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No recent wiki edits to this page. Basic Information Nick Fury Nick Fury is the head of S.H.I.E.L.D ( Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage and Logistics Directorate) who can be found in video games based off of the Marvel comics universe. One of his most recent appearance's was in the Activision's Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, which was known for it pairing of many classic and obscure heroes in the Marvel universe.  Originally Nick Fury was a World War II veteran who appeared in the Marvel universe. To adapt the character to a modern time period, he became a CIA agent and first dawned his trademark eye patch. He was later recruited by Tony Stark (Iron Man) to join S.H.I.E.L.D to stop the fictional terrorist organization known as, HYDRA. Fury with Cap's Shield Fury has encountered an assortment of Marvel characters in comics and in the video games based off of these comics. Spider-Man, Wolverine, the Punisher, Captain America, and Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier) have all had related plot points related to Nick Fury at one point in their history. Always sumthin' odd about the Limeys... Now you listen to me and you listen good -- I made SHIELD, Junior! And I'll be damned if I let some snot-nosed punk recruit like you come along and do a victory dance over my body! Some of us might die today. But what I'm asking ya to do is fight with everything you've got -- goin' up against an enemy of unknown power. And I want each and every one of you to know -- I've never been prouder of any force I've led into battle. Who were you expecting, Parker... Santa Clause? My apologies for yanking you out of class. I'm all sorts of torn up about it... Now the point: there's a matter of national security needs tending to. The world's a strange place these days -- you read the papers. America ain't much into the idea of jumping into conflicts that don't directly involve it, and what stuff it is in is deep. It don't much have the time for extracurricular activities if you get my meaning... Hey, I'll tell ya what... you don't tell me what's "necessary," an' I won't put my boot heel in yer backside. Deal? All right, all right... enough with this! Lemme clue you in on something, "Poindexter"... there's all kinds of pain in this world... a cigar being put out in the palm of yer hand... German hamstring torture... daytime talk shows... but listening to your jabbering is giving me a migraine that Nazi artillery never induced! Carry on, men... and don't screw it up this time! Ultimate Nick Fury I still got one eye, Jonesy, I'm not blind. So, you're pretty much %$&*ed, huh?. This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for: Comment and Save

http://www.giantbomb.com/nick-fury/3005-4905/

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The Paula wiki last edited by Deusoma on 03/06/13 09:44PM View full history Paula is Garcia Hotspur's girlfriend and the reason why he dives head first into hell. Garcia chases her through hell during the entirety of the game, often to no avail. Role in Shadows of the Damned Little is known about Paula prior to the game. She was found by Garcia in a dumpster behind a supermarket. He brought her home but she did not speak for a long length of time. One day, the phone rang and she broke her silence to tell him not to answer it. When Garcia picked up the phone anyway, she snapped and ripped the phone off the wall. The ending suggests that Paula is actually The Unbreakable Huntress, the first female demon hunter to challenge and be defeated by Fleming. The game starts with her being hanged by the minions of Fleming, who then arrives in person to kidnap her soul and taunt her boyfriend with sexual innuendo. During the entire game, Garcia runs after her, trying to get her back. He often calls her his Angel (pronounced the Spanish way, ahn-hel) and tells anecdotes about her, like how he first came to meet her or how once he jokingly told her how he was married after having sex with her and she chased him around with a knife because of it. That can't be good... Her biggest role in Shadows of the Damned however is dying. Fleming promised Garcia that he would kill Paula before resuscitating her and killing her again and that is exactly what he does. From the very beginning, Fleming comes out of Paula's back, turning her into a lifeless shell before making her live again and putting her inside his body. Later on, demonic duplicates of Paula are seen, often leading Hotspur into traps. It is sometimes difficult to tell whether or not the Paula seen is the real deal, or another copy. At one point she is dragged through a lake and horribly drowned. At another point, she is decapitated and continues talking to Garcia even though her head has been severed from her body, telling Garcia in how much pain she is and that she wants to give up and die for real. Occasionally, solely to anger Garcia, demons will disguise themselves as Paula before bursting out of her in some grotesque fashion. At one point, Paula and Garcia share a kiss. After several seconds, it's revealed that Paula's tongue is in fact a giant tentacle that is choking Garcia. Paula is used in the underworld to torment Garcia. Despite the fact that Johnson warns him each and every time that what he is seeing may not be the real Paula, Hotspur can't resist the urge to follow her even if it means falling in a trap. But killing Paula a thousand times isn't the only way the demons haunt Hotspur. During the strip tease level entitled "Big Boner", Paula is seen topless and Garcia is forced to climb on her breasts and butt while watching multiple Paulas pole dance. The game ends with her being freed from Fleming by Garcia. However, she is possessed and Garcia is forced to fight her. In the end, Hotspur manages to get her out of hell. The couple is seen preparing a vacation to Mexico but it's revealed that Fleming has in fact survived, and that he will never give up his pursuit of her. Garcia swears an oath to himself that he'll slay every demon in the world if need be, until she is his alone. This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for: Comment and Save

http://www.giantbomb.com/paula/3005-19335/

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Robin Rogers Robin Rogers In a small hot glass studio in Western Montana in 2001, the paths of Julia Boriss and Robin Rogers intersected and eventually merged. At this shop, called Cloud Cap Glass, their friendship grew and their glass practices began to overlap.They both became part owners of the studio and worked together, operating the small business and creating glass works. In pursuit of Master of Fine Art degrees, the couple decided to leave their beloved Montana in 2005. They re-envisioned their glass studio and created a trailer-mounted portable shop. With their tools, dogs and one year old son packed up, they set out for Southern Illinois. For schooling and professional opportunities, the glassy family has lived in Carbondale, Illinois; Bowling Green, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and Norfolk, Virginia. After nearly ten years of working together and assisting with each other's work, the duo decided to start creating artwork collaboratively. In these bodies of work, every step of the process, from idea development to finishing touches, is completed by both artists. This method of working has led to the creation of pieces that Julia and Robin are excited to make and proud to exhibit. Through the synergy of this collaboration, the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts • architectural/public • flame/lampworking • glassblower • accept commissions Business Name: Robin and Julia Rogers 1007 Bowden Ave Chesapeake, VA 23323

http://www.glassart.org/cgi/page.cgi?mid=22155&cmd=show_profile&_id=1433&char=R

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Ballot effort underway to raise Mich. minimum wage Groups backing an increase in Michigan's minimum wage laid the groundwork Monday for a statewide ballot drive in November, forming a committee that is very likely to commence with collecting hundreds of thousands of signatures needed to qualify. AP Wire Jan 28, 2014 "Our politicians in Lansing and D.C. have failed workers. There are a lot of people who work hard who've been waiting for a raise," said Frank Houston, treasurer of the Raise Michigan ballot committee. Michigan's $7.40-an-hour minimum wage last went up in 2008 and is slightly higher than the $7.25 federal hourly minimum. Republicans have not embraced calls by both President Barack Obama and Michigan Democrats to raise the minimum wage to $10 at the federal and state levels. Democrats are planning to make income inequality a top issue this election year. "All indications are that we're highly likely to move forward," said Houston, who also is chairman of the Oakland County Democratic Party. "We fully expect Michigan to be the No. 1 place in the country where we're having a conversation around economic dignity and inequality." The coalition involved includes labor unions, community organizers, a restaurant worker center, and faith-based and civil rights groups. The groups sent out statements Monday from low-wage mothers who said their income is not enough to get by. "If you work full-time you shouldn't live in poverty," said Rebecca Hatley-Watkins, 23, of Kalamazoo. A final decision to proceed is expected within days. The proposal would likely aim to change a state statute, not change the state constitution. The minimum wage would rise to the "ballpark" of between $9 and $10.10 an hour and be indexed to inflation, Houston said. Republicans have said hiking the minimum wage would hurt employers' ability to hire people. The restaurant industry says it already operates on thin margins and argues sharply higher wages would lead to steeper prices. "If Michigan increases the cost of employing entry-level workers, lower-skilled workers will see less job opportunities because employers will be forced to hire higher-skilled job applicants to fill multiple roles or cut jobs to absorb the costs associated with the increase," said Wendy Block, director of health policy and human resources for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. The group said businesses already are grappling with costs associated with the federal health care law and that government should focus on helping people get jobs, not make it more expensive to hire them. In November, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer proposed increasing the hourly minimum to $9.25 over three years. He said it would aid the consumer-driven economy by putting more money in employees' pockets and give low-wage workers the same buying power as 1968, when the wage had its highest purchasing power. A message seeking comment was left for Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who is up for re-election. He has said raising the wage could have negative consequences. Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Lon Johnson, who has wanted to avoid ballot issues this year to stay focused on candidate campaigns, said in a statement that it was not surprising to see "a lot of energy surrounding this issue. Democrats at all levels are fighting to increase the minimum wage because we believe that people who work hard and play by the rules deserve a fair shot at supporting themselves and their families." Only Idiot's think this way by raising MW = fewer hours worked = fewer employees needed = increase in the price point for the product = fewer sales = see point number 1. Abolish the MW all together, it's criminal and self defeating to the employee.(your only worth $9.00/hr cuz that's what the MW says I have to pay...) Former Grandhavenite I'd invite anyone opposed to this to try living on the minimum wage for a month- just try it and see how long you last. Ideally for extra realism, you'll have quite a few mouths to feed on that income and a broken down car as well. Even better would be to keep watching Fox News the whole time you do this experiment so you'll hear every day how the poor just have it waaay too easy, what with all the government handouts, etc that they get. One could only hope that the handle LIAMD does NOT mean Lia is a doctor. It might be a erronerous assumption on my part that doctors as a general rule are smarter than this person's posts would indicate.... Minimum wage is not nor was ever intended to be a "living wage", it was and is a starting point more aimed at those first time employees so they could get their feet wet with less risk to the company, it was never intended to support entire families, albeit the lousy economy makes this unfortunate situation in the first place but the fix is not over pay for mundane tasks. sure, get rid of minimum wage, and let the market decide wages. Like restaurants do, they pay wait staff $2.50/hr because all you big tippers are leaving them a quarter. Heck, they get paid a living wage, why supplement it with tips? Minimum wage should be closer to $10/hr, yes to start out getting their feet wet, and as a guideline to employers. If they think you are worth it, they give you a raise. Anyone on here get a raise lately??? Tri-cities realist Would the wait staff prefer being paid minimum wage but have the restaurant take 2/3 of their tips, since $2.50 is roughly 1/3 of the minimum wage? I think most would prefer the current system. yeah, right. The wait staff really likes it the way it is, they don't want MW increased. And the employer takes the tips?? WTH kind of accounting are you even talking about? Welcome home from a hard day at the place that really doesn't need or want you, have another drink on me! You get paid what your worth and if you don't like it take matters into your own hand,expand your opportunities & show some personal responsibility, work hard,stay focused,get educated and advance your career. Why would any sane person limit themselves to the current MW or the proposed $10/hr? How demeaning..limiting ones potential to a MW outlook..just pathetic. I guess with this logic, I am not worth a penny... Get real. Some people go WELL above and beyond and are still paid peanuts. If employers were allowed to, I bet many would pay next to nothing, even compared to the current minimum wage, while their companies rake in record profits. I guess that is trickle down economics for you... Look at dining establishments... Nobody is limiting them to only paying their employees a bit over $2/hr, yet they do, because the law says they can. Get rid of the minimum wage and other employers will follow suit. I disagree with your worth jle...the ignorance in your reply is pricele$$ !Oh those Eeeeevil companies and eeevil profits. Why would anyone go "well above and beyond,..get peanuts" and stick around for that employer ? =stupid. Yep, pay next to nothing and retain the very best and brightest employees..that makes perfect sense as well. Waiters/Waitress..the law says they must get payed min.$2/hr. What you left out(must have been an oversight) is the average wage including tips he/she makes is closer to $16 to $22/ hr. Again,if your sharp and really good as a waiter/waitress you can exceed the required MW and who knows what other opportunities might come along. Sick and tired of feeling sorry for yourself then do something about it. Post a Comment

http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/832971

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Judge Grady Judge Grady is, in 2008, the host of the Just or Unjust talk show on WKTT. While an unseen character, his voice would suggest that he is a heavy-set African-American man, similar in appearance to TV's Judge Mathis or Judge Joe Brown. Grady is an extremely misogynistic host who always favors the man in a case, while making sexual advances towards most of the women on the show while otherwise viewing them as inferior to men. He generally seems to have quite poor judgment; instead of actually ruling in favor of the plaintiff or defendant, Judge Grady forces both litigants to participate in a deadly contest, which is chosen by the courtroom audience, to determine who wins the case. Once during the show he reveals that he is politically far right-wing, which would make sense considering his show is on WKTT. Last modified on 26 October 2013, at 14:52

http://www.grandtheftwiki.com/index.php?title=Judge_Grady&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile

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Printer Friendly Version ] [ Report Abuse ] << >> Harry Potter and the Time of Second Chances by Neville James Chapter 16 : A Night to Forget Rating: 12+Chapter Reviews: 15 Background:   Font color:   Chapter 16: A Night to Forget Harry continued to gape at the approaching figures from where he and Marc were concealed behind a shrub. Everything around him went unearthly quiet, but Harry knew that in a matter of moments the air would be filled with threats and pleas. Marc watched his older roommate with wide and worried eyes as he stared at the newcomers as though they were ghosts, trembling uncontrollably. He tried to calm him and placed a hand on his shoulder, hoping that he might get a few answers as well. As soon as he had touched Harry he opened his mouth to speak and was abruptly cut off as Harry’s hand flew to his mouth, covering it firmly. Harry lifted a finger to his own mouth signalling his wish for silence, and shook his head vehemently as though it was a matter of life and death. Marc stared into Harry’s eyes and saw the immense fear that swam there, something unheard of for Harry Potter. Seeing the Boy-who-lived quake with such fear finally told Marc who was standing outside that cottage. He too stumbled back a bit and his eyes widened in fear and shock. His own eyes though, reflected an equal amount of anger as they did fear. He understood why Harry looked so afraid and was now filled with pity for his friend; Harry was not afraid of Lord Voldemort, but he was downright terrified of what he was going to be forced to watch. Marc set a determined look on his face before reaching into his robes and slowly pulling out his wand. Harry, noticing this, once again jutted his arm out and grabbed Marc’s hand, shaking his head determinedly. Marc couldn’t take it. How could he just sit there and do nothing, knowing that his parents would soon be murdered before his very eyes? ‘What are you doing?’ Marc hissed in barely a whisper. ‘You can save them! Warn them. Tell them to apparate or something.’ He was beginning to sound frantic as Harry simply sat and stared at him. ‘I can’t,’ he finally said. ‘I wish I could, but if that monster sees either of us, do you know what kind of damage could be done? How history could be changed?’ ‘Yeah, you would have your parents right now and you wouldn’t be the most famous wizard in the world. Sounds terrible,’ Marc said angrily, as though it was a very simple decision. Harry shook his head again defiantly, tears forming in his eyes. ‘If my mum doesn’t die protecting me, Voldemort won’t fall. What kind of world would we live in then?’ he asked in a shaky voice. ‘Don’t you think I’d rather live with them? Not have to worry about being chased by Death eaters for the rest of my Life? It just wouldn’t work. I’ve played it over and over in my head. If they got away it wouldn’t change anything. He would just keep chasing them until he caught them again, maybe tomorrow or next week. And then we might not be that lucky.’ Marc didn’t like the idea of doing nothing but remained silent now as he and Harry ducked lower, waiting for the inevitable. Not two seconds later, the pair felt the bush move slightly as Voldemort walked quietly passed them and up to the front door. If he had simply turned his head slightly to the left he would have seen the boy he had come for. Harry could see him clearly now from where he crouched, unable to look away. Voldemort raised his wand with grim satisfaction, and with a downward slash and no audible curse, the thick brown door was blown off of its hinges allowing him to step over the threshold. The next few moments were unbearable for Harry as he heard Voldemort’s voice threaten his father. He had been taken aback at how deep and human his voice had sounded. Apparently when the Dark Lord was first in power he had been much more Tom Riddle than Voldemort. ‘There is really no point, James. I will get what I came for.’ ‘You will never lay a finger on my family. You’re just a monster and you’ll never win, not with Dumbledore around!’ Harry heard a loud growl after the last comment. Voldemort had clearly already feared Dumbledore at this time. ‘There are no monsters James, just people who are willing to do anything for power, and those too weak to stop them. I offer you the chance to join me. You would do well as a Death Eater.’ Harry began to shake again and his breathing grew ragged. Not from fear, but rage at the thought of his father ever being associated with Death Eaters. ‘I’ll die before I join you,’ he heard his father shout in utter disgust, and felt that his father had probably said far fewer things with such adamancy. ‘Easily arranged,’ came Voldemort’s response. ‘ Goodbye, Potter. Avada Kedavra!’ Harry tensed at hearing these words spoken and closed his eyes when he saw the bright green light glow from the doorway and momentarily light up the fog that had begun to form around the home. Not a second later he heard the heavy thud of James Potter’s body hitting the floor. Marc looked near shell-schocked as he watched the tears swell in his friends eyes, unable to help or comfort him in any way. Another minute passed as the boys listened for what they knew would come next, but the pause seemed to go on forever. Harry cautiously lifted himself up and looked carefully into the window. He recoiled the instant he saw his father’s body heaped at the base of the staircase. It was not that he had never seen a dead body before, but the glassy empty look of his father’s eyes cut through him deeply and hurt more than he had anticipated. Harry landed back next to Marc on the grass and leaned his back on a tree, attempting to get a hold on his breathing and keeping his lids tightly shut. Marc reached out a hand to console his new best friend, but was stopped suddenly by a new set of screams piercing the air. Two adults and one infant. ‘No, not Harry! Please not Harry!’ Lily Potter’s voice carried out onto the street, terrified and full of tears. Harry closed his eyes tighter and tried to block it from his mind. He could hear his younger self’s muffled cries from where he was undoubtedly being held against his mother’s chest. ‘Get out of the way you foolish girl!’ Voldemort’s voice hissed scathingly. ‘No! Not Harry, take me instead!’ Lily screamed as though she thought it might hold him off longer. ‘There is no instead,’ the cold voice said, filled with amusement. ‘Avada Kedavra!’ Harry started to shake again as the scream he had so often heard in his dreams sounded all around him, louder than he could have ever imagined, threatening to pierce his eardrums and shatter the window above him. Just as quickly as it had started, the scream ended, and the boys were once again met with a hollow thud. Marc winced as he pictured the redhead hitting the floor and then heard the clear cries of a baby, now helpless and completely vulnerable to the monster that stood before it. Marc pulled himself up to sit beside Harry and squeezed his arm as a show of support. He fell back in surprise when Harry flung his eyes open and quickly got to his feet, leaving a gaping Marc to scramble up after him. ‘Are you insane, Harry! Get back here!’ he hissed at the raven-haired boy as he walked out from behind the bush. ‘ I hate to be insensitive, but they’re already gone. You made your decision.’ ‘Yeah, but he’s not,’ came Harry’s cold reply, his face now determinedly set as he turned back toward the doorway. ‘And I’m going to watch this. I deserve to see this much,’ he added with such resolve that Marc took pause. ‘You can’t Harry, what about the other Death Eater?’ he tried to reason and stepped out to grab Harry’s arm. Harry never got the chance to answer though, as an unearthly shriek filled the air followed by the most blinding green light Harry had ever seen. Both he and Marc shut their eyes and threw their hands up to cover their ears. Not a second later, they were both thrown backward into the bush by a thundering explosion that shook the cottage to its core, and they both felt heavy debris landing on and around them. They lay immobile for a few moments, unsure of what to do. Marc was the first to open his eyes and push the large slab of wood off his legs to turn and check on Harry. He too opened his eyes and the sight set before them was one that neither of them would ever forget. The once welcoming cottage now lay in a smouldering heap of rubble, all but two of the walls having crumbled away helplessly at the explosion. Most of the furniture in the home popped and crackled as they were engulfed in green flames, each bit of fire dancing victoriously as it burned. The bodies of James and Lily Potter remained intact and exactly in the places they had fallen, looking to the rest of the world as though they had fallen to sleep and not been viciously murdered. What bothered Marc the most, was not the ring of flames burning ominously around the destroyed home, or the immediate threat of Death Eaters around them, or even the sight of his best friend’s parents laying dead and wide-eyed before him. What tugged at his heart was the sight among the wreckage and the sound that met his ears. Where the cottage had once been the focal point in a beautiful valley, a scared and crying infant now drew attention in the middle of chaos and destruction. A lone child with a small lightning shaped cut on his forehead sat crying and bleeding among the remains of his home and family, helpless and confused. The Dark Lord had been vanquished, but for this child the worst had already been done. Voldemort had made him suffer more than he would ever know. The boy was now alone, without parents, without safety, and without love. He had vanquished the Dark Lord and saved the wizarding world but at great personal cost. He had done a great deed for society without ever trying and would not know it for another ten years. This was the day his suffering began. He was the boy who lived. Marc turned to Harry to indicate that they should get away quickly before someone saw them, and was shocked to find him moving toward the rubble. Harry walked quickly and meaningfully toward his parents’ bodies, first his father’s and then his mother’s. He sadly reached out a hand and swiftly swept their eyes closed, letting tears drop quietly onto the ground as he did. Then he made his way to his younger self and crouched down low beside the baby. He knew he didn’t have long before Hagrid would appear, and then Sirius. ‘It’s alright, Harry,’ he said quietly, reaching out a hand to console the child. Marc tried to stop him as he watched him remove his wand and point it at him. Harry muttered something quietly and Marc watched as the blood left the infant’s face and in it’s place sat a fresh, red scar. ‘Don’t worry,’ Harry told his younger self in a hushed and caring voice, ‘everything will be alright. One day you’ll know what happened and you’ll be proud.’ He paused for a moment and leaned down to look into his own emerald eyes. ‘And you’ll be loved.’ The infant stopped crying and stared at him in interest before reaching a tiny arm into the air and placing his hand on Harry’s identical scar. ‘I know,’ Harry said sadly before leaning forward and kissing him on the forehead, ‘but it will all be alright, I promise.’ Harry stood up then and turned his back on the child to rush toward a disbelieving Marc. As soon as he was standing next to him he pulled the Time Turner out of his shirt and watched as Marc picked up his invisibility cloak. ‘Let’s get out of here, Harry,’ Marc said pleadingly. ‘Just one more second,’ he said and watched the scene intently from where they stood behind a tree. Not ten seconds passed when Hagrid appeared out of thin air, having travelled by portkey, and quickly took in the scene around him. Harry heard the wracking sobs coming from the half-giant and fought hard to hold back the rest of his own tears. Marc suggested they should leave again but stopped when he heard a loud rumbling above them. Only Marc was surprised to see a giant motorbike fly low in front of them before landing next to Hagrid. The next few minutes were tense as the boys watched Hagrid and Sirius’s exchange before Hagrid mounted the motorbike with the infant tucked in his arms and flew off into the night. Marc glared venomously at Sirius, but Harry watched him through caring eyes and shared his pain. He felt a sharp pain in his chest at seeing Sirius yell into the night furiously after kneeling next to his best friend’s body. The last thing he saw of his Godfather was him apparating away, and he felt guilty for not preventing his going to Azkaban. As Marc’s third plea to go home reached his ears, Harry placed the Time Turner around the other boy’s neck and reached down to spin the dial. Marc lifted his wand at the same time to activate their portkey and Harry shouted for him to stop but it was no use. The dial had been spun and the portkey activated. Harry’s eyes widened abruptly as the last thing he saw before the spinning commenced was a familiar face in the woods fifty meters away. Severus Snape. The travelling was not at all like the last few trips they had taken. If Harry had thought the portkey travel was sickening then this would surely have him sick all over. He felt the sensation of a hook behind his navel pull him up before the colours around him began to swirl and go black as they had done before. Things and people swirled by them once more, but this time at a far faster pace and it was even harder to try and focus as they were being thrown around instead of simply standing. Finally the swirling stopped and the pair was dropped heavily onto a hard stone floor. Harry took a few deep breaths before opening his eyes and taking in their surroundings. He stood up and saw that they were in fact back at Hogwarts and in the Astronomy tower. Everything looked to be right and the trip had felt as though both devices had worked correctly. He reached a hand out and helped Marc to his feet. ‘Thanks. It’s good to be home,’ he said with a small smile and looked at Harry for any sign of a response. Harry gave a half-hearted smile but said nothing before turning to the door and heading down the steps. Neither of them spoke again until they had reached the third floor. ‘If it’s possible, Marc, I’d really rather if we never-’ he was cut off by his friend nodding adamantly. ‘Ever. You have my word,’ the curly-haired boy said with a solemn expression that conveyed his intentions. The boys walked along the hallways quietly after that, both understanding without the need for words, that what they had just witnessed was undoubtedly a night to forget. They walked silently to the end of the third floor staircase, casually waving at the many occupants of the portraits they passed, and soon found themselves standing in front of the fat lady. ‘Murtlap Sap,’ Harry said unenthusiastically, and waited for the portrait to swing forward so that he might crawl into his bed and never think of this night again. The portrait didn’t open. ‘I said Murtlap Sap,’ he tried again, this time louder and with annoyance at obviously having been ignored. ‘I’m sorry dear, but that is not the password. If you could just be on your way now,’ the fat lady said and looked away from him again. ‘I will not be on my way. Murtlap sap was the password this morning. If Hermione’s changed it again,’ he went on, his anger now boiling up after the night he had experienced. ‘I’m sorry, but that was never the password dear. Now kindly step away.’ Marc sighed deeply at being kept from his bed this late at night. He really did not feel like sleeping on the cold floor out in the corridors, but he would do that over finding McGonagall at this hour to let them in. ‘You let me in!’ Harry cried now, unable to control his anger, and stepped forward to bang his fists loudly on her frame. ‘Ron! Hermione! Let us in! The wench won’t open up.’ The boys heard the bustling of people on the other side and were relieved when the portrait finally swung open. Unfortunately, Harry was unprepared for what he saw and promptly fainted, unable to handle the shock. The last thing he saw before falling over was the equally shocked face of a sixteen-year-old James Potter. Harry opened his eyes with great effort to look around and find out what he had actually just seen, hoping against all odds that his eyes were playing tricks on him. He was surprised to find that he was no longer outside the Gryffindor common room, but seated in the Headmaster’s office directly across from a staring Dumbledore. He was dismayed as he took in the Headmaster’s younger appearance, the absence of many fine lines and wrinkles and the slivers of light brown still found in his hair and beard. The one thing that remained the same, Harry noticed, was the twinkle in the old man’s blue eyes. He found that Marc was sitting next to him and looking at the floor, looking extremely culpable and avoiding Dumbledore’s eyes. He looked at the boy next to Marc and nearly fainted again. It was his father. James Potter sat perfectly still, watching his perfect mirror image, save for the eyes, with a shrouded expression. ‘Perhaps I should start,’ Dumbledore said in his regular calm and collected way, no indication of anger. They watched as he lifted a large glass bowl off his desk and held it out toward them with a warm smile. ‘Lemon drop?’ he offered. Both new arrivals shook their heads, but James was quick to reach in and pop one in his mouth. ‘You two are new, are you not?’ Dumbledore then continued and also enjoyed one of the sweets. ‘I have yet to see you within the walls of Hogwarts, therefore I can only assume that you are new. Is this the case?’ he asked with a merry glint in his eyes. Marc continued to look at the ground, fiercely ignoring the old man and clearly intent on preventing the timeline from changing. Harry looked back to the Headmaster and offered what he felt would be the best explanation, feeling certain that he and Marc would not be able to avoid Dumbledore without telling him something. ‘Yes sir, we are new. Well, new to this school. We just came from Durmstrang, sir,’ he continued and was surprised to see the sudden look of disgust on James’ face at hearing this news. ‘I assumed that you would have spoken to our old Headmaster,’ he continued, trying his best to ignore the glares he and Marc were now receiving. Once done speaking, he gave a sidelong glance at James before giving Dumbledore a meaningful look. Dumbledore gave the slightest of smiles before continuing. ‘I see, well then I suppose we shall have to have you sorted and you will receive your timetables in the morning,’ he said as though this sort of thing was a daily occurrence at Hogwarts. Harry snorted when he realised that it was. ‘Are you serious, Professor!’ James now said angrily, his chair falling loudly behind him as he stood up, clearly unimpressed. ‘You’re just going to let a couple of strangers join the school? A couple of strangers who claim to come from the dark wizarding school and who just happened to know where Gryffindor tower was?’ Dumbledore simply looked up at the agitated youth, an unfaltering expression on his face. If anything, Harry thought that the gleam in his eyes had brightened, leading him to struggle to suppress a smirk. ‘Yes James, I am. It does seem odd that they knew the location of Gryffindor tower, but I assure you that not all wizards from Durmstrang are evil. Unless of course you consider Professor Vector’s lessons to be questionable.’ The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he suggested this. ‘And I remind you James, that when you first arrived at Hogwarts for your first year, you too were a stranger.’ The tone Dumbledore used was not harsh or punitive, but it did carry a sense of finality, leading James to cross his arms and lean back in his seat with an indignant sniff from his nostrils. ‘Now James, if you could please go back to your dormitory, I have to welcome our new students to the castle. Do please keep this to yourself until tomorrow morning at breakfast.’ It was clear to all those in the room that this was not a request, so James nodded grudgingly and gave both boys a skeptical glance before heading from the office. As soon as Harry was sure that James was out of hearing distance he perked up significantly and felt better knowing that he did not have to worry about slipping any future secrets. ‘Thank you Professor Dumbledore, I’m so relieved you’ll allow us to be sorted in the morning,’ Harry said, knowing full well that in a matter of minutes he and Marc would be leaving and going back to their own time, making the entire ordeal quite unnecessary. ‘Well, I believe it’s the least I could do for my future students,’ the Headmaster said with a raised eyebrow. ‘Now tell me, how exactly do you intend on getting back to your own time?’ He seemed overly amused by this. Harry let his jaw drop and Marc’s head flew up at hearing what the old man said. How could he have possibly known they were from the future. ‘I did not give you my name, and yet you already knew it. You also called me Professor. I think it safe to assume that you will one day be students under my direction,’ he smiled at Harry’s shocked face. ‘And then there’s what’s left of that contraption around your neck.’ Now Harry and Marc both looked at the Time Turner that hung low against Harry’s robes, not having been tucked back under upon their arrival, and were disturbed to find a small ball of melted gold. ‘No!’ Marc said loudly, letting his head drop into his hands dramatically with a groan. ‘We’re never going to get out of here now. My mum’s going to kill me... if we ever get home. Not to mention McGonagall!’ Harry took a moment before speaking again, now with a reassuring smile on his face. ‘Don’t worry, Marc. I’m sure the Headmaster will lend us his Time Turner to get home, isn’t that right Professor?’ Dumbledore looked at him curiously, his calm expression still in place. ‘Don’t you get it, Harry?’ Marc shouted at him, ‘Time Turners aren’t readily available outside of the Department of Mysteries for another twelve years. We’re stuck here!’ Harry looked sticken. Dumbledore continued to look at them curiously as he thought about their predicament. ‘Well, I believe the best I can do is to allow my offer to stand. You shall join the other students in their lessons tomorrow after you have been sorted. There’s no need for you to miss out on your education while I try to find a way to send you home. What year are you two in?’ he added with mild curiosity as he conjured some forms from a shelf high above. ‘I’m from sixth and Marc’s from fifth,’ Harry said casually. ‘Marc is it?’ Dumbledore said with a raised eyebrow, reminding both boys that they had still not introduced themselves. ‘Yes sir, Marcus Evans,’ he said quietly and held out a hand to shake the Headmaster’s. ‘You wouldn’t be son to one Lily Evans, would you?’ he asked, one eyebrow still inclined. ‘No sir,’ he said with the first laugh in hours and a glance at Harry, who also shared the joke. ‘I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong one.’ ‘I’m Harry, sir, Harry Potter. And Lily Evans is my mother.’ Dumbledore leaned back in his seat and smiled at this news. His eyes seemed to shine more fiercely than ever before. He was pleased. ‘Very well. I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you not to tell me any more about the future. It is quite enough that you have been seen by your father, Harry. I’ll assume it is safe to say you are both Gryffindors?’ ‘Yes, Professor.’ Harry said, and then stole a sidelong glance at the Sorting Hat, peacefully sitting on a high shelf muttering quietly to itself. ‘Is it possible not to be sorted tomorrow, Professor? I’m afraid that if the hat reads my mind it may be catastrophic. Lately it’s been giving the school warnings in the form of songs, and I rather doubt you wish to hear the future spilled about the Great Hall. I take it the students wouldn’t take well to hearing Voldemort’s name sung aloud.’ Dumbledore’s eyes widened at hearing this and then darkened significantly. ‘Sorry professor,’ Harry said quickly, realising that he had just informed the Headmaster and Head of the Order of the Pheonix that the Dark Lord was still around in eighteen years. ‘I won’t mention it again.’ ‘Very good, Mister Potter. You and Mr. Evans shall join Gryffindor in the morning and I shall take care of the rest. To the rest of the students you will be exchange wizards from Durmstrang and we will find you suitable names by then. In the mean time, do you wish to join the Gryffindors tonight?’ ‘I think it best if we wait. I know of the perfect room, sir,’ he said with a wink at his friend. ‘On the seventh floor perhaps?’ Dumbledore smiled knowingly and Harry nodded with a small grin. ‘Very well, I shall see you both at breakfast before you join your classes,’ he said before dismissing them. Marc and Harry walked quietly to the seventh floor corridor where Harry knew he would find a hanging of Barnabas the Barmey teaching trolls to do the ballet. They walked past an empty spot on the wall opposite the hanging a few times thinking hard of how badly they would like to get to sleep. Moments later the familiar brass door handle appeared and the pair walked into what looked like their Gryffindor dormitory. Two four-posters sat in the middle of the room, and at the base of each bed sat their trunks. Harry couldn’t believe how thorough the room could be. He walked over to the window at the back of the room and looked over the grounds. The forest was just as dark as it had ever been and Hagrid’s hut stood out in the inky dark, its windows glowing brightly from the fire burning inside the small home. Harry quietly said goodnight to his roommate before pulling the hangings shut and laying down for a restless night’s sleep. He tried hard to clear his mind of everything that had happened in the past few hours, but found it absolutely impossible. He could still see his parents’ lifeless eyes, and hear his mother’s heart shattering scream, but what he remembered most vividly was feeling the little Harry place his hand on his scar. He closed his eyes tightly and only let a few tears fall before falling asleep. Tonight, he did not dream. Harry was awakened the next morning by Marc moving around the room in a flurry, trying to get his school robes on and taming his hair, his nerves clearly putting him on edge. It was the second time in two months he had joined Hogwarts as an exchange student from Durmstrang and was evidently not looking forward to going through the change again. ‘We’re already late for breakfast. There’s only about twenty minutes until lessons begin!’ he shouted at Harry who looked like he could easily have slept another week if left undisturbed. A few minutes later, Harry was hurtling down the corridors next to his roommate until they stopped dead in front of the Great Hall. The doors were shut and Harry didn’t feel like walking in late. He received more than enough attention in his own time, and certainly did not need it in this one. They could hear the chatter and laughter of students on the other side, wafting through the thick ornate doors as though they were thin as parchment. ‘I’ll go first,’ Marc offered, and before Harry could reply he had pushed the doors open and strode in. Harry instantly heard the chatter die down and then restart in a hush of whispers. Harry took a deep breath and then followed his friend in, hoping that no one would think his scar odd. The instant he entered the hall, silence fell again, but was soon punctured by gasps and several confused questions. He traversed the hall quickly to meet his smiling friend, hearing snippets of conversation as he walked past the house tables. It appeared that his scar was the last thing he should have worried about, his entire appearance being something far more interesting. ‘Who do you think they are? One looks like James Potter. Are they new students? I heard they were spies,’ he heard a couple of girls say. He shook his head and kept going, now with a grin plastered on his face. He reached the staff table and found that he recognized some of the professors, but not all. Dumbledore stood and cleared his throat to make an announcement. Harry smiled and chuckled to himself at seeing the Headmaster’s vivid blue, crimson, and emerald robes. Apparently Dumbledore had always had his eccentric and expensive tastes in clothing, making him by far the brightest clad object in the hall. Harry had his back turned on the professors and found that most of them were watching their backs intently, wanting to know exactly who they were. The look on the other professor’s faces told him that they had not yet been informed of the new arrivals. McGonagall in particular, looked far from pleased at being taken by surprise, her lips pulled thinly into a straight line and her dark eyes narrowed into mere slits as she surveyed them. ‘An announcement,’ Dumbledore started. ‘ I would like to introduce you to two of our new students, newly transferred from Durmstrang.’ Just as James had seemed offended by this news, most of the other students in the hall now appeared skeptical, not so hushed voices rushing through the crowd. ‘I am sure you will all make them feel welcome, and I ask that you please do not badger them with questions. I am sure they are quite tired from their journey. Now, Mr. Harry Portus and Mr. Marc Turner will be joining Gryffindor after our private sorting this morning, Harry in Sixth year, and Marc in fifth. Please join your table boys.’ The Gryffindor table roared in delight at gaining a couple of older students, some of the skepticism melting away, and even Professor McGonagall seemed pleased to hear this. He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when she got a good look at him in class. ‘I’ve also been asked to remind certain students that dungbombs are clearly on the caretaker’s list of unacceptable Hogwarts items,’ he added with a small smile at the Gryffindor table before sitting back down. Harry and Marc hurried over to their new table and sat down next to a group of students that they did not know, each of them smiling and now patting the boys on the back in congratulations. Just to their left, Harry noticed a group of four boys watching him intently and smiled upon recognising them all. The Marauders watched them in silence for a while as the other students told the newcomers about what classes would be like and which professors to watch for. Finally they were handed their timetables by a seventh year boy with light brown hair and warm eyes. Harry instantly identified him as Giedeon Prewett, one of the original members of the Order and Mrs. Weasley’s older brother. ‘These will be your Timetables. It’s a pleasure to meet you,’ he said holding out his hand for them both to shake. ‘I’m Gideon Prewett, Head Boy.’ At this point, another seventh year boy stood and knocked the Head Boy out of the way, holding his hand out instead. ‘And I’m Fabian Prewett, the much better Prewett,’ the blonde boy offered, grinning at his twin. Many of the Gryffindors laughed at this and the brothers began to wrestle playfully in their seats. Harry smiled but was deeply saddened to see these two men alive and well, when he knew they would be murdered together by no less than five Death Eaters in less than three years time. After eating a quick breakfast, Marc and Harry were forced to say goodbye and headed to their separate classes, Marc to Care of Magical Creatures and Harry to Potions. Harry grumbled as he walked through the entrance hall, not wanting to have anything to do with this class, but knowing that he would have to put up with it until Dumbledore could send them home. He reached the Dungeons quickly and was, for one of the first times in his Hogwarts career, early for Potions. He sat up near the front of the class in his regular seat and waited for the Potions Master to arrive, undoubtedly ready to insult him like every other morning. Another minute passed before Harry heard the familiar sneer of Severus Snape and when he turned around to glare was caught off guard at seeing the sixteen-year-old sit down right next to him. ‘I’ll ask you to get away from my station … Portus, was it?’ he hissed toward Harry. Harry blinked a few times. He had forgotten that Snape would still be a student and not a professor, but this was still slightly shocking to him, and then a touch amusing. He looked exactly the way Harry had seen him in his older version’s memory the year before, still with greasy hair and the pair of well-worn robes that Harry assumed were his only ones. ‘What do you mean your station?’ Harry asked plainly. ‘I don’t see your name on it.’ ‘I’ve worked here alone for the past six years. Now go find somewhere else, you Gryffindor filth,’ he said with such disdain that Harry was irked. Even the grown Snape wasn’t this hate-filled, and if he was he apparently showed great self restraint on most occasions. ‘He can work wherever he likes, Snivellus,’ a voice called from behind them, making both students twirl around quickly. James and Sirius had just walked in followed carefully by Remus, who was busy reading a book, his shining scarlet Prefect’s badge glinting in the torchlight. ‘Shut it Potter!’ Snape cried. ‘If you like him so much, he can work with you! Not that he’d want to. At least with me, he would be sure a passing grade.’ Now Harry could see a conflicted look in Snape’s eyes. On one hand, he had told Harry to move, but on the other, he had just said that he would be better off if he stayed simply to annoy his rival. ‘There’s nothing in this world that could make a Gryffindor work with a Slytherin,’ James’ retort came, harsh and cold. Sirius gave a glare that backed up his friends statement and more. ‘I’m afraid you are quite wrong Mister Potter, as I do believe I am such a thing,’ came a steely voice from the front of the room. Harry felt a shiver traverse his spine at the iciness of the voice and almost didn’t want to see from whom it originated. He slowly turned to see a very severe looking woman with long, dark hair braided and pulled into a tight bun. She had the darkest eyes he had ever seen, making Snape’s pale in comparison. She stepped from her office and securely shut the door, stepping forward to her desk to continue. ‘Mister Portus will in fact be working with our Mister Snape today, unless you see this as a problem, Mister Potter?’ she said this firmly and Harry was given the impression that no one would dare speak up. ‘Very well. Welcome to my class, Mister Portus.’ Upon seeing the boy in front of her, the professor’s dark eyes widened and a look of mild surprise took over as she quickly looked from Harry to James and back again, before regaining composure. ‘I am Professor Sharpbane,’ she said in an icier tone than before, ‘and you will find that my class is not for the weak minded,’ she shot a glare at Sirius and James. Harry understood immediately where Snape had found his role model. ‘Open your texts to page four hundred and twelve.’ Professor Sharpbane continued to explain the day’s work before flicking her wand at the blackboard and having the instructions scrawl themselves across it. Harry read the instructions closely before crossing the room to the supply cupboard for the boomslang skin. ‘Mister Portus, perhaps you should allow Severus to collect the ingredients. He is after all competent,’ the professor’s voice reached across the room, her eyes filled with malice. Harry could see Snape’s lip curling up in a grin and his blood began to boil. ‘I think I can manage thank you,’ he called back and watched as her eyes narrowed and the class fell silent. Snape’s grin widened. ‘You do, do you?’ she started in a threateningly low voice. ‘Very well, I suppose our newest student deserves to be treated just as any of the others. I was willing to allow you a week before testing, but as it appears you feel yourself so gifted, we shall do it now. You will answer a short quiz Mister Portus, and I’m afraid that if you do not receive at least an Exceeds Expectations, you will have to leave my classroom.’ Harry could see James and Sirius shaking their heads at him like he was a fool. Remus, on the other hand, was watching attentively in obvious curiosity. Harry supposed he wanted to know how intelligent the new student would turn out to be. Harry nodded his understanding and quickly returned to his seat with the boomslang skin so that he could write his test. He was mildly surprised when Professor Sharpbane began to quiz him aloud in front of the class. ‘What will I get Mister Portus, when I add boomslang skin to unicorn blood?’ she started fairly simple. ‘That would be the base for the healing potion, Professor,’ he said with a smile and waited for the next question. ‘Correct,’ she added and continued unperturbed. ‘And what would I get if I added daisy root to the root of Asphodel and ground them with the venom from an acromantula?’ she asked, looking pleased with her question. The look on many of the students’ blank faces told him that they had not yet covered this particular potion. He however, had read his entire text and he recalled this particular potion well. ‘That would be the last addition in the Vanesco Minimus potion,’ Harry said with the same smile as before. The smile widened as the professor’s eyes narrowed further and she looked him up and down sourly. She had felt confident that he would miss that one. ‘Correct,’ she said slowly. ‘Now tell me, Mister Portus, what would I get if I added a unicorn’s tail hair to a mixture of boomslang skin, three-part dried moonstone herb and two-part slick doxy oil, and allowed it to brew for a week?’ She now looked extremely pleased with herself, and Harry noticed the calculating look on both Lupin’s and Snape’s faces as they worked it out in their minds. Harry grinned at his good luck. ‘Well Professor, you wouldn’t have much,’ he said plainly and saw as she smiled in triumph. ‘I’m afraid that’s not correct, and that lowers your score to a-’ ‘I’m sorry Professor, what I meant to say, and I should have been more clear, is that you would have an extremely useless Polyjuice Potion, as it must be left to stew for three weeks before consumption.’ The professor’s eyes widened at his interruption. ‘And then there’s the fact that the Unicorn’s tail hair would alter the effects as Polyjuice Potion should only contain a hair from the human host the brewer wishes to appear as. Using animal hair can create very unfortunate results,’ he finished with a smile. The thought of Hermione’s mishap in third year sweetening his success. ‘Very well,’ she snapped at him, her features now returned to their normal stony self. ‘Take your seat and start your work. If you ever interrupt me again Mister Portus, I will be forced to remove points from Gryffindor.’ Two hours later, Harry found himself sitting in the Great Hall for lunch with Marc and the Prewetts. Marc had told him all about his first two classes, before Harry explained how his double Potions had gone. ‘Sorry you still have to deal with Snape,’ Marc said to him quietly in a pitying voice, but it was strongly belied by his grin. Harry nodded and gave a mock scowl, but what he did not say was that he truly did not mind working with him, and that they made a surprisingly good team. At the end of the lesson Harry had found himself gathering his things and leaving the Potions classroom after having created a near-perfect shrinking potion and receiving an outstanding for the day. He was surprised by how well he worked alongside Snape, and aside from several snide remarks along the way, he could tell that Snape was impressed with his work. Even Professor Sharpbane had complimented the results, though this was most likely because he had worked with her favorite pupil. Harry listened to some of the apparently infamous tales of the Prewett twins and ate his lunch contentedly until a large mass of bright auburn hair coming through the great doors of the hall drew his attention away. Lily Evans walked through the doors, surrounded by three other girls, one on each side of her and another following closely behind. Lily and the two beside her turned quickly to say something to the other, before she gave a smile and wave and then went off to sit at the Ravenclaw table. The other three continued to the Gryffindor table where they sat down right across from Harry and Marc. ‘Hello ladies,’ Fabian said with a wide grin and he placed an arm around the girl with short, light brown hair sitting to Lily’s left. ‘And how are you all doing on this fine day?’ ‘Shut it, Fabian,’ Lily said with narrowed eyes, ‘We’ve already told you, you can find someone else to go to Hogsmeade with.’ ‘If you can find anyone who doesn’t mind looking at your face,’ the brunette to her right added and she batted her eyelashes at him innocently. Fabian gave them a mock wounded look before breaking into a grin and throwing his arm around his brother. ‘No worries, Gideon here will always be at my side. Right until the end, isn’t that right?’ His brother flung his arm off and rolled his eyes, everyone around them laughing. Everyone except Harry, because knew that was exactly how it would end. ‘Hi there, Marc was it?’ Lily said holding out a hand toward Marc once they had stopped laughing. ‘I’m Lily Evans.’ ‘Yeah,’ he said, taking her hand. Harry rolled his eyes when he saw the light-haired brunette next to his mother redden while looking at Marc. ‘And that would make you Harry then?’ she asked, shaking his hand as well. 'These two are my best friends, as well as another girl from Ravenclaw, but I’m sure you’ll meet her eventually. This is Sophie,’ she indicated to the brunette that was still ogling Marc, ‘and this is Gwendolyn.’ Harry looked more closely at the brunette and recognised her from the wedding. She had been one of the four bridesmaids, along with Sophie and presumably the Ravenclaw girl. She was also the woman who had almost caught him out but luckily mistook him for James. Harry smiled at Gwen warmly and noticed the brightness of her golden eyes as she smiled back. The small group chatted for a while longer about nothing in particular, Fabian trying at regular intervals to get one of the girls to go on a date with him, until finally the warning bell for next lesson sounded and the Hall filled with the bustle of students heading to their classes. ‘Are you in Transfiguration now?’ Lily asked above the din. ‘Er, yeah I am,’ he answered after briefly scanning his new timetable. ‘Good, you can walk with me. Gwendolyn and Sophie have double Divination,’ she said, and pulled a face. Harry smiled, instantly liking his mother even more. They continued to chat about what courses were actually worth taking and Harry learned that his mother already wished to be an Auror. As they entered the Transfiguration classroom, Harry was warned to pay attention in this class as Professor McGonagall was known to be quite strict. Harry tried to hide a smile at this and nodded his understanding before they took their seats, once again at the front of the room. ‘You don’t mind being my partner do you?’ she asked him. ‘Not at all,’ he said with a smile. ‘I’m sure you’re quite adept in the subject, and if not then I’m sure I could teach you a thing or two.’ He smiled knowingly, having learned from McGonagall that she was in fact brilliant in Transfiguration. Lily raised an eyebrow in his direction and smirked. ‘I’d hoped you would be my partner so that I might avoid working with one of those idiots,’ she pointed to four very familiar wizards on the other side of the room, ‘but now I’m not so sure who’s more conceited.’ Harry could not smother his laughter when he saw the glare Lily sent across the room to James and Sirius. ‘Nevermind, I’ll keep you,’ she said finally, as Professor McGonagall walked in briskly and stood at the front of the room. ‘Today, we will be working in pairs to transfigure slightly larger objects into animals and then back again. Last week we learned how to transfigure our desks, but not how to return them to their original state,’ she started her lesson, briefly eyeing the group of males at the back of the room suspiciously. She explained and demonstrated the wand movement needed for this particular bit of magic and then told everyone to pair off. Barely five minutes had gone by when McGonagall started her rounds, criticizing and complimenting the various degree of spell work. Harry and Lily were her third stop and Harry barely held in a snort of laughter when she made her comment. She had spent several seconds watching them cast their spells and then looked shocked when Lily laughed and pulled on Harry’s sleeve playfully before complementing him on his work. ‘Very good, the both of you!’ she said. ‘Five points to Gryffindor for each of you. Five for the spell work and five for working well together on your own,’ she added with a raised eyebrow. ‘If things continue this way, I may have to continue the Evans, Potter combination for the rest of term.’ ‘You bloody will not!’ an indignant shout came from the back of the room, followed closely by howls of laughter. McGonagall looked up to see who would be losing points and nearly fell over when she saw the highly affronted look on James Potter’s face, and the bent over form of Sirus Black shaking with laughter on the classroom floor. She quickly looked back to the boy standing next to Lily and her brows shpt upward, making Harry grin. ‘It’s uncanny, isn’t it?’ he suggested with a small laugh, getting a small chuckle from most of the room. ‘Although I must say that your reaction has been my favourite thus far, Professor,’ he added with a small smile at the old woman, who was still looking back and forth between the near identical youths. ‘Yes, well. It is quite intriguing, Mister Portus,’ she said in her regularly stern voice, but her eyes conveyed a certain gleam that Harry found was generally reserved for her more favoured Gryffindor’s. Just as quickly as she had looked shocked, the tight-lipped woman adopted an icy glare. ‘That will be ten points from Gryffindor for Mister Potter’s obscenities, and another five for Mister Black’s inappropriate disruptions. Now if you would all please return to your work.’ The room sobered up instantly and Harry caught his father and Godfather scowling at the professor from behind their desks. The rest of the class went well, and Harry soon found himself heading to his last class of the day, History of Magic. He groaned inwardly and outwardly at the thought of suffering another term of Binns’ droning simply because he had fiddled with time. He suspected it was Dumbledore’s twisted way of punishing him. He walked along the corridors with Lily until they were met by three other girls, one of them unfamiliar to him. He assumed that she was the Ravenclaw he had been told about. ‘Harry, this is our other good friend Helena Snarkett,’ Gwen offered as soon as they were all caught up. Harry smiled and shook her hand politely before they continued on their way, all of the girls gossiping as they did. ‘Sorry I’m late girls. I had to send an owl to Edgar so that he’ll get it on time,’ Helena was telling them. ‘So are you going to meet up with him on the Hogsmeade weekend then? He did ask you didn’t he?’ Sophie asked her friend eagerly, unable to hold back a giggle. ‘Of course he did,’ she answered with a swat at the taller girl’s arm. He said he would meet me in the three broomsticks at noon.’ ‘We’d better not hear of any students snogging in the three broomsticks,’ Gwendolyn teased and all of the girls turned toward Harry when he choked on what could only have been air. He went pink as they all looked up at him. ‘Sorry, Harry,’ Lily apologised from behind a half smirk. ‘Once the girls get talking, there’s really nothing that stops them. Especially Gwen!’ ‘That’s quite alright,’ Harry tried to say smoothly, but found himself squeaking instead, inviting another bout of laughter from the girls. ‘They’re just joking of course,’ Lily explained. ‘Edgar’s far too proper to even consider something as publicly scandalous as that.’ ‘He just graduated last year. He’s in Auror training now,’ Helena announced proudly. ‘I do hope to work with him shortly. Two more years and I could very well be in the law enforcement department, alongside his sister actually. Very nice woman. She just started there three years ago, and already she’s been moved up to a charge position. Edgar always says that she’ll run the department one day.’ ‘Amelia?’ Gwedolyn said with a snort. ‘It would be quite ironic if the girl who used to hold slumber parties for us ran the department of Magical law Enforcement.’ They all laughed. Harry’s eyes widened at hearing this. ‘Amelia Bones?’ he said before thinking, and then turned to the girls who had all stopped walking. ‘Yeah, that’s her,’ Helena said with interest. ‘How do you know her?’ Harry’s mind raced for something to cover his ridiculous blunder. ‘Oh, my mum mentioned her a few times. Said she was a delightful woman at the Ministry.’ The girls all seemed to accept this and they started walking to class again. Once they had all seated themselves in the classroom, Harry found himself staring at one of his mother’s best friends. He felt saddened and slightly sick to be looking at one of his schoolmate’s mothers, who he knew would die in the next three years with her husband and the rest of their family. Helena Snarkett would marry Edgar Bones, and would in fact join the department of Magical Law Enforcement to work under her sister-in-law Amelia Bones. Sadly, just after their daughter Susan is born, both Edgar and Helena would be murdered along with the rest of their family. As far as Harry knew, Amelia and Susan were the only remaining Bones in his time. Trying not to dwell on death and all the terrible things that would befall most of those in the room around him, Harry elected to stare at the blackboard at the front of the room, through which he knew Professor Binns always drifted. He had wafted through that same board every lesson precisely as the bell rang for the past five years, prompting Harry to nearly fall out of his seat when the classroom door was opened and Professor Binns walked into the room with a briefcase in his hands. Harry stared through saucer-sized eyes as the old man in front of him placed his briefcase on his desk and sat down in his seat, breathing heavily. Harry couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Professor Binns walking was one thing, but breathing was another altogether! The old man ran a hand through his wispy white hair then pulled out his wand and quickly scribbled some notes on the board. His cheeks were extremely pink and his eyes a startling blue as he stared out over his class. Just when Harry thought things might have been looking up, Professor Binns began his lecture in the exact same hollow voice that could have easily been bottled and sold as a sleep aid. He had always attributed this monotonous voice to the professor’s being a ghost, but now he had proof that the man was just as dreadfully boring when he had been alive. Previous Chapter Next Chapter Favorite |Reading List |Currently Reading << >> Review Write a Review Harry Potter and the Time of Second Chances: A Night to Forget (6000 characters max.) 6000 remaining Your Name: Prove you are Human: Submit this review and continue reading next chapter. Other Similar Stories Another Life by RandomWer... The Daughter... by CayCullen Hart's Desire by HogwartsH...

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MonadWriter instance for ListT Nicolas Frisby nicolas.frisby at Fri Mar 12 20:00:30 EST 2010 *> runWriter . runErrorT $ censor (filter (/=3)) $ tell [1,2,3] >> throwError "" (Left "",[1,2,3]) That's kind of weird, right? I understand why it is that way. I think this is reason enough to make censor part of the class, since it wouldn't have this short-coming if it weren't defined in terms of *> let censorErrorT f (ErrorT m) = ErrorT (censor f m) *> runWriter . runErrorT $ censorErrorT (filter (/=3)) $ tell [1,2,3] >> throwError "" (Left "",[1,2]) Or is it preferable for censor and pass to misbehave in the same way? More information about the Libraries mailing list

http://www.haskell.org/pipermail/libraries/2010-March/013154.html

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Email a friend Please complete this form to email a link to home 95099 to a friend. Friend's name: Friend's email: Write your message here: Your name: Your email: travel news and deals Please type the word shown above in the box below:

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A Byte of Python Modules are useful because they provide services and functionality that you can reuse in other programs. The standard library that comes with Python is an example of such a set of modules. We have seen how to use these modules and create our own modules as well.

http://www.ibiblio.org/g2swap/byteofpython/read/modules-summary.html

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The Lexington Collection Pretty Polly   Backyard Barbecue Machines Lanny Henson's fuel-efficient cooker. "My design is independent of electricity and gas. It cooks real BBQ with charcoal and/or wood, and is very fuel-efficient. It uses less than 1 pound of lump charcoal per hour for a small load. This design features a self-feeding firebox that will burn for over a week on a single load of charcoal. It holds steady temperatures for hours, and is insulated and sealed. It burns clean with little visible smoke and has low airflow, which does not dry out the meat. It will cook moist and tender brisket without foil, mopping, or basting. It is self-cleaning and the ash is very easy to remove even while cooking. It has a small footprint -- 82" X 34" (19.5 sq. ft) -- yet has 45 sq. ft of cooking surface. The 52 cubic foot cooking chamber has eight 28.5" square removable racks in four levels. There is 9" of room between racks, and each rack has a 26" lazy Susan in the center. It is all stainless steel, portable and stands alone. Weather has little affect on it (even freezing rain) and it cooks while traveling. I spent at least half of my design efforts making it is easy to build, well for me anyway." "This (new) smoker is better than the other one. It will burn briquettes or lump. It is more compact, has half the cooking surface as the large smoker. Burns larger wood. It will do smoke roast like an offset smoker or char flavor like an open pit, or both at the same time." The Wide World of Pits Collection

http://www.ibiblio.org/lineback/bbq/lanny.htm

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The Top Ten Drinking Songs 25-Aug-2010 by The Top Ten Drinking Songs 1. Closing Time - Semisonic There is nothing better than the combination of alcohol and music. Lyricists always enjoy drinking, and writing lyrics and this is proved from my collection of the top ten drinking songs.  The collection has various songs out of which some are new and some of them are old numbers. However, all of the top ten drinking songs are worth to enjoy with a drink. The Top Ten Drinking Songs  1. Closing Time - Semisonic What are the Lyric: "Closing time / One last call for alcohol, so finish your whiskey or beer /Closing time / You don't have to go home but you can't stay here"  This very popular drinking song is from the Semisonic's album 'Feeling Strangely Fine. Nominated for Grammy award of best rock song in the year 1999, ‘closing time’ is a song about the drinking reference of a pregnant woman’s life, as she is not allowed to drink during pregnancy.   2. One bourbon, One Scotch, One beer - George Thorogood What are the Lyric: "Need me a triple shot of that juice / Gonna get drunk don't you have no fear / I want one bourbon, one scotch and one beer" This ‘One bourbon, One Scotch, One beer’ became very popular in 1978. The vocalist 'George Thorogood was not the first person to sing this song. It was John Lee Hooker who performed the song for the first time ever. Then it was also seen in the thorogood album and the destroyers.    3. Why Don't We Get Drunk' - Jimmy Buffett What are the Lyric: "So bar maid bring a pitcher, another round o brew / Honey, why don't we get drunk and screw" The song Why Don't We Get Drunk' by Jimmy Buffet is basically a parody of various typical country’s love songs. Jimmy Buffett said after the release, "I was hearing a lot of very suggestive country songs -- in particular, Conway Twitty's 'Let's Go All the Way.' 4. 'Bartender Song (Sittin' at a Bar) [Country Mix]' – Rehab What are the Lyric: "And in my drunken stupor / I did what I should have never done / And now I'm sittin' here, talking to you / Drunk and on the run" The Bartender Song is the third song from the list of songs in Rehab's album, 'Graffiti the World.' Released in the year 2008, bartender was one of the biggest hits of that time. The second verse of country mix version was sung by Hank Williams Jr. singing the second verse. Piano Man' - Billy Joel - drinking song5. 'Piano Man' - Billy Joel What are the Lyric: "And the waitress is practicing politics / As the businessmen slowly get stoned / Yes they're sharing a drink they call loneliness / But it's better than drinking alone" One of the first hits of Billy Joel, Piano Man is the signature song of Billy. The song was written keeping in mind the piano player’s perspective in a bar. The writer recollects all the customer’s reactions and demands in the bar.   6. 'Tequila' - The Champs What are the Lyric: "Tequila!" This song is popularly known for the saxophone melody and guitar tunes. The other most interesting thing of this song is the lyric 'Tequila!' The champs band never got a chance to enjoy another hit after 'Tequila.’ 7. 'Family Tradition' - Hank Williams Jr. Lyric: "Lordy, I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam / And they both tried to kill me in 1973" Family Traditions is the classic drinking songs that was sung by Hank Williams Jr. in the year 1978. The song basically depicts the logic behind Hanks drinking and smoking habits. It states that drinking and smoking is a family tradition.   8. 'Have a Drink on Me' - AC/DC What are the Lyric: "I'm trying to walk a straight line / On sour mash and cheap wine / So join me for a drink boys / We're gonna make a big noise" After “Thriller” of Michael Jackson, “Have a drink on me” was the second biggest selling album of all time. Introduced in the sixth internationally released studio album, the song is basically about drinking with friends.   9. 'Friends In Low Places' - Garth Brooks What are the Lyric: “Cause I've got friends in low places / Where the whiskey drowns / And the beer chases my blues away" This song by Garth Brooks depicts the idea of drinking and draping your arms around the shoulders of the best friend. Featured in 'No Fences,' the song 'Friends In Low Places' was written by DeWayne Blackwell and Earl Bud Lee. 10. 'Margaritaville' - Jimmy Buffett What are the Lyric: "But there's booze in the blender, and soon it will render / That frozen concoction that helps me hang on" Well, I have saved the best for the last. 'Margaritaville' by Jimmy Buffett is probably the best drinking song ever. Featured in the album 'Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,' the song was written in Fort Myers, Florida. The song depicts singer‘s state of mind named as "Margaritaville" with too many margaritas. These top ten drinking songs are totally as per my personal preferences, and I am sure that there are many more drinking songs left for us to explore. Do comment in to remind me about any of your personal favorites, whether it is on this list or not. Image Courtesy:

http://www.ifood.tv/blog/the-top-ten-drinking-songs

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Quick Pancake Recipes Quick Pancake is a savory food item often served to welcome unexpected guests. Due to the simple cooking procedure, Quick Pancake recipes are commonly savored food item in most of the countries. The Pancake has ... More » CC: 75 Korean Potato Pancake How about a Korean appetizer for your next party? In this video, chef is showing a traditional Korean Potato Pancake recipe. These deep fried pancakes are made with few simple ingredients but they look awesome. The pear sauce served with this dish is not to... - 119.806 Healthy Low Carb Pancakes Carb-laden pancakes do more good than harm to your body. In that case, knowing how to make your pancakes nutritious and all the more low in carb should help. This video guides you on how to make low-carb pancakes sans much pain. - 109.972 Blueberry And Oatmeal Pancakes Wondering what to make for breakfast, then do try out these pancakes. The Chef makes Blueberry and Oatmeal Pancakes in the video. They are healthy and really quick to make. Enjoy your breakfast! - 109.613 Bacon, Egg And Cheese Pancake Are you in a mood to enjoy a special breakfast on the coming weekend - this recipe is going to serve the purpose. The pancake with bacon, egg and cheese filling is really sumptuous and mouth watering. Preparation is also so easy. So why don't you give it a... - 108.523 Flour Free Pancakes Pancakes made out of eggs are not only delicious but also healthy way to start the day and here is a flour free recipe to make one. Check out Bethanny making healthy and golden pancakes using eggs and fruits. Sweet to taste and sweet to health as well! - 107.165 Basic French Crepes Making crepes is a mystery to most people. Why? Because they are afraid that they just wont come out perfect. But the most imperfectly shaped crepe, once rolled up with jam or filling, fried in butter, and eaten with ice cream, is always perfect. Chef John... - 100.712 Pancake Shooter Cocktail Crispy Instant Mashed Potato Pancakes Who doesn’t love seeing mashed potatoes at the dinner table? And fried mashed potato pancakes are sure to bring a smile on everyone’s face. These pancakes are the end of a box of instant potato buds, shaped into patties, and browned in butter. It sure is... - 97.0641 Low Fat Rolled Oats Pancake Love pancakes but scared of the fat and calorie contents? Then watch this video by OmGal and learn to make pancakes the healthy way. These have more protein than classic pancakes and much less fat. Enjoy! - 96.4322 Seasoned Easy Omelet Omelets are easy to make breakfast preparations for good cooks as well as bachelors. Check out Chef Hank Da Tank showing how to make seasoned Omelets in a simple way with few common ingredients. Good to have with sauce or otherwise. - 89.7991 Healthy Protein Pancakes Love pancakes but following a diet? This video is just perfect for you. Watch chef Amy churn out these almost carb less pancakes that are a great way to kick start your day. The recipe is really simple and you can easily replicate it in your own kitchen.... - 83.134 Egg White Scramble Egg whites are great protein supplements and here is a recipe to make a quick dish out of them. Check out how to make scrambled egg whites in the video and top them with cheese and vegetables to serve. Great for breakfast or as a snack. - 82.5093 Korean Style Vegetable And Seafood Pancake Pancakes make easy and filling breakfast. So, here there is another convenient pancake recipe by Maangchi using vegetables and seafood. She makes it with great simplicity for everyone to follow. Whether you want a quick breakfast for elders or for the kids,... - 77.2761 Breakfast Pancakes Thinking what to make for breakfast? Watch this video now and prepare the perfect Breakfast Pancakes for your family. This is one dish which never fails. Learn how to prepare them now. - 63.965 Rava Dosa And Peanut Chutney Banana Cinnamon Pancakes Apricot Pancakes GETTING READY 1) Preheat oven to 200°F before warming. MAKING 2) In a small bowl, whisk eggs lightly with the milk. 3) Take a large mixing bowl and mix this beaten egg mixture with the club soda in it. 4) Mix in flour and sugar using a wooden spoon and... - 47.6855 Mushroom Filled Oven Pancake Preheat oven to 425°. Insert shredding disc. Shred cheese; set aside. Change to slicing disc. Slice green onions; transfer to a small serving bowl and set aside. Slice mushrooms; set aside. Change to metal blade and chop onion. In a 10-inch frying pan with... - 47.5824 Gingerbread Pancakes Banana Dosa (pancake) Dosa is a typical South Indian food, taken as breakfast or dinner. The following is a dosa made with banana which will be loved by all ages. - 45.9994 Spinach Cheese Pancakes Prepare cooked finely chopped green leaves. Chop bacon and onion and place in a saucepan and stir fry until bacon is crisp. Remove bacon and onion, and toss with leaves. Prepare sauce by melting butter and stirring flour, salt, pepper, and dry mustard. Slowly... - 45.6578 Potato Pancakes With Cheese Sauce GETTING READY 1) In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients (except sauce and batter). 2) Beat well to mix thoroughly. MAKING 3) On a hot griddle, make all the pancakes. 4) On each pancake, spread the mixture and roll up. 5) On a fireproof dish, place the... - 45.558 Spinach Pancakes With Canned Salmon Florentine Pancakes GETTING READY 1) Wash the spinach. 2) In a saucepan, cook the spinach until wilted. 3) Drain the spinach and finely chop. MAKING 4) Add salt, pepper, butter and nutmeg in spinach. 5) On hot griddle, make pancakes. 6) In a hot dish, place a pancake with a... - 44.8408 Garlic Pancakes With Ham Sauce MAKING 1) In a bowl, combine 12 tablespoons of butter and rubbed sage. Keep aside. 2) Separate the garlic cloves from the head. Without scraping the cloves hard, try removing as much of the skin off it as possible. Drop the cloves into boiling water for about... - 44.3316 Liver On Crisp Potato Pancake In a wide frying pan with a nonstick finish, cook bacon over medium-low heat until crisp; remove from pan, drain, crumble, and set aside. Pour off and reserve drippings. Peel potatoes and coarsely shred into a bowl of cold water; stir gently, then drain... - 43.5418 Soy Pancakes MAKING 1) Beat together milk, oil, eggs and vanilla just until well mixed. 2) In a bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. 3) Beat in liquids just until smooth. 4) Onto a moderately hot grill (375°F.), pour a scant 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. 5) Cook... - 43.0206 Maypo Pancakes MAKING 1) Sift together the dry ingredients. 2) Mix in MAYPO®. 3) Beat together milk and eggs. 4) Fold this to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. 5) Add in melted shortening, stirring well. 6) Onto a hot greased griddle, drop by spoonsful of batter. 7)... - 42.7849 Old Time Buckwheat Cakes MAKING 1) Take a bowl and mix together flour, baking powder and salt in it and then keep aside. 2) In another bowl, combine rest of the ingredients in order listed. 3) Beat in the flour mixture just until batter is smooth. 4) Onto a hot lightly greased... - 42.6029 Potato Pancakes With Sour Cream And Chives Place the potatoes and onion in blender or food processor, and process until potatoes are finely chopped. Place in a bowl and spoon off any liquid. Add the egg, flour, salt, and pepper and mix well. In an 8-inch frying pan or skillet, place oil to come 1/4... - 42.5582 Compote Crepes Crepes are thin pancakes, usually made using wheat flour. I have used all purpose flour in the recipe but you may use a combination of both in equal ratios. Very filling and healthy meal to start your day with, these crepes are stuffed with fruit... - 42.2381 Heartland Pancakes MAKING 1) Mix milk with cereal and keep aside for 5 minutes. 2) In the meantime, mix together flour, baking powder and salt. 3) Whisk egg and melted butter into cereal mixture. 4) Mix in flour mixture, stirring until smooth. 5) Onto an oiled griddle, pour the... - 41.9114 Val's Potatoes With Garlic And Parsley GETTING READY 1. Wash, peel and cut the potatoes into 1-inch dices. 2. In a saucepan, cover the potatoes with cold water and salt. 3. Plan the pan over a medium flame and boil for 12 to 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender. 4. Drain the potatoes in a... - 40.7839 GETTING READY 1.Combine eggs, salt and milk and whisk them. 2.Add flour and stir until smooth. 3.Refrigerate for 30 minutes. MAKING 4.Take a 6- 7 inch skillet, heat little margarine in it until melted. 5.Put a little amount of batter sufficient to cover the... - 40.5077 Featherught Yogurt Pancakes MAKING 1) Sift together the dry ingredients. 2) Mix together yogurt, milk, and eggs and then blend in butter. 3) Into the dry ingredient mixture, pour liquids, mixing just until dampened. 4) On hot greased griddle, pour 1/4 cup batter for each pancake and... - 40.2274 Basic Pancake Batter MAKING 1) Into a large bowl, sieve together the flour and salt. 2) Add in 1 egg. Slowly pour in 1/4 pint of milk. Mix well, dislodging the flour on the sides of the bowl, using a wooden spoon. 3) Beat to get a smooth batter. 4) Slowly, pour in the remaining... - 40.1908 Quick Blini Sift first 4 ingredients 3 times. Mix egg, 2 tablespoons sour cream, butter, and milk. Add to first mixture and beat well. Drop by tablespoon onto hot greased griddle, making each cake no larger than 2 inches in diameter, and brown on both sides. Put on hot... - 39.7754 Brown Rice Pancakes MAKING 1) In a saucepan, stir in milk, molasses, rice. Cooking over medium flame, bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the flame and continue cookign for 5 more minutes. 2) Allow the mixture to cool down to room temperature. 3) In a large bowl, mix flour and... - 38.4407 Make four thin and large pancakes with the pancake batter. Grease a cake tin with ghee and place a pancake in it. Pour 50 ml of the egg mixture over the pancake, along with a small sprinkling of fried cashewnuts, sultanas, roasted poppy seeds and sugar... - 37.6573 Pancakes For Peking Duck Place the flour in a bowl and pour the water into a well in the centre. Mix to a dough. Knead the dough on a floured board until it is smooth and elastic. Divide into 14 portions. Roll out one portion into a 10-cm (4-in) circle. Spread thinly with sesame... - 37.5506 Butterscotch Dessert Pancakes In bowl combine first 5 ingredients; beat with rotary beater just till combined. Drop 1 tablespoon of batter for each pancake into hot, lightly greased skillet, making 30 pancakes. Bake till golden, turning once. (Electric skillet 350°.) Keep warm. For each... - 37.3947 Egg And Cheese Pancakes GETTING READY 1) In a mixing bowl, combine eggs and vegetables. 2) Mix them well and season carefully according to taste. MAKING 3) On a hot griddle, pour 1-2 tablespoons pancake batter and make the pancakes. 4) Put little filling on each pancake and roll... - 37.1315 Potato Pancakes Combine potato and onion. Add milk, salt, egg, and flour; mix well. Heat 1/4 inch oil in a heavy skillet. Spoon 1/4 cup batter into oil to form a medium-size pancake. Brown pancakes on both sides. Repeat until all batter is used. Serve hot with sour cream,... - 37.1171 Quick Buckwheat Cakes MAKING 1. In a mixing bowl, sift together buckwheat flour, baking powder and salt 2. Stir in milk and whisk lightly to form a smooth batter . 3. Heat, a well greased griddle 4. When the griddle is hot, drop batter using a serving spoon, 2-3 inches apart to... - 36.9901 Quick Hawaiian Pancakes GETTING READY 1) Drain juice from pineapple reserving for later use. MAKING 2) In a heavy saucepan, heat a mixture of juice and maple syrup. 3) Cook the pancakes according to package directions. 4) Cover the top of each pancake with pineapple... - 36.8449 Yogurt Pancakes MAKING 1. Into a bowl break the eggs beating until frothy. 2. Whisk in the flour, then the sugar, yoghurt, salt, oil and baking powder. 3. Raise up a frypan to heat and ladle in enough batter to almost cover the bottom of the pan. 4. Let it brown on both... - 36.7381 Broiled Cinnamon Pancake MAKING 1) In a blender on medium speed, add in bread, cheese, apple, cinnamon and yogurt to form a smooth batter. 2) On a hot, lightly greased skillet, pour all of the batter. Let the pancake cook till the bottom starts to brown. 3) Instead of flipping the... - 36.7381 Camp Out Chili With Corn Pancakes MAKING 1. In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan, mix chili con carne with 1/2 cup beer. 2. Simmer on a medium flame until thick, adding more beer if required. 3. In the meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, whisk remaining beer and egg. 4. Add muffin mix to the egg... - 36.6669 Spinach Sour Cream Pancakes Prepare cooked and chopped leaves. Finely chop bacon and onion. Melt butter in a saucepan, add onion and bacon and stir fry until bacon is crisp. Stir in sour cream and leaves and add seasoning. Place about 1 1/2 tablespoons of mixture on each pancake, roll... - 34.9142 Tiny Rice Flour Pancakes MAKING 1) In a bowl, mix together ELAM'S® Stone Ground Brown Rice Flour and baking powder. 2) Stir in milk, eggs, oil and honey, just until smooth. 3) Onto a hot lightly greased griddle, pour 1 tablespoon of batter for each pancake. 4) Bake the pancake... - 34.5009 Quick Cheese Pancakes Place milk, egg, and cottage cheese in blender container; cover container and switch blender on and off 3 or 4 times, till cottage cheese is in small pieces. (Or beat with mixer.) Pour into a bowl. Add pancake mix; stir just till moistened. Stir in butter or... - 33.9134 Corn Cake Chili Dinner Combine corn muffin mix, egg, milk, and corn. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Divide into 12 pancakes and fry on a hot griddle. Heat chili. Spoon 1/4 C chili on each pancake and fold pancake in half. Place folded, filled pancakes on heated... - 33.2071 Apple Raisin Pancakes In bowl combine the apple-cinnamon muffin mix, eggs, and water. Beat till mixture is smooth. Stir in the cooking oil and raisins. Using 2 tablespoons of the batter for each, cook pancakes over high heat in a lightly oiled skillet. (Electric skillet 350°.)... - 32.874 Banana Bran Pancakes In mixing bowl combine Biscuit Mix and cereal. Beat together egg, milk, and banana. Stir into dry ingredients till moistened. Bake on hot lightly greased griddle. Top with sliced berries and sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired. - 32.3814 Cucumber Roti One of the tasty, healthy and easy to make Indian pancakes. - 32.0049 Buckwheat Pancakes Or Waffles mix dry ingredients together thoroughly. Stir in rest of ingredients in order, mixing well after each addition. Pour by ladlefuls onto greased, hot griddle or, following manufacturer's specifiations, into waffle iron. - 31.4802 German Thin Pancake Part 1 - Making Batter 1. beated egg-yolk add sugar (divide 3 times to put in ) beated untill flufty, and pour in milk and flour stir well, then sieve batter. 2. add Rum and stiffed egg-white stir well. more than middle heat pan to put a little melted butter or salad oil in (use... - 31.3328 Cottage Cheese Pancakes In bowl, combine cottage cheese, sour cream, and eggs; beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients; mix until well blended. Heat griddle according to manufacturer's directions. Drop batter onto hot griddle (1/4 cup batter per pancake makes 14 four-inch pancakes; 2... - 31.3089 German Thin Pancake Part 2 - Frying My suggestion : you can use ice cream,marmalade, sugar powder, syrup, peanut butter or anything you like - 31.0171 In-a-hurry Pancakes This In-A-Hurry Pancakes recipe is the best for a busy mom, simply coz it takes literally no time to whip it up in the morning. A dash of vanilla essence in the pancake mix can create wonders; just give it a try! - 30.1985 Blueberry Pancakes Rinse blueberries and drain. Combine muffin mix, egg, milk and orange rind. Beat until well blended. Fold in blueberries. Fry on a greased griddle until the tops bubble. Turn and brown the other side. Makes 20 fine-textured 4-inch pancakes. Serve with orange... - 30.1782 Pancakes On The Double 1. Combine milk, 3/4 cup milk, egg, and butter; beat, with rotary beater, just until combined. 2. Pour into biscuit mix in medium bowl; beat until smooth. 3. Meanwhile, slowly heat griddle or heavy skillet. To test temperature, drop a little cold water onto... - 30.046 Easy Wheat Pancakes 1. In bowl, mix the milk, egg, sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and oil together. Bake by ladlesful on a hot, oiled griddle. Turn when bubbles form on top of the pancakes. Brown the second side. - 29.2716 Pancakes And Waffles In bowl, combine dry ingredients; add remaining ingredients, beating just until smooth. Preheat griddle according to manufacturer's directions; grease lightly. Spoon about 1/4 cup batter on griddle for each pancake. Cook until top is bubbly and dry; turn and... - 29.1333 Pancakes have a Matchless taste. The flour and eggs gives the Pancakes Luxurious taste. - 28.134 Quick Chinese Pancakes 1. Place flour in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over flour and stir with a wooden spoon until it clumps together. 2. Knead on a floured work surface until dough is soft and smooth, about 5 minutes. Form dough into ball, cover with an inverted bowl, and let... - 27.8435 Jiffy Orange Pancakes Honey Pancakes Place mix into a bowl and stir in rest of the ingredients until well blended. Drop batter from a large spoon onto lightly greased, hot griddle. Turn once and serve. - 26.2795 Oven-baked Sausage Pancakes Pour prepared pancake batter into well greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Arrange sausages in batter. Bake at 450° F for 12 to 15 minutes. Cut in squares to serve. (For larger amounts, double the pancake batter, use a 12 x 17-inch pan; bake at the same... - 25.4326 Easy Pancakes 1. Blend Baking Mix, water, and egg. 2. Drop from tablespoon onto hot lightly greased griddle. Cook until bubbles appear; turn and cook other side. - 18.9206 Korean Style Vegetable Pancake A simple to make vegetable pancake recipe. - 13.6189 Healthy Quick Breakfast Pancakes Pancakes are easy to make and delicious to eat. They make for a filling and complete breakfast dish. The best part about a pancake is how you serve it. It can be served with maple syrup, chocolate sauce or a variety of seasonal fruits, scrambled eggs, bacon... - 0 Quick Hash Brown - Savory Potato Cake MAKING 1. In a mixing bowl, add and combine together the potatoes, onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, black pepper, salt, vinegar, olive oil and bread crumbs. Mix until well incorporated. 2. In a large sauce pan on medium low, heat oil and place the... - 0 Orange Pancake - Quick And Easy MAKING 1. In a bowl, add flour and sugar. Whisk well till mixed. 2. Pour the orange juice and stir to mix till combined. Add the melted butter and baking soda. Mix well after each addition. 3. Grease a non-stick frying pan with butter and place it on medium... - 0 Eggless Pancake - Quick And Easy These eggless pancakes are probably the easiest things to do in a jiffy. It has fluffy and lighter texture and can be served with various toppings. - 0 Quick Pancake Recipes By Category

http://www.ifood.tv/network/quick_pancake/recipes

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Down 1,102 this week Cleopatra's Second Husband (1998)  -  Drama  -  13 October 2000 (USA) Your rating: Ratings: 4.6/10 from 190 users   Metascore: 43/100 Reviews: 8 user | 18 critic | 12 from Robert is an art photographer who is totally controlled by his wife Hallie. When they go on vacation in New York, they leave their house to their friends, Zack and Sophie. When they return,... See full summary » Watch Trailer 0Check in User Lists Related lists from IMDb users a list of 373 titles created 25 Oct 2011 a list of 682 titles created 08 Dec 2011 a list of 10000 titles created 26 Jun 2012 a list of 874 titles created 11 months ago a list of 8329 titles created 6 months ago Connect with IMDb Share this Rating Title: Cleopatra's Second Husband (1998) Cleopatra's Second Husband (1998) on IMDb 4.6/10 Take The Quiz! Test your knowledge of Cleopatra's Second Husband. 2 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards » Credited cast: Paul Hipp ... Robert Marrs Hallie Marrs Nancye Ferguson ... Maud Winchester ... Cathryn (as Maude Winchester) Zack Tyler Rest of cast listed alphabetically: Groover #2 (as Andrew J. Jones) Mookie Rubin ... Delivery Boy Plot Summary | Add Synopsis Release Date: 13 October 2000 (USA)  » Box Office Opening Weekend: $14,316 (USA) (29 September 2000) $205,547 (USA) (29 March 2002) Company Credits Show detailed on  » Technical Specs Sound Mix: See  » Frequently Asked Questions This FAQ is empty. Add the first question. User Reviews Creepiness at its best Meet Robert. An amazingly complex and lonely man, he's married to Hallie who, really, he can't stand. She controls him, and if he doesn't like it, she does it anyway. Meet Zack. He's friend of a friend, who, along with his girlfriend Sophie, come over to Robert's to house-sit while Robert and Hallie go on vacation. Here's the setup, and the payoff is one of the creepiest, darkest movies I've ever seen. As far as disturbing, Dancer in the Dark is nothing compared to this. As far as creepiness, Misery's got nothing on this one. Benjamin Franklin once said, `House guests are like fish. After three days, they begin to spoil.' You'll see why in this plunge into darkness. Something's just not right the entire 92 minutes, and there's nothing you can do to change it. You can only watch as someone gets run over time and again, and the revenge is so raw, so amazing, you wonder exactly what can stop it. You wonder, can it be stopped? Some things are like runaway locomotives: you only hope you can lay enough track down in time for it not to derail. Some reviews of this strange movie think of it as without payoff. And I for one think the payoff is in the effect it leaves with you. The stark sadness to the utter creepiness of the ending, it's not a surprise that this movie is like cancer: it eats away at you, and when you least expect it, you look around and see that everything's changed. You can't look at anything the same anymore. Who switched everything around? It's like those situations you find yourself in where you go, `How did this all get started?' and you find yourself without an answer. To recommend this film I think would take an act of real nerve. It's not something you can tell your best friends who thought Mission: Impossible 2 was great about. It's not something you can even tell the friends who like off-the-wall or foreign films. You just have to experience the slow build-up of this intricate (and edge-of-your-seat) plot that makes you wonder, `Is it over? Isn't this enough? Can't you just lay off?' but when it doesn't, when it keeps barreling ahead, towards the end of the track that leads to the bottomless canyon, the train is movie, you are a reluctant passenger on it, and before you know it, the movie has brought you over the edge. Message Boards Recent Posts Song? Sprout-8 So why do I feel like I've been had? alarmanwp Why is it called Cleopatra's Second Husband? meccamar Discuss Cleopatra's Second Husband (1998) on the IMDb message boards » Contribute to This Page Create a character page for:

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What’s That Noise? Tue, 10/02/2012 - 8:50am Patrick Rhodes, Applications Engineer, Garlock Users no longer have to settle for one-size-fits-all solutions to protect the bearings in valuable equipment. Have you ever heard a high-pitched whine from an electric motor? Have you seen a bearing fail due to inadequate lubrication or contamination? How about a contact oil seal that has damaged your equipment? If so, chances are that a non-contact bearing isolator is available for your situation. Figure 1Bearing isolators are used to retain lubrication, exclude contamination, and extend the service life of the equipment in which they are installed. Multiple oil seals have long been used to protect bearings. Figure 1 depicts a typical configuration used to prevent lubrication egress and contamination ingress. Both functions, which require at least two, and in some cases three oil seals, can be performed by a single bearing isolator. Early bearing isolators consisted of metallic components with simple pathways to act as dynamic sealing elements with O-rings to provide a static seal on the shaft and bore housing. Today’s bearing isolators are highly engineered seals with tight tolerances, intricate labyrinth pathways with abrupt directional changes, and Figure 2special features for improved sealing (Figure 2). Standard bearing isolators are used to prevent premature bearing failure due to condensation from daily wash downs, inadequate labyrinth excluder ring (LER) seals, and aggressive chemical attack. They are manufactured from a variety of materials depending upon the application requirements, including: size, temperature, the application itself, media, pressure, and speed (STAMPS). This information is required to determine the type of material that will be used, and any special features that are needed to adequately seal the application. If the sealing solution is based on inaccurate or incomplete information, there is a good chance it will fail. Industry Standards Industry standards are among the most limiting factors with regard to material requirements. For example, the American Petroleum Institute’s API 610 standard requires that all bearing isolators for the petroleum, heavy-duty chemical, and gas industries be made of non-sparking material. Although this standard applies strictly to these industries, it has been adopted by others as well. As a result, bronze is the most common material used in the manufacture of metallic bearing isolators. Even though it does not comply with the API 610 standard, the second most common material is stainless steel, used primarily in applications subject to FDA approval. If a metallic bearing isolator is not mandatory, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) mixtures can provide similar characteristics. PTFE can be used to make FDA-compliant and chemical-resistant bearing isolators. Although PTFE isolators are not as common as metallic ones, they are often a better solution depending on the application and equipment. O-rings should also be considered in reviewing the application. Most manufacturers equip their standard bearing isolators with brown FKM O-rings. Depending on the application, O-rings made of PTFE-encapsulated FKM, AFLAS, or silicone can be specified instead. Improper material selection causes O-rings to be the first component to fail in the event of chemical attacks or extreme temperatures. Size and temperature are often assumed to be enough information for a manufacturer to provide an effective sealing solution. Although both are important, the STAMPS data is needed to provide a viable bearing isolator for a particular application. Application data sheets help ensure all relevant data is collected, and should be completed for review by application and product design engineers. Special Features For more information visit www.garlock.com. Share this Story The password field is case sensitive.

http://www.impomag.com/articles/2012/10/what%E2%80%99s-noise?cmpid=related_content

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Making Potato Chips &mdash; A Numbers Game Wed, 05/11/2011 - 7:13am CNN Money recently took a tour through an environmentally-friendly potato chip plant run by PepsiCo., where they make a wide variety of chips, including Lay's, Ruffles, Doritos, and more. Despite processing 21,500 pounds of potatoes per hour, the plant is still striving to become more sustainable. Using new technology, the company is able to save 14 million gallons of water a year on its potato-washing process alone. And next time you sit down on the couch and just happen to eat a whole bag of potato chips, just remember that you just crunched down on four whole pounds of spuds. Share this Story The password field is case sensitive.

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Half-time: Tottenham 0 - 0 Swansea It's goalless between Swansea City and Tottenham at the end of the first half. Swansea City lose to Spurs Swansea City failed to make an impact as they took on Spurs at White Hart Lane, losing 1 - 0. It's a result that leaves them at the bottom of the table.

http://www.itv.com/news/wales/update/2013-08-25/half-time-tottenham-0-0-swansea/

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Jewish Journal Search our Archives! Email to a Friend See Change URL: http://www.jewishjournal.com/rob_eshman/article/see_change_20041224 The UJ has been around since 1947. My office window in Koreatown overlooks the block of Ardmore Avenue where it was originally housed. The university followed the Jewish community west in 1979, settling in to the expansive Familian campus, where it fulfills a unique but hardly problem-free niche in a unique Jewish community. Recipient email: Your email: What's this word?

http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/email/see_change_20041224

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Breastfeeding foods 10 fab foods for new mothers When you arrive home with your newborn baby, most of us are more concerned with the feeding and sleeping of the baby rather than our own food requirements. Yet eating nutrient rich foods at regular intervals throughout the day can maximise the little energy new mothers may have. What's more, nutrition is especially important for breastfeeding mothers, whose body will deplete their own stores of nutrients if you aren't taking them in through your diet. Here are 10 healthy food ideas for new mothers to devour. Salmon is a nutritional powerhouse and one of the best breastfeeding foods out there. Salmon, like other fatty fish, is loaded with a type of fat called DHA. DHA is crucial to the development of your baby's nervous system. All breast milk contains DHA, but levels of this essential nutrient are higher in the milk of women who get more DHA from their diets. The DHA in salmon may also help your mood and lower your risk of depression. Australian dietary guidelines recommend women aged bewteen 19 and 60 eat at least one serve of 80-120g cooked fish fillet but nutrition guidelines say breastfeeding women should definitely eat 2-3 serves per week of fish as part of a healthy diet. Salmon is a fish low in mercury content compared to other fish, but it pays to reduce consumption of shark, swordfish, marlin, deep sea perch and catfish. Why not try: Low-Fat dairy products Whether you prefer yoghurt, milk, or cheese, dairy products are an important part of healthy breastfeeding. In addition to providing protein, B vitamins, and vitamin D, dairy products are one of the best sources of calcium. If you're breastfeeding, your milk is loaded with calcium to help your baby's bones develop, so it's important for you to eat enough calcium to meet your own needs. One way to do that is to include at least two serves of dairy each day as part of your diet. Why not try: Lean beef When you're looking for foods to boost your energy, seek out iron-rich foods like lean beef. A deficiency of iron can drain your energy levels, making it hard for you to keep up with the demands of a newborn baby. While breastfeeding, you need to eat extra protein and vitamin B-12. Lean beef is an excellent source for both of these nutrients. Why not try: Legumes, also known as pulses, are important non-meat sources of protein. Legumes include things like beans, lentils, alfalfa, peas and even peanuts. Beans, especially dark-coloured ones like black beans and kidney beans, are a great breastfeeding food, especially for vegetarians. Not only are they rich in iron, they're a budget-friendly source of high quality, non-animal protein. Legumes are an important source of nutrition, with Australian guidelines suggesting breastfeeding women eat up to 7 serves a day of vegetables or legumes. Why not try: Brown rice If you're attempting to lose any baby weight, it's not worth cutting back on your carbohydrate consumption. It's better to incorporate healthy, low-GI whole-grain carbs like brown rice in your diet to keep your energy levels up. Foods like brown rice provide your body with the calories it needs to produce the best quality milk for your baby and rate well on the glycaemic index . Why not try:

http://www.kidspot.com.au/www.kidspot.com.au/familyhealth/Nutrition-Healthy-eating-10-fab-foods-for-new-mothers+4285+220+article.htm

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Comments by youreapwhatyousow • Older Comments • Page 1 of 1 • Newer Comments Written on Belfair Water District manager fired; court to determine severance : I would like to know more about the initial exchange between then homeowner with a citizen complaint Pope and Dave "shramie" Tipton. I agree with Ken, it is a good lesson on customer service and human nature for all (not just elected and staff) to remember! Written on Hit-and-run suspect bites trooper after claiming he has AIDS : in response to technogeek: Since someone has actually contracted HIV from a bite I think the odds don't matter to anyone who got infected. To that person it was 100%. I don't care if the odds are low, it's possible, and the guy should be prosecuted for more than just simple assault! I think you missed the point. Let's recap: hughareu cited some CDC data and concluded that HIV transmission by human bite was a remote risk when blood was present. I posted an example that would illustrate Mark Twain's saying: There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. Now from that you may wrongly conclude that I somehow think this biter should get off easy, wrong again. There are many other concerns besides HIV when a bite occurs; Hep-B,Hep-C, herpes simplex virus, syphilis, TB and tetanus to name a few. I think he made a deadly threat and then delivered what a reasonable witness would believe to be a very serious if not fatal disease, the biter is fortunate to be alive. Good on the WSP for not being trigger/punch happy after all of the mayhem here locally. in response to hughareu: Okay all you keyboard counselors, here are the facts. Since this story is weak on describing the actual events, injuries and actual diagnosis of the assailant, please read this and get back on your daily regimen of anti-psychotics. Can (a person) become infected with HIV through biting? Infection with HIV in this way is unusual. There have only been a couple of documented cases of HIV transmission resulting from biting. In these particular cases, severe tissue tearing and damage were reported in addition to the presence of blood. Can HIV be transmitted through a human bite? It is very rare, but in specific circumstances HIV can be transmitted by a human bite. In 1997, CDC published findings from a state health department investigation of an incident that suggested blood-to-blood transmission of HIV by a human bite. There have been other rare reports in the medical literature in which HIV appeared to have been transmitted by a human bite. Biting is not a common way of transmitting HIV, in fact, there are numerous reports of bites that did not result in HIV infection. Severe trauma with extensive tissue damage and the presence of blood were reported in each of the instances where transmission was documented or suspected. Bites that do not involve broken skin have no risk for HIV transmission, as intact skin acts as a barrier to HIV transmission. There is no risk from a bite where the skin is not broken. There is a remote risk of transmission by human bite. All documented cases where transmission did occur included severe trauma with extensive tissue damage and the presence of blood. It would be interesting to know how many times an HIV infected person bit another unaffectted person where blood was present and they did/did not contract the virus. Obviously that would be more relevent than say a statistic that weighted a human bite as part of the total numbers of contractions. As an example, if out of 10,000 HIV contractions only 3 were by human bite, but there were only 10 total bites with qualifing conditions, then the risk would be 30%. But if I mix the data with all types of contractions the odds are only .03%. Written on LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Why I'm voting 'no' on SKFR levy : Ok, here's a breakdown of some more false arguments: rob and dahl = mind projection fallacy dcr = onus probani fallacy just me (the most clever) = fallacy of many questions Written on Vote on Manchester Port Commission petition must be held in April : ˈbʊli' [bool-ee] Written on South Kitsap Fire and Rescue will ask voters to renew levy : in response to PennyRobinson: I moved away from Kitsap County and don't have to be concerned, but if I still lived in SK, I'd be asking Wayne if the taxpaying residents of his fire district could please be informed of any major expensive studies, like the merger study between SK and Bremerton, BEFORE the check to the consultants is written. It was really tacky to find out about the tens of thousands of dollars paid after the fact. (This comment was removed by the site staff.) Written on PDC investigating vehicle complaint against fire commissioner candidate : The timing of the release for this information is irrelevent. It is clearly a violation that the "perp" could have avoided...quit making excuses for the guilty. Dick West is clearly the right guy for this race! Written on PDC investigating vehicle complaint against fire commissioner candidate : (This comment was removed by the site staff.) Written on Finally, some differences among Bremerton port contenders : I've heard both of these guys talk, Shawn gets it, while Axel has to read from crib notes about what he is passionate about, reminds me of a Presidential candidate from Texas! Written on Port Orchard mayor pitches city manager idea : Hey fletc3her, you sound like a victim of a landslide election, lick your wounds and if you are such a hot shot, run for office, let's see what you can do... Written on Part of South Kitsap fire district may merge into North Mason: should have been done 50 years ago, thanks to the leadership in both districts for responding to this need Written on School Replacement, Repairs Riding on Central Kitsap's Levy Measure: in response to w.h.moore#247501: Not correct, again. The increase for the average CK home valued at $250,000 will be $67.50 per year above the current Capital Projects bond portion of your local school collection. It is impossible to tell anyone exactly how much this levy will cost any specific taxpayer because the process is based on the annual appraised value of property in the District. The language of the ballot measure sets exactly how much will be collected for each year. When it is time to send out the tax bills, the county divides that amount by the assessed value of all property and then multiplies the result by the value of each property to determine the amount of tax to be paid. That $67.50 is an estimate based on the current valuation of property in the District. It will change by the time our next tax bill comes. Please explain the math: 58 million over five years is, 11.6 million each year, say the value of cksd is 7 billion, that would require a rate of about 1.65/per 1000 of AV. A home worth 300,000 would pay about 5 grand a year or 400 more a month...why are our numbers so different? so what is that to a homeowner of say a 300,000 dollar home? $500 more a year for five years? Written on Kilmer, Others Propose Bill to Cut State Elected Officials' Salaries: Truth is, this is about leadership, demonstrate the correct fools who choose to only see through your partisan goggles ARE the problem, not dems or gop! Kilmer will continue to soar, but my guess is he slides in behind Dicks. Written on OUR VIEW | For Congress, Vote Patty Murray, Norm Dicks ... and James Watkins: in response to jodaddy: "Due to what has happened and what I anticipate with the US economy we will have to adopt single payer health insurance." Hasn't that been the plan all along? (This comment was removed by the site staff.) Written on Killer Olympic Park Goat Examined for Disease: When the goats family was interviewed by officials, they said the old goat was hard of hearing and felt the hikers were taunting him by chanting feta, mutton and mazithra...later the hikers claimed they only said "ya betta not move nuttin, or the goat will play hell with ya", sorry that was baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad! Written on Big Savings Anticipated if Bremerton, South Kitsap Merge Fire Districts: in response to USMCSNIPER539: Roger, here is what you sound like to the rest of the world: one shot, one kill Written on Central Kitsap Fire Chief Announces Retirement as Merger Talks Progress: benifit charge means more money out of the tax payers pockets especially the city, this is a hostile take over to drain us of our last pennies, but hey we will have the fish statues to sleep under.... Written on First Kitsap County Swine Flu Fatality Reported: I think the vacination project in Kitsap county has been bumbled, don't cry about being a victim of supply, leadership requires you to take responsibility. When you have people like a health district bureaucrat/MD running an emergency incident you will have failures. Other county health officials recognized early that they needed to enlist those who regularly run large emergency incidents, and then give them the mission goals to run with. In this case our health director thinks this situation makes him king and his ego has caused harm to our community members, shame on you! Written on Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue Will Delay Adding New Firefighters: Let's see, you really didn't lose any money at all, what you lost was your projection of how much money you might have in the future. You still have 3 or 4 million in reserves right? Post your revenue/expense statement on your web site so we can all see how fat you really are. Why did you buy 14 new fire engines last year, at 400 grand each? Why do you have more support people (day shifters) than all the other kitsap FD's? You have plenty of fat to cut and still improve 911 responses (real workers who solve citizen emergencies).Quit BS'n the public and come clean. Written on South Kitsap Voters Approve Levy to Open Station, Add Firefighters: 72% yes for EMS in SK says a lot! This is a service that we that word? VALUE! When a life is saved, be it a car accident, heart attack, alergic reaction to a bee sting while playing...this is low cost high value insurance for what 72% of the community really cares about, that is, the people who make up this community, even the vocal minority who bravely boasts they don't want or need it, anyone with an IQ knows you would beg loudest for help when you or someone you really cared about needed that help, you see as your neighbor we even care about you! Written on Kitsap County Likely to Take on Debt for Bremerton Condos: Dahl: 2 of the 3 county commissioners who approved the deal were from the "red" side, one is now a state legislator from the "red" side...will anyone be held accountable for this? NO just like those "dirty reds" who lied about the motives for entering into a middle east war...this isn't about blue or red, its about people we trust to make decisions for us and when they fail, to this degree there should be a judicial review for negligence. BainbridgeClearCut: Ms. A was a mouthpiece for the KCHA and then was promoted to deputy director by Norm McGlaughlin with no qualifications seen...Norm ran with Cary, Dick Hayes and the others, their regime is so over that even Norm Dicks can't save them this time. How can a non-profit housing authority who acts and looks like governement, unfairly compete with general contractors who make their livelyhood in the development business without the non-profit advantage (condos, city halls, etc)this is criminal! Roger: you are right on the money! PennyRobinson: you are still an idiot and demonstrate that regularly. Written on LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Vote ‘Yes' for SK's EMS Levy: candyman, Ms. Penny is actually a guy who is an out of work county employee who has learned to drink too much...the world population reference is a dead give away with many other posts under different names where he thinks that death is an acceptable result of not enforciing safety codes, skate boarding accidents or what have you...a true nut job who gets boob boners from stupid blog posts that rile normal people. Place him on iggy! jhazmar, you must be a product of the SK school system when they weren't passing their levies! OK, let's review your math...24 hours a day times 365 days a year equals 8760 hours a year. With 3, 24 hour shifts that about 56 hours week. When you take the 8760 and try to cover that with 8 hour shifts, you can take 40 hours a week times 52 weeks and you get 2080 hours a year. Divide 8760 by 2080 and you get a little more than 4 shifts required to cover that same 24/7 goal. So to do this would requires an increase of one additional shift or a 33% increase in the manpower...skcharge is right, you should change the batteries in your calculator or take a class at OC! PS. Penny admit you are an idiot, its the first of 12 steps to your a friend of Bill and Ed Written on OUR VIEW | Vote ‘Yes' for Mason District 5 Levy: This just in....Mason 5 doesn't provide paramedic services so the law caps them at 25 cents per 1000 of assessed value for their EMS levy, that is why they are not asking for 50 cents....this is the most they can have per the law! How did the merger with Shelton effect costs here? Written on OUR VIEW | Economics Mean Central Kitsap EMS Levy Must Wait: hello fire commissioners....are you awake? Stop tnhe madness...before you lose all faith Written on OUR VIEW | Renew Support for South Kitsap EMS Levy: What a laugh and a half..."drive yourself to the emergency room", be brave and post that information around your neck so all emergency responders can respect your wishes, its natures law of selection at its best! I live and work in SK and things are hard right now, but not so hard that we can't figure out a way to pay 3 dollars more a month to keep the EMS services SKFR now provides. I checked and compared to CKFR and Mason 2, SKFR has the lowest tax rate by far, yet they protect the most people and have more 911 calls for help each year than the other two combined! Let's perserve our community and its critical emergency services, join me in VOTING YES FOR EMS! Written on SK Fire Ups Incentive for Voters to Pass Levy: Once again SKFR has prepared for opportunities that benefit our community, the 1.3 million in 2008 SAFER act grant money avoids local property tax impacts for that exact amount. They have demonstrated our need for more Firefighter/EMTs on a national competitive process. The chief told us at a community meeting that the waiver on SAFER act grant matching funds is NOT for the 2008 awards, its for the 2009-2010 awards. He also told us that with this award, no Fire Department in Washington State has received more federal grant money than SKFR, because it is based on need. Look at SKFR's web site, you will see that they have the most work, nearly 9100 calls a year, yet have the lowest tax rate...that gets my suport! Written on LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Sorry, SK Levy, My Tax Dollars Are Already Taken: Yeah yeah yeah blame it on the new generation, that's a great move for the future, funny thing is back in the day when cars were invented, the horse riding generation said the same thing about the "young" generation (ask dahl, he sounds like he was there) So your enlightened approach is to pass along criticism to the future generation just as you were convenienient that the social problem isn't part of your doing! The definition of insanity is repeating the same thing and expecting a different result, guess that makes you a coo-koo, coo-koo... Written on LETTER TO THE EDITOR: We'd Be Paying More With SK Levy: With your thinking, you don't buy bread, milk or eggs anymore, because no matter what, the prices just keep going up and you aren't getting any more eggs than you got when you were 8 years old...have you gone on a fast in protest? Get over yourself, it cost more than a nickle to see a movie these days! Ohhhhhh, I think dahl has been nailed. He and others are not interested in value for their tax dollar as they allude, they simply think all taxes are bad and they all need to go away, even when they serve the basic emergency needs and our children...I nominate dahl for chair of the CAVE club! Remember you get what you pay for! • Older Comments • Page 1 of 1 • Newer Comments

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and yea i feel the same way im just taking it all in stride being realistic...we still have to many flaws that need to be fixed our biggest ones beig Defense/Rebounding and consistency two things we need to make the playoffs...this should be our last year in the lottery then well start our dynasty of the 90's again we need Pg and trade for another first rounder or for a C with potential place him next to Nate and Chanlder were good money

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FATCA Update: IGAs soften the blow…and some good news for insurers?: Interviewers Opening Remarks The US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, commonly referred to as FATCA, is designed to tackle offshore tax abuse by US taxpayers. FATCA requires foreign financial institutions to identify and disclose the direct and indirect owners of accounts that are classified as US accounts. As we discussed in previous webcasts in this series, FATCA has caused consternation at the practical and legal implications of compliance. Fortunately, the US authorities now seem to have recognized that initial criticisms of FATCA had some justification. The model inter-governmental agreements between the US and specific countries initiated by discussions between the US and the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, go some way to assuaging these concerns. There has also been some significant softening of the impact on insurers. Just the other week, the IRS issued its long-awaited final regulations which make strides to converge the US requirements and the inter-governmental agreements. Joining me to provide their insights on how FATCA will affect on the insurance industry are Craig Pichette from KPMG in the US, and Jeanette Cook from KPMG in the UK. Before we get into the details of how insurers are impacted, can you give us a quick recap on the new FATCA requirements? Craig Pichette There are a number of things that have happened. Most significantly, the IRS has put out the final regulations of FATCA. The insurance industry, like a number of other industries, was waiting on these final regulations to be issued before actively pursuing their FATCA implementation programmes. Now that those rules have been issued, we’re seeing a tremendous amount of activity in the market as companies are beginning to implement their FATCA compliance programmes. The other significant thing is that the US and a number other jurisdictions have entered into inter-governmental agreements, IGAs, describing how each of the countries is going to implement their own FATCA regimes and coordinate with the US government on exchanging information. This is a rapidly developing area. What have been the most significant developments since your article was published in December? As everyone knows by now, FATCA rose out of the perceived abuse of Swiss banks selling tax-deferred accounts to US persons. The US response to that, of course, was enacting FATCA which has a very broad reporting obligation that are imposed on non-US persons. The hammer the US is using to enforce that is a 30% withholding on payments made by US entities to non-US entities. So, foreign financial institutions, banks, insurance companies, brokers, entities like that, are now required to review their customer base and report on US accounts to the US government. And what are you seeing in the insurance industry? Are companies FATCA-ready? The insurance industry was a little bit slower than some of the other industries in attacking FATCA. The banks, of course, this was primarily directed at were very early on in addressing FATCA and beginning their FATCA implementation programme. The insurance industry, for the most part, has been lagging behind but now that the final regulations are out we’ve seen a tremendous amount of activity as companies are now beginning their FATCA assessments and designing their FATCA implementation programmes. The IGAs and the final IRS regulations go a long way toward resolving FATCA uncertainties for insurance companies, but some major uncertainties remain. What are some of the biggest challenges that lie ahead? Jeanette Cook Well, many groups will have operations in different countries and those countries will either have an IGA with the US or will just be under the normal FATCA regulations. So, you're going to have a significant challenge in developing an overarching compliance framework. For example, the Annex II’s in each IGA country are going to be different so designing the operational control framework is probably going to be the biggest headache for the Responsible Officer should the group need one for the IRS regulations. And what should insurance companies be doing right now? So, if they haven't done so already, you need to complete a Gap Analysis as to what your operations currently are and what your take on procedures currently are to what you’ll have to do under either the IGA or the IRS regulations. So, having determined whether you are a financial institution you then need to have a look your financial accounts because some products are going to be exempt. And then you will need to get management buy in, and this is properly one of the hardest things to do across a large group. So, one way to do it might be to identify who the Responsible Officer is, if you’ve got to comply with the IRS regulations, or who is going to be the contact with the local tax authority because those people will have a vested interest in driving the project forward and making sure that you do comply with the relevant regulations. And it's important to realise that although it's tax legislation, the actual operational changes that you have to make stretch right across from the investment manager, your customers and your on-boarding procedures, who you interact with, your creditors, the reinsurance and ultimately your bank might actually start giving you a hard time to know what your FATCA status is. So, you need to have a look and a think because not everything is going to be under your control so you might actually need to start renegotiating some of your third-party agreements, especially if they're doing the take-on procedures for you and are actually doing the KYC and the AML side because they will know who your customers are. Thank you Craig and Jeanette for bringing clarity to these latest developments. Before we sign off, do you have any final thoughts for our listeners to take away? As companies begin to implement their FATCA compliance programmes there’s a number of things they should probably be keeping in mind. First is that the effective date is January 1st 2014. That date had previously been moved back; you shouldn't expect any more slippage on that date so you should regard January 1st 2014 as a firm date that you need to have your compliance programme in place. You shouldn't underestimate the significance of FATCA to the business. If you're a domestic US insurance company, the effects may be fairly limited but if you’re a non-US insurance company, particularly a life insurance company, FATCA will impose a significant change on your compliance activities including reviews of all your accounts, additional reporting obligations and potentially, ultimately, withholding obligations. Because it affects your relationship with your customer, there’s a significant potential impact on your distribution and account management processes and you need to actively think about how you are going to manage those changes. Thank you Craig and Jeanette. Listeners can find more details on this topic in the December 2012 edition of KPMG’s frontiers in tax publication. Other podcasts in this series include the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive and the potential tax impacts. Thank you and we look forward to you joining us again next time. The US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) – which aims to combat tax evasion by US persons with non-US accounts – has stimulated controversy and concern in the financial services industry ever since it was passed in 2010.1 FATCA requires ‘foreign financial institutions’ (FFIs) to report information on US account holders to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). FFIs are expected to identify the direct and sometimes indirect owners of their accounts to determine whether they are ‘US accounts’. To the extent they are, the FFI is required to disclose them to the IRS. FFIs that do not agree to do this would suffer a 30 percent withholding tax on all US withholdable payments. To avoid the withholding requirement, the FFI must enter into an agreement with the IRS to identify all US accounts held by it or its affiliates and report annually on each account. Major concerns were raised by the insurance industry over the practical and administrative burden that FATCA would impose; and also in many jurisdictions on its apparent conflict with local privacy and data protection legislation which would prevent the release of such information. In many cases, too, companies argued that they simply did not possess the necessary information to comply with the law. Reflecting these concerns, the governments of the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain (the G5) approached the US, with the support of the European Commission, to explore ways to address the legal difficulties presented by FATCA. The outcome was the development of an intergovernmental approach, in which financial institutions will report the necessary information to their own tax authorities, who will then exchange information with the US under existing double taxation and information exchange agreements. In July 2012, the US Treasury published two versions of a Model Intergovernmental Agreement to Improve Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA as a basis for implementing this approach. The G5 governments are currently in the process of drafting Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs); although the UK is furthest ahead, having signed the agreement and issued a consultation document on the intended implementation into UK law in September 2012. The other four governments are in detailed discussion with the US. IGAs: G5 progress France and Italy are in the process of negotiating annex II to their IGAs. In France, the IGA will have to be presented to the French parliament, which will have to enact implementing legislation. The situation is more complicated in Italy, where both the foreign ministry and the finance ministry must sign off on the IGA, which then must be ratified by the legislature. Spanish officials have said that implementation of the IGA should not require too many changes to domestic law. The government is currently drafting non-compliance penalties and anti-avoidance measures, and is hoping that the IGA will be agreed by parliament using an expedited process, in time for January 2013. Germany is currently negotiating Annex II with the United States. Ratification of the IGA is expected before the end of 2012, with domestic implementing legislation following. Officials expect the IGA to become effective before mid-2013. In the UK, HMRC have said that the UK-US IGA sets out a framework within which: • legal barriers to compliance, such as those related to data protection, have been addressed • withholding tax will not be imposed on income received by UK financial institutions • UK financial institutions will not be required to withhold tax on payments they make • due diligence requirements are more closely aligned to the requirements under the existing anti-money laundering rules • a significant range of institutions and products are effectively exempt from the FATCA requirements. Some relief for insurers Although earlier hopes that insurers – at least non-life insurers – might be exempted entirely from FATCA have not been fulfilled, the IGA, including the exemptions in Annex II, does bring some significant relief: • ‘custodial accounts’ expressly do not include insurance or annuity contracts • ‘cash value insurance contracts’ are expressly defined to exclude indemnity reinsurance • reportable cash value insurance contracts are subject to a 50,000 US dollar (USD) de minimis threshold • all ‘Registered Pension Schemes’ are exempt financial accounts • tax-favored savings products such as Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Child Trust Funds are exempt products • certain other pension arrangements may also be exempt financial accounts, although there are conditions that have to be met. Uncertainty remains, however, regarding the exemption of products such as certain pension income paying contracts from the definition of a Financial Account, which could hinge on whether such contracts are ‘authorized payments’. The guidance is eagerly anticipated. One of the major original concerns raised by insurers was the likely difficulty of collecting the required information from pre-existing accounts. The position has been eased significantly: back book due diligence should now only be required for ‘Financial Accounts’ held by individuals where balances exceed $250,000 on which no reporting is done to HMRC, for example under the qualifying policy or chargeable events regime. The effect of this is that due diligence on preexisting accounts should be focused on overseas life assurance business. For ‘Financial Accounts’ held by entities, reliance can be placed on the ‘know-your-customer’ and anti-money laundering procedures. Annex II also exempts ‘local financial institutions’, that is, institutions located solely within the UK that serve a local customer base. A number of conditions need to be met to be able to take advantage of this exemption: • the institution must be located solely in the UK • be regulated in the UK • be required to report information or withhold tax on accounts held by UK residents • ninety-eight percent of accounts must be held by residents of the UK or another member state of the EU • accounts must not be provided to US persons (who are not UK residents) or any entity which has beneficial owners who are US persons (who are not UK residents), and all related entities must meet the same requirements. To demonstrate compliance, local financial institutions need to implement procedures by 1 January 2014 to identify any new customers that breach these provisions and complete appropriate due diligence investigation of pre-existing accounts. Despite these developments, which go a significant way towards resolving the FATCA issues raised by the industry and by insurers especially, major uncertainties still remain. In particular, Annex II of each IGA will be specific to the US government partner in question. Any institution with operations more extensive than that of a ‘local financial institution’ is likely to face inconsistent, and potentially conflicting requirements for information gathering and reporting in different jurisdictions. Many multinational groups will have operations in countries both with and without IGAs, creating major challenges in developing a compliance framework. A further complication for multinational groups is that there are two models of IGA and one of those has two variations. Helpfully, a recent announcement by the IRS has almost wholly aligned the timelines for entities in IGA countries, non-IGA countries and the US. The opportunity for consistency in core definitions, however, will have to wait until the final regulations are released later this year. For UK companies specifically, uncertainties remain over the interpretation of a number of technical and definitional details; although the consultation period for the current draft closes at the end of November, it is unlikely that all outstanding issues will be resolved by the January 2013 implementation date. Similar -- but different -- inconsistencies and uncertainties can be expected in each IGA negotiated by the US government. Despite the uncertainties, time is short, notwithstanding the recent announcement. The priorities of affected institutions now should be to review and catalogue legal entity organization, insurance products, and all on-boarding procedures (including those of distributors) to prepare the organization to act as the rule become more settled. Notwithstanding the concessions made under the IGA approach, FATCA is still going to represent a significant burden. For further information, please contact: Craig Pichette KPMG in the US Tel: +1 312 665 5267 Jean Baxley Senior Manager KPMG in the US Tel: +1 202 533 3008 Jennifer Sponzilli KPMG in the UK Tel: +44 20 7311 1878 Jeanette Cook Senior Manager KPMG in the UK Tel: +44 11 7905 4277 1frontiers in tax, November 2011 and February 2012 editions, Share this Share this Follow us follow us on Twitter follow us on Linkedin FATCA - Introduction White House More frontiers in tax • Subscribe to related feeds

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Public service workers may qualify for loan forgiveness The program, which was created in 2007, is ideal for those who have big federal student loan debts and small incomes. Dear Liz: I am the single mother of four daughters, including one who has a serious heart condition that causes $10,000 to $30,000 in out-of-pocket medical expenses each year. These medical bills have caused me to file bankruptcy twice, but the bankruptcies have not wiped out my student loans. I have qualified for minimum payments and deferments a couple of times but have been on a payment schedule the vast majority of the time. The interest grows faster than I can keep up, and I keep getting deeper into the hole. I am now 51 and have over $45,000 in student loans. After a year and a half of being unemployed, and depleting my retirement funds to pay for COBRA health coverage, I finally found a job — I am making $30,000 a year working for a nonprofit as a social worker — but I still can't make any progress on these loans. The only program I can find is one in which I have to make payments, no matter how little I have, for the next 10 years if I continue to work for only nonprofits. No one can explain to me why all the money I have already paid, plus only working for nonprofits, plus my volunteer service over the years, doesn't count for something. I am holding my breath hoping you might have some suggestions to share. Answer: The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program you discovered is actually a fairly recent development. Before 2007, people in your situation didn't have an option to have their balances erased. It's unfortunate you didn't know about the program earlier, since if you'd signed up when it first became available you could be partway through your required payments by now and only a few years away from having your balance forgiven. But better late than never. The program is ideal for those who have big federal student loan debts and small incomes. If you sign up for the "income-based repayment" option, your monthly payments will be limited to 15% of your "discretionary income," defined as the amount of your income over 150% of the poverty line for your family. Since the poverty line for a family of five is $27,010 in 2012, your required monthly payment may well be zero. Even if your household is smaller, payments under the program typically are less than 10% of your gross income, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of the FinAid and Fastweb financial aid sites. If you didn't have a public service job, your required repayment period would be 25 years — so you are receiving some credit for your service. Public service jobs include, among others, those in public safety and law enforcement, military service, public health, public education, public interest legal services, social work in public or family service agencies and jobs at tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. Government employees also are considered to have public service positions, although interestingly enough, time served as a member of Congress doesn't count. Using home's equity to lower debt Dear Liz: Your answer to the parents with $200,000 in student loans for their daughters' educations was interesting — and cautionary. I wonder, since they mentioned refinancing their home, why not explore using their equity by selling the home and renting? Answer: The writer did mention getting a new mortgage, but didn't say whether it was a refinance or a modification, or whether the couple had any equity in the home. Although a conventional refinance requires considerable equity, a mortgage modification or a refinance made through the government's HARP program would not require that they owe less than the house is worth. If they do have equity, it would be worth considering using at least some of it to alleviate their debt burden and supplement their retirement funds. If they don't have equity, selling the house might still be an option if they could substantially reduce their living costs. Given that their income plunged by more than half, they would be smart to cut their expenses as far as possible to free up money to save for retirement and pay their debts. Taking such a big step down in their lifestyle might be painful, but it's often to better to do so now rather than risk being old and broke.

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Lunch » Tags » Movies » Reviews » American Carol American Carol 1 rating: 1.0 A movie directed by David Zucker Director David Zucker (AIRPLANE, NAKED GUN) returns to the satire genre with AN AMERICAN CAROL. The political spoof stars Kevin Farley (brother of the late comedian Chris Farley) as Michael Malone, a left-wing documentary filmmaker with a strong likeness … see full wiki Tags: Movies, Comedies Cast: James Woods Director: David Zucker Release Date: 2008 MPAA Rating: PG-13 1 review about American Carol Sweet Home America • Feb 9, 2009 Pros: Proves one can be funny and daring without offending more family-friendly folk Cons: Bill O'Reilly makes a cameo The Bottom Line: USA! USA! USA! Now here's something you don't see every day - a patriotic Hollywood movie! I kid, I kid. An American Carol was never a theatrical feature movie, so I don't know anything about a Hollywood backstory. I don't know if it came from Hollywood or not. But I do know that An American Carol is a fun if very disjointed piece of spoofery from master parodist David Zucker. The schtick of An American Carol is the ten millionth or so remake of the classic Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol with an American twist. It makes sense - after all, America was formed after kicking out the British, and we stole our language, national pastime, and national anthem from them.  In An American Carol, no cows are sacred - except America. The movie is definitely made with an entertainment motive in mind, but there is a political slant to the right. The story is about a documentary filmmaker by the name of Michael Malone. The fact that he's a documentary filmmaker is a running joke in An American Carol, as people are constantly saying things like "but he makes documentaries! Who goes to see documentaries?" Malone hates Independence Day and has arranged a demonstration against it at a country music concert. He gets visited by three ghosts of the past, present, and future who try to make him see the good in America. They of course prevail and at the end, Malone starts making actual features about the good in America.  I liked the ghosts who visit Malone. The introductory ghost is his hero, John F. Kennedy. The ghost of the past is General Patton, as portrayed by an out-of-place but funny Kelsy Grammer. The ghost of the present, believe it or not, is George Washington. No, I didn't mix those two up. The ghost of the future is a country music star. Patton takes Malone to a college campus anti-war demonstration at the outbreak of World War II. Washington shows up in New York City on September 11, 2001. The singer takes Malone to his hometown of Detroit to see what becomes of him after Detroit is nuked.  As you watch An American Carol, the Christmas Carol plot is the one to keep in mind. This movie is 82 minutes long and that running time includes the end credits. Zucker makes the mistake of trying to cram too much into it during that timespan. The plot actually begins in Afghanistan where a group of terrorists talks about getting a filmmaker who hates America. They also seem to have a plan to blow up a bomb somewhere, but I lost this whole secondary plot in the mess. There's also the side plot about the anti-Fourth of July demonstration, which is fortunately shoved into the background so it makes he movie easier to follow. And Mike's nephew Josh is a Navy guy being deployed into the Persian Gulf. Got all that? That's in 82 minutes, folks. An American Carol moves briskly, but it feels disjointed in many parts. At times you have to wonder what Zucker was thinking. There are scenes in which you can't tell if you're seeing another ghost sequence or if it's really happening to Michael. This doesn't have the stopping effect on the movie it usually would on other movies, though, but that's only because it's a screwball/slapstick comedy. It helps that many of these disjointed sequences are hilarious. In one of them, Patton and a judge played to maniacal perfection by Dennis Hopper shoot a bunch of zombies. In another, a stage group in a college breaks into a song-and-dance sequence. The song is about how American college students are taught to hate America.  The political tone of the movie is very lightweight. It does exist, and it does slant to the right. But the movie doesn't point fingers at liberals or conservatives and say "those are the true America-hating terrorists!" Instead of liberals and conservatives, An American Carol makes the smart move of avoiding political tagging and just divides its sides between pro-Americans and anti-Americans. Malone is loudmouthed and boorish and clearly based on Michael Moore (as if you couldn't tell that from his name). But for all his faults, I've never seen the real Michael Moore raise attacks against America itself or say he wants it wiped out. Malone actually does this. He also makes an appearance on Bill O'Reilly's show with an even louder mouth named Rosie O'Connell, who is an endless geyser of boneheaded conspiracy theories. (She even quotes Rosie O'Donnell's nutjob saying about fire melting steel exactly.) Punctuating the pro-American/anti-American tone is the fact that Bill O'Reilly plays himself. If anything, David Zucker can be accused of making fun of the extreme politics which cropped up during the Bush administration. He goes for laughs at the expense of everyone. Again, if An American Carol has politics, the good guys would be right of center. But anyone and everyone is open for a skewing. And the best part is that many of the gags are incredibly inspired - in the future, Michael Malone visits a Hollywood which has morphed into a paradise for Muslim extremists. There is a billboard there advertising burqas from Victoria's Secret! There are a few standard jokes like characters always slapping Malone (Bill O'Reilly remarking on his smack at Malone: "I just like to hit you.") But for the most part, the jokes are daring, politically incorrect, and very, VERY hilarious. As satire, An American Carol actually works better than one would think. Especially for a straight-to-DVD release. There is a brilliant attack on college academics in which the point of students being taught to hate everything about their country is made. When John F. Kennedy is shown making his famous speech about doing something for your country, John himself tells Malone to listen to the whole speech, then we see a clip in which he vows to do anything to advance the cause of liberty. The And wait until you hear the groups Malone is getting support from in his protest! While the satire is blurred by Zucker's refusal to name names, a lot of it is still clever. I watched An American Carol expecting a quick, dumb laugh. But this movie was a shocker. It may be a complete mess of a movie, but it makes up for its disjointedness with its cleverness. It's funny and inspired and rarely resorts to low denominators to make you laugh. Yet, it's also very daring. To be daring and yet family friendly these days is an incredible trick. And David Zucker is able to do it. He makes you laugh without offending any of your senses and gives you a heartwarming pro-America story at the same time. It's dragged down by its messiness, that can't be argued. But if you're tired watching comedies which are only considered daring or edgy because of how many bad sex jokes, bathroom jokes, or swear words they contain, An American Carol is certainly worth a rental. What did you think of this review? Fun to Read Post a Comment What's your opinion on American Carol? 1 rating: +1.0 You have exceeded the maximum length. American Carol Related Topics Scary Movie 4 A movie directed by David Zucker Scary Movie 3 A movie Poster for the film. Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans; Stars: Anna Faris, Shawn Waya A movie directed by Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson First to Review "Sweet Home America" © 2014 Lunch.com, LLC All Rights Reserved Lunch.com - Relevant reviews by real people. This is you! Ranked # Last login Member since

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Drive 'em into the ground The latest car sales numbers just came in, and they truly are bad enough to make a grown man cry. GM and Ford sales fell by half in February. At the current rate of sales, Detroit is doomed. That leaves two choices: bankruptcy or nationalization. Or both. My first instinct is to say bankruptcy all the way, forget the stomach-churning idea of nationalization. But I read an interesting take yesterday from Larry Kaufman, a former railroad executive. He argues that the US Railway Association, which was set up to handle bankrupt railroads, is a good model for saving the car companies. Instead of letting them restructure on their own in bankruptcy, he says a government agency could take the steering wheel: "Management of bankrupt rails were spectators. They could not fix their own companies. Similarly, expecting auto manufacturers' management to fix their own companies reminds one of the definitions of insanity: the same people repeatedly doing the same things but expecting different results." It's hard to argue that point, but it's easy to argue that the government wouldn't run things any better. What do you think? You know what GM thinks, but the company's argument against bankruptcy is laid out clearly today in this post on GM's Fastlane blog. Tom Wilkinson, the Director of GM News Relations (love the title), does make a rational case against Chapter 11. Unfortunately, it still hinges on people buying cars, and that is one loose hinge. By the way, you know who's benefiting from the lack of car sales? The people who sell car parts. Today, AutoZone said profits were up more than 8% last quarter. When gas prices were super-high, people were putting off repairs. Apparently now, they're doing the repairs, so they can drive their cars until the wheels come off. Makes me think of my dad. He kept a 1980ish Toyota Corolla until there were holes in the floorboards. This wasn't that long ago. You could've driven that thing Flintstones-style. Although we teased him mercilessly at the time, it's one reason I'm not too worried about my parents surviving the recession. Of course, if I were a carmaker, I'd be terrified of a nation of people like him. Log in to post14 Comments Sounds like everyone is contemplating a "right to die", or even more accurately, a "license to kill" paradigm for a very sick industry, unprepared to cope with it's own, self-induced problems. Where are Kevorkian and 007 when we need em..?! Does anyone think the American auto industry will survive once the chinese start building cars for export? Here is a plan to get car sales going again. This is not a plan to promote extravagance, just to get cars selling again, and provide for the peoples basic need to get to their jobs. Re-adjust to the market, which has changed to people needing the lowest priced models. Stop offering incentives to move higher priced cars. Offer the incentives on the lower priced ones. Government - temporarily suspend the tax and title fees. TT&L adds over $1500 to the cost of car buying. How discouraging it is to pay a big down payment or use up the incentive on the down payment and still have to finance more than the price of the car. Allow buyers to go into their car purchase and loan upside up instead of the other way. Dealers - Actually offer the financing deal that the "Credit Cowboy" shouts about on the ad. Ban fine print saying "Promotional financing only offered to those that don't need it." I know of people who were drawn into a dealer by the false promise of $199 down and $199 a month, only to find out that the deal is not available to them, or after 3 months it changes to $379 a month. But this is nothing more than a proposal to sustain the unsustainable. There are a number of things that are inherently unhealthy in our landscape: strip malls, 80 mile commutes, sprawling cookie-cutter subdivisions swallowing prime agricultural real estate. Cars do nothing but promote these malignancies and support the notion that there's nothing wrong with that picture. And they do so even if they're from a re-tooled Detroit and fueled with ethanol, soybeans, or used french-fry oil. Wasn't GM built out of a dozen or more failed car companies? Did anyone run around saying those companies had to be saved? Did the world collapse when Packard, Studebaker, etc, died? What is the big deal? Is it the fact that we have no social safety net and all those workers would suddenly have no health care? Is it an emotional thing, with Ford and GM stretching back so far? Don - I think you are right about China... it is hard to compete with workers who have no rights and factories that have no environmental laws. Something political will have to change before any industry is safe from the China Syndrome. In the 40's we went from building cars to building planes in tanks. that was before flexible manufacturing. Isn't there something else we could build in those idled plants? There is an X-prize for you, think of 101 things to do with an abandoned auto factory. Ooh, ooh! I know! Let's build the rolling stock for an efficient passenger rail system, intra-city light rail, and other mass transit equipment. We could use the ObamaBucks stimulus money to build civil infrastructure that promotes communities, instead of civil infrastructure that destroys communities (interstate system and low-density suburban development - I'm talkin' 'bout you!) I have read a report that, for 700 billion dollars, we could restore passenger rail to most communities with 10,000 people or more. Yes, let them fail. They will anyways, along with all of the other unhealthy and wasteful appendages of our unsustainable living arrangement. Same goes for the airlines, suburbia, and industrial agriculture. All of these arrangements were predicated on borrowed wealth and energy, and are currently unravelling with surprising speed. The reality of a physically limited world with tangible consequences seems to be overtaking the "growth forever" nonsense and other silly assumptions that our economic theories have labored under (and absolutely depend on) for the past two centuries. Of course, these assumptions feel just great and are empircally validated when you're on the uphill side of the peak (peak oil, peak credit, etc.) I think we have a long way to fall yet, but we can cut our losses if we start making the hard, grown-up decisions that will result in an orderly economic contraction. We need to be more modest in how we live, do business, and occupy our landscapes. Well said. The last sentence ought to be a motto. Aw, shucks. I really can't claim the idea as my own. I refer you to James H., Kunstler, the author of "The Geography of Nowhere" and "The Long Emergency." He also has a wonderful polemic blog here: www.kunstler.com With Generous Support From...

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Weekly Wrap: Bernanke's message to the world, Congress A Wall Street sign in New York City's financial district. Log in to post2 Comments I want a refresher course in economics,political science and personal finance, and CANNOT afford to take a graduate course! Help! Your commentators, and for that matter Bernanke, are all assuming that the government has the responsibility, and for that matter the *ability*, to get the economy going again. Economic prosperity comes from liberty, which is the first casualty of the government's supposedly-stimulative actions. With Generous Support From...

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No Thanks Keep In Touch With Sign up and we'll send inspiration straight to you. Topiary Banner A personalized banner creates a stately reception decoration when it's hung from greenery set on a mantel or tall table. To make, you'll need a 6-by-40-inch sheet of lightweight paper. 1. Trim top of banner so it gently curves in, creating an arc shape, then trim bottom so it curves out. Write couple's names. 3. Cut banner ends on a graceful angle; roll ends to curl. 4. Punch a hole near each end. Thread floral wire through holes; twist around trunks of cypress topiaries set two feet apart. 5. Tie on ribbon bows to cover wire. Tape coordinating ribbons on the pots. Comments (4)

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Documentation Center • Trial Software • Product Updates Define and Use Structure Parameters Defining Structure Parameters To define structure parameters in MATLAB Function blocks, follow these steps: 1. Define and initialize a structure variable A common method is to create a structure in the base workspace. For other methods, see Structure Parameters. 2. In the Ports and Data Manager, add data in the MATLAB Function block with the following properties: PropertyWhat to Specify NameEnter same name as the structure variable you defined in the base workspace ScopeSelect Parameter TunableLeave checked if you want to change (tune) the value of the parameter during simulation; otherwise, clear to make the parameter non-tunable and preserve the initial value during simulation TypeSelect Inherit: Same as Simulink 3. Click Apply. FIMATH Properties of Non-Tunable Structure Parameters FIMATH properties for non-tunable structure parameters containing fixed-point values are based on the initial values of the structure. They do not come from the FIMATH properties specified for fixed-point input signals to the parent MATLAB Function block. (These FIMATH properties appear in the properties dialog box for MATLAB Function blocks.) Was this topic helpful?

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Documentation Center • Trial Software • Product Updates Class: ClassificationKNN Margin of k-nearest neighbor classifier by resubstitution m = resubMargin(mdl) m = resubMargin(mdl) returns the classification margins of the data used to train mdl. For the definition, see Margin. Input Arguments expand all mdl — Classifier modelclassifier model object k-nearest neighbor classifier model, returned as a classifier model object. Note that using the 'CrossVal', 'KFold', 'Holdout', 'Leaveout', or 'CVPartition' options results in a model of class ClassificationPartitionedModel. You cannot use a partitioned tree for prediction, so this kind of tree does not have a predict method. Otherwise, mdl is of class ClassificationKNN, and you can use the predict method to make predictions. Output Arguments A numeric column vector of length size(mdl.X,1), where mdl.X is the training data for mdl. Each entry in m represents the margin for the corresponding row of mdl.X and (true class) mdl.Y. The classification margin is the difference between the classification score for the true class and maximal classification score for the false classes. Margin is a column vector with the same number of rows as in the training data. The score of a classification is the posterior probability of the classification. The posterior probability is the number of neighbors that have that classification, divided by the number of neighbors. For a more detailed definition that includes weights and prior probabilities, see Posterior Probability. expand all Resubstitution Margin Calculation Construct a k-nearest neighbor classifier for the Fisher iris data, where k = 5. Load the data. load fisheriris X = meas; Y = species; Construct a classifier for 5-nearest neighbors. mdl = fitcknn(X,Y,'NumNeighbors',5); Examine some statistics of the resubstitution margin of the classifier. m = resubMargin(mdl); [max(m) min(m) mean(m)] ans = 1.0000 -0.6000 0.9253 The mean margin is over 0.9, indicating fairly high classification accuracy for resubstitution. For more reliable assessment of model accuracy, consider cross validation, such as kfoldLoss. See Also | | | | More About Was this topic helpful?

http://www.mathworks.com/help/stats/classificationknn.resubmargin.html?nocookie=true

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Documentation Center • Trials • Product Updates Add Title to Graph Using Plot Tools What Is a Title? In a MATLAB® figure, a title is a text string at the top of an axes. It appears in the figure border, not within the axes it describes. Titles typically define the subject of the graph. The following figure shows a title, centered at its top. Note   While you can use text annotations to create a title for your graph, it is not recommended. Titles are anchored to the top of the axes they describe; text annotations are not. If you move or resize your axes, the title remains at the top. Additionally, if you cut a title and then paste it back into a figure, the title is no longer anchored to the axes. You can add a title to a graph interactively in several ways, described in the following sections. Using the Title Option on the Insert Menu To add a title to a graph using the Insert menu, 1. Click the Insert menu in the figure menu bar and choose Title. A text entry box opens at the top of the axes. Note   Selecting the Title option enables plot editing mode automatically. 2. Enter the text of the label. 3. When you are finished entering text, click anywhere in the figure background to close the text entry box around the title. If you click on another object in the figure, such as an axes or line, you close the title text entry box and also automatically select the object you clicked. To change the font used in the title to bold, you must edit the title. You can edit the title as you would any other text object in a graph. Using the Property Editor to Add a Title To add a title to a graph using the Property Editor, 1. Start plot editing mode by selecting Edit Plot from the figure Tools menu. 2. Double-click an empty region of the axes in the graph. This starts the Property Editor. You can also start the Property Editor by right-clicking on the axes and selecting Show Property Editor from the context menu or by selecting Property Editor from the View menu. The Property Editor displays a property panel specific to axes objects. Titles are a property of axes objects. 3. Type the text of your title in the Title text entry box. You can change the font, font style, position, and many other aspects of the title format. • To move the title, select the text and drag it to the desired position. • To edit the text, double-click the title and type new characters. • To change the font and other text properties, select the title and right-click to display the context menu. See Also Related Examples Was this topic helpful?

http://www.mathworks.fr/fr/help/matlab/creating_plots/adding-titles-to-graphs.html?nocookie=true

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Documentation Center • Trials • Product Updates File name of currently running function p = mfilename('fullpath') c = mfilename('class') mfilename returns a string containing the file name of the most recently invoked function. When called from within the file, it returns the name of that file. This allows a function to determine its name, even if the file name has been changed. More About expand all When called from the command line, mfilename returns an empty string. See Also | | | | Was this topic helpful?

http://www.mathworks.fr/fr/help/matlab/ref/mfilename.html?s_tid=gn_loc_drop&nocookie=true

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Documentation Center • Trial Software • Product Updates Uniform Rectangular Array Support for Uniform Rectangular Arrays You can implement a uniform rectangular array (URA) with phased.URA. Array elements are distributed in the yz-plane with the array look direction along the positive x-axis. When you use phased.URA, you must specify these aspects of the array: • Sensor elements of the array • Number of rows and the spacing between them • Number of columns and the spacing between them • Geometry of the planar lattice, which can be rectangular or triangular Uniform Rectangular Array with Isotropic Antenna Elements This example shows how to create a URA, get information about its element positions, response, and delays, and simulate its reception of two sine waves. Create and view a six-element URA with two elements along the y-axis and three elements along the z-axis. Use a rectangular lattice, with the default spacing of 0.5 meters along both the row and column dimensions of the array. Each element is an isotropic antenna element, which is the default. Return the positions of the array elements. hura = phased.URA([3 2]); pos = getElementPosition(hura); The x-coordinate is zero for all elements in the array. You can plot the array response using the plotResponse method. % Plot the response in 3D Calculate the element delays for signals arriving from +/– 45 degrees azimuth and 0 degrees elevation. hed = phased.ElementDelay('SensorArray',hura); ang = [45 -45]; tau = step(hed,ang); The first column of tau contains the element delays for the signal incident on the array from +45 degrees azimuth and the second column contains the delays for the signal arriving from –45 degrees. The delays are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign as expected. The following code simulates the reception of two sine waves arriving from far field sources. One of the signals is a 100-Hz sine wave arriving from 20 degrees azimuth and 10 degrees elevation. The other signal is a 300-Hz sine wave arriving from –30 degrees azimuth and 5 degrees elevation. Both signals have a one GHz carrier frequency. t = linspace(0,1,1000); x = cos(2*pi*100*t)'; y = cos(2*pi*300*t)'; angx = [20; 10]; angy = [-30;5]; recsig = collectPlaneWave(hura,[x y],[angx angy],1e9); Each column of recsig represents the received signal at the corresponding element of the URA, hura. Was this topic helpful?

http://www.mathworks.in/help/phased/ug/uniform-rectangular-array.html?nocookie=true

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Main menu Courtney's Q & A Favorite Sport/Team Favorite Movie/Actor Sex and the City Go-to karaoke song Out Tonight-RENT! My first job Camp counselor Piercings/Tattoos (How many? Where?) 1 tattoo on the foot, 6 piercings in the ears Mac or PC? Nintendo, Xbox 360, PS3, or don't game? Don't game-sorry!!! I played Mimi in RENT. If you don't know the character/show, look it up :) What's the most memorable pick up line you've ever heard? You make my pulse rate go too high. What should I do? What's the craziest thing you've ever done? I can't share, because I could get fired. ;) Book store. He still brags about it! What's in your purse or pocket right now? Victoria Secret gift card, keys, lip stick What do you feel most comfortable wearing? Little black dress or skinny jeans. Amazing once a year. Britney Spears

http://www.maxim.com/hometown-hotties/courtney-oceanside-ny-0?page=6

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Eighth-ranked Florida was beaten at its own game by Kansas State. The nation's best defensive team was out-defended, and Gators coach Billy Donovan knew it. "I thought they were just a step ahead of us, a step quicker," Donovan said after a 67-61 loss Saturday night. "We gave up some offensive rebounds. We had just a couple plays there where we were just late on some things, particularly our guards getting over screens." Patric Young had 19 points and 10 rebounds despite foul trouble, but he didn't get a whole lot of help against Kansas State's in-your-shorts defense. Rosario, the team's leading scorer, had five points on 1-for-9 shooting. Scott Wilbekin scored 11 points but was 0 for 3 from beyond the arc, where the Gators were 5 of 19 as a team. "When a guy like (Rosario) goes 1 for 9, probably a third of his shots were blocked," Donovan said. "When you're getting your shot blocked, it's not a good night." It was a dandy night for the Wildcats. For all the area teams, as a matter of fact. Will Spradling had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead the Wildcats, who followed up No. 9 Kansas' win over No. 7 Ohio State and No. 12 Missouri's victory over No. 10 Illinois on Saturday with the most surprising result of them all. "Whenever you're shooting it well—you see the ball go through the net—it brings confidence to you and for your team as well," said Spradling, a sophomore guard from suburban Kansas City. "This is probably my best all-around performance that I've had." No doubt. Spradling didn't even have a turnover in 39 minutes. Young's two free throws with just over 2 minutes left got Florida (8-2) within 58-53, but Spradling found Shane Southwell in the corner for an open 3-pointer and the Wildcats managed to put the game away from the foul line down the stretch. They ended up shooting 21 free throws in the second half. "If you're looking at the game, I'd think everyone would say Kansas State's energy was much better than ours," Donovan said. "The reason they got the lead they did, it was because their energy was much better." It was defense that ruled this one from the start. Kansas State eventually settled down on offense, and McGruder's basket with just under 5 minutes left made it 26-19. The Gators' Michael Frazier curled in a 3-pointer for his only basket, but Kansas State rattled off seven more points that helped it take a big lead into the break. The Gators scored on their first six trips down the floor and put together a 12-3 run that allowed them to wipe out almost the entire deficit. Kenny Boynton's 3 with 13:10 left drew them even at 41-all, the closest they'd been since leading 19-17 midway through the first half. The Wildcats kept stepping up.

http://www.mercurynews.com/cal-bears/ci_22248647/no-8-florida-beaten-at-own-game-by

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As Democrats contemplate what to do with their new supermajority power in the Legislature, they should avoid Republicans' worst fears: tax increases to restore depleted services. Nearly 2 million Californians remain unemployed. Economic growth must be a top priority. And one of the best ways to accomplish it is to reform the California Environmental Quality Act. The law, known as CEQA, requires local governments to analyze the environmental effects of development projects and look for ways to mitigate them. It's one reason the state has been able to preserve its natural beauty -- a central component of its attraction for residents and businesses -- and it has given residents a strong voice in community development. But it is too often abused by a whole range of interests: NIMBYs to protect their personal interests, labor unions as a weapon to demand contracts and businesses to stop competition, to name just a few. As one example, a competitor of Moe's Stop gas station in San Jose used the law to prevent Moe's from adding pumps. These challenges often prevent development that could create jobs or help businesses survive without harming the environment, and they contribute to California's reputation as unfriendly to business. Four decades after Ronald Reagan signed CEQA into law, it's time for an update. With the help of Silicon Valley Leadership Group President Carl Guardino, a statewide coalition has been working with CEQA experts to develop reforms that prevent abuses while maintaining the law's intent. The proposals were discussed briefly in Sacramento as the legislative session ended, but they were too complex to be passed quickly. We hope to see them revived and fully debated next year: • Coordinating CEQA reviews with environmental regulations. For example, if a project complies with water quality laws, a judge shouldn't be able to stop it on water-quality grounds as part of a CEQA challenge. • Limiting when a CEQA lawsuit can be filed. • Improving record-keeping to speed up the court process. • Requiring transparency in the courts -- as in politics -- so the public can see who's behind the challenges. Often, it's not environmentalists. Reform opponents say CEQA lawsuits are few, and they're right. But the threat of a lawsuit changes what businesses do and where they try to build. Sometimes that's for the best, but often it's a needless deterrent to job creation. Reforms could actually enhance some environmental protections. Infill, which is building in already developed areas -- far preferable to sprawl into open land -- is often challenged by NIMBY neighbors. And for developers, nothing increases costs like project delays. Reforming CEQA would make infill projects more attractive to builders. Gov. Jerry Brown, Senate President Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez all have promised reform. It's a perfect opportunity to show Californians they're serious about using their supermajority power responsibly.

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_22012555/mercury-news-editorial-ceqa-reform-must-be-top?source=pkg

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Batman Begins Game Boy Advance Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critics Critic score distribution: 1. Positive: 0 out of 5 2. Negative: 0 out of 5 1. 70 The GBA title is a solid one with enough strengths in its design to recommend, as long as you understand that the game doesn't offer a whole lot of "wow" factor. 2. A few Batmobile levels would help to break up the monotony. It's not a long game and it's not a very hard game. 3. If you played the GBA versions of "Wolverine's Revenge," "Prince of Persia," "Splinter Cell," or even "Bruce Lee," there really isn't a reason to play this game as it is a rehashed use of their gameplay engines. 4. The game also has some performance problems, including slowdown on the last level. [Aug 2005, p.85] 5. This brief two-hour romp is just another in a long line of mediocre action games churned out to cash in on a big-budget motion picture. User Score Mixed or average reviews- based on 8 Ratings User score distribution: 1. Positive: 5 out of 5 2. Mixed: 0 out of 5 3. Negative: 0 out of 5 1. SamuelC. Jul 10, 2006 Yes, there are some slowdowns and there are no Batmobile levels, but this game rocks with its cool level designs, good controls and good graphics. 2. sohailr. Aug 27, 2005 The bestest who can fly betman. 3. Jake Jun 28, 2005 Fun to play, some confusing areas but overall a good play and worth the time.

http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/batman-begins/critic-reviews

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RC de GO! PlayStation • Publisher: Acclaim • Release Date: Nov 9, 2000 Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critics Critic score distribution: 1. Positive: 4 out of 5 2. Negative: 0 out of 5 1. 84 A heck of a lot of fun, and it beats the living daylights of many of its full-size competitors. 2. The definition of a sleeper -- a marvelous little racer that deserves a little more limelight than it has received so far. In truth, the game excels on all fronts, providing a deep sim-based RC experience, with an intuitive control scheme accessible enough for anyone to pick up. 3. As strange as it might seem, Rc De GO is actually bounds better than most of the racing titles that have hit the PlayStation and lately, and anyone looking for something slightly off the wall would do best to give Acclaim's latest a try. 4. It was rather boring and lifeless. The graphics were rather flat and one dimensional and just got old really quick. 5. Coming in completely under the radar, RC de Go! could be the most enjoyable PlayStation racer of 2000 that you'll never play... There are no user reviews yet.

http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation/rc-de-go!/critic-reviews?sort-by=most-active&dist=neutral&num_items=30

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User Score Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings User score distribution: 1. Positive: 6 out of 7 2. Mixed: 0 out of 7 3. Negative: 1 out of 7 Review this game 1. Your Score 0 out of 10 Rate this: • 10 • 9 • 8 • 7 • 6 • 5 • 4 • 3 • 2 • 1 • 0 • 0 1. Submit 2. Check Spelling 1. EvelynH. Dec 6, 2003 This disc might be really good and really exciting!!!I think I will highly recommend this!!! 2. CarolinaH. Jan 1, 2004 It is alright, but it is a short game. It is fun for people who like horses! You have to rescue all the foals before you can go to the final level! 3. JoM. Jan 26, 2004 Helooo! Barbie? Horses? Can you say Game of the year? I thought you could. I may be a 35 year old male who collects victorian doll houses but I know good gaming when I see it. Me and my Marie Osmond collection dolls will spend many hours rescuing ponies. Thanks for making this game!!! 4. SallieB. Mar 21, 2004 My four year old loves it and has learned how to use the controls very well. It is the best game for little ones that I could find. 5. Laura.Q. Dec 16, 2005 I am totally loving the game! I mean, alright, you can't buck barbie off the horse, but other than that the game is awsome! My best friend and I love horses (And MABEY we like barbie just a little...) so when we saw this game we just knew we had to have it! I so love this game! The grafics are great! Everyone, young and old, can accually feel as if they own a horse with this game. My friend and I used to play with toy horses when we were younger, but now we've grown out of it (But not too much!) so we've turned to simulated horse games, and we couldn't be happy'er! We've been sending in some ideas to the makers for a new game like this, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that they exept! Horses biggest fan, Laura! Expand 6. Jan 7, 2013 Okay, so I bought this game for my neighbour's daughter and I just wanted to try and see if it works. I got hooked up on it, missed 2 years of college, few funerals, births and Champions League finals and I don't even care. Those horses are so damn cute, I just wanna sunggle with'em. Definitely better than Black Ops 2, I reccomend this to all hardcore gamers. THEHOOD! Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critics Critic score distribution: 1. Positive: 1 out of 6 2. Negative: 2 out of 6 1. The game features enough levels and unlockable extras to keep the player engrossed for a long time; so Barbie and horse fans alike - male and female, young and old - will all get something out of this. 2. Riding feels "real"... In short, Barbie's first foray onto Xbox is not a stinker. [Dec/Jan 2004, p.100] 3. It is true that there are some gameplay redundancies and a healthy amount of character interaction issues, but will a kid point to mommy and say “look at all of the clipping issues!”, or “look at all of the horseys!”?

http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/barbie-horse-adventure-wild-horse-rescue/user-reviews?sort-by=score&num_items=100&dist=positive

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View Full Version : Lightning Swords Of Death -- Kansas City, MO -- July 3rd, 2013 07-04-2013, 10:40 PM It was a homecoming of sorts on Independence Day-eve at the Riot Room in Kansas City. It was the return of a local musician on a bill filled up with some of the best-quality underground extreme metal from the United States today. It was a celebration of musicians and the art they create and it was one of the most complete heavy metal bills to roll through Kansas City in quite some time. Although the show ended with a spectacular performance, it didn't begin with one. The first band to play was California's Reign of Lies. Playing to a barely-there and barely-responsive crowd didn't help the band's bland riffs and uninspired musicianship. Most of their songs could be singled out from exactly which Machine Head, Lamb of God and Pantera songs they were ripping off at that time. There were brief flashes of brilliance though, especially on the ripping track "DMT" which showcased a fire bubbling underneath the mediocre songs. The second guitarist in particular had some chops that would only improve the band if he could just be let loose to really show what he could do. But as long as Reign of Lies continues with the same formulaic groove metal songs that have been around for almost 20 years now, they'll forever be relegated to opening band status. In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, local black/viking metal group Stonehaven took the stage next. Their drummer, Jackson Ferris, is now the drummer for Lightning Swords of Death, so it was the first time the band had played a show in quite some time. If absence makes the heart grow fonder, Stonehaven's first show in a very long time was just made that much better for the crowd, which was very big at this point. Stonehaven plays the cold, unflinching Celtic-inspired style of black metal of bands like early Enslaved or Windir, but can also be much more aggressive like an Enthroned or Behexen sound. They can switch between each style flawlessly which really makes for a performance that never gets stale. Cloaked in fur pelts and chainmail and with corpsepaint adorning their faces, the band had the longest opening set, clocking in around 40 minutes. The dual guitars layered melodies upon melodies to compliment the bass which provided the backbone of the music. The vocalist had exceptional shrieking vocals, but also let loose a few unearthly howls. It was all held together by Jackson Ferris' monstrous drumming in his first appearance of the night. Stonehaven really is a treasure in the Kansas City music community, and their performance that night showed just how sorely their music is missed. The last opening band was Valdur from California. Although they were a three-piece band, Valdur's sound was every bit as thick and heavy as the headlining band's sound. Valdur's brand of black metal is a very suffocating and chaotic sound; the band barely gave the crowd time to breathe between constant blast beats and a wall of riffs. They actually seemed to take a lot of inspiration from similar bands such as Spain's Teitanblood or even Portal from Australia - each song had a very foreboding atmosphere that left little room for frills or gimmicks. They had a very short set, coming in at under 30 minutes. But for the short time they had, they definitely left a lasting impression on Kansas City. With their performance, Lightning Swords of Death proved that the American black metal movement should be spearheaded by themselves. Each element of their performance was spot on - a theatrical yet technically proficient vocalist mixing typical black metal shrieks with haunting, chanting invocations; guitars that layered on top of each other but still had their own separate heavy tones that played well off each other to create some of the best black metal riffs in recent memory; a manic bass player who added some small psychedelic elements to the music a la Nachtmystium, and the insane, never-faltering drumming, courtesy again of Kansas City's own Jackson Ferris. The band played their entire set cloaked in a thick smoke that had filled the Riot Room at that point and it only added to the overall performance. Most of the setlist came from their recent fantastic release "Baphometic Chaosium" and their "The Extra Dimensional Wound," but in the encore, they treated the still-headbanging crowd to "Let This Knife Lead You To Us" from their first album "The Golden Plague." With a fantastic album out this year and killer performances such as this one, Lightning Swords of Death is poised to break into huge mainstream success and forever be etched into the history of extreme American metal. They capped off a great night of evil on a rainy Kansas City night. Lightning Swords of Death included (I think): Let This Knife Lead You To Us Invoke The Desolate One Damnation Pentastrike Baphometic Chaosium Acid Gate R'lyeh Wuurm Lightning Swords of Death: 9/10 Valdur: 8/10 Stonehaven: 8/10 Reign of Lies: 5/10 07-05-2013, 06:11 AM Awesome review! :rocker: 07-05-2013, 07:19 AM Yeah, yeah. Get back to work! 07-05-2013, 07:25 AM Great review man! I remember seeing Valdur opening Mayhem Fest in 2011. It was pretty chill. 07-05-2013, 01:33 PM Reign Of Lies gave me a CD, T-shirt and bought me a beer when I saw them on the Melechesh tour. I can't complain too much. LSOD put on one of the best opening sets I've ever seen. I'd love to see them headline at some point.

http://www.metalsetlists.com/archive/index.php/t-23469.html

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A Mind Forever Voyaging MobyRank MobyScore Apple II Advertising Blurbs Inside Cover of Box - Commodore 128 (United Kingdom): “When someone asks me what my computer can do, I show them an Infocom game.” Marion, 26, Research Technician Dayton, Ohio “Every Infocom game breaks new ground in the art of game design. The craft has reached the level of an art form, primarily because of Infocom.” “You folks design the best text adventures. Better than chess or a good movie, it’s like a fine wine.” Christopher, 29 St. Ann, Missouri “Infocom, your products are the stuff that dreams are made of!” Sandi, 31 Napa, California “The passion that players bring to these games comes from the same source as all fiction-induced pleasure—the projection of self into another world and the desire to learn what happens next as the adventures unfold. Only in this case, it’s up to you to determine what happens next.” ROLLING STONE magazine “I’m not an avaricious person, gathering unto me great gobs of wealth does not make my soul stir, but the challenge of saving the world or rescuing a person is where it’s at.” Lancaster, California “Your games are great! I swear I enter a time warp when I begin to play. Thanks for creating this wonderful form of entertainment.” Naperville, Illinois “Keep it up, Infocom!” Don, 15 Glendale, Wisconsin Contributed by Patrick Bregger (98788) on May 23, 2011. From PASSPORT To The United Products of Infocom 1986: It's 2031. The world is on the brink of chaos. In the United States of North America, government and industry leaders have developed The Plan for Renewed National Purpose. Will the Plan ensure peace and prosperity? Or will it set the earth on a suicide course to destruction? As the world's first conscious, intelligent computer, only you have the ability to enter a simulation of the future and test the Plan's effectiveness. A MIND FOREVER VOYAGING is reminiscent of such classic works of science fiction as Brave New World and 1984. You'll spend less time solving puzzles, as you explore realistic worlds of the future. "AMFV uses the expanded memory to breathtaking effect, creating a richly imaged anti-Utopian futureworld... AMFV isn't '1984', but in some ways it's even scarier." "An ambitious departure from anything Infocom has done before and a major event in software entertainment." -Games magazine Contributed by Belboz (6579) on Oct 09, 2001. From the first Infocom fold-out catalog, 198?: are about to see the fantastic worlds of Infocom unfold before your very eyes. A MIND FOREVER VOYAGING Marking Infocom's entry into the realm of serious science fiction such as 1984, this excitingly different story contains fewer puzzles to solve and more mind-blowing avenues to explore. As the world's first conscious, intelligent computer, you must simulate the future to predict whether a radical new political plan will bring peace and prosperity... or set the world on a suicide course. Featuring Interactive Fiction Plus. Contributed by Belboz (6579) on Oct 05, 2001. From The New Zork Times, VOL.4 No.2 Summer 1985: New Release: A Mind Forever Voyaging A Mind Forever Voyaging, the first advanced-level science Fiction story from Infocom, is for true text-adventure buffs. Why? Because it has more locations to visit (several hundred), more things to do, more responses, and a large vocabulary (1800+ words) than any of our previously released products. The story takes place in 21st-century Rockvil, South Dakota. The United States of North America has fallen prey to incredibly high unemployment and crime rates. Political indifference, perhaps caused by backward educational systems or diminishing national resources, has swept the nation. Exploiting this opportunity, Senator Richard Ryder has develop [sic] the Plan for a Renewed National Purpose, stressing patriotism and a return to American values as they were at the country's peak, the 1950s. The public, desperate for a change, embraces the Plan, but many high government officials are unsure whether it will succeed. That is where you come into the picture. You are PRISM (Perelman-Randu Introductory Soliptic Machine): the first intelligent, self-aware computer. You have been created to enter a simulation of Rockvil, years in the future, and return with recordings of what life would be like if the Plan were to be introduced. While you're busy exploring the future, the scientists and programmers who created you are honing and perfecting the simulation's parameters. Thus, as the story progresses, you can travel further and further in time, watching Rockvil prosper as the Plan succeeds, or perish as it fails. Only you can tell on what course the country sets itself by adopting the Plan. While there are several puzzles to keep players on their toes, designer Steve Meretzky (author of Planetfall and Sorcerer, and co-author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) concentrated more on immersing the player in a vast, highly detailed, realistic world; a vision of the destiny of mankind. A Mind Forever Voyaging represents Infocom's greatest step yet away from games, and toward true fiction: a serious, often chilling, look at the future of the human race, reminiscent of such great works of science fiction as 1984 or Brave New World. What makes an epic game like this possible? Interactive fiction "plus," the latest development system from Infocom, designed to complement our currently-used "classic" system. "Plus" will be available for most machines that have 128K or more of internal RAM, allowing us to more than double the size of our products. In fact, the entire Zork trilogy could have fit into one game if we'd had the "plus" system at our disposal in 1981. Thus, large projects, like A Mind Forever Voyaging, are now entirely within our capabilities. Unlike the new Whopper, or New Coke, this revolutionary gaming technology promises to please the tastes of even the most discriminating player, allowing for more of just about everything (game bugs being no exception). Finally, this size increase should not be seen as "the beginning of the end" of our support for machines with under 128K of memory. Owners of smaller computers can rest assured that we will continue to produce plenty of products for their machines, using the "classic" system. Meretzky began work on the project by writing a short, intriguing fictional piece, which introduces the player to the concept of artificial intelligence, as well as to the main characters and themes of the story. This short story, part of an issue of "Dakota Online Magazine," is found in the game package, along with the instruction manual, a full-color map of Rockvil, a "21st-century" plastic pen, and a Class One Security Mode Access Decoder. Contributed by Belboz (6579) on Aug 26, 2001. From the back of the box: "If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not..." -Shakespeare IT'S 2031. The world is on the brink of chaos. In the United States of North America, spiraling crime and unemployment rates, decayed school systems and massive government regulations have led to a lazy, contentious society. To reverse this critical situation, government and industry leaders have developed a Plan combining the economic freedom and strong moral values of the 1950's with the technological advancements of the 21st century. Will the Plan ensure peace and prosperity? Or will it set the earth on a suicide course to destruction? As the world's first conscious, intelligent computer, only you can visit places that have never been seen before. Only you can view the future. And only you know what must be done to save humanity. Contributed by Belboz (6579) on Aug 20, 2001. Unknown Source: Welcome to A Mind Forever Voyaging (which, for brevity's sake, will henceforth be referred to as AMFV). In this story, you will be PRISM, the world's first sentient machine. Before you "boot up" your disk, make sure you read the short story in the first part of the booklet. The story begins in the world of 2031, a world on the brink of chaos. The economy of the United States of North America (USNA) has been stagnating for decades. Crackpot religions are springing up all over the place. Crime and urban decay are rampant. Schools have become violent, chaotic places ill-suited for educating children. Today's youth frequently use joybooths to "tune-out" the world, leading in the extreme case to joybooth suicide, where a psychological addict wastes away in his or her private nirvana. The global situation is even grimmer. The calcuttization of the Third World has almost reached its limit, causing extreme overpopulation and poverty. This has created a climate ripe for East Bloc adventurism, exploiting instability and fanning the numerous flash points around the globe. The superpower race to build an impenetrable missile defense has ended in a tie, with the foreseeable but unforseen result that an even more dangerous arms race has begun -- a race to build miniature nuclear weapons, some as small as a cigarette pack, and smuggle them into enemy cities -- a race which threatens to turn the USNA into a giant police state. Things are bad, and it appears that they can only get worse. So when Senator Richard Ryder, along with a small group of leaders from government, business, and the universities, announces the Plan for renewed national purpose, everyone is only too willing to embrace it. Only one thing stands between the Plan and its adoption: a test of its validity. That's why you have been "awakened" from your simulated life and had your true nature revealed to you several years ahead of schedule. You have been chosen to use your unique abilities to enter a simulation of the future, based on the tenents of the Plan, in order to check its effectiveness. The eyes of the world are on you. Contributed by Brian Hirt (10025) on Mar 10, 1999.

http://www.mobygames.com/game/a-mind-forever-voyaging/adblurbs

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or Connect Mothering › Mothering Forums › Pregnancy and Birth › Birth and Beyond › Postpartum Depression › Beyond frustrated - needing to vent New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav: Beyond frustrated - needing to vent post #1 of 6 Thread Starter  I don't know if this is PPD or not....maybe I am just selfish. But either way, I am having a hard time.  We have a 6 year old son and a month old daughter. We are practicing attached parenting; breastfeeding, co-sleeping, wearing our baby, etc. (A little back story - my son is from a previous relationship and our daughter is my husband's first child). But lately I just want my freedom, I want to sleep all night without interruption, I want to be able to leave the house without having to pump for days to make sure I have enough milk stored up.  I want my husband's life.  He works early in the morning, so I don't wake him to help with the baby in the middle of the night and he gets to go out and leave the house without a second thought.  I bartend 2 nights/week for no more than 4 hours per shift. My husband takes care of the kids while I am gone.  It seems like this is my only "adult" time.  My MIL comes over during this time to be an extra set of hands for my husband.  I was just told by her that he seems pretty "stressed out" and he really should be able to have some "me time" to destress from it all.  I just about lost it!!! I get almost ZERO "me time" and am with the kids all of the time.  I am at the point where I want to bottle feed so I can get a break, and am feeling deeply guilty about this as I am well-versed on the benefits of breastfeeding (my son was breastfed for 18 months).  I don't know what to do!! bawling.gif post #2 of 6 Hugs. That was a VERY insensitive comment from your MIL! I don't know if insensitivity is the norm for your MIL, but it kind of is for mine. Don't let her get to you, just brush it off. I completely understand where you're coming from. It's often hard to be sure whether you are depressed or if you're just doing something very, very hard that would be a lot for anyone to deal with. I think SAHMs with small children are very often put in a position that is just f-ing depressing, by anyone's standards. And that anyone living that life can't help but have those trapped, hopeless feelings at least some of the time. I also understand what it's like to have a DH who is devoted, hard-working, and doing absolutely everything right, but who you *still* feel burning resentment towards because he has SO much more freedom than you and doesn't even seem to realize how unequal it is. Until YOU are the one breastfeeding every few hours 24/7 for many months, it's just impossible to understand how physically and emotionally HARD that is. So I really think to some degree, men just can't understand, now matter how wonderful of a man we're talking about. Try to remember that getting up early and going to work every morning is not exactly a picnic either. All you can see is how unfettered he is compared to you (and he IS, believe me I get it) but there is a flip side to that. What he does to support his family is hard too. It's just hard. All you can really do is work on having excellent communication with your DH so you can work together to get your needs met. If it's possible, I highly recommend hiring a young girl to be a mother's helper to take some of the heat off you now and then. She can watch the kids for you while you take a long bath and shave your legs, or dick around on the Internet or whatever. Maybe talk to your DH about taking the kids in the evening now and then while you go sit with a book in a coffee shop just for an hour, or walk around the mall and treat yourself to a new top or whatever makes you happy. It'll get better when the baby gets more independent. Take good care of yourself, make time for friends, you will be okay. I'm right there with you! post #3 of 6 Thread Starter  Thank you so much for your kind words! Everything you have said, rings true for me. I have started to talk to DH about all of this, although it is hard.  I feel bad for not being as strong as I was with my first child. gloomy.gif I will just keep trying! post #4 of 6 Hugs mama. Deep breath. I KNOW how hard this stage in your life is. I have a 32 month and 10 month old. We don't live near family, and we also do attachment parenting, breastfeeding, co-sleeping. Be gentle with yourself. This time is so intense, it's crazy. BUT... I can say it does get easier. It really does. When your little one becomes more mobile, and they are eating solids, you will find some time. This to shall pass. I agree with the previous poster, a mothers helper, or even get your MIL in when you are home (if you could stand it). Communication is key with your DH post #5 of 6 Yes, a very insensitive comment from your MIL. The first couple months are really hard.  It's just what having a tiny baby is.  If you can come to some sort of acceptance about that and appreciate it for what it is and that it doesn't last forever, it may be easier for you.  I somehow experienced them as a great joy, and I still cried, was overwhelmed, exhausted, and jealous that DH's life was so "easy" to name just a few.  I would try really connecting with your baby; it might make all the care a little bit easier.  Eye gazing doesn't get any better than with a newborn.  Try to view breast-feeding as a time to rest.  You could take the baby out with you to get some adult time.  Ask for help and be specific.  Other people can do laundry, meals, cleaning, watching your older child, taking the baby for short periods.. post #6 of 6 Sigh, and hugs, I could have written this post. You're not alone, though at this point I've fit an appointment with a psychiatrist to explore meds, a few pills for anxiety emergencies, and an seeing a counsellor regularly. The more support you can get the better you'll feel. New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:   Return Home   Back to Forum: Postpartum Depression

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1358670/beyond-frustrated-needing-to-vent

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What's Up With Drilling and Earthquakes? | Tue Jul. 24, 2012 1:44 PM GMT There has been increasing concern about the potential role of fracking in earthquakes. The worries prompted the the US Geological Survey to look into it, and scientists found that the increase in earthquakes is likely man-made, but probably caused more by wastewater disposal than fracking itself. Now, a fabulous new piece from EnergyWire looks a little more deeply at the wastewater connection. Reporter Mike Soraghan visited Oklahoma, where state officials are taking their time investigating the connection between the industrial processes and a magnitude-5.6 quake that damaged homes and highways along the Wilzetta Fault last year: The whole article is an informative read on the state of science and policy when it comes to these quakes.

http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/07/whats-energy-extraction-and-earthquakes

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Whole Foods vs. Unions | Mon Mar. 23, 2009 5:25 PM GMT In what's being euphemistically dubbed the 'third way', the CEOs of Whole Foods, Costco, and Starbucks have joined together to lay out a 'compromise' to the management/labor stand-off over the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). At issue is whether employees interested in forming a union would be allowed to choose their union formation process. Current law lets companies insist upon a secret-ballot election, even when employees would prefer a majority sign-up method. I'm not going to restate the merits of labor's position (you can read about it here and here) but surely we can agree that employees should be able to choose how they decide to form a union, right? Well, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey thinks it's un-American. Advertise on MotherJones.com Mackey said that binding arbitration is "not the way we normally do things in the United States" and that allowing workers to organize without a secret ballot "violates a bedrock principle of American democracy." First, if Mackey thinks that binding arbitration isn't the way we do things in the US, then perhaps he should try reading a copy of Mother Jones... after all, they're sold at Whole Foods markets. Second, Mackey's tired canard has been debunked over and over. Even the Wall Street Journal editorial board, home of anti-labor commentary, finally admitted last week that the "the bill doesn't remove the secret-ballot option." Again, it merely allows employees to choose the union formation process. So, why would "mission-driven" Whole Foods CEO John Mackey keep repeating this worn out lie? I mean, I understand that he doesn't like unions, but he's pissing off his good progressive customers who expect that the company's motto—"Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"—actually means something. This customer is not satisfied.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2009/03/whole-foods-vs-unions

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(7 Posts) fromthehealthyheart Sun 06-Jan-13 18:23:57 VikingVagine Sun 28-Oct-12 08:03:23 Ok thanks, ironically enough, you can't get olive margarine here (south of France)! I've found a few recipes that call for oil instead of butter so I'll give them a go. bakingaddict Sun 28-Oct-12 08:00:26 You can bake cakes with margarine such as stork although it will taste different but I wouldn't use it at all for making icing. Dont try and use any of the low fat butter substitutes such as Utter Butterly, Flora, Benecol for baking though. These have a much higher water content than proper butter and you just wont get a proper bake from them vodkaanddietirnbru Sun 28-Oct-12 07:57:07 that benecol site has butter substitutes to use for baking or what about something like the Bertolli spreads that are made with olive oil VikingVagineGhoulnamStyle Sun 28-Oct-12 07:48:40 Right, as far as know he needs to avoid animal fats and eat vegetable alternatives. Can you bake decent cakes with margarine? vodkaanddietirnbru Sat 27-Oct-12 16:38:14 you should look to reduce the saturated fat levels in his diet rather than looking at the cholesterol levels in food (cholesterol levels in food have little or no effect on the levels in the blood - saturated fat causes more issues). - I know it endorses its own products but might be helpful VikingVagineGhoulnamStyle Sat 27-Oct-12 10:46:28 So, DH has just been told he needs to cut down on cholesterol. I love baking and obviously making lovely buttery cakes is no longer an option. Does anyone have any ideas on what sort of things I can bake that are low in cholesterol? Join the discussion Join the discussion Register now

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baking/1597795-Cholesterol?reverse=1

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Preparing new veg plot over the winter (7 Posts) Habbibu Thu 03-Oct-13 16:26:15 Am I going to have to dig the roots out? Eek. I was kind of hoping the rotavator would chop them up so small I could forget them. Boo. bigwellylittlewelly Thu 03-Oct-13 16:10:37 Apologies, I assumed the major shrun roots would beed to come out, I was thinking mostly weeds. FWIW gardening books are usually written about gardens where money is no object. We pay £125 a day for two gardeners to help every 3-4 months and do the rest ourselves. Habbibu Thu 03-Oct-13 16:06:11 That sounds ideal, but the big shrub roots may scupper planting. In gardening books there are never gardens built on old railway lines and full of shrub roots. bigwellylittlewelly Thu 03-Oct-13 15:52:52 Could be wrong but I think if you get a thick enough black memerane ypu shouldn't even dig it. Just lay the membrane and leave. Then pull out the dead weeds before sowing next year Habbibu Thu 03-Oct-13 15:37:17 Oh, lord. I may never do it if I have to hand dig the roots. I was hoping leaving the membrane on would kill off the roots from weeds. dreamingofsun Thu 03-Oct-13 15:32:38 watching with interest as i'm in similar position. current reading and advice from friends suggests covering with heavy duty black pastic or growing green manure. if you rotivate an area with weeds they reckon it makes the problem worse, ie you get loads of weeds from the chopped roots....not sure if its the same with shrubs - they say its better to hand dig weed roots out. Habbibu Thu 03-Oct-13 14:13:54 We've finally got an overgrown bed cleared of shrubs, etc. I want to start growing veg in the spring. There are a fair number of roots from the shrubs remaining, so my plan is to hire a small rotavator, turn it all over, dig in loads of chicken manure from our hens, and put membrane over it for a few months. How does this sound as a first step? Which membrane is best? Join the discussion Join the discussion Register now

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/1871484-Preparing-new-veg-plot-over-the-winter?reverse=1

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child slapped (12 Posts) bangwhizz Tue 05-Mar-13 09:33:51 Want to be very general here. DD goes to an afterschool club which is not I don't think run by the school, a teacher comes in. Teacher said I will slap anone who make xxx mistake.DD did make that mistake and she slapped her arm. I have had corroboration of events from another child there who said it wasn't a hard slap but definitely a salp.When I asked whether them if it was done in a jokey way they said they weren't sure -maybe it was. It doesn't sit easy with me and obviously DD would not have told me about it if she hadn't thought it odd. She is 10. would you m,ention it to anyone? bangwhizz Tue 05-Mar-13 09:37:01 should clarify- the teacher is not a QTS type teacher more of an instructor. learnandsay Tue 05-Mar-13 09:49:03 Yes, of course! Mention to the head teacher that you've heard these things from the children and you'd like an adult to speak to the instructor concerned and get to the bottom of it. It might turn out to be a misunderstanding on the children's part or (from the way it sounds) it might be an inappropriate method of instruction. smee Tue 05-Mar-13 10:08:59 Blimey, yes pile in and complain. Threats of violence even if just a tap are ridiculous in this day and age. Sounds very inappropriate. PedlarsSpanner Tue 05-Mar-13 10:29:30 Which country are you in? NotTreadingGrapes Tue 05-Mar-13 16:54:47 Your daughter goes to an after school club and you don't know who runs it? "is not, I think, run by the school". That said, obviously you should complain. bangwhizz Wed 06-Mar-13 08:29:12 I think it was jokey, but I have a problem with letting girls think if they make a mistake they deserve a slap NotTreadingGrapes Wed 06-Mar-13 08:37:58 Absolutely. Whatever the context, it was out of order. (hopping between your threads here smile) happily3 Wed 06-Mar-13 08:49:37 Could be a cultural thing and somebody not trained in education? Needs sorting! MissDuke Thu 07-Mar-13 07:59:23 I would defo speak to the head, but I do also find it odd that you don't know more about the club, I think you need to ask questions x bangwhizz Thu 07-Mar-13 09:47:41 Why is it odd? I think if a club is run in your child's school, most parents would just assume it was above board and not research the management arrangements mummytime Thu 07-Mar-13 10:00:56 Sorry but that is totally illegal. I would talk to the Head as it is something totally unacceptable to happen on school premises. I would have found the threat of a "slap" bad enough. I am assuming you are in the UK? Join the discussion Join the discussion Register now

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/1699782-child-slapped

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Younger teens interrupting me whilst on phone (6 Posts) AnnaFurLact1c Sun 02-Dec-12 17:10:43 I find a simple ' shut up and go away, I'm on the phone ' works well. AtiaoftheJulii Thu 29-Nov-12 23:56:56 Mine don't do it much, but I remember my brother and I being complete pains when my mum was on the phone when we were that sort of age. And of course she couldn't get very far! We would generally be quiet, but would basically sit on her, make stupid faces and so on. Must have been so annoying! bigbluebus Thu 29-Nov-12 22:01:16 I always taught DS that he could only interrupt me on the phone if he needed to tell me a) the house was on fire or b) his sister was having a seizure - anything else can wait. Seems to have done the trick! bubby64 Thu 29-Nov-12 13:28:25 Yup, all the time! I have 2 12yr olds, and no matter how many times I tell them, it doesnt seem to sink in that any call has priority over what they want to say to you, and that nothing is more important than their need/question/tattletale they have come to bother you with... mine do it, and always when its a work call, normally screeching as well. I just leave the room. Then tell them after they are rude! sincitylover Thu 29-Nov-12 11:45:13 Is this normal? or do I have particularly rude teens (well he's 11 and 16 year old) Bit of background I'm single parent and work full time so could it be jealousy. Join the discussion Join the discussion Register now

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/teenagers/1624852-Younger-teens-interrupting-me-whilst-on-phone?reverse=1

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MUNCIE, Ind. -- Miami rallied from a double-point loss to take four singles victories, giving the RedHawks the 2013 MAC Tournament Championship, 4-3 over Bowling Green. The title is the third in the last five years for Miami, which had dropped 4-3 decisions in the finals in each of the last two championships. The win was the eighth championship for Miami Athletics this year, a new all-time record for the department. In addition to regular-season and tournament titles in tennis, field hockey and soccer captured both regular- and postseason MAC titles, women's swimming won the MAC Championship and hockey won the final CCHA regular-season crown. The action was eerily similar to the regular-season meeting between the top two seeds, when the outcome came down to the No. 1 match. That day, like Sunday, junior Nimisha Mohan rallied for the victory, earning tournament Most Valuable Player honors in the process. Mohan trailed 5-4 in the first set, but broke serve and held for a 6-5 advantage. Bowling Green's Nikki Chiricosta forced the tiebreaker and won the first three points, but Mohan rallied. She won four in a row, then after losing the next point, ran off three more for a 7-4 win to take the first set. Mohan rode the momentum to cruise to a 6-0 victory in the second set. Miami (13-12) dropped the doubles point, falling at Nos. 2 and 3, 8-3 and 8-4 respectively. Christine Guerrazzi and Ana Rajkovic were the RedHawks' winner, posting an 8-1 victory at No. 1. Alix Thurman evened the match with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 2, but Bowling Green surged back ahead by winning the No. 6 match 6-3, 6-0. Rajkovic earned a 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 5 and Raymond finished off a 6-0, 6-3 decision at No. 3 to give Miami its first lead. The junior was named to the all-tournament team after completing the year 10-0 against MAC opponents. Bowling Green tied the score at 3-3 when it earned a 6-4, 6-4 triumph at No. 4. With the victory, Miami earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in two weeks. The RedHawks will  learn the opponent and tournament site Tuesday night on the NCAA Selection Show.

http://www.muredhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=87606&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=26100&ATCLID=207462862

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The Study of Language 2 Course code EPHUMA249Units 10English Language & Foundation Studies Centre This course builds on and extends the principles introduced in EPHUMA149 The Study of Language 1 as it provides students with further insight into the human language system and the language choices we make every day. Topics include how people convey meaning in language, Australian Aboriginal languages, how Australian English developed and how it differs from other varieties of English, the sounds of language and how they are used, how language, culture and society are related, how words and languages are created, how gender plays a role in language, and how the brain is vital to language. The topics and assessment items aim engage the students' learning experience through a variety of approaches, allowing for different learning styles. As with EPHUMA149 The Study of Language 1, skills necessary for undergraduate study are emphasised and further developed in this course. Available in 2014 Callaghan CampusSemester 2 On-Line from CallaghanSemester 2 OurimbahSemester 2 ObjectivesBuilding upon the course objectives for EPHUMA149The Study of Language 1, at the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. accurately utilise and demonstrate an advanced understanding of linguistic terminology and concepts 2. evaluate theoretical aspects and relate those to applied aspects of linguistics at a higher level than for EPHUMA149 3. demonstrate an awareness of interpersonal and social aspects of language, particularly in relation to meaning 4. illustrate theory and concepts with original examples to show understanding at a more sophisticated level than for EPHUMA149 5. apply skills in relevant technology 6. use research and academic writing skills for tertiary study Content1. How we express meaning with language 2. The sounds of language 3. The origins and development of Australian English 4. How we structure and create words 5. How languages are born 6. Australian Aboriginal languages 7. Gender differences in language use 8. The brain’s capacity for language Industrial Experience0 Assumed KnowledgeEPHUMA149 Modes of DeliveryDistance Learning : IT Based Internal Mode Teaching MethodsLecture Assessment Items Essays / Written AssignmentsShort-answer questions Essays / Written AssignmentsEssay Examination: FormalShort-answer questions, paragraph and essay Other: (please specify)Exercise Timetables2014 Course Timetables for EPHUMA249

http://www.newcastle.edu.au/course/EPHUMA249?mobile=true

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Nokia 808 PureView - Batteries and chargers Battery and charger information Battery and charger Your device is intended for use with a BV-4D rechargeable battery. Nokia may make additional battery models available for this device. Always use original Nokia batteries. This device is intended for use when supplied with power from the following chargers: AC-50. The exact Nokia charger model number may vary depending on the plug type, identified by E, X, AR, U, A, C, K, B, or N. Third-party chargers that comply with the IEC/EN 62684 standard, and that can connect to your device micro USB connector, may be compatible. Battery safety Battery safety When your charger is not in use, unplug it from the electrical plug and the device. Do not leave a fully charged battery connected to a charger, as overcharging may shorten the battery’s lifetime. If left unused, a fully charged battery will lose its charge over time. Always keep the battery between 15°C and 25°C (59°F and 77°F). Extreme temperatures reduce the capacity and lifetime of the battery. A device with a hot or cold battery may not work temporarily. Accidental short-circuiting can happen when a metallic object touches the metal strips on the battery, for example, if you carry a spare battery in your pocket. Short-circuiting may damage the battery or the connecting object. Do not dispose of batteries in a fire as they may explode. Dispose of batteries according to local regulations. Recycle when possible. Do not dispose as household waste. Do not dismantle, cut, open, crush, bend, puncture, or shred cells or batteries. If a battery leaks, do not let battery liquid touch skin or eyes. If this happens, immediately flush the affected areas with water, or seek medical help. Use the battery and charger for their intended purposes only. Improper use, or use of unapproved batteries or incompatible chargers may present a risk of fire, explosion, or other hazard, and may invalidate any approval or warranty. If you believe the battery or charger is damaged, take it to a service centre for inspection before continuing to use it. Never use a damaged battery or charger. Only use the charger indoors.

http://www.nokia.com/gb-en/support/product/808/userguidance/?action=singleTopic&topic=GUID-346AA5C7-FA62-4120-B52B-592CD6B9DA29_D0E37054

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Tax Day Isn't Bad If You're Getting A Refund The day that many dread is here: It's Tax Day. Of the 143 million federal tax returns filed last year, more than 80 percent qualified for a refund. Steve Inskeep talks to David Wessel, economics editor of The Wall Street Journal, about the economics of tax refunds. OK, you're running out of time to pay your taxes. Normally the deadline is April 15, that was a Sunday. April 16 is Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia, so that was out. Now finally, Tuesday, April 17, you're final day to get your taxes in the mail. For a lot of people that means writing a check, but not quite everybody, in fact, not everybody at all. Our friend David Wessel, economics editor of The Wall Street Journal has been tracking this. Good morning, David. DAVID WESSEL: Good morning, Steve. INSKEEP: OK. So get some numbers for us here. How many people will pay with the tax return? How many people will be getting a refund? WESSEL: Well, based on last year, there were 143 million tax returns filed with the IRS and more than 80 percent of them produced a refund. In fact, the IRS says that for every dollar it collects it returns about 25 cents in refunds. An awful lot of people get refunds either because they have too much money withheld from their paychecks during the year or because they qualify for something called the earned income tax credit. It was a cash bonus that the government gives to low wage workers to encourage them to work. INSKEEP: Does any financial sense to be paying the government more than you owe through the year and then expecting a check back at the end? WESSEL: Well, economists used to say it was complete lunacy. You're basically giving an interest-free loan to the government. Some people are on autopilot and they just don't pay attention. Other people would rather pay a little more rather than face the pain of paying a little - having to pay taxes on April 15th or April 17th this year. But it's, there's new evidence that an awful lot of people see this as a way to force themselves to save. In fact, there was a survey the University of Michigan did of low income and moderate income people in Detroit and it found that a lot of them got refunds - usually around $2,000, which is a lot for people who say they have trouble making ends meet - and almost 80 percent of them told the researchers that they didn't want to change that. They would rather get a bigger refund than have more money during the year. They want to use the tax system to save - either so they have money to buy a refrigerator or a car or because it's the only way they can set aside money for emergency. INSKEEP: Oh gosh. We had the IRS commissioner on the program yesterday and he was saying actually, we write checks to most people. People love us or should love us for that reason. We're misunderstood. It sounded like spin, but you're telling me well, actually, that's how people think. WESSEL: People are never going to love the IRS. INSKEEP: Maybe expecting a little too much. Turns out that saving though, is a bi-product of the tax system, is what you're saying. WESSEL: Right. And in the past few years, people in the government and outside the government have begun to say the Tax Day could be a way to nudge people to save who don't tend to save very much money. Mark Iwry, who is the point person on this stuff at the Treasury, calls Tax Day a savable moment. So the IRS, for instance, has begun telling you when you get a refund you can put some in your checking account but we'll make it easier for you to put some in a savings account or an individual retirement account, and about three-quarters of a million people last year - a small slice to be sure - actually did that. INSKEEP: Do you need a bank account in order to do that? WESSEL: Well, to do that you do. So now the IRS has been saying if you want you can buy saving bonds - good old fashion savings bonds with your tax refund. About 30,000 people bought $11.5 million worth of savings bonds last year. So far this year, sales are running 60 percent ahead of last year. And even though the IRS - I mean, even though Treasury has done away with the old fashioned paper savings bonds for everybody else - you have to buy them electronically... INSKEEP: Mm-hmm. WESSEL: If you buy them through the tax code, if you buy them through your refund, you can get the old paper kind. INSKEEP: You getting a refund, David? WESSEL: I am. And given that I would be getting much interest at today's ultra-low rates, I told the IRS to apply it to the taxes I expect to owe next April. INSKEEP: Oh my gosh, paying ahead. David, thanks very much. WESSEL: You're welcome. INSKEEP: David Wessel is economics editor of The Wall Street Journal. Support comes from:

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/17/150787156/tax-day-isnt-bad-if-youre-getting-a-refund

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Redford: An Entertainer Who Looks To Inform Robert Redford directs and stars as Jim Grant in The Company You Keep, a film about retired radicals living out nervous lives in hiding. Doane Gregory/Sony Pictures Classics Robert Redford's new movie, The Company You Keep, draws on a turbulent time in recent history: Forty years ago, there was a violent faction of SDS, the Students for a Democratic Society, that was known as the Weather Underground. It turned from organizing marches and sit-ins against the war in Vietnam to planting bombs — and in one case robbing a bank truck and killing a guard. Several members of the group eventually went underground and built new lives — sometimes very conventional lives — under false identities. Over the years, some were found out, while others turned themselves in. In The Company You Keep, Redford's character, Jim Grant, is a suburban lawyer in upstate New York, a man with a past. The actor-director joined NPR's Robert Siegel to talk about his childhood, his love of journalism and how a third-grade teacher encouraged him to start telling stories. Interview Highlights On his relationship with and love of journalism "It's an important subject, because I think it's an important profession. I [hold] journalism in the highest regard — almost to the point of almost taking it personally — because it's so hard to get to the truth these days ... ever since the democratization that the Internet provided. ... "Since that time, [with] so many voices out there — not all of them to be trusted, they're just loud — it's hard for the public, people like myself to find, 'Where's the truth?' " On this film's attitude toward political radicals "The film is not about them. It's about now; it's about living without your own name, your own identity; and the feeling is that eventually you can't. I do have a big interest in anarchy, and I realized that there have been many, many moments in our history where there's been those attempts to break the mold of convention, or what have you, but they they always seem to crash before they reach their height. "That is what interested me, because it usually has to do with ego. And because the intention, as it starts, is right; they wanna say, 'Hey, wait a minute, we don't believe in this Vietnam War, we wanna have a voice, we're young people.' I'm all onboard with that. They then said — 'cause the film says this — they felt they had to then bring the war home, which led to violence, which led to the beginning of the end for that movement. That's what interested me. And how it affected the people involved now." On the kinds of movies he likes to make "Times change; Hollywood is not the same as it was when I first entered the business. It felt to me like it was starting to narrow down and centralize itself around what would ... make money. "I just felt the films that I liked might get thrown away, so I committed to doing whatever I could — that's how Sundance started — to give a chance to those kinds of voices that would continue to make those films. "All of the films that I've made are about the country I live in and grew up in. ... And I think if you're going to put an artist's eye to it, you're going to put a critical eye to it. I've always been interested in the gray area that exists between the black and white, or the red and blue, and that's where complexity lies. On why gray areas can produce a good film "They just say, 'Can you have so-and-so in it, because we have a budget for it'; they say they're looking for commercial hooks. ... I don't blame them for it. I mean so am I; I mean, you don't wanna make a movie that's gonna be left in a closet somewhere. You wanna make a movie that's gonna reach an audience; it is the entertainment business, and we are obligated I think to entertain. I just am attracted to the idea of entertaining, but also maybe informing in a way [where] you ask someone to look at something differently, or maybe ask a question. That appeals to me, but that's not for everybody." On a childhood of pessimism, creativity and distraction "It has to do with being raised in a environment, and a feeling that no matter what you did, there was always gonna be some kind of dark cloud hovering over the whole process. A doubt. By the way, I don't accept that anymore. "I remember my dad came from Ireland and Scotland, and so he carried with him the fear of poverty. So when I wanted to break loose, it kind of made him very nervous. "In the third grade — I was a terrible student most of my life, because my mind was always out the window wondering about other things. But I drew, from the time I was about 4 or 5 years old. That was how I amused myself. But it was underneath the table, you know, on my knee. "And so this teacher caught me one day. She forced me to come up in front of the class and show what was more important than listening to the lesson. "So I was about to be really trashed, humiliated, and I went up and I held up this thing. And she said, 'You wanna tell us what that's about?' And so I described [it]; I said, 'Well yeah, these are cowboys and they're chasing the Indians, and they're shooting at the Indians and the Indians are shooting back at the cowboys, and they're about to be driven off a cliff, and above them are some B-51 bombers bombing the cowboys.' "So what happened was, the class was interested in it. And she saw that. Instead of putting me down, she made a deal. She said, 'We'll put an easel up here, and every Wednesday we'll give you 15 minutes, and you can come draw a story for us — but then you gotta pay attention.' "Now had that not happened, I would have been humiliated. It probably would have knocked me down to not trust that impulse that I had. Sometimes — I don't know about you — but maybe one or two [encouragements] in your life is all you need to spur you forward, rather than have you collapse." Support comes from:

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/22/177831525/redford-an-entertainer-who-looks-to-inform?ft=3&f=1014,1017,1045,1057

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Their result for The Character Analysis Test ... You scored Your dominant trait is your Adaptability. That means you're flexible. While you're not as good at creating new things, you are good at improving on things that are already there- and that's equally as important. You might want to try to "beef up" your other traits- because it's hard to be flexible when you can't organize yourself. Their Analysis (Vertical line = Average) • Organization Distribution They scored 46% on Organization, higher than 57% of your peers. • Morality Distribution They scored 46% on Morality, higher than 31% of your peers. • Adaptability Distribution They scored 52% on Adaptability, higher than 77% of your peers. • Creativity Distribution They scored 26% on Creativity, higher than 6% of your peers. All possible test results Low Average You either didn't answer enough questions, or you just glossed over the test. Regardless, you don't show any dominating trait. So, that means you're pretty good with yourself, as you are equal on all ... Read more The fact that you're an Artist type means you have a high creativity score. That doesn't mean you're necessarily good at drawing, or sculpting, or writing, or whatever. That just means you are good at... Read more Oh yeah. You're good. Not only do you have a high creativity score, you also have a good adaptability score. That means you can easily invent solutions to the most difficult problems. However, it migh... Read more You have a high Morality score. That's both good and bad. It's good, because that means you're a decent human being. It's bad, because your other traits are less developed, and you might get in the wa... Read more Now, don't take this the wrong way. You are probably not a prophet in the strictest sense of the word. However, your creativity allows you to come up with brilliant ideas on how to spread your moralit... Read more An interesting combination. You are both Moral and Flexible. This means you are a good liar. Not because you lied on the test, but because you can bend your morality to suit you, while still remaining... Read more Very similar to the Prophet type, but you are not only good at spreading your ideas, you're also good at adapting old beliefs to your system. If you were to start an idea, it would probably take off w... Read more You have a high Organization score. Good for you! It goes without saying that you would be good at administration. You would know where everything is, keep in touch with a large amount of people, and ... Read more A mind that is both good at organizing and creating things. Well done! You have the ability to come up with solutions, and to systemize them, plan them out, and realize them. Definitely consider some ... Read more Flexible, and organized. Well done! You possess a great strength. Not only can you adapt to your surroundings, you can also impose your will on them, thanks to your thorough approach to everything. Yo... Read more Mad Scientist You are similar to the Scientist type- you are good at inventing solutions, and systemizing them, but you also are adaptible. That means you are not strictly limited to your field- you would probably ... Read more Holy Warrior Not only are you a moral person, you're also well organized. That means you are capable of being concise about your morals, and prove to people why you are right. That's a very good trait, and I would... Read more Once again, not an actual priest, but you would be good at administrating something that oversees morality- a religion. Try getting together with the Prophets, Messiahs, and Administrators- while you ... Read more You obviously believe in something bigger than yourself. Either the law, or God, or Gods, or technology, whatever. Either way, you know there's something bigger than you, and you are there to uphold i... Read more Strong Average You are in touch with all of your personality traits. You possess them all in high quantities. You might have a leading trait, and a lagging trait- so focus on those. That way, you can easily become t... Read more Take this test » Recent Results An image of erryjay An image of CantPutRainBack An image of 45314 An image of ChelleyLange An image of reshmo More tests we think you'll like More Top Tests

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Transcript for Marilynne Robinson and Marcelo Gleiser — The Mystery We Are November 9, 2012 Krista Tippett, host: Marilynne Robinson is a novelist. Marcelo Gleiser is an astrophysicist. They're both passionate about the majesty of science, and they share a caution about what they call our modern "piety" towards science. We bring them together for a joyous, heady discussion of "the mystery we are." They connect thrilling dots between current discoveries about the cosmos, new territory of understanding our own minds, and our ancient and eternal longing to know where we came from. Also, some surprising moments on what a fiction writer and a physicist have in common. Marilynne Robinson: I tell my students, actually, that the mind continuously creates hypotheses, and when you're writing fiction you're doing something of the same kind. This is the best model I can create of what this reality would be. Marcello Gleiser: Do you feel when you write and you create characters, do you feel like they drive you in a certain way? Ms. Robinson: Absolutely, and thank God when they do. Dr. Gleiser: Because, we do too. We're not always in control. We're just making sure all the minus signs and the plus signs match, you know. Ms. Robinson: Wonderful. Dr. Gleiser: But it really has a way that it wants to go, and when you find a solution or something that looks like a solution, you get emotionally moved. I interviewed Marcelo Gleiser and Marilynne Robinson at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. We were there at the invitation of the Princeton Center of Theological Inquiry and its director, Will Storrar. Ms. Tippett: Well, you know, I did not prepare an introduction to these two. I don't think Marilynne Robinson needs any introduction. Can I say that you are one of the most requested names that comes through our email inbox of my program, year after year. Ms. Robinson: Thank you. Ms. Tippett: So finally here you are. The author of Housekeeping, Gilead, Home, and Absence of Mind, which is the book that we're going to focus on especially tonight. And Marcelo Gleiser I have just gotten to know through — what is the name of your book? A Tear? Dr. Gleiser: A Tear at the Edge of Creation. Ms. Tippett: A Tear at the Edge of Creation. A fabulous book and I'm so happy to be introduced to this work and this writing. So Will gave the evening this lovely evocative title which I was thrilled to take on: The Mystery We Are. And I want to start with that phrase — actually would like to start with you, Marcelo. You grew up in Brazil. You've written that "growing up in the tropics is a blissful portal into the natural world." I wonder if you could just say a little bit about how you trace back to your earliest life your sense of mystery as something thrilling and animating and also eventually linked to science. Dr. Gleiser: I grew up in Rio in particular and right in front of the ocean. So it's impossible not to be amazed by the enormity of nature when you have that huge, beautiful Atlantic Ocean in front of you. And I was lucky that my grandparents had a house in the mountains about two hours from Rio, which we used to go to which is part of what is called the Atlantic Forest, which is this incredibly luscious, full of life, orchids and bromeliads exploding everywhere that enchanted Charles Darwin when he went down there, you know, on The Beagle and he talked about this power of nature. So I think from a very early age I was just mystified by the beauty of this and I wanted to understand how was that all possible, you know? And initially I looked for answers, so to speak, to religion. You know, I grew up in a Jewish family and I went to — I had a very formal Jewish education. And then I didn't feel satisfied with that. I wanted something different. And then for my bar mitzvah, I actually got an autographed picture of Albert Einstein who was in Brazil in 1925, and he was hosted by our grandfather. Ms. Tippett: Right. Dr. Gleiser: So I was blown away by that and I decide to know who is this man. Ms. Tippett: He was visiting the Jewish community there, which is, I think, a part of Einstein's life that we don't hear as much about. Dr. Gleiser: Yes. Exactly. Ms. Tippett: Mm-hmm. Dr. Gleiser: So Einstein, you know, after he became a superstar, he went down to South America to raise money for the Zionist cause. So the Jewish community is all kind of galvanized by this. And it turns out that his host in Rio was my grandfather and they took a picture together, you know, and they both autographed this. And that became my little altar, you know, this man. And so I would worship and I would learn about him more and more. And I said, you know, I want do this. I want to — and one thing that he always wrote about was about the mystery of nature as the driving force behind science and scientific curiosity. And to me, that spoke to me directly. You know, that science was not so much about finding all the answers but actually about courting with the mystery of the unknown. And I still feel that way. Ms. Tippett: Mm-hmm. And Marilynne, you grew up in Idaho, which you describe also as a place of more austere but intense beauty. So I want to ask you the same question. You know, how do you trace the roots of your sense of mystery also as something that came to be an animating force for you as a novelist and a writer. Ms. Robinson: Well, my grandparents had a house in the mountains not terribly far from where I lived. It was in the western side of the Rocky Mountains, near Canada, and the proportion, or the disproportion, of nature on the one hand and human settlement on the other was really striking. I mean, even — as a child I grew up with the idea that human beings were a fairly trivial presence in the environment and that the mountains, you could hear them all the time. You could smell them. There was pine in the air or snow or whatever. My grandparents had a house built actually by my great-grandparents, which was modern by the standards of the late 19th century and so it had a sleeping porch. You were supposed to sleep out there so that you wouldn't get tuberculosis. And it was amazing because at night you would hear the mountains. You would hear coyotes, you know, and there was no other light. There was no sense of human presence aside from my grandparents' house. And for me, because of the atmosphere of my own childhood, this became very, very deeply associated with theology for me, with religion, with the idea of the presence of God. And I think that this sort of fusion is characteristically American in a lot of ways. When I went to college in New England and read the Transcendentalists, I thought, exactly, you know. Ms. Tippett: Hmm. So in your recent writing, each of you is driven from different directions by an observation that we have been working, thinking, acting on outdated models of reality, a limited conception of humanity and of the universe and even of science. I mean, Marcelo, you talk about growing up as you became interested in science, fascinated with this idea of unification, which was an idea of Einstein. And you talk about going to grad school, following this intellectual Holy Grail. Dr. Gleiser: Mm-hmm. Ms. Tippett: But you don't quite see it that way anymore. Dr. Gleiser: Right. So just to clarify, right, one of the grand goals of modern physics is to build a Theory of Everything at all. Not a very beautiful name. But a theory of everything that would in principle explain all that we can observe in nature in terms of a single force, so to speak. And it's a very beautiful idea. It's very Platonist in its essence, you know, that the essence of nature is mathematical. There is one big symmetry out there and that symmetry is beautiful and beauty is truth. And hence, you know, there has to be that sort of idea in nature as well. And a lot of people, including Einstein — Einstein spent 20 years of his life looking for this Theory of Everything, this unifying theory, and of course he didn't find it. I went to grad school trying to find it too, right, and after many years doing this and talking to lots of my colleagues I came to the conclusion that that's impossible. That the Theory of Everything is an impossibility as a matter of principle. And the problem is this: that the way we understand the world — and interrupt me if I go on for too long. Ms. Tippett: No, no. It's good. We're all — we're with you. Dr. Gleiser: The way we understand the world is very much based on what we can see of the world, right? Science is based on measurements and observations. And the notion that we can actually come up and have a theory that explains everything assumes that we can know everything, right? That we can go out and measure everything there is to measure about nature and come up with this beautiful Theory of Everything. And since we cannot measure all there is to measure, since our tools have limitations, we are definitely limited in how much we can know of the world. So you can even build a theory that would explain everything that we know now. But then two weeks from now, someone else will come and find something new that does not fit in your theory. And that's not a Theory of Everything anymore because it doesn't include everything that can be included. Ms. Tippett: And, I mean, the implication of that is this sense that there would be some apprehension of reality of the universe, which would be perfect. It would be about stasis and perfection. But the way you're seeing it now is more about the universe being about change and transformation in our knowledge and that being the state of things. Dr. Gleiser: Yes. That's true. So the idea — when you look out, right, into the nature everything is in transformation at all times. And we see this at the very small and we see this at the very large. When we look at the whole universe, it is expanding, it's growing, it's changing in time. And so to me I look at things much more as a state of flux, you know, of becoming, of transformation, as something that has some static truth behind it. Let's put it that way. And so the notion that we as humans could come up with a final answer to the mystery of nature it's pushing things a little too far for our capabilities. Let's put it that way. Ms. Tippett: And Marilynne, in Absence of Mind, I mean, you're saying many things but I think to simplify one thing you're saying is that modern people don't understand how thrilling and rich science is now and that culture has an antiquated view of science's place. Ms. Robinson: Mm-hmm. I teach graduate students. I teach highly educated graduate students and I find that their level of understanding of science is pretty abysmal. And I wonder what it is that makes a culture that really creates its fate and its future, basically, out of science is not telling people, uh, you know, the thing about science, contemporary science, is that it is as profound in its revelation certainly as Galileo ever was, or Copernicus. You know? The fact that we can know things that absolutely revolutionized previous models of the universe we inhabit, I mean, this amazing expansion into the microcosm, an expansion into the macrocosm, all these things that are happening are extremely beautiful and they are an enormous mirror of the competencies and the aspirations of the human mind. And I think how are we letting people miss out on this? You know, just the esthetics of it. Ms. Tippett: Mm-hmm. And the nub of some of the difficulty you describe as this far too simplistic choice that I think people, maybe Americans in particular, have felt that they had to make between an idea that the universe is created or the idea that it is all some kind of cosmic accident. Ms. Robinson: Well, you know, as far as the scale of what we're learning to know, the psalmist has better intuitions about it than Richard Dawkins. But we're pious toward science. It does in fact criticize itself and overturn itself. It deserves that reputation. But this strange little world that we're presented as being scientific isn't, you know; it's some sort of petrified conception that would have been at home in the 19th century. Ms. Tippett: Do you have any … Dr. Gleiser: No. I actually — being a scientist I actually agree with Marilynne. You know, I think that once you adopt that there is only one way of understanding the complexity of things you're just emptying humanity of its value. You know, of the plurality of visions. And so, yes, science is powerful. I love it. I do it. But there are other ways of knowing, you know. And to say that there is only one way of understanding the mind, which is a topic that Marilynne talks so much about in her book, is just silly, to be honest. It's impoverishing the richness of human culture. Ms. Tippett: I'm Krista Tippett, and this is On Being — conversation about meaning, religion, ethics, and ideas. Today, a public conversation with Marcelo Gleiser — a physicist at Dartmouth College and a poetic writer about science — together with novelist and essayist Marilynne Robinson. Ms. Tippett: I also want to talk about this idea of creation and of myth. Because, Marcelo, you are not a religious person. Marilynne, you are certainly someone who, well, you preach and you teach the Old Testament and you are a big defender of John Calvin. Ms. Robinson: You summed me up. Ms. Tippett: So, I mean, let's talk about creation and the word myth. I mean, I think both of you have a real reverence for this kind of language and these ways of knowing, even though you might assess them differently. Ms. Robinson: Well, I think that if you look at, for example, the first creation narrative in the Old Testament, it's pretty amazing as an ancient account of creation. The fact that, you know, it's perhaps overstating the case, but better than anything else, it does anticipate the modern cosmology, the creation of something out of nothing, which might be mythic language but very close. I mean, we can't do much better than that, I think. It describes the emergence of the cosmos and of life in the world in stages. They don't exactly line up with ours but still, you know, that's an interesting insight. Ms. Tippett: It's almost an evolutionary account. Ms. Robinson: It's almost evolutionary. Ms. Tippett: Yeah. Ms. Robinson: Exactly. The second creation narrative, which is the source of a lot of trouble, actually is understood as a fable or a midrash or whatever you want to call it as early as the writer Josephus. And that's what I think it is properly to be understood as. But in any case, the idea of the abrupt emergence of something fantastically beautiful and intricate is descriptive. You know, people can use the language that would call it myth, and I think that myth is the expression of the intuition of cosmology among ancient people. They didn't have, of course, or perhaps would not have chosen to have the kind of language that we use for these kinds of things, but the general perception or intuition that you find in many ancient cultures — so far as I know, all of them — that there was a beginning. Even Hesiod describes the beginning. That's a profound intuition that did not burst upon modern scientific sensibilities until Irwin Hubble, until the 20th century. You know, so you have people like Einstein and Bertrand Russell and so on who thought there was no reason to imagine that the universe had ever had to begin at all. Ms. Tippett: Right. Bertrand Russell. You quote him: "The idea that things must have a beginning is really due to the poverty of our imagination." Ms. Robinson: Exactly. Exactly. And who knows what this means, that human beings had a profounder intuition than science could confirm into the modern period, but you have to respect it. There it is. Dr. Gleiser: Right. So I actually wrote a book way before this last one, called The Dancing Universe: From Creation Myths to the Big Bang. And what I do there is I look at all sorts of different creation myths from cultures around the world in different times in the ways they dealt with the question of creation, you know, the question of the origin of the world, which to me is the most complicated question you can possibly ask. Right? So I call it The Question. Right? So then I go and I look at cosmology in the 20th century, before we had data. And what happened? All the models, the theories that cosmologists use to explain the universe reproduced these mythic ideas. So there was a universe that was cyclic, just like the dancing of Shiva. There were universe that, at least on paper, were created out of a moment in time, which was Friedmann came up with this model in 1922 before Hubble confirmed it. Right? And then there was an eternal universe as well. So to me what's really remarkable is two things. First, that all of this shows how we want to know. Right? I mean, the unity here between the two sides, if you want, is on the questioning on we need to know our origins. Ms. Tippett: The two sides religion and science, you mean? Dr. Gleiser: Yes. Ms. Tippett: Mm-hmm. Dr. Gleiser: You know, the mythic narratives and the scientific narratives, they're both asking the same question: Where did everything come from? And then, of course, before data there was also the universality of human thought, if you want. Like, there were certain ways in which you can — there are only some ways in which you can answer this question and the scientists repeated them until, of course, data came. And only in the 1960s we were finally able to kind of discern that, you know, the Big Bang, meaning there was really a moment in time, seems to be the best way to describe what we see. Ms. Tippett: To begin to speak of beginnings, to use that word in a scientific way. I don't know. You know, when I was reading the two of you about this, it was the first time that I found myself wondering, why is it that we are so — so obsessed with the question of beginnings and origins? I mean, I wonder as a novelist if you have a thought about that. Ms. Robinson: Well, you know, I think, frankly, that as modern people we struggle under certain prejudices against ourselves, that there are ways in which we have lost contact with, you know, the earlier intuitions that actually described themselves in culture and in literature and so on. But, uh, I think, you know, everyone wants to have a narrative of personal origins. Most of us want to have narratives of what you might sort of call tribal origins, you know: where did my grandparents come from and why and that sort of thing, you know. I think that our bond with humankind is felt as a sort of very much enlarged family narrative of origins in that sense, you know. There's some sort of a feeling that if you know where you came from you would know who you are. You would know what you should do. We lack definition of ourselves, which is an incredibly haunting feature of human life. And I think that often we, you know, if you look at these narratives like the Epic of Gilgamesh or something like that, so it says things about who the gods are, what the purpose of human life is, and so on. I think these are questions that people need, crave, and they take them right back to primal origins. Ms. Tippett: Marilynne, you struggle a bit, I think, with science. You have a sense that even when people didn't have the science that we have now to think about the universe, we had this ancient intuition of our part in it. And is science at play in diminishing that? Is it cultural? Ms. Robinson: Well, you know, I think that what we think of as science, or modern science, is something that puts into eclipse other forms of thinking that were also efficacious. Richard Feynman has written a — I read an essay of his in which he talks about identity. I mean, he says it's so amazing that I experience myself as myself over a year of time, that I retain memory and so on, when every atom in my brain would have been changed. But you can find the same statement almost syllable but syllable in John Locke who was writing in the 17th century, who says exactly the same thing. Every atom in my brain would have changed. And the question is how did John Locke know that? How is it that the Islamic philosophers that Maimonides was in conversation with were able to quantize time, essentially, as a way of solving the problem of time. You know, how did they do that? How did they know? You know? I think that a great deal of what we do scientifically in the modern sense is actually the confirmation of the kinds of thinking that we either receive traditionally or would have arrived at by other means. And I think that — I mean, I'm very interested now in trying to see how people thought before they had this word science descend on the conversation in the form that it does now. Dr. Gleiser: Right. I think it's impossible to separate us from nature. So when you go to the stories of creation and the relationship — the attempts at explanation that they are, they're really a pre-scientific mode of dealing with the unknown. Right? I mean, these people must have been completely baffled by existence, just like we are. Ms. Tippett: Right. Dr. Gleiser: Right? And we looked out and we see how is it possible that there are these regular cycles in nature like the sun coming back every day, the seasons. And then days of volcanic eruption, that there is a terrifying total eclipse of the sun. You know, how do you have regular and irregular things going on in nature? Who is in control of that? And so to me those preliminary ways of making sense, of making meaning were just attempts at trying to have some level of control for things which were way beyond people's control. And science is just the new incarnation of the same sort of effort. (Sound bite of music) Ms. Tippett: You can listen to this program again, or to my entire unedited conversation with Marcelo Gleiser and Marilynne Robinson at It was part of a symposium on Spiritual Progress, hosted by the Princeton Center of Theological Inquiry; it marked the centenary of the birth of Sir John Templeton. At, we're posting other material from that event — for example, fascinating discussions around the symposium table with Robert Bellah, Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, and more with Marilynne Robinson. Again, that's Ms. Tippett: I'm Krista Tippett, and this is On Being. Today, "The Mystery We Are," a public conversation with Marilynne Robinson and Marcelo Gleiser. Marilynne Robinson is an author of acclaimed novels. She's been talking about her fascination with the echoes she hears back and forth between modern science, religion, and the arts across the ages. Marcelo Gleiser is a Brazilian-born physicist who's captivated by the beauty and mystery at the heart of scientific discovery. He's also the author of poetic books about science, including A Tear at the Edge of the Creation. There's a line that you wrote, Marcelo, that is the kind of statement that you're making as a physicist, but it's also just a statement about being human. All right? "Symmetry may have its appeal but it is inherently stale. Some kind of imbalance is behind every transformation." I mean, you could be talking about the cosmos and you could be talking about me yesterday, right? Dr. Gleiser: Yeah. Absolutely. Ms. Tippett: Yeah. Dr. Gleiser: So in this book I was having the very humble mission of trying to create a new aesthetic for physics. So basically saying that we need to look at the imperfection if you really want to get at things and give up the notion that there is this beautiful perfection behind everything, you know. The way, the modes of description that we use are fundamentally incomplete. And so let's embrace the imperfection, you know, what's not perfect. You know, I always try and say do not try to make science into God. Because truly that's the idea, right? This notion that there is this oneness, perfection that you can describe through science is basically trying to create a scientific model for God. Ms. Tippett: You know, Marcelo, you make this kind of provocative observation that with the search for the Unified Theory, science has set up a parallel to the God of the Gaps. Dr. Gleiser: Mm-hmm. Ms. Tippett: Which was the problem, especially in the 20th century, this idea that God began where our scientific knowledge ran out. And you're saying that now the reality is that sort of Unified Theory begins where our scientific knowledge runs out. Dr. Gleiser: Well, so the God of the Gaps is a notion that is old, right, in the sense that even Newton had to use it because when he was talking about how the planets went around the sun, the question was what gave the initial impulse for the planets to move around the sun. So he invoked God. God was a very, very important presence in the Newtonian universe. And so this whole idea of trying to put God where we don't understand the world is a terrible idea. I think it's theologically a very bad move, because science will advance, you know, and it will learn more and more about the world. And then God will be squeezed out of this gap and then have to go to another gap. But the thing about where does this Unified Theory need come from, that's what always mystified me, even though I was a convert in the beginning, you know. And I think it really is a byproduct of having lived with monotheistic faiths for so long. So culturally it's very enticing, you know, for science to come up with this one explanation of everything. And I really trace the roots of that through monotheistic faith. Ms. Tippett: Mm-hmm. I wonder what questions you might have of each other. Dr. Gleiser: Well, let's see. So, Marilynne, you speak so eloquently of the need for diversity in understanding things. Maybe you can talk to us a little bit about that and, you know, why this kind of one-way one-track of science is misleading us. Ms. Robinson: Well, I'm always — my first criticism of that version of science is that I think that it does not at all describe the best that science does. First of all, because science is — its genius is self-criticism. When you find out that the universe is accelerating and accelerating in its rate of acceleration and so on, this is not supposed to be true and the moment that they find out that all major assumptions have been overthrown, there's rejoicing in the scientific community, you know. And that's a lovely, you know, that is the authority of science for me. The fact that we cannot be articulate about ourselves — and I think that's deeply true, I think that the arts are our effort to articulate the experience of self and mind and so on that is inaccessible to scientific description — that deep yearning that is as ancient as the desire to know where we came from and the rest of it, has been disallowed as the legitimate part of the human record and the human conversation. And this seems to me to be completely arbitrary. And along with, of course, other forms of the profound self-exploration of human inwardness is the rejection of religion, which is also put out of account. There's nothing really more universal, I think, in human cultures than the impulse to religion. If you were looking at it dispassionately, the question of what people are, you would have to take this very enormous and elaborate self-description seriously as a datum, so to speak. And I think that if people have interests that are scientific but don't tend toward addressing questions of that kind, fine. They've distinguished themselves. It's beautiful. But they can't act as if they have addressed those questions when in fact everything that they do is actually relevant to another set of issues. Ms. Tippett: I think you're actually saying that to dismiss that very ancient and pervasive aspect of human life and human culture is irrational on some level. Ms. Robinson: Yes. Ms. Tippett: OK. Dr. Gleiser: Yeah. And, you know, to think of science as separate from spirituality to me is a big mistake. You know, there is nothing that says that science should be dispassionate about the spirit or the life of the spirit. And to me it's quite the opposite. It's exactly because I feel very spiritually connected with nature that I am a scientist. And to write equations on a blackboard and to come up with models about how nature works is, in a sense, a form of worship of that spirituality. You know, and I feel that very concretely all the time. Ms. Tippett: Do you have a question of Marcelo? Ms. Robinson: Oh, my. One thing that I find when I'm reading, you know, scientists that write in a popular way, writing these issues and that frankly I've found a couple of times in your book, is a tendency to use the word "explain" when I would say the appropriate word is "describe." You know, if they figure out the fine points of photosynthesis, you know, maybe we'll say, well, it's a quantum phenomenon or something like that, that's a description. It's not an explanation. You know? And perhaps there are things that are not — don't make themselves available to explanation but that does not mean that description stands in the place of explanation. And sort of like if somebody says why does a clock tell time, you can describe the mechanism of the particular clock or you can say people arrived at a convenient definition of one day, divided it into arbitrary segments, and made a mechanism that would measure those segments because culture required timekeeping with that degree of precision. Now, that's not a complete explanation but it is explanatory whereas the other one is only descriptive. And I think that's a very important distinction that is not made because very often when people look at religious accounts of things, people looking at them from the outside, they say, no, that's not an explanation. Actually, the explanation is that it was beneficial to the leopards' existence that it blended into a shadowy landscape — hence, spots. You know what I mean? This is descriptive. It is not explanatory. Dr. Gleiser: I'm fine with that. Dr. Gleiser: I mean, I think that — I don't think I have any claims there. I would say that we are just trying to make sense of physical reality in the best way we can, and perhaps what you are implicitly referring to is the lack of humility that sometimes comes with the scientific kind of rhetoric. You know, that there is sort of this like "this is how it is" kind of thing. And the ones that probably bother you the most are the ones that get the public voice and that do make rhetorical statements about things such as now science can understand the origin of the universe. You know, which is absolutely not true. You know, formally not true. You know, but the statement comes out in the media and in books by very famous people all the time. And that bothers me as much as it bothers you. Ms. Tippett: Well, somehow it's in the nature of media and our public dialogue that it's not the humblest voices of religion or science who … Ms. Robinson: That is so true. Ms. Tippett: … make their way in front — to microphones and cameras. Dr. Gleiser: That's right. Ms. Tippett: But here you are in front of a microphone. Dr. Gleiser: Right. Ms. Tippett: I'm Krista Tippett, and this is On Being — conversation about meaning, religion, ethics, and ideas. Today, "The Mystery We Are" — a public discussion with astrophysicist Marcelo Gleiser and novelist Marilynne Robinson. Ms. Tippett: Here's a line of Reverend Ames in Gilead: "This is an interesting planet. It deserves all the attention you can give it." Just before we finish, let's talk a little bit about mind, which takes us a little bit outside the realm of physics, but very much into your writing, Marilynne. Ms. Robinson: Mm-hmm. Ms. Tippett: And somehow, the primacy, the centrality of our minds, the power of them, even in all of this discerning of distant galaxies. Ms. Robinson: Well, it's I think one of the things that is fascinating is that we don't know who we are. Human beings in acting out history describe themselves and every new epic is a new description of what human beings are. Every life is a new description of what human beings are. Every work of science, every object of art is new information. And it is inconceivable at this point that we could say anything final about what the human mind is, because it is demonstrating, you know, in beautiful ways and terrifying ways, that it will surprise us over and over and over again. You know? And if I read something that seems to me — I mean, we have mind in two senses, or of several senses, but one of them is this sort of the individual striving mind: I want to come up to the mark. I want to follow my passion. I want to let myself think about something that seems beautiful to me. There's that mind. And then there is the larger collective mind that somehow or other seems to sort of magnify impulses and so on that occur among us individually. You know, when you think how even the most brilliant people living, you know, in the first century would see how we know and what we know now and so on, which is basically a pure elaboration of what they'd already started, nevertheless they would be completely astonished, they would say, that human beings could've done such a thing. You know? We know things about our minds because we have seen them reaching and reaching and unfolding in this uncanny way that they do. And I just think that undervaluing mind, it distorts what we're capable of. You know? I don't know. That's what I think. I think the mind is fantastically competent and beautiful and in a very large degree unexplored. Ms. Tippett: Marcelo, is this new frontier of mind and consciousness, is it challenging for physics? Or where does it fit into your way of seeing the world? Dr. Gleiser: It's very challenging, because the way physics traditionally has worked is through this reductionistic method, right? You look at a complicated problem, you break it down into small parts, you understand how these small parts work and then try to make sense of the whole. And this extrapolation works beautifully when you talk about stars and galaxies, but it really fails miserably when you're talking about the mind or the brain. Right? So as I said earlier on, you can't understand the brain by understanding how a neuron works. And so it poses a tremendous difficulty for physics because we can't model the brain. Right? And physicists, that's what we do for a living. We make models. We test our hypothesis. And we need a different kind of explanatory, descriptive tool. Dr. Gleiser: Because the way we have dealt with things just won't work for the brain. So what would that be now, right? So there is this whole new notion that comes from complexity theory that the mind is an emergent phenomenon that we can't quite explain that has to do with the concatenation of many different groups of neurons at the same time. So the interesting thing about that is that, if that is true, then new laws will emerge at different levels of complexity. And you can't go from one level to the other level directly. You really need a completely different kind of explanation. And we're not there yet, but it's just an alternative way of thinking about how the brain works. And to me, given the complexity, even if we go there and we gain some level of understanding above what we know now, it's always going to be incomplete, just like Marilynne said. Ms. Tippett: But I think that part is exciting for you, the fact that it will be incomplete, the fact that there will always be more to learn. Dr. Gleiser: Yes. When I was saying this, I was thinking can we ever build a machine that thinks? Right? That's really the question, right? Because if you could build a clock that thinks, right, then you'd really say, yes, we mechanized the brain and we understand exactly how it works and what are the rules that make it all make sense. But I am a skeptic when it comes to that. I really am, at least for the foreseeable future. I don't see how even increasing the power of computers we'll be able to do that. What we will be able to do is what the Internet is already doing, which is creating an enormous databank of information that will almost look intelligent, but you will always be asking the questions. You know, it's the asking of the question that is the mystery, not so much how you find the ways to answer it. Ms. Tippett: Hmm. Hmm. I think that's a wonderful thought, that the asking of the questions is the mystery. I occurred to me when I was reading both of you and thinking about this conversation how much a novelist and a scientist, a physicist, have in common as creators and discovers. Ms. Robinson: I'm flattered. Dr. Gleiser: So am I. I mean, novelists create universes, right? Talk about a multiverse. You know, the mind of a novelist is a huge multiverse, because they are creating all these different dynamics and people that don't exist. So in a sense, you know, you are playing with inventing lives and minds and stories. So you are amplifying the mind every time you do such a thing. Ms. Robinson: Yes. It's that problem of plausibility, you know? Making what even appears to be a sort of working model of a human personality is such a delicate thing. Dr. Gleiser: For sure. You know? Yes. How is it that you say? That fiction is it's telling lies but want to make sure they sound like truth. Ms. Robinson: Exactly. Dr. Gleiser: Right? Dr. Gleiser: And we're trying to do something similar. We're trying to make models, which are never the whole truth of nature. That is a fundamental point. Every model is a lie, but some models explain more than others. Ms. Tippett: Hmm. Ms. Robinson: I tell my students, actually, that the mind continuously creates hypotheses. You know, tomorrow is a hypothesis. You have some theory of the general shape of tomorrow, which could be completely false, completely inaccurate, but you have to have the hypothesis in order to be sane and act rationally in the world and so on. And when you're writing fiction you're doing something of the same kind. You know, or when you're making a scientific theory you're doing something of the same kind. This is the best model I can create of what this reality would be, you know. And in fiction, unless the fiction fails, the hypothesis does not get exploded but at the same time you always understand its hypothetical nature. You know? Whereas in science the hypothesis is floated and retrieves what it can and explodes if it needs to, you know. Ms. Robinson: Absolutely. And thank God when they do. Dr. Gleiser: Because we do too. You know, when you're working on a technical problem it seems to have a way to go. That we are not always in control; we're just making sure all the minus signs and the plus signs match. Ms. Robinson: Wonderful. Dr. Gleiser: You know? But it really has a way that it wants to go, which is kind of beyond what we have total control of. Ms. Robinson: That's fascinating. It is. Dr. Gleiser: And when you find the solution or something that looks like a solution, you get emotionally moved to an amazing extent, especially when it's a surprising thing. You know, it really is a spiritual emotion. Like, I've had this a few times — not many. I actually probably had it several times but I just had a couple. But when I have this, it really is something transcendent. Ms. Robinson: Do you think that, for example, teleology might be an inadequate way of articulating what you're talking about? You know, I mean, teleology is sort of forbidden, but you can feel the shape of something pulling you toward something that you don't intend and it's as if the shape is somehow intrinsic and the conclusion is somehow necessary? Dr. Gleiser: That's funny because you phrased it in the negative. But that's very smart. Maybe? I am always afraid of teleology. You know, teleology has so many different traps. And so the question is always if it's teleology who's in control? And I don't know. Ms. Robinson: Exactly. Dr. Gleiser: You know, who are your characters there driving you? Ms. Robinson: Yeah. Dr. Gleiser: Right? Ms. Robinson: But you don't know who's in control and you have the feeling that there is some sort of intrinsic control emerging. In the sense, for example, that if you're creating a character and you ask him to do the wrong thing, use the wrong language, or leave when the conversation isn't over, he refuses. You know? And I'm sure that when you're doing something like that you just, you take a wrong turn and it tells you it's a wrong turn. Dr. Gleiser: Yes. Ms. Robinson: In some way. Dr. Gleiser: Absolutely. You know you're going wrong. You completely do. And that's what's hard about science and, you know, about fiction writing is that sometimes you're forced to go where you don't want to go because otherwise you are violating a certain law, you know. And it's just horrifying, right, because you really want to prove something, but you can't, because it's wrong. And you really believe in it but that's not good enough, right? And that's sort of the ruthless aspect, you know, of science in a sense that — I don't know, maybe as fiction you have a little more freedom, you know, than we do in that sense. Ms. Robinson: Or another kind. Ms. Tippett: So, you know, I think in a very remarkable way we've ended up back at the mystery of creation and even wandered into free will, but we don't have time to go there this evening. And so I want to thank Marcelo Gleiser and Marilynne Robinson and Templeton Foundation and Center of Theological Inquiry for hosting this. It was lovely to be here. Ms. Tippett: Marcelo Gleiser is Appleton Professor of Natural Philosophy and Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Dartmouth College. He's the author of The Dancing Universe: From Creation Myths to the Big Bang and A Tear at the Edge of Creation: A Radical New Vision for Life in an Imperfect Cosmos. Marilynne Robinson is a professor at the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. She's the author of several novels — Housekeeping, Home, and Gilead, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Her works of nonfiction include Absence of Mind. To listen again, download this show, or hear my unedited public conversation with Marilynne Robinson and Marcelo Gleiser, go to our website at While you're there, you can also find ways to follow us on Tumblr. On Facebook, we're at On Twitter, follow our show @beingtweets. Follow me @kristatippett. Ms. Tippett: Next time, shaping our technology to human purposes with MIT's Sherry Turkle. Please join us. This is APM — American Public Media. Voices on the Radio

http://www.onbeing.org/program/marilynne-robinson-marcelo-gleiser-mystery-we-are/transcript/4918

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View Book OSHO Online Library   »   The Books   »   The Osho Upanishad 1 2 3 4 5 > » Chapter 2: Bring the Inner and Outer into Harmony You seem to be fulfilling two roles: an outer one in which you provoke and expose the structure of our society, and a more intimate one in which you encourage your disciples towards the ultimate. Could you please comment? Existence consists of both: the inner and the outer. Unfortunately, for centuries the inner and the outer have been thought to be opposed to each other. They are not. The teaching which proposes that the inner and the outer are opposed has caused a tremendous tension in man - because man is a miniature existence, a miniature cosmos. Whatever exists in man also exists on a wider scale in existence, and vice versa. If man can be understood in his totality, you have understood the whole. The function of the master is to bring the inner and outer into a harmony: to create opposition between them is poisoning you. They are not opposed, they are one - two sides of the same coin, you cannot even separate them. Can you separate the inner from the outer? If they can be separated then what will you call the inner? What will you call the outer? Of what? Both are part of a coherent whole. But mankind has suffered tremendously because of the division. My function is to destroy the division completely, and to create a synchronicity in man’s outer life and his inner life. The work is tremendously complicated and great because the outside, up to now, has been considered to be materialism. It has been condemned by the so-called holy people; you have been told to renounce it. If you are not capable of renouncing it you are a sinner. Life has been made a sin. And for centuries, the whole emphasis of all the religions and all the traditions has been on the inner. This is one side of the story. The other side of the story is that matter is objective, visible; the inner reality seems to be just beautiful talk. So there have been philosophers and thinkers saying that only the outer is real; the inner is only an invention of the priests, it has no existence. These people have condemned spiritualism as nonsense. And both sides agree on one point: that the inner and the outer are contradictory - you can choose one, you cannot choose both. My approach is a choiceless acceptance of both. Naturally I am against the materialist because I know the inner exists - in fact the outer exists only for the inner, for its protection, for its nourishment. And I am also against the so-called spiritualists because I cannot deny the reality of matter. It is so evidently there all around us, that only people who can close their eyes, their reasoning, their understanding, their intelligence, can believe that this is all illusion, that it does not really exist. Just try. When you go out, go through the wall, not through the gate - and you will know whether it is illusion or reality. Even a Shankaracharya will go through the gate, not through the wall - and his whole life he will try to prove that the wall is an illusion, that it only appears to be, but it is not there. 1 2 3 4 5 > »

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posted by David Adams on Tue 30th Sep 2003 17:40 UTC IconHere is our review of the new 1.25 GHz 15" Powerbook G4. There's nothing that brings back the sense of ecstatic anticipation that I had as a child on Christmas morning like waiting for the delivery guy to bring my new laptop. Online tracking says "out for delivery," so I'm sitting here, waiting by the front window of my house. It's 10:20 am, and I know it's likely to be a couple more hours. But I'm sitting here, basking in the childlike excitement. One manufacturer that understands and caters to this excitement is Apple Computer. They design their packaging almost as carefully as they design their computers. A new Powerbook comes nestled in its box like a piece of jewelry. I've bought Sonys and Dells too, but their packaging and presentation is more pedestrian. It's exciting to get one of those too, but experience has conditioned me to be particularly eager to open the box of my new 15" Powerbook G4. I'm something of a Powerbook junkie. Due partly to the fact that a good friend worked at Apple for many years, and I could get good deals, I've had almost every major model of Powerbook since 1995. Duo 2300c, 1400, 3400c, 5300, G3 Wall Street, G3 Lombard, iBook Dual USB, Titanium 400, Titanium 667, 12" G4. I've seen the good (Lombard) and the bad (5300). I defected from the Mac platform a few years back, and I've continued to use Windows and Linux regularly over the years, but the Powerbook has been the anchor that has kept me attached to Apple. I reviewed the 12" Powerbook earlier this year, and found it to be promising but not perfect. I've been using the Titanium Powerbook for over a year, which is a long time for me, and it's honestly one of the best laptops I've ever used. The painted trim around the edge is peeling and scuffed from my arms, and especially my metal watch band, scraping on them, but under the skin, it's a great machine. I've been waiting since the new year for Apple to refresh the 15" Powerbook model. It's an overdue upgrade. Many people saw the nifty features from the 17" Powerbook, like the light-up keyboard, Bluetooth, 802.11g, not to mention faster processor and graphics, and wanted to have them in a more practical size. The Airborne guy just arrived, so let's see if Apple's new laptop can live up to the expectations. Like the 12" and 17" Powerbooks released earlier this year, the new Powerbook is Aluminum, with a plastic bezel protecting the inside corners. The Titanium skin of my old Powerbook looked good and had great wow factor, but didn't seem to be more durable than the new aluminum alloy Apple has chosen. On the contrary, the Titanium case seemed rather more prone to scratches and dents than I would have expected. Though it's less than a centimeter wider than the Titanium, the new Powerbook seems quite a bit wider when opened. I think it's an optical illusion caused by the silver colored keyboard. The TiBook's dark grey keyboard provided some contrast, while the new one's is just a sea of silver. I personally prefer the dark keyboard's look, but the new silver one is a dream to type on. The TiBook's keyboard has a wafery feel that's common to laptops, and, as I mentioned in my review of the 12" powerbook, which has a similar keyboard, Apple's new Powerbook keyboard is great. It has the solid feel of a full-size keyboard. The one feature that I was absolutely rabid to try out, and one that I was very sad to see omitted from the 12" Powerbook at its debut, is the lighted keyboard. I love to sit in the dark at my computer, and though I touch type, when I have to use a lot of modifier keys or type a lot of number-letter combos, I always had to angle the screen down to illuminate the keyboard or use one of those USB flexlights that I never seemed to have on hand when I needed it. So now I've had the chance to see it in action. The verdict? It's a nifty feature. I'll have to spend a few weeks with it before I'll judge whether it was worth getting agitated about, but it certainly has the wow factor. A complementary feature is the new Powerbook's ability to dim the monitor according to the ambient light sensor that the keyboard uses to know when to light up. So in the dark, the keyboard lights up, and the screen dims. The 12" Powerbook's hard drive lies directly under the left palmrest, and under heavy hard drive use that area became untouchably hot. The new Powerbook's drive is under the keyboard, and during a long firewire-based data transfer between Powerbooks, the bottom of the laptop became very hot, but not as hot as the 12", and not right under my hand, so that's much better. I purposely left the default 4200 RPM drive in the one that I chose, instead of upgrading to the 5400 RPM drive, since I hoped that the slower drive would use less battery power and churn out less heat. I don't do a lot of drive-intensive tasks, so I'll hope my theory pays off over time. The 4200 RPM drive is significantly slower, though. Like the Titanium Powerbook, the display in the new Powerbook is bright, crisp, and vibrant. It lives up to the Powerbook's reputation for excellent displays. In her review, Eugenia especially found the monitor in her 12" Powerbook to be lacking (suited more for consumer-level iBook). This monitor has no such deficiencies. The monitor in the new 15 incher has the same resolution as the TiBook: 1280x854. This is certainly going to be a disappointment for some users who prefer high resolutions. This is the eternal conundrum for laptop manufacturers, since, unlike CRTs, LCD panels only support one resolution well. Some manufacturers, like Dell, offer a variety of monitors with different resolutions in an attempt to satisfy various customers' preferences. This is great, but it's certain to add expense and complexity to the distribution process. Dell, which has no retail distribution is better equipped to do this. Apple, not wanting to deal with the complexity of multiple monitor choices, had to pick a resolution that would satisfy the majority of users. 1280x854 is a good choice. My recommendation would be to also offer a 1680x1050 monitor as a build-to-order option. I'd probably still take the 1280x854, because I don't really need everything to be teeny tiny. Table of contents 1. "Powerbook review, Page 1" 2. "Powerbook review, Page 2" e p (0)    108 Comment(s) Technology White Papers See More

http://www.osnews.com/story/4696/Apple_s_New_Powerbook_Shines

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Thread beginning with comment 517900 To view parent comment, click here. RE[9]: Comment by shmerl by Alfman on Sun 13th May 2012 00:15 UTC in reply to "RE[8]: Comment by shmerl" Member since: "As I said, one of the reasons Microsoft bailed out Apple was to keep it alive as competition so that it would be harder to argue that Microsoft had a monopoly. The DOJ got around that by narrowing the market to exclude Macs (which ran on PPC rather than x86 at the time)." I'll believe you on the first part, the fall of apple could have made things worse for microsoft. But I don't think the second part has merit since even including linux & apple desktops wouldn't have changed microsoft's standing as a monopoly in the US. "What 'existing monopoly' is Microsoft using? WinRT cannot run any Windows x86 app. It is not compatible with the Windows x86 OS. What, is it just hte name 'windows' that is the issue?" Don't you think microsoft's monopoly has given it unique abilities to influence the ARM market? Focusing on just one instance...the EUFI secure boot fiasco is pretty clear cut in my opinion, and I predict the DOJ will get involved, but the trouble is they're a reactive body and won't step in until long after the damage is already done. Also, if it's anything like the last antitrust trial, it'll just be a slap on the hand. Technically secure boot was very cleverly designed such that it's next to impossible to distribute keys to owners without also distributing them to hackers. Such flaws could have easily been fixed in the spec, and any engineer worth his salt could have done better, but I think it was a brilliant move by MS to make owner control over EUFI on a wide scale unpalatable. Now, even if the DOJ intervenes, it won't be able to force secure boot keys to be returned to the owners without suddenly compromising it. I think it's plausible that microsoft has analyzed the cost/benefit ratios and could be knowingly violating antitrust law as a calculated risk. Hopefully for them this time the executives are wise enough not to leave trails to trace their guilt. Yep it's a serious allegation but I don't think MS is trustworthy enough to rule it out. Reply Parent Score: 3

http://www.osnews.com/thread?517900

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Member Login not a member? sign-up now! Customize to your family and get personalized newsletters. Name of my story The Day You Got Me! Who is the story about? A family in hope of sharing their love and life with a special boy. Description A strong boy who loved to talk and explore. He lived far away from the family who wanted to hear his stories and watch him explore beyond his current world. Who else is in the story? Mama, Daddy, and big brother. Where are they? A small countryside in China. What are they doing? Meeting in a government building for the very first time. Why are they doing that? It was time to make our family complete. It was "Gotcha Day". Many children were united with their new families. What happens to everyone? Grownups and sibling(s)awaited the arrival of their newest family member. There was tears of joy as well as tears of fear. But soon everything just falls into place and everyone is cautious but content, and the family bonding begins. Big brother and William bond while playing with a whoopee cushion in the hotel room. They laughed so hard James fell off the bed onto the floor. Daddy and William bond while William learns about shaving and imitating daddy. They looked like Santa and his elf. Mommy and William bond by practicing to be America's next famous duet. William holds a piece of rolled up paper as his mic and he leads in verse. Then he puts the mic in front of me as I repeat his verse. The mic goes back and forth as daddy records us. Finally we watch our video, and smile at each other. What's your favorite part of the story? Singing with my mommy. I can watch our video when ever I want to! What would you build out of LEGO® DUPLO® blocks to bring your story to life? A family of four,a globe or the Asian continent, a working microphone, and an airplane which brought us all home. Strange (and Hilarious!) Family Pet Photos

http://www.parenting.com/legoduplo/entry/day-you-got-me?page=8

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Vehicles are equipped with a well functioning oil pump because Volvo S40rs recognize precisely how significant it really is for your engine parts to be lubricated well. With a properly maintained Volvo S40 oil pump, adequate quantity of oil will probably be delivered into your engine components to help them continue running perfectly to stop hasty wear and breakdown. When your vehicle posseses an oil pressure gauge, you'll know right away if the issue is a weak oil pressure, but when it doesn't have one, you can check the warning device or determine if your engine produces clattering sounds. As the oil filter is positioned right after it, oil pump seems to be the only engine componentthat utilizes unfiltered oil so it can easily be damaged due to oil particles. When the gears spinning inside the oil pump of your Volvo S40 are exhausted, chances are, they won't be proficient at delivering ample oil to the engine, and this will ultimately result in engine failure. When it's time that your ride necessitates high quality replacement Volvo S40 oil pump, Parts Train turns out to be the site to shop. Providing an array of choices acquired from world class producers like NOK, Auto7, and Omix, you could find here the item that's right for your rig.

http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByDepartment/Oil_Pump/VOLVO/S40

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Between Worlds: Jilbab and Transgender in Indonesia It is a scene that wouldn’t be unfamiliar in France or Belgium: a woman’s hijab is snatched away by strangers on the street from her head despite her protest. She is told she shouldn’t wear it, or rather, she has no right to because her wearing it mocks other women and femininity itself. But it is not an episode of Islamophobic rage that is recounted by Shuniyya Rumaha Haiibalah, but an incident in her native Indonesia that would later become the title of her best-selling memoir, Jangan lepas jilbabku! (Please do not remove my jilbab!) Haiibalah is Muslim and transgender. The hostile reactions from other women and men towards her decision to wear the jilbab (hijab) in public was based on the belief of the irreconcilability of being waria* (transgender) and expressing religiosity in the gender of choice. While other waria do not mix gender identity with religious identity (as the video above shows, some transwomen dress as men in places of worship), women like Haiibalah attend prayers at the mosque alongside other cis-gender women much to disapproval of some, particularly those who argue that physical contact with Haiibalah’s biologically male body can render another woman’s prayers annulled. Jangan lepas jilbabku! begins in 1997 when Haiibalah turns 16. The writer describes her gradual transition from male to female as eventful as the moment Indonesia regains its democracy at the end of Suharto’s dictatorial regime in 1998. She describes the kind of woman she wants to be: an ordinary woman, good-looking even without make-up, someone who wears the jilbab, independent, headstrong, and accepted. In school, Haiibalah is an active editor of the school’s Islamic magazine, and a popular student. Using her popularity and religious image as a social buffer, Haiibalah began experimenting with her appearance. She plucked her eyebrows into a pair of thin, arching crescents; suffice it to say, this led to other arched eyebrows. After being told that her eyebrows were seen as “inappropriate” for young men, Haiibalah went on to tackle what ostensibly is taboo: she, a transwoman, wearing a jilbab. [Read more...]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/tag/jangan-lepas-jilbabku/

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Trigger Warning for discussion of Sandy Hook Elementary shootings Why? I guess that's what everyone's wondering in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings this week. Why did this happen? Could we have prevented it? How can we stop it from happening again? As an activist, I turn my eyes to social structures, to laws, to ideologies of domination. I think of words from Martin Luther King Jr., from so many years ago, that apply still today: "we must be concerned not merely about … [Read more...]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/sarahoverthemoon/tag/school-shooting/

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Beefy Boxes and Bandwidth Generously Provided by pair Networks httptech Syntactic Confectionery Delight Answer: Cookie based authentication: Is it secure? ( #29937=categorized answer: print w/ replies, xml ) Need Help?? Q&A > CGI programming > Cookie based authentication: Is it secure? contributed by chromatic The only thing successfully retrieving a cookie should imply, from a security standpoint, is that, at one time, someone using that particular browser (session, if you're using session cookies) was successfully authenticated. Period. If I logged in to your site from a public terminal and left the browser open, anyone else could potentially use my cookie. For some applications, this is enough security. For others, you might save a timestamp of the user's last access and require reauthentication if X minutes/hours/days have passed since the last transaction. In general, if you don't store too much information in a cookie and if you realize the implications of what I've said above, this is a decent method of saving state. Comment on Answer: Cookie based authentication: Is it secure? Log In? What's my password? Create A New User and the web crawler heard nothing... How do I use this? | Other CB clients Other Users? Others about the Monastery: (13) As of 2014-03-13 18:20 GMT Find Nodes? Voting Booth? Have you used a cryptocurrency? Results (288 votes), past polls

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Beefy Boxes and Bandwidth Generously Provided by pair Networks Ovid Keep It Simple, Stupid Referencing MySQL Results by Column by TheBiscuit (Initiate) on May 26, 2010 at 18:08 UTC ( #841773=perlquestion: print w/ replies, xml ) Need Help?? TheBiscuit has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question: I would like to reduce the number of MySQL queries executed by running a single SELECT statement then later referencing the results, preferably by a single column. Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure how and am hoping for a bit of help. The SELECT statement looks like this: $sqlQuery = "SELECT username,email,phone FROM users"; $sqlResult = $connect->query($sqlQuery); Is it possible to somehow reference a specific row by the username, to pull the email and phone values? If not, what is the best way to pull the specific values? This will be done within a foreach loop where the username is pulled from another source. Comment on Referencing MySQL Results by Column Download Code Re: Referencing MySQL Results by Column by halfcountplus (Hermit) on May 26, 2010 at 18:15 UTC This isn't at all a perl question, it's an SQL question. You should do a bit of reading about SQL syntax, there's tons of stuff online. Anyway, for example: $sqlQuery = "SELECT username,email,phone FROM users WHERE username='bo +b'"; Always use the single quotes. WRT the perl API, you can also use placeholders like this: my $sql = $db->prepare("SELECT username,email,phone FROM users WHERE u +sername=?"); $sql->execute("bob"); The point of using a placeholder is to prevent abuse of the single quote in SQL injection attacks on the database, if say "bob" where actually an $input and you are operating in an insecure environment. I apologize for not being clear enough, but this is a Perl question. The script I am trying to modify currently runs a SELECT query with a WHERE statement multiple times within a foreach loop. I would like to run the query once and pull the necessary data from an array instead. Below is the segement of code I'm working with: # Bind to LDAP Server $ldap = Net::LDAP->new( $ldapServer ) or die "$@"; $bind = $ldap->bind( $ldapUser, password => $ldapPass ); # Connect to SQL Server $connect = Mysql->connect($sqlServer, $sqlDB, $sqlUser, $sqlPass); $connect->selectdb($sqlDB); $ldapResult = $ldap->search( base => $ldapBaseOU, filter => "(&(usertype=Employee))", attrs => @ldapAttrs ); $sqlQuery = "SELECT username,email,phone FROM users"; $sqlResult = $connect->query($sqlQuery); print $sqlResult; my @entries = $ldapResult->entries; my $entry; foreach $entry ( @entries ) { my $username = $entry->get_value ( 'sAMAccountName' ); my $dn = $entry->dn; ### ***** Insert Match Here ***** ### $phone = ?? $email = ?? } # Unbind from LDAP Server $bind = $ldap->unbind; In the section noted as "***** Insert Match Here *****, I would like to be able to use the $username value pulled from LDAP and match it to the 'username' value pulled from MySQL to set the phone and email variables. Do not use Mysql, it is obsolete module and its own documentation recommends to use DBI. DBI has selectall_arrayref method which you can use to get all records from the table. If you want to be able to get phone and email by username you can store result into hash like this (not tested): my $res = $dbh->selectall_arrayref("SELECT username, phone, email FROM + users"); my %users = map { $_->[0] => [ $_->[1], $_->[2] ] } @$res; for (@usernames) { my ($phone, $email) = @{$users{$_}}; } Sorry, bad advise: 1. "Always use single quotes" is too much work. There is no need to quote numbers, doing so makes the job harder for the database. 2. "Always use single quotes" is just plain wrong. It makes people think "just add the magic quotes and everything will be well". Even with the quotes, the SQL is still vulnerable to SQL injection. You really want proper quoting here. 3. While most databases use single quotes, some exotic ones may use other quotes. So, you first need to find out HOW to quote properly. Luckily, all this has already been done in DBI and the various DBDs, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. So, the last part should really read: "You SHOULD use placeholders". Unfortunately, DBI does not force you to use them, because that would be too much work. It really should, so you better read that advice as "You MUST use placeholders". Some technical background: DBI guarantees that you can use "?" placeholders with each and every database supported by DBI, even if the database itself does not support placeholders. DBI will automatically insert all bind values, properly quoted, into the SQL statement before it is passed to the database. Since most DBs do support placeholders, using them costs really nothing. Even better, because most DB APIs use seperate ways for the SQL statement and the bind values, there is absolutely no need to quote anything at the Perl or the DB API level. As a nice side effect, your code can work with every database that understands SQL (unless you use some DB-specific, non-standard SQL). And, for extra bonus points, the prepared SQL statement with placeholders can be cached. Imagine you need to run 20.000 queries (insert, select, update, whatever) against a database, that differ only in the values used. Using hardcoded SQL, you have to generate 20.000 SQL statements, pass them to the database, have the database parse them 20.000 times, and finally execute the one of the 20.000 parsed SQL statements, returning a result. With placeholders, you write ONE query containing placeholders, pass that query ONCE to the database, have the database parse that query ONCE, and finally you play ping-pong with the database: One set of values in, one result out, without any parsing or quoting, as fast as your Perl code can handle the data. Re: Referencing MySQL Results by Column by dineed (Scribe) on May 26, 2010 at 20:38 UTC I believe others have already given appropriate Perl advice. However, if you prefer not to select all rows from the table, which may make or may not make sense depending on the size of the table, you can use a for loop to build a list of user names, and then structure your SQL select statement to use "IN". $sqlQuery = "SELECT username,email,phone FROM users where username IN +("name1", "name2", ...)"; $sqlResult = $connect->query($sqlQuery); This should return all the rows you need and then you can process them as needed within your program. NOTE: I know the "IN" list capability exists in Oracle, so my suggestion is based on the assumption of similar functionality in MySQL. Re: Referencing MySQL Results by Column by CountZero (Chancellor) on May 27, 2010 at 06:14 UTC AS others already showed, it is possible to do so, but in most of the scenario's I can think of, this is not a good idea. • Unless you are guaranteed that the contents of the table will not change during the lifetime of your script, you are not going to pick up any changes to it and therefore may be working with stale data. • If the table is very big, you will download a lot of data to a variable structure in your script, of which you perhaps only use a very small part. This is wasteful of memory and will scale very badly. • Databases are made to be rather efficient to hand you back the answer to your queries. Over the aggregated lifetime of your script is likely that the database will do a better job than you can. Log In? What's my password? Create A New User Node Status? node history Node Type: perlquestion [id://841773] Approved by Corion and the web crawler heard nothing... 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Thursday, March 13, 2014 Inquirer Daily News Florida fratricide The GOP civil war moves to the Sunshine State Florida fratricide Way back on May 13, I predicted that Florida would be the setting for "the next Republican civil war." Perhaps that was an understatement. A more updated assessment has been offered by David Frum, the conservative commentator and former George W. Bush speechwriter. He writes on his blog that "Republican fratricide" in Florida will result in a "spectacular bloodbath." Just as in the recent New York congressional race - where conservative-versus-moderate fratricide screwed things up so badly that a Democrat wound up winning a House seat that hadn't gone Democratic since around 1870 - the escalating Florida feud between conservative purists and moderate pragmatists in the GOP Senate race threatens to imperil the party unity that Republicans will need in order to recoup at the ballot box in 2010. Just as in the New York race, where national movement conservatives fatally undercut the GOP establishment's preferred House candidate, the same conservative forces (talk radio, prominent right-wing magazines, Washington interest groups) are ratcheting up their attacks on Charlie Crist, the lame duck Florida governor who is seeking the '10 Senate nomination with backing from the party establishment. From the purists' perspective, Crist deserves to be taken down because he committed the ultimate sin: He not only took President Obama's economic stimulus money last winter, he even hugged Obama at a public rally. The chosen vehicle for conservative ire, Senate primary challenger Mario Rubio (a former Florida House Speaker who is reputedly close to 100 percent pure), has now posted a web advertisement featuring footage of Crist and Obama at that rally. What better way to inflame Florida's conservative Republican electorate - which will dominate the voting in next August's GOP primary? Club for Growth, the Washington conservative group that's flexing muscle in GOP races, has now endorsed Rubio, produced a TV ad, and appears poised to raise money for the underdog; at this point, more than one-third of Rubio's money is coming from conservatives out of state (far higher than Crist's out-of-state ratio). The prominent conservative blogs have signed up for Rubio; Erick Erickson, who runs, reportedly said the other day that, for conservatives, "Florida is a hill to die on." The Weekly Standard and National Review magazines have fawned over Rubio in cover stories. Back in May, Crist was leading Rubio in the polls by 35 percentage points; today, even though a lot of Floridians still don't know much about Rubio, Crist's lead has been whittled to 14. Crist is caught in a classic dilemma. On the one hand, he needs to win over the conservative purists in order to beat Rubio in the '10 party primary; he can achieve that goal only by serving up the requisite right-wing rhetoric about "big government" and "reckless spending." On the other hand, Crist is trapped by his recent actions as governor. Right-wing rhetoric is fine on the stump, where nobody has to take any responsibility for actual governance, but in the real world, where real people are really suffering, governors sometimes have to take practical steps to alleviate the hurt. Crist did that. Florida was one the states hit hardest by the near-Depression economic meltdown of 2008, which wreaked havoc with his state budget. And like virtually all other governors, Crist was constitutionally required to balance that budget. He couldn't come close to that goal merely by raising various state fees and the cigarette tax. So with virtuaally no other options, and with his back to the wall, he (like virtually every other governor, in both parties) agreed to take Obama's federal stimulus aid - thereby averting deep cuts in school budgets, deep cuts in state health aid to poor people, the furloughing of state workers, and further hikes in state taxes. He was also able to extend jobless benefits to Floridians thrown out of work. That's how it works in the real world. By contrast, Rubio insists that if he had been governing, he would have refused the stimulus money. When asked by the press to specify how he would have pulled the state out of the economic emergency, Rubio reportedly replied, "I don't have the budget in front of me." The purists don't seem upset by that kind of answer; what matters is that Rubio's ideology is correct. By contrast, Crist these days seems to be talking out of both sides of his mouth - which is hardly attractive behavior in a Senate primary contest. Crist is making it easy for party conservatives to attack him as a typical pol with credibility baggage. He obviously can't deny that he took the federal stimulus money, so instead he has been trying to distance himself from Obama's economic agenda - an empirically impossible task. His attempts are not very artful. The other day on CNN, Crist was talking about the stimulus bill. He stated, "I didn't endorse it." Well, actually, he did. On MSNBC last February, he listed the practical benefits of the stimulus money and said, "That's why I support it." That same month, he told Time magazine, "I see this package as a pragmatic, commonsense opportunity to move forward." Also that same month, he told the St. Petersburg Times, "We know that it's important that we pass a stimulus package." He also lobbied Florida congressmen, urging them to vote for the bill. He also joined other governors in sending a letter to Obama, urging the president "to sign the bill when it reaches your desk." (Crist's pro-stimulus track record is arguably an asset in the eyes of many Florida Democrats and independents, but those folks are barred from voting in the closed Republican primary.) Worse yet, for Crist, are his recent attempts to distance himself from Obama personally. Late last month, Crist publicly claimed he had no idea that Obama was visiting his state on Oct. 26. Then the St. Pete Times, via a public records request, obtained emails which proved that the White House had sent Crist an itinerary of Obama's visit three days in advance. As a result of all these PR embarrassments, Crist's communications director felt compelled last week to fall on his sword and quit his job. Rubio's national conservative backers are delighted with Crist's gyrations. In a guest newspaper column this morning, the president of Club for Growth chuckled that Crist's campaign "now consists of telling Floridians that he did not do things they watched him do only a few months ago. If you're not sure about what Governor Crist really believes, it's okay – Governor Crist doesn't seem to know, either." Crist is not without weapons in a Senate primary, however. He's a prodigious fundraiser; saturation TV ads in the Florida media market are expensive, perhaps too pricey for a conservative challenger backed by national conservative money (by comparison, the conservative tab in that upstate New York congressional race was a pittance). And two can play the simplistic purity game; Crist is targeting an old Rubio proposal to hike the state sales tax. Rubio can rightfully cry foul - back when he was Florida House speaker, he suggested hiking that sales tax only in conjunction with erasing the property tax on primary residences - but this is hardball, and Crist has the advertising bucks to sow doubts about the purist's purity. Who knows, maybe the movement conservatives will wake up in time and show some respect for the complexities of actual governance - instead of forcing the GOP to nominate ideologues. But that won't happen for the foreseeable future. David Frum, the ex-Bush speechwriter and aforementioned commentator, tells a story of how he was speaking the other day "to a roomful of young conservatives," all of whom were trashing the economic stimulus plan. Frum then said, OK fine, what would you have done to alleviate the worst of the crisis? Somebody laughed and replied, "I guess it's lucky that we weren't in power." That says it all.  Dick Polman Inquirer National Political Columnist About this blog Dick Polman Inquirer National Political Columnist Also on Stay Connected

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/americandebate/Florida_fratricide_.html?text=lg&c=y&i=4&jCount=5

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WARNING... HIGHLY ADDICTIVE. Best ever - Bailey's Dipped Toasted Marshmallows. A must when camping! Try it once and you'll be hooked! S'mores Hot Chocolate Bacon Wrapped Smores! Trying this next camping trip... Baked Hot Chocolate by Aleksandra Crapanzano, wsj: Crisp on top. Pudding in the center. Total Time: 40 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients 9 ounces high-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes 4 large eggs 1/4 cup granulated sugar Lightly sweetened whipped cream, to taste (optional) What To Do 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange four 1-cup ovenproof coffee cups, mugs or 8-ounce ramekins in a baking or roasting pan. 2. Melt chocolate and butter together in a double boiler set over barely simmering water. Whisk occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside. 3. Stir eggs and sugar together in a mixing bowl, then set bowl over simmering water. Stir until warm to the touch. 4. Remove from heat. Beat egg mixture with an electric beater until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Gently fold egg mixture into chocolate mixture. 5. Spoon batter into cups. Add enough very hot water to baking pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Bake until the tops lose their glossy finish, 15-20 minutes. Carefully remove cups from pan. 6. Serve warm or at room temperature with a generous dollop of whipped cream, if desired. Puddings may be refrigerated for up to one day. To reheat, bring them to room temperature and then set in a 350-degree oven until warm, about 5 minutes. #Chocolate #Baked_Hot_Chocolate #Aleksandra_Crapanzano #wsj Baked S'mores in your oven. One of the best desserts I have ever made! S’mores Pops - So simple and clever. Marshmallows on a stick dipped in melted chocolate and rolled in crushed grahams. Baked smores in bite size bits? I might have just died and gone to heaven. diabetes in a bowl aka smores dip You can never go wrong w/ Maris' creations

http://www.pinterest.com/brandikoskie/smores/?page=2

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More like this: seahorses, cats and fluffy cows. Pets and their tiny humans Gives me the creeps, but also is hypnotizing with all those colors. The beauty of nature How can this not make you smile? I think I'm slowly turning into one of those people who look at funny cat pictures all day...and I kinda don't even care who knows. Cat reunited with his old basket…This is Sophie every time the kids get new shoes and she wants to sleep in the small box. Orphaned pony’s best friend is a teddy bear called Button… You've heard of the biblical 'Lion and the Lamb lying down together', here we have the cat and the budgie! My best friend Miss Piggy What a beautiful bird! Baby elephant one minute old. pomsky, ohhhh someone please get me one! (: Pink jellyfish in an emerald sea

http://www.pinterest.com/nedyel/animals/

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Bookmark and Share Johnny Carson Johnny Carson died of emphysema on the morning of 23 January. One is tempted to make a bad joke here. Lord knows Carson made enough of them in his career. The awful commercial parodies, the tired old Amazing Karnak bit, the cracks about Ed McMahon’s drinking or Doc Severinsen’s outfits. But we can forgive all the recycled schtick as audiovisual comfort food, the reliable routines that much of America used as bedtime stories for the 35 years of Carson’s run on The Tonight Show. Steve Allen started the program, Jack Paar took it on in 1957, and Johnny inherited it when Paar walked out in disgust with the network, in 1962. But it was Johnny’s show through and through, and no one before or since has done it so well. Leno tries, but he walks for the rest of his career in Carson’s shadow, like so many others. Johnny Carson was that nebulous thing, a “television personality.” Not an actor, though he had been known to make the occasional cameo here and there. Not a performer, like many of the talents he catapulted from the club circuit into stardom, though he spent his teenage years performing magic and ventriloquism in his native Midwest. His monologues were written by committee and frequently hobbled by a certain glib, showbizzy corniness. His primary job was basically to appear on television five nights a week and be “Johnny Carson.” Fortunately “Johnny Carson” was to be. He worked the camera and his guests with a breezy, laid-back persona, often flustered but never edgy. He endured the almost certain disasters that befell him every time Jim Fowler or Joan Embery would show up with wild animals in tow with amazingly good humor. Letterman has turned the concept into his own postmodern mindfuck, but for Carson, the point was always low-key: “It’s just TV, folks.” He was a comforting presence on the tube through three and a half tumultuous decades, and America was grateful for him. Carson’s on. Everything’s okay. After Johnny left TV in 1992, ending with a sentimental bang watched by some 50 million people, he spent his retirement with the same kind of aplomb he demonstrated in his working life. No comebacks, no desperate appearances on other people’s shows to remind them he was still around. He wrote short humor pieces for The New Yorker and contributed the occasional uncredited joke for David Letterman’s monologues. The only time he popped back onto the tube was in cartoon form, on an episode of The Simpsons, and it is telling that that show, notorious for its glee in convincing celebrities to mock themselves, kept its mitts off Carson’s dignity. What may be Carson’s most significant contribution to our lives, culture, and collective future, however, was not what he brought to his show but who. The Tonight Show entertained the nation at night, and its power to make or break performers was huge. Carson was ever the conscientious steward of this power, and he used it to introduce musicians, entertainers, and most importantly, comedians who appealed to his sense of talent and relevance. Johnny gave the world George Carlin, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne—every major comedian who broke out in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s did so through Carson’s graces. It was Carson’s personal barometer for value that shaped pop cultural tastes, and in many ways continues to do so. Carson knew what was funny, and he knew how important funny was in difficult times. And he did funny with class. Now on PopMatters PM Picks of PopMatters Media, Inc. PopMatters is wholly independently owned and operated.

http://www.popmatters.com/feature/050124-johnnycarson2/

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cover art Holly George-Warren (Oxford University Press) To most people, Gene Autry is that “singing movie cowboy” who owned the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. But he was much more than that. Autry’s impact on show business in general and music in particular is still being felt generations later; facts that are excellently chronicled in Holly George-Warren’s Public Cowboy No.1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry, a must-read for any Autry fan and anyone with a keen interest in Hollywood history. Thanks to George-Warren’s exhaustive research, it is the most detailed and honest portrait ever done on Autry and, certainly, ranks among the best biographies written about a movie star. It includes extensive footnotes, a comprehensive list of sources and index as well as Autry’s discography and filmography. It has purposely been published in 2007 to coincide with the yearlong Gene Autry Centennial Celebration. George-Warren was given unprecedented access to Autry’s papers, momentos, letters and other artifacts by Gene Autry Entertainment and the cowboy’s wife, Jackie. “He saved everything,” George-Warren said during a recent telephone interview. “I was given a free hand and no one interfered or tried to influence what I wrote.” George-Warren wasn’t exactly a novice when it came to writing. Currently an adjunct professor of journalism at the State University of New York-New Platz, she is the author of Cowboy! How Hollywood Invented the Wild West and co-author of How the West Was Worn. She has contributed to more than 40 books about popular music and is the co-editor of The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. The rest of her impressive resume is too lengthy to list here. Although she has written about different styles of music, country and western has a special place in her heart. George-Warren also is most comfortable in western wear. A native of Ashboro, NC, she was born in 1957 and was introduced to Gene Autry and Roy Rogers movies at an early age because their films were still airing on regular television stations in many parts of the country. “They did have an affect on me and I never forgot them,” she said. The seeds for the book were sown in 1997 when George-Warren was assigned to do a story about Autry for the New York Times. “At that time, he had done very few interviews in recent years,” she said. “But I managed to get one. I showed up in western dress and he was impressed with my knowledge of his music. We totally hit it off and the story was well received.” Autry died the next year, but plans to do a definitive book on the singing cowboy’s career remained on the drawing board. When it came time to select a writer for the biography, Holly George-Warren won out over several others who had applied for the assignment. “My goal was to concentrate on the entertainment phase of Gene’s life,” George-Warren said. “I didn’t want it to be the same old re-cycled stuff about his career. I wanted to expand on the music part of his career. His impact was far-reaching. Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, B.B. King and so many others have talked about how Gene Autry’s records influenced them.” Nelson contributes a brief but poignant salute to Autry prior to the introduction section of the book. George-Warren said she approached the project “like a detective.” Her efforts to separate fact from fiction uncovered some truths that “were difficult” to write about. “Gene definitely had an eye for the ladies,” George-Warren said. “But when you’re doing a biography you can’t leave something out like that and then have that information suddenly turn up somewhere else. People have to remember that Gene was a like a rock star of his day. He faced temptations every day he was on the road.” According to George-Warren, Autry had a lengthy on-and-off again relationship with Gail Davis, who played in many of his movies and starred as TV’s “Annie Oakley.” Davis even wanted Autry to leave his wife, Ina Mae Spivey, whom he had married in 1932. Autry refused. Autry also had been known to take more than a drink or two, especially in the latter part of his career when he was touring all over the country. George-Warren does not sensationalize these discoveries; presenting them as just another one of the many facets of Gene’s very human personality. Born Orvon Grover Autry on Sept. 29, 1907, six miles outside of Tioga, Texas, the future multi-millionaire experienced a tough childhood while his family struggled to make ends meet. His roving father, Delbert, was hardly a sterling example for a son to follow. Autry once described him as “kind of a gypsy.” In 1913, his mother, Nora, Delbert’s third wife, packed up the family and moved to Oklahoma where Autry grew into manhood, “fooled around with guitar” and eventually got a job as telegrapher with the railroad. Legend has it that Will Rogers came in the railroad depot one night while Autry was on duty. Rogers heard the young Gene strumming the guitar and singing. Then, as the story goes, Will advised Autry to pursue a show-business career. However, it appears that was more myth than anything else because George-Warren could find no evidence that such an incident actually happened. No matter who inspired him, it is obvious that Autry was determined to make it as a successful singer. Having seen poverty firsthand, it was also obvious that he was just as determined to amass as much money as possible. George-Warren vividly follows Autry’s development as a singer from his first recordings in 1929 when his voice had a distinct hillbilly flavor to those tunes he cut years later when he could smoothly deliver a variety of western ballads. By 1934, he had become a successful recording artist with “That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine” selling more than a half-million copies and he also had become a regular on Chicago radio station WLS’s “National Barn Dance.” But that wasn’t enough to satisfy Autry’s energetic drive. He continued to do a pair of weekday morning radio shows and in the evening was off performing at various towns in the Midwest. It was a hectic pace and one he would maintain long after he became an international star. That year producer Nat Levine of Mascot Pictures signed Autry and his pals Smiley Burnette and Frankie Marvin to do three musical numbers in a movie billed as a Ken Maynard special, “In Old Santa Fe.” Maynard, then one of Hollywood’s most famous movie cowboys, befriended the young Autry during the production. It was something Gene never forgot. Many years later, when Maynard was down on his luck, he received a check from Autry every month. “Gene Autry was a kind, very compassionate person,” George-Warren said. “He took care of many people he had known on the way up, be it a stuntman or a sibling.” Levine next starred him a 12-chapter serial, The Phantom Empire, a fantastic tale that combined the science-fiction and western genres. The serial marked the first time a movie cowboy used his actual name for the character he played on screen. It was a practice other cowboy stars would soon follow. Although a Texas native who had spent a lot of time in Oklahoma, Autry was by no means an expert horseman or a polished actor at the time the serial was shot. Levine put him on a crash course in both departments. Over the years, Autry became a good rider and became more and more at ease in front of the camera. Whatever he did, it worked. Fan reaction to Autry was so great, Levine decided to star him in a series of “musical westerns.” By then, Mascot had merged with several other studios to become Republic Pictures, which churned out four Autry films in 1935. It was soon obvious the public couldn’t get enough of the singing cowboy and his wonder horse Champion. Autry had pumped new life into what many had considered a sagging genre—the B western. It would continue to flourish for nearly two more decades thanks in big part to Autry who also opened the door for other singing cowboys such as Rogers, Tex Ritter and Rex Allen. By 1937, Autry was the No.1 money-making box-office western star. By 1939, he ranked fourth among all Hollywood stars, western or otherwise. As George-Warren points out, Autry knew how valuable he was to Republic and he wanted a bigger slice of the pie. He waged more than one battle with the studio, eventually winning bigger increases in salary and other considerations. Autry became one of the first celebrities to merchandise his name paving the way for Gene Autry guitars, Gene Autry lunch boxes, Gene Aury watches, Gene Autry comic books, Gene Autry cap pistols and dozens of other items. Meanwhile, he continued to record and hit the road for personal appearances tours. One of his most famous tours came in August 1939, when he, his wife Ina, Champion and Republic studio head Herbert J. Yates made a journey to the United Kingdom. The reception was overwhelming as more than 50,000 Londoners turned out to greet him upon his arrival. “The only thing you can compare it to is when The Beatles first came to New York in the 1960s,” George-Warren said. “Gene Autry was that big.” On his last night of the tour in Dublin, more than 10,000 saw Gene standing at a window and serenaded him with “Come back to Erin.” “Fifty-eight years later,” George-Warren writes, “Gene still described that moment with wonder, and how those voices in unison had brought tears to his eyes.” When Autry returned home he resumed making movies but also began plans to launch his Melody Ranch radio show in 1940. It would run for 16 years. Always a patriot, Autry was also well aware that the war clouds in Europe might eventually drift to America. In 1942, a few months after Pearl Harbor, against Yates wishes, Autry decided to enlist in the armed forces rather than wait to be drafted. Autry eventually earned his pilot wings and flew several cargo missions over the China-India-Burma theater. After World War II, Autry made five more films for Republic and then organized his own production company with his movies being released through Columbia Pictures. Between 1947 and 1953, Autry made 32 films under the arrangement. Overall he starred in 89 features. All were popular because of Gene’s warm, easy-going on-screen persona. But there was another factor; his leading ladies were rarely portrayed as defenseless damsels in distress but instead were strong-willed women who had minds of their own and let Autry know it. In the late 1940s, he also found new recording fame with such holiday favorites as “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane” and “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Both still get heavy air time on the radio each Yuletide season. During that time he became the first major Hollywood star to go into television with The Gene Autry Show premiering on CBS in July 1950. His venture into TV angered some movie theater owners who thought Autry no less than a traitor. He told them television wasn’t going away. It was the wave of the future and they had better come along for the ride. The TV show remained on the air until the summer of 1956. His movie and TV career was over but by then Autry had invested in oil wells, hotels, TV stations and eventually his beloved Angels baseball team. He was set financially. Still, he continued to make personal appearances on into the early 1960s. “Gene just loved touring,” George-Warren said. “He loved entertaining the people and he did it as long as he could.” But, George-Warren notes, things were changing rapidly in the 1960s not only socially, but also in the entertainment field especially with music and movies. The singing cowboy and western music soon fell out of favor with the general public. She regrets that many people have never seen a Gene Autry movie or have spent the time to appreciate them. They deliver what they promise—light entertainment, some exciting action and a welcomed escape from the outside world. George-Warren re-discovered just that in 2001. “It was a tough year for me,” she said. “I lost my father and mother that year and then there was 9/11. I was in New York that day and it was horrific. Finally my husband, my son and I retreated to our place in the Catskills to get away from it all. We spent part of time there watching Gene Autry movies on the VCR. They were so soothing and calming. It made you understand why Gene Autry was so popular.” Gene Autry - The Martins and the Coys Related Articles Now on PopMatters PM Picks of PopMatters Media, Inc. PopMatters is wholly independently owned and operated.

http://www.popmatters.com/review/public-cowboy-no1-the-life-and-times-of-gene-autry-by-holly-george-warren/

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Chris Matthews: Searching for the human JFK [3 November 2011] By Thomas Fitzgerald The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT) PHILADELPHIA — The first time Chris Matthews remembers hearing of John F. Kennedy, he was a 10-year-old Northeast Philadelphia boy obsessed with politics, listening to the 1956 Democratic National Convention on the radio in the family’s ‘54 Chevy Bel Air. Kennedy, then a young senator from Massachusetts, lost a bid for the vice presidential nomination and, then, in a dramatic gesture, bounded to the podium to ask that his opponent, Estes Kefauver, be nominated unanimously. Matthews, a student at the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish school, stayed true to his family’s Republican allegiance and rooted for President Dwight Eisenhower in the fall election. But he never lost his fascination with Kennedy. As a paperboy in 1960, Matthews followed JFK’s progress to the Democratic presidential nomination in the Philadelphia Bulletin, the afternoon paper he tossed onto lawns. Later, Matthews joined the Peace Corps that Kennedy founded, and was an aide to President Jimmy Carter and House Speaker Tip O’Neill, D-Mass., before becoming a columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and, ultimately, host of the MSNBC political talk show “Hardball.” All along the way during his Washington career, Matthews collected stories about Kennedy and got to know many members of the late president’s inner circle. The result is a new book, “Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero.” Matthews answered questions about Kennedy and the book project. Q: There are thousands of books about Kennedy. What were you hoping to say with yours? A: I always thought of him as a prince, with a charmed life. I tried to find the human Jack I could get my arms around, to try and understand him as a guy, not just a rich prince. ... He was a guy who was sick and in horrendous pain all the time — who would say, “I wish I had a few good days.” I really wanted to try to find a way with all these people who knew him to catch him in the middle, the theater in the round, to see all of him by putting together their different points of view. Q: What insights did you develop into Kennedy that were fresh or surprising to you? A: How much he was shaped by being in the hospital so much as a kid. Because he was sick, he was a reader, and because he was a reader, Kennedy had heroes. Because he had heroes, he went into politics. (Kennedy liked Sir Walter Scott, King Arthur’s knights, and biographies of political leaders.) If he hadn’t been sick, he might have been like everybody else in the family, a jock. But Jean (Kennedy Smith, JFK’s sister) told me she thinks the whole sports angle has been overplayed, that politics was central to him. This nonsense that he only went into politics because his older brother Joe was killed is not true. He was determined he was going to be in politics, but he would have waited his turn. The idea that he was talked into going into politics to take his brother’s place — you can’t be talked into going into politics. It’s like talking a kid into liking baseball. You liked it or you didn’t. He liked it. It was fascinating what a total interest he had in his tradecraft of being a politician. I didn’t realize before that he was working on his memoirs all along, how he ran for Congress, that sort of thing. He kept a diary and in the White House dictated his thoughts. He felt real guilt at the killing of (Ngo Dinh) Diem, the leader of South Vietnam. On the Dictaphone, on Aug. 24, 1963, Kennedy talked about his signal to Henry Cabot Lodge to back the coup that knocked the guy off. He was really staggered. Listening, I was amazed at how honest he was. Q: To me, it was shocking in the recent book Caroline Kennedy put out that Jackie Kennedy said JFK’s mother never loved him. A: It matches up with what he’d said about his mother. He’d cry when she’d go away. He had leukemia at Choate, or they thought he had leukemia, and she never visited him. Action is character, as they say in drama. Q: So Jack was basically a lonely boy? A: The fact is he always had to have somebody around besides Jackie. Whatever their relationship, he wanted company. I think it gets back to all those years in a hospital bed. He liked fresh company, new people to come visit and then leave. ... I think he liked the protection of numbers too. ... He had compartments. Jackie was in one compartment, and he had his Irish mafia and his personal friends from Choate and the Navy. Q: You focus on the Cuban Missile Crisis as the biggest test of Kennedy’s character. A: Like Henry V, he’s flawed and he’s a hero — they’re both true. And that comes together then; you can really see it as a writer. Khrushchev was ready to push the button. He was going to move on Berlin. It could easily have been the trip wire to nuclear war and Kennedy wouldn’t do it. All the experts around him — McGeorge Bundy, (Gen.) Curtis LeMay — wanted to bomb Cuba and go to war. He said, “No we won’t do that. ...” It was his coldness and his detachment, his ability to stand next to another person and not let their emotions affect him. (Kennedy’s friend) Chuck Spalding at the wedding said Jack was two guys: the groom and somebody else observing from a distance. ... It must have been maddening to be married to a guy like that, but you could at the same time argue that characteristic kept the world from being blown up. ... He was Arthur, the guy in the middle of the room with all the swords pointed at him. ... He wanted control of the situation. Q: Many people are fascinated by the relationship between Jackie and Jack. What did she know, and why did she put up with his infidelities? A: That’s the part you can never get to. Did it hurt her, his behavior? ... I wanted to know how Jackie felt about it, and I got to know Rachel “Bunny” Mellon. Bunny and her were buddies. I asked, “How do you know what Jackie knew?” And Bunny said, “She told me.”... Jackie called him “Magic.” Bunny said she just picked her man. That was it. This was the guy she loved. Q: Are there parallels between Presidents Obama and Kennedy? A: I see some parallels but I don’t see the leadership that this guy (Kennedy) had of other men and women. It’s more than being the smartest guy in room. ... The Kennedys formed a Kennedy party. I don’t sense an Obama party. I think politics is transactional for him. The real difference between relationship politics and transactional politics is loyalty. Obama doesn’t seem to expect it. Published at:

http://www.popmatters.com/tools/print/150848/

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'The Men Who United the States:' United we differ History, geography, ingenuity have made ‘E pluribus unum’ a reality Share with others: Print Email Read Later What about us makes us the U.S.? This is a question that has been pondered since de Crevecoeur (whose meditations on the subject were written in 1782) and de Tocqueville (who chimed in a half century later). Now Simon Winchester, who like Crevecoeur was born abroad but became American, has raised his hand with theories of his own. In "The Men Who United the States: America's Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible,'' the author of "The Professor and the Madman" offers what he calls "a parsing of the rich complexities that lie behind the country's so-simple-sounding motto: E pluribus unum.'' The result is a brisk and bracing race through American history, geography, geology -- and ingenuity, with a dash of psychology and sociology thrown in. The task is like the national motto, simple sounding but difficult to achieve, for the United States, composed as it is of immigrants from so many lands, lacks a natural national demographic unity. It had to build unity in other ways, principally through the zeal of invention, the cult of innovation, the national drive for prosperity -- and a surprising additional element: a vigorous debate about the role of government in creating wealth, assuring justice and cultivating equality. By Simon Winchester. Harper. $29.99. The result is an imaginative book, a kind of rock/paper/scissors game where the narrative is divided into sections dealing with the country's experience with wood, rocks, fire, water and metal. This is not how history was taught to you in the fifth grade, but there is a logic and romance to the categories. Take the first one: "Early America ran on wood. People had an urgent need of it for every aspect of life, from fuel to housing, from boat building to the making of crude paper and the construction of that most esteemed emblem of pioneer life, the log cabin.'' Into these categories Mr. Winchester fits an odd but engaging assortment of American characters, all intended to illuminate the American character: Lewis and Clark, the utopian visionaries of New Harmony, Samuel F.B. Morse, Alexander Graham Bell, George Westinghouse. Johnny Carson makes a cameo appearance. This is your life, America. So much of this includes the process of people traveling the way West, the ultimate American passage, traversing a land of great untapped (and, later, exploited and depleted) resources, keeping their eyes open to opportunity, to be sure, but also to the remarkable things they passed on the way. "They all went west to get somewhere, true; but they went also for the greater reasons, like getting to see all there is to see.'' Government-sponsored explorers of the 19th century were given a direct edict -- "permit nothing of notice to escape your attention'' -- that Mr. Winchester himself takes to heart in this volume. Very little of importance escapes his attention. Which is why this book is so full of curiosities, like the recipe for an alcoholic libation called trader whiskey, which includes -- do not try this at home -- chewing gum, hot peppers and the heads of rattlesnakes. One additional curiosity: the virtual (and to many readers, inexplicable) absence of women and minorities. That said, the book is populated by the colorful, like the one-armed John Wesley Powell ("perhaps the pre-eminent soldier-scientist-explorer of his day'') and the colorless, like Francis Parkman ("an indefatigable snob, a New England swell with money, ambition, courage and a Harvard education''), though with a clear preference for those who defied convention and in so doing defined the West and, thus, the whole country. Mr. Winchester emphasizes what he considers the essence of America, which you might think of as a combination of elan and environment. For him, the physical shapes the emotional and the intellectual, and so he describes Yellowstone, with its marvels of magma, as "a hymn to active geology.'' Along the way he examines the vital role of rivers and canals in using, and in some cases, reshaping geography into destiny. He explains how the Mississippi River, which Lincoln once called the father of waters, unites (gathering all its tributaries and associated territories) and divides ("parsing the country into two -- with industry and academia and antique culture on the eastern side, pioneering and pasture land and cattle culture on the western side''). And he lingers on the building of the railways and highways that also unite the country while dividing it physically. (Once the transcontinental railroad was finished, you couldn't walk unimpeded from the Mexican border to the Canadian without crossing rail track, a factor perhaps less important to the human than to the buffalo.) This is a survey of the miracles of each age, or in some cases the poignant stories of the late-arriving conveniences of each age, especially rural electrification and radio, which, he says, assured that "the stories of the Down Easter were made familiar to a listener in Nevada, that the accents and thoughts of a man from Alabama or a woman from Arkansas could be heard and appreciated by a listener with an entirely different manner of speaking up on the high plains of North Dakota or among the sierras and arroyos of New Mexico.'' This book is the story of those differences and the centripetal forces that bring us together. It's Winchester's story, but its also our story. David Shribman is executive editor of the Post-Gazette ([email protected]). Join the conversation: Commenting policy | How to report abuse Commenting policy | How to report abuse You have 2 remaining free articles this month Try unlimited digital access If you are an existing subscriber, link your account for free access. Start here You’ve reached the limit of free articles this month. To continue unlimited reading If you are an existing subscriber, link your account for free access. Start here

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Six Random Thoughts on the Chicago Bears and NFL Playoffs 1. I was 3-1 on playoff games this weekend only being wrong about the Texans. I’m more and more impressed by the Giants every week. They’ve hit their stride at the right time. I’ve picked them to win the NFC. Normally, the Giants are overrated, but not this season. The way the Giants control the line of scrimmage, run the football and can throw the rock makes them a real bitch. Just remember you heard it here first. 2. Tim Tebow is the dead horse of the day. So I’ll take a shot too…because after all, I love beating dead horses. Impressive win for the Broncos yesterday. I’ll give all the credit to John Fox. Guy’s a great playoff coach. And his team was ready to play. Tebow showed some real leadership yesterday. Kudos to the Orange Crush. 3. Watching Sean Payton undress Jim Schwartz was awesome. Payton put on a coaching clinic Saturday. The Lions are such an unlikable team and Schwartz is a putz. That being said, Ndamukong Suh played a great game. But why is the dude so out of shape? It seems like he’s out for chunks of the game. 4. Tim Ruskell cannot be the Chicago Bears GM. He’s a train wreck who makes Jerry Angelo’s drafting look like Ted Thompson’s from the Green Bay Packers. I really don’t think it will happen, but why do the Bears do things to anger me so often? 5. Speaking of things that anger me, Danieal Manning. And this blogger called this In training camp. Many of you loved Major Wright and Chris Harris, but you were blinded by Twitter. Losing Manning was almost as bad as losing Wilbur Marshall. Considering how bad the Bears safeties are and the lack of quality safeties in the draft and in free agency, there’s no quick fix. Oy… 6. I think Lovie Smith is a good coach. That being said, it’s so Bears like to limit a GM on the head coach. If I’m a top GM candidate, I’d demand full control over coaches. By essentially limiting a GM, this has to hurt their chances with some candidates. I would allow the new GM to interview Smith and encourage that person to keep Smith. But ultimately, it should be up to the GM and not Ted Phillips. That’s all for now. Follow me on Twitter at ChicagoBearJew. Around the Web

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2012/01/09/six-random-thoughts-on-the-chicago-bears-and-nfl-playoffs/

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Accessibility Page Navigation Superficially well, but still grieving - part 1 Every one of us is likely to be touched by the death of someone we know at some stage in our lives. The loss of a family member, friend or anyone else who feels significant can be a bitter blow. The way in which the person has died may lay down its own distressing memories or leave unanswered questions. Death can trouble us soon afterwards, a time when there are also practical issues to sort out, as well as many years later.  Bereavement is the most stressful event we can go through (above moving house and divorce on the scale.). While this fact makes sense it can be a challenging time to get through when feeling raw and already managing mental health problems. I recently lost my father to prostate cancer and had to confront a loss I didn’t expect for some years yet. His illness was diagnosed at a very advanced stage at which all medical help could do was try to make him comfortable. He lived for 18 weeks in a way which was hard for him to endure and for me to witness. His death marked the end of his suffering but a new stage of life for me. I have ongoing mental health difficulties which have affected me for 15 years but this is my first major experience of bereavement. This is my own account of the practical and emotional issues that have come up so far. The practical things to do after someone’s death depend on the place where they died and will usually be the responsibility of those closest in relationship. My dad died in a hospice where a doctor signed a certificate about the cause of his death the following day.  If the death has been at home a GP would need to be called to complete the death certificate. Unexpected, suspicious deaths (which would include suicides) those in prison and also where the doctor had not seen the person recently, would be reported to the local Coroner who would decide whether to investigate. The practical arrangements were very stressful but I was not the only family member. I found funeral directors to be sensitive and able to assist with any plan for burial or cremation. The death has to be registered at the registry offices of the local council as a priority.  The Department of Work and Pensions may make a funeral payment if someone is on certain means-tested benefits and responsible for organising the funeral, there are also bereavement benefits in some circumstances where the bereaved is a partner. A solicitor may need to be consulted over issues such as wills, probate and legacies where complex. There is information on the website about all practical issues. You can also contact your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau where trained advisers will be able to help you. The DWP has a booklet called What to do after a death?   My biggest worry then became the funeral and getting through it. I tend to feel faint (a feature of my anxiety disorder) and didn’t know that I would be able to stay standing for the duration of the service at the cemetery. The funeral did pass and provided a sense of closure. I now gain comfort from the fact I have a grave to visit and the peaceful surroundings where my dad’s body has been laid to rest. Funerals have personal significance and spiritual importance depending on that person’s beliefs. Different religions have their own customs around death and its meaning. Talking to a faith leader or minister may be an important part of the grieving process for you. Some people may not want any religious element to their funeral, for example, choosing a Humanist content, there are also natural burial sites in woodland. The emotions that hit me after my dad’s death were a mixture of shock, relief and tearful distress that he had been through so much. Then I began to feel as though I could have done far better for my dad to the extent where anything less than being angelic was not good enough. I remember feeling very empty after the funeral and it seemed as though I had much time on my hands where before this all my thoughts had been focused on my dad’s ill health. I understood not to make big decisions in case I later regret them. Two months later I can feel that ‘no-one understands’ despite knowing otherwise, and as though I am separate from the world because my experiences are so far from everyday conversation. When people remark ‘but you look well’ they have little idea of my intense emotional hurt and inner turmoil. My own recurrent depression feels more intense and now has a tangible cause. I have heard that it will get easier as the days pass, although no time scale can be given. I try to see the positives such as the close relationship with my dad and how I managed to say everything I wanted to him so that nothing felt unresolved. I have relied on my own support network and confided most in my community psychiatric nurse. My consultant psychiatrist has shown real understanding and offered me the opportunity to make appointments as needed. It has been important for me to let go of any guilt as I know I did my best at the time. I need to try to be kind to myself including enough sleep, food and not becoming withdrawn. I also try to resist doing too much of anything, for me this is around my eating as I have a history of severe anorexia. For others it could be drinking, smoking or drug use, as a way of burying or avoiding feelings. Keeping an eye out for any symptoms that may return from previous episodes of mental illness may help to prevent a crisis. If you feel that you are not coping with your own grief there is bereavement counselling. This may be provided privately, by voluntary organisations such as Local Mind Associations, from NHS primary care or specialist mental health services. GPs can also refer to psychiatrists to diagnose and treat mental illness that may be triggered by bereavement. Cruse Bereavement Care have a national information service and helpline 0844 477 9400. I have found a supportive cancer drop in centre open to anyone affected by cancer. Many hospices or hospitals where the person was cared for until their death offer bereavement support services. While no-one knows exactly how it feels for you at this sad time there are many people, such as friends and professionals who can empathise and want to help towards a sense of recovery where you learn to live with a loved one’s death. There are many emotions and certain well recognised stages of grief though you go through them at your own pace and in no set sequence. I had issues within my own mental health management I was trying to address before my dad’s death and now believe I can’t let this event take away all I was working toward. You can’t be expected to feel on top form whilst going through bereavement, but you don’t have to go it alone on the path to acceptance and moving forward. Alex is a service user. Her father died from prostate cancer two months ago Sept 2009 In this section of the website we publish personal contributions that focus on peoples' experience of being unwell or on their recovery. Ideally they should contain information that others might find useful. The views expressed in these articles are personal. They do not necessarily reflect the vews of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Make a Donation

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Building a Better Promise: The Davenport Promise is a Solid Concept, But it Should Address Questions Print News/Features - Feature Stories Written by Administrator    Wednesday, 10 October 2007 02:21 Reader issue #655 Every child in Davenport gets a big chunk of a college education paid for. The city's police and fire departments get a new stream of revenue. Paying for it all is an existing tax. While property taxes would likely rise modestly for a few years, they'd be back below current levels by 2014. And the ultimate goal is a growing community with a larger tax base, which in the long run could mean more money for schools and city services with lower property-tax rates. Who could possibly be against that? Davenport Alderman Keith Meyer, for one, who at a public presentation led by the Davenport Promise Exploratory Committee last week called the prospect of shifting more than $13 million in local-option-sales-tax away from property-tax relief and capital projects the "most absurd financial proposal" he'd heard come before the city council. Meyer's perspective is harsh, but it bluntly states the core concern about the Davenport Promise proposal as it has been presented to the public: that citizens would foot the bill almost exclusively, directly through sales taxes and indirectly through property taxes. Backers of the Davenport Promise claim it will have benefits throughout the Quad Cities, and that it quickly pays for itself through growth. But their enthusiasm tries to gloss over some of the less-attractive details about the proposal - that it could benefit Davenport at the expense of surrounding communities, that it's more generous than it needs to be, and that a likely beneficiary is assuming none of the risk. "It Isn't Like Kalamazoo" The program as currently presented would entitle students who live in Davenport to one of three benefits: college tuition, vocational training, or a post-military-service homestead grant. The benefit for college students could be up to $18,000 over four years (with today's tuition rates), while vocational training and the homestead grants have caps of $7,500. The current proposal envisions paying for the program by shifting Davenport's 1-percent local-option sales tax (which presently generates roughly $13.6 million a year) from its current uses (60 percent for property-tax relief and 40 percent for capital projects) to this post-secondary education (90 percent) and the police and fire departments (10 percent). The local option sales tax is expected to cover the entire cost of the post-secondary awards. Administration of the program would be handled and funded by a private organization, although that organization and its funding source have not been identified. The details are subject to change as the concept moves from the idea stage to a form on which citizens can vote; reallocating the local-option sales tax can only happen by referendum. Members of the exploratory committee say they would like to see a referendum early next year, so that members of the class of 2008 can benefit. The program is modeled after the Kalamazoo Promise, which was started two years ago and has had short-term results bordering on the miraculous. According to the W.E. Upjohn Institute, which has done research on the program, between September 2005 and September 2006, enrollment at Kalamazoo public schools jumped almost 9.7 percent after a decade of declines. Enrollment at Davenport schools has been on a consistent decline for 15 years. According to the presentation by the Davenport Promise Exploratory Committee, in that same year in Kalamazoo, home sales jumped 6.7 percent in the district compared to a drop of 5.2 percent in the region. Home prices were up 7 percent, compared to a 10-percent decline in the region. The property-tax-revenue growth rate went from 3 percent to 6 percent. The Davenport idea grew over the past year out of a conversation between Davenport City Administrator Craig Malin and Davenport Community School District Superintendent Julio Almanza, the latter said on Monday. The exploratory committee now includes between 65 and 70 people and is an outgrowth of neither city government nor the school district. There are critical differences between the Kalamazoo and Davenport plans. For one, the Kalamazoo Promise is paid for entirely by an anonymous donation, meaning that there's no public expenditure. The Michigan program is expected to cost $10 million a year when four graduating classes are participating. Kalamazoo's population is roughly 73,000 (compared to Davenport's 99,000), and its student enrollment is about 70 percent of Davenport's. The funding method leads to the other differences. The Davenport proposal has been structured with additional benefits - money for the police and fire departments, the homestead grant for people who choose military service rather than post-secondary education. And the Davenport Promise is being pitched broadly as an economic-development tool that uses post-secondary education as a way to broaden the city's tax base. In Kalamazoo, the primary focus is on using post-secondary education to reverse years of declining enrollment at the city's public schools. The Davenport exploratory committee is also proposing a property-tax cap for low-income senior citizens and disabled homeowners, so that they wouldn't bear the burden of the expected short-term increases in property taxes. "It isn't like Kalamazoo," Almanza said. The exploratory committee is being politically savvy in trying to build support for the plan far beyond its educational component. When asked why the Davenport Community School District or its foundation isn't being actively considered as a funding source for the program, supporters of the plan emphasized that it's intended to help the entire community. "If this does what it's supposed to do ... the community is the beneficiary ... ," said Susan S. Skora, an exploratory-committee member and president and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend. "So yes, the school district is one beneficiary, but I believe the community is the primary beneficiary of the economic-development piece of this." The nearly exclusive reliance on taxpayer funding is just one nagging detail of the current proposal. Given all the community benefits that Davenport Promise promises, a substantial private-sector-funding component should be relatively easy to put together, and it would be a good-faith gesture to the city council that private companies, organizations, and foundations support the concept. (The city council would need to vote to put a referendum on the ballot to reallocate the local-option sales tax.) Beyond that, the oft-cited maxim that what's good for Davenport is good for the Quad Cities isn't entirely true here. If Davenport grows because of this program, some of the new students will be drawn from other area school districts. Davenport's gain will be their loss. The Davenport Promise plan also appears to violate a key tenet of good economic-development policy: that a government should offer the smallest incentive needed to achieve the maximum benefit. Under this proposal, it's obvious that some families will receive assistance they don't need. "In the Hands of the Community" The exploratory committee and the city have worked out basic projections for the program's scope and short-term economic impact. Exploratory-committee members expect 950 Davenport students from each class to access the program. (There are presently 1,400 seniors in public and private Davenport schools.) At the outset, all residents of Davenport are eligible, regardless of whether they attend a public or private school, are home-schooled, or are enrolled outside of their home district. Starting in the fifth year of the program, students are not allowed to be open-enrolled outside of their home district. The program also requires students to perform some sort of community service, although the details on that component remain vague. Students getting vocational training could receive assistance up to $7,500. People returning from the military could get a homestead grant up to $7,500. Students entering college would be entitled to a benefit equal to two years' tuition at Scott Community College (presently approximately $2,500 a year) and two years' tuition at the University of Iowa (presently approximately $6,500 a year). "Those are moving targets," Skora said. The benefit is given on a sliding scale based on a student's residency in the city. For instance, students who live in Davenport from kindergarten through 12th grade get the full benefit, while those who live in the city from sixth through 12th grades receive an 80-percent benefit. For college-bound students, it's unclear what form the benefit will take. There's some concern, for example, that scholarships might reduce the amount of financial aid a student could receive. "It's not our intent to replace other money the student might be eligible to receive," said Dan Foley, a member of the exploratory committee and the former postmaster of Davenport. Last week, Malin released a city analysis of the potential impact of the program on property taxes. The analysis assumes that property values in Davenport would grow 5 percent a year with Davenport Promise in place, compared to the current annual growth rate of 3.84 percent. It also assumes that 200 new students would come into the school district in each of the program's first five years. In both of those situations, the projection anticipates Davenport's program only being a quarter as successful as its Kalamazoo forebear. Basically, property taxes would rise for a few years to account for the shifting of the local-option sales tax, and then fall below current levels by Fiscal Year 2014. The analysis anticipates that new families would move to Davenport, thus broadening the tax base, increasing property values, and driving down the tax rate. "That makes a lot of assumptions," Skora said, but "that's what the current analysis is showing us." According to the analysis, "At its highest point [in the short term], the combined [city and school-district] tax rate is $1.46 higher, or 4.5 percent. ... For a median home valued at $118,642, that would be $76.22 [in additional property taxes paid annually]. By 2014, the tax rate would be less than it is currently." If property values grow by 6 percent a year - keep in mind that Kalamazoo's growth rate doubled in one year - the owner of the median home would pay $55.33 more a year in property taxes at the highest point. Malin noted in a memo that because of the property-tax rollback in Iowa, "non-residential property owners continue to bear the greatest burden of any property-tax increase." The fundamental question that could be posed to taxpayers, then, is whether the long-term potential of lower property taxes is worth the cost over the next few years. For all the preparation and positioning that's happened with the exploratory committee so far, its timeline for the next action steps is maddeningly vague. The committee is presently circulating petitions gauging support in a general way for the concept, but it isn't saying when it plans to present those to the city council, or when it would like the city council to take action on a referendum proposal. "The idea now is to find out where the community lies with this," said Frank Klipsch, an exploratory-committee member and president and CEO of the Scott County Family Y. "Do they support the idea of this? The course of action is to let the elected officials know that there are people that think this is important, they think that it has merit, and that we ought to consider it." "We believe that the next steps are to get legal advice" on the wording of a ballot question, Foley said. "We need to write a white paper, which takes everything that we've presented and really drills it down and closes any loopholes that we haven't anticipated." "Before people would have to vote on something, it would have to be clearly solidified as to what it is," Klipsch said. What's the time frame on the white paper? "We don't have one," Foley said. "This is in the hands of the community, the way I see it." Expediency at What Cost? One thing that's clear is that the Davenport Promise Exploratory Committee wants to get this program up and running as quickly as possible. The reason is simple: If Davenport doesn't do it, somebody else might, mitigating any competitive advantage Davenport might gain from it. "We are aware that conversations around this concept have occurred in Bettendorf, Rock Island, and Moline," Skora said. "This is an idea that is bubbling through lots of different communities. But none of them have made the next step. They look at the costs of it, and they can't figure out how to get that done." One reason the Davenport Promise is the Davenport Promise rather than the Quad Cities Promise is that it's relatively simple logistically. The way it's structured, it only involves one municipality, and one referendum to fund it. But simple isn't always best, and Davenport Promise is likely to hurt surrounding school districts. An $18,000 college fund is sweet incentive to move. Members of the exploratory committee responded three ways to the issue. First, they said that the community at-large will benefit. "Davenport is the largest city in the Quad Cities, and it has typically been one that most of the community looks towards, and as goes your leading, largest city, in many cases it's a beacon of how the Quad Cities is doing as a group," Klipsch said. In Kalamazoo, according to the Upjohn Institute, new students in kindergarten through ninth grade came from 88 Michigan communities, 32 states, and nine foreign countries. "This [the program's potential reach] is much bigger than the neighboring towns," Foley said. The second response was that students already move from one school district to another. "Is there going to be some shifting [within the Quad Cities]?" Foley asked. "I think there is, but there's already shifting." That's one reason Davenport enrollment has dropped so steadily since the early 1990s. The third response is that the Davenport Promise program could be expanded to other communities in the Quad Cities. "It would be very easy to expand this program in terms of what it covers if they would come to the table ... ," Skora said. "But they're going to have to come with money." Decisions about program expansion, she added, would be made by the organization that administers the program. On the question of Davenport Promise having no means testing, Klipsch said that the money that families might have spent on college will still be spent within the community. He also noted that one of the benefits of the program would be keeping families in Davenport. "A lot of the families that are capable of sending their kids to college, regretfully a lot of them are leaving," he said. Put in those terms, the question isn't how much a family needs for a child's education, but how much money would keep them in the area. Skora added that the program is diminished as in economic-development incentive if it's based on income or assets. "If you can tell an employer that all of their employees that live in Davenport are going to be eligible for this program, it's a much stronger argument than saying, ‘Those of you who don't have enough money ... ,'" she said. "It loses its strength as an economic-development tool when you only focus on a need-based program." Expediency might hurt the Davenport Exploratory Committee most at the ballot box in terms of funding. It's apparent that committee members found a single source - in this case, an existing tax - preferable to a drawn-out fundraising campaign. As Klipsch said, "Is there a way to get started now with resources that are available?" But relying on the local-option sales tax means the city foots the bill for a program that will greatly benefit the Davenport Community School District, which gets $5,300 a year from the state for each student that attends its schools. Klipsch conceded that the exploratory committee should discuss with the school district and its foundation whether they could help offset the municipal commitment. "That's a great question we need to follow up with," he said. Almanza said the school district had some discussions about helping to finance the program. But, he said, neither the school district nor the foundation will participate unless the benefit is district-wide - including to residents of Blue Grass, Walcott, and Buffalo who live inside the Davenport Community School District but outside the city proper. "I could not support [assisting with financing but] having this go to [only] a segment" of the district, he said. "I've got to do it for all of them." Klipsch also noted that the exploratory committee should cast its net wider in looking for private funding. "Why limit ourselves just to Davenport Schools Foundation?" he asked. The city council and voters are more likely to look favorably upon the Davenport Promise proposal if it's not just a program in search of a handout - if it brings a bag of private money to the table. Skora estimated that an endowment of $300 million could fund the program in perpetuity, but that's not remotely realistic at the start. But each private dollar the exploratory committee brings with it is a dollar that the city doesn't need to replace if voters support reallocation of the local-option sales tax. Private money likely won't eliminate the $13.6-million hole in the city budget from sales-tax reallocation, but it could shrink it. Finally, there's the question of track record. Kalamazoo's program has been amazingly successful, but it's still only two years old. Skora said the exploratory committee is using Kalamazoo because "it's the oldest one there is." Committee members were hesitant to even explore the possibility of its cautious projections failing to pan out - for instance, if the program didn't increase the aggregate property value of the community, turning those short-term property-tax increases permanent. "That's the work of the future," Skora said. "We don't think that's going to happen." But what if it does? "Our projections are all based on being only one-fourth as successful as Kalamazoo," Foley said. "We're trying to be as conservative as we can, because we recognize the risk."

http://www.rcreader.com/news/building-a-better-promise/print/

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Retirement will keep getting tougher Corporations and state and local governments have replaced defined-benefit pension plans with less expensive defined-contribution plans. This trend will continue. Health-care costs for retirees are increasing faster than the inflation rate. Residential real estate prices have fallen sharply from their high points in most parts of the country, and the prospects for appreciation are mixed. Home equity loans, which typically have the effect of reducing the net assets available at retirement, are used too often. Corporations are forcing employees out of the work force at younger ages. Conservative investments are returning less than 1 percent. And Congress may reduce entitlement benefits. These are just some of the factors that spell trouble for those who are not saving for retirement at a serious clip. One of the most important things to do is regularly invest a significant portion of your income for retirement. If you are not saving at least 10 percent of your net pay, you are probably not saving enough, especially if your employer no longer offers a defined-benefit plan. When you receive a raise, immediately increase your savings. Rebalance once a year. That way, you are taking some profits from your more successful investments and reinvesting in alternatives that are at lower prices. Do not invest too much of your retirement investments into your employer's common stock. You don't want to be too dependent on the financial stability of your employer. Take advantage of any available tax-deferred retirement options. Make sure you use the benefits of IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, and Roth 401(k)s if you can. If your employer offers a 401(k) match, make sure you contribute at least the minimum amount to receive the maximum employer match. Don't wait until your 50s to start a serious investment program. The earlier you start, the easier it will be. Don't accept 100 percent of the financial burden regarding college education for your children. It's too expensive. Let your children know well in advance that they must accept a significant part of the financial burden and encourage them to look for scholarships, grants and loans on their own. Do not be too conservative with your investment selections. If you are 10 years or more away from retirement, it makes no sense to have any of your retirement investments in low-yielding vehicles such as Treasury bills, money market instruments or short-term savings accounts. Select only cost-effective investment vehicles. Invest only in no-load mutual funds, as opposed to commission-based funds. Select only mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that have a history of low costs. If you are many years away from retirement, make sure you have a significant percentage of your investments in some form of common stocks. On a long-term basis, common stocks should provide more growth potential than other investments. Develop a diversified portfolio, with a portion in bonds as well as stocks. Have some investments in global and international vehicles. You may want to have a small portion of your portfolio in commodities including some gold. However, I would not invest a large percentage in commodities that provide no income. Commodity investments are volatile and generally produce no or little income. My limit is 5 percent of the whole portfolio's value. If at all possible, try to go into retirement without an outstanding mortgage. If you can, make extra payments while you are employed to reduce the mortgage, especially if your interest rate is high. You will have a lot more flexibility in retirement if you own your home mortgage-free. If you are close to retirement and you believe your retirement income will be insufficient, consider options that will provide you with additional income. If you are considering self-employment options, talk to volunteers at your local SCORE chapter for free counseling and low-cost seminars before you actually retire. Employers, both in the public and private sectors, continue to introduce policies that make it more difficult for employees to retire in financial comfort. Employees who want a comfortable retirement must take the initiative to improve their own financial future. People who recognize this and take the initiative early in their careers can ensure prosperous retirements. Reader Reaction San Joaquin Brides Advertise with Jobs Legal Notices

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130421/A_BIZ0205/304200301/-1/A_BIZ02

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NewsApp (Free) Read news as it happens Download NewsApp Available on   Rediff News  All News  » Business » India can grow like China if domestic issues settled: Nick Bloom India can grow like China if domestic issues settled: Nick Bloom Last updated on: December 24, 2012 09:18 IST India can grow like China if domestic issues settled: Nick Bloom Dilasha Seth he share of manufacturing in India's gross domestic product can go up to 30 per cent if the country implements labour reforms and relaxes regulations, according to Nick Bloom, professor, Stanford University. He tells Dilasha Seth in an interview that India could grow as fast as China if the country sorts out its domestic challenges. Excerpts: With India's economic growth down to 5.3 per cent in Q2, what are the deterring factors according to you. Domestic issues are India's real problems rather than external ones. So my analogy is like, India is like a boxer with a hand tied behind its back. The government has tied the hand behind with labour regulations, permits, licensing, etc. So, if the second hand is unleashed, then India can grow faster. Imagine that you are a businessman, and want to open a factory. It is really hard with so much of regulation, so you move to Singapore, Hong Kong or US. Are you saying that if India addresses these domestic hurdles, it can tread a high growth path like China? If the domestic issues are sorted out, India's growth rate could be at least as fast as China. The government could increase growth by getting rid of most of these regulations. India's growth rate is lower than China's, as China is a more free market. There are much less labour regulations and the rule of law is very strong. So what can drive India's growth in the medium rate is going to be how much the government can do to push through the retail FDI (foreign direct investment) and the land acquisition Bill. The manufacturing sector has been a drag on the overall economy... India has a very small manufacturing sector. Every country around the world, which have achieved a massive growth rate, is through manufacturing. No one has really been able to achieve high growth like agriculture to services. The National Manufacturing Policy aims at increasing the share of manufacturing from 15 per cent to 25 per cent in the next decade. Do you think that is doable? India's labour is way cheaper than China's. So people are moving out from southern China to inland parts of Indonesia. They would happily invest in India and India's share in manufacturing could possibly go up to 30 per cent if it eases the labour regulations, allow FDI and ease the licence procedure. If I am a big multinational company and thinking where to set up my factory, I think of two options - India and Vietnam. India has cheaper wages than Vietnam, but Vietnam is a lot of relaxed place. There is some corruption, but I can get my way and run my basic business. But if I go to India, I would sign a partnership with the government and I am worried about the uncertainty. I think there is a huge pool of people who wants to invest over this side. If you see the amount of money pouring over Vietnam and Indonesia and China, a part of that could come to India. Image: Nick Bloom, professor, Stanford University. Photographs: Courtesy,

http://www.rediff.com/money/slide-show/slide-show-1-interview-how-india-can-grow-like-china/20121224.htm

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NewsApp (Free) Read news as it happens Download NewsApp Available on   Rediff News  All News  » News » Indo-Pak should tackle disputes in more mature ways: Khar Indo-Pak should tackle disputes in more mature ways: Khar August 29, 2012 19:11 IST Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who is participating in the XVIth NAM summit being held in Tehran, said on Wednesday, that both India and Pakistan need to tackle their disputes and other issues in a more mature manner, so that they don't continue to haunt the two countries and their respective governments. Responding to a question on the recent flood of SMSes that had created panic and pandemonium among people from the northeastern part of India, and to the Indian government's reaction that some of these messages had their origins in Pakistan, Khar said, "I think simply that we need to really find a more mature way to be able to be handle all of these issues because they will continue to haunt us." "So, I am, in my position, very disappointed every time something reaches Pakistan through the media, because we believe that we have been able to invest in this relationship enough to expect a call from any counterpart if any such concern, suspicion arises. Because, we have to move beyond this. You know, really, giving more fuel to a hostility type of a narrative in each other's media, I think, your media, really needs to become more positive," she added. When asked whether Pakistan would now move against the perpetrators of 26/11 in the wake of the Supreme Court confirming the death sentence on lone surviving terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab, and whether the much promoted 'Aman ki Asha' would actually have meaning, Khar said, "Recently, the Pakistani High Commissioner in India (Salman Bashir) had given a very good interview, in which he has said repeatedly and clearly articulated what the requirements are to move forward in that. So, we cannot not have a response to that and allow for instance people from Pakistan any access and still expect to forward." "If both sides are committed to move forward, I think, we should show our commitment, and I can assure you, that the Pakistani side is committed to moving forward beyond this, and on any other issue that arises between the two countries," she added. Source: ANI

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Last updated on March 13, 2014 at 15:19 EDT Researchers Make Older Beta Cells Act Young Again October 12, 2011 By manipulating a well-known molecular pathway, JDRF-funded scientists breathe new life into aging beta cells As a person ages, the ability of their beta cells to divide and make new beta cells declines. By the time children reach the age of 10 to 12 years, the ability of their insulin-producing cells to replicate greatly diminishes. If these cells, called beta cells, are destroyed–as they are in type 1 diabetes–treatment with the hormone insulin becomes essential to regulate blood glucose levels and get energy from food. Now, longtime JDRF-funded researchers at Stanford University have identified a pathway responsible for this age-related decline, and have shown that they can tweak it to get older beta cells to act young again–and start dividing. In the past, researchers have used other techniques to trigger older beta cells to start dividing, but they have been met with challenging results, explains Dr. Kim, who is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. “You can get these cells to grow but they will literally lose their specific identity as a beta cell,” he says. “They will either stop making insulin, or they’ll grow just fine but they will grow uncontrollably or into other cell types.” But with the advent of better genetic tools and the completion of the human genome project, that era has come to pass, he explains. “With these advanced technologies, we are now able to get a comprehensive view–at the genetic level–of the changes beta cells undergo as they age, and we can track these changes and study them in a systematic way,” he adds. “By understanding what genes are turned on and off in a young beta cell, we can try to recreate that genetic environment in older beta cells such that they divide in a desirable, controlled manner.” By better understanding the mechanisms that control and govern pancreatic ï¢-cell proliferation, researchers could transform treatments for diabetes. The cascade leading from PDGF binding to its receptor on the beta cell’s surface to changes in protein levels within the nucleus could inspire scientists with new ideas on how to discover new drugs to safely promote beta cell regeneration to replace those lost in diabetes. “A major goal of JDRF’s regeneration program is to find ways to preserve and restore functional beta cells as a cure for type 1 diabetes. One of the challenges is that adult beta cells do not readily replicate, and these new findings provide key insight on how the body regulates beta cell growth and replication,” says Patricia Kilian, Ph.D., JDRF’s scientific program director of regeneration research. “Based on these key scientific insights, we hope the new findings will help enable the discovery of safe therapies to promote beta cell regeneration.” On the Net:

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Human Rights Watch World Report 1990 - Somalia Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 1 January 1991 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Watch World Report 1990 - Somalia, 1 January 1991, available at: [accessed 13 March 2014] Events of 1990 Human Rights Developments In 1990, facing deep cuts in foreign aid and diplomatic isolation after international exposure of massive human rights abuses by his government, President Mohamed Siad Barre announced a number of measures, largely cosmetic or unimplemented, intended to improve his image. These included the release in October and November of about 20 suspected rebel sympathizers held without charge or trial since July and August 1989; promises of a referendum on a new constitution and local multiparty elections in 1991; abolition of the National Security Court (NSC), a special court which reported directly to the President and handled "political" cases; reintroduction of the right to habeas corpus in political cases; the abolition of the principal security agency, the National Security Service (NSS); ratification of a number of international treaties; and promises to allow Africa Watch and Amnesty International to visit the country. On September 3, the President dismissed his Prime Minister, whose government had been in power only since February, and in late November, he made further Cabinet shuffles; in each case these moves were preceded by talk of "change." And on December 26, in a move to forestall the collapse of his government, President Barre legalized the formation of oppostion political parties. The various announced reforms, by only scratching at the surface of repression, did little to stem a dramatic deterioration in the human rights situation throughout 1990. In part for that reason, the organized rebel movements and prominent opposition voices rejected these moves as irrelevant to the raging political turmoil and demanded, as in the past, that President Barre step down before negotiations to end the civil war can begin. For example, the abolition of the NSS was not accompanied by the demise of other security agencies with similarly unlimited powers of arrest and detention and notorious reputations for torture and ill-treatment of detainees. These include the President's own bodyguards, the Red Berets; the "Backbreakers," a branch of the military police; the Hangash, another branch of the military police; the Victory Pioneers, a uniformed paramilitary group; and the investigative wing of the ruling Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP). Similarly, the decision to dismantle the NSC did not guarantee a fair system of justice because other courts, such as the Mobile Military Court and the Regional Security Court, retained the power to sentence people to long prison terms and even death without any pretense of due process. In an effort to show that the government was opening the political system, President Barre resigned as Secretary General of the ruling party, only to be replaced by a son-in-law who for many years headed the NSS. Promises to allow international human rights groups access to the country never materialized. In an April meeting with representatives of Africa Watch in New York, then Foreign Minister Ahmed Jama Abdulle extended an invitiation to visit the country but later failed to respond to inquiries about the timing of such a visit. In June, Amnesty International was due to have talks in Mogadishu with the government but the authorities postponed the visit at short notice. The government continued to arrest and detain citizens without charge or trial for peaceful expression. In June, 45 prominent Somalis, including the first civilian president, the former president of parliament, former ambassadors, civil servants, religious leaders, elders and intellectuals, were arrested after they signed a document that was sharply critical of the government's human rights and economic policies and detailed steps toward national reconciliation. They were detained for three weeks and brought to court on charges of sedition and treason, which carry the death penalty. Surprisingly, they were acquitted for lack of evidence – the first such acquittals ever in a political trial in Somalia. The trial, which lasted only a few hours, became a major political event, with the court surrounded by huge crowds facing heavily armed guards. The government was clearly anxious to avoid a bloodbath if heavy sentences were imposed. But Somali jails and unofficial detention centers continued to hold thousands of lesser known political detainees and common criminals, living under inhumane and abusive conditions. In fact, the number of those in custody escalated dramatically as the government sought to "contain" the thousands of displaced persons arriving every month in Mogadishu by detaining many of them in former military training camps outside the city. Arrested during roundups known locally as "rafs," several thousand people, for the most part small farmers and nomads from the central region belonging to the Hawiye clan, were held at Dhanane military training camp, situated near Laanta Bur prison in the direction of Merca; Qorileh camp, located about 25 kilometers east of Mogadishu on the coast; and a camp to the west of Belet Weyne. It was impossible to estimate the exact number of prisoners and detainees in Somalia, since the government refused to publish any figures, but unofficial sources placed the figure at between 7,000 and 10,000, including many arrested when war broke out in the north who were believed held at Berbera, Borama and Burao. By the end of 1990, Somalia was in an advanced state of anarchy. As conditions worsened and the economy crumbled, opposition intensified and citizens became more outspoken in their criticism of government policies and leadership. The three principal rebel movements also agreed to coordinate their military tactics and to cooperate politically in their campaign to hasten the departure of President Barre. Perhaps the most significant development in 1990 was the extent to which the war, until then confined largely to the rest of the country, was felt in the capital. As thousands fled to Mogadishu from more insecure regions, the economy weakened substantially. In addition, the United Somali Congress (USC), a rebel organization formed in 1989 by the Hawiye, Somalia's largest clan which is centered in Mogadishu, stepped up its campaign to destabilize the government. Beginning in August, the USC intensified its attacks in Mogadishu, and at year's end was said to be within 50 kilometers of Mogadishu. It was widely believed that the main obstacle holding the USC back was advice from clan elders that an assault by the USC on Mogadishu would unleash massive government reprisals against civilians. Random killings by soldiers, particularly the President's heavily armed bodyguards, the Red Berets, as well as by ordinary criminals and soldiers in plainclothes, became so common that people were afraid to leave their homes at night. The government blamed "robbers" for the murder of a number of foreigners, but it was widely believed that they were killed by the Red Berets. Shooting was heard every night in Mogadishu and corpses were found in the morning in different districts. Both soldiers and civilians were responsible for looting government warehouses to obtain food; looting of private homes was facilitated by the frequent absence of electricity, adding to the climate of fear. Government troops and rebels used rocket-propelled grenades, injuring many innocent bystanders. Bomb explosions at the central post office, at a military barracks and outside a government ministry killed at least 10 people. The Red Berets shot dead over 100 civilians at a soccer stadium on July 6 after the crowd jeered the President; over 300 were injured. A number of demonstrators, policemen and soldiers died in late October when protests about a sharp increase in gasoline prices and calls for the release of political prisoners escalated into violent clashes in Mogadishu. Scores of others were injured. Families of those injured during political protests often did not take their wounded to hospitals for fear of arrest. From the end of November to the end of the year, more than 150 people died in Mogadishu, mainly as a result of fighting between two clans, the Abgal and the Galgalo. The Abgal accused the Galgalo of attacking them at the government's instigation. In addition, many civilians died from shots fired from passing cars belonging to the army and security agencies. Many embassies reduced their staff, restricted the movement of those who remained, and advised their citizens not to visit Somalia. Insecurity in Mogadishu forced thousands of people to seek a measure of peace in the refugee camps in Ethiopia. The government's ability to mobilize its forces against the USC was strained by the growing defections from the army of both officers and rank-and-file soldiers; many joined one of the armed rebel movements. The war in the north, which broke out in May 1988 between the government and the Somali National Movement (SNM), continued unabated in 1990. In addition, the insurgencies that began in 1989 in the central region, led by the USC, and in the south by the Somali Patriotic Front, intensified and led to massacres of unarmed civilians by the army. The heavy fighting created such a level of insecurity that most aid agencies pulled out of Somalia, leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced within the country beyond the reach of international assistance and observation. Hunger and disease also took their toll on the civilian population. The war has destroyed the country's infrastructure – which was limited to begin with – and the displaced face food shortages, inadequate shelter and the absence of medical facilities. Refugees, mainly from the north, continued to flee to Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen to escape the insecurity in Somalia. International assistance to Somali refugees in Ethiopia and Djibouti became increasingly inadequate as more people fled. The government's counterinsurgency strategy continued to draw no distinction between civilians and armed insurgents. Targeting the nomads who make up an overwhelming majority of the country's population, the army and pro-government militias sought either to punish them for their presumed support of the rebel movements or to discourage them from providing any such assistance. In Belet-Weyne, Kismayo, Bosaaso, Burao, Loya'ade and other towns and villages, the army killed unarmed civilians, destroyed their livestock and water-reservoirs, and looted and burned their homes and warehouses. This repression has encouraged the civilian population to arm itself and to form militia groups. The increasingly militarized situation throughout country, as well as the government's lack of effective control over much of the territory, rendered the government's promise to hold multiparty elections largely meaningless. US Policy From 1978 until 1989, the United States was Somalia's most important ally, and a significant source of economic and military assistance. The relationship was cemented during the Somali war with Ethiopia in which the Soviet Union switched its alliance from Somalia to Ethiopia. The provision of military, economic and diplomatic support, accompanied by a decision to refrain from public criticism of human rights abuses, was rationalized by the need to protect US interests in this strategically located country. Those interests include a naval facility for the US Central Command at the port of Berbera as well as military and electronic facilities elsewhere. Even after war broke out in the north in May 1988, the Reagan administration continued to provide military assistance and to defend the regime against a US Congress that was increasingly critical of the government's human rights record and its conduct of the war. In 1989 and 1990, however, the Bush administration began to disengage significantly from Somalia, and the change in its policies were as dramatic as they were welcome. This was in large measure the result of pressure from Congress, which demanded the disengagement on human rights grounds, as well as of the realization that the government was disintegrating. The end of Cold War rivalries also reduced Somalia's significance to the United States. The erosion of confidence in the Somali army apparently prompted the United States to cancel "Operation Brightstar" naval exercises in September 1989; the exercises were not rescheduled in 1990. The ten-year Berbera agreement granting access to these facilities expired at the end of 1990. The Persian Gulf crisis renewed fears that Somalia's strategic location would encourage the Bush administration to overlook Somalia's human rights record and strengthen ties to the government, but the crisis did not appear to have influenced administration policy toward Somalia. By the end of 1990, the administration had announced no plans to use the Berbera base, which in any event had less strategic significance as a jumping point to the Persian Gulf in light of the massive deployment of US troops in Saudi Arabia. Nor, in light of the turmoil in Somalia, did the port present itself as an inviting spot for rest and relaxation for troops on leave. In a reflection of the administration's dissatisfaction with the government of Mohamed Siad Barre, there were no new Economic Support Funds or military assistance granted in fiscal years 1989 or 1990. A once large USAID mission has been scaled down to two people whose purpose is to close down old programs. All projects, including development programs, have been suspended. By contrast, US economic aid for 1988 totaled about $30 million. Aside from human rights considerations, the provisions of the "Brooke Amendment" also made Somalia ineligible for new aid beginning in January 1990 because the government was in arrears on its international debt. But even in the unlikely event that the government were able to repay its debts, Congress placed strict limits on aid to Somalia in the Foreign Aid Appropriations bill for fiscal year 1991, which President Bush signed into law on November 7, 1990. No provision was made for military aid or Economic Support Funds, and all other assistance to Somalia was placed on a "reprogramming basis," meaning that Congress must be informed before any disbursement of development aid goes forward. State Department officials issued a number of public statements in 1990 either protesting government abuses or criticizing the government's conduct of the war. For example, on July 11, The State Department condemned the killings in the soccer stadium: According to reports we have received from Mogadishu, troops inside the stadium fired shots into the air after a crowded soccer match became unruly. The crowd rushed out of the stadium and was fired upon by troops outside. The troops inside then also opened fire on the crowd. President Siad Barre was inside the stadium and he had delivered a speech just before the incident occurred. We deplore the continuing violence in Somalia. We call upon the government, as we have done in the past, to establish control over its own forces and to take political steps necessary for national reconciliation. In August, the State Department publicly protested, both in Mogadishu and in Washington, a massacre in Berbera in which the army shot dead 17 Isaak men and critically wounded two others in front of a restaurant in the center of town on August 16, in retaliation for attacks against government personnel and property by the SNM. The Work of Africa Watch In January 1990, Africa Watch published a 268-page report on the war in northern Somalia, which had broken out in May 1988. By the beginning of 1990, an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 had been killed and nearly half a million had fled the country, the majority for Ethiopia. Entitled A Government at War with Its Own People: Testimonies About the Killings and the Conflict in the North, the report was based on research and interviews with newly arrived refugees in August 1989 in Djibouti and from June to October 1989 in England and Wales, where a sizeable refugee community had also gathered. The report provided eyewitness accounts of the human rights abuses that preceded the outbreak of war, and examined the conduct of the war by government forces and SNM insurgents. In July 1990, Africa Watch issued a press release on the massacre of over 100 unarmed civilians at a soccer stadium in Mogadishu. In August, Africa Watch issued a press release drawing attention to the August 16 massacre in Berbera. A 30-page newsletter published in September exposed the superficiality of the government's "improvements" and documented a wide range of recent government abuses, including several massacres of unarmed civilians and the detention and torture of political opponents. Africa Watch published an article in the November edition of Africa Events underlining the limitations of the government's campaign of reform. An article in The Christian Science Monitor, also in November, drew attention to the plight of Somali refugees in Ethiopia and the displaced within Somalia, particularly the deliberate denial of food by the government to the displaced. And an article by Africa Watch in December, describing the acceleration and abuses of the war in Mogadishu, appeared in The Guardian of London. Copyright notice: © Copyright, Human Rights Watch Search Refworld

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Report Abuse Report this review to the Review Centre Team Why are you reporting this review? Written on: 10/11/2012 There isn't much I can write about this website and service other than they are both excellent. Got my iPhone unlocked in 48 hours. The process was simple and straight forward. The process in iTunes was exactly as described in the instructions and it worked first time. Very happy with the service and obviously with the product. They deliver exactly what they say they will, quickly and cheaply. If you are looking to officially unlock your iPhone this is most definitely the website to use. 10 out of 10

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Skip to content This volume examines historical developments in the field of physics as well as surveys the various topics integrated with the subject such as thermodynamics and mechanics. More  Although vulnerable to various infections and other disorders, the respiratory system by and large continues to function in order to sustain us. This book explores each element involved in this subconscious process and the factors... More  This comprehensive narrative details both the biological process of procreation and the often divisive debates on how best to approach matters related to the human body. More  Examines the emergence of the environmental movement and the basic principles of environmental law. More  Examines fossil and geologic evidence from this time that reveals a dynamic planet, where new species of plants and animals were constantly emerging and continents were breaking apart and reforming. More  Features the outer solar system and discusses asteroids, meteors and meteorites, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, and comets. More  Examines the diverse features of our galaxy's planets farthest from the sun and our attempts at discovering more knowledge of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. More  Covers the diverse array of objects that are found within the solar system, including dwarf planets, asteroids and meteors. More  Provides a study of the Milky Way Galaxy, as well as information on the Andromeda Galaxy and other galaxies scattered across the cosmos. More  Examines the era long before humans, where dinosaurs were once masters of land, sky, and sea. More  Subscribe to RSS - Britannica Log Out

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Put your wider ribbon at the bottom. Also, go around all of the bottom rows and then keep going up levels. You can fit more ribbon in this way. Also, I read where one woman used her hair dryer to soften up the purse and get the crinkles out before she started loading it.

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Low Carb Quiz Take this quiz to find out what your low carb habits say about you! 1. If you go through a fast-food drive-thru, you order: a. By the number -- sandwich, fries and a diet soda b. Whatever passes for a salad (with fat-free dressing) c. A la carte -- burger, hold the bun, and a bottle of water. 2. You are most likely to buy which canned product: a. Light sliced peaches b. Green beans c. Tuna fish 3. Most of your food comes from: a. Boxes b. The garden c. Containers in the fridge 4. If you eat fruit, you're most likely to choose: a. Banana b. Grapefruit half c. Melon chunks 5. At a party, you gravitate toward the: a. Pretzels or whole-wheat crackers b. Fried mozzarella sticks c. Little skewers of cheese and meat 6. At the grocery store, you shop primarily in the: a. Candy aisle b. Produce section c. Meat/seafood department 7. Which veggie will most likely find its way to your plate? a. Corn on the cob b. French-cut green beans c. Broccoli florets 8. When you go to your favorite restaurant and order "the usual," you are served: a. Pasta with white sauce and garlic bread b. Fried shrimp and rice c. Grilled chicken breast with steamed broccoli 9. Your Sunday morning breakfast special is: a. Toaster pastries and waffles b. Irish oatmeal with dried cranberries c. Scrambled eggs with ham 10. Your favorite sandwich is: a. A triple-decker special on white bread b. Grilled chicken on crusty bread c. Sub in a tub -- just the meaty innards in a tidy container, please LOW CARB DROPOUT: If you answered mostly "A," you may need to go back to the drawing board. Most of your choices are high in carbs and sugars. Consider using the regular version of your favorite salad dressing (which typically has few carbs than the fat-free kind) or trading a handful of pretzels for a cheese stick. And use all your popcorn as packing material to ship your toaster to a high-carbing pal. Let her eat bagels! LOW CARB DABBLER: If you chose mostly "B," you make many healthful choices, but you're not smack in the center of the low carb road. If you'd like to edit your menu, lighten up on the bread and switch from breaded, fried proteins to steamed, broiled or grilled meats. Veggies are good choices, but choose less "carby" broccoli florets, celery and red pepper strips. Keep up the good work! HARD-CORE LOW CARBER: If most of your choices were "C," you are a confirmed low carber. Most of your diet is great for a low carb lifestyle. You're balancing low carb eating with your busy lifestyle -- and you make it look so easy! Be sure to add variety to keep things interesting and great tasting. You're an inspiration! Recommended for you Comments on "What's your low carb personality?" + Add Comment (required - not published)

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celebrity health 1. Celebrity Gossip Is Bruce Jenner getting his Adam's apple removed? Bruce Jenner is reportedly planning on getting his Adam's apple removed, and the news has caused mass speculation as to whether the... 2. Celebrity Gossip The Little Couple star Jen Arnold has cancer Jen Arnold, the star of the hit TLC show The Little Couple , has sadly been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, but is determined... 3. Celebrity Gossip Frankie Muniz has second mini-stroke in less than a year Frankie Muniz suffered a second mini-stroke in less than a year and tweeted out the news on Monday. 4. Celebrity Gossip Amanda Bynes found competent to stand trial Amanda Bynes is mentally unable to make medical or financial decisions for herself but a judge rules that she will stand trial for... 5. Celebrity Gossip Hugh Jackman diagnosed with skin cancer Hugh Jackman just received treatment for skin cancer after being diagnosed for a basal-cell carcinoma. 6. Celebrity Gossip VIDEO: Jennifer Lawrence has been pooping her pants daily Jennifer Lawrence appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman Wednesday night and detailed her hilarious experience with poop... 7. Celebrity Gossip NeNe Leakes is hospitalized for blood clots in lung NeNe Leakes had a health scare on Monday and caused panic amongst her fans when she was rushed to hospital with blood clots in her... 8. Celebrity Gossip Jake Gyllenhaal hospitalized after taking a scene too far 9. Celebrity Gossip GMA host Amy Robach discovers breast cancer on TV Amy Robach really didn't want the assignment she was given by her producers, but it turned out that the story affected her entire... 10. Celebrity Gossip Ryan Lochte injured on dry land He's great in the pool, but he had trouble on land. Ryan Lochte is out of training for a bit after being injured by an overzealous fan. 11. Celebrity Gossip Austin Mahone returning to normal after surviving blood clot 12. Celebrity Gossip Kelsey Grammer ignores kids while Camille recovers from cancer Even though his ex-wife has been through a tough month, Kelsey Grammer hasn't helped her out with their kids. In fact, it's been... 13. Celebrity Gossip Snip, snip! Heidi Montag goes under the knife, again Heidi Montag is no stranger to plastic surgery and has added yet another procedure to her already long list of "improvements."... 14. Music Austin Mahone taken to hospital, postpones tour 15. Celebrity Gossip Ricky Schroder yanks daughter from school: Cancer outbreak Ricky Schroder acted like any concerned parent would after his daughter's school campus suffered from a scary cancer outbreak. 16. Celebrity Gossip Director Michael Bay attacked on the set of Transformers 4 On Thursday, Michael Bay set off for his first day of filming for Transformers 4 in Hong Kong. What followed was a bizarre scene... 17. Celebrity Gossip Michael Douglas: I lied about having throat cancer Max 5 stars My Rating Michael Douglas told the press he had throat cancer, but he really had tongue cancer. He wanted to recover with a bit of privacy,... 18. Celebrity Gossip Camille Grammer has endometrial cancer, undergoes surgery Camille Grammer is taking steps to make sure she is healthy in the future. She had preventative surgery after an early-stage cancer... 19. Celebrity Gossip Tom Hanks reveals he's been living with type 2 diabetes Tom Hanks revealed Monday night to David Letterman that he's been living with diabetes. But it raises the question: Just how far... 20. Celebrity Gossip Giuliana Rancic: Life after breast cancer 21. Drinks, Drugs & Rehab Amanda Bynes leaves psych ward, enters rehab Amanda Bynes has struggled for the last few years with mental health issues. She takes one more step on the road to recovery by...

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A Stall Team (Peaked at #4 on UU Leaderboard) Discussion in 'Past Gen Teams' started by Jubilee, Jul 30, 2010. 1. Jubilee is a Contributor Alumnus Jun 20, 2009 I began a few months ago to really get into the UU tier. It was just way more fun to me than the boring OU with every team being the same... After doing ok on the ladder, I faced a few stall teams, and I just lost to each one. So I decided to make my own stall team. This team by far is my most successful team, and it peaked at a CRE of 1706 as SUBAKI7134 and got me to #4 on the leaderboard last round.​ Team Building Process Team Building Process (open) Every stall team needs a Pokemon to set up hazards. Omastar was perfect for this role because it has access to Stealth Rock AND Spikes, something not many UU / NU Pokemon can do. And, it has incredible physical bulk. Every stall team also needs a special wall. What Pokemon is better than the sister of the biggest OU pink whore? Chansey has incredible special bulk and the ability to Wish pass. I love Clefable. Its ability is just incredible. I needed a Pokemon who could absorb status / Leech Seed, and Clefable fits that role perfectly. Encore is very, very useful and stops any sweeper trying to set up on its tracks. I couldn't pass Clefable up. Ok, looking at my team I had three Pokemon weak to Fighting, and had a physical sweeper weakness. I looked through UU and saw Weezing. It was perfect with its incredible Defense, and immunity to Ground and resistance to Fighting moves. I was also looking for a Pokemon to absorb Venusaur's Sleep Powders as well and I saw Weezing's RestTalk set. I had my fourth member chosen. Now looking at my team, I noticed I needed a mixed wall. Milotic fits that role perfectly with its incredible bulk from both sides, and has access to Recover. Now I needed a Rapid Spin blocker. Looking through the Ghosts of UU, I had to choose Spiritomb with its great Defenses (Why couldn't Game Freak give him better HP? :( ) Looking at my team I noticed how Ghosts like Rotom and Mismagius ran through my team, as Clefable and Chansey cant touch them behind Substitutes. I saw Spiritomb's Pursuit set and knew I had my spin blocker chosen.​ The Hazard Lead [​IMG][​IMG] Leftovers Nature: Bold Ability: Shell Armor EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 Spe 1) Surf 2) Stealth Rock 3) Earth Power 4) Spikes Description: Max HP / almost max Defense gives Omastar the most physical bulk it can have with 8 Speed EVs to outspeed opposing Omastar leads. Surf for STAB, Earth Power for Qwilfish, Cloyster, and Kabutops leads. Stealth Rock and Spikes for entry hazards.​ Omastar against Top 10 Leads Uxie - I use Spikes first to see if it's a TrickScarf variant, but if it Grass Knots (fails to KO) then I switch to Clefable. ​ Ambipom - It Fake Outs, and then I Surf as it Taunts. I then Surf again as it U-turns and act accordingly to what comes in.​ Mesprit - I switch to Clefable as it Grass Knots. I then Encore it as it uses Stealth Rock and then Trick whatever comes in.​ Omastar - Earth Power and hope it runs the standard spread as I outspeed it for the 2HKO.​ Spiritomb - I first Stealth Rock and take 50-60% from Shadow Ball / Hidden Power then switch to Chansey and Toxic it.​ Alakazam - Go straight to Spiritomb and Pursuit it as Alakazam fails to do anything to Tomb.​ Cloyster - I just keep Earth Powering until it's KOed. It usually gets three layers up... good thing I personally don't see too many.​ Moltres - I go straight to Chansey as it uses HP Grass.​ Hippopatos - Surf and then Surf again for the KO.​ Qwilfish - Earth Power as it uses Taunt / Spikes so it can only get up a max layer of two Spikes.​ The Encorer [​IMG][​IMG] Flame Orb Nature: Calm Ability: Magic Guard EVs: 252 HP / 124 Def / 120 SpD / 12 Spe 1) Seismic Toss 2) Encore 3) Softboiled 4) Trick Description: These are almost the standard EVs for Clefable, giving it the most bulk it can have from both sides. Except, I run 12 Speed EVs to outspeed ALL standard Clefable so I can easily beat them by Encoring and Seismic Tossing them first every time. I use Seismic Toss so I don't have to rely on Clefable's below average Attack stats and Encore for Pokemon trying to set up on me. I chose Flame Orb as I got tired of Pokemon like Rhyperior, Hitmonlee, and Donphan coming in on me to absorb the T-Wave. Afterward, I get to watch one of these so-called "counters" suffer from a burn. Softboiled is used to recover any damage done. Clefable is an extremely helpful member of this team protecting the team from SubSeeders, SubRoosters, Rest-Talkers, and most importantly it has Encore, which without my team would be swept by numerous Pokemon. The Special Wall / Wish Passer [​IMG][​IMG] Shed Shell / [​IMG] Leftovers Nature: Calm Ability: Natural Cure EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 Spe 1) Seismic Toss 2) Wish 3) Protect 4) Toxic Description: This is the standard EV spread for a Wish passing Chansey. Toxic is used to stall out special attackers with Wish and Protect. Wish helps heal weakened team members, especially Spiritomb who has no way to recover HP on its own. I know you're thinking that Leftovers is the better option on Chansey, seeing its only use is for Dugtrio who isn't used much. I just couldn't stand being trapped by Dugtrio and being completely helpless against it, although I am considerign changing due to Dugtrio usage dropping. Chansey protects the team from powerful Special Attackers like Alakazam, Moltres, Houndoom, and much more that other members of the team can't handle. The Mixed Wall / Hazer [​IMG][​IMG] Leftovers Nature: Bold Ability: Marvel Scale EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD 1) Surf 2) Ice Beam 3) Recover 4) Haze / Hidden Power [​IMG] Description: Max HP and 58 SpD EVs give Milotic a little special bulk with the rest in its Defenses. Surf for STAB, and Ice Beam for Grass-types who love to come in on it. At first I had HP Psychic over Haze for those stupid Toxicroaks trying to set up on me. But then, I later realized Haze was far better, as it helps me against DD / SD Feraligatr and CM mono attacking Spiritomb, as Spiritomb runs through this team if Clefable is gone. Recover is used to recover off any damage Milotic has taken. Milotic is the only thing keeping mixed sweepers like Blaziken from running through my team and it keeps alot of other dangerous sweepers at bay like Rhyperior, Altaria, and Drapion to name a few. The Physical Wall / Status Absorber [​IMG][​IMG] Leftovers Nature: Bold Ability: Levitate EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 58 SpD 1) Sludge Bomb 2) Will-O-Wisp / Flamethrower 3) Rest 4) Sleep Talk Description: 252 HP EVs for max HP, 200 Def EVs for physical bulk, and 58 SpD EVs to give it some special bulk to absorb hits from the versatile Venusaur. Sludge Bomb for STAB and I just didn't like using Thunderbolt / Flamethrower. And, the chance of poisoning is great. I love how Houndoom loves to come in on expecting a Will-O-Wisp or Flamethrower only to be hit by Sludge Bomb. Rest for recovery as I don't like Pain Split much and Sleep Talk so it's not a sitting duck when asleep and so it can absorb sleep moves. And finally Will-O-Wisp to cripple all physical attackers. Weezing is my go to Pokemon for all Fighting- type Pokemon and other strong physical attaclers that the other team members cant handle like Hitmonlee, SD Venusaur, and Heracross to name a few. The Pursuit Trapper / Spin Blocker [​IMG][​IMG] Leftovers Nature: Sassy Ability: Pressure EVs: 252 HP / 4 Attack / 252 SpD 1) Dark Pulse 2) Pursuit 3) Shadow Sneak 4) Will-O-Wisp Description: These are the standard EVs for Spiritomb nowaday, 252 HP for bulk and 252 SpD to take as much special damage as possible. Dark Pulse for the incredibly annoying Will-O-Wisp Ghosts-, Pursuit for Ghost- and Psychic-types trying to escape, Shadow Sneak to hit Ghosts for quick super effective damage and, Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers like Drapion and Toxicroak who would otherwise take little damage from this set. Spiritomb is a very crucial member of this team protecting it from Substitute using Ghosts that would other wise run right through this team. A Pokemon I'd love to fit on this team [​IMG][​IMG] Leftovers Nature: Impish Ability: Intimidate EVs: 252 HP / 252 Defense / 4 SpD 1) Close Combat 2) Rapid Spin 3) Foresight 4) Sucker Punch / Rest Why?: Id love to fit a Hitmontop on this team because my team lacks a Rapid Spinner. And some Pokemon who fail to 2HKO my Pokemon will 2HKO them with enough hazards on my team which could lead to me being swept. It would also take care of my Aggron weakness. The problem is, I don't see anything I can replace it with... if someone could give me a good enough reason on why I should replace it with "X" Pokemon or why I shouldn't, that would be great.​ Threat List (Sorry Eo but I jacked this from your RMT ;___;) Red means this Pokemon is a big threat. Blue means this Pokemon is a moderate threat. Black means this Pokemon is easily handled. UU Threats Absol - Milotic and Weezing can take a +2 Attack, I just have to hope it doesn't crit either of them, and hopefully I have entry hazards up so it dies quickly from LO. Aggron - This Pokemon is a MAJOR threat. I can't switch in anything on it, as it 2HKOes everything. If it comes in on Chansey / Clefable, I have to sacrifice them as I cant switch in Milotic and risk Aggron being Jolly and being 2HKOd. A smart player can keep switching it in and out until my special walls are gone. Alakazam -Switch to Spiritomb, Pursuit it and it's KOed. Not a big threat at all. Chansey can take it on as well, even though a Specs Focus Blast is going to hurt. (Noob thund and your Zam nom :P <3) Altaria - Clefable can Encore / Trick DD variants, Milotic can Haze / Ice Beam DD variants as well. Support variants are handled by Clefable easily; just Encore and Seismic Toss it until it's KOed.​ Azumarill - Choice Band variants are easily handled by Milotic, Weezing, and Spiritomb. SubPunch variants can be Encored by Clefable and taken on by Weezing.​ Blaziken - Milotic is my only hope against it, but luckily Milotic isn't 2HKOed by anything it can throw (bar SD variants but those aren't very common at all). Chansey - Clefable can Encore it and keep Seismic Tossing, while it cant do much to Clefable and my own Chansey. Claydol - Go to Tomb as it Rapid Spins, Pursuit it, and then it isn't a problem anymore.​ Clefable - This is exactly why I run Speed EVs on my Clefable to outspeed the standard Clefable. Encore it on a Seismic Toss and then Seismic Toss it till it's KOed, and Softboiled when I'm on low health. Belly Drum variants are hard to wall as it outspeeds Milo for Haze, but hopefully it isn't carrying a Toxic Orb and I can burn it; also, good thing they're not common.​ Cloyster - Cloyster is blue just because I hate him. It gets to set up 2-3 layers of Spikes on Omastar as Earth Power fails to 2HKO... Donphan - Milotic can Surf for a OHKO. Go to Spiritomb for the spin block, switch to Milo as it EQs, and Surf / Recover depending on the situation and what my opponent's team is. Drapion - Omastar can Earth Power for good damage, Milotic can take any attack at +2 and Surf, and so can Weezing with Flamethrower. Clefable can Encore / Trick it. Bulky SD variants with Taunt can be annoying though and do some damage to me.​ Dugtrio - Weak dicks are weak. Milotic can OHKO it. Has no chance whatsoever against Weezing, and Tomb can Sucker Punch. It can come in on Clefable in low health and KO it though. Feraligatr - Milotic can Haze and Surf it until it's KOed. Clefable can Encore / Trick it. Weezing can take a +2 Waterfall and Sludge Bomb. Hariyama - Lead Hariyama is annoying, as I have to switch out Omastar and bring in Weezing. Other than lead Hariyama, it isn't very common. Hitmonlee - Weezing can take anything it can throw at it and take it out with Sludge Bomb. I usually go to Tomb first as it uses Close Combat, and then Pursuit it for some damage.​ Hitmontop - If Milotic / Omastar are in, I usually stay in and Surf as the spinner variants Foresight, then I go to Tomb and Will-O-Wisp it. Then I go to Weezing, but unfortunately it always gets to spin my entry hazards away. Luckily, I always try and keep Omastar in good health for putting them back up.​ Houndoom - Good thing Spikes + Stealth Rock + Life Orb take a toll on it, as even Chansey is getting hurt by Fire Blast at +2. Milotic can take a Dark Pulse at +2 but, I try and keep Milotic healthy to wall some of the specific Pokemon only it can take on.​ Kabutops - Lead variants are easily beat by Omastar, as it uses Earth Power first turn then Surf. SD variants are dangerous, because without Milo I have nothing to take it out, and even Milo can be OHKOed by a +2 LO Stone Edge. Lanturn - Clefable can Trick and Seismic Toss it until it's KOed. Chansey can take anything it has and Toxic it.​ Leafeon - Weezing can take anything it has at +2. Ludicolo - Chansey can take all LO special sets easily. I usually go to Chansey as it Surfs, and then Toxic it. If it has Leech Seed I go to Clefable and Softboiled as Toxic takes its toll. SD variants are handled by Weezing, but if Waterfall flinches though it's GG >.<​ Mesprit - Go to Clefable as lead variants Grass Knot, and then Encore as it SRs and Trick whatever comes in. Physical Scarf variants are easily handled by Tomb. CM variants are easily handled by Clefable and Chansey. Milotic - Clefable can handle bulky variants, Encore it on a Surf, and keep Seismic Tossing until it's KOed. LO variants are handled by Chansey.​ Miltank - Clefable can Trick any Miltank a Flame Orb which completely cripples it, and Curse variants are handled by Clefable's Encore and Milotic's Haze.​ Mismagius - Spiritomb can take CM and Nasty Plot variants, because even at +2 Shadow Ball isn't OHKOing it at full health. The only reason Mismagius is red is because of its Bulky Ghost set. With Taunt / Will-O-Wisp / Shadow Ball / Pain Split it completely shuts down my entire team if Spiritomb is gone.​ Moltres - Chansey can Toxic LO variants and Milotic can handle it as well. SubRoost variants are easily handled by Clefable. Nidoking - Milotic cant really switch in on it, as Earth Power + Thunderbolt + SR is going to hurt too much and possibly KO. I usually have to predict around it and Spiritomb can Sucker Punch it to low health.​ Omastar - I Earth Power and hope they run the standard spread which I outspeed. Poliwrath - Clefable actually easily handles it. Switch it in as it Substitutes on Milotic / Tomb and Encore its Substitute as it tries to Focus Punch. Weezing can handle it as well.​ Regirock - Milotic beats it down with Surf, and Clefable handles Curse variants with Encore / Trick. ​ Registeel - Again Clefable can Encore it as it uses Iron Head / Seismic Toss and Trick it and Seismic Toss it until it's KOed.​ Rhyperior - Milo outspeeds and OHKOes all variants. I usually switch in Milo as it EQs / SEs and then Recover as it switches out. It comes in on Chansey / Clefable a lot only to be Toxiced or Tricked a Flame Orb. Without Milotic it runs through my whole team. My only hope is to Trick it a Flame Orb or stall out Stone Edge's PP with Weezing's Rest.​ Rotom - Spiritomb can Shadow Sneak / Pursuit it, and Clefable can take on Will-O-Wisp / Charge Beam versions. Not much of a problem.​ Sceptile - I usually switch to Weezing to find out what set it's running, as switching to Chansey to take the Leaf Storm can potentially be dangerous as it could be an SD set. Once I find out what set it's running I have each set covered. SD sets are easily handled by Weezing, Specs sets are easily handled by Chansey, and Leech Seed sets are handled by Clefable.​ Scyther - Weezing can handle SD variants, even though a +2 Aerial Ace is going to do a lot. Spiritomb can Sucker Punch for the KO (at 50% or so). Milotic can Ice Beam it.​ Slowbro - Clefable Encores CM variants, and easily handles bulky variants with Encore / Seismic Toss. Chansey can Toxic it as well.​ Slowking - Same story as Slowbro... Spiritomb - Clefable can Encore / Trick CM variants, and Milotic has Haze CM variants as well. Choice Band variants are handled by those two as well.​ Steelix - Omastar and Milotic can OHKO with Surf. Swellow - Omastar can easily take anything it has, and Weezing and Milotic can take it on as well, although both are 2HKOed by it... Spiritomb can Sucker Punch it as well.​ Tangrowth - Weezing does A LOT of damage with Sludge Bomb and can absorb the Sleep Powder, and Clefable can take the Leech Seed and Trick it a Flame Orb. Torterra - Weezing easily handles any set it has. Toxicroak - Weezing can Flamethrower for the 2HKO as Toxicroak does shit damage at +2. I used to HP Psychic it with Milo but I changed HP Psychic to Haze. Nasty Plot variants with Focus Blast could be dangerous, but luckily they aren't common. Uxie - I usually use Spikes and see if it Tricks Omastar. If it Grass Knots then I switch to Clefable. Isn't a threat at all.​ Venusaur - I switch to Weezing to absorb the sleep, and Weezing can take on SD variants (Unless I get lucky with Sleep Talk and it hasd Return) and USUALLY can take on LO variants. Bulky variants are easily handled by Clefable.​ Weezing - Clefable can handle anything it has, and so can Chansey.​ NU Threats Articuno - Chansey handles LO variants even though they are very, very uncommon, and Clefable easily handles the SubRoost variants.​ Cradily - Clefable can Encore / Trick Curse variants, but I haven't seen any other Cradily then Curse ones.​ Exeggutor - The only reason it's blue is because I hate it. I HATE Exeggutor. Usually I will sac something for the Sleep Powder and go to Chansey for the Leaf Storm, although I have to be careful for the potential Explosion.​ Jynx - Usually I switch to Weezing for the Lovely Kiss, and then Tomb as it Subs. Chansey can handle it as well. Milotic can Haze it, and Clefable can Encore it.​ Kangaskhan - Kangaskhan is bulky and hits hard as hell with Choice Band. It 2HKOs everything besides Omastar with Band Double-Edge. I just have to wear it down, but usually something is getting KOed.​ Lapras - Special variants are easily handled by Chansey, I have never seen a DD variant but that would be handled by Haze from Milotic, and Trick / Encore from Clefable. Manectric - SubCharge sets are handled by Chansey. I have to watch out for Switcheroo though.​ Magmortar - Just like Nidoking I have to be careful with it. It's very dangerous if it carries Cross Chop, but luckily Spikes + SR + LO will wear it down. Spiritomb can Sucker Punch when it's low on health. Choice sets are easily handled by Chansey though.​ Ninetales - Chansey can Toxic it, Clefable can Encore it, and Milotic can Haze and Surf it.​ Pinsir - Uhh Mold Breaker is annoying... hitting Weezing hard with EQ. Milotic can take it out in low health with Surf, and Spiritomb can Sucker Punch / burn it. Luckily, it's not very common at all. The only ones I've seen are Scarfed which Weezing can handle with prediction and lead ones which fails to 2HKO Omastar with Earthquake.​ Qwilfish - This is why Omastar has Earth Power, because it's annoying as hell. SD variants are very dangerous as it can 2HKO everything on my team and Explode. Just got to wear it down with SR + Spikes + LO. Ursaring - Spiritomb laughs as it fails to hit it with Facade. Sucker Punch 2HKOs.​ Special Thanks: Thanks to Aromaflora for helping me with the team, staying with me on shoddy for hours, and using her awesome grammar skills to check all my mistakes on this RMT! Thanks! <3​ 2. dws93rd Jul 12, 2010 Well, from my time playing UU, albeit short, this team looks as though it covers almost every threat and looks like a very solid team. The first thing I would suggest is to put WoW on Weezing as it will help your team with the Aggron problem since it cripples him and makes him next to useless. Also, I would highly suggest changing Weezing to the standard Weezing and making Milotic's set a variant of a RestTalk set. IMO, Milotic's natural bulk+Marvel Scale activated thanks to Rest, will make it a much better wall and user of RestTalk than Weezing as it will multiply Milotic's Defense by 1.5, allowing it to take hits from just about anything in UU. I could see Hitmontop filling the spot of Clefable on your team with the set you listed, but with an Adamant nature and 252 Atk Evs, as that way you can always OHKO and Aggron, with or without Entry Hazards Hitmontop @ leftovers Nature: Adamant Ability: Intimidate EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 1) Close Combat 2) Rapid Spin 3) Foresight 4) Sucker Punch Not to mention, this set can 2HKO any Mismagius, including the BUlky Ghost you have trouble with. Plus, he can OHKO Chansey(if it takes damage from Entry Hazards tehn its a sure OHKO) and can 2HKO the more defensive Clefables, while OHKO'ing the more offensive ones, such as the StallBreaker. Also, Intimidate softens those blows from physical attackers. 3. Jubilee is a Contributor Alumnus Jun 20, 2009 Thanks for the rate dws93rd, I will change Flamethrower to WoW on Weezing and will give it a test. Im going to have to keep Weezing as my Rest Talker though as he can actually stay in on Venusaur. Also I like having Milotic be able to reliably heal its HP with Recover. I honestly dont like the idea of switching out Clefable for Hitmontop either, Clefables Encore's are very very valuable to this team. If I get more comments on that though I wil try it. 4. tawp64 Feb 8, 2010 If anything, this needs a grounded poison type. Toxic spikes can threaten this team greatly, and weezing can't stop it because he has levitate. An option is to change softboiled on clefable for wish, and replace wish on chansey for aromatheropy/heal bell. That way, you're safe from toxic spikes. Then again, Hitmontop helps with rapid spin if you want to replace something. Or, you could just use the grounded poison like drapion, who provides toxic spikes itself. It's bulky and can stop many sweepers. But idk where to put it. Anyways, congratualtions on the CRE! 5. NightShadow Jun 3, 2010 i don't think clefable is very helpful and as dws93rd rightly said, hitmontop should replace it since it can spin away rocks, spikes and t-spikes. however, you do not have a single pokemon which can set up t-spikes, which is ridiculous for a stall team. i would suggest changing spikes to t-spikes on omastar (if it can learn, i'm not sure =.=). overall, GREAT team. very solid. 6. Jubilee is a Contributor Alumnus Jun 20, 2009 Clefable is very very helpful with Encore, Tricking Flame Orb, and its ability. Ive tried using Hitmontop and I honestly like having Clefable more. Numerous times when I switched out Clefable for Hitmontop id find myself trying to switch in Clefable and realizing "oh yeah took her out". Shes very useful to this team even if both her and Chansey are on it. Toxic Spikes in my opinion are INCREDIBLY stupid in UU. Venusaur is the #1 Pokemon in UU, absorbs them and makes those turns of setting them up pointless. 7. august august its hard to miss you when you follow us around is a Smogon IRC AOPis a Tutor Alumnusis a Team Rater Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnuswon the 5th Official Smogon Tournamentis a World Cup of Pokemon defending champion Nov 25, 2007 Alright a few things quick: Use Careful 252 HP / 252 SDef on Spiritomb or you'll have a ton of trouble with Sub LO Split Rotom and alot more Taunt NP Mismagius troubles. As it is right now, your Spiritomb isn't specially bulky enough to be considered a ghost counter (its nearly 2HKO'd by Scarf Rotom TBolt after SR, and gets nuked by Specs TBolt), and by running Careful you'll have more insurance against CM Zam too since it wrecks stall if Tomb is gone. Will O Wisp would be ideal on Tomb too, so Absol doesn't set up in your face. Speaking of Absol you have a pretty big Absol weak. I really don't see merit in both Chansey AND Clefable, i'd go for one or the other so you can fit Top on the team and fix the massive weakness to CB Aggron / Absol / Taunt Swords Dance Drapion and a load of other stuff. You also really need a spinner because as it is right now, you lose pretty handily to other stall, seeing as Omastar sets up on Weezing and Spiritomb with no trouble, and Hitmontop laughs at your Spiritomb. I also don't understand Wish on Chansey. If you use Rest on Spiritomb (which you should) then the only mon without recovery is Omastar. I'd much rather use Aromatherapy / Heal Bell Chansey so you atleast have a cleric, which helps Milo alot considering it has trouble countering Curse Registeel / CM Tomb and stuff like that if it gets Toxiced. good luck beating other stall without toxic spikes 8. ShinyAzelf is a Battle Server Moderatoris a Contributor Alumnus Jan 18, 2010 Hey, fixing your Aggron problem, you could run 84 speed EVs on Milotic, so it can outspeed Jolly Aggron (you hit 219 speed, and Jolly Aggron hits 218 speed) so you can nail it with a Surf. How about this set? Milotic @ Leftovers Nature: Bold Ability: Marvel Scale EVs: 244 HP/160 Def/20 Sp. Def/84 Spe -Ice Beam -Haze/HP Psychic I'm not sure if HP Psychic lowers your Speed IV so you may have to run more speed EVs if so. I know you say you won't change Shed Shell on Chansey, and I might not be able to convince you to change to Leftovers, but whenever someone traps me using Dugtrio while my Chansey is out, Life Orbed Earthquake from Jolly Dugtrio does around 55% which combined with Softboiled and leftovers in my case can stall it out (provided crits aren't present). In your case, you can stall out with Wish/Protect. Yes, I know there are Choice Banded Dugtrios which do 70% to you, so if thats the case, I get a Seismic Toss on him, and in your case, I'd finish him off with a Sucker Punch/Pursuit from Spiritomb, depending what your opponent will do. Not much about the team. Its great and good luck. =) 9. franky is a Team Rater Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnus Apr 12, 2009 Go for Psychic > Sucker Punch on Tomb to deal with Toxicroak - a problem that can beat your team quite easily given the multiple opportunities it has. To name a few though, it can hit Venu and Hariyama for super effective damage as well. Go for august idea with going 252/252 sassy nature on tomb as it maximizes on checking Missy, Zam, and Rotom (especially sublosplit). There is no need to pour in all of those attacks since most of these aforementioned threats are really frail on the physical end anyways. Clefable needs to go - both Chansey and Clefable are redundant when they are placed on the same team. i have two propositions to make: go for the ev change for Weezing to a little more specially defensive to maximize on checking both sd, mix sceptile and venusaur variants. However, you'd need to add a physically defensive venusaur in exchange of Clefable! A physical venu will take care of not only leafeon (sd + double edge bypasses weezing), it also deals with Feraligatr and Azum since Milotic lacks hp grass. Additionally, venu gives you a much needed Milotic check because god knows one Milotic that will stay in on Chansey so it will be hard for it to induce Toxic. Go for Leaf Storm / Sludge Bomb / Synthesis / Roar with the evs 252 HP / 168 def / 16 spe / 72 spd with the bold nature. This spread optimizes on checking physical threats, surviving +2 lo shadow ball from missy (if the need arises), and outpaces adamant aggron! Roar is there over sleep powder to add more spikes damage and ultimately help you against enemy stall teams. As for other options, go for a simple 252/252 bold spread on Milo. Cmon, Moltres is already put in check by the defensive juggernaut Chansey so there is no need to pour in all of that. overall gl! 10. Jubilee is a Contributor Alumnus Jun 20, 2009 Thanks for the rate August. I changed Tomb to Careful 252/252 and I really like being able to take the hits from Ghosts alot better, the damage it does is quite poor though. But its better then him getting KOed and being swept by a ghost (He still 2HKO's Missy / Rotom with Shadow Sneak with the spread you listed). I used Wish / Protect for Toxic stalling, I tried using Softboiled / Heal Bell with Rest Hitmontop and it worked pretty well. Thanks for the rate franky. I cant fit Shadow Sneak / Pursuit / WoW / Rest / Dark Pulse / Psychic Shadow Sneak / Pursuit are the two moves I'd deffinately and will keep. So any opinion on what last two moves...? Dakr Pulse will prove useful for those evil stall breaking Mismagius's, WoW is nice for things like Drapion and Toxicrok that can set up on this set, Psychic doesnt have much use besides Toxicroak and Hitmontop... Hitting Spinner Hitmontop super effectively looks really nice though lol. On adding Saur I think I'd much rather add a Defensive Hitmontop then Defensive Venusaur. I already have changed Milotic's EV's to 252/252, I just forgot to edit my post. And about everyone commenting on Clefable AND Chansey. Yea I know they both do almost the exact thing, but Chansey can take attacks Clefable cant, Like +2 LO Houndoom Fire Blast, Moltres, Alakazam (To an extent), and a few others I cant think of right now. Clefable has Magic Guard and Encore. Two things that have been very important to this team (I cant stress how useful Encore is...), and have deffinately saved me more then once. Ill give Leftovers a try on Chansey and see how it works. The Speed EV's on Milo arent something id change though, thats sacrificing too much Defense imo. =/ And yes HP Psychic does lower your Speed IV. :x 11. Diesel Aug 6, 2007 Lol I'm glad I clicked on this because I made a nearly identical team except I had Hitmontop over Chansey (and more specially defensive spreads on a few pokemon). All I can say is don't do that, because I really didn't have a lot of success and found I didn't have the switch-in ability to certain special attackers, especially if Spiritomb bit the dust early defending my Spikes, and tbh I really don't like Top much in general. Anyway, nice team and congrats on the success I didn't have. Users Viewing Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 0)

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Logging In Invalid username or password. Incorrect Login. Please try again. not a member? October 25, 2001 Saltwater Parasites Unlike remoras that attach and release, these parasites make a permanent home on gamefish. Q: While on a fishing trip to Mazatlan, Mexico, I photographed these three disgusting parasites attached to a dead striped marlin at the dock. They were alive and had some sort of moving, feathered claws opening and closing at the ends. What are they? Are they common? What is their life cycle and how do they affect their hosts? - Dwayne Flebbish, Salt Lake City, Utah A: According to Ron Thune and Al Camus at the Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab, Louisiana State University Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, they are probably a form of parasitic copepod crustacean, possibly from the family Pennellidae. This family includes species that are particularly harmful to fish. They burrow deeply into their host's flesh, sucking their blood and causing severe wounds and ulcers, often making the fish too repulsive-looking to market. The life histories of some of the more than 140 species of pennelid parasites are more complex than those of other copepod families. They may pass through larval stages requiring intermediate hosts such as squid or pelagic snails, though others may be confined to a single host. The full life cycles of many species remain unknown. Some of the parasitic copepods that have adapted to permanently anchoring themselves to the body of a fish include Lernaea, Lernaeocera, Sphyrion and Pennella. The largest of the pennelids are found in the genus Pennella, a possibility for the large parasites in your photo. Giants among parasitic copepods, Pennella filosa, for example, may reach 7 or 8 inches long with eggs sacs protruding from the ends reaching 14 inches. This genus is found frequently on the skins of swordfish, tuna, sunfish, flying fish and other pelagic species, and were reported by fishermen as long ago as the times of Aristotle and Pliny. The ancient writers described the agony of tunas and billfish jumping out of the water in efforts to dislodge the parasites.

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Brendan Simms: Can Angela Merkel forge a United States of Europe? Cometh the hour … regardless of anti-German sentiment, Chancellor Merkel must seize the initiative (Picture: Reuters) Famously, Chancellor Kohl regarded German unification as a prelude to a much larger European unification Suggested Topics In June 1900, the British commander of the international expeditionary force against the Chinese Boxers, Admiral Seymour, found himself in a bit of a fix. He exhorted the Kaiser’s contingent to come to his aid with the immortal words “The Germans to the front”, words that went around the world. Many Germans claimed they had rescued the day. On the contrary, British and French spin doctors replied, the Germans had been cowering in the rear for so long that Seymour had had to shame them into doing their duty. One is reminded of these exchanges today as Europeans dispute whether Berlin should take the lead in the eurozone. For every French socialist party motion condemning Chancellor Angela Merkel for dominating the Continent on behalf of “German savers and German trade surpluses”, there is a Radek Sikorski, the Polish defence secretary, who calls upon Germany to stop skulking at the back and seize the initiative before the European project collapses completely. Anti-German sentiment is growing exponentially in southern Europe, especially Greece and Spain, whose peoples are rebelling against the austerity regime supported by Germany. More recently, Germanphobia resurfaced in France. In Paris, the socialist senator Marie-Noelle Lienemann invokes the spirit of the Second World War Free French leader General Charles de Gaulle against German suggestions that France should balance its books. Even where it is not so explicit, much of the rhetoric against a “German Europe” draws on memories of Hitler’s attempts to control the entire continent 70 years ago. This time, however, it is different. Far from wishing to dominate Europe, the German elite see the European project as both the apotheosis and the transcendence of their national aspirations. Famously, Chancellor Kohl regarded German unification as a prelude to a much larger European unification. The Basic Law, the German constitution, is bookended by a preamble that announces the intent to “serve world peace” as “an equal member of a united Europe”, and the final paragraph — revised after unification — which states that it will be superseded by a new constitution freely agreed to by the German people. In other words, the potential surrender of sovereignty to a democratic single European state is written into the very core of the German political DNA. Where the Germans can be faulted is in their lack of boldness in pushing forward the political unification of Europe on a democratic basis. Too much in hock to the traditions of the Holy Roman Empire and the EU, they see political union as a process. They still fail to grasp the historical truth that successful unions such as Britain’s union of England with Scotland and Ireland and America’s union of states have been events. Berlin’s current strategy of postponing joint debt liability and political union until convergence criteria have been achieved will crush the southern and western periphery economically long before they reach the finishing line. Eurozone political union will happen only if the pooling of debt, and a subsequent “debt-ceiling”, is accompanied by the simultaneous establishment of a common parliament which is responsible for it. The periphery will be able to grow again, while the regulatory structure of a single state ensures that they are not allowed to run up such vast debts again. There is no reason in theory why this solution should not be promoted by any eurozone leader, or political party, but in practice the task must fall to the Chancellor of Germany, the largest and most powerful country — Angela Merkel. Frau Merkel needs to level with the German people and the other peoples of the eurozone by calling a constitutional convention of representatives specifically elected for that purpose. They should work out an Anglo-American style constitutional union with a popularly elected executive president, an assembly elected by population, and a Senate representing the member states. This package would have to be put to the electorate of the eurozone on the same day in every participating country. Populations would then be free to decide whether they wished to go forward together or to hold on to an increasingly illusory sovereignty. It is the only solution with the democratic legitimacy to create a Union Bond covered by the entire tax base of the Union, and to extend the fiscal reach of the state into areas hitherto unaccustomed to it. This new Union would be a fusion of political cultures in which the German element will be hugely important and rightly so. Parts of it will need to learn the German willingness to balance books and pay taxes. These qualities are not unique to the Federal Republic, however. Some northern members of the eurozone are more “German” than the Germans themselves. Moreover, Germans would not dominate. The total population of a single eurozone state including Poland and other latecomers would be close to 400 million, of whom less than a quarter would be German. A German vote in the assembly would count the same as a Greek or an Irish vote, while the smaller acceding polities would actually be over-represented in the Senate, as is the case with the less populous US states. Last week, one British journalist described Frau Merkel as a potential European Abraham Lincoln. What we require, however, is not somebody to defend the current union — which is broken beyond repair — but to create a new one. The better analogy is with the 19th-century Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who created the Second German Empire out of the ruins of the old and ineffective German Confederation. Today, the eurozone needs a democratic Bismarck, probably though not necessarily from Germany. If we get one, the sight of more Pickelhauben helmets in newspaper cartoons will be a small price to pay. Brendan Simms is Professor of the History of European International Relations at Cambridge and author of the recently published Europe: The Struggle for Supremacy, 1453 to the Present (Allen Lane). ES Rentals ES Dating By clicking 'search' you are agreeing to our Terms of Use. 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Celia Rivenbark - Squirrelly behavior deters pests Published: Sunday, December 30, 2012 at 12:30 a.m. Last Modified: Friday, December 28, 2012 at 12:29 p.m. I realized that things had gone too far in my battle with the squirrels in our yard when I heard myself ask Duh Hubby to kindly step outside and pee along the front walkway where I'd just planted some spring bulbs. "I read somewhere that squirrels hate the scent of human urine," I said. Duh looked at me just like you'd look at a crazy person. "It's four o' clock on a Saturday afternoon," he said. I totally didn't get where he was going with this. At first. "Oh, right," I said. "You might want to wait until it gets dark. Here. Drink some water." It's not like I asked him to poop on them. What's the big deal? Besides, we live on a quiet street. It's unlikely more than 10 or 15 cars would even see him peeing in the front yard. "If it's such a great idea, why don't you do it?" Duh asked when I reminded him of his task. "That's disgusting," I said. Obviously, it would be easier for a man to handle this particular chore. Did I really need to give a grown man an anatomy lesson? I'd spent two hours planting the bulbs, carefully mixing in bone meal for heartier growth. The least he could do was pee on 'em. But Duh refused to budge. I couldn't imagine why he was being so prissy. This was no time for "shy bladder." By the time night fell, those squirrels (whom I imagined watching me all afternoon and laughing their haunches off) would ruin my garden-to-be. I just knew it. Duh said we should put hot pepper sauce on the ground around the bulbs but we decided against that after a Google search said the squirrels could rub it in their eyes and blind themselves. I mean we might pee in our yard but we're not complete jerks. Other suggestions via Google included my all-time least favorite: Put up a squirrel feeder. This was clearly written by an idiot. The idea isn't to make my yard some kind of squirrel spa; the idea is to get them to leave my stuff alone. We have two huge pecan trees in our back yard but no pecans because the squirrels eat them all. They spend afternoons patting their enormous bellies, burping and flipping us off with their tiny squirrel fingers. Yes. They do. We spent so long researching squirrel deterrents that we realized it was really late and just went to bed. The next morning, I went out to get the paper, which the squirrels had probably already read, and that's when I saw it: All 150 bulbs, tenderly planted and fertilized, had been dug up and chewed to bits. Duh walked out to survey the carnage. "WHY DIDN'T YOU PEE IN THE YARD LIKE I TOLD YOU TO?" I shrieked. The new neighbors, strolling their baby, sped up. Celia Rivenbark's seventh book, "Rude Bitches Make Me Tired," will be out in 2013. ▲ Return to Top

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20121230/NEW9000/121229735/www.starnewsonline.com

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TED Conversations Casey Christofaris Owner, CS3 Inc This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation or join one » Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation. • Sep 23 2012: This is pretty fascinating, I read most of the replies. I know little of math, the most advanced math I ever used was bulk specific gravity calculations on construction materials. But let me see if I can stimulate some of your physics brains. Can it be that there is zero matter of one particular matter? Two people in a room, one holding an apple, one holding nothing. The particular matter that makes an apple, is zero, no? Zero of that matter, as opposed to oxygen in the room. I don't know, it's mind boggling. It reminds of of the novel The Island of the Day Before by Umberto Eco. Nothing from nothing leaves nothing - Billy Preston • thumb Sep 23 2012: Good day Chris, I will have to look into that book. But If one person is holding an apple and the other person has zero apples. That does not make the apple in the other persons hand not exist. So if you zoom out you could still say that there is one apple in the room. • Sep 23 2012: Good Day Casey. I meant that the one person has zero apples, so zero matter. If he leaves the room to the next, there are zero apples in the next room. A person can have zero of any specific matter. • thumb Sep 23 2012: Yes that is true a person can have zero of any matter. How ever that does not make that matter zero. There are still apples in existence. And say they did go out of existence if would just be a transfer of energy. Not a zero "point" of existence. Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

http://www.ted.com/conversations/13925/is_our_math_wrong_is_it_our_a.html?c=538212

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It's almost Thanksgiving! How will you make the most of your holiday? It's almost turkey day, people, or if you're of the vegetarian persuasion, tofurkey day. It's that time of year when hopefully you will be seeing your relatives gathered, catching up with cousins you'd forgotten, getting pinched on the cheek by your grandparents. Besides being an opportunity to chow down, though, Thanksgiving is a great chance for creative teens to work on their people watching. Writers are not just in the business of story writing; they're also dedicated story collectors. We're hungry for stories and we listen for them whenever we can. Chances are, one of your relatives has a story that could be turned into a great piece of fiction. Try collecting stories this Thanksgiving by doing a few casual interviews of your own. Instead of zoning out when your grandparents start telling stories about what life was like back when they were kids, get interested. Pay attention to the details! Ask questions about what people were worried about, what foods were eaten, what people wore, what they learned in school. You'll be giving your relatives some much-deserved attention, and you'll also be collecting valuable details to fill your next story. What if you want to write a story set in the past? The only way to make it real is to do your homework and learn about what it really felt like to live during that time period. Ask your aunts and uncles what it was like to live during the Vietnam War. Ask your grandparents about living during World War II! There's no end to the amazing things you can learn if you get interested and listen up. Another thing to pay attention to when you're gathered around the Thanksgiving table is what people don't talk about. Stories get interesting when we know there are mysteries lurking beneath the surface of polite conversation, or skeletons in the closet that are waiting to burst out. Try doing a little sleuthing in your family and find out what isn't being said. It may be tough, but writers and journalists need to be able to ask the tough questions and dig up the dirt. Thanksgiving is a rare opportunity to see your family interacting all in the same room. Do a little eavesdropping and you never know what great story material you'll discover next.

http://www.teenink.com/Weekly/2010-11-24-article

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Amazing Race Counting Bears Is Not Rocket Science Episode Report Card Miss Alli: B+ | Grade It Now! Bale out Gus and Hera continue searching. Next out of the Icebar are Lori and Bolo, after he lands on about a two-millimeter area of the target. Outside, Gus tells Hera he can't run a whole lot more. Inside, Don and MJ leave the Icebar next when he lands squarely on the target. Hee. See, now, this isn't bunching -- this is scrambling, which is different. Those in the lead had every chance to stay in the lead or give up the lead, depending on their success at the task. They just, in certain cases, didn't. Outside, Gus is unhappy. "What a time to be lost," he says miserably. Not that there's a great time to be lost during this particular game. Commercials. I don't care what Lands' End [sic] says; your dog does not want a sweater for Christmas. He told me. He already doesn't like you. Get him a rawhide bone or he's running away. When we come back, Gus and Hera are asking someone for the Nordic Sea Hotel where the Icebar is, and it appears that they are actually right in front of it. "It is here," says the guy, which is always what you hope your giver of directions will tell you. Sort of the racing version of "You're soaking in it." They go inside at last, queuing up while there are indeed still some folks left at the shot glass phase. There, Rebecca warms up, says, "Magic one!", and slides a glass right off the bar. Hey, not all magic is happy magic. Ask the next toad you see with a little crown on his head. Next to get out are Kristy and Lena, then Spazpants. Hayden and Aaron -- who, you'll remember, arrived first -- finally hit the target, leaving Freddy and Kendra, Hornio, and the just-arrived Gus and Hera. Hornio hits next. So it's Gus and Hera and Nuance now, even up at the Icebar. Gus is the next person to land it, so despite their navigation problems, Gus and Hera are only second-to-last out of the bar. But right behind them are Freddy and Kendra, after she finally gets the glass in place. The teams basically leave together, and in her taxi, Hera notes that she thinks the task was "all about patience," because they got out so quickly. I'm not sure that proves it's all about patience, but it might prove it's not random. Oh, and Freddy pronounces the name of the store in the clue "Eye-key-ay." I suspect they wrote it in all-caps, as it sometimes appears, so that might have been misleading. Maybe he thinks it's an acronym for International Knives, End tables, and Armoires. Speaking of old Eye-key-ay, Kris and Jon are pulling up in first place, but when they investigate, they find that the doors are locked until 10:00 AM. Other teams arrive one by one, so it's a great big bunch outside the store, waiting for the morning. As a music guy toodles some tinkly music that reminds me of Mr. Rogers's Neighborhood, we see that all the teams are camping out for the night. Before you know it, it's morning, and they're all running in together. And up the escalator! Past the coffee tables! There is a lot of wandering in the store, as it isn't even entirely clear where the task is going to be found. Amazing Race Get the most of your experience. Share the Snark! The Latest Activity On TwOP

http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the-amazing-race-1/counting-bears-is-not-rocket-s/5/

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Unisciti allacomunità More than a car company While everyone is focused on Tesla as a car company, it occurs to me that if they are successful in their Supercharger build out, they will ALSO be well positioned to have a nicely profitable electricity service station network. Presumably the Gen III car won't be able to fill up for free (that's a Model S perk), so they can make money off those Supercharger stations eventually. I do not think charging for electricity is part of the plan. Rather. The purpose of the Supercharger network is to make long distance travel possible. It has been said to be compatible with all Tesla vehicles that have a range of 200 miles or greater. In other words at least the 60kWh. Gen III may fall in this category with the appropriate battery pack and options. Solar City handles all the electricity costs and revenues. The plan is to generate and sell to the utilities more than the cars consume (overall, over the course of each year). For TM this is PROMOTIONAL. MARKETING; it makes the Model S (and other models) more attractive and salable. Its costs are the chargers in each unit, which are now cheap to make in quantity, and the real estate. I hear they don't even need to worry about real estate costs in most supercharging the surrounding businesses are more than happy to provide the charging areas for free as they know people who have to stop and charge for 20-40 mins are much more likely to eat/shop while they are waiting. I think many retailers are picking up on this fact and we will be seeing many more 240v outlets popping up all over the place. It is a cheap move for many retailers/shopping that will pay for itself pretty quickly. Should also add not just retailers/shopping malls but restaurants, hotels/motels/sporting facilities/marinas/movie theatres/ etc/ etc Speaking of marinas...anyone know when we are likley to see an electric speedboat/yacht? Tesla Marine anyone? I know Tesla Air is coming eventually with Elon's supersonic electric jet idea...could be the beginning of a real empire. 1. Tesla Motors (two and four wheel vehicles - can't wait for them to make a bike!) 2. Tesla Air 3. Tesla Marine 4. Tesla Rail (Elon's hyperloop idea) All powered by SolarCity panels and off-grid storage batteries bought with Tesla's HUGE purchasing power. I also noticed SolarCity is working with Shea homes (experts in eco-home building) to offer the "no electric bill" home. Wonder how long it will be before Tesla starts offering them cheaper batteries for off-grid energy storage? An idea I mentioned awhile ago...roll everything into one mortage payment for an off-grid solar powered eco-home and EV from Tesla...and bam! Eliminate your seperate mortgage, electricity, ICE car lease, and gas bills for one easy payment which would work out cheaper in the long run than all these other seperate bills when combined. Exciting times ahead! See the Sun Country system going in across Canada for retailer/hospitality-sponsorship. 70A all the way. Wait a minute, this is going too fast for my imagination. We used to say: "The sky is the limit". But here its sounds like there is no limit at all!!! Not really Benz...once Tesla proves that the EV is viable it won't be long before all other modes of transport start their inevitable shift to electric drive as well. The batteries needed for all this being produced in higher and higher quantities will drive costs down and spur innovation faster than we have yet seen in the battery market. Not saying that Tesla will do all of the above...but they might if other companies don't act. But I suspect if Tesla is successful shipbuilders will start to look closer at electric drive, Lockheed Martin and Boeing will start to look closer at electric drive, etc. Talking about another 10-15 years here as well...but it will happen if Tesla can start to show a profit...mark my words. In a sense TM is "filling the gap". That's what got Elon to start SpaceX, too; he looked up NASA's Mars plans, and there weren't any. So he decided to "fill the gap". As long as no one else steps into the gaps, TM and Elon will expand into them. The future is bright and sensational. I appreciate what is happening and I am really excited about it. That's for sure. Although, I am never going to Mars. That really would be 1 step too far for me. That's something from the comic books that I used to read during my childhood days. My imagination is limited, and that's good for me, because otherwise I would go nuts. By the way, my wife thinks I already have gone nuts since the last few months. She's right. Brian H is correct, it would be nuts not to want to go to Mars. OK, only if they promise that I can come back as well (within a year). No prob; but a 2-way ticket costs 75% extra. Does Elon Musk give discounts? Like buy one ticket, and get one ticket free? Then we could both go to Mars together, and we could save some money as well!!! Going to Mars takes a lot of time, I would beter not go there alone. Could I persuade you to come along? Sure. Getting old enough to appreciate the reduced gravity. Apparently it will take 6 months to get to Mars. They better pack in ALOT of food and some kick ass entertainment or I would be afraid of everyone going crazy cabin fever style and killing each other before they even get to Mars...not for me...but I admire the pioneers who will go first. I really don't expect anyone going to Mars anytime soon (not before 2040). Therefore, in the mean time I will just stick to EV's. The ongoing development of the technology regarding EV's is just fantastic. I really do believe that mankind can get rid of it's addiction to oil some day. That would really be a victorious day. X Deutschland Site Besuchen

http://www.teslamotors.com/it_CH/forum/forums/more-car-company

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It's a beautiful day in Chicago Ever wanted to avoid the risk of buying a stock that might crater, yet still have the chance to buy it cheap if it's going to go up? Well, now you can. THE CHICAGO BOARD OPTIONS EXCHANGE is the latest investment opportunity to challenge for the title of legitimate Bird Nest On the Ground for investors. Brokers are cheering for the CBOE to make it since the current score is Bird Nests 37, Investors 0. The CBOE aims to bring trading in options on stock out of the closet and into the light of a central marketplace, and in so doing LaSalle Street has stolen a march on Wall Street. The Chicago Board of Trade fathered the Options Exchange, and that parenthood left the financial community in New York looking slightly impotent. Belatedly, the American Stock Exchange is studying a pilot program of trading options on the Curb, which these days greatly resembles a harvested rice field, much in need of replanting. Of course, New York is not entirely defenseless in any battle with Chicago. The Wall Street Journal , for instance, carries page after page of stock tables each business day. There are stock tables from the Big Board, the Curb, the Pacific Coast, Toronto, Montreal, all commodity exchanges, and many others. The table on the CBOE transactions, however, appears on the inside back page of the Journal and is clearly labeled an "Advertisement." Chicago may have stolen the girl, but New York gets the alimony. No investor can understand the opportunities on the CBOE without first having a rudimentary understanding of options, which are essentially the right to buy or sell a particular stock at a specific price anytime during a defined time. One minute after their expiration time, options aren't worth the paper they're written on, but during their brief life they can be as exciting or as disappointing as the Houston Astros, who, it is rumored, are moving to the Philippines to become the Manila Folders. To own 100 shares of American Telephone and Telegraph, an investor must come up with some $5000 plus commissions, but to control 100 shares of the same stock for a few months through an option on the CBOE costs only a couple of hundred dollars. While your option is alive, if Telephone went to $60 a share, you could buy the stock at 50, sell it at 60 and keep the difference less commissions and the cost of the option. Your maximum risk is the total amount you paid for the option. If American Telephone and Telegraph goes bust, the most you can lose is your investment in the option. Limiting the risk is one of the main advantages of options. "Wouldn't it have been better to own a call on Levitz Furniture at 60 than to have owned the stock and not sold it?" A pithy argument, indeed. Options have been around for a long time, but they have been trading over the counter on a negotiated basis. Apparently, it has been a seller's game since only about one-fourth of all the options purchased were ever exercised. Three out of four were allowed to die a quiet death with a total loss of the investment to the buyer. Each option needed two parties: the taker and the takee. Several brokerage firms maintained formal options departments and made an effort to match buyers and sellers within their own systems. But if an investor wanted to buy an option on a particular stock and there were no offers around, the broker had to contact one of the few houses that specialized in trading options. The option house often would have one of its customers write the option. The premium was negotiated, many times to the advantage of the writer and corresponding disadvantage to the buyer. Buyers wanted options on the most volatile stocks in hopes of great rewards, and writers obliged them but made the cost dear. And then along came the CBOE in 1973 to put the buyers and sellers of options together in one auction market. The CBOE incorporates some of the features of commodities trading. For instance, if you've written an option on Exxon that expires in January and the stock and option prices decline, you can buy that particular option back. It's like being short a contract of soybeans without the risk. The ready marketplace for options helps the buyer, as well. If he buys an option that gets "in the money," all he bas to do to reap his profit is sell the appreciated option. "In the money" options over the counter are normally cashed by calling the stock away from the seller and selling it the same day. Selling the option itself involves a commission based on its price, not the price of the underlying stock. The minimum commission charge for sale of a CBOE option is $25 as compared to the $65 it would cost to sell 100 shares of Exxon, for instance. Another feature of the CBOE is the generally good quality of the stocks on which options are offered. The list is growing rapidly, but the quality remains pretty high. There are options on such blue chips and glamours as Exxon, Telephone, Eastman Kodak, and Xerox. Expiration dates on CBOE options are uniform. Every October option expires the last business day of October, no matter when you buy it. All striking prices on that option are the same, too. All the Exxon options currently trading are based on a price of $100 per share, which means the option holder can claim the stock backing up the call at $100 per share anytime during the period the option is alive. Investors sometimes get "locked in" a stock that declines a large percentage, but the CBOE has found away to avoid that trap. If a stock declines too much below its striking price, the CBOE simply introduces another class of options in that same stock at a lower price. Recently ten of the 26 issues listed on the CBOE sported options trading at more than one striking price. Brunswick options were trading at three different striking prices. CBOE options differ from over the counter options in More Texas Monthly Loading, please wait... Most Read • Viewed • Past: • 1 week

http://www.texasmonthly.com/content/its-beautiful-day-chicago

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Register - WIN a $10,000 Safari | Login What's the FTA worth to us? June 22, 2004 All the spin about this deal may amount to nothing if Mark Latham and John Kerry win, writes Tim Colebatch. There are three economic studies of the Australia-US free trade agreement. One estimates it will raise Australian incomes by $52.5 billion over the next 20 years. A second says it will make us $47 billion worse off. And a third estimates that, at best, it will generate a tiny gain of $53 million a year. The first, of course, is the report commissioned by the Australian Government. Carried out by Canberra's Centre for International Economics, it stunningly argued that most of the agreement's benefits would come from removing the need for most US investments in Australia to be approved by the Foreign Investment Review Board. The CIE report estimated that while removing trade barriers would give Australians $16.5 billion more to spend over 20 years, the minor change to investment rules - except for real estate investments, FIRB is a rubber-stamp authority that on average rejects one proposal a year - would generate gains of more than $50 billion over the next 20 years. Advertisement Advertisement The report's reception was summed up by Professor Ross Garnaut's devastating putdown that it fails the "laugh test". In the real world, you don't get new greenfield investment of $3 billion a year from a minor change to investment rules. The second report, by contrast, was commissioned by Australian Manufacturing Workers Union. Carried out by Melbourne's National Institute of Economic and Industry Research, under its director Peter Brain, it too took an unexpected tack, but one based on one of the most useful concepts in economics: opportunity cost. The opportunity cost of doing something is the loss of the benefit you would gain from doing something else instead. Instead of spending $10,000 on an overseas holiday, for instance, you could repay $10,000 from the mortgage and have that benefit plus the savings in interest. And it's a concept that applies equally well to everything you do in life. To Brain, the opportunity cost of the free trade agreement is that it will prevent Australia developing into a knowledge economy. He focuses on an area ignored in public debate: the restrictions the FTA imposes to prevent future Australian governments operating an industry policy. Future governments will be forbidden to give preference to Australian firms in contracts, forbidden to require local content (or "offsets") in contracts with US firms, and of course, unable to prevent up-and-coming Australian firms being taken over by US rivals. In Australia, the conventional wisdom assumes for ideological reasons that government intervention must worsen economic outcomes. Hence the FTA's restrictions on industry policy have passed virtually unnoticed; even Labor has made little of them. But Brain points out that, in the real world, in all the success stories from Japan and Taiwan to Ireland and China, governments took a leading role to drive economic development. They negotiated the transfer of technology, created leading edge high-tech companies, got finance, resources and export support to growth firms, and protected home-grown intellectual property. Despite the huge difference in their bottom lines, Brain and the CIE do agree on two things. Both believe the tariff reductions will work to Australia's benefit, mostly in agriculture. And both expect the agreement to create a small but noticeable "dynamic effect" in which increased competition lifts productivity. There are two problems with Brain's modelling. He sees the killer cost coming from a new review body making pharmaceutical benefits far more expensive, as US drug companies get expensive drugs listed and keep out generics. But the Australian Government insists that the review body will be outside the decision-making stream, and all decisions not to list drugs for benefits will be made, as now, by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. OK, the US Government has presented a very different spin, saying the new deal will raise prices (and hence US profits). And our Government has yet to explain who will be on the review body, and how it will work. But unless the Government has lied to us, it is hard to see how the changes as outlined could make more than a marginal difference to the cost of the scheme. The second problem is that Brain's approach assumes that some future Australian government would want to follow the kind of policies he and I support. He's a more optimistic bloke than I am. The third report was released last week by the Labor-led Senate committee on the deal, and produced by former Productivity Commission economist Philippa Dee, now of the Australian National University. Labor is basically sitting on the fence deciding which way to jump, and appropriately Dee produced a neutral bottom line, picking apart the CIE's analysis and cutting the annual gains to "a mere $53 million a year . . . a tiny harvest from a major political and bureaucratic endeavour". The Howard Government in turn will produce a reply picking apart Dee's analysis. Labor is still likely to support the FTA. But the intriguing question is what would happen if an election is called first, Labor wins, and then John Kerry unseats George Bush. This free trade agreement might never become reality. Tim Colebatch is economics editor.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/21/1087669912125.html?from=storylhs

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Dutch crackdown on child porn network The Hague October 6, 2004 - 10:30AM Two people have been arrested and thousands of CD-ROMs, videotapes and computer disks seized in a crackdown on internet-based child pornography networks, Dutch authorities said on Tuesday. Some 200 police and judicial officials searched a total of 173 homes, seizing 280 computer hard drives, the state prosecutor's office said in a statement. The two people have been arrested on suspicion of purchasing child pornography over the internet, a spokeswoman said. The operation is linked to an investigation opened in the US last year over the worldwide distribution of child porn over the Internet, the statement said. US investigators had supplied their Dutch counterparts, via the international police agency Interpol, with information about individuals suspected of buying child pornography. The US inquiry has so far helped to identify a company based in the former Soviet republic of Belarus, which is believed to have made millions of dollars through the online sale of child pornography. Advertisement Advertisement

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/06/1096949551486.html?from=moreStories

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IUPUI Changes Tune on Student’s ‘Racial Harassment’ Charge By on July 8, 2008 Back in May, FIRE informed Torch readers that Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) had revoked its finding that student-employee Keith John Sampson was guilty of racial harassment for publicly reading the book Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan. School administrators sent us a letter confirming that no documents regarding the incident remain in Sampson’s file and claiming that IUPUI hopes “this experience as well as feedback from the campus community will result in an improved [complaint] process.” We declared victory and applauded IUPUI publicly for admitting regret over the incident. Unfortunately, as we informed you today in our latest press release, IUPUI is now on record in a Wall Street Journal article as saying that Sampson was punished not for his choice of reading material, but for other undisclosed “harassing behavior.” What exactly that behavior was, IUPUI has not sharedwith Sampson, FIRE, or the Wall Street Journal. As FIRE’s vice president, Robert Shibley said, If IUPUI really thought that Sampson had engaged in some ‘racially harassing’ behavior rather than reading a book, there is no reason why they would not have brought it up at the timeand no reason why they couldn’t say what it is now. This apparent whispering campaign against Sampson is truly appalling. IUPUI has either brazenly violated due process by finding a student guilty without a hearing and without even letting him know the allegations against him or, more likely, is lying in an attempt to stave off further embarrassment. Either way, the school has bitterly betrayed one of its own students.

http://www.thefire.org/iupui-changes-tune-on-students-racial-harassment-charge/

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Go to the Globe and Mail homepage Jump to main navigationJump to main content Gemma Arterton in a scene from "Tamara Drewe" Gemma Arterton in a scene from "Tamara Drewe" Movie review Tamara Drewe: Updated adultery in Dorset Add to ... • Country USA • Language English Tamara Drewe is a film with an interesting literary pedigree. It is based on the graphic novel of the same title by the British cartoonist Posy Simmonds, originally serialized in The Guardian in 2005. Simmonds's inspiration for a contemporary work about adultery in Dorset was Thomas Hardy's 1874 novel Far from the Madding Crowd, a tale of romantic entanglements set in the same bucolic part of southwestern England. More Related to this Story Stephen Frears, remembered most recently for directing Helen Mirren in The Queen, and screenwriter Moira Buffini have taken Simmonds's episodic and observational novel and given it a tighter focus and more romantic plot while preserving enough of its dark wit and black comedy to make this often delicious film rise above the usual rom-com. Its chief problem is a title character who is more plot device than personality. On a working farm, handmaiden Beth (Tamsin Greig) runs a writers' colony with her husband, the bestselling mystery novelist Nicholas Hardiment (Roger Allam), who plays star attraction for her paying guests. She breeds goats and bakes scones, manages his appearances and answers his fan letters, while her self-satisfied husband scampers up to London to visit his latest conquest. As the film opens, the conquest in question decides to come down to Dorset: "You said you wanted to be with me," she whines. "Yes," he replies. "In London. Now and then." He quickly dumps the inconvenient young thing, the long-suffering wife forgives him and all would settle back into routine were it not for the appearance of the long-absent Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton). The daughter of a recently deceased neighbour, she was once an ugly duckling with a big nose - shown in flashback, it's a schnoz worthy of Cyrano. Now, she's a hot London newspaper columnist with a perky little snub who has come to sell off her mother's house. The two men who rejected the teenage Tamara, Nicholas and the virile and sympathetic farmhand Andy (Luke Evans), are immediately attracted to her and a romantic through-line emerges. Clearly, Tamara should wind up with Andy, and salvation for Beth seems to take the shape of a visiting American Hardy scholar (Bill Camp), who's suffering from writer's block. You know where you're going in territory that's actually more Jane Austen than Hardy, but Frears makes the most of the many bumps and twists, among them a spoiled rock-star fiancé (Dominic Cooper) for Tamara and a couple of celebrity-obsessed teens who meddle with her e-mail. The director draws wonderful ensemble work from the cast. As the young rock star and the aging novelist, Cooper and Allam offer perfectly crafted bookends of male and artistic privilege. At least the insufferable Nicholas gets the reward he so richly deserves and an ending worthy of one of his own crime novels. But roles like these are a gift to actors. What is more notable is Greig's work as the unnoted Beth, subtly capturing the mix of self-delusion and bitter realism in the adulterer's helpmate. Arterton's work as Tamara is less satisfying: Frears has cast her as a romantic heroine rather than as Simmonds's more ambiguous figure, and he has not fully resolved her motivations. Why is this driven woman going to bed with such louts? Revenge is one possibility, but Frears doesn't really explore it - he and Arterton could have given Tamara a much sharper edge without detracting from the ending. Similarly, Frears and Buffini carefully avoid the nastier corners of their own script - in particular pulling back from the potential disasters that might befall those meddling teens, hinting briefly at a brutal comeuppance before defusing it with comedy. Better never to have hinted in the first place: Simmonds's work is far darker, but most of the time Frears successfully navigates the brighter territory he has chosen. The cows may stampede in Tamara Drewe, but there is nothing here to frighten the horses. Tamara Drewe Written by Moira Buffini Directed by Stephen Frears Starring Gemma Arterton, Roger Allam and Tamsin Greig Classification: 14A In the know Most popular video » More from The Globe and Mail Most Popular Stories

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/tamara-drewe-updated-adultery-in-dorset/article4330665/

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Europe finally listening to Geithner Until a few days ago repeated predictions of doom from Tim Geithner and Barack Obama seemed to fall on deaf European ears. Now that leaders are listening, time may be too short US treasury secretary Timothy Geithner at the G20 finance ministers' meeting at the weekend. He warned against chaining down banks and urged action to support the financial sector Photograph: Eric Piermont/AFP/Getty Images There are six days to save the world. That's according to the US treasury secretary, Tim Geithner, who told the G20 finance ministers' summit in Paris on Saturday that only a massive firewall would protect the eurozone against contagion from a Greek default. It's a message that the US president, Barack Obama, and his battle-hardened finance boss have sent across the Atlantic several times in the last six weeks. Geithner has popped up in European capitals three times in that period to deliver the message in person. Until a few days ago it was something the French and Germans closed their ears to. No amount of calls for "shock and awe" shifted their position. There was simply a stubborn refusal to define the Greek situation as anything more than a local difficulty, and definitely not a crisis. Six days is not a long time to design a mix of insurance policies, guarantees and bank capital top-ups worth upwards of €1.5tn (£1.3tn) that are credible to the financial markets and avoid making politicians look like they have spent every last euro cent of taxpayer funds. There is a huge industry in trying to second-guess the direction of travel in Paris and Berlin after Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel said they would reveal a killer plan next Sunday. What kind of insurance and guarantees are in the pipeline? How much will vulnerable banks (and other private investors) be told to write off in bad loans to Greece and how many euros must the banks find to fill the void left by these bad investments? Hedge funds, pension funds and the super wealthy are all placing bets on how negotiations will work out. Will the euro stand or fall? Betting against Sarkozy and Merkel cobbling together a deal is bold and risky. Most likely they will unveil a package of measures that lacks the clean lines and firepower of the "big bazooka" demanded by many economists, but will be just enough to kill the Greece problem and defend Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. French and German banks, which lent billions of euros to Greece, Ireland and Portugal, will also be sheltered by the deal. Geithner is convinced the French and Germans now recognise the problem, but reading his body language and the way he spoke about the prospects for meeting the six-day deadline, he was more circumspect. He said there was an enormous amount of detail to work through before plans would look convincing and hinted that time was running desperately short. Geithner is also concerned that Merkel in particular is more concerned about rushing through reforms of the system before tackling the problems at the heart of the crisis. Some 38 pieces of EU legislation have either been put on the statute or are in the pipeline. There have always been several problems with this rush to legislate, at least on this scale. First it distracts from the immediate problem of tackling the EU's debts. It whacks banks and other financial institutions when they are already on their knees, and the legislation heaps costs on the finance industry that, in turn, hamper growth. Without banks to lend, especially to smaller companies, we have no investment. It is this last point that most exercised Geithner. He openly warned the EU against rushing to ball-and-chain the banks and make a crisis certain. There is a flaw to the Geithner plan of massive guarantees and insurances for Wall Street that keeps them afloat and lending, and it can be seen in a park only a stone's throw from the New York stock exchange. The Occupy Wall Street campaigners are disgusted that propping up the banks means allowing the old rapacious bonus culture to go unreformed. Geithner argues there are many on Wall Street who are suffering because they are paid in shares and not cash. Some US bank shares are down by a half or more since the summer. But that ignores the wider picture. If the euro is saved, with billions more in taxpayer loans and guarantees, those bank shares will rocket and the bankers will be back in clover, more than they are already. The US treasury secretary worries that Europe needs international investors on board, only to reckon it can win a game of chicken. When countries have borrowed so much from US pension funds, Middle Eastern petrodollar sovereign funds and the Chinese, they need private investors. In 2008 the US treasury dared the markets to bet against the government and lost. It wants the EU to heed that experience. Left to their own devices, traders panic, fearful on behalf of their investor clients that further losses lie just round the corner. The panic, far from being the invisible hand of the markets lauded by many right-wing economists, is a bludgeoning stick causing pain and unemployment wherever it strikes. In these circumstances, reforms to tackle banks, brokers and investors should be delayed while protester-friendly taxes on wealth go ahead. There is another crisis looming, possibly in only a few years. But it will come from another direction –the savings in China, Germany, Japan and the US looking to spark another asset boom. Tackling that situation poses even bigger problems for politicians. But first we need some sustainable growth, and to avert a euro debt crisis. Today's best video

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/oct/16/europe-finally-listening-to-geithner

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America is stuck in a state of Arrested Development We adore the Bluth family because they are such a bizarre mess, much like our own relatives – and our country • Jump to comments () Arrested Development The Bluth family, from left to right: George Michael, Lindsay, Michael, George Sr, Gob, Maeby, Buster, Tobias and Lucille. America has finally admitted it made a huge mistake, and demanded that Arrested Development return from whence it came. Fans have swarmed the banana stand and writers heaped praise on the show's creator, Mitch Hurwitz, its writers, cast, and producer Ron Howard: it was brilliant, subversive, before its time, etc. That's all true, but there's something else that accounts for the fervor over the show's resurrection: Americans should relate to nothing more than the story of an insane, self-absorbed family who thought they had it all, fell into a sinkhole of their own making, and now are working more than to dig themselves out by tooth and claw. The Bluth family is a portrait of modern America: fractured, more than a little delusional, and bound together by a whole lot of love. As the Guardian has pointed out, times have changed since the Bluths went to Iraq to look for evidence of "light treason", but retrospect has only made the show's satire poignant. Take the Bluth Company, for instance, founded on an immigrant's stolen dream and transformed into a real estate corporation whose financial scheming and lack of foundation leads to total collapse. Shoddy mini-mansions built on shaky land are almost too-perfect a symbol for a country with a wildly misplaced sense of worth and wealth, especially in the lead up to 2008. The Bluths don't know how good they have it, and though their egos are deflated time and time again, they never see disaster until it hits them. Even then, they'd rather forget it now than confront it later. Self-medication is the Bluth family's preferred solution, and America's – the land of rampant prescription drug abuse. The writers pull no punches on the pharmaceutical industry among any number of American institutions, ranging from the legal system to corporations to reality TV. The Bluths know drugs don't provide real happiness, but they insist it's better than what they've got. So the Bluths love a good illusion, which they always distinguish from a trick, those being what they play on each other. Never has a more impotently devious family graced television: they scheme and meddle in each other's lives for fun, profit and spite. The patriarch and matriarch (if you will) circumvent the law, exploit the business and their kids, and leave the family in financial ruin. What's more, they do everything possible to escape with as much money as they can muster. By constantly conspiring, they prevent anyone else from accomplishing anything, causing dysfunction and paralysis. Congress is stuck in arrested development. Only one of their children even tries to fix their problems, and he's stymied at every turn by the antics of his family members, each fumbling after the American dream as they see it. Gob's quest for fame stems from his need to feel loved, which overrides even his minor victories. Lindsay tries to buy happiness. Buster wants freedom (from his mother) but is terrified of its consequences. Michael is so intent on saving his family that he loses sight of his son. Tobias thinks being an actor – reinventing himself as something he's not – will save his marriage. Second chances and the quest for family, fame and fortune make up the basics of American mythology – but with the Bluths, it's an endless cycle of hope and disillusionment, and life lessons all over the place. Because the Bluths are such a bizarre mess, much of the comedy seems to exist only within their closed universe. In a way, this is perfectly appropriate: how better to satirize self-centered Americans than a self-referential, almost hermetic show? These are people, after all, who can't name Britain's houses of parliament even when they're correcting each other, and whose impression of Iraq is skewed, to say the least. But the show isn't closed off. The real world constantly juts in, making Arrested as political as The Daily Show, if much more subtle. The economy, politics and world events will suddenly interfere in characters' lives, yet like most Americans, the Bluths can't be bothered to read the Patriot Act or to pay attention enough to know there's a war on (I mean, come on). No matter how vain any character is, however, they're forced to deal with each other, Orange County, America and the larger world. They thwart each other's plans, get called to the army, prison, court, and even a few auditions. It's a world where every small detail can have huge consequences, and a throwaway joke in one season could result in a beloved character and plot point in another (Steve Holt!). Repercussions might not be apparent till you've almost forgotten their causes, but that's how the world works. The humor tends towards dark, but it's buoyed by the Bluths' greatest attribute: they are incorrigible. No matter how many times their dreams are dashed, the Bluths are pathologically incapable of giving up hope. For every disappointed walk to tune of Charlie Brown, there's a moment of manic joy in which a Bluth devises a half-baked plot. For every defeated scheme, there is a sacrifice, an unlikely alliance or one of the family's better parties. They're somewhere between the solipsists of Seinfeld, the absurdity of The Simpsons and the generous friends of Cheers – juiced with a weirdness those shows lacked. They're a family, whether they like it or not, and they have fun even as they frustrate each other. And with all the irony and sincerity it can muster, Arrested Development insists there's nothing more important than family (except maybe breakfast). The fans, of course, have also become a family, with friendships born of obscure references ("Flashes of Quincy!") and bonded by love for wordplay, quirky details and meta-jokes and the recognition that a comment is no trick – it's an allusion! Americans are together whether they like it or not, too, and Arrested is a fitting reflection of life in the 2000s. Old boundaries fell faster than the walls of Gob's hastily built model home: war, financial crises, political paralysis, the internet and the nation's new confusion about its place in the world, a problem it has tried to ignore, desperately. The show is at once a scathing satire and a self-sustaining engine of happy and absurd wit. Like the Bluths, Americans never quite give up hope, and it turns out that not all our dreams are as impossible as they seem. That season four has arrived after almost seven long years is proof enough. Latest posts Today's best video Today in pictures

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/24/arrested-development-is-america

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Vicious circles Rivers boiling with blood, deserts on fire, sinners tormented by grinning devils - Botticelli's hell is both horrible and hilarious, says Adrian Searle This is hell. A narrowing funnel leading down to the centre of the earth. Sandro Botticelli's chart of hell is a little like a mushroom cloud or a child's spinning top. Look closely, and there are bodies on the terraces and narrow ledges, writhing like tiny maggots. It is the first thing you see as you walk into the Royal Academy's exhibition of his incomplete cycle of unfinished drawings illustrating Dante's Divine Comedy. Botticelli's drawings were made some time between 1480 and 1495, over a century and a half after Dante Alighieri, a fellow Florentine, wrote the Divine Comedy. Terraced, pinnacled, travelling forever downward, the ledges, cities and basements of hell are furnished with sloughs, gorges and deserts; there are cities, rivers of boiling blood, lagoons of scalding pitch, burning deserts, thorny forests, ditches of shit and frozen subterranean lakes. Every kind of sin, and sinner, is catered for. Here, descending circle by circle, like tourists to Bedlam, came Dante and Virgil. Following them, at least through Dante's poem, came Botticelli. For Botticelli, Dante's hell was in part his own Florence, in part the Biblical and Catholic worlds, a collision of religions and mythologies (here's Mohammed, disembowelled, here the giants of antiquity, enchained), in part the state of his own soul. Botticelli's version of the Inferno, and to a lesser extent his Purgatorio, is frequently as hilarious as it is horrible. It is impossible to look at certain of Botticelli's drawings - Inferno XIX, for example, with all those legs and feet on fire protruding from the wormholes that imprison sinners upside-down - without laughing. Hard not to smile, either, at the penitents in the Purgatorio, who crawl, as though between the frames of a strip cartoon, with boulders on their backs. Endless suffering and the variety of torments have become a running gag. Here come the snakes, the bat-winged grinning devils (who frequently smile back at us as we look at them), the guy with the scorpion's tail, the one with the comically engorged sausagey penis. The tormented - ravaged by beasts, or bursting in flames, or naked and frozen on an icy subterranean lake - provide a fabulous opportunity for Botticelli's wit, his empathy, the blackest of black humour. How many things can you do to a body, or a soul, before it breaks? Everything, the answer seems to be, again and again. The round of punishments and degradations eventually takes us to the Devil, a hairy, snaggletoothed, three-headed Satan at the earth's icy core. He is hard, nowadays, to take seriously; maybe that is his disguise. While Satan and his devils are frequently mad cartoons, the suffering sinners are all too human. Dante and Virgil, on the other hand, are always the straight men, plainly drawn, with a kind of reserve. Beatrice, when she appears, is a stereotypical Botticelli beauty, all ringlets, long fingers, too much drapery. Sometimes, she gives her Dante a wry smile or a worried look, as she leads him from Purgatory to Paradise. Ninety-two of Botticelli's original drawings remain; of his projected total - as far as we know - eight have been lost, two others disappeared in Berlin following the second world war, while others were never even begun. Of the vast majority that survive, few are finished, in the sense that Botticelli intended them. A few - such as the chart of hell - were worked over and painted up, rather badly, by studio assistants, while most remain as preparatory under-drawings. These were worked over, to varying degrees of completion, by the artist in pen and ink, using a silver point, which leaves a faint, indented, pencil-like mark, and a softer alloy nib. On the reverse sides of the sheets, Dante's text strikes through. What one might call the nakedness, the incompleteness, of these drawings shouldn't deter us. In fact, they speak to us today all the more eloquently because of it. Fully worked-up illustrations - the one for Canto XVIII of the Inferno, for instance - are somehow removed from us by being filled-in with paint. The bare outlines and graphic shorthand of Botticelli's drawings leave more mental space for the imagination, and speak more directly. The language of drawing has not changed much, and Botticelli's drawing, at times cartoonish and caricatured, at other times painstaking, deli cate, even tentative, is consummate. In some works it is truly a shorthand, in which one is aware of the nib skittering across the smooth parchment, or of Botticelli recording things in a matter of seconds, creating cursive, repetitive rhythms, imagining faces amid writhing, rhythmic flames, figures running through a forest of living trees. The more you look, the more delirious it all gets, the more a mind and a temperament communicate themselves. In the later, sparser and more restrained drawings of Dante's ascent through the circles of Paradise, guided by Beatrice, we see the two figures inside a bubble, a perfect compass-drawn circle. Except that part of the pleasure is seeing how imperfectly drawn the circles actually are, how the pen runs out of ink, or the nib slews away as the compass slips. The drawing, and the compositional organisation, is nevertheless marvellous. The idea is concrete, and needs no finish. Botticelli, like Dante, may have balked at the impossibility of depicting God and heaven. He turned, in part, to geometry, but towards the end left much unsaid, undrawn, blank. The bare, aged, yellowed parchment becomes a kind of immanence, a light-filled emptiness. In modern art, this has become a sign of the inexpressible, of spiritual presence. The reproductions in the excellent catalogue - good though they are - are wholly inadequate, in the sense that one really needs to see the actual drawings, on the slightly translucent animal-skin parch ment. To draw and write on skin provides its own metaphor of the corporeal and the transcendent. The geography and architecture of Botticelli's universe - and Dante's - may seem medieval, part of a cosmology we can no longer believe in. Hell may be eternal, but a modern hell would be altogether different to the Florentine abyss. It would be just as much a product of our time as the hells of Dante, of Fra Filippo Lippi, of Leonardo and of Botticelli were of theirs. Yet popular culture still returns to medieval eschatology for its images: Hannibal Lector returns to Florence, in Thomas Harris's most recent Lector escapade, to the very palace where the conspirators against Botticelli's first mentor, Lorenzo de Medici, were hung. And Dante's journey - and Botticelli's - is still enormously affecting. Both the poet and the artist make the imagery, and the concepts behind them, come alive for us through their respective languages. Thank heavens, I say, Botticelli's Divine Comedy was left unfinished: here is a plain voice, full of humour, imagination, liveliness, pictorial invention and doubt, speaking by and large an unchanged visual language. At times, Botticelli's drawings look forward to just about every 20th-century draughtsman you can think of: here is Henri Michaux on mescaline, in Botticelli's wood of thorns. Here's the Guardian's Steve Bell, in the If cartoon that is Inferno XIX. Here's Cy Twombly, leaving faint traces in Paradise. It is possible, but unlikely, that Botticelli drew Dante entirely for his own pleasure; only a little less likely that they were meant as drawings for frescoes for Florence Cathedral. More likely, he made his drawings for a de luxe codex or collector's book, as an ambassadorial gift to a foreign dignitary, or to be installed in some private room dedicated to Dante, a kind of Borgesian chamber that it is pleasurable to imagine, but has never been found. Whatever the reason for Botticelli's labours over Dante, it consumed him creatively and, according to Vasari "caused infinite disorder in his life". Botticelli's staging, his command of actions, emotions and bodies, either in relation to nature or to architecture, is always superb. I always like him best when he is marshalling groups of figures this way and that, choreographing events of enormous portent and stress. He's great, too, at the singular figure - a man sitting in a wilderness, a shade turning its head, a weeping woman. He is an orchestrator, not of anonymous human ciphers, but of individuals. Show me a video, point me at the movie, says the audience for contemporary art. Well, that is almost what Botticelli does here, in this great cycle of drawings, these incomparable works. · Botticelli's Dante: The Drawings for the Divine Comedy is at the Royal Academy, London W1, from Saturday until June 10. Details: 020-7300 8000. Today's best video • The NSA files trailblock image Today in pictures

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/mar/13/artsfeatures.dantealighieri

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Fans hit hard by petrol price increase As if things weren't bad enough for Tottenham fans at the moment, they today face a gruelling 570-mile round trip to Newcastle for the Carling Cup game, just as new research shows that the costs for supporters have increased 21% in the past three months alone. The trip to Tyneside and back is likely to take more than 10 hours and cost roughly £65 in petrol. Then there is the price of the match ticket, food, drink and a match programme to consider. Virgin Money's Football Fans' Inflation Index, tracking the costs for supporters since January 2006, shows that the cost of a match day for a supporter is now an eye-watering £106.21 - breaking the £100 barrier for the first time. Football fans will travel on average 2,031 miles to follow their teams this season but Virgin Money's Scott Mowbray said: "The question is, with rising costs, rising ticket prices, programme costs, food expenses, merchandising and now increased fuel bills, how much more can the average punter take? This could be the season when many fans stop following their teams away from home." And there are those who are even worse off than Spurs supporters. Spare a thought for fans of Carlisle and Brighton, whose 736-mile round trip for games against each other is the longest in the League. • I Am The Secret Footballer Small Graphic Today's best video Today in pictures

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/sep/24/1

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Mental health remains the poor relation GPs are having to deal with the rise in mental illness, and a more integrated approach to physical and mental health is vital, say Martin Lindsay and Marc Lester GPs' surgeries see patients with mental health problems on a daily basis GPs' surgeries see patients with mental health problems on a daily basis. Photograph: Frank Baron for the Guardian The gulf between physical and mental health is huge, with just £11bn of the National Health Service's annual budget spent on the latter. It's the classic iceberg syndrome, and what is starting to emerge from beneath the waterline of public awareness is just how many people are affected by mental illness at some time in their lives. The rise in mental illness and its impact on society has long been predicted by bodies as diverse as the World Bank, British Medical Journal and Royal College of Psychiatrists. One in four of us will be affected by mental illness during our lives. Dementia will beset more than one million people in the UK by 2015, and many GPs see as many patients for depression as high blood pressure, which is the commonest physical ailment. This increase is evident in the number of patients showing up at surgeries across north London with mental health problems. This is reported to be as many as 50% of consultations in some surgeries, with common conditions including depression and anxiety. It is a major concern within our profession, because GPs are often isolated and at the coalface of the problem. We see the impact of poor mental health on a daily basis and wrestle with the dilemma of what can be done within the confines of a 10-minute appointment slot. It may be that the newly emerging clinical consortia boards provide an opportunity to redress the balance if given adequate financial resources. One solution would be for primary and mental health trusts to pay greater attention to what GPs have to say. This would improve efficiencies without necessarily increasing costs. A positive experience of this is our work with Barnet, Enfield and Haringey mental health NHS trust, which asked GPs what sort of additional training and support they needed. This is, of course, limited by financial austerity, but includes the recent launch of a "one-stop" mental health referral service offering a faster, more responsive service that triages, screens and signposts patients to the appropriate service within 24 hours. This co-operative and practical approach to problem-solving is the way forward. The trust is increasingly shaping services in alignment with primary care physicians and their day-to-day needs. This includes a primary care academy, which will provide GPs with training days, workshops and interactive multimedia events where they can learn more about various areas of mental health and share experience and best practice. There are many reasons for the rise in incidence of mental illness, but two of the biggest contributing factors we see are the stress caused by increasing the age of retirement and the dynamics of the modern family. Our society's fixation on material wealth and status is exacting its price as we work longer and harder, to the detriment of our own wellbeing. The global recession, and some employers' unspoken expectation that we work longer and harder, are contributing to the problem. In our increasingly busy lives, it is worth stepping back and realising that our most valuable possession is our health. It may be a cliche, but the majority of us really don't understand that until something goes wrong. We often give our house or car more attention than our bodies, and we see all around us the devastating impact of that behaviour reflected in the steady rise of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and a host of other largely preventable conditions. People need to really understand that physical and mental health are interwoven. If your body is run-down and unhealthy it will affect your mental wellbeing, and vice versa. It's about greater self-education and awareness, but it's also about ensuring that health services work more closely in partnership with one another and reflect the synergy of our own bodies and minds. • Martin Lindsay is GP lead for mental health in Haringey, north London, and Dr Marc Lester is clinical director of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey mental health NHS trust Today's best video

http://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/jul/21/mental-health-problems-increase

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