Scientist Create World’s First Artificial Leaf

Scientists have created the world’s first practical artificial leaf that can convert sunlight and water into energy, which they claim could pave the way for a cheaper source of power in developing countries like India.

A team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology says that the artificial leaf from silicon, electronics and a variety of catalysts which spur chemical reactions within the device, can use sunlight to break water into hydrogen and oxygen which can then be used to generate electricity in a separate fuel cell.

“A practical artificial leaf has been one of the Holy Grails of science for decades. We consider we have done it. And placed in a gallon of water and left in sun, these artificial leaves could provide a home in the developing world with essential electricity for a day,” Daniel Nocera, who led the team, said.

He added: “Our goal is to make each home its own power station. One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology.”

For their research, the scientists recognized a set of low-priced, common catalysts with nickel and cobalt that get the job done with far less expense. And, in the laboratory their playing-card-sized leaves have worked constantly for 45 straight hours without a drop in output.

Though in laboratory, an artificial leaf prototype could operate constantly for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity, the scientists say that they will next try to improve both efficiency and lifespan of their photosynthetic material.

The conclusions were presented at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Gorgeous Victorian Lilac Flower Girl Dress

1982 Statik Selektah & Termanology ft. Mac Miller (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

pretty cool.

OnCue - "It Usually Goes" (Official Video)

got my finger on the hymen 

King Fantastic & Rusko - Why? Where? What? (Troublemaker Edit) FT. Kristina Rose (UNCENSORED)

King Fantastic & Rusko - Why? Where? What? (Troublemaker Edit) from RemixTheVideo on Vimeo.

Hip Hop & the beautiful Kristina Rose.

Sam Adams did a remix of this months ago. Download it here. Which one do you like better?

For the censored version of this video watch it here

Strawberry in Milk wallpaper

To Download Strawberry in Milk wallpaper click on full size and then right-click and save picture

Full Size

Green Aurora wallpaper

To Download Green Aurora wallpaper click on full size and then right-click and save picture

Full Size

Depression in Christians?

Here's a subject that is largely misunderstood in the Christian community. Handled well by the Blazing Center today:

I think we need to talk more openly about depression and anxiety in our churches.

Several weeks ago I mentioned in a sermon that I have struggled with anxiety throughout my life. Immediately after my sermon a woman came up to me and asked me to pray for her because she was struggling with anxiety. She said, “I’m glad you mentioned it, because it made me feel like I could come up and ask for prayer.”

Think about it for a second. Millions of people around the world struggle with anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses, and millions of people within our churches struggle as well. Many women go through a period of strong depression following the birth of a child. Many great Christians of the past have struggled with depression, such as Charles Spurgeon, William Cowper, and David Brainerd.

And yet for some reason, we don’t like to talk about it. It feels weird and uncomfortable. Why is it such a taboo subject? I think that there are a couple reasons.

We Don’t Understand It

Most of us have not and will not experience true depression and anxiety. Yes we get sad and yes we get worried, but this is just isn’t the same. Depression and anxiety can be debilitating and crushing in ways that normal sadness and worry are not. Because we haven’t experienced it, we have difficulty understanding those who are sinking in the darkness, and we tend to compound the matter by saying, “I do understand.” And when people feel misunderstood, they are hesitant to talk about their struggles.

We Misapply the Doctrine of Sin

The biblical doctrine of sin is one of the most helpful, life-giving doctrines available. The Bible informs me that my heart is sinful and deceitful, and that there is a war taking place within me between the Holy Spirit and indwelling sin. But, the doctrine of sin is one that must be handled with kid gloves, especially when dealing with topics like depression and anxiety. When someone is struggling with serious depression, it doesn’t automatically mean that they are sinning in unbelief or failing to believe the promises of God. There may be some element of that, but it is also likely that there is something physically wrong with them as well.

After all, the Bible tells us that sin has affected every part of man, both soul and body. 2 Corinthians 4:16 says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” Our outer man, including our brain, is wasting away.

Depression is not just a matter of the soul. It really is a matter of the body as well, and we need to understand that. When someone tells me that they have a splitting headache, I don’t immediately ask them how their soul is doing. I may get to that, but not immediately. When someone tells us that they are struggling with depression and I immediately move to spiritual diagnosis, I’m not helping them, I’m discouraging them, and tempting them to close down.

The Solution?

So what exactly am I proposing? Tomorrow I’ll put up some more specific suggestions, but for now let me propose this. Let’s try to create a culture in which our friends who are depressed or anxious feel comfortable talking about it. And that starts with listening to them as they describe their struggle and being quick to offer comfort and slow to offer solutions.

More on this tomorrow.

Summer Camp Info

Chicago Park District Discounted Summer Camp Info

2011

Financial Assistance Program

Sponsored by the Parkways Foundation

Thank you for inquiring about the Chicago Park District’s summer day camp financial assistance program. Summer day camp programs can be viewed online at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com, beginning Monday, March 21^st. Registration begins online at 9 a.m., Monday, April 4^th and In-person registration begins at most parks Saturday, April 9, 2011.

Income guidelines for Chicago Park District’s financial assistance program is based on guidelines issued by the United States Department of Agriculture for free and reduced fee lunch programs.

• Financial Assistance awards are only available to City of Chicago residents.

• Applicants must provide proof of entitlement for reduced or free lunch program from the patron’s school. Applicants that do not participate in the school lunch program can prove eligibility by providing income verification (i.e., 2011 recent pay stubs for last 30 days, AFDC / TANF case #, and a copy of a recent IRS 1040 form, etc.) (Information submitted is confidential and may not be a matter of the public record of the Chicago Park District)
• Applicants that do not qualify for financial assistance may inquire about the payment plan option at your local park.

· Applicants must bring copies of the required documents to one of the processing sites beginning April 11^th through June 13^th during the established hours.

· The Chicago Park District has established “Financial Assistance Processing Centers” at various parks across the city where parents can submit required paperwork and confirm their eligibility. Once approved the applicant should present the award at their desired park location with their portion of the camp fee for the registration process.

· Eligibility for financial assistance does not guarantee a slot for day camp and cannot be used in conjunction with any other reduced/voucher programs. Recipients must register in person at their desired camp location.

Funds are limited and subject to availability

Parkways Foundation invests in Chicago’s parks to enrich communities through historic preservation,

environmental initiatives, capital projects and youth/family programs.

Processing dates and locations: April 11- June 13, 2011.

Hours: Tuesday – Friday from 1pm to 6pm; Wednesdays until 8pm; Saturday 10am to 2pm.

Hamlin Park 3035 N. Hoyne Ave. Chicago, IL 60618 Phone: 312.742.7785	Loyola Park 1230 W. Greenleaf Ave. Chicago, IL 60626 Phone: 773.262.8605	Portage Park 4100 N. Long Ave. Chicago, IL 60641 Phone: 773.685.7235	Mozart Park 2036 N. Avers St. Chicago, IL 60647 Phone: 312.742.7535	Columbus Park 500 S. Central Ave. Chicago, IL 60644 Phone: 773.287.7641
Humboldt Park 1400 N. Sacramento Ave. Chicago, IL 60622 Phone: 312.742.7549	Homan Square Park 3559 W. Arthington St. Chicago, IL 60624 Phone: 312.746.6650	Piotrowski Park 4247 W. 31st St. Chicago, IL 60623 Phone: 312.745.4801	Fuller Park 331 W. 45th St. Chicago, IL 60609 Phone: 312.747.6144	West Lawn Park 4233 W. 65th St. Chicago, IL 60629 Phone: 773.284.2803
Marquette Park 6734 S. Kedzie Ave. Chicago, IL 60629 Phone: 312.747.6469	Washington Park 5531 S. Martin L. King Dr. Chicago, IL 60637 Phone: 773.256.1248	Bessemer Park 8930 S. Muskegon Ave. Chicago, IL 60617 Phone: 312.747.6023	Palmer Park 201 E. 111th St. Chicago, IL 60628 Phone: 312.747.6576	Questions: Call our Financial Assistance Hotline at 312.742.5734

For more information about your Chicago Park District visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or call (312) 742-PLAY(7529) or (312) 747-2001 (TTY).

City of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners

Chicago Park District, Timothy J. Mitchell, General Superintendent & CEO

Now we decide to find out who the rebels are

With news breaking that President Obama has signed a "finding" that will send weapons to the Libya rebels, it finally occurred to someone in the administration that it might be a good idea to find out just who those guys are. As often, Drudge provides the pithy link:

Link to the story

There's no minute like the last minute, eh?

The Obama administration has sent teams of CIA operatives into Libya in a rush to gather intelligence on the identities and capabilities of rebel forces opposed to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, according to U.S. officials. ...

Several lawmakers briefed by Clinton, Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said they were told that the United States is still trying to put together a full picture of the Libyan rebellion but believes that it does not contain large numbers of radical Islamic militants.

“Nobody had detected any significant presence, although they knew there were some people,” said Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-N.Y.). But “nobody’s vouching for resumes” at the moment, Ackerman said.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), said he heard nothing in the briefing that turned him in favor of arming the rebels. Calling it a “horrible idea,” Rogers said: “We know what they’re against. We don’t really know what they’re for.”

Mad Maxing in Libya

During America's abortive (and aborted) "humanitarian" war in Somalia, the warlords' gunmen rode around in pickup trucks with homemade weapons mounts. They were nicknamed, "technicals."

Sort of reminds you of Mad Max vs. Humongous in the second of the series.

That's pretty much what the Libyan rebels have, too, As this ABCNews report shows quite clearly. No wonder they're getting their hineys kicked by Qaddafi's army. Even without aircraft, Daffy's loyal troops are a real military and the rebels are not. Having advanced as far as the outskirts of Daffy's birthplace, Sirte, the rebels have been thrown back - often at very rapid speed! - through city after city.



Undisciplined Libyan rebels no match for Gaddafi's forces

The revolution lacks an organised military structure in spite of several attempts to stamp its authority on the volunteer army. Discipline is bad. Few of the fighters have proper military experience and they would need training in the use of weapons such as artillery. But the revolutionaries have made a strong point of saying they do not want foreign troops on Libyan soil.

The revolution's de facto finance minister, Ali Tarhouni, claims that there are 1,000 trained fighters among the rebels but there is little evidence of it on the battlefield where the anti-Gaddafi forces appear capable of advancing only when the way is cleared by foreign air strikes.

The problem is not solely the rebels' lack of more powerful weapons. In the past two days their disorganisation has shown as they have been badly outmanoeuvred by better-trained forces that have outflanked them with sweeps through the desert. The revolutionaries lack any cohesive defensive plan. Instead they fire wildly at the enemy and argue among themselves about what to do next and who should be giving orders before turning and fleeing. ...

The rebel performance in recent weeks has amounted to rapid advances followed by almost as speedy retreats.

Yet the Obama administration continues to insist that Qaddafi's options are narrowing and that he will soon see he has to leave. But why? He's winning! Winners don't quit.

My prediction: Qaddafi knows he can outlast us and he will. Like Somalia, Libya will become an anchor on the other things the president wants to achieve (coff, 2012, coff) and the mission will be ended. No doubt, we will "declare victory and go home."

As I said before, all that Qaddafi has to do to win is not to lose. But if the rebels don't win, they will lose. This is what is happening now.

Winnie The Pooh Bear Coloring Pages Part 2

Winnie The Pooh Cartoon Bear Coloring Pages

Simple coloring sheet disney winnie the pooh bear cartoon characters. Disney pooh bear coloring just for you which want draw by your own. Please enjoy this coloring sheet and i hope very usefull for you.Thanks. . .

Alexia Sweetheart Bridesmaid Dress

This is a beautiful dress to bridesmaid with a combination of black and ivory designed by Alexia, and looks in the neckline designed sweetheart. On part the ivory on sweetheart bridesmaid dress using satin a great combination by Alexia, and a very gorgeous on shoulder strap designed single on left to be applied with floral patterns. Sweetheart bridesmaid dress by Alexia for hem line skirt designed floor-length so more elegant.

Carlton, railway station, sunset (Theme Day: Edges)

This sunset is over the railway station in the southern suburb of Carlton. The view is from the edge of the concourse, down to the edges of the platform and the edges of the station buildings.

Click here to view all participants of Skywatch Friday

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants of this theme day

NATURAL BEAUTY TIPS

Use anti aging moisturizers
This is the best time to look for a more reliable anti aging moisturizers. Look for something with enhanced potency. This way, the ingredients will really work in sprucing up the core functions of your skin.

Your diet should be rich in Vitamins A, C and E and proteins
These vitamins help a lot in tissue repair and moisturization. But they also work as antioxidants. These vitamins will help get rid of free ranging radicals deeper. Proteins, on the other hand, are necessary for the production of functional keratin. Ordinary proteins are converted into functional ones.

Exercise and sweat out toxins in your body
Lots of toxins can accumulate in your body due to pollution and the foods you eat. Through exercise, you can get rid of the toxins that have accumulated. Sweat will purge out harmful substances that might cause weakening of skin functions.

Sleep early
Your body undergoes regenerating functions when you sleep. In addition to that, growth hormones are released during sleep. Get at least 6 hours of sleep in order to support the regenerative functions of the body.

MEHNDI DESIGNS FOR KIDS

Mehndi Designs for Kids a simple art make on pretty hand .

Forrest And Rose Become The World's Oldest Newlyweds

A 100-year-old man and a 93-year-old woman in the US are said to have turn out to be the world's oldest couple to tie the knot following a 28-year courtship.

Forrest Lunsway and Rose Pollard of California wed at the Dana Point Community Centre at a combined age of 193 - making them the world's oldest couple to marry on record.

The loved-up couple, who are both enthusiastic dancers, met on the dance floor of a community centre in 1983. They became dance partners and now 30 years after meeting they have tied the knot at last - on Forrest's 100th birthday.

Rose said she at first told him she'd never marry him but she finally succumbed when he had popped the question last year.

She said: "I told him up front I had no purpose of getting married. But then one day he asked me 'how come we never got married?' and I said 'because you never asked me'.

"So he got down on one knee and said 'Well I'm asking you now, just set the date'. I told him 'I'll marry you on your 100th birthday'. And I did."

Forrest added: "She never thought I'd ask her and I never thought she'd say yes, but here we are. We've got many happy years left as I propose to stick around until I'm at least 110. You've got to use it or lose it."

The wedding took place in front of the friends and family of the couple who have both been married previously.

They have now beaten the earlier record for oldest newlyweds held by Harry Corton and Edna Holford from Barnsley, England, who wed with a combined age of 183.

Claret Plus Size Wedding Dress

Now introduce new color for wedding dress namely claret, which are perfectly applied on plus size wedding dress. Interesting combination between claret silks with plus size wedding dress pattern like gold embroidery and strapless neckline. Claret plus size wedding dress designed ball gown so it was really stunning.

Willa Holland Pictures

Willa Holland Pictures and Willa Holland Photos

The Weeknd 'House of Balloons' (Mixtape)

In heavy rotation.

                           download

Baseball Season Begins

Baseball season begins this week. For me, this is the unofficial end of winter. It is a bit too chilly here in the north to be playing baseball, but the grass is starting to get green and the days are getting longer. It's time.



There is something special about baseball. It is a game that is both extremely simple and complex at the same time. That probably does not make much sense but it seems that way to me.

The bases are 90 feet apart. Why that distance was picked seems to be a mystery. But the number of split second plays from base to base is amazing. If the bases were farther apart, the defense would have an advantage. If they were closer, the runners would have an edge.



I guess football is more popular with many people but baseball has a special history. Ken Burns did an excellent documentary about it.



I like the Pittsburgh Pirates. They have the longest losing record of any major league team in any sport. If things go as predicted, the Pirates will have their 19th straight losing season this year. However, most people do agree that their stadium, PNC Park, is one of the nicest - if not the nicest - in the major leagues.



Another team I like a lot is the Washington Nationals. I guess I have a thing for perennial losers. I guess you could call them underdogs.



In any event I am looking forward to another season. I am not a die hard fan. I don't know lots of stats and I cannot recite team rosters. I am a casual fan who just enjoys the game in general.



Thanks for stopping by.

"Perennial" Markers for a Square-Foot Garden by Caroline Reardon

Square-Foot gardens appeal to many of us who love some organization in our plantings. Marked off in square-foot sections, the garden is a visual grid for growing a variety of crops, one in each section. 

In 2006, my husband and I built four wood raised-bed square-foot gardens, and I came up with this system for marking the grids. The twines, stretched for spring planting and loosened for the winter, are still in good shape after five years.

For each 4' x 4' raised bed you will need a tape measure and pencil, one long nail and a hammer (to start every screw hole), 12  11/4"-long wood screws, a  screwdriver (even better is a power screwdriver), and approximately 28' of twisted nylon mason-line twine.

On each side of the wood frame, measure and mark three one-foot intervals with the pencil. 

Inside the wood frame and at a downward angle, aligned with each mark, pound a nail into the wood 1/4"  deep and about 1" down from the top of the frame. (I need this because I'm not too swift with the electric screwdriver and the screw quickly escapes!  Maybe you won't need the starter hole.) Pull out the nail and screw the wood screw into the hole, leaving the head protruding 1/8" from the wood. Do this for all 12 marks in the frame. 

Cut the twine into six 54" lengths. Make a slip knot in one end of a length. Hook this loop over one screw head and stretch it to the matching screw on the opposite side of the frame. Make another slip knot at this end of the twine, forming it so the twine will have to stretch taut, and hook it over the screw head.  Working from the first side, attach twine to the other two screws. Move to an adjacent side and stretch the remaining three lengths of twine to their opposite sides. 

Now you're ready to plant seeds according to their recommended distance within each square. Later, when they're no longer needed, unhook one end of each stretched twine, roll it up and tuck it into the dirt below its first screw. 

With this one-time set up, your perennial twine will grid your garden for many springs to come! 

Memorable Ways to Repurpose Old T-Shirts

We all have them- those t-shirts we just can’t let go of. Even if they are worn out, faded or no longer fit, we can’t seem to let go because of the fond memories they hold.

It could be a concert t-shirt from your favorite band, or a college shirt that remind you of the good ol’ days, or maybe it’s one of your child’s tiny tees that they’ve grown out of. They are filled with memories so you can’t let go, but they are taking up space in a drawer or box collecting dust.

But they don’t have to.

If you have some craft and sewing skills you can turn your old t-shirts into upcycled, repurposed and memorable items.

Click here to keep reading.

YOUTH READY CHICAGO SUMMER JOBS

YOUTH READY CHICAGO SUMMER JOBS

The 2011 application for Youth Ready Chicago summer opportunities is now available. Young people between the ages of 14-21, are able to apply for internships, apprenticeships and jobs within Chicago’s public and private business sectors. Programs include Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, After School Matters, Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services.

For more information and how to apply, please visit www.youthreadychicago.org

Applicants or parents/guardians with questions about summer opportunities should call the Jobs Hotline at 312-743-0208 or email them at youthreadychicago@cityofchicago.org

MICHAEL KORS: FASHION DESIGNER

Michael Kors (a.k.a. Karl Anderson, Jr., born August 9, 1959) is an American fashion designer. He is best known for designing classic American sportswear for women.

Kors was born Karl Anderson, Jr. on Long Island, New York, the son of Joan Hamburger, a former model, and her first husband, Karl Anderson, a college student. He changed his name to Michael David Kors at the age of five, when his mother remarried.

He grew up in Merrick, New York and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, New York. Kors' mother is Jewish Kors currently resides in New York City

Michael Kors began designing clothes at the age of 19 and studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. In 1981, Kors launched the Michael Kors womenswear line at Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Building on his success, Kors was named the first ever women's ready-to-wear designer and creative director for the French fashion house Celine in 1997.

In his tenure at Celine, Kors turned the fashion house around with blockbuster accessories and a critically acclaimed ready-to-wear line. Kors left Celine in October 2003 to concentrate on his own brand. Kors launched his menswear line in 2002.

In addition to the Michael Kors runway collection, the MICHAEL Michael Kors and KORS Michael Kors lines were launched in 2004. KORS is considered the mid-tier line, between the runway and MICHAEL collections. The MICHAEL line includes women's handbags and shoes as well as women's ready-to-wear apparel.

The KORS line contains footwear and Jeans. Currently, Kors has full collection boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, Manhasset, and Chicago. This year, Michael Kors celebrates 30 years in business.

 

Among the celebrities who have worn Michael Kors' designs are Jennifer Lopez, Rachel McAdas, Michelle Obama, Elissa, Heidi Klum, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Joan Allen wore his gown when she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the The Contender.

In addition, Jennifer Garner wore a custom creation as an Academy Award presenter in 2006. As Creative Director of Celine, Michael Kors designed many outfits for actresses to wear on screen. Gwyneth Paltrow wore Kors' designs in the movie Possession. Cate Blanchett also wore his clothes in the movie Bandits.

 In addition, he outfitted Rene Russo's character in the 1999 hit remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. Elissa wore his dress in the World Music Awards 2005.

The ad campaigns for Michael Kors often reflects the jet-set sportswear that Kors fans are fond of. Previous campaigns include the model Carmen Kass on the tarmac of an airport, on a safari in Africa, and relaxing on a yacht.

Kors is a judge on the Emmy-nominated reality television program Project Runway, which aired on Bravo for five seasons; the sixth season began airing on Lifetime on August 20, 2009.