Saturday, March 31, 2012

Ugandan rights groups upset at a murder's pardon

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) ? A decision by Uganda's president to pardon an Indian man sentenced to die for the murder of his wife has generated fierce criticism from activists who say it sends the wrong message in a country where women's rights have long been abused.

Sharma Kooky, who was set free this week on humanitarian grounds, spent 12 years in jail for torturing his wife to death in a case whose gruesome details once shocked and then galvanized the women's rights movement.

President Yoweri Museveni has rarely pardoned convicts. Only a handful of prisoners, mostly political prisoners, have been freed on his orders. Kooky was a businessman in Kampala.

Miria Matembe, a former parliamentarian, called the pardon unfortunate and insensitive.

Associated Press

girl scout cookies screen actors guild royal rumble results sag awards 2012 kyra sedgwick honor killings mary tyler moore

Learn These 8 Secrets to Erase Acne Scars - Health And Fitness Tips

8 Secrets and Techniques on How to Get rid of Acne Scars

There are many techniques on eliminating acne scars. The look of acne starts during puberty if the body definitely produces hormones that causes a lot of oils within the skin. This particular skin stage may pass however it would certainly depart marks to bother your appearance forever. Nevertheless, acne scar remedy still depends on the actual mildness and also severity of the scar.

Listed here are a number of the methods upon eliminating acne scars normally:

1. Hydration is key. It has been established this water is probably the best natural strategies regarding how to get rid of acne scars and stop pimples. Ingesting at least 8 servings of water or more assists your skin to shed those undesirable the dead skin cells.

2. A lot of people are usually advocating the utilization Vitamin E capsule for all those scars. You may put it on topically towards the affected area by simply pricking an area within the capsule as well as apply the particular oil towards the scar. One more choice is usually to take it orally to get that cell repair from the inside.

3. Rosehip seed oil is additionally a highly effective treatment regarding how to get rid of acne scars. It is really an anti-ageing and anti-wrinkling agent that can help your skin to recover. Massage it around the scar twice a day.

4. Eating a balance diet might help throughout eliminating acne scars. The more healthy meals you use in the food, the faster the particular scar will certainly heal. It can help in creating your skin cells and provides a healthy skin glow as well.

5. Blend rose water and also paste of sandal wood and also apply it on the spot where the scars are. Let it rest immediately then wash with cold water the next day.

Apart from the natural ways of getting rid of acne scars, additionally, there are dermatological methods that will certainly offer you a much faster result. Here are some of the hi-tech strategies on how to get rid of acne scars effectively.

6. Nowadays, not only certified skin doctors perform a dermabrasion but facial salons too. Dermabrasion is the removal of the top skin layer having a machine which chafes off of the skin. When the skin heals, the particular top layer will likely then have a smoother as well as clearer look.

7. Laser resurfacing is probably the most economical anti-scar treatments obtainable. It simply uses a high-energy light that might take away the fine scars as well as prevent wrinkles.

8. It?s also possible to have a chemical peel procedure. This is simply such as dermabrasion. The sole difference is that the top layer of the skin is taken off using chemicals not really machines.

With the obtainable choices for therapy, you surely will not have an excuse as to why your acne scar is still apparent. It?s your choice whether you would choose the natural way or even the dermatological procedure on how to remove acne scars.

Understand retinol cream benefits or you could also check out this site right away.

?Mail this post

Technorati Tags: acne, acne scar, acne scars, beauty, Erase Acne Scars, health and fitness, oil, skin

tori spelling marion barber marion barber syracuse ohio state girl with the dragon tattoo fab melo

Friday, March 30, 2012

Information You may need About Domestic electrical engineer ...

As rather long as there is certainly electricity, the community will also need electricians. Becoming 1 involves a great deal of problem curing and essential thinking because of this electrician training is vital. The role of any electrician is definitely important you.

Now, you include picked a pleasant technical school and also you are thinking; what electrical contractor courses what exactly is take? Once yet again, the personal choice of how much electrician you need to be is needed. This is the reason why you ought to be deal with any kind of situation, leaving very little room regarding mistakes. That narrows down the quantity of course function required.

Today, one electrical training various places for enlisting into electric powered courses. Receptive blogger Gregory Hall announced, ?One of the greatest things concerning becoming a great electrician is become an electrician easily specialise in any particular element.? It is made specifically designed for electricians which install or perhaps maintain electro-mechanical systems, in as well the alternative, commercial or perhaps domestic industrial sectors.

Apart with these, good transmission skills, being prompt with and also staying updated in regards to the various happenings in the business, a decent understanding skin color safety rules including a methodical way of work and a chance to electrician courses detail also are appreciated in a very successful electrical contractor. Once you could have finished a person?s courses within a community college your apprenticeship have been completed, you is now able to apply for ones license. You will need to establish yourself to be a reputable electrical contractor and strengthening a clients list for a business shall be of amazing importance. In present day electrical sector many institutes offer various courses and choose that electrician course you want as per your preferences. These institutes might be located near to your house making it again a simple and moment saving option available for you. They organize you likewise as every college would certainly and provde the sufficient wide variety of hours essential for a entire education. If you will be skeptical in relation to taking electrical contractor courses on the net, a effective online look up credible academic institutions will depart you which includes a different mind-set. The Location & Guilds 2357 qualification comes into play various forms essentially private exercise centres though many even further education faculties are yet still to plan to providing manageable learning days. Electrician programmes and perform experience conditions vary in accordance with state or town. Your online community college offers courses that consist of entry levels to hugely experienced. These requirements are typically place to keep the electrician whilst others safe.

Source: http://xrds-simple.org/information-you-may-need-about-domestic-electrical-engineer-courses/

alistair overeem alistair overeem texas a m insight bowl russell brand files for divorce bowl game schedule julia child

NeNe Leakes Cast on New NBC Sitcom


NeNe Leakes has landed a role on a series everyone can at least admit is scripted.

The Real Housewife of Atlanta, who actually hasn't been awful as a swim team coach on Glee, will team up again with Ryan Murphy for The New Normal.

NeNe Image

A comedic pilot, the show focuses on a gay couple - Book of Mormon's Andrew Rannells and The Hangover's Justin Bartha - who uses a surrogate mother to start a family. Ellen Barkin also plays a role and Leakes will recur as a character named Rocky.

Murphy created Glee and will serve as a producer on The New Normal.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/03/nene-leakes-cast-on-new-nbc-sitcom/

eric cantor the beach paul pierce pope joan pope joan strawberry festival knicks

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Unified Communications integrates small business processes | B2B ...

Follow Me on Pinterest Web-based-sales-and-marketing-service

Unified Communications integrates small business processes

Article by Adom Brown

Unified communication fulfills the future demands of efficient communications for small to medium size businesses that is to integrate various processes and operate from a single platform. Unified Communications (UC) is one such revolutionary technology which has the capability for integration of a wide array of real-time such as calls and video conferencing non-real-time communication services such as Instant Messaging (IM), presence information, telephony including the IP telephony, call control, speech recognition and data sharing. It integrates the business process solutions as voice calls, messaging, e-mail, SMS and fax over a unified platform to get real-time and non-real time collaboration with different media. Hence UC operates over voice, video, text and work for optimization of your business process.The Hosted PBX systems offer UC as an added feature to its clients which not only improves business image but also helps to get an organized environment at your office place. A basic definition of Unified Communication is ?Communications integrated to optimize your business process? with features listed below:

? Easy call management: Businesses communication cost drops down drastically due to seamless integration.

? Unified mailbox: It allows your business units to access e-mail, fax, SMS, IM; also there is a collaboration of real-time like calls and non-real time business communication like voicemail, messages processes.

? Single Access Point: using hosted PBX a single point is established through which the clients can reach service providers either through voice calls, e-mail and fax.

? Multimedia services: video, text and voice are transmitted over an integrated platform. The unified communication provides high speed of response and thus the delay would be reduced.

Hosted PBX systems offer advanced features in the form of Unified Communication to your small and medium size businesses which ensures you with a seamless integration of multimedia services of voice, video and text over a unified platform that does optimize your business process to a great extent and you get access either through voice calling, e-mail, fax and messaging, voicemail.

Unified communications can be divided into two major types of solutions and applications:

? UC-User Productivity or UC-U: Unified Communications tools that users adopt to improve their experience or results. UC-U is mostly aimed at users, designed so that they can access data, programs, messages, emails, video conferencing quickly and saves time. It also avoids installation or technical troubles, collaborate with other users, or any other way that the user experience can benefit. These services and applications are designed to improve one?s personal productivity, rather than affect the entire company.

? UC-Business Processes or UC-B: UC-B is targeted at businesses themselves, rather than the individual. UC-B solutions and applications are made to improve Business Process Integration or CEBP, improve customer satisfaction, or enhance business processes. These are aimed with the enterprise?s bottom line in mind, rather than individual employees. These services and applications are designed to improve company?s profit.

Unified Communication benefits:

? Single service provider will provide you all the required services. You can make yourself reachable to others through just a single number.

? Simplified interactions with customers through single number access to people with minimum resources

? Higher availability of associates using features such as find-me/follow-me and voicemail services

? Higher speed and better execution with enhanced access to clients and colleagues thus improving business productivity

? Better efficiency from enhanced communications capability

About the Author

Technology specialist at therealpbx.com ?Adom Brown? is a specialist in small business PBX systems. The Real PBX is a pioneer in providing Hosted PBX Systems that deliver business class voice quality, real time customer assistance, scalable office Business Phone system office Business Phone system and more. Their enterprise class PBX VoIP services include top notch features like Unified Communication.Their IP PBX Systems deliver business class voice quality, real time customer assistance, scalable office etc.

Related posts:

Source: http://neuroplasticity.mobi/?p=12137

west virginia university michele bachmann jessica biel tim howard west virginia rob roy gaslight

Source: http://julianjones04.posterous.com/unified-communications-integrates-small-busin

lindsay lohan saturday night live snl lindsay lohan valley fever project x the lorax metta world peace earthquake

earnest - Who Else Thinks They Might Need A Liver Detoxification ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Liver detoxification is becoming more popular then ever nowadays. It is due to the fact that many folks are becoming more and more aware of their health and fitness. As a result of numerous factors such as diet, lifestyle as ...

Source: http://www.wbsys.com/2012/03/who-else-thinks-they-might-need-a-liver-detoxification-but-not-entirely-certain/

hunger games movie review bats hunger games review jeff saturday jason smith jon corzine kevin love

Source: http://ikokbke.livejournal.com/32315.html

keystone pipeline purim acc tournament big ten tournament big east tournament 2012 solar storm spanx

Verizon LG Lucid now available

LG Lucid

Right on cue, Verizon Wireless has today launched the Lucid, a mid-range 4G LTE smartphone from LG. The Lucid packs a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU with 1GB of RAM, a 4-inch IPS screen and a 5MP rear camera. On the software side, there's Android 2.3 Gingerbread with LG's Optimus UI, and the promise of a future upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich in the future. It's nothing too fancy, but for $79 on a 2 year contract (after a $50 mail-in rebate), you wouldn't expect a bleeding-edge device.

We'll have a full review of the LG Lucid in the next week, so stay tuned.

Source: Verizon Wireless



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/Y-KKdCfKops/story01.htm

big east jesse james pearl harbor day discovery channel lea michele michael buble michael buble

The U.S.'s Ticking Fiscal Time Bomb (WSJ)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/209981720?client_source=feed&format=rss

reno wildfire reno wildfire osu osu reno news shonn greene oklahoma state plane crash

Best Hybrid car SUV

There are several automotive brands that contain already possessed hybrid automobiles out on the market for a long time and there are others which might be slowly joining the cross market after looking at the popularity of your hybrid designs among the competitors.

Kia was among the initial to introduce a hybrid Vehicle, the Escape and because they were in the attention of the technologies race, they have managed to determine most of the kinks that are included with creating a brand-new vehicle, a lesser amount of one that has hybrid know-how. The Kia Escape is the greatest hybrid Sport utility vehicle because of the duration that it?s experienced the market and it is shown it?s mainly not only an effective and safe way to trim gas charges, but it is also a well known vehicle among consumers.The ideal hybrid vehicle is one that doesn?t only minimizes gas expense and pollution levels, but that also doesn?t lower the performance of the motor vehicle. Many people purchase SUVs regarding their towing or even outdoor wants so it?s essential that the power of the actual SUV is just not compromised by it being a multiple vehicle. A lot of people want the charge savings of the hybrid motor vehicle, but they also require towing abilities and the electrical power of a larger sized suv.

Very best Hybrid Vehicle (3)
Innovative Commons License credit ranking: jiazi
Sport Energy Vehicles include changed tremendously over the past year or two, going from gas-guzzlers that people were required to fill up constantly to becoming the best hybrid car SUV through providing lower fuel usage and cost as well as much better performance. The top hybrid Car combines the best of both worlds, practically and ability of a large Car to be able to tow or have large goods with the ability to lessen the intake and overall cost of fuel. Combining the actual hybrid know-how with the already advanced velocity systems around cars as well as SUVs allows the mixture technology to function at cheaper speeds subsequently have the propane usage do its stuff at a faster. This is the very best hybrid Truck technology and we will continue to observe improvements using the hybrid technological innovation to allow for both equally higher dragging power and minimize gas costs and pollutants.

Business article submission software real estate agents submit article and purchases associates manual article submission want article submission many article submission service placed in their own mobile phones article publishing for many uses.In case your Armani Watches nevertheless not nearly guaranteed dr dre headphones review have you thought to see Miss me jeans our own Complete Corset lingerie board shorts sets, UGG Boots on Sale just click about the url your own likely to find hcg diet drops a thing your spouse will like.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

Source: http://officerelocationmagazine.com/best-hybrid-car-suv-2/

enews mona simpson mona simpson grady sizemore grady sizemore samhain great pumpkin charlie brown

Chongqing Grain Group Seeking More Oversea Investment | PRLog

PRLog (Press Release) - Mar 28, 2012 -
Chongqing Grain Group Co., Ltd. (CGG), one of the leading state-owned grain companies in China, plans to invest USD1.2 billion to build grain production bases in Argentina this year, for the planting of soybean, corn, cotton, etc., reported by Xinhua News, the official press agency of Chinese government, according to CCM?s March issue of AgriChina Investor.
?
Facing strong demand for oversea soybean, corn, cotton, etc., Chongqing government believes it is a good chance to invest in agricultural business in oversea countries. According to an official from Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission, in 2012, Chongqing plans to invest USD6 billion to develop agricultural business in oversea countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, etc. Among the total, CGG's USD1.2 billion investment will be the most important one this year.
?
After the completion of the investment, the purchase cost of soybean will be 20% lower when purchasing from producers rather than large international grain dealers. Besides, CGG can get more control over the price of soybean from oversea market.
?
Latest news said that CGG has registered a company in Argentina with the registered capital of USD10 million. The first-phase investment will hit USD99.89 million. Besides the investment in Argentina, CGG also plans to develop canola business in Canada and Australia, rice business in Cambodia and palm oil business in Malaysia.
? ?
In fact, this is not the first time for CGG to develop agricultural business in oversea countries. The company has built a soybean production base in Brazil last year and imported the first batch of soybean (0.26 million tonnes) from its oversea soybean production base in Sept. 2011.
?
"Under the guidance of the government, we plan to build a comprehensive industrial chain: build oversea production bases; offer financial support and services; offer storage and logistics support; provide agricultural production means and then distribute the products to domestic market." said Mr. Hu, President of CGG.
?
CGG plans to import 10 million tonnes of soybean from its oversea production bases, which will not only meet the demand in Chongqing City, but also can be marketed to surrounding areas. Besides direct import of soybean from Brazil, CGG also plans to build some soybean processing factories in the country, which is welcomed by the Brazil government.
?
Besides CGG, some other companies, such as Zhejiang Fudi Agriculture Group and Julong Group have also invested to build crop planting bases in oversea countries.
?
Other big state-owned companies are also planning to develop agricultural business in oversea countries, including Chinatex Corp Ltd., China's largest cotton trader, and COFCO, China's largest grains and edible oil trader. COFCO reveals that it plans to invest USD10 billion in oversea mergers and acquisitions in agricultural industry in the coming years.
?
It is very easy to understand companies' objectives to invest in oversea countries, under the background of strong demand and limited farmland. China is the biggest soybean importer in the world, but domestic soybean importers have to import soybean from large international grain dealers. Domestic companies hope the purchase cost can be reduced with the building of oversea production bases. However, some insiders think it will be hard to achieve the objective. First, the cost in building production bases in oversea countries is very huge, especially by purchasing farmland. Besides, the purchase of farmland has to face restriction by oversea countries. Last but not the least, they have to face fierce competition from large international grain dealers who are masters for both actuals and futures in agricultural products.

Source: AgriChina Investor 1203
http://www.cnchemicals.com/Newsletter/NewsletterDetail_1 ...

Content of AgriChina Investor 1203:
Government to support leading agricultural enterprises
Draft of Grain Law raised disputes
Central government's agricultural expenditure to hit USD194 billion in 2012
China may relax restriction on rapeseed import from Canada
COFCO to expand its dorking capacity in West China
Steel super giant WISCO to build pig farm
Shuanghui accelerating its restructuring
Huiyuan Group to invest in vineyard business
Chongqing Grain Group seeking more oversea investment
Cross-segments expansion of large-scale grain & food processors
Ecological farming: A promising approach to ensure grain security
Domestic corn planting area keeps increasing
??

AgriChina Investor, periodically published on 25th every month, offers timely update and close follow up of agriculture investment in China, analyzing market data and trends, as well as related policies. Major columns include investment environment, investment dynamics, market watcher, market review etc.

If you are interested in AgriChina Investor, please do not hesitate to contact us by +86-20-37616606, or email us at econtact@cnchemicals.com.

About CCM
CCM is dedicated to market research in China, Asia-Pacific Rim and global market. With a staff of more than 150 dedicated highly-educated professionals. CCM offers Market Data, Analysis, Reports, Newsletters, Buyer-Trader Information, Import/Export Analysis all through its new proprietary product ValoTracer. For more information, please visit http://www.cnchemicals.com.

CCM International Ltd.
Guangzhou CCM Information Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
17th Floor, Huihua Commercial & Trade Mansion, No.80 Xianlie Zhong Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
Tel: 86-20-37616606
Email: econtact@cnchemicals.com

Source: http://www.cnchemicals.com/PressRoom/PressRoomDetail_w_1 ...

CCM is an consulting company located in China, with services like market report, newsletter, database, price monitoring, export/import analysis, conference etc. CCM's foucusing is Agrochemicals market, food ingredients market, fine chemicals market.

Source: http://www.prlog.org/11835552-chongqing-grain-group-seeking-more-oversea-investment.html

droid 4 ann coulter tom brady sister dad shoots daughters laptop brandon jennings channing tatum north korea

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Successful Internet Marketing Needs Email & Social Media | Small ...

From the 1600s until the early 1900s, there was only one way to market your small business. That method of ?mass media? was called newspapers.

As the 20th century progressed, newspapers made way for radio and radio made way for television.

Then, television made way for cable, then cable made way for the Internet.

In the early 21st century, the Internet is the only medium for a small business to promote itself to a worldwide audience.

However, marketing your small business on the Internet is more that just putting up a web page. You have to use the Internet and all its firepower so your message can be heard.

Your small business can not maximize its potential without a smart Internet business marketing plan. Just like bees go with honey and politicians go with money, email marketing goes with social media.

Today, small or mid-sized businesses can?t be successful just using social media without email marketing.

VerticalResponse recently surveyed 3,116 of their active customers regarding social media and email marketing. This VerticalResponse survey is the first in their series of surveys on the subject.

According to their survey,?Small businesses that combined email & social media marketing services experienced a 28% higher open rate than companies who didn?t. VerticalResponse also found that the Top 5 industries who employed this method of internet marketing and experienced the higher open rates were:

  • Music:? Average Open Rate ? 32.1%
  • Consumer Electronics:? Average Open Rate ? 31.%
  • Financial Services: Average Open Rate ? 22.6
  • Motion Pictures & Film:? Average Open Rate ? 21.9%
  • Graphic Design:? Average Open Rate ? 21.3%

These small businesses use VerticalResponse?s email marketing service and Roost, their social media marketing division.

Roost helps small businesses to manage their social media marketing campaign from one convenient dashboard. Small businesses can quickly create, schedule, manage & measure all of their services on their own. These small businesses? results were compared against small businesses who only used VerticalResponse?s email marketing. The survey also found that the Top 5 Industries who use both email marketing and social media were:

  • Non-Profits
  • Real Estate
  • Marketing & Advertising
  • Internet
  • Health & Wellness

VerticalResponse CEO Janine Popick stated, ?This is really compelling evidence showing those who combine email marketing and social media obtain greater results from their campaigns, especially among small and mid-sized businesses that represent the majority of?our customer base. The numbers clearly show that those who broadcast content across multiple online touch points are getting a lot more engagement than those who don?t.?

Today, the successful secret to marketing your small business is by combining your email and social media marketing campaign. But, how long will this formula continue to be successful?

As history has taught us, the platform for marketing your small business always changes. In 400-years, we?ve moved from newspapers to radio to television to cable to the Internet. In the past 20-years, mass media has changed faster than the previous 380-years.

Watch out, the next marketing platform for your small business will probably include marketing to your smartphone.

Like Our Image? ?We got it at BigStockPhoto.com!

Source: http://smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2012/03/successful-internet-marketing-includes-both-email-marketing-social-media-working-hand-in-hand.html/

kyle orton kyle orton calvin johnson calvin johnson ncaa tournament schedule black and tan dwight howard trade

E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM ...

E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM Replacement Spark Plug , Pack of 1
By : E3 Spark Plugs
Price : $5.95
You Save : $0.04 (1%)E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM Replacement Spark Plug , Pack of 1

Read Customer Reviews and More info about this Product at Amazon

Click here

E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM Replacement Spark Plug , Pack of 1 is really nice product. E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM Replacement Spark Plug , Pack of 1 also has a lot awesome features. you can get E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM Replacement Spark Plug , Pack of 1 in Amazon Here..

E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM Replacement Spark Plug , Pack of 1

Yeah anyone can obtain E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM Replacement Spark Plug , Pack of 1 today on Amazon !

Product Description


Amazon.com Product Description
E3 Automotive spark plugs are a clear breakthrough in spark plug technology. Developed by researchers from leading engineering universities, E3's patented electrode design allows for a better spark, and resulting more complete flame kernal and flame front extending off the electrode, producing better overall localized pressure inside your vehicle's cylinders. This in turn leads to the fuel/air mixture injected into the cylinder being more cleanly consumed, lessening the level of greenhouse gases emitted, increasing energy efficiency and generating more horsepower.

A breakthrough in spark plug technology..
DiamondFire electrode design increasescylinder combustion..
More power and better fuel efficiency,with fewer emissions.. Why You Need E3 Spark PlugsAs the designated catalyst for the ignition of fuel in gasoline powered cars, trucks, motorcycles and small engines, spark plugs are a small, but constant factor in the workings of the vast majority of motorists on the road. What these motorists may not know is that their choice of spark plug could play a significant role in reducing the level of greenhouse gases that their vehicles give off, as well as increasing overall fuel economy and potential power output. This is where E3 Spark Plug's DiamondFire technology comes in.
DiamondFire TechnologyFor the last 100 years, the only real advance in consumer spark plug technology has been to develop ways to make them cheaper. E3 Spark Plug's DiamondFire technology changes all of that through an improved electrode design that provides for more efficient burning of your vehicle's air/fuel vapor, leading to more pressure in the cylinder. These improvements are measurable, confirmed and based on the following design elements found in existing performance spark plugs.
First, the DiamondFire electrode directs the flame kernel to the piston more directly, reducing the travel time from the spark zone to the end gases via the open section at the top of the electrode. Given the short time available to get combustion started, the faster you can get the flame to the piston, the better. Second, the physical features of the electrode project further forward into the combustion chamber. This brings the spark zone closer to areas of probable "good" air/fuel mixture and also creates beneficial "micro-aerodynamics" within the spark zone. The initial combustion wave leaves the spark area at supersonic speeds above Mach 1, and the elevated edge provides a kind of chimney effect so the next round of air/fuel mixture gets into the spark zone more easily. Finally, the E3 electrode design features forced edge-to-edge spark discharge, which is the best way to get a spark to leave a surface. This improves upon the phenomena that drove race car drivers to "cut back" ordinary electrode spark plugs in order to improve the spark discharge. The spark itself occurs only when an avalanche of electrons migrates from the two electrodes (anode to cathode). Sharp edges are better at initiating electron migrations, and these accelerated electrons collide with matter inside the spark zone to release additional electrons. This design ensures that the whole population of electrons works to create a plasma channel through which the spark current flows more easily, resulting in an increase in both power output and fuel economy, while reducing emissions in gasoline engines and the build up of carbon deposits on engine surfaces.
Key Features:

  • DiamondFire electrode technology that creates a superior spark and resulting flame front extending further into the cylinder, producing more localized pressure.
  • Power increased 6% to 12% (depending on engine class).
  • Fuel efficiency improved 4% to 13% (depending on engine class).
  • Emissions reduced in 2 and 4-stroke engines (after 50 hours).

    • 58% CO emissions reduction.
    • 42% hydrocarbon reduction.
  • Near elimination of performance inhibiting carbon deposits.
  • Dramatically longer plug life.
  • 5-year/100,000 mile limited warranty.
What's in the Box1-E3 Automotive spark plug for cars, trucks, vans and SUVs.
5-Year or 100,000 Mile Limited WarrantyE3 Automotive spark plugs used for personal, family or household purposes are warranted by the manufacturer to provide an experience of more power on less fuel, quicker starts and less fouling than competitive standard spark plugs, and to be free of defects in material or workmanship, for five years or 100,000 miles from the date of purchase. In the event of provable defect within the stated warranty period, the manufacturer will either replace the item(s), or refund the purchase price at their discretion.
About Pyrotek E3Headquartered in Point Vedra, Florida, Pyrotek E3, d.b.a. E3 Spark Plugs, was formed to help customers increase power, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce engine emissions that contribute to global warming. Their advanced DiamondFire electrode design burns fuel more efficiently and completely, increasing mileage, horsepower and drastically cutting toxic emissions.

The exceptional performance of the E3 spark plug starts with the unique open architecture of the E3 electrode. The design forces air gap discharges, creates the preferred edge-to-edge spark path, allows free replenishment of the spark zone with a fresh fuel/air charge, and exposes the flame front more directly to the piston head than other plug designs.Sparks naturally follow edge-paths as they leave an object. The E3 design presents multiple sharp edges to the center electrode. Sparks flow between these edges at lower voltages, facilitating easier discharge than standard designs. By forcing air sparks, the resistance to fouling is greatly increased in the E3 spark plug. This lowers the self-cleaning temperature of the spark plug, allowing colder heat ranges to be used if desired.E3's distinctive spark plug design has proven, in testing in a range of engines, to simultaneously increase engine power output, reduce gasoline consumption, decrease hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions from the engine and materially extend the life of the spark plug.

Product Features

  • Near elimination of performance inhibiting carbon deposits, dramatically longer plug life and a 5-year/100,000 mile limited warranty
  • DiamondFire electrode technology that creates a superior spark and resulting flame front extending further into the cylinder, producing more localized pressure
  • Significant potential power increase: 6% to 12% (depending on engine class)
  • Significant potential fuel efficiency improvement: 4% to 13% (depending on engine class)
  • Drastic potential emissions reduction when used in 2 and 4-stroke engines (after 50 hours): 58% CO emissions reduction, 42% hydrocarbon reduction
E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM Replacement Spark Plug , Pack of 1

?

E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM Replacement Spark Plug , Pack of 1

?

Customer Reviews


Do yourself a favor and stay away from these plugs. I used them for a few months in my 02' Camaro when suddenly I noticed some sputtering and heavy hesitation, especially when the engine was cold. I checked the plugs and sure enough, two of them had severe gap erosion. I never even noted any gas mileage improvement. Not to mention these plugs are MADE IN CHINA! There is no substitute for good old fashion conventional design plugs. They've been in use for over 70 years after all.

I have tried many 4 ; 2 electrode spark plugs in platinum. But I find reliability in this particular brand spark plugs during heavy loads, such as going uphill and towing ; hauling. Helped with acceleration and still performing very well. Got these at a great price from Amazon and was shipped promptly.

?

E3 Spark Plugs E3.58 Automotive, Truck, Van and SUV OEM Replacement Spark Plug , Pack of 1

?

View

Source: http://bestautomotivebuyonline.blogspot.com/2012/03/e3-spark-plugs-e358-automotive-truck.html

beezow doo doo zopittybop bop bop cordova lsu game lsu game truffles truffles demaryius thomas

Source: http://jose62.typepad.com/blog/2012/03/e3-spark-plugs-e358-automotive-truck-van-and-suv-oem.html

ben roethlisberger downton abbey season 2 2013 dodge dart shameless kwame brown martin luther king day blue ivy

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

ImmigrationProf Blog: Major Legal Victory for NY Chinatown Workers

? Immigration Incarceration: The Expansion and Failed Reform of Immigration Detention in Essex County, N.J. | Main | Syrians Designated for Temporary Protected Status ?

March 25, 2012

Major Legal Victory for NY Chinatown Workers

From the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund:

AALDEF, together with pro bono counsel Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, is representing 22 former workers of Chinatown's Jin Hua Restaurant, including waiters, waitresses, bussers, and dim sum workers, who had been denied minimum wage, overtime, and in some cases, their entire paycheck. But after Jin Hua closed, its corporate owner claimed it wasn't responsible ? leaving the workers no recourse. AALDEF went to court, and the judge ruled for the workers: AALDEF can now seek over $100,000 in damages on their behalf.

bh

March 25, 2012 | Permalink

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341bfae553ef016303451df2970d

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Major Legal Victory for NY Chinatown Workers:

Source: http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2012/03/major-legal-victory-for-ny-chinatown-workers.html

one life to live jeff fisher van der sloot heather locklear mlk memorial mlk memorial heather locklear hospitalized

Death sparks fears of more fan violence in Brazil

By TALES AZZONI

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 1:36 p.m. ET March 26, 2012

SAO PAULO (AP) - Authorities are concerned with escalating fan violence in Brazil, with the death of a fan in Sao Paulo over the weekend sparking fears of a new wave of confrontations in South America's biggest city.

A 21-year-old Palmeiras fan was fatally shot in the head in a fight involving nearly 500 fans Sunday. This was the second soccer-related death in Brazil in just more than a week. There hadn't been a death linked to fan fighting in Brazil since 2010.

There have been confrontations between rival fan groups nearly every week this year. Experts say a lack of severe punishment and proper police training are some of the reasons for the continuing violence. They say authorities need to take a more active role in trying to solve the problem.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


advertisement

More newsReuters
Brace for a Chelsea-less Europe

PST: We?ve got roughly two months to go, but if Chelsea hits another rough patch, they could be out of Europe for the first time since 1996-97.

Man United beats Fulham to take 3-point lead

??MANCHESTER, England (AP) -Wayne Rooney sent Manchester United three points clear in the Premier League on Monday, scoring a first-half goal in a 1-0 victory over Fulham to earn the reigning champions their sixth straight league win.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46857888/ns/sports-soccer/

richard stallman williston north dakota williston north dakota kody brown transylvania carrie ann inaba california earthquake

Health fair in Hampstead highlights fitness, holistic medicine ...

HAMPSTEAD ? Roclyn Porter pressed a button to inflate the two lungs on display at the Hampstead Health Fair yesterday.

?One is a healthy lung and the other is the equivalent of smoking a pack a day for 16 years,? she said. ?The black on the lungs is tar and it doesn?t inflate fully. Most people are freaked out. It?s a nice visual.?

Porter works for Family Mediation and Juvenile Services and explained the organization uses the lungs ? which are from pigs not humans ? for tobacco education. Her display was one of 36 different health-related groups at the Hampstead Middle School yesterday.

Nearly 300 people came to the fair, from children to seniors. Organizer Berny Longbook said the Hampstead Health Fair has become a community event after running for 11 years.

?Every year we see the same kids,? she said. ?They?ve grown up with the fair. It?s become a family affair.?

And each year, more local businesses want to participate. This year, the fair had new holistic health options, including Merrimack Valley Acupuncture and a reflexologist, who analyzes different parts of the body.

?There?s a lot of networking that goes on at the fair,? she said. ?That?s something the vendors tell us they like.?

One booth had a flat-screen TV and Kinect video game system, set up by Ted Curtin, owner of Hampstead Health and Fitness Center.

?We have a kids? fitness center,? he said. ?They learn to exercise and also to do interactive fitness video games. It?s a workout, let me tell you. I?m out of breath.?

The children at the event lined up to play a track and field game, running, jumping and throwing in place. Jeremy Wyckoff, 10, of Atkinson threw the longest javelin in the game.

?I think it?s really fun and good exercise,? he said. ?I play it a lot. No one?s going to beat my record.?

Julie Kinney, owner of Living Well Physical Therapy in Chester, had a machine that looked like a scale with a moveable base to measure people?s balance.

?This machine tests balance and strength issues,? she said. ?It shows if people have an increased risk of falling. Then we let them know how we could possibly help them.?

Other displays included information from an expert on Lyme Disease, free massages, free dental and hearing screenings and more. Phil Boshar, pharmacy manager for Walgreens in Hampstead, offered a free blood pressure screening for every visitor.

?This is our fifth year participating in the fair,? he said. ?We promote the blood pressure screenings, but we also do pneumonia and shingles vaccines for patients in their 60s.?

And residents said they appreciated the services offered at the fair. Bina Beauregard, 70, of Haverhill said this is the third year she?s come to the fair.

?I love it; it?s very informative,? she said. ?I did the balance test and it was great, especially for older people.?

Lisa Fiarhust, 46 of Plaistow came with her two sons, age 6 and 7.

?There?s so much information,? she said. ?The Lyme disease exhibit is fascinating. And the kids love it because of the free giveaways.?

Longbook said they?re already planning for next year, adding more vendors to the list.

?It?s definitely been a successful day,? she said. ?We always come up with ideas for next year today. Next year, we?re going to invite the Easter Seals we decided.?

? ? ?

Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.

Article source: http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x1940318216/Health-fair-in-Hampstead-highlights-fitness-holistic-medicine

Source: http://www.childrenhealthwizard.com/health-fair-in-hampstead-highlights-fitness-holistic-medicine

don draper arnold palmer yahoo.com/mail final four january jones gallagher madmen

US says Sgt. Bales split Afghan killing spree

Investigators believe the soldier accused of killing 17 Afghan civilians split the slaughter into two episodes, returning to his base after the first attack and later slipping away to kill again.

U.S. investigators believe the soldier accused of killing 17 Afghan civilians split the slaughter into two episodes, returning to his base after the first attack and later slipping away to kill again, two American officials said Saturday.

Skip to next paragraph

This scenario seems to support the U.S. government's assertion ? contested by some Afghans ? that the killings were done by one person, since they would have been perpetrated over a longer period of time than assumed when Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was detained March 11 outside his base in southern Afghanistan.

But it also raises new questions about how Bales, who was formally charged Friday with 17 counts of premeditated murder and other crimes, could have carried out the nighttime attacks without drawing attention from any Americans on the Kandahar province base.

The two American officials who disclosed the investigators' finding spoke on condition of anonymity because the politically sensitive probe is ongoing.

Many details about the killings, including a possible motive, have not been made public. The documents released by the U.S. military Friday in connection with the murder charges do not include a timeline or a narrative of what is alleged to have happened.

How well do you know Afghanistan? Take our quiz.

Bales, 38, is accused of killing nine Afghan children and eight adults. The bodies were found in Balandi and Alkozai villages ? one north and one south of the base, in Kandahar's Panjwai district.

Bales also was charged with six counts of attempted murder and six counts of assault in the same case.

U.S. investigators now believe that Bales walked off his base that night and killed several people in one of the villages, then went back to the base. The American officials, who are privy to some details of the investigation, said they do not know why Bales returned, how long he stayed or what he did while there.

He then slipped off the base a second time and killed civilians in the second village before again heading back toward the base. It was while he was returning the second time that a U.S. military search party spotted him. He is reported to have surrendered without a struggle.

Bales is being held in a military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

There have been previous suggestions that Bales could have returned to base after the first set of shootings, but the American officials who spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday provided the first official disclosure that U.S. investigators have come to this conclusion.

Members of the Afghan delegation investigating the killings said one Afghan guard working from midnight to 2 a.m. on March 11 saw a U.S. soldier return to the base around 1:30 a.m. Another Afghan soldier who replaced the first and worked until 4 a.m. said he saw a U.S. soldier leave the base at 2:30 a.m. It's unknown whether the two Afghan guards saw the same U.S. soldier.

U.S. officials have said Bales left the base the first time armed with his 9mm pistol and M-4 rifle, which was outfitted with a grenade launcher.

Bales' civilian attorney, John Henry Browne, said Friday that he believes the government will have a hard time proving its case and that his client's mental state will become an important issue. Browne has said Bales suffered from the stress of serving four combat tours.

The decision to charge Bales with premeditated murder suggests that prosecutors believe they have sufficient evidence that he consciously conceived the killings.

The maximum punishment for a premeditated murder conviction is death. The mandatory minimum sentence is life imprisonment with the chance of parole.

Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann in Kabul contributed to this report.

How well do you know Afghanistan? Take our quiz.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/gxuYZu34Rzc/US-says-Sgt.-Bales-split-Afghan-killing-spree

jim boeheim jim boeheim bill of rights toys r us toys r us shame shame

Monday, March 26, 2012

Don't Use These 10 Terms in Your Resume or Cover Letter ...

? How the Internet Is Changing the Way We Learn | Main | Online Video at Work: Here?s What You?re Watching ?

March 26, 2012

LinkedIn just released the most overused words in its 135 million user profiles.

They are:

  • 1. Creative
  • 2. Organizational
  • 3. Effective
  • 4. Extensive experience
  • 5. Track record . . .

Via www.businessinsider.com

Comments Off

Comments are closed.

Source: http://bchn.businesscommunicationnetwork.com/2012/03/26/dont-use-these-10-terms-in-your-resume-or-cover-letter/

arkansas razorbacks arkansas football maggie daley black friday online deals black friday news gamestop albert haynesworth

6,000 weather records broken in March

By Chris Dolce, Jonathan Erdman, Nick Wiltgen, weather.com

We've seen an amazing, historic run of record warmth in March 2012. It's been the talk of towns from Minnesota and Michigan to Tennessee and Georgia for a couple of weeks now.

First, consider the sheer number of daily record highs either tied or broken over the past two weeks. The counts in the table below are courtesy of the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) since Mar. 9. Counts from Mar. 23 are still being tabulated and will be posted later.


Day # of Records
Fri. Mar. 9 101
Sat. Mar. 10 105
Sun. Mar. 11 189
Mon. Mar. 12 138
Tue. Mar. 13 218
Wed. Mar. 14 460
Thu. Mar. 15 662
Fri. Mar. 16 496
Sat. Mar. 17 565
Sun. Mar. 18 586
Mon. Mar. 19 510
Tue. Mar. 20 710
Wed. Mar. 21 575
Thu. Mar. 22 295

If you pull out your calculator and add the numbers up from March 1 through March 22, the total exceeds 6,000! This speaks to the widespread nature and longevity of this warm spell. By the way, there have been only about 250 daily record lows during that same time, a ratio of roughly 24 record highs for every record low.

In a typical March, particularly in the nation's northern tier, you may see, perhaps, one or perhaps two days of record warmth before a sharp cold front brings that spring tease to a screeching halt. Not so in March 2012.

When considering monthly record highs, meaning the warmest temperature on record for the month of March, according to NCDC, there have been 430 such monthly record highs tied or broken!

International Falls, Minn., self-promoted as the "Icebox of the Nation", tied or broke daily record highs 12 of 13 days from Mar. 10-22. This includes a 79-degree reading on March 18, which was the warmest day ever recorded during March in International Falls.

Chicago, Ill., tied or set new daily record highs nine days in a row from March 14-22! In this streak, eight of the days were in the 80s, including an astounding 87-degree high on March 21. The National Weather Service in Chicago recently called the warm spell "historic" and something that is unlikely to be matched in our lifetime.

More top weather stories from weather.com

Wednesday, March 21, both Marquette, Mich., (81 degrees) and Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., (83 degrees) shattered their previous March record highs. In Marquette, it was their earliest-in-season 80+ degree day on record, breaking the old record by 22 days! Despite a shorter period of record in Marquette (records since 1961), that's still an amazing feat.

Thursday, March 22, Detroit, Mich., reached 86 degrees, setting an all-time record high for the month of March. The previous record was set just the day before. Prior to this March 2012 warm spell, the record was 84 degrees set in late March of 1945. If that wasn't enough, their 10-day streak with highs at least in the 70s was their longest such streak so early in the season, topping the previous record by over a month!

Plotted on the interactive map?here are the many records set for various cities in this mild March. Zoom in on the map and click on the red locator icons to view the record-breaking information for each location. You will find many cities that have set records for the warmest temperatures so early in the season, monthly records or longest streaks of warm weather so early in the season.

Below is a map of temperature departures from average for the first three weeks of March. Notice the massive swath of much warmer than average air from the Rockies east (brown, red, orange shadings). Many spots are 10 to 15 degrees above average for the month so far!

Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis are all currently seeing their warmest March on record with only a handful of days to go in the month. Records date back to the 1870s in all of these cities.

NOAA/CPC

This shows temperature departures from average for the first 23 days of March 2012. The brown shadings show where temperatures have been most above average.

More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook

Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/25/10853227-march-has-meant-6000-weather-records-broken

barometer jennifer lawrence arnold palmer cesar chavez yahoo.com/mail al sharpton

Brian Austin Green Sued by Photographer for Assault


You're not alone, Rob Kardashian.

The day after that reality star got in trouble for messing with a member of the paparazzi, TMZ reports that Brian Austin Green is about to face a lawsuit due to his alleged actions against one of these parasites in December.

BAG and Megan Fox

Delbert Shaw will claim in court papers he's filing today that he was snapping pictures of the couple in Hawaii last year when Fox said to her man: Are you going to let him get away with that?

The taunt prompted Green, supposedly, to attack Shaw, resulting in injuries to the photographer and even his iPhone getting tossed into the ocean. He's suing Green for unspecified damages and notes in the suit that Fox was egging the actor on throughout the assault.

No word yet from anyone in Green or Fox's camp.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/03/brian-austin-green-sued-by-photographer-for-assault/

w.e. episodes idris elba kelsey grammer martin henderson mlk day golden globes 2012 winners

Maureen Ryan: 'Mad Men' Season Premiere Recap: 'A Little Kiss' Features A Party At Don And Megan's

Note: Do not read on if you have not seen Season 5, Episode 1 of AMC's "Mad Men," entitled "A Little Kiss."

Is everyone ready for the status meeting?

All together now: Ahhhhhh!

We went a long time between "Mad Men" seasons, my fellow fans, and Sunday's two-hour premiere was a chance to just exhale and hang with them. Didn't it feel good?

Sure, nothing cataclysmic happened in the season premiere -- Lane finding a wallet, Don not scolding a client and Joan not being fired don't exactly count as earthshattering events. But so what? Surely there are big events to come, and, as has happened in every other "Mad Men" season premiere, no doubt things were set in motion that will continue to play out for the next 11 hours of the show's fifth season.

I don't know about you, but I just luxuriated in the season premiere, which revolved around the set piece of the party, which, more than anything else, felt like a big, shiny present to fans. Don's surprise birthday bash was brightly colored and amusing and, like the best "Mad Men" moments, full of lots of intersecting layers. Was Megan wrong to throw Don a surprise party and then act like a cabaret vamp in front of all their co-workers? Was Don wrong to be pissy and annoyed regarding Megan's impulsive, but well-intentioned gestures? Were the onlookers at the party feeling lust, embarrassment or just plain old shock?

This is "Mad Men," so all those things and more were in play. What I've always loved about the show is that there are so many different ways to read key moments, and I'm sure there were a million details in "A Little Kiss" that I didn't pick up on. That's why I'm glad we'll be convening here each week, highballs in hand, to talk about what we liked, loved or were mystified by. And of course, it's okay to dislike parts of the show too, but good Lord, after more than 500 days away from "Mad Men," I can't find anything to criticize about the premiere. I'm just so delighted these people are back. I've missed the SCDP gang.

And no, I'm not just pleased because the season premiere took place in the month and year I was born (June, 1966), which amuses me greatly for some reason. I'm just intrigued to see how their lives have and have not changed. Let's take a look at where the key players are:

  • Don Draper (Jon Hamm): He's now married to Megan and living in a swanky apartment in Manhattan. He appears to be relatively happy and content. Nothing good can come of that, am I right? Though I'll admit, it's nice to see Don in a relatively serene mode, given how his professional and personal life cratered in Season 4.
  • Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss): She's still with her journalist boyfriend, Abe Drexler, and still has her nose stuck to the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce grindstone. She has to work with her amusing frenemy, Stan Rizzo, with whom she shares a detente after their entertaining Season 4 confrontation.

    As a career woman from a traditional family and culture, it's Peggy's lot in life to always have to deal with tricky, unexplored territory, and the presence of Megan in her office is yet another complex situation she has to finesse. Megan is smart and she appears to be hardworking, but she didn't quite earn her place at the creative table -- being married to the boss didn't hurt when it came to moving up the food chain. So Peggy's got to not only look out for her own interests and navigate through SCDP's sometimes inhospitable waters, she also has to make sure she doesn't ruffle the feathers of Don's young bride. But she's Peggy, she'll figure it out (she always does).


  • Roger Sterling (John Slattery): He's still Roger, tossing off bon mots and draining martini glasses like there's no tomorrow. Despite the appearance of placidity, however, things are not going well for Roger at all. He's clearly seen as something of a joke at the agency, and given that Bert Cooper is about as productive as Caroline's gift plant, there is a sense that the firm has far too much dead weight at the top. Let's face it, Roger can't coast along forever without bagging a major client like Lucky Strike (which exited the agency last season) or a string of minor clients, but he's never been one to aggressively pursue anything but pretty girls. But even Roger, on some level, understands that his position is probably untenable, hence his expedient solution to Pete's office complaints.

    There's little appreciation of Roger on the home front as well; he and Jane now have the kind of toxically bitter marriage that he and Mona once shared. How much longer can Roger keep skating by and not doing much to justify his position at home and at work? I don't have any inside information about what's to come, but I predict that will be one of the major storylines of the new season.


  • Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser): Now living in the suburbs with Trudy and their baby girl, Tammy, Pete still feels unappreciated, and despite his tendency to whine and think of himself as put-upon, it's hard not to think he's right about a lot of things. He has been bagging clients for a long time, maybe not white whales like American Airlines and Coca-Cola, but the kind of clients that have kept Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (just about) in the black. Trudy may be right -- his dissatisfaction has only brought him more success -- but there's only so long he's going to want to play second fiddle to the increasingly irrelevant Roger.

  • Harry Crane (Rich Sommer): He is such a douche. Because of that, his scene with Stan was absolutely priceless; that comedic moment and his confrontation with Roger were among the episode's high points. But if you ever find yourself thinking that the message of "Mad Men" is that people don't really change, just look at Harry. He's changed a lot -- for the worse. His transformation into a glib, self-serving jackass is a little amusing, but it's also a little sad, given that Harry's sentimental, emotional reaction to Don's "Carousel" speech in Season 1 was one of the high points of the early days of the show. Now Harry's just gross .... terrifically amusing, but gross.

  • Ken Cosgrove (Aaron Staton): That hack! The agency's calmest employee is doing fine and still apparently happily married.

  • Sally Draper (Kiernan Shipka): I found it quite interesting that the two main images that began the season premiere focused on children. There was a lingering shot of the young African-American boy who was among the protesters outside Young & Rubicam, and we went from that scene to a long shot of the young Sally Draper, who is still adjusting to having a weekend dad, a new little brother and a new stepmother. I wonder if "Mad Men" is telling us that the season will be about the ways in which the young people are really taking over and that SCDP is completely unprepared to handle that (aside from possibly Peggy, who's young and relatively plugged into youth culture, and Pete, who's always been more enlightened on matters of race than his colleagues).

    As for Sally's brief screen time, I'm betting she really did know where the bathroom was and just wanted her dad to get up and make her pancakes. I can't blame the kid for wanting her father's attention, but who knows how much quality attention she's getting from any parent these days. The idea of Sally as a future Weather Underground activist or radical of some kind -- a fate many have predicted for her -- does not seem that unlikely. Let's face it, she's already got the kind of issues and baggage that could drive her in extreme directions in the not-distant future. For now, though, Sally's just watching everything with those big eyes of hers, which miss nothing. (Actress Kiernan Shipka talks about Sally's relationship with new stepmom Megan here.)


  • Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks): How much did I absolutely adore the scene between Lane and Joan? So, so much. Here are two characters who don't let people in often, who are so proper and so careful in everything they do -- and they're both lonely. I love that they got to comfort each other, but in one respect, I still think Joan will stay lonely.

    I bet few of her contemporaries -- certainly not her disapproving mother -- understand what it's like for a new mother to want to return to work, not just for the money, but for reasons involving self-esteem and accomplishment. I so related to Joan's plight; when I had my son almost a decade ago, I was almost ashamed of the fact that, though I love him a lot, there were many times during my maternity leave when I wanted badly to be back among my co-workers. It's hard to go from being good at a job that puts you in contact with a lot of other smart adults to feeling at sea at a very different kind of job that can leave you feeling isolated, lonely and confused. Joan loves her baby, but she wanted to go back to work because she's good at it, she derives a sense of satisfaction from it and she commands a lot of hard-won respect at the firm, which she helped build. Not that having a kid isn't an incredible feeling, but, as Lane said, the home front doesn't always supply everything a person needs. But, probably like a lot of women Joan knows, her mother takes it as a given that her daughter would want to quit at her first opportunity, even though it appears her mom supports herself and is no longer married.

    The incongruities of her mother's position aren't lost on Joan. Speaking more generally, Joan's undermining mother certainly does explain a lot -- we see why Joan is so strong (she had to be) and why she occasionally makes really terrible decisions (she doesn't truly believe in herself and her instincts). On some level, Joan wants to follow "the rules" for being a successful woman, but there are precious few rules and rewards for the kind of life she's trying to lead as both a mother and a successful professional. And speaking of motherhood, what exactly does Roger know about the parentage of young Kevin? In Season 4, I believe Roger was left thinking that Joan would have an abortion, but when (some time after the Season 4 finale) she showed up at the office very obviously pregnant not too long after their post-mugging encounter, he must have figured out the truth. But being Roger, he's probably quite able to suppress whatever information he doesn't want to know. No doubt we'll get some enlightenment on that front soon. (Side note: If only Joan and Peggy were better friends, they could commiserate about their dilemmas as working women and as women who became pregnant via co-workers. That will never happen, given the secrets both are keeping, and it was especially poignant to see the visibly uncomfortable Peggy and Pete try to offload the baby on others.)

  • Lane Pryce (Jared Harris): Lane and Rebecca have a very proper marriage and Mr. Pryce is ever correct in his behavior and demeanor, but we know there's a passionate side to the stiff-upper-lip Brit. He had much more than a fling with his chocolate Bunny last season, and he's clearly taken with the buxom Dolores, with whom he has the Lane Pryce equivalent of phone sex (he made a reference to underwear! Oh Mr. Pryce, behave!). How much longer before Lane turns those buttoned-up longings into reality? I wonder, could he and Joan find themselves together? It'd probably be a terrible idea for her to have another office affair, but these two lonely souls, I think, would actually treat each other well. Goodness knows they both deserve it, given the kind of parenting and relationships they've had.

  • Bert Cooper (Robert Morse): "Do not begin this meeting without me!" Oh Bert. Don't ever change.

  • Betty Draper Francis (January Jones): As creator Matthew Weiner said in a pre-season interview with HuffPost TV, January Jones doesn't appear much this season due to her real-life pregnancy and the birth of her son, so we won't be seeing a lot of Betty (or presumably Henry) this season. When she does return, who expects her to be in a happy marriage? Yep, nobody.

And why are these characters so unhappy? I've been thinking a lot lately about how "Mad Men" is, in some ways, a meditation on narcissism (as was "The Sopranos" before it). All of these characters are trapped inside their own concerns and frequently unable to see beyond their own agendas and desires. Even when they're in relationships, they tend to see their own idealized or disillusioned version of the other person, not who the person really is. (Don't we all? And that's why the show's so fascinating: Not because they're wearing Pucci prints and drinking gallons of whiskey, but because they're every bit as hopeful, confused and self-deluding as we are.)

Don wants Megan to be his toy; he wants a tigress in the bedroom who's also a tame pet that he can bring to work. He wants Megan to exist on his terms and do his bidding, but what about her own desires and agenda? What if she's young and likes to party and show off (not just show off her handsome husband, but her own lithe body and looks)? What if she wants a real career, not the one Don has condescendingly handed her? She may not really care about his secret identity as Dick Whitman, but does Don know her secret dreams and desires? Or is she another bauble that makes him feel good about himself? We all saw how his last marriage to a decorative, unfulfilled young woman worked out.

Even Roger's maneuvers to give Pete a better office aren't about Pete; they're about the old lion defending his turf, emphasis on "his." Roger doesn't know or care what Pete or Jane or anyone else wants; he just wants things the way they always were, and he doesn't stop to think about the big picture or the agency's overall health. It's all about his self-gratification and his need for stability and attention. If he were more aware of the feelings of others, would he have said, "There's my baby" as he walked up to Joan, given their history? Did he stop to think about how those very charged words might land with her? Of course not. Even more than Don does, he lives inside his own bubble of selfishness.

Hang on, I seem to be getting all serious here, but this wasn't one of those "Mad Men" episodes; it was all about letting us visit some of our favorite people and watch them engage in the kind of office politics and Saturday-night shenanigans that make us think a little, but also make us laugh.

But allow me to indulge in one more serious thought before I start to list my favorite moments and lines: Could "Mad Men" finally be taking on race in a real way? It's about time. I give the show credit for, from Day 1, reflecting the racism of the era in its full ugliness. We like to think these characters are special, and in many ways, they are; but their "jokes" and comments (the hideous "tote that barge") are alarmingly typical of the kind of casual prejudices that existed then (and are still present in our society now). I really do hope that SCDP takes on an African-American employee and/or otherwise takes this theme seriously this season. Despite having shown ad men and their wives interacting with black characters in the past, "Mad Men" couldn't really think of itself as the ultimate '60s drama unless it took on the issue of race in a much more forthright, concrete way.

And now, on to a bullet-point list of some favorite moments and lines:

  • I like Don's new secretary, Caroline -- she has spirit. Anyone who stands up to Roger when he's in his most patronizing mode is okay by me.
  • I loved the subplot about Roger and Pete; Pete's frozen grin when he showed up to the Mohawk lunch and saw Roger already there was priceless, as was Pete's diabolical Staten Island revenge.
  • Lane, who toted a clipboard to the impromptu status meeting, reminded me of Murray from "Flight of the Conchords." I half expected him to take attendance ("Lane, present!").
  • Megan is very young and naive, but she's got to realize (if she doesn't already) that working at Don's agency is a bad idea. Sure, she's got all the job security she could want, but nobody takes her seriously, and that'll be the case as long as she's both an employee and the boss' wife. Also, that's another reason her chanteuse routine at the party wasn't such a great idea. These weren't just Don's co-workers she was shimmying for, they were her co-workers too. If she wasn't taken seriously before, her cabaret number wasn't exactly about to get everyone to think of her as future copywriter material.
  • It's indicative of the level of complacency in many parts of society that Trudy honestly didn't know why 1966 had been a "bad" year and that the Heinz folks thought that the way to be "in" with the kids was to have protestors agitating for more baked beans. No matter what year it is, there are always some people who are fully capable of living sheltered, blinkered, superficial lives.
  • Speaking of Heinz, a great line from Peggy: "Clients are right all of the sudden? I don't recognize that man. He's kind and patient!"
  • Speaking of beans, a great line from Stan: "I got tickets to the bean ballet, and the curtain's about to go up."
  • Roger and Jane: A cautionary tale for Don and Megan? Discuss.
  • I am completely sure that Harry is the kind of guy who will be among the first to adopt leisure suits and gold chains when those become the fashion. He is so that guy.
  • What was most delicious about the party at Don and Megan's? The costumes were to die (costume designer Janie Bryant outdid herself with the period-appropriate mix of bold colors and prints). The band was very space-age bachelor pad, and the pad itself was insanely fun in a mid-'60s, cool-cat sort of way. Topping off the party like frosting on a cake were the series of frozen smiles that Don supplied: One to his wife, who threw a bash to remind him that he's 40; another to his guests, who he has to see all week at work anyway and, therefore he couldn't really relax; another to Peggy, who couldn't resist launching an uncalled-for dig about the Heinz account; and another to Megan herself. The naive French-Canadian minx was undeniably sexy during her dance, but the look on his face said that Don would have rather gotten a private dance and not have had his wife displaying her wares for everyone from a slack-jawed Harry to Don's rumpled accountant. Having said that, his discomfort turned to super-heated desire when she decided to clean up the house in her sexy black underclothes. As you do.
  • Oh snap, Sterling-style: Roger - "Why don't you sing like that?" Jane - "Why don't you look like that?"
  • One question I had: We saw Don's fairly brutal dis of Megan's party late Saturday night, then they went to work together Monday morning and made up that afternoon, in typical Don Draper style. But what happened on Sunday? Did they just avoid each other and avoid the inevitable fight? It was a bit inelegant, but it seems as though script required to have Megan pour out her troubles to Peggy, hence the show had to awkwardly skip the day on which any other couple would have likely had their post-party fight.
  • Harry: "So this is every month?" Roger: "Get out of my office!" The Roger-Harry scene was comedy gold.
  • So typical of Roger's casual sexism and selfishness: "They're all great girls, until they want something." Yes, God forbid that anyone but you want something, Roger. I love the character -- five seasons in, his raffish wit is intact -- but he can be such an ass.
  • I'm sure hardcore Campbell fans spotted Pete's rifle in the office-swap scene.
  • "You don't know her at all," Don says about Megan. But does he really know her? Time will tell.


Don't miss all of our "Mad Men" coverage, from interviews with the cast and creator to cocktail recipes to a Season 4 catch-up slideshow. It's all here.

?

Follow Maureen Ryan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/moryan

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maureen-ryan/mad-men-season-premiere-recap_b_1377213.html

bachelor ben good morning america jon hamm jon hamm kim kardashian law school rankings ncaa bracket predictions jeff foxworthy