Big Tex, the folksy, happy cowboy at the State Fair of Texas, turns 60

Big Tex already has his AARP card. He?s old enough to score some senior discounts at Denny?s. He?s just two years shy of being eligible for Social Security benefits.

This fall, the big guy is celebrating the big 6-0.

The tallest talking Texan will once again watch over the State

Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/state-fair-of-texas/headlines/20120922-big-tex-the-folksy-happy-cowboy-at-the-state-fair-of-texas-turns-60.ece

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Acting On Your Behalf | TechCrunch

Editor?s note:?Daniel Gross is CEO and co-founder of Cue. You can follow him on Twitter here.?

After meticulously analyzing virtually every aspect of his digital life since 1989, Stephen Wolfram noticed something: ?The more routine I can make the basic practical aspects of my life, the more I am able to be energetic ? and spontaneous ? about intellectual and other things.?

We spend too much time on practical, mundane tasks. One study from 2010 states that people who worked in offices spent five hours per week?scheduling meetings. Another reported that workers spend?half the day on ?necessary, yet unproductive tasks,? such as routine communications and ?filtering incoming information.? Even President Obama?avoids trivial decisions. He owns only gray and blue suits; he doesn?t choose what he eats for lunch because:

You need to focus your decision-making energy. You need to routinize yourself. You can?t be going through the day distracted by trivia.

At first glance, it would seem that technology would make this process easier. Obviously, technology has afforded us huge gains in time in some very real ways. Traveling by car can get you to Los Angeles a lot quicker than a horse. Communicating via email sends messages across oceans at near-instant speed. But instead of traveling less or communicating less, we do the?opposite: we communicate more;?we travel more.?A few years ago, Google?s Eric Schmidt said that ?Every two days now we create as much information as we did from the dawn of civilization up until 2003.? And most of this information is not critical.

To deal with the influx, we multitask. We context shift. Often switching between not just the mundane, but also the things we care deeply about. Joe Kraus?wonders if the crisis of attention goes so deep that we are losing ourselves, our relationships, and in some ways, our humanity. On a graph, the line of things that demand our attention and effort is going up, but our human ability to process them remains unchanged. There?s a gap.

We try to do it all, managing inputs of superhuman proportions and trying to become superhuman ourselves. We persevere, clinging to strategies that are?proven not to work because we don?t know a better way.

In The Future, Computers Will Act On Our Behalf

Letting computers do mundane things for us will give us time back, allowing us to be spontaneous and intellectually involved in the things that really matter.?It may seem that computers already act on our behalf. My bank auto-pays my credit card bill for me. Uber calls cabs for me. My Mac calculator even does my math for me (when no one?s looking).

It?s not exactly accurate to say these tasks are being ?done on your behalf? by a computer. Rather, they?re being enabled by a computer. There?s a big difference. Auto-pay is easier than physically going to the bank, but you still have to go to a computer and tell it what to do. When computers truly act on our digital behalf, the process would be more like Pandora ? with a few simple inputs, the computer continuously applies its vast computer intelligence to make my life better.

Your computer will only be able to reliably and automatically act on your behalf when it has the context to know what you really want. Sarah Perez has been?asking for it, and Robert Scoble?has been?writing about how our mobile devices, and the?new technology built into them, are ushering in a third age of human-computer interaction. Soon, Scoble says, we?ll have a device that ?saves us from clicking on the screen,? that will provide the contextual data that actually improves day-to-day experiences:

In the future my cell phone will know I ordered a pizza. Will know when I get in my car. Will know who is in the car with me. And will give me contextual data that will make my life better. For instance, on my todo list I might have put ?pick up a hammer at the hardware store.? It will know that Round Table Pizza is near the hardware store. It will know I have an extra 15 minutes.

This proper knowledge of who you are, what you like, and how you act will help computers act on your behalf, and thereby, make your day to day life better.

I don?t think this technology will stop at picking up pizzas and hammers. Your alarm clock should be adjusted based on how well you slept and the travel time to your first appointment tomorrow. When your?self-driving car hits traffic, your appointments for the entire day should be instantly updated. When a conflict arises, events that can?t be moved stay put, meetings that can be shortened are, and everyone who needs to know should be notified, all without you doing a thing. When you step outside, a cab should be waiting to take you home, but instead of playing irrelevant ads on the screen in the back, it?s playing the trailer for the movie you?ve queued up to watch that night. When someone is late, they shouldn?t have to text you; instead, a message should be sent automatically to whatever screen you?re currently looking at with an updated arrival time.

Why This Will Be A Good Thing

Delegating mundane tasks to a computer frees us to spend our time as we choose and focus on what matters. There are even?studies that suggest that being more open and involved in everyday life can make us ?luckier.? So-called ?unlucky people? miss ?chance opportunities because they are too focused on looking for something else.?

The full implications of a future where machines act for us can be intimidating. Even now, there are legitimate privacy and security?concerns about computers being involved in every aspect of our lives. As this movement grows, creators and users alike have the ability to effect change, by advocating for responsible and respectful standards.

So is this seemingly far-fetched utopia where computers act on our behalf possible? We?re certainly working hard to make it a reality at Cue, and we?re not the only ones. Google Now wants to show you weather, traffic, and sports scores before you think to ask for them. Apple?s Passbook shows you boarding passes, movie tickets, and coupons on your lock screen.

These established companies, and even more newcomers are participating in a subtle, yet massive technological shift. As is the case with most subtle, yet massive, technological shifts, we cannot completely dictate its trajectory, but we can give this shift the attention it deserves. We can acknowledge the huge potential for the betterment of our daily lives, and work to mitigate any drawbacks. In the battle over our most finite resource, time, I?m excited to work to earn some back.

[Image: Daily Mail]


Cue (formerly Greplin) is a free service that helps people make the most of their day. Cue intelligently ties together and surfaces useful information at the right time from the accounts they use most, including email, contacts, and calendar. People can see their entire day at a glance or simultaneously search across all of their accounts with Cue.

? Learn more

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/23/acting-on-your-behalf/

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Spring Summer 2013 Trend Spotting At London Fashion Week: 10 Bright Whites

Plunging gowns, structured eyelets, sweet sailor brims- London Fashion Week was an explosion of white luminosity. At Acne and J.JS Lee, crisp white blockades were drunk with deep green washes of colour, for a bold take on the two-tone look. Simone Rocha and Mulberry provided structured fits for their all-white ensembles, playing on the current trend of mixing sweet feminity and tough modernity. For all of its innocence, white has proven to be a powerful look Will you dare to rock an all-white ensemble come spring? Look through our gallery to see the best whites for next season...

Source: http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/archive/2012/09/22/the-trends-of-london-fashion-week--the-top-ten-bright-whites.htm

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Crew member drowns on 'Lone Ranger' film set

Walt Disney

Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer in a photo from the upcoming "Lone Ranger" movie.

By Josh Grossberg, E! Online

Tragedy has struck "The Lone Ranger."?A crew member on the Gore Verbinski-helmed Disney blockbuster remake starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer has died after drowning on the set.

"We regretfully confirm that a 'Lone Ranger' crew member has passed away after being taken to a local hospital. Our hearts and thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues at this time, and our full support is behind the investigation into the circumstances of this terrible event," the studio said in a statement to E! News.

Here's a first look of Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer in the Lone Ranger

The unidentified man had been working as a diver in a scene that involved a water tank when some kind of mishap occurred, according to TMZ, which first reported the incident.

Fellow crew members called 911 and medical personnel responded immediately to find the crewman in full cardiac arrest. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead after doctors failed to restart his heart.

The accident did not take place while cameras were rolling.

Mysterious Hollywood Deaths?

"The Lone Ranger" had been shooting thoughout the southwest before moving to Los Angeles this month. It is scheduled to hit theaters on July 3, 2013.

More from movies:

Source: http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/21/14016866-crew-member-drowns-on-set-of-lone-ranger-movie?lite

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Hand/Wrist Pain System, Health & Fitness

Kelli Anderson: Gillispie's tough reputation built him before destroying him

The Christmas tree in March. That's the image that sticks with me from my visit to Texas A&M in the winter of 2007. There were plenty of stories about Aggies coach Billy Clyde Gillispie and his overkill, tunnel-vision approach to preparing for a basketball game?he told many of them on himself. But the story about the TV crew who had come to film a Selection Sunday segment at his house in El Paso ...

From the archives

Construction of the Devil?s Slide tunnel bypass started the week of Sept. 21, 2007, 10 years after San Mateo County residents voted in favor of building the tunnel as a safe way around treacherous Highway 1.

Shore residents should have lower bridge-tunnel tolls

As you all know, before you go on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel there is a toll of each way or if you cross within 24 hours. The toll is a burden to the residents on the Shore as well as commuters.

Schiff sends MTA a letter slamming the 710 tunnel

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) sent a letter to regional transportation officials on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, opposing the proposal to build a 4.5-mile tunnel connecting the Long Beach (710) Freeway in Alhambra to the Foothill (210) Freeway in Pasadena.

Tired Ontario Liberals guilty of having tunnel vision

McGuinty?s sole focus on public-sector salaries has sapped the party?s will to even attempt any positive changes in other policy areas

710 tunnel could be health hazard

But specialist tells meeting that scrubbers will cleanse emissions. Transportation officials are considering a 4.5-mile tunnel connecting the 710 to the Foothill (210) Freeway in Pasadena is one of five alternatives to ease traffic in the region.

Tunnel Vision: Subterranean Park to Stay Sunny with Fiber-Optic Skylights [Slide Show]

Tunnel Vision: Subterranean Park to Stay Sunny with Fiber-Optic Skylights [Slide Show]

Tunnel project could push rats, roaches into Seattle buildings

Seattle's Alaskan Way viaduct tunnel project threatens to create an unpleasant spillover effect, and one that just might make your skin crawl.

Health hotline: Doctors to answer questions on hand, wrist and elbow conditions and injuries

Contrary to popular belief, spending too much time at a computer keyboard doesn't necessarily lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

NSW opposition backs tunnel air monitoring

Calls from health lobby groups for increased air pollution monitoring in Sydney's M5 tunnel have been backed by the NSW opposition.

Source: http://ecommerce.matrix-e.com/eshops/44-health-fitness/1653-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-hand-wrist-pain-system-health-fitness.html

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Helicopter crashes in Damascus suburb: Syrian TV

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A helicopter crashed in the town of Douma east of the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday, Syrian state television said.

It gave no details, but an activist in Damascus said rebels had shot down the helicopter. No rebel group has claimed the attack yet.

Rebel fighters seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad have often fired at planes and helicopters used by the Syrian military to bombard opposition strongholds, bringing down a helicopter on the outskirts of Damascus on August 27.

Three days later fighters in the northern province of Idlib said they had shot down a fighter plane in the northwestern province of Idlib near the Turkish border.

Rebels short of anti-aircraft capability have also launched ground attacks on airforce bases in the north and east of Syria to try to counter the military's air power.

(Editing by Alistair Lyon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/helicopter-crashes-damascus-suburb-syrian-tv-072944108.html

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Universal Halloween Horror Nights Unmasked

by RT Staff | Thursday, Sep. 20 2012 1 comments Grae Drake gets a sneak peek at 2012's Halloween Horror Nights. Larry Bones, head of Boneyard Effects, shares his terrifying calvalcade of zombies, red nurses, Leatherfaces, and all kinds of scary stuff.

Get your tickets NOW for Horror Nights.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1925923/news/1925923/

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How to Hire a Plumbing Contractor for Your Household | Isfil

If you are a homeowner in Appleton, there will be times when you will need to hire home improvement professionals maybe to fix something or to add more beauty to your home. One of the home improvement professionals that will often have to visit you are Appleton plumbing contractors. It is important that you have just one plumber who will attend to the plumbing needs in your home. Changing plumbers as you like could also mean that you will have to replace plumbing fixture frequently. Hence, this are some things that you need to do if you are to hire a good plumber.

It is important for every homeowner in Appleton to establish a plumber-client relationship before they run into trouble. It would definitely save you the stress of looking for a plumber when emergencies come up. Here are some things that you should consider when you are selecting a plumber for your household.

To start with, you should look out for a plumber that is licensed. Usually, every state issues a license to plumbers as a proof that they are qualified to be hired for any plumbing work. Thus, when you find a plumber that you want to select, you should ask him to show you his license. Look out for license number and call the licensing office to confirm that the license is genuine.

Another thing that you want to do before selecting a plumber is to ask for a proof of insurance. Normally, you are not expected to deal with professionals who are not licensed. Apart from the fact that your property is not safe with them, it also shows that they are not serious with their job. At the minimum, the plumber that you want to select should have liability and health insurance coverage.

In addition, you should consider how far the plumber is from your home. If you select a plumber who lives far away from your home and cannot attend to you when there are emergencies, then establishing a relationship with him in the first place was useless. Hence, you should do well to select a plumber that you can reach at anytime.

Moreover, you should ask the plumber whom you want to select for references as always. Ask the plumber to provide you with a list of his clients. Contact some of them to know more about the contractor. You should ask his clients how fast he responds to emergency calls. This will give you an insight as regards what you should expect from him.

However, you should not forgo the place of asking for recommendations. It will save you the stress of running boring background checks. Thus, you may ask your neighbors, colleagues, friends, or relatives to recommend a plumber for you.

You may also seek advice from a real estate agent regarding the plumber that you should select. The nature of their job gives them the opportunity to have a long list of home improvement professionals (plumbers inclusive). Thus, you should be able to get the contact of reliable Appleton plumbing contractors from a real estate broker.

Source: http://www.isfil.org/2012/09/19/how-to-hire-a-plumbing-contractor-for-your-household/

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Weekend Top 5: 9/20 | Lifesongs Radio

Every Friday (and sometimes on Thursday!), LifeSongs gives you great weekend outing ideas for the whole family!

Jazz in the Park Kick-Off ? New Orleans ? Thursday, 3-8pm

Where: Congo Square, Louis Armstrong Park

This Thursday kicks off the Fall Jazz in the Park Treme Music Series in Louis Armstrong Park, which runs from September 20th through November 8th. Presented by People United for Armstrong Park in collaboration with the Institute for Community Development, the series features artists such as Irma Thomas, Rockin Dopsie, Los Hombres Caliente, Big Sam?s Funky Nation, Charmaine Neville, John Boutte, Corey Henry, Treme Brass Band and The Stooges Brass Band. Charmaine Neville and Rockin Dopsie Jr. will take this stage this Thursday!

Food, drink and craft vendors come together at the Marketplace, offering quality fresh food and produce, local arts and crafts, and spirits. The event also features a kid?s section, making it fun for the whole family! Festivities begin at 3pm with a Second Line Parade including Mardi Gras Indians. Music begins at 5pm and the event ends at 8pm.

This free event is sponsored by the?NOLA?Brewing Company. No outside food or drink is allowed.

Please ?like? People United for Armstrong Park on Facebook to show your support and stay updated on the schedule of events!

The Blind Side ? Free Movie in the Park ? New Orleans ? Friday, 7:30pm

Where:?Rome Park 1900 Robert E. Lee and St. Anthony

Movies in the Park will be showing THE BLIND SIDE at this Friday at 7:30pm.?Bring lawn chairs, snacks, and enjoy! Find out more about the Movies in the Park program?here!

Main Street Market ? Baton Rouge ? Saturday, 8am-1pm

Where: Fifth St. & Main

Join Us for a hot breakfast and late summer/early fall sweet peppers, mustard greens, green onions, okra, late summer squash & melons,?Fresh from the Market?cooking demo with Chef Celeste Gill, 10 a.m., featuring Chef Jaime Hernandez/Juban?s Restaurant,?501 Main St., 267-5060,?www.breada.org

See You At The Pole Youth Rally ? Thibodaux ? Saturday, 7pm ?

Where: University Baptist Church in Thibodaux, LA (904 Menard St. Thibodaux, LA 70301)

Come join us for our See You At The Pole Rally Saturday, Sept. 22, at 7pm. This event will feature games, worship, and a message on boldness from special guest speaker Tyler Saucier of Ville Platte, LA. The event is totally FREE and all youth 7th thru 12th grade are encouraged to attend!

Saints Game ? Sunday, Noon ? New Orleans

The Saints take on the Kansas City Chiefs at home!

To suggest an event, email Sarah at sarah@lifesongs.com.?

Source: http://www.lifesongs.com/weekend-top-5-921

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