AUSTRALIA’S G20 seat at the world’s top table and success in combating the global financial crisis will change our strategic culture…. From The Australian. Full story

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When people discover that I was an Egyptology major in college, they ask me why I didn’t continue my formal studies of ancient Egypt. After explaining my solid conviction that I have no desire to spend the rest of my days alternating between the basement of a library and the 115 degree heat of the Giza Plateau, I then add, “Besides which, I never learned German.” Most think this is a joke. It isn’t.

It was largely assumed, when one entered the graduate text reading classes, that the student was fluent in German. Discussions usually drifted – oftentimes mid-sentence – into unser Verstandis der Koenigslexicon, und sein Verhaltnis zur der grosser Priesten. This is because those who enter the (insanely rigorous) German academic system not only have to earn a Doctorate, they also have to earn a Professorship – a process that can often take many, many years, most of this time being spent on insanely specific and/or thorough investigations of pretty much any aspect of ancient life one could imagine (I once came across a dictionary of Egyptian nautical terms). Thus, most of the good scholarship in Egyptology comes from Germany.

When a heady, young student first enters an introductory course in Middle Egyptian, he usually start with Raymond Faulkner’s Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian, a hand-written, 349 page single-volume work containing 5,400 of the most common words found on monuments, papyri, and stelae (I’m convinced that the only people who use Budge’s dictionary are those who believe the Egyptians were aliens, or those who want Anubis’s name tattooed across their ankle). My favorite Amazon customer reviews on Faulkner’s work are those that complain about the dictionary being handwritten. If somebody wants to build a keyboard containing the more than 1,000 hieroglyphic sign, each found in a variety of sizes and running from left-to-right, right-to-left, bottom-to-top, or top-to-bottom, then they’re more than welcome to do so. In the meantime, we’ll just have to make do with hand-written dictionaries.

As one would imagine, the Egyptian language contains many nuances, including visual puns, religious allusions, and variant spellings, and at a certain point, Faulkner’s book doesn’t quite cut it. That’s where the seven hefty volumes of the Egyptian-to-German Wörterbuch der Aegyptischen Sprache come in.

Obviously, seven volumes of Wörterbuch don’t just sprout out of thin air. Working from 1897, Prof. Adolf Erman and Prof. Hermann Grapow started to work on collecting every instance of every word ever found in the Egyptian language. Erman and Grapow spent 30 years gathering, cataloguing, and organizing over 1.5 million entries, thus producing the dictionary Egyptologists use today. (I believe most of the 1.5 million notes were incinerated when a bomb struck the Berlin Academy during World War 2.)

I have a photocopied version of the Wörterbuch, which I’ve affectionately nicknamed my Wörterbuch of Doom! Below, I’ve posted pages 242-243 of the Wörterbuch’s first volume – the beginning of the quail chick section – or, for those of you currently residing in library basements, Bird Sign G43 of Sir Alan Gardiner’s Sign List. More on that, next time, here at GB,HR’s Matters Archeological &. Egyptological.

So smart and so smartly Congress twisted arms of common man-  same category which was lured by reducing  prices and reduced petrol / diesel charges…..and then congress managed to come back. But here was the game – petrol and diesel are up again and so is everything which concerns common man of India.

Vegetables and fruits are short – and what is available in market has been made so expensive that lower middle class can not think of  buying  any. They wait for Sun to go down and only then comes to the market hoping that rates will go down in late evening.

Budget was so hopeless for common man of India that sensex dips 880 points. I do not think that Manmohan Sigh had used all his callibre and mind while gicing some tips to his men. I think this is pure oppertunisn and every part is master to be one.

On the other hand whole nation saw LALU and MAMTA fihting over figures and then reports came that MAMTA will check all appointments in Railways….to make sure that there is no favouritism done. We all know DIDI that you will check LALU appointments and then you also will do the same thing…and then someone else will come…and he/she will continue this ritual of region based politics….and this play will go on. Yes- you will succeed in getting votes.

(DES MOINES)— Closing the books on the 2009 fiscal year, the nonpartisan Legislative Service Agency announced yesterday that net state revenue came in $161 million below the Revenue Estimating Conference’s (REC) estimate. This news, coupled with the historic spending levels, means the 2009 and 2010 budgets are now both out of balance. Also, the 2011 budget now has a gap exceeding $1 billion.

Today House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) commented on the state’s bond rating and the current fiscal condition of Iowa.

“Bond ratings are not what will help put Iowans back to work. Iowa needs a economic growth plan – not a government growth plan. The facts are clear: the governor spent too much, cut too little and borrowed even more money which led to the most spending in Iowa’s history. We now have a generation’s worth of debt, and my fear is that this irresponsible spending will be used as an excuse to raise taxes and further slow Iowa’s recovery.”

In May, the governor signed a bonding package that plunged the state $1.664 billion in to debt to pay for $765 million worth of projects. All House Republicans were opposed to these measures.

Okay, so Friday, The Reason I Get Up In The Morning and our adopted 30 year old girl child wanted to go to the local Vietnamese Embassy nail parlor to have that quintessential rite of womanhood relaxation — the pedicure. I, being the manly man, stayed in the car with my iPod and played Solitaire — that quintessential rite of manhood relaxation.

Well, the days are beginning to heat up here in the South after a particularly wonderful spell of unseasonably cool and non-humid weather and the Midnight Blue of the Santa Fe began to draw a mite too much heat for my comfort. So, when the sweat rivulets began to form, I struck my flag in surrender and went into the nail parlor where it was cooler.

Once I recovered from the assault on my nose from whatever noxious and probably toxic chemicals were venting into the air, I settled down on a pagoda armed chair and went back to my Solitaire game. I looked up every now and again just to maintain an air of situational awareness and the last time I looked up, my two female charges were head to head with the diminutive owner of the business. Once glance in my direction and I knew the day was about to take a turn for the strange.

Sure enough, the ladies had bought me a pedicure. Now I could have stood my ground and battled for my manly rights to grocery store feet and lack of daintiness, but it was two and a half against me and I just didn’t have the energy to mount the necessary defense. So, in the name of science (at least that’s what I told myself) I mounted the raised platform and sank into the depths of a surprisingly large and comfortable Naugahyde recliner with a foot basin at the bottom. No sooner had I settled in than said basin began filling with fizzy blue water. This piqued my interested because the fizzy blue water was exactly the shade of fizzy blue water that Granny Wham went to great lengths to keep my feet — and other body parts — out of when I was younger. Of course, that water had been contained in a basin of a different material and makeup, thus the difference. Still, the cognitive dissonance was there.

Once the basin was filled and the water jets were jetting, a tiny, tiny, tiny ageless but seemingly young and definitely dainty Asian lady came up to me, smiled at me and, by pointing, made me to understand I was to put my feet into the fizzy blue water. I did so. Then I sat marinating my prized grocery store feet in fizzy blue water for ten minutes.

At the end of the aforementioned marinating time, the aforementioned animated doll came up and seated herself on a stool at my feet. Then she opened a drawer next to the basin. This drawer was filled with a variety of implements that I had not seen since the final torture scene of Braveheart. My apprehension grew, fueled not only by the sight of the drawer of horrors, but also by some nagging thought that I should remember something that was gnawing at the fringes of my consciousness. This seemed singularly important, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not bring the memory to recall.

So, somewhat confused over my nagging memory, I put myself into the hands of the dainty picture at my feet. She again smiled sweetly and touched my right calf in a manner that I assumed, correctly it turned out, meant, “please take this huge beef shank out of the fizzy blue water and place it on the stand in front of the basin.” I complied and she picked up some metal and plastic tool closely resembling a piece of two by four with sixteen penny nailed studded throughout it. Budge told me it was a callous file. In any event, the precious lady at my feet grasped the “file” in one hand and clamped down on my right foot in a grip of iron. It was at that moment I remembered what my brain had been trying to tell me for the last twenty minutes.

The bottoms of my feet are ungodly ticklish.

For as long as I can remember, anyone wanting to torment me who could manage to contain my size and adrenaline would grasp my ankle and proceed to run fingers or a feather or anything lightly over the sole of my foot. I would explode into paroxysms of laughter and involuntary spasms of jerking and kicking. As a child, it was the favorite pastime of my beloved Uncle Larry to hold me off the ground dangling upside down by one foot while he tickled said foot and watched me turn blue. Once, however, he made the mistake of doing this not knowing I’d eaten a half-gallon of Rocky Road ice cream right before he arrived. Granny Wham and Aunt Cathy were none too happy at the resulting inverted geyser. But I digress.

The foot therapist’s touch immediately triggered the old reactions and it was only at the last second and only by brute force that I managed not to unleash a front kick that would have no doubt propelled my attendant through the air and probably the far wall. For the next fifteen minutes, thirty if one counts the repeat performance on the left foot, I fought back insane laughter and jerky twitches of my poor assaulted feet. To make matters worse, my beloved and our girl child sat next to me visibly shaking as they tried to contain their laughter.

Finally, it was over, or so I thought. She released my feet into the fizzy blue water and I took a breath for the first time in nearly half an hour. Then she turned to her assistant and said something in the melodious sing song that is the Vietnamese language. I soon found out that her words loosely translated into, “Please bring me two asbestos bags of molten lava to help soften and rejuvenate this poor sap’s feet.” Of course, I didn’t know at the time that the beautiful amber liquid in the plastic bags the assistant brought was the temperature of the Sun’s corona. So, I unthinkingly and meekly put both feet into the bags . . . and watched through tears as my toenails melted off. As the “paraffin” hardened like so much basalt around my poor feet, I thought of how I was going to crawl to the car and, once I reached home, I’d have to rename the blog “Granny Beads and Grocery Store Ankle Stumps”.

Then, as quickly as the whole process began, it was over. The bags were removed from my feet, my calves were massaged with fragrant lotion, and my torturess was remarking how much she’d enjoyed working me since I was a “big man, like [her] husband.” I thanked her and told her that was wonderful and the intimate contact we had enjoyed with her at my feet made us husband and wife in several cultures, but irony doesn’t translate well.

So, we paid our bill and I walked out to the car on callous free feet as far from grocery store grime as the day I was born. In retrospect, the feeling was delicious and I can totally see how ladies become addicted to the experience. Perhaps next time, I’ll go for the hot stone massage . . . we’ll just have to be very clear on our definitions of “hot.”

Until then, wash your feet in fizzy blue water!

Love y’all

Harmonising technological presence with personal interaction is key whilst the future of recruitment evolves. Most important is ensuring candidates are exposed to real-life opportunities in the new digital age, and Budge’s consultative approach is paving the way for a new style of recruitment: lifestyle consultancy.

To “budge” is to change your position and attitudes, and by adopting this word as the company name, it’s clear that this is a recruitment agency that encourages candidates to take the proverbial bull by the horns. The strap line, “life moves,” furthers this. We’re living in an age that is no longer constrained by geographical boundaries. Expatriates have fast become a norm, with private motivation for cultural and workplace integration becoming increasingly common.

The destinations theme has been integrated into Budge’s newly refurbished website, designed and built by 4MAT, and launched in January 2009. Despite having three interfaces (Global, Middle East and UK/Europe), and recruiting into the Technical, Construction & Financial services, the two-toned website remains uncluttered and easy to navigate. Jobs are displayed in a vertical ticker on the home page, but geographically-specific jobs are loaded for each interface. This logical functionality is one of many key features that 4MAT’s dotVacancy software enables, and further echoes Budge’s core belief in accessibility – both on-website and around the globe.

Budge’s focus on their candidates is furthered by their dedication to their staff, as well as having a committed corporate social responsibility programme that further solidifies the ethical and moral substance of the company. In this digital age, a website acts as an online shop-front window, and Budge have refined theirs to reflect their personal touch – their genuine approach to candidates and clients alike, and their passion for the international job opportunities that come their way. Ben Stein once said, “The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.” Budge’s website and philosophy enables you to go anywhere to get it!

http://blog.heritage.org

According to reports, President Barack Obama plans to convene his Cabinet for the first time today, where he will order members to identify a combined $100 million in budget cuts over the next 90 days. Just how laughable is Obama’s latest stunt to try to maintain his “fiscal responsibility” credentials? This graphic from Heritage’s John Fleming  might help:

Yerrr! Eat your heart out. Check out Budge! I love this guys stuff I hope you do too!

Lazy Rich – Big Fish (Signal Drivers Remix)

Alex Losy – Mens Rea (Budge Remix)

2 Bit Thugs – Tearing Up The Club (Dirty Freek Remix)

J.U-ICE – The Way I Move (Aquilaganja’s White Label)

Edu K - Raver Lovin’ (Nadastrom Remix)

Bass Weazal – Weazling (Ultra Low Mix)

MGMT- Time to Pretend (Diplo Remix)

Vukasin & Ruffcut – Understand (Natty Jack Remix)

Ben Delay & Chris Powell – Refraction (Papershop Remix)

Everyone’s looking to save money these days. It all adds up.  Here’s some things we’re doing lately to save cash:

• We almost never use our gas heat, we have heaters in most rooms.  It works surprising well and is definitely cheaper than propane.
• We have a gas oven too, and I can’t remember the last time we used it. We have a small electric convection oven that works great for pretty much everything.
• Sandwiches for lunch! We finally bought my wife a snazzy lunchbox so she doesn’t have to eat out for lunch so much; it adds up. Plus it’s generally healthier.

What kind of things are you doing to keep in the black these days?

May 8, 2008 Bearfence Mtn. Hut to Skyland Resort (16.1 miles)
I wanted to hike to Big Meadows Lodge for breakfast! I arrived about 10am, just before they stopped serving breakfast. I ate a huge meal with the appetite of a hungry field hand. I then hiked another 8 miles to Skyland Resort where I’m staying tonight. Had a shower and a great dinner. I know I’ve lost weight, but don’t know how much. Elaine tells me I look like I did in high school except for the gray hair and wrinkles! My appetite is like that of a hungry 16 year old. I’m o.k. with hiker food on the trail, but when I get to a restaurant I’m a serious threat to anything put on my plate! If anyone wants to lose weight while eating anything they want, I’ve found the answer. Hit the AT!
May 9, 2008 Skyland Resort to Pass Mtn. Hut (10.7 miles)
Today was a miserable day for hiking. It was very foggy with frequent rain and a chilly wind blowing. To make it worse I left a motel room with a restaurant and lounge! I started about 9:30am and reached the shelter about 2:30pm. I’m glad to be in a dry shelter because more rain is predicted for tonight. My cell phone has not reception here, but a nice section hiker let me use her phone to call Elaine. Hope the rain ends tonight.
May 10, 2008 Pass Mtn. Hut to Gravel Spring Hut (13.1 miles)
Today was much like yesterday, foggy with intermittent rain and a chilly wind. I didn’t try to hike further because of the rain. Tomorrow I’ll hike to US 522 and hitchhike into Front Royal, VA to re-supply. I’m in shelter tonight with Thud and his dog Max (below), Bog Foot and a young couple, Budge and Pocket Change. I’m on schedule now to meet Elaine in Harpers Ferry, W.VA.

May 11, 2008 Gravel Spring Hut to US 552, near Front Royal, VA (13.4 miles)
It was colder this morning with a chilly wind. The rain held off until I had completed the hike. I’m comfortable now in a Quality Inn in Front Royal. A check of “The Weather Channel” indicates rain with a high of 48 degrees tomorrow. I’m thinking of taking a zero day tomorrow to avoid the cold rain. The last 4 days have been chilly and rainy. This not only makes hiking more difficult, but you also wake up to damp cold hiking clothes. It wears on you after a few days. I’m really looking forward to seeing Elaine in Harpers Ferry, W. VA, this Friday.
May 12, 2008 Front Royal, VA (zero miles)
It’s cold, windy, and raining all day today. I’m glad to be warm and dry in my motel room instead of fighting the weather on the trail. I made phone calls to friends and family. It’s nice to be able to visit by phone.
May 13, 2008 US 552 at Chester Gap to Rod Hollow Shelter (23.5 miles)
The weather was great today, blue sky and high 60’s. Unfortunately, the recent rains turned the trail into a stream in many places. My shoes and socks were soaked early and often. Today’s point of interest was a rock wall which marked a boundary surveyed by George Washington when he was a young man.
Traveler

 Thanks to anyone reading this who came to my 2000 hits party! We had a blast! We tried to tip the iceberg (it wouldn’t budge though), we danced on my dance floor and we ate cake- a lot! Here are the pictures of the party in the form of a slide show:

!!!

Cool eh? If you didn’t come, make sure you come to my next party, the 3000 hits party, next week. More information will follow very soon.

Until next time…

Waddle on!

Bodge101

 A finales de diciembre, las filas estadounidenses serán ampliadas con dos labradores, Boe y Budge, de la organización de antiguos combatientes VetDogs, han sido confiados al 85o Regimiento Médico del Ejército para ser enviados al campo de batalla.

Tendrán por misión aportar «consuelo emocional» a los solados, sostiene un comunicado de VetDogs.

«Los perros han sido los héroes silenciosos de nuestro esfuerzo de guerra. Pero trayendo estos perros terapéuticos a Irak, vamos aún más lejos. Estos perros representan otro acercamiento para combatir el estrés de los soldados que vuelven», explicó la mayor Stacie Caswell, que comanda el 85o Regimiento Médico.

Los beneficios para la salud que otorga la presencia de animales domésticos han sido ya documentados por estudios, que muestran un efecto positivo sobre la tensión y el estrés.

Los perros terapéuticos han sido ya utilizados con niños y ancianos en hospitales y asilos.

Pd: la foto no es de los dos labradores, pero me parecio curiosa la foto.

Fuente: http://www.eltiempo.com

Hola.

Bueno ahora que ya saben que estoy haciendo los subtítulos de Nip/Tuck casi semanalmente, quiero advertirles de que no sean unos çagaprisas (gracias maestro Yulifero por incorporar dicho vocablo en mi ya florido léxico). Los subtítulos saldrán cuando salgan. Mientras tanto, les dejo la reseña del episodio…

“Fui atacada por un águila gigante en Calgary…” – Dawn Budge.

Este episodio marca el regreso de la mejor invitada de la serie: Rosie O’Donnell. Podemos recordar a Dawn Budge cuando se tiró sin más al mismísimo Christian Troy, que en ese momento necesitaba de platita contante y sonante, y se la tiró por 50 mil pelucas gringas. Mientras tanto, la relación entre Annie y Eden (que saca a relucir las tendencias más semipaidófilas de todo hombre) empieza a preocupar a Sean; y también vemos a la pareja ganadora del premio “Padres del Año”: Kimber y Matt, quienes piensar que fumar crack debe ser una actividad compartida en familia – hasta con una bebé recién nacida.

Llévame Xenu a tu palacio cientológico. Esperen links a los subs aquí cuando los termine. Como siempre, mis respetos y saludos al maestro Yulifero por la labor que hace con House.

Edit: Pues apenas me levanté, me di cuenta que me ganaron. No me hago responsable de estos subtítulos ni de cualquier falla que tengan.

Enlace a WikiSubtitles (Version NoTV – Español)

Chau.