Post
While this blog is collecting dust like a granny's candy dish, I've been writing somewhere's else, I promise. New guest post over at Passion of the Weiss.
Read it by clicking here!
Then you can come back and shower me with praisens. Mmm...praise raisins...
smooches!
For those of you keeping track...
This is how I've been spending the past month of my life. Yes, it's glamorous. Yes, there's tons of parties and naked women everywhere. Yes, I'm lying through my teeth. Anyway, this show has consumed so much of my time in the past few weeks that I've sort of been neglecting this blog. And instead of leaving you all wondering what happened, I figured I'd just come clean and let you know that I spend each and every day with 'the lost boys.' Proud? Nope. Working? You bet your sweet virgin ass.
Anyway, the strike ended yesterday (hazaa!), so I'll be joining the ranks of a scripted show here within a few weeks. In the meantime, keep yours eyes out for Balls A. Mcgee (in the links to the right), and look out for another guest post on Passion of the Weiss this friday.
Hope everyone has a marvelous Valentine's Day! Tell your parents I love them.
Yeah, you read that right.
Oh, and not that you should, but the season 2 premiere of The 2 Corey's is on March 18th, on A&E @ 10 pm. If you pause your tivo, you'll see my name in the credits! It's the really tiny one at the end of the list.
Posted by The Editor at 12:08 AM 1 comment:
The All Condiment Team
Sometimes in life you get presented with a unique situation and little that can be done about it. In those times, we tend to regress to a primal level, putting things like survival first. Through human evolution that has translated to simply cutting back on the frills. To go without. But what about those times when the object at hand is a extravagance to begin with? What then? This weekend I encountered such a situation amongst a couple of friends and it got me thinking...
I was watching sports. Football I think. Hot dogs were made (they are, after all, the food of the gods), and we were doling out the condiments we had left amongst the people in the room. Perhaps I should backtrack a bit and explain the gravity of what was just said. I'm pretty poor. Oh I get by, but most of the time luxuries aren't things I enjoy. Condiments just happen fall under that category in my mind. I had been known in my poorest days to buy 2 eight-packs of Oscar-Meyer wieners for 4 bucks (yeah Ralph's) and eat them- forgoing any condiments (or buns). This was also around the same time that my roommate dubbed me 'hot dogs,' though I still can't piece together why. Anyway, it goes without saying that to this day most of the condiments I keep in the house are in packet form probably left over from some Dodger game or Taco Bell experience.
We've got quite a collection going today, though it's scant in variety. Suffice it to say, when hot dog time rolls around, those little packets are a hot commodity, which lead us to create the first ever condiment draft.
There were a few easy picks of course. I'm not gonna just throw Taco Bell Fire sauce on a hot dog and call it a day. But then, doesn't it always seem like these restaurants design packets that are only compatible with their foods? That always leaves me unsettled. But in that moment, it vastly limited my range of selection. Del Scorcho sauce? No. Damn it. Think. There was a bevvy of ketchup, that I knew. There always is. I could let that wait. It was all irrelevant though, as I had the third choice in the draft anyway(I had traded my first round pick a week earlier in a toppings draft at the local Ben and Jerry's). By the time they got to me (and we got through the tedious acceptance speeches by the condiments), I had only two options left: mustard and mayo.
Philip Mustard kicks it in cricket
Now, I'm not a mustard eater. Never have been, never will be. Unless it's that delicious seedy mustard you find on swanky sandwiches, but as you can imagine I don't come across much of that (you remember...condiments, luxury, etc. good, we're back). But yellow mustard I simply won't touch. It all stems from an event in my childhood of which I can't remember. All I know is that there was a mustard covered hot dog involved, I had to eat it, it was the worst birthday ever for my friend Glenn, and now I don't eat mustard. Plus, I watched so much Sesame Street and Electric Company growing up. They used to take tours of places, such as a mustard factory, and that always grossed me out. All those gallons of mustard...if there's a hell, mine would surely be there.
So mayonnaise it was. Ultimately I decided to red-shirt the mayonnaise for the upcoming sandwich draft, but at least I didn't get stuck with lady mustard. By the time the draft got back to me again, it was nothing but relish and ketchup. I knew my neighbor had a jar of pickles I could secure, so relish could be kicked to the curb. Better luck next year kid. And yes, I'm aware that pickles and relish aren't the same thing, but it's close enough. What I really wanted was banana peppers, and there weren't any in sight. Apparently Steak 'N Shake has a strangle-hold on the market. Along with De Beers, they price fix the market with the best of 'em. Go figure, right? In the moment though, I knew what I faced. Ketchup and only ketchup. Another boring hot dog.
But that was fine with me. That's all I really eat on hot dogs anyway, I just wanted to be sure I scouted ahead for the sandwich draft. I had learned too many lessons the week before to let a condiment draft pass me by and not get on the horse. Speaking of- did you know there was a Preakness winner named Tabasco Cat? Me neither. Turns out, he's not made of spicy seasoning at all, he's all horse. Here he is, balling out with some humans:
Yeah, see? He isn't a spicy condiment at all, he's a horse. Dismal our world is when you ask for tabasco and get a thuroughbred.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Have a Question about MAP Universal Oil Filter Kit - Black ?
Universal & Most Pre Oil-in-Frame models can use this specially designed filter. Mounts behind rear passenger peg or can be mounted virtually anywhere. Can be used with oil coolers.
Can this kit MAP6510 kit be used on OIF model?
Yes, but in most cases, we suggest the MAP6500 or MAP6500/C for oil in frame applications.
I purchased one of these for my BSA A10. The instructions are for a Triumph installation and say to mount it horizontally on the swingarm. Will it affect operation if its mounted vertically instead?
You may mount it at any angle without effecting function.
I have had your oil filter kit on my 1967 Triumph 650 for a long time and it is great. I recall in the instructions that it said to change the oil every 1000 miles. I have been changing the filter in the kit each time, too. Is this correct or does the filter last longer? I think the elements I have are made by Emgo.
You've been doing the right thing. Triumph twins have an inefficient oil pump and top-end oiling system, plus no stock engine oil filter to speak of. That's why it's a good idea to add our aftermarket oil filter and to change the filter element every time you change the oil. Yes, today's oils (especially the synthetics) do a much better job than they did when your bike was manufactured, but the problem is not with the oil as much as the engine's oiling system. Adding our filter system (like you did) really helps and we find frequent replacement of the filter element is cheap insurance against the one thing that can quickly kill a vintage motorcycle engine - dirty oil.
The EMGO filter elements we sell for our filter kit are well made and very reasonably priced. I'd buy a couple years worth just to keep them on hand. I have this same filter on my vintage Triumph and always change the element with the oil. It's much cheaper in the long run than rebuilding the crankshaft.
I just purchased a bike with this filter not plumbed yet.
Is it OK to mount this filter with the cap toward the top and the lines coming up to the filter from the bottom?
Does the side spigot to to the oil tank?
Because its a pressurized system, you can mount it just about anyway that is convenient for you. Yes, the side spigot is the return to the oil tank.
what size line does this use?
Our oil filter kits use 5/16" line.
I just bought one of these from you and i have a question about the oil feed line in. The oil feed to my rockers on my Triumph 1966 t100 actually comes from inside the oil tank at a t-piece...one side sends oil to the rockers and the other is i believe the feed to the self lubricating chain. The oil return where it spits back into the tank is actually on the t-piece below the rocker feed on the metal pipe within the tank so i cannot install it just prior to the rocker feed as per the instructions. Can i install it on the return line from the engine that goes to the oil tank BEFORE it feeds to the rockers? This is the only way i can see this actually fitting.
The return line needs to go on the same line as the one that feeds the rockers. It's just a way to identify the line as there has been some confusion even in normal rebuilds with folks not thinking and getting the lines crossed. Not a good idea!
Some folks choose to use an auxiliary "T" fitting prior to the filter (between the engine and filter) so as to offer a bit more oil to the rockers (than blocking the original line). As you may or may not know there is not much oil going up to the valve train with the stock tank set up.
Most block the chain oiler as it is very messy and engine oil does not make for good chain lube regardless. Use an appropriate chain oil designated lube.


With the passage of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the United States and Colombian governments need to protect human rights defenders and trade unionists in the Andean nation more than ever, according to testimony at a U.S. committee hearing on Thursday.
Lisa Haugaard of the Latin America Working Group told a U.S. congressional committee for the advocacy of human rights that 2012 has remained "grim" for unionists and human rights defenders in Colombia, 13 of whom were killed in the first three months of the year. According to Haugaard, 64 "acts of aggression" were carried out in the same period.
She pointed to the oft-cited case of Daniel Aguirre, secretary general for the sugar cutter's union SINALCORTEROS, who was shot and killed April 27 — the second Colombian unionist killed since Presidents Barack Obama and Juan Manuel Santos announced the start of the FTA between the U.S. and Colombia.
The FTA has been criticized fiercely by human rights organizations in both countries, due to human and labor rights concerns. The ongoing killings make for an "alarming" level of violence against unionists, she said.
The investigation and prosecution of human right abuses is the most important issue in need of U.S. backing, Haugaard said. She stressed the need to secure justice for those murdered, injured and forcibly disappeared, as Colombia has a 95% impunity rate for those suspected of crimes against unionists.
"There is no better way to protect defenders than to ensure justice for violence against them," she declared.
The Labor Action Plan, signed in April 2011 as part of FTA negotiations, stipulated that Colombia take measures against the threatening and killing of unionists, prosecute those suspected of violating workers' rights, and combat the exploitation of laborers. The agreement allowed for the U.S. Congress to approve the FTA.
An improved dialogue between the government and human rights defenders along with assurances of new government policies "have not yet resulted in tangible improvements in protection or justice for human rights defenders — and tangible improvements are the standard by which the administration should be measured," Haugaard told the bi-partisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
She also asked the government to demand that Colombia end the illegal surveillance of human right defenders, a process notoriously carried out under the now-defunct Colombian intelligence agency DAS during the presidency of Alvaro Uribe. Though lessened, Haugaard said the practice continues.
Haugaard then called on the U.S. government to ensure that military personnel accused of human rights violations face justice in civil courts and for the Colombian government to target successor groups to paramilitary organizations, now major perpetrators of human rights abuses.


text:
The Best New Openings in Yorkville for 2017
By CrustyCanucks - July 27, 2017
We have always had a soft spot for Yorkville, as we have found the neighborhood to be absolutely loaded with the precise type of places we adore eating, drinking and coffee-sipping at while traveling. In fact, the good times we've had there have been so great that they've almost been enough to convince these two Western Canadians that Toronto might just be a place we could move to one day.
Yes, it's true.
In fact, each-and-every time we have been to Toronto recently, we have found ourselves spending so much time dining and imbibing there, that we eventually started booking furnished rentals in Yorkville through Toronto Boutique Apartments. It has been a godsend as it has saved us so much time getting across the city and made those late-night returns from the bar super fast and easy and most importantly, it has let us know what it feels like to truly be a local in the area.
And any regular readers of the site will know that we love living like locals whether we go, whether it be on the other side of the globe or the other side of the country.
What's even better than that is that in the last year or so, Yorkville has really stepped up their game with a host of great new restaurant and bar openings, and the following are a few that we can't wait to check out the next time we have a Toronto extended stay.
Maybe see you at some of these places later this summer?
The Alternative Cafe
Putting a different spin on the typical third wave coffee shop, Alternative Cafe is serving nitro-coffee, rugelach, and a line of pressed juices at their new Yorkville location. We can't wait to try the Squirrel & Bear, a potent mix of espresso with superfood and nutrients served up in an uber cool glass beaker.
A post shared by Calii Love (@caliiloveco) on Jul 22, 2017 at 7:33am PDT
Calii Love
Poke is so hot right now, and Calii Love is now serving up bowls of the cool Hawaiian specialty alongside smoothies and coffee in the heart of the Yorkville. The dish consists of raw fish that has been marinated in shoyu, and here they receive fresh fish shipments each morning before it is cut and served up in all its tangy and delicious glory.
A small venue that does the simple things right, Brothers has already gained a reputation for fine food and a cheeky attitude. We love that put almost as much attention into their wine list as their menu - which is known to feature a mouthwatering beet and radicchio salad. Also look out for a great selection of mussels, which are only around on a short term basis.
Chabrol
This place reminds us of a Parisian bistro, but one with a huge modern update. From the stylish panes of glass out front to the slick decor, everything is appealing to the eye at Chabrol, and the menu full of delights like Pork Liver Mousse with Toast and Pickled Turnip and Riesling-Poached Foie Gras with Black Currant and Salsify is sure to satisfy.
A post shared by Planta (@plantatoronto) on Jul 18, 2017 at 8:20am PDT
I'm not one to pick favorites, but Planta might, maybe, could be the one I am looking forward to eating at the most on the list. Hey, I said 'maybe'! What I love about it is that not only are they serving unbelievable-good sounding plant-based dishes, they are also doing it in a sustainable way.
We would definitely start with an order of the Coconut Ceviche and Fried Kimchi Dumplings before making our way through the pizzas and the Planta burger, Crab Cakes (with hearts of palm no less) and Quinoa Tartare with beet, carrot, and pickled mushrooms.
Goldstruck
Definitely not your mother's coffee shop, Goldstruck has 'struck gold' (sorry, we had to) when it comes to their creative line of coffee drinks. We love the idea of sipping a cayenne & halva latte on a cold day, being warmed not only by its temperature but the touch of spice. But if you're just into a flat white made with fresh-roasted beans, they can do that for you, too!
We're two crusty canucks with a love of travel, food and fun adventures. Follow us for travel guides, foodie reviews and much more!
Trip Report: Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Report: Tuscany & Slovenia


My sister-in-law is currently using the Kingston Data Traveler 1GB memory stick to save all her files in the office and all her family's pictures taken anywhere. I have also experienced using this memory stick for some time back when I was working as an auditor in the best auditing firm in the country.
The number one thing that I like about the Data Traveler is that it really represents its name. It really can be brought in any place I wanted to go. Just put it inside my side pocket, or inside my bag and everything will be on the go. It's one data folder all saved in one small memory stick.
Performance wise, I can say that the Kingston Data Traveler 1GB Memory Stick serves it purpose. Important documents can all be brought anywhere with just one stick. This can easily be reformatted and it's all set for a brand new use. It is 100% all good to me.
Lapis recommends: A very good gift idea for those doing on field work.


The Lake Zurich Navigation Company is a limited company structured in accordance with Swiss private law. It has a share capital of CHF 11 million, divided into 110,000 bearer shares with a nominal value of CHF 100.
The Annual Meeting is the supreme organ of the company. It takes place on the last Monday in June. The duties and competences of the Annual Meeting and the participation rights of the shareholders are stipulated in the company statutes.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the company's strategic priorities and planning. The management is responsible for carrying out all the day-to-day business of the company.
Since 1990 the Lake Zurich Navigation Company has been integrated into the Zurich Public Transport Association and as such is one of its eight market-responsible companies.


Follow N2 towards the City.
Take M3 Muizenberg turn off (left).
Follow M3 southbound towards Muizenberg.
Pass University of Cape Town on right.
Travel until you reach a T-Junction (+- 18km) – ensuring you are in the right hand lane.
Turn right on M42 (Steenberg Road).
At the next set of traffic lights, turn right into Bell Crescent.
Go through the traffic circle and through the visitors boom.
You will see Bridge House on your left hand side as the road bends to the right.
We are Unit 2, 49 Bell Crescent.


The biggest difference between open and closed ended vehicle leasing is that you assume the depreciation risk with an open-ended lease. When you are done leasing the vehicle, the leasing agency will sell the car. If the car depreciated more than the payments you made, you may be on the hook for the difference in the original cost of the car less any payments you made and what the car sold for.
The other downside to an open ended vehicle lease is that if you decide to buy the car at the end of the lease, the price for the car is set based on blue book value at the time. When you do a closed ended lease, the amount is pre-negotiated ahead of time, so you know what it will cost.
While you assume some of the risk when you do an open ended vehicle lease, there is an advantage to assuming the risk. If the car doesn't depreciate that much during your lease period, and it sells for more than the value of the car plus your lease payments, you may get some of the money back. For example, if the leased car's value was $25,000 when you leased it, and you made lease payments in the amount of $5,000 and the car sells for $23,000, you may get $3000 back from the leasing company.
The other benefit to an open-ended vehicle lease is that you have more options than with a close-ended lease. You aren't restricted to mileage rules and you can often sell the car after shorter periods of time, such as 12 months, compared to the 24 to 36 months with a closed lease.
An open-ended lease gives you more options when leasing a car and even allows you to possibly make some money. But, you can also lose money if the car significantly depreciates. If you don't want to take this risk, a close-ended lease may be better for you. Learning the differences among the two options will help you determine which one is better for you.
Contact local commercial vehicle leasing agencies for more information and assistance.


text:
Az 1972-es magyar vívóbajnokság a hatvanhetedik magyar bajnokság volt. A férfi tőrbajnokságot május 22-én rendezték meg, a párbajtőrbajnokságot május 21-én, a kardbajnokságot május 27-én, a női tőrbajnokságot pedig május 28-án, mindet Budapesten, a Játékcsarnokban.

Eredmények

Források
Népsport 1972.05.22., 05.23., 05.28., 05.29.
A magyar sport évkönyve 1972 olimpiai kiadás

Vívás
Magyar vívóbajnokságok


Thanks to a deal that was struck between the Blackhawks and a Make-a-Wish Foundation in Illinois, a 12-year-old who won't let physical challenges keep him down will have his wish come true. NBC 5's Kye Martin has the details.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been busy locking up defensemen this month, and they added another one to the fold as they've inked Jan Rutta to a contract extension.
Rutta, who has six goals and 13 assists in 43 games with the Blackhawks this season, will make $2.25 million next season, according to multiple reports.
The new contract for Rutta follows on the heels of Erik Gustafsson re-signing with the team, after he inked a two-year extension worth $1.2 million per season last week.
Rutta has been dealing with an upper body injury in recent days, but according to head coach Joel Quenneville he will be back on the ice Thursday night when the team takes on the Carolina Hurricanes at the United Center.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago.


text:
Der Matrizenraum oder Raum der Matrizen ist in der Mathematik der Vektorraum der Matrizen fester Größe über einem gegebenen Körper mit der Matrizenaddition und der Skalarmultiplikation als innerer und äußerer Verknüpfung. Die Standardbasis für den Matrizenraum besteht aus den Standardmatrizen, bei denen genau ein Eintrag eins ist und alle anderen Einträge null sind. Die Dimension des Matrizenraums ist gleich dem Produkt aus der Zeilen- und Spaltenanzahl der Matrizen.

Die Matrizenräume besitzen in der linearen Algebra eine fundamentale Bedeutung, da der Raum der linearen Abbildungen zwischen zwei endlichdimensionalen Vektorräumen isomorph (strukturell gleich) zu einem Matrizenraum ist. Demnach kann – nach Wahl einer Basis für den Urbild- und den Zielraum – jede lineare Abbildung durch eine Matrix dargestellt werden und umgekehrt entspricht jede Matrix einer linearen Abbildung.

Definition

Ist  ein Körper sowie  und  natürliche Zahlen, so ist

die Menge der Matrizen der Größe  mit Einträgen aus . Für Matrizen  definiert man nun eine komponentenweise Addition durch

,

sowie eine komponentenweise Multiplikation mit einem Skalar  durch

.

Auf diese Weise erhält man einen Vektorraum , der Matrizenraum oder Raum der Matrizen der Größe  über dem Körper  genannt wird.

Beispiel

Betrachtet man den Raum  der Matrizen der Größe , dann entspricht die Matrizenaddition gerade

und die Skalarmultiplikation entsprechend

.

Als Ergebnis der Addition oder Skalarmultiplikation erhält man demnach wieder eine -Matrix.

Eigenschaften

Neutrales und inverses Element

Das neutrale Element im Matrizenraum ist die Nullmatrix

,

deren Elemente alle gleich dem Nullelement  des Körpers  sind. Das zu einer Matrix  additiv inverse Element ist dann die Matrix

,

wobei  für  und  jeweils das additiv inverse Element zu  in  ist.

Gesetze

Der Matrizenraum erfüllt die Axiome eines Vektorraums. Neben der Existenz eines neutralen und inversen Elements gelten für Matrizen  und Skalare

 das Assoziativgesetz ,
 das Kommutativgesetz ,
 das gemischte Assoziativgesetz ,
 die Distributivgesetze  und  sowie
 die Neutralität der Eins , wobei  das Einselement des Körpers  ist.

Diese Gesetze folgen direkt aus der Assoziativität, der Kommutativität und der Distributivität der Addition und Multiplikation im Körper  durch Anwendung auf jedes Element einer Matrix.

Basis und Dimension

Die Standardbasis für den Matrizenraum besteht aus der Menge der Standardmatrizen

.

bei denen der Eintrag an der Stelle  eins ist und alle anderen Einträge null sind. Jede Matrix  lässt sich somit als Linearkombination

dieser Basismatrizen darstellen. Die Dimension des Matrizenraums beträgt demnach

,

sie ist also das Produkt aus der Zeilen- und der Spaltenanzahl der Matrizen des Raums.

Isomorphie

Der Vektorraum der Matrizen ist isomorph zum Raum  der linearen Abbildungen zwischen zwei endlichdimensionalen Vektorräumen  und  über dem gleichen Körper , das heißt

,

wobei  die Dimension von  und  die Dimension von  ist. Jede lineare Abbildung  kann nämlich nach Wahl einer Basis  für  und  für  durch

für  dargestellt werden. Somit kann jede solche lineare Abbildung eindeutig durch eine Matrix , die sogenannte Abbildungsmatrix, beschrieben werden. Umgekehrt entspricht jede Matrix auf diese Weise genau einer linearen Abbildung aus .

Erweiterungen

Der Matrizenraum kann beispielsweise um folgende mathematische Strukturen erweitert werden:

 Wird ein reeller oder komplexer Matrizenraum mit einem Skalarprodukt versehen, beispielsweise dem Frobenius-Skalarprodukt, erhält man einen Skalarproduktraum. Da dieser Raum bezüglich der von dem Skalarprodukt induzierten Metrik vollständig ist, handelt es sich dabei sogar um einen Hilbertraum.

 Wird ein reeller oder komplexer Matrizenraum mit einer Matrixnorm versehen, beispielsweise einer natürlichen Matrixnorm oder der Frobeniusnorm, erhält man einen normierten Raum. Auch dieser Raum ist dann bezüglich der von der Norm induzierten Metrik vollständig, also ein Banachraum.

 Wird ein Matrizenraum mit einer Topologie versehen, erhält man einen topologischen Vektorraum, das heißt die Matrizenaddition und die Skalarmultiplikation sind dann stetige Operationen.

 Wird ein Raum quadratischer Matrizen neben der Matrizenaddition und der Skalarmultiplikation mit der Matrizenmultiplikation versehen, erhält man eine assoziative Algebra.

Siehe auch
 Koordinatenraum, der Vektorraum der Koordinatenvektoren über einem Körper
 Matrizenring, der Ring der quadratischen Matrizen über einem Ring
 Allgemeine lineare Gruppe, die Gruppe der regulären Matrizen über einem Ring

Literatur

Einzelnachweise

Vektorraum
Lineare Algebra