Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
MOBYLIVES � eBooks
MOBYLIVES � eBooks
Remember the sense of liberation that came from digitizing your CDs and then chucking a decade or two’s accumulation of archaic plastic? James Vasile and Ian Sullivan want to give you that gratification again–this time from rendering into bits your hundreds of pounds of dead trees.
Their invention, on display over the weekend at the HOPE hackers conference in New York: the BookLiberator, a simple contraption of poplar wood, screws, plexiglass, and two mounted digital cameras. Rest a book or magazine on the device’s adjustable base, and set its boxy frame so that the plexiglass spreads the pages flat. Take a picture with each camera, turn the page, and repeat. Before long you’ve created new fodder for your Kindle, iPad, or Sony Reader.
The scanner is quicker than traditional scanners at 15 pages per minute, and the quality of the image is better than with traditional scanners. According to the Journal, “Vasile and Sullivan plan to sell their invention in construct-it-yourself kits for around $120, plus an extra $200 for the pair of cameras–less than 10% of the price, they point out, of advanced book scanning devices.”
e, 600x402 pixels)Saturday, July 24, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Amrit Kala
Amrit Kala
Yoga Nidra
sleep
http://www.amritkala.com/cgi-bin/amritkala.storefront/4c393341172f6144273f4200c14a05d1/Catalog/1026
Yoga Nidra
sleep
http://www.amritkala.com/cgi-bin/amritkala.storefront/4c393341172f6144273f4200c14a05d1/Catalog/1026
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search
Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eeAzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VzgHAAAAIBAJ&dq=secretariat%20gotham%20stakes&pg=1845%2C2602526
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eeAzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VzgHAAAAIBAJ&dq=secretariat%20gotham%20stakes&pg=1845%2C2602526
Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
Hi. My name is Judy Reynolds. I’m a long time reader first time blogger. Where to start? I suppose some details about me and my journey so far is as good a place as any. I’m 28, from Kildare, Ireland and I’m a professional dressage rider. I live in Germany with my partner Patrick, my dog Blitzen and three of my horses Remember, Vancouver and Bodessa who are all at different stages in their training.
Patrick and I have been together for over 8 years. I met him first when I was working part time at my fathers transport company. He left his job in Ireland and moved to Germany with me 3 years ago. Before Patrick joined me here it was myself with only my faithful hound Blitzen for company after the long days at the stables. His steadfast loyalty and honest advice are a big reason I’ve been able to dedicate myself to my training in Germany. I consider him a major factor behind my success, and Patrick isn’t bad either ;)
We live in a small town called Voerde, which is about 60 km’s north of Dusseldorf. I’m based at Johann Hinnemann’s stables with my horses for training and competition. I’ve lived in Germany for almost 7 years now, I spent the first few years in Bavaria where I trained with experienced Irish rider Anna Merveldt and then with Ulla Salzgeber. Around 2 years ago I moved to my current location to work on bringing my #1 horse, Remember (or “Remy” to his friends) from ‘Small Tour’ to ‘Big Tour’.
Remy is a really talented 12-year-old KWPN gelding. I bought him 6 years ago from a small producer in Holland. As a 7 year old he hadn’t done very much, he was competing at elementary level (German level L). He’s not the biggest horse -only 166cm, but I’m not the biggest girl, only 158cm (on a good day!) so the picture works. What Remy lacks in size he makes up for in presence. He has fantastic paces, in particular his canter. We had our most successful year so far in 2008. We had many wins at German national shows at Prix st George and Intermediare I level, beating some of the big name German riders in the process; we also won at the CDI Lipica, Slovenia. The successes of 2008 were culminated with me being named Irish dressage rider of the year by the main Irish equestrian publication, The Irish Field.
2009 was a quieter year on the competition front as we concentrated on making the step up to Grand Prix level. At our first time out at Intermediare II level last year we won the class with over 66%, this may have gone to my head a little at the time though because shortly after I entered for two international CDI’s at Vierzon in France and Hickstead in the UK. Neither show went particularly well but there were definitely some positive points. We picked up a WEG qualifying score at Hickstead and I learned something valuable about ensuring you and your horse are secure in the work before you take it in front of international judges. Anyway, lesson learned.
After Hickstead I went back to working hard on securing the new movements, which Remy had to learn to make the step up to Grand Prix (piaffe, passage and one tempi changes). Later in the year we competed at a couple of national shows to check what we were doing at home could be transferred to the competition arena and picked up another win and a few placings along the way.
2010 started with a bang and we won scoring over 70% at national shows here in Germany. At Easter we got our 2nd qualifying score for WEG at the CDI*** in Stadl Paura, Austria.
More recently we travelled down to Munich CDI***** where the best in the world were competing including Edward Gal, Adelinde Cornelissen, Isabell Werth and Ulla Salzgeber. It’s inspirational to watch these riders work their horses and ride among them.
I had my first Grand Prix win recently at a national show not too far away from home and I was also presented with the Deutsche Goldenes Reitabzeichen (German Golden Riders Badge) which you get for having 10 wins at ‘S’ level (Prix St George and above). This was a great honour for me and I am only the second Irish dressage rider ever to have earned it. It was so nice at the show in Krefeld as the Kuehnen family really made the presentation ceremony very special for me, and the spectators -though possibly seeing me for only the first or second time- gave me a brilliant reception, cheering and clapping during the lap of honour. I didn’t stop smiling for days! (Pictured from left to right: Judy's trainer Johann Hinnemann, Judy on Remember and the Vice President of the Rheinland Federation, Herr Heiner Nachbarschulte at the National Show in Krefeld, Germany where Judy won her first Grand Prix and received the Goldenes Reitabzeichen)
In between all my travelling around to shows with Remy I get the other horses out competing as often as possible and also go home to Ireland every 4-6 weeks to teach the growing number of students I have there.
Next up on the calendar are some more national shows in Germany and at the end of June the Fritzens CDI**** in Austria, this competition is run by the Swarovski family and is one of the most beautiful shows of the year. Set into the Austrian Alps and the hospitality is second to none.
www.judyreynolds.com
Irish Dressage Rider Judy Reynolds Vies for A Chance to Compete at the 2010 Games
My 2nd qualifying score with Remember in Stadl Paura means that Ireland has 3 dressage riders qualified for a major championship for only the 2nd time…EVER!! I look forward to linking up with already qualified Anna Merveldt (aka Peetsy) and Yvette Truesdale to represent Ireland on the Big Stage!Hi. My name is Judy Reynolds. I’m a long time reader first time blogger. Where to start? I suppose some details about me and my journey so far is as good a place as any. I’m 28, from Kildare, Ireland and I’m a professional dressage rider. I live in Germany with my partner Patrick, my dog Blitzen and three of my horses Remember, Vancouver and Bodessa who are all at different stages in their training.
Patrick and I have been together for over 8 years. I met him first when I was working part time at my fathers transport company. He left his job in Ireland and moved to Germany with me 3 years ago. Before Patrick joined me here it was myself with only my faithful hound Blitzen for company after the long days at the stables. His steadfast loyalty and honest advice are a big reason I’ve been able to dedicate myself to my training in Germany. I consider him a major factor behind my success, and Patrick isn’t bad either ;)
We live in a small town called Voerde, which is about 60 km’s north of Dusseldorf. I’m based at Johann Hinnemann’s stables with my horses for training and competition. I’ve lived in Germany for almost 7 years now, I spent the first few years in Bavaria where I trained with experienced Irish rider Anna Merveldt and then with Ulla Salzgeber. Around 2 years ago I moved to my current location to work on bringing my #1 horse, Remember (or “Remy” to his friends) from ‘Small Tour’ to ‘Big Tour’.
Remy is a really talented 12-year-old KWPN gelding. I bought him 6 years ago from a small producer in Holland. As a 7 year old he hadn’t done very much, he was competing at elementary level (German level L). He’s not the biggest horse -only 166cm, but I’m not the biggest girl, only 158cm (on a good day!) so the picture works. What Remy lacks in size he makes up for in presence. He has fantastic paces, in particular his canter. We had our most successful year so far in 2008. We had many wins at German national shows at Prix st George and Intermediare I level, beating some of the big name German riders in the process; we also won at the CDI Lipica, Slovenia. The successes of 2008 were culminated with me being named Irish dressage rider of the year by the main Irish equestrian publication, The Irish Field.
2009 was a quieter year on the competition front as we concentrated on making the step up to Grand Prix level. At our first time out at Intermediare II level last year we won the class with over 66%, this may have gone to my head a little at the time though because shortly after I entered for two international CDI’s at Vierzon in France and Hickstead in the UK. Neither show went particularly well but there were definitely some positive points. We picked up a WEG qualifying score at Hickstead and I learned something valuable about ensuring you and your horse are secure in the work before you take it in front of international judges. Anyway, lesson learned.
After Hickstead I went back to working hard on securing the new movements, which Remy had to learn to make the step up to Grand Prix (piaffe, passage and one tempi changes). Later in the year we competed at a couple of national shows to check what we were doing at home could be transferred to the competition arena and picked up another win and a few placings along the way.
2010 started with a bang and we won scoring over 70% at national shows here in Germany. At Easter we got our 2nd qualifying score for WEG at the CDI*** in Stadl Paura, Austria.
More recently we travelled down to Munich CDI***** where the best in the world were competing including Edward Gal, Adelinde Cornelissen, Isabell Werth and Ulla Salzgeber. It’s inspirational to watch these riders work their horses and ride among them.
I had my first Grand Prix win recently at a national show not too far away from home and I was also presented with the Deutsche Goldenes Reitabzeichen (German Golden Riders Badge) which you get for having 10 wins at ‘S’ level (Prix St George and above). This was a great honour for me and I am only the second Irish dressage rider ever to have earned it. It was so nice at the show in Krefeld as the Kuehnen family really made the presentation ceremony very special for me, and the spectators -though possibly seeing me for only the first or second time- gave me a brilliant reception, cheering and clapping during the lap of honour. I didn’t stop smiling for days! (Pictured from left to right: Judy's trainer Johann Hinnemann, Judy on Remember and the Vice President of the Rheinland Federation, Herr Heiner Nachbarschulte at the National Show in Krefeld, Germany where Judy won her first Grand Prix and received the Goldenes Reitabzeichen)
In between all my travelling around to shows with Remy I get the other horses out competing as often as possible and also go home to Ireland every 4-6 weeks to teach the growing number of students I have there.
Next up on the calendar are some more national shows in Germany and at the end of June the Fritzens CDI**** in Austria, this competition is run by the Swarovski family and is one of the most beautiful shows of the year. Set into the Austrian Alps and the hospitality is second to none.
www.judyreynolds.com
Monday, July 05, 2010
Taryn Rose - Shoes, Bags, Watches - Zappos.com
Taryn Rose - Shoes, Bags, Watches - Zappos.com
About Taryn Rose?
In 1998, the footwear industry changed forever with the arrival of Taryn Rose International, a line of luxury shoes as fashionable as they are functional. Founded by a young orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Taryn Rose, the brand struck a chord with women desiring to be well dressed while having a sense of well being and very quickly established a dedicated following.
Hand-sewn in Italy, Taryn Rose shoes are made with the finest materials and are known the world over for their style, ease and remarkable fit. Taryn Rose?s inspiration lies in the evolution of people's lives and how fashion can fuse with function in the most innovative way. Taryn Rose consistently takes on the challenge to find the next breakthrough in technology and remain on the cutting-edge of design and manufacturing methods. In 1998, Taryn Rose became the first footwear company to utilize the NASA-created Poron cushioning that gained the nickname ?memory foam? for its ability to retain 95% of its cushioning after years of use. This breakthrough was followed by the patented Aqua Rose camoscio in 2006, giving customers a water-proof suede that could actually be worn on a rainy day. Every Taryn Rose shoe is designed to meet the lifestyle needs and fashion cravings of today's on-the-go individual. The recent eco-friendly offering literally helps the earth-conscious customer measure her carbon footprint. Each season, Taryn Rose continues to exceed standards and bring customers the latest and best advancements the industry has to offer.
What makes a Taryn Rose shoe different? Arch Support: Taryn Rose shoes are built on an asymmetrical last, allowing for full arch support, which increases the foot?s mobility within the shoe, decreases fatigue and protects the ankles. Breathability: Taryn Rose shoes are lined with the same final quality of leather used on the uppers, making the foot more comfortable from the inside out. It also increases breathability, because natural materials breathe in a way that synthetics cannot. Cushioning: A generous cushion of Poron® is built in to support the ball of the foot. Poron® is a foam with memory, so it literally springs back to retain its shape. Flexibility: Extra cushioning and supple materials encourage the foot to move naturally within the shoe. Lightness: Taryn Rose is constantly looking for materials to cushion the foot and provide support without adding weight. Evolutionary: Taryn Rose shoes have been designed in response to changes in the way we live. Customers lead active lives and want to be able to think on their feet. Details: Special attention is paid to the well-being of the customers and to the planet. The use of water-soluble glue is less toxic than commercial cobbler?s glues and allows the shoes to breathe and stretch naturally, decreasing tears and extending their functional life.
About Taryn Rose?
In 1998, the footwear industry changed forever with the arrival of Taryn Rose International, a line of luxury shoes as fashionable as they are functional. Founded by a young orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Taryn Rose, the brand struck a chord with women desiring to be well dressed while having a sense of well being and very quickly established a dedicated following.
Hand-sewn in Italy, Taryn Rose shoes are made with the finest materials and are known the world over for their style, ease and remarkable fit. Taryn Rose?s inspiration lies in the evolution of people's lives and how fashion can fuse with function in the most innovative way. Taryn Rose consistently takes on the challenge to find the next breakthrough in technology and remain on the cutting-edge of design and manufacturing methods. In 1998, Taryn Rose became the first footwear company to utilize the NASA-created Poron cushioning that gained the nickname ?memory foam? for its ability to retain 95% of its cushioning after years of use. This breakthrough was followed by the patented Aqua Rose camoscio in 2006, giving customers a water-proof suede that could actually be worn on a rainy day. Every Taryn Rose shoe is designed to meet the lifestyle needs and fashion cravings of today's on-the-go individual. The recent eco-friendly offering literally helps the earth-conscious customer measure her carbon footprint. Each season, Taryn Rose continues to exceed standards and bring customers the latest and best advancements the industry has to offer.
What makes a Taryn Rose shoe different? Arch Support: Taryn Rose shoes are built on an asymmetrical last, allowing for full arch support, which increases the foot?s mobility within the shoe, decreases fatigue and protects the ankles. Breathability: Taryn Rose shoes are lined with the same final quality of leather used on the uppers, making the foot more comfortable from the inside out. It also increases breathability, because natural materials breathe in a way that synthetics cannot. Cushioning: A generous cushion of Poron® is built in to support the ball of the foot. Poron® is a foam with memory, so it literally springs back to retain its shape. Flexibility: Extra cushioning and supple materials encourage the foot to move naturally within the shoe. Lightness: Taryn Rose is constantly looking for materials to cushion the foot and provide support without adding weight. Evolutionary: Taryn Rose shoes have been designed in response to changes in the way we live. Customers lead active lives and want to be able to think on their feet. Details: Special attention is paid to the well-being of the customers and to the planet. The use of water-soluble glue is less toxic than commercial cobbler?s glues and allows the shoes to breathe and stretch naturally, decreasing tears and extending their functional life.
Hasselblad
Hasselblad
APOLLO-11 HASSELBLAD CAMERAS
by Phill Parker
The camera equipment carried on the Apollo-11 flight was comprehensive. In addition to the usual TV and small-film cameras on board, there was a special camera for near-distance stereoscopic shots of the moon. And, of course, there were also the cameras which, for this article, are the most important, viz., three Hasselblad 500ELs.
...
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Chinese court sentences US geologist to 8 years - Yahoo! News
Chinese court sentences US geologist to 8 years - Yahoo! News
BEIJING – An American geologist held by Chinese state security agents who stubbed lit cigarettes on his arms was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday for gathering data on China's oil industry — a case that highlights the government's use of vague secrets laws to restrict business information.
In pronouncing Xue Feng guilty of spying and collecting state secrets, the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court said his actions "endangered our country's national security."
Its verdict said Xue received documents on geological conditions of onshore oil wells and a database that gave the coordinates of more than 30,000 oil and gas wells belonging to China National Petroleum Corporation and listed subsidiary PetroChina Ltd. That information, it said, was sold to IHS Energy, the U.S. consultancy Xue worked for and now known as IHS Inc.
The sentence of eight years is close to the recommended legal limit of 10 years for all but extremely serious violations. Though Xue, now 45 and known as a meticulous, driven researcher, showed no emotion when the court announced the verdict, it stunned his lawyer and his sister, his only family member allowed in the courtroom.
"I can't describe how I feel. It's definitely unacceptable," Xue's wife, Nan Kang, said by telephone, sobbing, from their home in a Houston, Texas, suburb where she lives with their two children.
U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman attended the hearing to display Washington's interest in the case. He left without commenting and the U.S. Embassy issued a statement calling for Xue's immediate release and deportation to the United States.
Xue's sentence punctuates a case that has dragged on for more than two-and-a-half years and is likely to alarm foreign businesses unsure when normal business activities elsewhere might conflict with China's vague state security laws.
Chinese officials have wide authority to classify information as state secrets. Draft regulations released by the government in April said business secrets of major state companies qualify as state secrets.
"This is a very harsh sentence," said John Kamm, an American human rights campaigner whom the State Department turned to for help last year to lobby for Xue's release. "It's a huge disappointment and will send very real shivers up the spines of businesses that do business in China."
Agents from China's internal security agency detained Xue in November 2007. During the early days of his detention they stubbed lit cigarettes into his arms and hit him on the head with an ashtray. His case first became public when The Associated Press reported on it last November.
Like IHS, many multinationals have come to rely on people like Xue to run their China operations. Another China-born foreign national, Australian Stern Hu who worked for the global mining firm Rio Tinto, was sentenced in March to 10 years for bribery and infringing trade secrets that dealt with iron ore sales to Chinese companies.
Born in China, Xue earned a doctorate at the University of Chicago and became a U.S. citizen, returning to his native country to work. By all accounts, including witness statements cited in the court verdict, Xue poured his energies into his work for IHS, trying to gather information on China's oil industry, contacting former school mates from his university days in China.
Two of the three other defendants sentenced along with Xue on Monday were school mates. Chen Mengjin and Li Dongxu, who worked for research institutes affiliated with PetroChina were each given two-and-a-half-year sentences and fined 50,000 yuan ($7,500). The other defendant, Li Yongbo, a manager at Beijing Licheng Zhongyou Oil Technology Development Co., was sentenced to eight years and fined 200,000 yuan ($30,000). Xue was also fined 200,000 yuan.
Li and Xue arranged the sale of the database — which was originally prepared by a Chinese company for sale to PetroChina's parent company and contained details on the coordinates and volume of reserves for the 30,000 wells — to IHS for $228,500, the court's sentencing document said.
A spokesman for IHS, which is based in Englewood, Colorado, said the company is disappointed by the news yet declined to comment on China's broad interpretation of state secrets. In the past, the spokesman, Ed Mattix, has said that Chinese authorities never notified IHS that it was involved in any wrongdoing.
During Xue's closed-door trial, which ran over three dates last July and in December, the court document said he defended himself, arguing that the information he gathered "is data that the oil sector in countries around the world make public."
David Rowley, Xue's thesis adviser at University of Chicago and a geologist, said that the location and seismic and other data of oil wells is commonly available and could not compromise Chinese security since the government controls access.
"What frightens me most about this is that Xue Feng is, in my experience, a straight-up individual who worked hard, who didn't push limits, or try to pull a fast one by, but was simply honest and entirely well meaning," Rowley said in an e-mail. "That's IHS's business — acquiring and redistributing data (bases) so he was simply doing his job."
In rejecting Xue and his lawyer's arguments that no crime had been committed, the court cited the National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets as saying that the information Xue received on China National Petroleum Corp. was classified as either secret or confidential.
The court document indirectly acknowledged the difficulties Xue and IHS would have collecting data in such a restrictive environment.
"IHS Co. has information exchange agreements with many oil companies, but exchanging information with Chinese oil companies is very difficult. Because China controls energy information relatively strictly, IHS Co.'s information and data on China are not very complete," the sentencing statement cited one witness as telling the court.
3 Low-Cal Summer Thirst Quenchers
3 Low-Cal Summer Thirst Quenchers
Happier, Healthier You
Hot summer temps can make you extra thirsty, but be careful what you slurp—some iced coffee drinks and so-called "healthy" fruit smoothies exceed 500 calories. Gulp! To quench my thirst during the sunny season, I'm careful to drink unsweetened iced tea or coffee, plus lots of water out of my ever-present Sigg bottle. Sometimes plain ol' H20 gets a little, well, plain. Want to add a little zing? Popping in a few iced-cubes made from fruit juice and frozen berries is a delicious option. However, for a special sip that won't sink your diet, try one of these simple, low-calorie and seriously delicious swigs below. Bottoms up!
Almosjito (Makes 1 drink)
1/2 lime
1/2 orange
4 sprigs mint
1/4 cup sparkling water
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1/3 cups crushed ice
Squeeze lime and orange juices into a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients. Shake and strain into a glass.
Bonus: Slimming, meatless meals
Low-Sugar Lemonade (Makes 4 drinks)
5 lemons
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 quart sparkling water
1 handful mint sprigs
Juice 4 of the lemons; slice the other lemon and set aside. Blend juice with applesauce and maple syrup. Stir in sparkling water. Pour mixture into large pitcher over ice. Garnish with lemon slices and mint sprigs and serve. (80 calories per serving)
Bonus: 15 easy, healthy summer picnic snacks
Sun Tea With Mint (Makes 4 drinks)
4 cups water
4 black tea bags
Rind from 1 lemon
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
Bonus quiz: Do cravings control you?
Combine water, tea bags, rind and mint leaves in a glass pitcher and set in sun for 6 to 8 hours. (No time? Boil water, add ingredients and steep for 5 minutes.) Refrigerate until chilled and serve over ice; garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. (5 calories per serving)
Bonus: Find a bounty of other low-calories bevvies on Self.com
For more from SELF go to SELF.com.
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Friday, July 02, 2010
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