Choosing a Mediterranean Restaurant For a Great Night Out

Posted by aayana on 3/27/12 ? Categorized as Food and Drink,Restaurants

It?s common knowledge that a good Mediterranean restaurant can provide guests with some of the most unique and expressive cuisine found on the planet. And it is also well known that eating from the food groups most closely associated with that part of the world can be incorporated into a very healthy diet. Of course, when you look for a place to spend an evening out, you?re looking for more than just a set menu. Just because an establishment serves a certain type of food, it doesn?t mean they know how to make it good! Plus, there?s more to an evening out than just the food. Here are some things to look for when making your choice.

Fresh Food

There?s a world of difference between getting a hamburger from a hometown grill and going through a fast food drive-thru. But the same disparate quality can be found anywhere, even in a Mediterranean restaurant. Make sure that the place you choose is using fresh ingredients to make the food they prepare. The difference in quality when you compare food that has been fresh picked and grown locally and food that has been shipped in frozen from another part of the country is immeasurable.

Reviews

Don?t try to choose a Mediterranean restaurant without looking at reviews. Check the local newspaper to see if the professional food critic has reviews the establishment. Don?t only look for a bottom line star rating, but read the review to see what he has to say. This is where the meat of your information will come from. The things that are most important to his review may not be very important to you. The dishes he loved (or didn?t care for) may not be dishes you had any intention of trying in the first place. Don?t stop at professional reviews, however. Look online to see what patrons themselves have to say about the place.

Extras

Part of the joy that comes with eating foreign fare comes in the atmosphere provided by the establishment. You alone, of course, know what you?re looking for in a Mediterranean restaurant when it comes to atmosphere. Do you want a casual, family friendly atmosphere? Do you want something akin to a sports bar? Or would you like to be transported to a land by the sea when you walk through the doors? Knowing the atmosphere you?re looking for and how well the joint implements it should play a big role in the choice you make.

Going out to a Houston Mediterranean restaurant makes for a night of great eating and entertainment. For legendary service and meals, go to http://www.skewerscafe.com.

Tagged as: houston mediterranean restaurant

Source: http://www.articlesrx.com/choosing-a-mediterranean-restaurant-for-a-great-night-out/4964

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America's health care reform through history

The three days of arguments beginning before the Supreme Court on Monday may mark a turning point in a century of debate over what role the government should play in helping all Americans afford medical care. A look at the issue through the years:

1912:

Former President Theodore Roosevelt champions national health insurance as he tries to ride his progressive Bull Moose Party back to the White House. It's an idea ahead of its time; health insurance is a rarity and medical fees are relatively low because doctors cannot do much for most patients. But medical breakthroughs are beginning to revolutionize hospitals and drive up costs. Roosevelt loses the race.

1929:

Baylor Hospital in Texas originates group health insurance. Dallas teachers pay 50 cents a month to cover up to 21 days of hospital care per year. The plan grows into Blue Cross.

1932:

After five years of work, doctors, economists and hospital administrators on the independent Committee on the Costs of Medical Care publish their report about the increasing costs of health care and the number of people going untreated. They say health care should be available to all.

1935:

Americans struggle to pay for medical care amid the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt favors creating national health insurance, but decides to push for Social Security first. He never gets the health program passed.

1942:

Roosevelt establishes wage and price controls as part of the nation's emergency response to World War II. Businesses can't attract workers with higher pay so instead they compete through added benefits, including health insurance, which unexpectedly grows into a workplace perk. Workplace plans get a boost the following year when the government says it won't tax employers' contributions to employee health insurance.

1945:

Saying medical care is a right of all Americans, President Harry Truman calls on Congress to create a national insurance program for those who pay voluntary fees. The American Medical Association denounces the idea as "socialized medicine." Truman tries for years but can't get it passed.

1960:

John F. Kennedy makes health care a major campaign issue but as president can't get a plan for the elderly through Congress.

1965:

Medicare for people age 65 and older and Medicaid for the poor signed into law. President Lyndon B. Johnson's legendary arm-twisting and a Congress dominated by his fellow Democrats succeeded in creating the kind of landmark health care programs that eluded his predecessors.

1971:

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., offers his proposal for a government-run plan to be financed through payroll taxes.

1974:

President Richard Nixon puts forth a plan to cover all Americans through private insurers. Employers would be required to cover their workers and federal subsidies would help others buy insurance. The Watergate scandal intervenes.

1976:

Jimmy Carter pushes a mandatory national health plan, but a deep economic recession helps push it aside.

1986:

Congress passes and President Ronald Reagan signs into law COBRA, a requirement that employers let former workers stay on the company health care plan for 18 months after leaving a job, with the worker bearing the cost.

1988:

Congress expands Medicare by adding a prescription drug benefit and catastrophic care coverage. It doesn't last long. Barraged by protests from older people upset about paying a tax to finance the additional coverage, Congress repeals the law the next year.

1992:

Helping the uninsured becomes a big issue of the Democratic primaries and spills over into the general election. Democrat Bill Clinton wants to require businesses to provide insurance to their employees, with the government helping everyone else; Republican President George H.W. Bush proposes tax breaks to make it easier to afford insurance.

1993:

Newly elected, Clinton puts first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in charge of developing what becomes a 1,300-page plan for universal coverage. It requires businesses to cover their workers and mandates that everyone have insurance. The plan meets strong Republican opposition, divides congressional Democrats and comes under a firestorm of lobbying from businesses and the health care industry. It never gets to a vote in the Democrat-led Senate.

2003:

President George W. Bush persuades Congress to add prescription drug coverage to Medicare in a major expansion of Johnson's "Great Society" program for seniors.

2008:

Hillary Rodham Clinton makes a sweeping health care plan, including a requirement that everyone have coverage, central to her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. She loses to Barack Obama, who promotes his own less comprehensive plan.

2009:

Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress spend an intense year ironing out a compromise that requires companies other than very small businesses to cover their workers, mandates that everyone have insurance or pay a fine, requires insurance companies to accept all comers, regardless of any pre-existing conditions, and assists people who can't afford insurance.

2010:

Congress passes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, designed to extend health care coverage to more than 30 million uninsured people. Obama signs it into law March 23.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/americas-health-care-reform-history-172943341.html

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Obama urges N. Korea to "pursue peace"

U.S. President Barack Obama, left, looks at South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during their joint news conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, March 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

U.S. President Barack Obama, left, looks at South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during their joint news conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, March 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during their joint news conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, March 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

U.S. President Barack Obama visits with South Korean troops at Observation Post Ouellette in the Demilitarized Zone, the tense military border between the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea, Sunday, March 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at the Blue House, the official presidential house, in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, March 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak walk out together after their joint news conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, March, 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ? In a direct challenge to North Korean leaders, President Barack Obama implored them "to have the courage to pursue peace" while warning of the wrath of the world if they don't. Failure, he said, would mean a future without dignity, respect or hope for its people.

Obama stood by his pledge for a globe without nuclear weapons, declaring flatly that the United States has more than it needs and can cut its arsenal without weakening its security or that of its allies. That assessment put him on a collision course with congressional Republicans who say any significant cuts would undermine the U.S. ability to deter aggression.

In unusually personal terms, Obama said he spoke of his wish for further nuclear reductions as the president of the only nation ever to use nuclear weapons, as a commander whose country's nuclear codes are never far from his side, and as a protective father eager to erase the threat of nuclear annihilation.

Obama and other world leaders are in Seoul for a major international nuclear security summit. Obama plans to meet on the sidelines of the summit with several heads of government, including Russian and Chinese leaders.

Obama spoke most directly to North Korea's leaders, saying the internationally isolated country needs to change its ways because continuing down the same path will lead to "more broken dreams" and "more isolation." His blunt remarks came a day after he visited the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea and described the experience as akin to witnessing a "time warp" of despair.

"By now it should be clear," he said. "Your provocations and pursuit of nuclear weapons have not achieved the security you seek, they have undermined it. Instead of the dignity you desire, you are more isolated."

The nuclear summit unfolded as North Korea prepared for an announced satellite launch next month that the United States says amounts to a test of its rocketry.

As Obama spoke of peace, tensions rose in the Korean peninsula. Seoul warned it might shoot down the North Korean rocket if it violates South Korean territory.

Speaking at Hankuk University, Obama said that the international community has made progress in reducing the threat of nuclear material but says "we're under no illusions."

"Even as we have more work to do, we can already say with confidence that we have more nuclear weapons than we need," he said. "I firmly believe that we can ensure the security of the United States and our allies, maintain a strong deterrent against any threat, and still pursue further reductions in our nuclear arsenal."

Obama also reiterated his warning to Iran, which the U.S. and its allies contend is defying its international obligations by pursuing an illicit nuclear program. Obama said he would discuss Iran in meetings later in the day with the leaders of Russia and China.

"Iran's leaders must understand that there is no escaping the choice before it. Iran must act with the seriousness and sense of urgency that this moment demands," Obama said. "Iran must meet its obligations."

Facing down Iran and North Korea, Obama said a "new international norm" was emerging to deal with the two nations' intransigence. "Treaties are binding. Rules will be enforced. And violations will have consequences," Obama said. "Because we refuse to consign ourselves to a future where more and more regimes possess the world's most deadly weapons."

Obama said the U.S. was also moving forward with Russia to eliminate enough plutonium for about 17,000 nuclear weapons and turn it into electricity. And he heralded an earlier agreement with Russia to reduce nuclear arsenals under the New START Treaty, which Obama called "the most comprehensive arms control agreement in nearly two decades."

"When we're done, we'll have cut American and Russian deployed nuclear warheads to their lowest levels since the 1950s," he said.

Obama also prodded Russia in a new way, saying he would seek discussions with Moscow on an unprecedented front: reducing not only strategic nuclear warheads, but also tactical weapons and warheads in reserve. He said he planned to discuss that proposition with Putin when they meet in May.

Obama was to meet later Monday with outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Former leader Vladimir Putin returns to the presidency later this spring after winning an election held earlier this year.

___

AP National Security writer Anne Gearan and AP writers Jean H. Lee and Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-03-25-AS-Obama/id-ca6a8d5668254abe9885076558c2757b

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North Carolina Remains Outlier In Southern States' Gay Marriage Debate

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-03-25-ML-Syria-Rising-Crime/id-9740879b72104b2da596c001b8f1f747

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Blog interview no.319 with writer, editor and publisher Kim Maya ...

Welcome to the three hundred and nineteenth of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today?s is with writer, editor and publisher (of Sheryl Browne, Bruce Moore, Will MacMillan, Will Sutton and others ) Kim Maya Sutton. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, Kim. Thank you for your time today.

Kim: No, no, thank you for having me. I sometimes still feel a bit strange about people actually asking me if they can interview me (I wonder ?me? Why me? Am I famous? Do I have something interesting to say??) And then I quiver in my boots about whether anybody actually reads what I wrote.

Morgen: I have c. 200 visits a day and I?m sure most are authors so I?m sure they?ll be interested to hear from the other side of the table. Please tell us something about yourself, where you?re based, and how you became involved in the creative writing industry.

Kim: At the moment, I still live in Cambridge and am preparing to move to the North Sea coast of Germany at the end of May. Safkhet will stay in London, because the beauty of the internet is that we can really work from just about anywhere.

My being a writer, an editor, book producer and then eventually publisher started really early actually. I wrote poems and memorized other people?s works when I was two years old. In high school I participated in the student paper as an editor and every so often wrote a piece myself. And when I was 22 or so, I decided to write my dad?s biography. Don?t ask me why, but it took me years to gather all the information and I only got around to actually writing it up the year before last, while I was waiting for my Master program to start.

Morgen: My father took eight years doing our family tree which is wonderful. I keep saying to my mum that she should write her autobiography as she?s done things like work for (British racing driver) Stirling Moss? sister?s riding stables but I don?t know if she ever will (she?s 80). Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

Kim: Personally, I have never been rejected by other publishers, but that?s because I never submitted anything for publication. Actually, I have. An academic paper to an academic magazine. At first, they said they loved it and suddenly they said they didn?t want it. I asked why. They told me. I fixed the issues, resubmitted and they turned me down again. Again, I asked why and fixed. This went back and forth a bit and the editor must have been quite annoyed. In the end, she said she?d take my article because she loved how persistent I was, AND because she ended up liking it. I guess this might be the reason why I try to handle rejections I have to send out in a very similar way. I usually do not just flat out reject, but rather give a reason and suggest that they might resubmit when the issue is fixed or when there is a submission call, fit on the list or whatever is wrong with the submission in my eyes. Or, I just start a list because I am so impressed with an author?s persistence (thank you, Sheryl for Safkhet Soul; that one is all your fault!).

Morgen: Ah yes, Sheryl is why I?m speaking to you today. Are the Safkhet books available as eBooks? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

Kim: The books we produce at Safkhet are available as eBooks, except in very few cases such as For Those About to Cook (there were just too many pictures in there and a focus on the design; however, the second one ? For Those About to Cook Pure Metal ? will be available as an eBook.

Morgen: Bruce Moore (I?m interviewing him next Saturday ). I love AC/DC so recognised the ?For Those About to Rock? analogy. Do you have a favourite of your books or characters? If any of your books were made into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s?

Kim: Teehee? In my dad?s biography, I would love to be played by Emma Thompson; and my Dad could well be Joseph Gordon-Levitt at a younger age and then maybe Sting later? Several people have pointed out that Sting looks just like him (or does he look like Sting?).

Morgen: Sting looking like him, definitely. I had to Google / Wikipedia Joseph_Gordon-Levitt as I couldn?t remember who he was ? I first saw him in 3rd Rock from the Sun? so funny. John Lithgow?s one of my favourite actors. I?ve just added Bruce?s cover, how important do you think titles and covers are?

Kim: The most important marketing tool, probably, considering that a reader only picks up the book based on either that or because they knew about it beforehand.

Morgen: In amongst all your publishing duties, do you manage to write every day? Do you ever suffer from writer?s block?

Kim: Yes, I write every day. Emails, website entries, press releases, book bits, blurbs,? Writer?s block? I don?t have time for that. Seriously. If I ever feel that coming, I just grab my keyboard and start writing something. After five minutes, I usually have a good idea and can go back to the beginning and edit whatever may not have worked.

Morgen: Having a variety certainly helps. Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?

Kim: If I wrote fiction, I would plot. In fact, I have had an idea for crime fiction and got exactly as far as plotting said book.

Morgen: Oh great. I met three agents at Winchester Writers? Conference last July and they all told me they wanted more crime. What?s your favourite / least favourite aspect of your writing life? Has anything surprised you?

Kim: Sometimes I wish I was an author only, and not an editor, publisher, dog lover, dungeon master, knitter, cook, photographer, prop organizer, event manager, marketing specialist, ? sometimes I even wish I was something rather straight forward, like a florist. That feeling usually only lasts about 2 seconds and then I am glad again that I get to do so many different things. I mean, wouldn?t I get bored otherwise?

Morgen: Will (Sutton ? interview 28th April) told me about the Dungeons & Dragons and the knitting (or crocheting in his case!). What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Kim: Write! And stop calling yourself aspiring. You either are a writer or you?re not. You may not be published but you are still a writer, so please don?t submit anything (particularly not to me) with ?I am an aspiring writer? in your submission. Wouldn?t let you cut my hair if you were an aspiring stylist either. I?d like to point you to Kristen?s blog as she said what I think quite nicely.

Morgen: That?s very true. I?m not sure I?ve ever thought of it like that. If you could invite three people from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or hide the takeaway containers)?

Kim: Don?t know really; my best friend suggested that I should invite Cleopatra and Pope Joan because they are women who fight for themselves and ?take no shit? (that?s what he said, not me). Makes me sound like a crosspatch, really. Another friend said he?d invite Picasso and van Gogh for me because they are so my style. Having thought about it then, I would like to invite Pope Joan, Picasso, and my grandfather (to ask him all those questions I forgot while he was still alive).

I?d serve goats yoghurt with blueberries. Hassle-free dinner, delicious and, I mean, who doesn?t like blueberries?

Morgen: <puts her hand up> I?m not really a berry person. More for everyone else. I adore cherries though. Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

Kim: ?I don?t like to repeat myself?. Sadly, I have to repeat that all the time and am growing quite fond of the sentence itself. Also works well modified ?didn?t I already say that?, ?why do I feel like I?ve said that already?, ?cripes, why do you make me say this over and over again?.

Morgen: <laughs> What do you do when you?re not writing? Any hobbies or party tricks?

Kim: I sleep, eat, walk or work out. Or I paint, sew, think, cook, play Dungeons and Dragons, spend time with my friends, teach, prepare lectures,?

Morgen: A never-ending list, hey. I know that feeling (blog, shower, emails, blog, dog walk, blog, eat, blog?). Speaking of blogging, are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how valuable do you find them?

Kim: I see networking sites as a picture of reality. In the old days, you went to conferences to meet new people and exchange ideas. That?s what you do on Twitter or LinkedIn. But would you really have climbed onto a table and yelled ?look at this beautiful girl of mine?? Probably not. You?d have shown that to your friends only. So that?s where Facebook comes in ? you have a group of friends and people you met (or didn?t, at least not in real life) and share your thoughts, photos, ? with them. As a company, it?s much the same, really. People follow you (meaning they express an interest in you, come to your old-fashioned convention, etc.) and you show them stuff you think they are interested in. Personally, I like Facebook best because to me, it is more of a reflection of reality; Twitter is more of a stand-on-the-table-and-shout kind of platform to me. I do stand on the Twitter table (and ask my authors to do it too, though), but I feel awkward doing it and understand those who want to avoid it. Wouldn?t want to force them, but I would seriously nudge them to become active on Facebook. For marketing, Twitter is only really important when an author?s audience is very active there. However, Twitter is a very powerful tool to spread the word about something, to stay on top of the news and to connect to some wonderful people because you can virtually hear what they have to say. I?d like to point out that I found the Kony 2012 campaign to help the Invisible Children that way, for example.

Morgen: I agree. Facebook is more intimate (but then I have 700+ friends on there as opposed to 2,400+ Twitter followers) and some people do tout tout tout on Twitter (then wonder why they get defollowed). I like LinkedIn too ? twice I?ve put shout-outs for interviewees (which I don?t think as touting as I?m providing a free service ? that?s my excuse anyway) and it?s done me proud (I?m currently four months ahead!). Where can we find out about you and your work?

Kim: www.safkhetpublishing.com and our blog safkhetpublishing.wordpress.com.

Morgen: Thanks for that. We?ve concentrated on the writing side of your life and I?m sure anyone reading this would like to know more about you with your publisher?s hat on. Can you please briefly explain the structure of your publishing house? perhaps who?s involved along the process of an acceptance to the book / story being published.

Kim: Briefly, yes, sure. It?s very brief. There are two of us, really. Will is responsible for the fantasy list and I am responsible for Safkhet Soul. All other books we divide based on personal liking and time. Mozart is our office mascot, she lies around and makes sure we don?t suffocate in books. She also keeps us focused and arranges regular workout sessions (ahem ? editorial meetings) in the park.

Morgen: Ah, that would be the dog in the photograph then.

Kim: Otherwise, we work with freelancers. When we have a submission, it travels a very subjective route. Usually, I pre-screen the submission, provided it was sent to the proper address (info@safkhetpublishing.com). If the submission is not according to our guidelines, I turn it down. Sounds harsh, but we have our reasons. If it is, I forward it to Will if it?s not my cup of tea. Once a submission is with the editor, we have different approaches. Me personally, I read it immediately (nothing worse than a pile of submissions yelling out for me) and if I like it, I request a sample chapter. If I like that too, I request more. If I still like it, I tell Will about it and try to convince him. At this point, we already think about possible outlets, reviewers, market,? and if we can think of people who might like to help working on the book and promote it, we talk to them. If we can convince them of the project, Will goes to the drawing board for a contract and we contact the author with said contract.

Morgen: The $64,000 question: out of all the submissions you receive, what makes a book / story stand out for all the right reasons?

Kim: The first hurdle for a submission at Safkhet is: the author needs to have followed the submission guidelines (if they did, I can somewhat safely assume that working with them will be easy, as they follow instructions and trust me to begin with). Second hurdle: no typos, general etiquette, polite yet firm tone. Third hurdle (and possibly the most difficult for us): do I like this book, does it have potential and is there a market for it. Doesn?t help if I like it and nobody else does, we are, after all, all in this to make some money, right?

Morgen: That must be a really hard decision to make, especially if you have more appealing books than budget (if that ever happens). And then, without naming names, what makes a book proposal / story stand out for all the wrong reasons?

Kim: Let?s have an example speak here:

I would like to work for you as a writer of prose and poesy and sign a contract for 20 years.
I write a one book on year and cost a 50.000 $.
I write prose and poesy since little and I educated myself privately for American literature.
Prose and poesy is just for a connoisseur and a lover of reading.

You can find more of these on http://safkhetpublishing.wordpress.com/category/publishing/submissions.

Morgen: Oh yes, I see what you mean. Google translate perhaps at work for the last two. What genres do you accept? What would you suggest an author do with a cross-genre piece of writing?

Kim: Fantasy, Cookery, Romantic Comedy, and very few select titles for a niche audience. Cross-genres pieces are very interesting ? do submit them but highlight where they fit into an existing list.

Morgen: And Sheryl?s definitely falls into the cookery / romantic comedy section. I have her book (yet to read it though <slaps wrist>) and loved her book talk / signing, especially when we got on the subject of second person viewpoint. How can an author submit to you?

Kim: Our submission guidelines are outlined on http://safkhetpublishing.com/publishing.htm.

Morgen: Presumably no mention of $50,000 one-book poesy contracts. Can you suggest some do?s and don?t?s when submitting to you.

Kim: Don?t not stick to the guidelines. Don?t be rude. Do be personal, funny, quirky, different. And please be short and succinct!

Morgen: Common sense. Are there authors that you deal with on a regular basis and / or perhaps represent directly?

Kim: We deal with all of our authors regularly ? one email a day keeps the misunderstandings away

Morgen: I think everyone likes attention to detail and knowing that someone?s thinking about them. What do you feel about an author writing under a pseudonym? Do you think they make a difference to their profile? And would you recommend an author writing under different names for different genres?

Kim: Whatever they want to do really. I personally don?t understand writing under pseudonyms. Going back to what I said about social networking ? I would never have attended one type of conference under a different name than another just because they are not related. I might also lose my overview. Online nicks are about the maximum I can handle and I only have two nicknames I use, so once you?ve found me, you can find me on other sites as well.

Morgen: I agree that it?s easier to stick with the one name as getting people to know that one exists is hard enough. We touched on eBooks earlier, what?s your opinion of eBooks as a way forward?

Kim: Love them, find them helpful, they are additional though and not replacing books.

Morgen: Do you have to do a lot of editing to the stories you accept or is the writing usually more or less fully-formed?

Kim: I can?t answer this generally. Sometimes there is a lot and other times not so much. We do strive for a more global English though so in that regard, when we sign an author, we have to edit quite a bit to ensure this global house style.

Morgen: That makes sense. For your purposes, does it matter what point of view a story is written in? Have you ever printed any in second person? What?s your opinion of second person?

Kim: I like either first or third. I read a submission in second person once. Couldn?t stand it.

Morgen: <crosses that off her list> I love writing it but it?s definitely acquired taste. I went to a new writing group the other day and read out a piece in second person (my story from Telling Tales charity anthology actually) with mixed reactions? well, only one person said they didn?t like it (and was converting to first person as I went along), others murmured appreciation (out of politeness perhaps) but there were some who were bemused by a point of view they?d never heard of before. Given that more emphasis these days is put on the author to market their published works or indeed themselves as a ?brand?, how involved are you generally with your authors post-publication?

Kim: We try to stay in contact as much as possible, come up with ideas, cross-promote, help setting up events if necessary, talk to libraries, stores? we also help the authors if they have any questions or when they want to know what to write next.

Morgen: This is where being self-published misses out. We?d have to find our own sources. A rather global question, but are there common mistakes an author can make?

Kim: The easiest to avoid and yet most common mistake I have met so far is to disregard the publisher?s house style.

Morgen: Yes. I?m sure a lot of authors do little or no research on that. Now with your editor?s hat on, how much notice do you get (would you like / need) for editing a project?

Kim: Ah, well, since I am in house and also have so many other roles and so much other work to do, I sometimes only notify myself that something needs to be edited a few minutes before I should start. Seriously though, we also edit for other publishers and then sometimes get very tight deadlines and very short notices. Trouble with those is that the fewest customers recognize the trouble this can mean and usually don?t pay extra which I think is a shame.

Morgen: It is but I suppose you just want to do your best to please them. I?ve heard numerous authors say they can self-publish without an editor ? what would you say to that?

Kim: Don?t do it. There are so many editors out there who would be happy to get this work assigned even on a commission / royalty basis. There is no reason to throw your work on the market without a second pair of eyes having scrutinized it first.

Morgen: Absolutely. I have a great editor and she not only finds (fortunately few) errors but comes up with some great suggestions. How do you edit ? on screen or on paper?

Kim: Always on screen ? we believe in a paperless office.

Morgen: Oh dear. <she looks around her currently paper-cluttered office> What are you working on at the moment / next?

Kim: I am currently working on Somebody to Love by Sheryl Browne, For Those About to Cook ? Pure Metal by Bruce Moore and Metal Missionaries by Bruce Moore.

Morgen: Do you work every day?

Kim: We take one day off from the office, but this is a floating day. I personally love to work Sundays, because my inbox stays quiet and I can really get some manuscript on the way.

Morgen: Me too, although I?m in Jane Wenham-Jones? chat room 10.30-12 every Sunday morning (the clocks went forward so we lost an hour today) then record my podcast (every other week, today?s is four short stories) and Radio Litopia 7pm-9pm. Somewhere in there is usually a trek round the old racecourse with the dog, so a bit of r&r. Is there anything else you?d like to mention?

Kim: Thank you very much for your effort. I really enjoyed the cup of tea ? ginger is my favourite, so thank you for that!

Morgen: My grandfather?s favourite too. I?m a berry girl when it comes to fruit tea although lemon & ginger has nice tang. You?re very welcome. Is there anything you?d like to ask me?

Kim: Where do you buy the extra time to do all these things? I need to set up an account with them and get some myself!

Morgen: Oh, that?s easy: a huge bottle of passion and short nights ? go to bed and they automatically refill the next morning. Thank you, Kim.

If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking ?ooh, I?d like to do this? then you can? just email me and I?ll send you the questions. You complete them, I tweak them where appropriate (if necessary to reflect the blog ?clean and light? rating) and then they get posted. When that?s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me? let me know. You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don?t miss anything? and follow me on Twitter?where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore and Kobo. And I have a new forum at http://morgenbailey.freeforums.org.

Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can?t review books but I have a feature called ?Short Story Saturdays? where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you?d like critiqued and don?t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them) on my ?Bailey?s Writing Tips? podcast,?then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend?Poetry.

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Source: http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/blog-interview-no-319-with-writer-editor-and-publisher-kim-maya-sutton/

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Syrian president?s wife targeted by sanctions

BRUSSELS?European Union states decided on Friday to impose sanctions on the wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad?s and other members of his family, increasing pressure on his government to end a crackdown on popular unrest.

Foreign ministers meeting in Brussels also imposed asset freezes and bans on travel to the EU on several other Syrians and banned European companies from doing business with two Syrian entities, EU officials said.

A full list of sanctions targets will be made public on Saturday when the decision comes into force. EU diplomats said the list included the Syrian president?s wife Asmara and family.

?She is on the list. It?s the whole clan,? one EU diplomat said.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1150770--syrian-president-s-wife-targeted-by-sanctions

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Studies in monkeys are unlikely to provide reliable evidence for links ...

Studies in monkeys are unlikely to provide reliable evidence for links between social status and heart disease in humans, according to the first ever systematic review of the relevant research. The study, published in PLoS ONE, concludes that although such studies are cited frequently in human health research the evidence is often "cherry picked" and generalisation of the findings from monkeys to human societies does not appear to be warranted...

Realtime Related Tweets

Source: http://www.kiefit.com/Health_Fitness/reliable-evidence-for-links-between-social-status-and-heart-disease-in-humans-unlikely-to-be-provided-by-studies-in-monkeys/

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Man Dies In Washington Avenue Motorcycle Accident

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) ? St. Louis police are investigating a deadly motorcycle accident downtown.

Around 11:30 pm Wednesday, a motorcycle traveling west on Washington Avenue struck a parked Jeep near North 15th street downtown.

The 25-year-old driver was taken to the hospital, where he died.

Crews shut down Washington so accident reconstruction teams could try to figure out what happened and police could speak with witnesses.

Source: http://downtown.fox2now.com/news/news/84660-man-dies-washington-avenue-motorcycle-accident

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RV Parts Supplier ? To Maintain Your Motor Home | Network Sense

Just like any other vehicle, even RV needs to have regular maintenance and check-up. To make sure my van was running in a smooth condition, I acquired the services of a reputable RV parts supplier. Along with their assistance, I was able to ensure that my van was in top condition. Since, I was not going to a make any changes to my RV with the assistance of just about any agency. I used the help of the World Wide Web to obtain the service of a well-known company.

On finding this company, I noticed how their inventory was highly detailed. It allowed me to pick and choose the necessary RV supplies without any problems. Most of the portal was categorized which made it easy to understand and this made my search for the hardware even easier. Each tool was readily available. Additionally, they offered a discount which made their reasonable price tag cheap. So, I was able to obtain a number of items in the size and quantity needed. This allowed me to carry out regular maintenance and ensured me that my RV is well maintained.

This website was able to help me give my motor home a tune-up as and when required. The agency was also able to provide me with a range of supplies for RVs. In this way, I kept my van well stocked on tool, accessories as well as essential appliances. This gave me a wonderful traveling experience. It is an amazing site.

Source: http://www.network-sense.com/automotive/rv-parts-supplier-to-maintain-your-motor-home/

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Frozen Water Found in Scorching Hot 752F Mercury Hell [Space]

NASA's Messenger has found very strong indications of frozen water in Mercury. But how can there be frozen water in a hell like Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, boiling at 752? Fahrenheit (400?C)? More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/NAN68R06mOY/frozen-water-found-in-scorching-hot-752f-mercury-hell

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Givi Motorcycle Top Box Features RFID Key ... - Luxury Automotive

Givi top box is a motorcycle-style bike with a sturdy body and the bike is also equipped with RFID feature key lock system. Top box is intended for use on motorcycles should also be pretty realistic and will be released in the market by the year 2017. Givi top box using the motorcycle and make biodegradable plastics manufacturing processes and recycling process as easy as possible and one of the main features of the box and the theme of the configurability and customizability.

Givi motorcycle top box is equipped with applications both internally and externally, so the interior has an easy to use features of compartmentalization using elastic rubber bands, while the exterior has a ring that can be adjusted in accordance with any motorcycle. New key lock system with RFID to simplify access to two separate compartments. This compartment has a separate purpose, smaller for easier access to personal matters that are important and larger have more room. Referance.

Source: http://www.autoluxs.com/givi-motorcycle-top-box-features-rfid-key-lock-system/

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Film School Program ? New York Film Academy (NYFA) | Film Editing

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The New York Film Academy was founded on the philosophy that ?learning by doing? combined with best industry practices is more valuable than years of theoretical study for filmmakers and actors. ... NYFA's accelerated two year fine arts degree are structured for students who want intensive training from award winning faculty using professional facilities and equipment starting their first day of classes; better preparing them for a career in motion picture and ...

Source: http://filmediting.us/film-school-program-new-york-film-academy-nyfa.html

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Verizon updates Revolution with Remote Diagnostics, HTC turns to LogMeIn

Both Verizon and HTC are experimenting with remote diagnostics and tech support. Big Red will be offering the tool to owners of the LG Revolution first. The VS910ZV8 update delivers a number of changes, but the most notable new feature is the integration of Verizon Remote Diagnostics. Now, when a customer calls support, the technician (or script follower, as the case may be) on the other side can take control of the user's device to troubleshoot or demo apps. And, just in case you're paranoid about handing over the keys to your handset, the tool only collects info such as battery temp, OS version and what apps are installed -- your contacts and other personal data are safe from prying eyes. HTC plans to offer similar capabilities on its phones, but through LogMeIn Rescue. Future handsets from the company will come with the app preinstalled so that HTC's own technicians can diagnose issues and tweak settings. For more details on the Revolution update hit up the source link and check out the PR after the break for the low down on HTC's initiative.

Update: It looks like the Droid Charge will also be getting an update soon that will install Verizon Remote Diagnostics. This could be a pretty quick roll out.

Continue reading Verizon updates Revolution with Remote Diagnostics, HTC turns to LogMeIn

Verizon updates Revolution with Remote Diagnostics, HTC turns to LogMeIn originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Verizon, Android Central  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/20/verizon-updates-revolution-with-remote-diagnostics-htc-turns-to/

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Domestic violence in teen relationships | ksdk.com

St. Louis, MO?(KSDK) - A special ceremony was held Thursday at Vashon High School?and?students threw out balloons in?honor of Sarah Billingsley-Walker, who was found killed earlier this week.

Students NewsChannel 5 spoke with had no idea she was in any kind of trouble, a common theme among teen domestic abuse victims.

According to Progressive Youth Connection, teens are usually in denial when it comes to domestic violence situations.? They advise?anyone who?recognize the signs of possible domestic abuse contact them or local authorities.?They also advise to save all documentation and possibly get a restraining order if necessary. Those signs include change of behavior, change of dress, and withdrawing themselves from activities. Meg Petri, the Executive Director of Progressive Youth Connection, says she hopes this incident serves as a wakeup call because according to a study one in three teen girls in the United States has been a victim of abuse by a dating partner.

Resources

Progressive Youth Connection?(PYC)
314-963-8368

Safe Connections
314-646-7500

Bridgeway Behavioral Health
Addictive Disorders
Inpatient
St. Louis City Center 314.535.5246
St. Charles Center 636.757.2300

Outpatient
Montgomery Center 573.564.1069
St. Charles Center 636.757.2300
St. Louis City Center 314.535.5246
Lincoln County 636.462.1437
University City 314.395.8160
Union636.744.0111

Sexual Assault
St. Charles County 636.757.2300
Lincoln County 1.877.462.1758
Adolescent Services

St. Louis County 314.395.7101
St. Charles County 636.757.2345

Domestic Violence
The Women's Center 1.877.946.6854
Terry L. Robertson Center 1.877.462.1758

Offices
Administrative Offices 636.757.2200
Development Office 636.916.3550

Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline (MO only)
1-800-392-3738

Child Support Customer Service Call Center (enforcement calls only)
1-866-313-9960

Child Support Employer Information
1-800-585-9234

Child Support General Information
1-800-859-7999

Child Support Payment Information (IVR)
1-800-225-0530

Elderly Abuse/Neglect Hotline
1-800-392-0210 (M0)

Foster Adoptline
1-800-554-2222

Missouri Rx Plan (MoRx)
1-800-375-1406

Missouri School Violence Hotline
1-866-748-7047

Missouri's Long-Term Care Ombudsman (DHSS)
1-800-309-3282

MO HealthNet Case Information
1-800-392-1261

MO HealthNet Exception Process
1-800-392-8030

MO HealthNet Participant Services
1-800-392-2161

MO HealthNet Service Center
1-888-275-5908

Office of Child Advocate
1-866-457-2302

ParentLink WarmLine
1-800-552-8522

En Espa?nol: 1-888-460-0008

Rehabilitation Services For The Blind
1-800-592-6004

STAT (State Technical Assistance Team)
1-800-487-1626

Temporary Assistance/SAB/BP Case Information
1-800-392-1261

Text Telephone
1-800-735-2966

TTD Voice Access
1-800-735-2466

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Toll-Free: (800) 252-2873
Local (toll): (217) 524-2606

Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault
217-753-4117

Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence
1-800-863-6338

DCFS IL?
http://www.state.il.us/dcfs/contactUs.shtml

Missouri Division of Social Services?
http://dss.mo.gov/contactdss.htm

Life Crisis Services
314-647-4357

KSDK

Source: http://www.ksdk.com/rss/article/310340/3/Domestic-violence-in-teen-relationships

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NYPD anti-terror exposes split between NYC, others

FILE - In this file photo of Dec. 29, 2011, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, speaks at a news conference as Police Commissioner Ray Kelly listens in Brooklyn, N.Y. Bloomberg has staunchly defended Kelly and the NYPD's program of surveillance of the Muslim community, saying its intelligence-gathering operations inside and outside the city are consitutional and necessary to keep New Yorkers safe. But across the Hudson River in New Jersey, and increasingly in Washington, politicians have decried the NYPD's programs, and newspapers have editorialized against the surveillance operations. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams, File)

FILE - In this file photo of Dec. 29, 2011, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, speaks at a news conference as Police Commissioner Ray Kelly listens in Brooklyn, N.Y. Bloomberg has staunchly defended Kelly and the NYPD's program of surveillance of the Muslim community, saying its intelligence-gathering operations inside and outside the city are consitutional and necessary to keep New Yorkers safe. But across the Hudson River in New Jersey, and increasingly in Washington, politicians have decried the NYPD's programs, and newspapers have editorialized against the surveillance operations. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2012 file photo, Newark Mayor Corey Booker speaks during a ceremony at City Hall in Newark, N.J., where he said he was offended by the NYPD's secret surveillance of his city's Muslims. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has staunchly defended the NYPD's program of surveillance of the Muslim community, saying its intelligence-gathering operations inside and outside the city are consitutional and necessary to keep New Yorkers safe. But across the Hudson River in New Jersey, and increasingly in Washington, politicians have decried the NYPD's programs, and newspapers have editorialized against the surveillance operations. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2012 file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivers his budget address in Trenton, N.J. Ten years after 9/11, the New York Police Department?s surveillance of Muslims has exposed a bitter divide between New Yorkers and their neighbors across the Hudson River. Christie has accused the NYPD of acting like ?masters of the universe? by sending agents into his state. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

FILE - In this file photo of Feb. 29, 2012, New York University students, faculty and clergy gather on the NYU campus to discuss the recent discovery of surveillance by the New York Police Department on Muslim communities. Polls this week gave a mixed view of New Yorkers? feelings about the surveillance program. A Quinnipiac University poll showed 58 percent of New York voters think the NYPD has acted ?appropriately? toward Muslims, while 29 percent feel police ?unfairly targeted? Muslims. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Ten years after 9/11, the New York Police Department's surveillance of Muslims has exposed a bitter divide between New Yorkers and their neighbors across the Hudson River, with city leaders defending the police force and out-of-town politicians angry to learn of New York detectives working their turf.

In New York, where random searches in the subway are the norm and Lower Manhattan is a maze of security barriers and guardhouses, polls show many residents support the NYPD. Editorial pages have said broad surveillance is needed to protect the city.

"I guess we're hardened more than anybody to this stuff," said Frank Keenan, a retired social worker. "We don't question it. We just go along for the ride."

But across the Hudson River in New Jersey, and increasingly in Washington, politicians have decried the NYPD's programs, and newspapers have editorialized against the surveillance operations.

The intelligence-gathering was first reported by The Associated Press in August, but it wasn't until February that its reporters obtained documents detailing how the NYPD monitored Muslims beyond the city limits.

"The Associated Press stories didn't get any impact, didn't get much interest in New York City," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Then it moved over to Jersey ? bingo, it's been a big story, a lot of criticism."

In Newark, New Jersey's largest city, residents said being put under surveillance by another city's police force violates their rights.

"It's offensive," said Clarence Matthews, an out-of-work teacher in Newark. "Here you go across the water to spy on people, law-abiding citizens in another state, and the (New York) mayor thinks it's OK. I don't understand it."

Some of the NYPD's actions, such as monitoring public Internet sites or attending student events, are probably legal because police can go wherever the public goes. But civil rights activists say other practices, such as keeping notes on people's worship habits or compiling the names of innocent people in police files, could run afoul of privacy statutes and cause serious harm if the information were leaked.

Trans-Hudson tensions have intensified in the last month, pitting some of the metropolitan area's most forceful political personalities against each other.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has staunchly defended the department, saying its intelligence-gathering operations inside and outside the city are consitutional and necessary to keep New Yorkers safe. His administration says terrorists have targeted New York 14 times since 9/11.

But New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has accused the NYPD of acting like "masters of the universe" by sending agents into his state.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker complained: "This has been a grievous harm. It is inhibiting people's free expression of their faith. It is inhibiting people's free association with other people because they're afraid of what that might mean or how they might be accused in the future."

The FBI chief in New Jersey warned that the surveillance has undermined the bureau's own efforts to keep the nation safe by sowing distrust of authorities among law-abiding Muslims.

And schools such as Yale, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Buffalo have condemned surveillance aimed at their students.

The Associated Press investigation revealed that the NYPD has built a nearly 400-agent intelligence division with the help of an officer from the CIA, which is barred from spying on Americans, and with money that was supposed to be used to combat drug trafficking. The division has agents in 11 cities around the world.

Among other things, the officers:

? Eavesdropped on customers at restaurants, coffee shops and other places.

? Invented cover stories about a crime in the neighborhood or a missing child so they could enter homes and make notes about what was on television, what books were on the shelves or what decorations were hanging on the walls.

? Photographed the homes of mosque leaders and took down the license plate numbers of people who came to worship services.

? Monitored people who changed their names. People with Arabic names who took new names that sounded more typically American were put in police files. So, too, were people who adopted Arabic-sounding names.

? Infiltrated Muslim student groups at colleges, even sending an undercover officer on a whitewater rafting trip.

? Monitored the Internet activity of students in colleges across the Northeast.

? Compiled detailed reports on Muslim neighborhoods, including pictures of Muslim-owned businesses.

? Set up a command post in New Brunswick, N.J., without telling the FBI or local police.

Christie, the New Jersey governor and a former federal prosecutor, warned that such operations run the risk of police shooting each other, tailing the same suspects or blowing each other's cover.

"9/11 was not prevented because law enforcement agencies weren't talking to each other. They were being selfish, they were being provincial, they were being paranoid, they were being arrogant," Christie said. "I do not want to return to those days."

The comments brought an angry response from fellow Republican Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, who represents suburban Long Island.

"I wish Chris Christie was more concerned about keeping people alive than he is about trying to score cheap political points," King said in a radio interview.

Polls this week gave a mixed view of New Yorkers' feelings about the surveillance program. A Quinnipiac University poll showed 58 percent of New York voters think the NYPD has acted "appropriately" toward Muslims, while 29 percent feel police "unfairly targeted" Muslims.

A second, broader poll conducted by Baruch College found New Yorkers evenly split on whether police should be "focusing on Muslims" as they try to prevent terrorist attacks.

Other studies have noted a small but growing divergence between New Yorkers and other Americans over security issues, said Carroll, the polling expert. "The further away you get from New York, the less apprehensive people are," he said.

Between 2005 and 2011, the number of Americans who said the government should not violate basic constitutional rights with their counterterrorism efforts rose from 61 percent to 71 percent, Quinnipiac polls show. In New York, it remained flat at 64 percent and 66 percent, respectively.

"The city is under constant threat of terrorist activity, and if I were a citizen of New York City I would expect that my law enforcement community would be doing everything it can within legal limits to protect the city," said Rick Nelson, a national security expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "But what's good for New York City may not always be viewed as good for the surrounding jurisdictions."

The split between New York and the rest of the metropolitan area has also played out on newspaper editorial pages, with the Times of Trenton, N.J., The Star-Ledger of Newark and Newsday of suburban Melville, N.Y., criticizing the surveillance and the New York tabloids defending it.

This week the feisty New York Post told New Jersey's governor: "If you promise to keep the terrorists ? who have twice used Jersey as a staging area for attacks on the World Trade Center ? on your side of the Hudson, we'll keep the NYPD on ours."

___

Associated Press reporters Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-03-15-NYPD%20Intelligence-The%20Great%20Divide/id-81176aac03b2433b9986ba82f6a3952c

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