Paint Stains

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http://del.icio.us/amonck#2008-05-14

• New Breed of Business Gurus Rises - WSJ.com
  Meet the new breed! Sorry - no women, or Asians.
• New role for Parsons at AJ
  Nigel Parsons, previously the Managing Director of Al Jazeera English, has been named the new Managing Director of Business Acquisition and Development by the Al Jazeera Network.
• Positive Thinking vs Skepticism in the Markets
  "I subscribe to the adage: 'Be trustworthy to all and optimistic in all your dealings, excepting those of a financial nature.'"
• How low will the Washington Post go?
  Like delivering to people who no longer subscribe low?
• Media firms outperform global peers - livemint
  analysis of the financials of 37 publicly traded companies in the Indian M&E sector shows that gross profits from core operations, or EBITDA, grew 31% in compounded terms between 2003 and 2007.
• Channel 4 programme 'Undercover Mosque' wins £100,000 from police who wrongly accused them of faking footage | the Daily Mail
  Should've been more...

a. when you steam your face, how long do your pores stay open?

b. there's a site where i can get pretty inexpensive jojoba oil. but they have refined & unrefined. (clear or yellow) so...which one would be the best for ocm?

c. say i put freesia oil in my ocm bottle. would this smell entirely like freesia or would it just mask the smell a little & smell like weird olive oil & flowers?

• 11:23 @ephealy Let me know if you find something... that would be really useful. #
• 11:25 Enter the GenCon art show or just work the Talisman booth... hmmm. #

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My aunt Evelyn was sent to the hospital and then to an assisted living facility...I don't have any more info :(

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Sometimes I get tired and forget his legacy, forget what we've all been through...and I also forget how important it is that SOMEHOW McCain be defeated (and I run into his supporters more and more these days) because he wants to continue the Bush Disaster and we can't take it any more.

The passionate voices seem to be usually on the radical right; I assume this is because wealthy media owners support the right wing because they think anyone else might raise their taxes and that's all a lot of people care about..

One thing that makes Obama so refreshing is that he speaks well while saying things that are actually sane.

But here a special commentary on MSNBC lets us listen to someone else who knows and is not afraid to speak against what has really been going on in the Bush years. Thank you, Keith Olbermann.

I could feel my eyes open wide and I took in a huge breath when I listened to the below. This is important to hear. Thanks to msgeek for sharing it on LJ, where I saw it.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvNn1raVikw
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcNAt6mfRFA

http://organisationofillustratorscouncil.blogspot.com/2008/05/oic-scavenger-sketch-self-portrait_15.html

I is Twisstii :D

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_12303.cfm

Shortly past 11 yesterday night a wild crackling of machine guns started again down the street, at the blocked Tayyouneh round about. It took a few mn for the online news to post a one-liner: "11:16pm Lebanese government revokes it two measures concerning Hizbullah telecommunications network and the reassignment of the head of the airport security."
Sounded depressing as hell, but I needed more details as to how and why. It's 6 am and there hasn't been news updates since, but Mustapha ref'ed his readers to Across the Bay for an analysis that offers more details. Extract (with my emphasis):

"All the idiotic commentators, from Paul Salem onwards, who talked about a different "political balance" as a result of the fighting, don't and never did know what they're talking about. This is political suicide for Hezbollah, who has already made contacts with Hariri through a third party informing him that they're looking for an exit. They know they're in a jam.

Not just that, now the government is in a position to leverage rescinding its decisions -- which it could never implement to begin with! -- and we're already seeing M14 and government sources expressing that.

For one, all M14 officials -- including Hariri who made a powerful, uncompromising speech yesterday -- are now unanimous about placing the fate of Hezbollah's weapons as the first item on any "dialogue" agenda. Gone are the days of the "sanctity" of the weapons of the "resistance." Minister Joe Sarkis has added that any rescinding of the decisions has to be met by not just a withdrawal of armed men from the streets and the reopening of all roads, but also the evacuation of the tent city in downtown Beirut.

The mere fact that M14 and the government are bartering the rescinding of a decision that was never going to be implemented (and if the government was illegitimate, according to Hezbollah, then why even bother focusing on its decisions and thereby affirm its legitimacy?) suggests, regardless of outcome, that they know that there's no "new balance" advantageous to Hezbollah that forces them to capitulate.

Army Commander Suleiman is now under tons of pressure. Hariri himself criticized the Army's performance, and we know that 40 senior officers submitted their resignation (which would've split the Army) in protest of Suleiman's handling of the situation (and we also know that criminal pro-Aounist officers were particularly egregious during the crisis). Saudi outlets have even criticized the Army's performance, putting more pressure on Suleiman to get his act together if he wants to become president (especially now that any gambit about Hezbollah tilting the balance has failed). The US, which also has leverage through its aid to the Army might also do the same. These kinds of pressures, domestic, regional and international, and Suleiman's susceptibility to them, is why Syria won't take a chance with him. Anyone who doesn't fall and lick Bashar's boots without hesitation at a moment's notice cannot be trusted as far as the murderer of Damascus is concerned, and it's why Syria knows that it must return militarily to Lebanon in order to rule it. Even doing it by proxy, through Hezbollah, hasn't worked.

This is far from over. In fact, this has only just begun."

For the full post: http://beirut2bayside.blogspot.com/2008/05/hezbollahs-third-botched-coup-attempt.html

What happens in the near future (tent city disappearing, the discussion of HA weapons) will show who really won this round and who simply finally found a face-saving exit.

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Today I watched this documentary called Out of Balance (2007). It highlights the litany of evils perpetuated by energy juggernaut Exxon-Mobil. I know the thought that the eminent fuel giant could have malicious intent for mankind is as unbelievable to you as it is to me, but it is a good watch nonetheless.

I've managed to get my car fuel-ups to about once a month due to carpooling and walking (and having a small, fuel-efficient car).  Thus I am not at the pump very often, but the last time I was (which was not at an E-M station), I noticed a peculiar sticker near the pump: "This fuel contains no more than 10% ethanol."

I thought the intent of this sticker could be a variety of things depending on how you read it.

Could it be:

A) We are reducing the nation's reliance on foreign oil by using alternatives. Aren't you proud of us? You should give us your money, and just ignore the fact that biodiesel means feeding cars over feeding people.

B) We know feeding cars over people is bad, so we aren't using more than 10% of ethanol (this seems a little too optimistic, doesn't it).

C) Other.

------
I've noticed my "less socially aware" friends have started to conserve gas and energy in general, for the first time ever. Has anyone else noticed this pattern among their non-conscientious friends?

Thinking of my grandmother a lot tonight. The last words she said to me was that it was important to keep the art tradition alive in our family. It was a difficult burden and something I think of always. I wish I had really gotten to know her better. I wish I hadn't gotten tired of her making me draw apples over and over.

She used to do fashion illustration in NY in the 40's. Imagine what that world must have been like. Yet I was a stupid kid and never asker her about it.




Cecille Kuhnke, My Grandmother
Advance Pattern
Mid 1940's

http://organisationofillustratorscouncil.blogspot.com/2008/05/oic-scavenger-sketch-selfportrait_15.html

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_12302.cfm

Is a weed-cloth significantly different than a plain old tarp?  Better drainage, maybe?

please remember that I collect postcards :)

Ok, begging can be annoying, but this is just an FYI ;)

As the maintainer of who_knits, I probably should have spoken up about the Doctor Who/ BBC/ mazzmatazz/ ebay/ knitting pattern fiasco much earlier.

(Lots more links about the row here.)

I thought the whole situation was unfortunate and unfair but also silly and assumed it would blow over before it got to the point where Neil Frickin' Gaiman might blog about it.

I'm pondering, pondering... perhaps who_knits should hold a knitalong that results in many knit Adipose being mailed to the appropriate BBC office.

I did sleep and a lot of the painful fibromyaglia symptoms are much better. Fibro patients really need good sleep every night.

This completely rules out my living on the street or in my car, so I really wonder just when it will be noticed by somebody who cares that disability payments are now no longer enough for food, clothing, shelter, and medical copays and OTC-but-doc-says-to-take stuff. Never mind transportation or any hope of not getting depressed due to dire poverty. The Libertarians would just let me did and so would the Republicans which is why it looks like I am just stuck with the Dems.

Anyway, I did have nasty killer joint pain and a migraine starting when I woke, and also severe dangerous suicidal depression. I wrote some emails in this state that I might not be forgiven for.

When I took my pain med and it started to work, the depression improved somewhat as the pain became controlled.

However, I still had severe muscle weakness and fatigue. I was a bit scared about driving the 75 miles to my thyroid doc today. I kept the appt. because he is a really nice doc that works in a clinic where they have a terrible time with rescheduling.

On the way there, I became very tired and then had a cluster of really weird symptoms. My eyes seemed to be having muscle spasms and it was very hard to see the road. I had spasms in my arms and legs and back. Unfortunately, also my bladder, and I soaked my clothing. So humiliating.

Once I got there I had to take off my dripping pants and undies but my top was not long enough to completely cover me. I walked in pulling the top down and stretching the fabric but I was too weak to continue this indefinitely. I explained the situation and asked if I could please wait inside the door where the patient rooms are rather than out onstage in the huge lobby. Believe it or not, I had to WAIT to get PERMISSION for this. I wanted to die right there.

Once I got in the nurse there was helpful.I ended up taking my top off and wearing two hospital gowns (one for the front and one for the back)! My thyroid news is good; I seem to be stable. I do need an MRI to check my pituitary tumor again (routine) and to check out my symptoms from a recent head injury. Mom found the $300 copay for the last one to be a hardship so I'm not sure what to do. I'll have to solve this one when I'm feeling better; not now.

I was still really weak and tired but since all the spasms went away to wherever it is they hang out, I did pick up Don and we came home. It is finally fresh strawberry season and we got some. I've had no food and am having trouble getting out of bed so I think I need to ask for some food.

Mom called; she is so worried about me driving to and from LA tomorrow. I know I shouldn't do it. It's a hard drive even when I'm well. Someone her age who is afraid of traffic shouldn't be the one volunteering to take me. I really do need more friends. But when I got up from the bed I had to sit right back down again. I have been thinking really weird lupus flare all along but now I got some news from mom: little Gracie has fifth disease. I'm immunosuppressed and spent the weekend playing with her. The early symptoms are low grade fever, headache, mild stuffy nose. I have all three. If I have it these symptoms will go away and then I will get a red rash on my face. How I will tell it from the regular lupus rash I am not sure! Wish I felt well enough to look on the net for fifth disease pix but I keep falling asleep; I am exhausted.

So if my lupus blood work is fine maybe I've had effexor withdrawal and the early stages of fifth disease?

Whatever it is, I want to go to bed and sleep, sleep, sleep now that I can do so thanks to Ambien. I am so tired just making myself drink some water seems like a lot of work.

I'm going to have to take poor Mom up on her offer. Don and I will take a pricey cab to the bus at 6 am; it leaves at 6:30 and arrives in Goleta 8-ish. I'll wait at the cafe next to the office where Don works. Mom will pick me up there. She will arrange to stay with a friend in north county tomorrow night so that once she drives me home she doesn't have to go all the way back. Now I won't have to risk crashing the car if I just pass out.

You can see why Mother's Day is a big deal for me. I don't know what I will do when someday she passes on; I pray she will live to at least 110 years...! Our family isn't that long-lived so I really need a miracle here.

Depression is whispering in my ear that I don't have many friends because so many ppl in the Santa Barbara area (some former coworkers, health professionals, friends from childhood) have all shunned me and I will never make a lot of friends there.

I am telling Depression to STFU. I don't have the energy for abject misery. I just want rest and peace and hope that someday I will value, be valued (and also feel valued) by many people.

Mom, I love you.

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/05/brief-trademark-ponders.html

A few interesting links related to Trademarks (not to be confused with copyright, but people do, and so do I). For example, the Open Rights Group (of which, last time I looked, I was Patron, but I don't have to do anything except be on the letterhead and possibly make the cucumber sandwiches) posted http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/05/08/bbc-removes-doctor-who-fans-knitting-patterns-from-the-web/ -- the story of a fan who was told by the BBC to take down the Dr Who knitting patterns from her website. Interestingly, the Head of Communications at the BBC left a message on the ORG blog, and amplified it on the BBC news site, pointing out that their problem was not with the creator but with the people who were taking her designs and selling them on eBay.

One commenter said, My own opinion is that the BBC would be correct to target Ebay sellers and anyone attempting to make a profit from their intellectual property, as is their right. Unfortunately rather than do this actively, they have chosen the easy option of attacking a person whose only ‘crime’ is she has the imagination and flare to design knitted patterns and make them available not for profit, based on Dr Who characters...

Which was the last thing I read before reading this Boing-Boing article, this Beat coverage, and this follow-up blog posting from the person who was running the ebay auction: Warner Brothers lawyers closed down a children's cancer charity eBay auction because it was selling original Superman drawings...

And mostly, I'm just glad that I'm not a corporate trademark lawyer.

(Also, I think -- and have thought for about 17 years, ever since the Comic Relief Comic problems -- that Warner Corporate needs to change its policies with regards to DC Comics and charities and allow DC Comics as much latitude as, say, Marvel. But it hasn't happened yet.)

From nectarette:

Who else is love?

pseudomonas  me scripsit anno 2005