text:
There is now a proliferation of products and services promising to "train your brain." In the past we used to call this, "learning." The term "brain training" has a certain connotation that implies something more is happening.
For example, on the website brainmetrix.com they claim:
"You will find some brain fitness workouts that can help your mind process information more quickly, and more efficiently, as well as the ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time."
The implication, if not explicit claim, is that brain training is somehow more than just practicing a particular task in order to become better at that task. Lumosity, for example, promises "scientifically designed training" with a "personalized training program." The advertising is very clever – they say, "discover what your brain can do," instead of simply, "discover what you can do."
The advertising speaks as if your brain is somehow something different than just you – that "brain training" is more than learning or practice. It sounds like cutting edge neuroscience, rather than what people have been doing for thousands of years.
The core question, however, remains to be definitively determined by research – are there any particular tasks that "train the brain" to function better beyond the task itself? That is, as they say, the 64 thousand dollar question.
Psychologists state this question as, are trained abilities generalizable or transferable? If you practice Sudoku, does your memory and concentration get better, or do you just get better at Sudoku?
The research is mixed, but the overall pattern of research is converging on a particular nuanced answer. It seems that practicing a particular task improves your performance mostly on that task, and to a lesser extent on closely related tasks, but not beyond that to more general intellectual function.
In other words – practicing a word task will make you better at that particular word task, and to a lesser extent at other word tasks, but not at math. It seems the research is pretty clear on the extremes – improvement for the specific task, but not for general intellectual function (it won't make you "smarter" in the general sense). The research becomes fuzzy when you try to focus in on the middle part – to what extent, exactly, do trained skills extend to "related" tasks? Does any word task make you better at all word tasks, or only those that resemble the one being trained? How specific vs transferable are these trained skills?
A recent study adds to the literature on this question with findings that support the overall pattern that is emerging. The researchers looked at a particular ability known as inhibitory control. This is, essentially, the ability to stop or inhibit a mental task, and is considered a fundamental and important cognitive ability. (Parent are all too familiar with the general lack of inhibitory control in children and the resulting behavior.) The study design, for example, had subjects press a button with a certain trigger, and then stop with another trigger, and measured how quickly they stopped.
Not surprisingly, the subjects who were trained on the inhibitory control task did better at that task than controls who were given a control task. The researchers also found, with fMRI scanning, that pathways in the brain associated with inhibitory control were primed for the particular triggers used in the study. The study did not look specifically at the transferability of the skill, but the fMRI results suggest that the effect is fairly specific.
For a more detailed review of the research, take a look at my previous article on the subject at Science-Based Medicine. Essentially, the research is complex because of all the variables involved – types of training, types of tasks and mental abilities, target populations, and types of studies (observational vs experimental). Because there are so many variables, existing research on any one particular question is fairly limited.
But overall the pattern is fairly consistent – training extends to the specific task and closely related tasks, but not much beyond that.
However, observational studies looking at populations that have had some type of specific training in the past, such as musicians, avid video game players, or those who are bilingual, generally show that there is some transferrable skills related to the task. Those who play video games, for example, that require visuospacial skills tend to be better at visuospacial tasks. But – do they play video games because they already have this ability, or did they develop the ability because they played video games?
What, then, is the bottom line recommendation for the average person? Should you expend time and money on brain training websites or products because they will enhance your life in some way? Those kinds of have actually not been done – the net effect on the lives of people who expend resources on brain training (are they more successful in life in some measure).
I think the best summary at this time is to say that it is better to do stuff than not to do stuff. The more stuff you do, the better at doing stuff you will become, mostly specific to the stuff you are doing. (This applies to the mental as well as physical.)
Overall there does seem to be an advantage to spending your time on cognitively demanding and interactive activities than passive activities (this may confer a decreased risk for dementia, for example). So – play games, do things that are fun, enjoy your life by doing stuff. I would not worry too much about exactly what your are doing – if it's fun, at least you have that, and you are more likely to do it consistently.
There does seem to be a particular advantage to doing novel things – don't get stuck in a rut, do a variety of things and add some new experiences and challenges to your life.
But don't buy into neurosciencey hype about "brain training" and scientifically designed games that are allegedly going to be better for your brain than other similar games. There is no cheat, there is no short cut to becoming smarter or better. The more you work, the more you benefit.
This is one of those situations where years of detailed research is converging on an answer that we all kind of knew already by simple common sense.
Steven Novella, M.D. is the JREF's Senior Fellow and Director of the JREF's Science-Based Medicine project.


text: RUIHE TEXTILE CO., LIMITED Located in the beautiful beach city Qingdao, Ruihe Textile Co., Limited has grown to a Chinese manufacturer and exporter of kids wear, women wear and men wear. We have Passed SEDEX certification for our factories. Our products include knit and woven styles such as romper, t-shirt, polo shirt, sweat shirt, casual shirt, hoodie, softshell, blouse, dress, skirt, shorts, pants , pajamas, bathrobe, rainwear, quilted down coat, sportswear, swimwear, skiwear and mountaineering wear. We are capable to fulfill any OEM/ODM requirements ... [Details]

subset: commoncrawl


text: Recently convex optimization models were successfully applied for solving various problems in image analysis and restoration. In this paper, we are interested in relations between convex constrained optimization problems of the form \({\rm argmin} \{ \Phi(x)\) subject to \(\Psi(x) \le \tau \}\) and their penalized counterparts \({\rm argmin} \{\Phi(x) + \lambda \Psi(x)\}\). We recall general results on the topic by the help of an epigraphical projection. Then we deal with the special setting \(\Psi := \| L \cdot\|\) with \(L \in \mathbb{R}^{m,n}\) and \(\Phi := \varphi(H \cdot)\), where \(H \in \mathbb{R}^{n,n}\) and \(\varphi: \mathbb R^n \rightarrow \mathbb{R} \cup \{+\infty\} \) meet certain requirements which are often fulfilled in image processing models. In this case we prove by incorporating the dual problems that there exists a bijective function such that the solutions of the constrained problem coincide with those of the penalized problem if and only if \(\tau\) and \(\lambda\) are in the graph of this function. We illustrate the relation between \(\tau\) and \(\lambda\) for various problems arising in image processing. In particular, we point out the relation to the Pareto frontier for joint sparsity problems. We demonstrate the performance of the constrained model in restoration tasks of images corrupted by Poisson noise with the \(I\)-divergence as data fitting term \(\varphi\) and in inpainting models with the constrained nuclear norm. Such models can be useful if we have a priori knowledge on the image rather than on the noise level.


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Dean Paron
Dean Paron is the Group Program Manager for Microsoft RemoteFX and as such he is responsible for overall product strategy, feature definition and business development. In his prior role, he was Product Unit Manager for Windows MultiPoint Server, where he directed all-up product engineering. He has also served in various roles on a number of other Microsoft products, including Windows Server, Internet Explorer, Small Business Server and Windows Home Server. Prior to joining Microsoft, Dean was a telecommunications researcher at Argonne National Laboratory, and worked a number of odd jobs from independent software design to small business technical consulting. He holds a Bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.


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text:
Greeley seeks applicants for outstanding building deisgns
April 29, 2013
The Greeley Planning Commission is seeking applicants for its annual Excellence in Community Design Awards.
The awards are given to architects, builders, landscape designers and others who demonstrated outstanding construction, design and execution in 2012.
Awards will be selected by a seven-member panel of community judges. Winning entries are recognized by the Greeley City Council and promoted in Greeley's media outlets.
The deadline for nominations is May 20.
For more information, call (970) 350-9802 or visit the Community Development Department, 1100 10th St., Suite 202.
An information packet and entry form is available at http://www.greeleygov.com/CommunityDevelopment.


text:
"Born to Be Wild"
An 3D IMAX documentary about two women who run orphanages, one for orangutangs, the other for elephants. Opens April 8.
We don't waste our time on anything not worth your time. We celebrate the best of what's coming on film and TV. We cheer when our expectations are met and criticize when we're let down.


text:
The judge in the Anna Nicole Smith drug conspiracy case has delayed final arguments until Monday while he considers defense motions to dismiss charges against the model's two doctors and boyfriend.
Superior Court Judge Robert Perry said he planned to begin issuing rulings later Tuesday. He spent the morning finalizing jury instructions and told prosecutors they should try to pare down the overt acts they have alleged against the defendants. He said it is essential to simplify the case to prevent jurors from becoming confused.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Anna Nicole Smith
Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, Dr. Khristine Eroshevich and Smith's lawyer-boyfriend Howard K. Stern have pleaded not guilty to providing her with excessive prescription drugs while knowing she was an addict. A key issue is whether she wasaddicted or seeking pain relief.
Copyright 2010 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Anna Nicole Smith: The Players
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Anna Nicole Smith's Final Moments
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Anna Nicole Smith's Funeral
PLAY IT NOW: Lindsay Lohan Out Of Jail… Now What? (September 27, 2010)
PLAY IT NOW: Lindsay Lohan Arrives To Court (September 24, 2010)
More from Access: [ Anna Nicole SmithCourtsHoward K. Stern ]


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– The son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appeared via video-link on Sunday with 22 others to hear charges in a Tripoli court ranging from war crimes to corruption in a major test of whether the state can implement the rule of law.
Saif al-Islam, the most high-profile of Gaddafi's seven sons, smiled and looked confident on the link-up from a jail in the western town of Zintan where he has been held since he was captured by former rebels.
The rebels refuse to hand Saif over, saying they do not trust the government to ensure he won't escape, but have agreed to have him tried in a government court.
Twenty-two former Gaddafi officials were present in the court inside the heavily guarded Al-Hadba prison, including former spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi. Eight others joined via videolink from the western city of Misrata.
The judge took about 20 minutes to read out the charges, accusing the defendants of giving orders to arm militias and kill peaceful protesters and locking up thousands of political opponents. They are also charged with ordering power cuts to rebel-held cities and damaging oil facilities during the eight-month uprising against Gaddafi in 2011.
Libya has struggled to establish basic institutions and the rule of law since Gaddafi's four-decade one-man rule ended in 2011, with brigades of militias and former rebels challenging the authority of the weak central government.
The International Criminal Court and other human rights organizations worry about the fairness of Libya's justice system although the government won the right last year to try Gaddafi's former spy chief at home instead of at the ICC in The Hague.
When the judge asked Saif, once seen as Gaddafi's heir, whether he had a lawyer present to defend him he said twice: "It's with God."
The court later decided to appoint a lawyer for him.
If convicted, some of the defendants could face the death penalty. It was not clear how – or if – the rebels would execute such a verdict.
Several defendants, including Senussi, complained they had not been given enough access to lawyers. "I want a non-Libyan lawyer," said the once corpulent Senussi, who appeared to have shrunk after more than a year in prison. "I want justice."
Several lawyers complained they had not been able to spend enough time with defendants or get copies of the formal charges. The judge later ordered the state prosecutors to give them copies.
Others in the dock included Gaddafi-era prime minister Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, former foreign minister Abdul Ati al-Obeidi and ex-intelligence chief Buzeid Dorda.
Saadi Gaddafi, known as a playboy with a brief career in professional football who was extradited to Libya from Niger in early March, did not appear in court because prosecutors have yet to complete the investigation against him.
The court adjourned the session until May 11 after rejecting petitions from lawyers to release several defendants.
In a new sign of growing influence of Islamists since Gaddafi's fall, officials allowed female reporters into the courthouse only after they had put on a headscarf as sign of modesty.
Tripoli has been mostly spared rampant crime in other parts of the country. But on Sunday gunmen attacked a van belonging to a commercial bank with rocket-propelled grenades, robbing $5 million and snatching two employees, banking officials said.


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Category: fountains " name="description" />
Garden Antiques with an inventory focused on cast iron and wrought iron Benches, chairs, tables & urns. Our Vintage inventory has a large selection of Salterini Dining Sets, patio sets & Peacock Chairs. The cast iron selection has an emphasis on pieces by Fiske, Mott, Coalbrookdale, & Timmes. Also included is a selection of cast stone, & wire pieces & Cast Aluminum Shell & Sea Horse chairs & bench sets.


text:
Square COO Keith Rabois has resigned after running the online-payments startup through two years of hypergrowth, according to a statement he gave AllThingsD.
AllThingsD's Kara Swisher reported that "disagreements" between Rabois and Square founder and CEO Jack Dorsey were "part of the reason" Rabois left.
As recently as September, Dorsey was effusive in his praise for Rabois. In a speech at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, he said Rabois deserved to be called a "founder" of Square for his dedication to the company.
At an event that same month held by Technology Review, Dorsey also said that "discord" within companies should be avoided, as such disagreements inevitably expressed themselves in products. Dorsey is a fan of simple, elegant product design.
Square now has about 500 employees and is processing the annual equivalent of more than $10 billion in payments, a figure which does not include a deal it has to handle Square's debit- and credit-card payments. It is moving to a new headquarters soon. It raised $200 million from investors including Citi and Starbucks in a deal that valued the company at $3.2 billion.
Here's Rabois's statement, which suggests the former PayPal and Slide executive and Yelp board member has found a new gig already:
It is amazing what Square has accomplished since August of 2010. When I joined, there were 17 engineers all reporting flatly to Jack. The local coffee shop served as our interview room. Leading our amazing crew has been the most rewarding professional journey of my life. I am forever grateful to Jack, for his confidence in me and to each and every member of the team for allowing me to learn from them.
But every day matters. And it is better at this point for me to be doing something different every day.
As a result, I've decided to resign from Square. I am very excited about what lies ahead for the company. Square could not be better poised for greatness.
I will have more to share about my next opportunity soon.
Dorsey gave this statement:
Today I accepted Keith's resignation from Square. When he joined, we had fewer than 30 employees and under 1000 active merchants. Today, over 3 million individuals and businesses are able to accept credit cards with Square, processing over $10 billion annually. We couldn't have done it without him and we wish him well in his next opportunity.
This is not the only tumultuous change the company has gone through at the top—some not as well noted or understood at the time they happened.
When Khosla Ventures invested in Square in 2009, it won the right to name a member of Square's board.
In the spring of 2011, the investor behind that deal, Gideon Yu, left Khosla, but was said to be "likely" to remain on Square's board; he former YouTube and Facebook CFO had been working out of Square's offices once a week and serving as the company's shadow CFO.
Khosla Ventures founder Vinod Khosla replaced Yu on the board a few months later, around the same time that Dorsey began splitting his time between Square and Twitter, the information network he also founded and previously ran as CEO until his ouster in 2008. Dorsey's dual role has been a point of contention inside both companies, though most recently he has focused his time and attention on Square.
Recently Square revised its articles of incorporation to eliminate Khosla Ventures' right to name a board member, though Khosla himself remains on the board. (As a major shareholder, Khosla can participate in the election of a pool of board members.)
Khosla and Square did not comment on the change in board structure.
Square recently hired Sarah Friar, a former Goldman Sachs analyst and Salesforce.com executive, as CFO; she will be acting COO, the company said.


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Dash Shaw and Tim Kreider sign at Atomic Books on Thursday, April 18, 2013 from 7:00 until 9:00 pm!
Press Release
Dash Shaw's new graphic novel, New School (Fantagraphics) dramatizes the story of a boy moving to an exotic country and his infatuation with an unfamiliar culture that quickly shifts to disillusionment.
Tim Kreider's collection of essays and cartoons, We Learn Nothing, will be released in paperback by Simon & Schuster.
Dash will be showing and discussing his work as well as presenting several of his short animations.
Tim will be showing and discussing his cartoons as well as reading and talking about his essays.
Adult beverages will be served.
Atomic Books
3620 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD 21211


text:
Apartment Acletta (Utoring)
up to 7 guests
4 rooms
3 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
Distance to centre 2 km
Distance to ski / mountain lift 300 m
Proximity to public transport 2 km
Pets allowed
Swimming Pool
Washing machine
Balcony / Terrace
Community garage
Non smoking
Accommodation alert
4-room maisonette 120 m2 on 2 levels on 1st floor. Spacious, comfortable and cosy furnishings: large living/dining room with dining nook, cable TV, flat screen, radio and CD-player. Exit to the balcony. 1 double bedroom with 1 double bed (2 x 90 cm, length 200 cm). 1 room with 1 bed and 1 x 2 bunk beds. Small kitchen (oven, dishwasher, 4 ceramic glass hob hotplates, electric coffee machine, Capsules for coffee machine extra, raclette grill). Bathroom, sep. WC. On the lower ground floor: 1 double bedroom with 1 double bed (2 x 90 cm, length 200 cm). Exit to the patio, west facing position. Shower/WC. Terrace furniture, deck chairs (2). Facilities: Internet (WiFi, free). Please note: suitable for families. Non-smokers only. Maximum 1 pet/ dog allowed. Pushchair is available.House/Residence
Apartment block "Acletta (Utoring)", surrounded by trees and meadows. Above Disentis, in the resort, 2 km from the centre, in a quiet, sunny position on a slope. For shared use: indoor pool (24 m2, depth 170 cm). Children's playground. In the house: reception, lounge, sauna (extra). Table tennis, table football, telephone box, lift, storage room for skis, central heating system, washing machine, tumble dryer (for shared use, extra). Bread roll service and beverage service (extra). Motor access to the house (mountain road). Communal covered parking. Dimension: height 190 cm. Shop 300 m, restaurant 200 m, railway station "Disentis" 2 km. Cable car, mountain railway 300 m, ski bus stop 10 m, ski school 300 m. Please note: There are more similar properties for rent in this same residence. All houses/apartments are individually designed/furnished. Children's ski school near the house. House and cable car can be reached by skis. Internet connection DSL / WIFI in all apartments (free). Free: 1 garage space (max height 1.90 m). Extra: CHF 20.00 / week for 1 additional garage space. In summer free use of cable cars, train, buses, indoor pool, etc. with personal guest card. Please note: telephone booth only with Swisscomcard! Opening Reception. Monday 08:30-09:30 and 16:30-17:30, Saturday 08:30-09:30 and 16:00-17:30 Closed on Wednesday and Sunday.
Prior to your departure, you will receive the key collection information for your stay, along with your travel documents.
Show all apartments in this house/residence
Location DescriptionGeneral info
1'130 - 1'864 m a.s.l. >>Cosy, idyllic, family-friendly village, mountain village and holiday village with 2'098 inhabitants, in the south-eastern part, in a valley, 60 km from Chur. All shops, restaurants etc. in Ilanz, 38 - 40 km. In the resort: supermarket, shops, grocery, butchery, bakery, post office, bank, restaurant, bar, museum, attractions. Fitness centre. Besides: pharmacy, doctor. Access: motorway A13 Zürich - Chur, exit number "Reichenau". Then road A19 Ilanz - Trun - Disentis/Mustér. Public parking free in Bergbahnen Disentis. Access by train Chur - Ilanz - Disentis/Mustér. Railway station in the resort.Summer
Bathing lake, 40 m long, up to 20 m wide, suitable for children. Tennis (6 outdoor courts, 2 indoor courts). Minigolf. Fishing (permit required). Paragliding. Cableways, chair lifts, 350 km hiking paths, mountain hikes, mountain tours. 141 km bicycle paths, 296 km mountain bike routes, bicycles and mountain bikes for hire. Children's playground.Winter
Ski-region Disentis 3000, from 1'248 m. 2 cableways, 3 chair lifts, 5 drag lifts, 1 children's ski lift. 16 ski runs, total length 60 km (33 % easy, 50 % intermediate, 17 % difficult). Ski school (downhill, cross country), snowboard school, children's ski school from 4 years old. Cross country ski tracks (illuminated), winter walking paths 55 km. Sports centre. Curling, 2 courts indoor tennis centre. Ski bus. Further ski-regions: Skiarena Andermatt Sedrun at 8 km, Skigebiet Brigels Waltensburg at 24 km, Weisse Arena Laax at 38 km. In Winter: please take snow chains.
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text:
Well the big G has done it again...
"1. Google reserves the right to automatically update and install Chrome.
This is becoming standard fare with much software these days, but worth noting.
"The software which you use may automatically download and install updates from time to time from Google. These updates are designed to improve, enhance and further develop the services and may take the form of bug fixes, enhanced functions, new software modules and completely new versions. You agree to receive such updates (and permit Google to deliver these to you) as part of your use of the services."
2. Although you retain any copyrights to content you own and use in the browser, Google says it has a right to display some of your content, in conjunction with promoting its services. Here's there exact wording.
"By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any content which you submit, post or display on or through, the services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the services and may be revoked for certain services as defined in the additional terms of those services."
3. Don't be surprised to see more ads.
Traditionally, it is Web pages and not the browser itself that serves ads. Google isn't saying it will change this paradigm, but it's terms of service don't rule that out either.
"Some of the services are supported by advertising revenue and may display advertisements and promotions. These advertisements may be targeted to the content of information stored on the services, queries made through the services or other information.
The manner, mode and extent of advertising by Google on the services are subject to change without specific notice to you."
Also worth paying attention to are the settings when you install it. By default, Chrome will add all manner of shortcuts, so if you don't want it to do that, be sure to click "customize these settings." Of note, it does not make itself the default browser without a user agreeing to do so."


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I wouldn't go as far as to equate those who deny Shakespeare as the author of the Shakespeare plays with holocaust deniers, but both categories beggar belief. There is no doubt about either –the Nazi genocide of the Jews and the fact that William Shakespeare wrote the plays. The film Anonymous, which has just been released, has reopened the debate with its thesis that Edward de Vere is the author of the plays (http://bit.ly/oODvBj.). It's absurd because there's no evidence for it. However, with the mass media of our times – films, internet, television – we swallow information and scholarship in its watered-down, mostly uninformed or imagined forms, mistaking fiction for fact. For example, the film Shakespeare in Love, lapped up by vast audiences, has created the idea that the fictional events are historical events. The film portrays detailed events in the life of the young writer, including a full-blown romance, whereas we have no idea whatsoever about his life at that point. And no-one has any idea of what kind of person he was at any point in his life.
Come to think of it, though, this isn't a new phenomenon. Shakespeare was himself as guilty as any modern media merchant of creating myths about historical figures. Take King Richard 111. We think of him as an out and out villain, a psychopath, crippled and with a hunch back. He wasn't like that at all – we see him through Shakespeare's eyes. Historians can do whatever they like, they can't change that image of him. And what do we know about Brutus, the assassin of Julius Caesar? Nothing at all, really, but we know him well because of the way Shakespeare made him.
If Anonymous becomes a runaway hit, the uninformed will simply accept that Edward de Vere wrote the plays. Four centuries of scholarship will count for nothing. It's similar to the way that the movement from the Mozart piano concerto that was used as the sound track for the film Elvira Madigan is usually announced, even on classical music radio stations, as 'the Elvira Madigan theme,' and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony as 'the Clockwork Orange theme.'
We can imagine a hundred years from now, when all 'knowledge' is absorbed from popular culture, that no-one will know anything, although everyone will think he or she does.


text:
Even though most of us are still basking in the afterglow (more like after-gloom) of The Dark Knight, it's never too early to start thinking about the next Batman film. Well, apparently we're not the only ones looking ahead.
According to fanboy site Comic Book Movie, actress/world savior/supermom Angelina Jolie is also hoping to become part of Christopher Nolan's Bat-universe, by donning the super-tight tights and fierce claws of Catwoman for the third film in the franchise.
(Just picturing Jolie wearing the cat suit begins to erase the horrible memory of that Halle Berry flick.)
Best of all is the source from which this news has stemmed: former Catwoman Julie Newmar is quoted as telling the New York Daily News:
"Angelina would own the part," said Newmar. "My industry friends tell me [she] has made inquiries about the role,"
Well, it seems as though Newmar is a lot more comfortable passing the torch than Jack Nicholson was. And let's face it, Angelina playing Catwoman would be as sultry, badass, and downright sweat-inducing as any actress could possibly be in the role. Unfortunately, The Daily News article goes on to remind us that in a recent interview, Dark Knight writers David Goyer and John Nolan stated that, as of now, they are reluctant to include Catwoman in the third film. Maybe Angelina can change all that. The woman has been known to sway men in the past.
I for one think that Catwoman is a logical step for the next film. The Dark Knight left off with Batman being falsely accused of murder, sandwiched between cops and criminals, more alone than ever, with his only love interest having been blown to smithereens. A fella's got to have some kind of relief, and a woman in a skin-hugging cat suit, who also likes a bit of midnight roof hopping, is never a bad place to start.
What do you think, should Angelina Jolie be the next Catwoman?
Source: Comic Book Movie via The New York Daily News


text:
Norquist supports Senate cliff plan
Grover Norquist said Monday that he would vote in favor of the Senate's plan to raise taxes on those earning $450,000 or more annually and said it does not violate his anti-tax pledge.
"Is this a violation of the pledge?" CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked him on air.
Story Continued Below
"No, it is not," Norquist said on CNN.
(Also on POLITICO: Dems win key tax fights)
"So if Republican Senator 'X' votes in favor of the agreement tonight, he or she is not violating the pledge?" Blitzer pressed.
"No. The Republicans have voted in the past to make the tax cuts permanent, all the Republicans, all the pledge takers—" Norquist said.
"So you're giving your blessing to the Republicans, to Harry Reid, not only the Democrats, to Mitch McConnell and all the Republicans, go ahead and support the deal?" Blitzer said.
(PHOTOS: 11 side effects of going over the cliff)
"Not having read it all, I'm not endorsing it. But right now, as explained, it doesn't violate the pledge," Norquist said. "We need to go back and at the end of the day make sure that the tax cuts are made permanent for everybody, but that's a fight for the weeks and months to come. This is progress, making 84 percent of the Bush tax cuts permanent."
"If you were a Senator, you'd vote for it?" Blitzer asked.
"Yes," Norquist said.
Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform anti-tax pledge was a contentious flashpoint in the fiscal cliff debate, with some conservatives saying that voting to increase taxes on those earning more than $450,000 annually would violate the pledge. President Barack Obama's administration and the Democrats have said that Obama has an electoral mandate to do so because he campaigned on the issue and won reelection.
Earlier Monday, Norquist expressed confidence that any last-minute fiscal cliff deal would not hike tax rates.
(Also on POLITICO: Grumpiness to go around inside Capitol)
"I'm working with all the folks who are trying to defend taxpayers here in Congress," he said on CNN's "Starting Point." "I don't think you're going to see something that actually raises taxes. We may get some tax cuts now and have to fight for others later."
Norquist's comments come hours before the deadline for an agreement hits, after congressional leaders failed to hammer out a deal over the weekend.
If no resolution is reached, deep spending cuts will kick in and taxes will go up across the board as Bush-era tax cuts expire for everyone. President Barack Obama has called for an extension of those cuts for Americans making under $250,000, though some Democrats have upped that offer. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that threshold should be higher — $450,000 for individuals; $550,000 for couples — while others are opposed to hiking tax rates at all.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the ranking member on the House Budget Committee, expressed cautious optimism Monday, but said the real test will be how an agreement fares in the House of Representatives.
"The conversations continued till late into the night," the Maryland Democrat said on CNN's "Starting Point." "I think now there's a better than 50-50 chance we will avoid the fiscal cliff by midnight tonight. Everyone's focused on trying to get the job done. One big question is…whether an agreement put together by the Senate on a bipartisan basis can pass the House of Representatives."


text:
Get ready for more "Allegiant."
The final book in the "Divergent" series will be split into two movies, Summit Entertainment announced Friday. This isn't uncommon when young adult novels have been adapted for the big screen, as the final installments of three other blockbusters--"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" and "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay"--all received the same treatment.
"[Author] Veronica Roth brings her captivating story to a masterful conclusion in 'Allegiant,' a rich, action-packed book with material that is ideally suited to two strong and fulfilling movies," Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger said in a statement. "The storytelling arc and world of the characters lend themselves perfectly to two films, a storytelling strategy that has worked very well for us on the two 'Twilight Breaking Dawn' films and about which we're tremendously enthusiastic for the two upcoming 'Mockingjay' films of The 'Hunger Games' franchise."
VIDEO: What advice does Kate Winslet have for Shailene Woodley?
"Divergent" has earned $117 million at the domestic box office in its first three weeks of release. Its sequel, "Insurgent," begins production next month and is scheduled to hit theaters on March 20, 2015. "Allegiant - Parts 1 & 2" are slated for release on March 18, 2016, and March 24, 2017, respectively.
The first film in the franchise was directed by Neil Burger and starred Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Ashley Judd, Jai Courtney, Zo Kravitz, Miles Teller, Mekhi Phifer, Tony Goldwyn, Maggie Q and Ansel Elgort; many of the actors will reprise their roles in Insurgent, directed by Robert Schwentke.
PHOTOS: Divergent movie stills


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Vestal, N.Y.- Sophomores Justin Carter (Randallstown, Md.) and Melker Svard (Gothenburg, Sweden) continued their torrid singles play, but perennial America East power defeated the Retrievers, 5-2, at the Bearcats' Sports Complex.
Binghamton (12-10) won the first doubles match, prevailing at the No. 3 position, but the other two matches went to the wire. Carter and Svard fell, 8-6, at the No. 1 slot and junior Daniel Gray (Bowie, Md./The Bullis School) and sophomore Alex Drean (Bayonne, France) were shaded, 9-8.
Carter, who has won five straight and nine of his last 11 singles matches, outlasted Sid Hazarinka, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 at the No. 1 position.
Svard improved to 13-6 this spring with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory over Alexander Maisin at the No. 2 slot.
The Retrievers played tight second sets at the Nos. 5 and 6 positions, but could not prolong the matches and dropped to 11-9 on the campaign.
The men will play in their final match at the Retriever Tennis Complex on Sunday when UMBC hosts Coppin State.
Binghamton 5, UMBC 2
1. Alexander Maisin/Aswin Nambi (BU) def. Justin Carter/Melker Svard (UMBC), 8-6
2. Alex Drean/Daniel Gray (UMBC) def. Eliott Hureah/Janik Burri (BU), 9-8
3. Sid Hazarika/Ismael Dinia (BU) def. Eliott Loubatie/Kamal Patel (UMBC), 8-2
1. Justin Carter (UMBC) def. Sid Hazarika (BU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
2. Melker Svard (UMBC) def. Alexander Maisin (BU), 6-3, 6-1
3. Robin Lesage (BU0 def. Alex Drean (UMBC), 6-1, 6-1
4. Ismael Dinia (BU) def. Eliott Loubatie (UMBC), 6-3, 6-2
5. Eliott Hureau (BU) def. Daniel Gray (UMBC), 6-1, 6-4
6. Florian van Kann (BU) def. Kamal Patel (UMBC), 6-2, 6-4


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The Ucluelet area offers extraordinary opportunities for outdoor adventure and recreational activities. Located beside Long Beach in BC's Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, people come to Ucluelet for surfing, hiking, kayaking, fishing, diving, camping, whale and bear watching, beachcombing and storm watching.
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A home away from home in a place where glorious sunsets and relaxation go hand-in-hand! Ucluelet offers the chance to stay and enjoy the natural beauty of the area all year round. Ucluelet has a wide array of accommodation ranging from camping and rustic cabins to luxury resorts.
The environment of tranquil Ucluelet provides a stimulating and dramatic backdrop for working, living, and recreating. The town of Ucluelet offers beaches, multi-use sports fields, community parks, waterfront promenades, restaurants, unique shops and galleries, a mini aquarium and a range of accommodation choices.


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Excerpt from a talk given by Sant Kirpal Singh on 27 January, 1964
Selfless service means to have love for all. If your children are eating and other children in the neighbourhood are dying of hunger, share with them. Share with those who are naked, those who are hungry, those who are thirsty, those who are needy. If you help others, naturally you will be helped.
Help somebody with no compensation, with no consideration of whether you will have anything in return from them. Only give to the God in them. This means that the self expands: first, from yourself to the family; then, from the family to the class to which you belong; then, from the class to the religion; then, that self expands further to the country; and you become a patriot. In all this, your self does expand; but there is also a danger. If your whole love expands to your family, then two families fight. Each one is fighting for his own family: the self has congealed in two different families.
If your love expands as far as love for your class in society or your religion, you will love the men of your religion and hate others: there are religious wars, in which thousands of people die. If your love is just for your country and each man has love only for his own country, then, two great wars in which millions of people were killed, have shown what this causes. So our love should expand for the sake of God in all men. "Peace be unto all the world over." This is what is meant by selfless service: our selves should expand.
Each man should learn to help others, to share with others. Otherwise, what is the difference between a man and an animal? Animals also care for their children; they fight for their children. If you touch the child of any animal, it will take away your eyes. If you do that, in what lies the superiority within you as a man?
The superiority of man lies in the fact that he helps his own self and others, too: not only men, but even all other creatures, as well. If you learn to live for others, you are, truly speaking, a man. Stand on your own legs, first. Don't be a burden on others. Then, share with others; the more you can give out for His sake, the more you will advance. This is what is meant by selfless service — our selves should expand.
From day to day, your self must expand. If you see a man dying and you are not caring and enjoying yourself, this does not mean selfless service. There is no need for someone to come and appeal to you that this or that man needs you. If you see it, come by, and help him. It does not matter if others see it or not. God is seeing you. This is to be developed, side by side.
If you don't care for the hungry gods moving on earth, how can you have love for God? He is not in the heavens; He is everywhere, residing in every heart.


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This study will test the safety and effectiveness of genetically altered T lymphocytes
(white blood cells of the immune system) in reducing viral load in patients infected with
the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The lymphocytes will have two genes inserted into
them; a laboratory-manufactured anti-HIV gene designed to inhibit HIV reproduction (either
the RevTD or Rev-TD-antiTAR gene), and a "marker" gene that will show whether or not the
inserted genes have gotten into the cells.
Identical twin pairs 18 years of age and older- one of whom is HIV-positive (infected with
the human immunodeficiency virus) and the other HIV-negative (not infected) may be eligible
for this study.
All participants will have a complete medical history and physical examination, blood tests
and a tetanus booster shot, if indicated. The non HIV-infected twin will then undergo
lymphapheresis to collect lymphocytes. In this procedure, whole blood is collected through
a needle placed in an arm vein. The blood circulates through a machine that separates it
into its components. The lymphocytes are then removed, and the red cells and plasma are
returned to the donor, either through the same needle or through a second needle placed in
the other arm.
The donor cells are grown in the laboratory for a few days, and then the new genes are
inserted into them. The genetically altered cells are grown in the laboratory for several
days until their numbers increase approximately a thousand-fold. They are then infused
intravenously (through a vein) into the infected twin. These procedures-lymphapheresis,
gene modification and infusion-will be repeated at approximately 2-month intervals up to
four times.
Each lymphocyte infusion takes about 60 minutes. The patient's vital signs (temperature,
pulse, blood pressure and breathing) are monitored frequently during the infusion and hourly
for 4 hours after the infusion. Blood samples are taken the day of the infusion, 3 days
later, and then weekly to monitor the gene-modified cells, immune status, viral activity,
and other factors. These tests may be done less often as the study progresses and more is
learned about the safety of the infusions. The infusions are done on an outpatient basis
unless side effects require that they be done in the hospital with post-infusion monitoring
for at least 24 hours.
Patients will be followed for long-term effects of treatment monthly for the first 3 months,
once a month for the next 9 months and yearly from then on.
This study will contribute information about the use and side effects of gene therapy in HIV
infection that may lead to new treatment strategies. A potential direct benefit to
HIV-infected individuals participating in this study is reduced viral load; in laboratory
studies, the RevTD and Rev-TD-antiTAR genes have inhibited HIV spread in the test tube.
However, this is an early phase of study, and the likelihood of receiving this benefit is
This phase I/II pilot study will evaluate the safety, relative survival, and potential
efficacy of infusions of activated, genetically engineered, syngeneic CD4+ T lymphocytes
obtained from HIV-1 seronegative identical twins. T cells from each seronegative twin will
be obtained by apheresis, enriched for CD4+ cells, induced to polyclonal proliferation with
anti-CD3 and rIL-2 stimulation, divided into aliquots which will then be individually
transduced with a control retroviral vector and up to two additional retroviral vectors
containing potentially therapeutic genes (antisense TAR and/or transdominant Rev). These
engineered T cell populations will be expanded 10-1,000 fold in numbers during 1-2 weeks of
culture, and then will be infused into the seropositive twins. The relative survival of the
uniquely engineered T cell populations will be monitored by vector-specific PCR, while the
recipients' functional immune status is monitored by standard in vitro and in vivo testing
protocols. A total of up to 4 cycles of treatment may be given using identical or different
combinations of control and anti-HIV-1 retroviral vectors.
- An identical twin pair, one of whom is seropositive for HIV-1, the other twin
seronegative, by standard ELISA and Western blot testing.
- Patients with Kaposi's sarcoma limited to the skin and/or mucous membranes are
eligible for this study, but must not have received any systemic therapy for
- KS within 4 weeks prior to entry. The diagnosis of KS must have been confirmed by
- Free from serious psychological or emotional illness and able to provide written
informed consent.
- Anticipated survival greater than 3 months.
- 18 years of age or older.
- Treatment with FDA-approved and/or expanded access antiretroviral agent(s) for
patients with baseline CD4 counts below 500 cells/mm(3). Patients with baseline CD4
counts above 500 cells/mm(3) are eligible to receive cell therapy on this protocol,
but must be treated with antiretroviral therapy if evidence of significant and
persistent viral activation occurs in association with a cell infusion. "Significant
and persistent viral activation" is defined as a 50 percent or greater increase above
baseline in any virologic parameter for at least 2 consecutive weeks.
- Recipient's CD4 count greater than 50 cells/mm(3).
- Recipient and Donor willing to have samples stored and undergo HLA testing.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA (Donor and Recipient):
- Lymphomas.
- Unwillingness to comply with current NIH Clinical Center guidelines concerning
appropriate notification of all current sexual partners of an individual regarding
his or her HIV-1 positive sero-status and the risk of transmission of HIV-1
- Recent history of substance abuse unless evidence is provided of an ongoing
therapeutic intervention (i.e. medical therapy or counseling) to control such abuse.
- Pregnant at entry or unwillingness to practice barrier birth control or abstinence
during the study.
- No experimental therapy within 4 weeks of study participation. Antiretroviral agents
available on an FDA-sanctioned, expanded access basis are permitted.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA (Donor):
- Untreated or inadequately treated medical condition (e.g., cardiopulmonary disease,
acute infection) which, in the judgement of the Principal Investigator, precludes
- Serologic positivity for Epstein Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus, Hepatitis B or
Hepatitis C, if and only if the recipient twin tests seronegative for the
corresponding virus.
Bethesda, Maryland 20892United StatesThere is no listed contact information for this specific location.Site Status: N/A
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Iglesias confirms stress fractures in both legs
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Jose Iglesias believes he finally has some clarity on the pain in his shins that he says he played through for more than a year. The Tigers shortstop confirmed reports Monday morning that he has been diagnosed with stress fractures in both of his legs.
The diagnosis came in the last few days from a specialist Iglesias visited last week for additional opinion on the shin issue that has kept him out of action for the last two weeks. The Tigers would not comment on the diagnosis.
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Jose Iglesias believes he finally has some clarity on the pain in his shins that he says he played through for more than a year. The Tigers shortstop confirmed reports Monday morning that he has been diagnosed with stress fractures in both of his legs.
The diagnosis came in the last few days from a specialist Iglesias visited last week for additional opinion on the shin issue that has kept him out of action for the last two weeks. The Tigers would not comment on the diagnosis.
"This is small fractures in the legs," Iglesias said. "I was able to play through it last year, but that's not going to happen this year."
Iglesias said he won't know how long he'll be out until he visits another specialist, Dr. Thomas Clanton, on Tuesday in Colorado to determine the best course of treatment. The Tigers appear to be waiting for the results of that visit before commenting on Iglesias' condition.
"I'm not going to answer any questions in regard to Iglesias," head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said Monday afternoon. "He's going to be seen by Dr. Thomas Clanton tomorrow in Vail, Colorado. We'll have something after that."
In regards to Iglesias' remarks, Rand told reporters, "You've all been aware of his condition at all times."
The recommendations Tuesday could be critical not only in the length of Iglesias' absence, but the size of the challenge the Tigers face in filling his spot. Iglesias made it clear Monday that his health is his top priority at this point. Even while he waits, though, Iglesias seems highly confident he'll play at some point this season.
"Absolutely," Iglesias said. "I'll get a better idea when I see the doctor in Colorado. But for now, my goal is to get healthy, get rid of this, because the pain is really bad. I just want to get rid of it and come back 100 percent."
If he can, it might be his first extended stretch without pain in his legs since 2012. Iglesias said he has been playing through pain in both shins since last Spring Training, when he was a member of the Red Sox.
"I just felt it from the very first moment of [last] Spring Training," Iglesias said. "I just told myself to play through it, because I never expected something like that. I just feel pain, but Stephen Drew had a concussion at the time and that was an opportunity for me to start with the team. And I was like, 'You know what? You've got to play through it.' And I did it."
Not until the last few days, however, did he know how severe the issue eventually became.
The Red Sox were aware of the shin soreness, and prescribed him a treatment plan and orthotics to manage the situation. Red Sox manager John Farrell said Sunday he had to rest Iglesias from time to time to ease the discomfort.
"[We were] aware from the extent that we had to monitor it," Farrell told reporters Sunday. "There were some games where we had to get him off his feet because he felt some pain and some soreness there. But to see what's come out now with the report, I feel sorry for the kid."
The plan of occasional rest and treatment continued once he got to Detroit.
"Last year I played through the pain all year long," Iglesias said. "Sometimes Farrell had to give me some days the same as [former Tigers manager] Jim Leyland here. He had to give me some days or take me out of the game because the pain was so bad. And I was like, 'Man, I don't know what to do to get rid of it.' And I never found out until right now that it was a fracture."
Asked whether anything was done in the offseason to address it, Iglesias said he was advised to rest his legs during the offseason to give the shins a chance to strengthen.
"They told me rest should be the best thing for it," Iglesias said, "but eventually it didn't work."
The discomfort flared up again quickly. His stride running down the line in his first Spring Training game Feb. 27 against the Braves was noticeably hampered enough that manager Brad Ausmus asked Rand to check on him. That was the last time he played in a game.
Iglesias saw a Lakeland-based foot and ankle specialist last week and was diagnosed with stress reactions in both shins, similar to shin splints but different in severity. He received an adjustment in his orthotics adding extra cushion under the foot, that seemingly made an immediate difference. From there, the doctor analyzed video of Iglesias' running stride.
Iglesias resumed workouts, taking batting practice and fielding ground balls at shortstop. However, he continued to feel pain while running, specifically while slowing down.
"I still feel it," Iglesias said. "There's a hint of pain hitting, but running is very painful."
Nothing, not treatment, not orthotics adjustments, alleviated that. Eventually, Iglesias visited another specialist in Florida for a second opinion.
"It doesn't get better," he said. "I've been doing every kind of treatment, but the pain is still really high. It makes sense now because it's a fracture. It's not going to go down until the fracture is better."
In that sense, it could be a worst-case scenario. Still, after a full year of pain, Iglesias said he feels relieved simply to have a diagnosis of what's going on with his legs. He also feels relief to have been told that it should not be a chronic condition for him once it heals.
"It's bad news for me and bad news for the team as well," Iglesias said, "but at the end of the day, it's good as well, because I know what's going on now. It's something that I've got to deal with, but something that will go away with time."
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason.


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Worship in the Sanctuary begins with contemporary Christian music led by King's Way's praise band. The service includes prayers, songs and energetic preaching that encourages attendees to dig deeper into the Bible. Nursery care and a kid's worship time are available during this service in the Children's Wing for kids in fifth-grade and under.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: September 10Cruisin King's Way
Later Event: September 10Traditional Worship


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The Role of the Health Care Provider Related to Death and Dying
Exploration of the role of the nurse and other health care professionals in the provision of care for the dying patient. Discussion allows for examination of personal feelings as well as the professional, spiritual, and ethical issues surrounding the care of the dying patient and his/her family. Palliative care choices are analyzed from a multidisciplinary perspective. The course provides insight into the implications of how different cultures view and experience death and dying. Restricted to BAH, BHS, BBA, BHM, BHP, BLA, BPA majors. Scheduled by Special Arrangement.
1 Credit: 1 Lecture


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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is on a roll. His coalition won last month's elections for the upper house of the Diet, polls show that his plan for economic recovery is widely accepted and his approval rating among the electorate is 65 percent.
However, the prime minister will most likely fail to achieve his ambitions in foreign policy and national security unless he finds a way to resolve what is known as "the history question."
The demons of history prevent Japan from taking its rightful place among the world's foremost nations.
This is a vital question not only for Japan, but also for the US and its allies in Asia. In particular, bitter relations between Japan and South Korea, rooted in history, but now both treaty allies of the US, undermine the security of all three.
The litany of charges against Japan centers on the period from 1931 to 1945. Japan occupied Taiwan (from 1895), Korea (from 1910) and Manchuria (from 1931). It invaded Southeast Asia, committed wartime atrocities such as the Rape of Nanking in China and exploited "comfort women" for sexual services for soldiers.
Japanese leaders have apologized more than 50 times beginning in 1945 with former Japanese emperor Hirohito apologizing to General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the Allied Occupation, and in 1951 then-Japanese prime minister Shigeru Yoshida in addressing the San Francisco Peace Conference.
The Chinese and South Koreans have refused to acknowledge those apologies for their own reasons. Some of their refusal is because of the genuine anger of the victims. For others, it is a convenient club with which to attack Japan or it is a distraction from pressing issues at home.
Moreover, they have not said what they want, nor what would satisfy them. A recent article from Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, was typically vague: "Only by facing up to history and seriously reflecting on its wartime crimes can Japan win back trust among people in Asia and across the world."
International politics may not be fair, but this is the reality that Abe and his colleagues must address if they want to drive the demons of history back into the pages of social studies textbooks.
Here are three suggestions for a compelling and vivid Japanese endeavor to resolve this issue:
First, have a researcher in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs comb through the accounts of Japanese apologies since 1945 and compile them, in context, into an authoritative record of remorse. Have that record translated from Japanese into Chinese, Korean and English, and published for the world to see.
Second, ask Japanese Emperor Akihito to rise in the Budokan (Hall of Martial Arts) at the annual gathering of Japanese leaders to mark the end of World War II, and deliver the final expression of remorse. Only the emperor has the moral and constitutional authority to speak for all of Japan.
Third, quietly negotiate with the Chinese and South Korean governments to determine what apologies they would accept.
Japan should include in the record of remorse and in the Emperor's address a declaration that their apologies are done.
Japan could eliminate a lightning rod for Chinese and Korean criticism by moving the spirits of 14 war criminals from the Yasukuni Shrine. Yasukuni is a Shinto shrine, not a cemetery, for the spirits of Japan's war dead, similar to the Kranji War Memorial in Singapore, India Gate in New Delhi and the Vietnam Wall in Washington.


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Get an in-depth look into multi-platinum recording artist Demi Lovato with this Multi-Touch book, Demi (The Book), which includes a never-before-seen video and photos.
Fully endorsed by Demi Lovato and made exclusively for iBooks, this is the ultimate companion piece to Miss Lovato's fourth studio album. With the Demi book, you'll be able to:
•Explore a timeline of Demi's career achievements
•Have backstage access of highlights of her international sold out tours
• View exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the recording of her new album
Special features include:
•A special Foreword written by Ryan Seacrest
•A music video performance of "In Case" from her album, DEMI
•Over 50 photographs, including personal photos from Demi
•A letter from Demi to her fans
•Hi-definition behind-the-scenes footage
•Interactive widgets, social functionalities and more
From sell-out tours to gold and platinum albums and singles, Demi Lovato has amassed a social footprint of over 30 million followers. Demi (the Book) is a special collectible item for all her loyal, self-proclaimed "Lovatics".


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Meet Zoey Tur, Inside Edition's First Transgender Reporter
Feb 4, 2015 11:02 AM EST
Inside Edition has hired Zoey Tur as a part-time special correspondent, a move the program boasts makes her "America's first transgender television reporter." "They took a chance on me. They were worried, but CBS and syndication are overjoyed," Tur… Read more


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The Big Brother of Email is SendGrid's Event APICarly Brantz
George Orwell's 1984 has nothing on the SendGrid Event API. With this tool, you can curate information on every email you've ever sent and generate customized real time reports based on a variety of email events including processed, delivered, opens, clicks, unsubscribes, spam reports, deferred, bounces, and drops with all relevant category and unique argument information.
The Event API is highly customizable using webhooks to integrate with your application without any restrictions on your own internal storage limitations. Essentially, you can:
- Automatically remove unsubscribes from your master mailing list.
- Associate a spam report with a specific campaign and user in your application.
- Know real-time when a user has clicked on a confirmation email.
- Get the specific link clicked on an email.
- Get the browser version used by a customer.
- Know the specific MTA response for a customer.
Many of our clients use the Event API to set up automated systems to take specific actions, particularly for deliverability management. Team Snap, for example, uses the Event API to remove spam complaints from their email list instantly. You can also use the Event API to segment lists based on activity or non-activity so you can rapidly remove non-responders from their email file, and focus your efforts on engaged subscribers. You can also use the Event API to automatically compile charts or graphs for external consumption.
To learn more about SendGrid APIs, check out our API docs page to get more ideas on how you can customize our platform to suit your business needs.


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Liberty News
Distance Learning Program tops 27,000
Liberty University's Distance Learning Program on Monday topped the 27,000 student mark for the first time.
The program, which allows students to take courses online, has grown 141 percent over the past two years.
Current DLP students are taking just shy of 375,000 credit hours of coursework, more than double the number of credit hours taken just two year ago.
The program topped the 25,000 student mark for the first time in March.
LU founder, the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, set 25,000 as his initial DLP goal.
Ronald S. Kennedy, LU's executive director of distance learning and graduate studies, said LU hopes to double Falwell's initial goal in three to five years.
"We think it is realistic for us to get up to 50,000 students in the next three years," Kennedy said. "It's exciting. We're continuing to grow."
Two years ago, DLP enrollment had an annual growth rate of 12 percent.
"The past two years, we've seen a growth rate of 50 to 51 percent," Kennedy said.
LU's DLP has 8,000 military students enrolled today, compared with 3,600 two years ago.


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Any update?Kiter_from_Germany wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:27 pma15 in 18m:
Interestingly b56 plays a role in High wind stability.
I've had some very interesting trim sessions,
where I came up with some results regarding inner bridle readjustments.
Am on my way to let b56 in B, letting c56 in C
and letting z5678 in Z.
Why back to the roots?
Better for turning agility on big kites and I solved the stability issues I faced on my way to v1.0 and v1.1.
Main part is that you need to adjust b56 and c56, because they are responsible for dramatic tipstalls in original setup.
Main task: trim on depower instead of power positions (inner gear changings are not linear through changing from regular to backweighted mixer - I am understanding it for now, can trim even slightly frontbend tension lines now).
Will discuss it when Im ready.
Surprising results in last tweakings.
No calculations possible every line had to be flown to optimization.
For being able looking in the bridles, I made a 10m bar.
Next time on the water I gonna recheck adjustments.
For now result is for a15/18m
velocity: good
depower: much better than original
static pull: nice
turning: loops on 10m lines (very good for 18m)
stability: as original
overall: a 'new kite'
exemplarily pic of my outsleeved lines (this is how I test reconnecting and length variations by simple knotting)
here: b56
now pigtail of a67 and a89 (one pigtail for two lines):
mega LCLs of a8 and a9 (same length):
I will document this stuff after getting high wind check on the water... (Unfortunately this takes time and occasional wind, maybe in upto 3 weeks?)
I stumbled on this which has a back weighted mixer.


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A motorcyclist struck by a hit-and-run driver is suing the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, claiming deputies violated pursuit policies.
A motorcyclist struck by a hit-and-run driver is suing the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, claiming deputies violated pursuit policies.
But the Sheriff's Office is countering that there wasn't even a pursuit, let alone a violation of policy.
Laura Blacklock, 51, was riding her motorcycle with a group of bikers on Oct. 10, 2010, eastbound on State Road 40 when she was struck by a vehicle at County Road 3, according to the lawsuit filed this month in Volusia County Circuit Court. The vehicle driver drove away and was not caught, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Her husband, Joseph Blacklock Jr., declined to comment when reached by phone on Friday and referred calls to his attorney, who could not be reached.
The Sheriff's Office said in a statement it would not comment on the lawsuit because it was pending.
"Concerning the 2010 accident, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office investigated the incident at the time it occurred and determined it was unfounded and that there had been no pursuit at all," the Sheriff's Office said.
Laura Blacklock, of Casselberry, suffered permanent injuries and other setbacks due to the accident, including, pain, "physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish" and loss of earnings as well as the ability to enjoy "a normal life," according to the lawsuit.
Joseph Blacklock Jr. is named in the lawsuit which states he suffered a loss of "companionship and consortium" of his wife.
The lawsuit said Volusia County sheriff's deputies were pursuing a vehicle south on C.R. 3, causing the vehicle to run a stop sign and crash into Blacklock's motorcycle.
The deputies violated Sheriff's Office standards for vehicle pursuits, and the situation did not "rise to the level to establish probable cause for a pursuit," the lawsuit states.
But there was no pursuit, according to a Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs investigation.
Deputy Brian Cobb was on his way to a disturbance over a dog at a home on South Center Street in Pierson. Cobb did not have any emergency equipment activated, the report said. Cobb said he saw a vehicle pass him on Center Street, which might have been related to the disturbance, and he tried to turn his cruiser around to make an "investigatory stop," the report said.
But before Cobb could turn around he said he saw the vehicle turn onto Emporia Road. And when Cobb reached Emporia Road, the vehicle was gone.
"Deputy Cobb said that he was never able to get closer than one quarter mile from the vehicle and did not activate his emergency equipment at any point prior to losing sight of the vehicle," the internal affairs investigation said.
A Marion County fire captain named Daniel Clifford was traveling about 60 mph eastbound on S.R. 40 when the motorcyclists passed him and his wife, the internal affairs report said. Clifford then rounded a curve and saw a dust cloud and a motorcycle going off the road. Clifford dropped off his wife and drove south on C.R. 3 looking for the hit-and-run vehicle but could not find it and drove back to the crash, the report said.
"Captain Clifford said that he did not hear any sirens or see any Sheriff's Office vehicles in the area prior to him returning to the crash scene," the internal affairs report states.


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Rachel Brown tossed a one-hit shutout against San Diego Saturday (Gil Talbot).
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Rachel Brown tossed her second shutout of the season as the Harvard softball team wrapped up its stay in California with a 1-0 win over San Diego Saturday. The win was Harvard's first at the 2011 San Diego Classic II tournament and moves the Crimson to 8-8 on the season.
While hits were limited throughout the game, Harvard connected on a handful in the early innings. Kasey Lange ripped a double in the Harvard first and the Crimson picked up two more doubles in the second, bringing home the game's lone run. Stephanie Regan led off the inning with a double to left and after a Jane Alexander sacrifice groundout, Mari Zumbro drove her in with a double to left-center. Mariel Sena followed with a single but the Crimson was unable to bring another run home.
The one run proved to be all Harvard needed in the game as Brown silenced the San Diego bats from start to finish. She struck out the side in the third and held the Toreros hitless through the first six frames. With one out in the top of the seventh, San Diego broke up the no-hitter with an infield single, but Brown struck out the final two batters of the game to seal the 1-0 win.
Brown finished the game with a season-high 15 strikeouts and notched her second complete-game shutout of the year. Lange picked up a pair of hits in the game while Zumbro recorded the game's lone RBI.
The Crimson returns home and will see its first action in the Northeast when it takes on Boston University Tuesday in a 4 p.m. game.


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The Protected Areas
The protected areas play a unique role in preserving the exceptional natural and cultural heritage of the Alps and managing tourist flows. It is an important role both in terms of conservation strategies (nature, expertise, heritage, culture) and the definition and management of certain activities that are essential to modern-day mountain life (tourism, mountain farming, alpine grazing, forestry, eco-building, etc.).
It is because all of the protected areas in the Alps share a geographical location and common values that, for many years, they have been working with ALPARC to coordinate their efforts and share their experience and knowledge.


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Confluence Banquets and Resort | Chennai, India | ONE landscape
Located in the outskirts of Chennai, India, Confluence is a unique project in its scale and aspiration. Conceived as a resort destination it also contains a convention building with a large lawn. The villa zone overlooks a lush central garden | Read More


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EMMITSBURG, Md. – UMBC women's lacrosse exploded for an 11-goal first half against Mount St. Mary's on Saturday afternoon at Waldron Family Stadium and would go on to defeat the Mount, 15-2. Senior midfielder Kristen Bilney (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) registered her third hat trick of the season, while sophomore Rachel Benzing (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) tallied a game-high five points on two goals and three assists.
The Retrievers improve to 3-4 on the season, while Mount St. Mary's moves to 1-6.
UMBC scored 14 unanswered goals in the contest, including all 11 of the goals in the opening period. The Retrievers jumped out to the early 2-0 lead 3:06 into the contest. Junior Alyssa Semones (Westminster, Md./Westminster/Penn State) gathered a pass from Benzing and blasted home the game's first score. Freshman Caroline Haggerty (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll School) connected on her first of two straight goals 26:54 into the half.
Haggerty added her second goal on just her second shot of the afternoon 7:17 into the game. Two minutes later Bilney extended the Retrievers' lead to 4-0. Bilney would also set up Semones second score of the day with 19:10 left in the half.
Junior Abby Wilson (Bel Air, Md./Fallston) and freshman Amber Kovalick (Davidsonville, Md./South River) combined for four of UMBC's final six goals of the period. The Retrievers held a 19-6 shot advantage in the opening 30 minutes of action, while Mount St. Mary's held a 9-3 lead in draw controls.
Bilney scored back-to-back goals three minutes apart during the early part of the second half, with Wilson and Benzing dishing out assists, respectively. Freshman Mackenzie Reese (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll School) registered the game's only free position goal with 17:43 remaining to extend the Retrievers' lead to 14-0.
Mount St. Mary's scored two straight, the first coming from Erin Seipp with 12:39 remaining and the second from Sammie Knapp 1:21 later.
Benzing would round out the scoring with 5:34 to go in the contest.
Bilney and Wilson finished the contest with four points apiece. Wilson led UMBC with four ground balls and two draw controls. Defenders Jackie Benson (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) and Courtney Thompson (Edgewater, Md./South River) each caused a pair of turnovers in the victory, while goalkeeper Anna Barnett (Midland, Texas/Midland) earned the win and stopped four shots.
The Retrievers return home on Saturday, March 22 when it hosts Temple at noon at the UMBC Stadium.


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Thursday, March 18, 2010
When? Today? Is there a lot or just a little bit?
I dunno. A couple days ago.
WHAT??? A couple days ago and you're just telling me now? And why do you always wait until bedtime to tell me stuff like this anyway! How much spilled?
I dunno. Not that much. It's not my fault! I didn't know that would happen!
You didn't know what would happen? Did you sit on your backpack? Smack someone upside the head with it? Wrestle with it?
I dunno.
sigh Well that makes perfect sense. Is it on anything? Is it on any books or anything?
No. Well, just my reading text book. And my papers. And my folder. And some other stuff.
You're killing me kid. Just grab some diaper wipes and clean off the books. Throw out any old papers and leave your backpack in the sink. I'll wipe it out when I'm done working.
When I went to wipe out his backpack, this is what I found...
Yep, it's an entire cup of yogurt (minus what stuck to his books and papers). Lovely. This is exactly what I wanted to do at 11:00 at night. Thankfully, it was a good sturdy Lands' End backpack and I was able to rinse it out pretty easily. The book, on the other hand. He probably doesn't really need to read pages 87 - 252, does he? I wonder how much text books are going for these days...
Posted by Dawn at 11:46 PM
25 comments:
- Jen said...
Not related to this post but I didn't want to go searching for the correct one. I'm just lazy like that. Anyway...I got in a car accident on Monday. So fun. I swear the guy didn't see me and my Tahoe is that gold/silver color y'all were talking about in your other post. UGH! My kids were in the car, airbags deployed...We're all safe thank GOD, but I'm painting my car Construction Zone Orange if it isn't totaled.
- March 19, 2010 at 12:24 AM
- Novia said...
Oh boy!
- March 19, 2010 at 4:35 AM
- Laura ~Peach~ said...
text books are insanely high... typical... looks like a couple of backpaks that hit the trash here... they were NOT lands end...
- March 19, 2010 at 7:34 AM
- Robin said...
Why do these things always happen to you?! :) I guess with 6 kids it ups your chances as compared to my 2 kids. What a nasty mess. I notice that you didn't mention any funky smell coming from the backpack.....
- March 19, 2010 at 7:43 AM
- KingerMom said...
HAHAHAH Dont you love it how kids think of things like this at the last minute before bed!? lol'
- March 19, 2010 at 8:58 AM
- Much More Than Mommy said...
Well, EW.
- March 19, 2010 at 9:00 AM
- justjaime31 said...
HAHA the other day I was looking through my 9 year olds backpack and I found what I *think used to be a banana?? We have also had the yogurt spill and jello. And of course I never hear anything about it until I pick up the bookbags and realize they smell like...something.
- March 19, 2010 at 9:31 AM
- Chick Hatchers said...
Write to Lands End and tell them how PLEASED you are to the backback holding up - both not leaking the yogurt and also easily cleanable. You never know what kind of coupons or merchandise they may send you. In a world where people are so quick to complain, companies LOVE to hear the compliments!
- March 19, 2010 at 10:50 AM
Ummmm OMGosh I would've been so sick cleaning that out, you are a stronger woman than I!!!!! Of course they can't remember it until bedtime, I mean why would they tell you right when it happened LOL!! I love it when I hear "OH NO, I forgot my homework at school, but it wasn't my fault!" Yea okay!!!! LOL!!!!!
- March 19, 2010 at 11:58 AM
- Sara said...
Yuck! Someone at work had some pudding in his truck that must have heated up too much. It exploded in there and he didn't know it for like a week. Then when he found it and tried to clean it up at work one day, he managed to get himself covered in the sticky STINKY mess!
- March 19, 2010 at 12:25 PM
- Sam said...
ROFL! My best friend and I have a saying: "the yogurt always wins." Why? Because it does. A normal child CANNOT eat it without coating large amounts of their body, your kitchen table and surrounding items in yogurt. And it multiplies. You might think it's only a small cup, but once the lid is off, it morphs into a freaking GALLON of strawberry flavored staining dairy! Good luck! :)
- March 19, 2010 at 1:06 PM
- Veggiemomof2 said...
Try checking half.com for a used textbook. That's where I got mine college ones, so you never know! Good Luck!
- March 19, 2010 at 1:23 PM
This reminds me of those times when something spills or breaks (bottle of lotion in the suitcase that you took for vacation), and that feeling like: "Oh, c**p!!!" (repeat 10 times). And then you start laughing...because you knew somehow, deep inside, that that was bound to happen...it happens to the best of us, Dawn!
- March 19, 2010 at 2:43 PM
Good to know that I'm not alone in yogurt lined backpacks! That's why I buy WASHABLE backpacks! Love my washer!
- March 19, 2010 at 4:24 PM
Which kid was it?
- March 19, 2010 at 6:17 PM
- Missi said...
I had to buy a library book for my son that had red Koolaid spilled on while in his lunchbox in the the backpack. You couldn't even buy another book from Barnes & Noble because it had to be library bound or something like that. So we were out $18 for a book I could've bought for $3 online. So now he has a lunchbox w/ solid sides & doesn't fit into his backpack.
- March 19, 2010 at 6:37 PM
- Dawn said...
My daughter put a pop can into her backpack, not realizing her friend had already opened it....
Her relatively new TI-83 calculator was also in there...yep, fried the thing when she turned it on to see if it still worked. Grrr.
I go by the theory that if an electronic devise gets wet, DON'T turn it on until it has dried out! Might still be salvagable! But most people's first response is to immediately check it for damage...
Dawn in MI
- March 19, 2010 at 6:47 PM
- utmomof 5 said...
I am so glad to read another mom has cleaned yogurt out of a backpack. Makes me feel a little better about the mental capacity of my kids :) Good luck with the smell.
- March 19, 2010 at 8:15 PM
- Val said...
Get the ISBN number off of the book and check Amazon to see if you can get a replacement.
- March 19, 2010 at 8:17 PM
- Donna said...
I am betting it was Jackson. LOL
Glad tho that you could clean that bag. Maybe try putting items like that in a extra baggy...or use those plastic bags we get at grocery store ect.
Probably won't work tho as they get in a hurry and just toss things in their bookbags.
- March 19, 2010 at 8:19 PM
- Michelle said...
Hmmm, I'm feeling much better about Mister Man's refusal to take anything even remotely messy to lunch in his backpack. Whee!
- March 19, 2010 at 9:43 PM
Hey Dawn! For your Sunday soundout-
What time do your kiddos go to bed on school nights? Do you make them stick to the same bedtime on weekends too? How about once school is out?
- March 21, 2010 at 3:02 PM
- Pammie said...
I am a big grouch at bedtime. My kids and hubby know not to spring anything on me unless they have no other choice. That mess would have had me chewing on the cud.
- March 21, 2010 at 5:09 PM
Can't wait until my daughter goes to school. I'm sure we'll have many episodes like this. I'll remember Lands End for the backpack!
Not related to this post, but how are the frogs Clay got for Christmas? My daughter got some too, and occasionally we think one has "kicked the bucket" then it moves.
Jill in Indiana
- March 21, 2010 at 5:32 PM
- MaBunny said...
yuck, sure it smelled nice too:)
- March 22, 2010 at 9:56 AM


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Nearly 11 years into the American-led war, local strongmen often still have more influence than government institutions in Afghanistan, undermining US and NATO efforts to establish a strong democratic culture here.
Rather than seek the help of their local parliamentarian or governor, many Afghans turn instead to individual figures acting alone and outside the framework of the law. In Afghanistan's south, this paradigm has traditionally created problems. There, provincial police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq has managed to become one of the most influential figures in Kandahar Province, despite credible rumors of involvement with extrajudicial killings, torture, and drug smuggling.
For Western observers who hoped to see Afghanistan adopt a more democratic and transparent government that would move away from strongmen and their parallel governments, the rise of a figure like General Raziq is concerning. Still, many Afghans see him as necessary to bring peace in the short term and an unavoidable stepping stone to a new class of leaders who live by the law, not by the gun.
"Given the current situation and the people who are fighting against Afghanistan and our people, I think Raziq should be aggressive," says Haji Fazal Mohammad, district governor of Kandahar's Panjwayi district, a former Taliban stronghold that has seen substantial improvements over the past year.
"If the Taliban were thinking about human values, then it would not be good to be aggressive with them, but they are against all human values, and they are trying to destroy our country and our security institutions, and they are against reforms in our country,"
The need for an effective police command became clear in April of last year when a suicide bomber managed to infiltrate police headquarters in Kandahar and killed then police chief Gen. Khan Mohammad Mujahid. Raziq, who was commander of the border police in Kandahar's Spin Boldak district at the time and a close ally of the US, was brought in to replace him.
About three months later, Ahmad Wali Karzai, half-brother to the president, was gunned down by someone from his inner circle.
Enter Judge Dredd
Having overshadowed most government institutions, Mr. Karzai's death created a power vacuum that many feared could cause Kandahar to fall into a downward spiral. Some Kandaharis hoped that his death might pave the way for the government, rather than another strongman, to regain control of political life in the south.
However, locals now say that Raziq, along with top officials from the Afghan Army and Afghanistan's intelligence service, the National Directorate of Security, have stepped into fill the void outside the framework of the law.
Among Raziq's supporters, he has developed a reputation as an aggressive and responsive police chief who does not hesitate to take action against insurgents. Among his detractors, he's viewed as something closer to Sylvester Stallone's Judge Dredd; a one-man police officer, judge, jury, and executioner. Among Kandaharis, there's a popular rumor that when Raziq captures Taliban insurgents he often orders them killed rather than taking them to court, where a corrupt and inefficient judicial system might release them, only to instigate violence once more.
Unlike President Hamid Karzai's half-brother, though, Raziq's influence has remained limited to the security sector.
"Ahmad Wali was the brother of the president and all the officials of different government directorates were appointed in coordination with him. Raziq is just the head of the police and commander of the border police. He does not have the same status that Ahmad Wali had," says Mohammad Isa Khan, a former attorney general and independent analyst in Kandahar.
Outside of security, Kandahar has yet to see any strong personalities rise up to replace Ahmad Wali. The provincial governor, Tooryali Wesa, is a relatively marginal figure; and internal disagreements on the provincial council have stopped members from gaining too much influence.
Shah Wali Karzai, another brother of the president, was appointed to replace Ahmad Wali as leader of the Popalzai tribe, but he has yet to gain widespread influence and many in Kandahar say he lacks the ambition to do so.
Post-Soviet replay?
Without a strong political counterpart, this has left the largest share of power in the hands of Raziq and the security apparatus in Kandahar.
Afghans are all too aware of the dangers this power dynamic presents after their war with the Soviets when commanders who fought the Russians began using their power to build and control local fiefdoms with the same heavy-handed methods they had used during the war. This would inevitably help spark the country's civil war and made it impossible for a central government to effectively control the country.
"With Kandahar the way it is now, it is good to have the power with the security officials here," says Noor Nawaz Byawary, an independent analyst in Kandahar. But, he says, if and when Afghanistan is able to overcome its security challenges and corruption problems, the security sector and Raziq should take on a smaller role so they don't overshadow the government.


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Victory Church on the Rock Grande Prairie hosts and participates in many exciting events where God's word is the foundation, the Lord's presence is felt, and we can grow together in faith. Join us!
This past few months was spent, "ON PURPOSE," reaching out to the local community to let them know they are welcome here and that thier piece matters. This season set the groundwork for the launch of our second service taking place every saturday night at 7:00 PM and Family Life Nights every tuesday evening at 6:30 pm. This was our summer on purpose in Grande Prairie:


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In an act of holiday-sales brinkmanship, some retailers are introducing online discounts and deals as early as Wednesday evening.
Kohl's, Land's End, and Sam's Club are among the brands going out early.
In the process, they're effectively bringing the seven-year tradition of Cyber Monday to an end.
"Cyber Monday is passé," Fiona Dias tells us.
Dias, the chief strategy officer of ShopRunner, a membership program that offers Amazon Prime-like two-day delivery for a number of retailers, is the former chief marketing officer of Circuit City, so she has firsthand experience with the Cyber Monday phenomenon.
Retailers who don't jump the gun are "missing out on a bonus day of purchases," and risking losing customers who spend their holiday budgets early, Dias added.
Cyber Monday began in 2005, giving a name to the phenomenon that online retailers saw at the time: American shoppers who spent the long weekend after Thanksgiving in stores returned to work on Monday and used high-speed Internet connections at the office to keep buying.
But that scenario posited that a desktop PC with a broadband connection was the best way to shop. And the fast-moving tech world has upended those assumptions.
Even as Cyber Monday blossomed, the seeds of its downfall had been planted. Broadband penetration in homes with computers continued to soar, hitting 90 percent this year. The iPhone came in 2007, with the iPad following in 2010, providing mobile buying experiences that didn't try shoppers' patience.
And employers seem to be losing patience with the practice: 7 percent of HR managers surveyed by PayScale said last year that they'd fired an employee for shopping at work.
With most stores closed on Thanksgiving, it's easy to see the holiday given over to online shopping—likely on a tablet, while the rest of the family watches football.
Online retailers we've spoken to, like Fab and One Kings Lane, report that mobile sales now make up anywhere from 25 to 40 percent of sales.
With customers ready to shop at any time on tablets and smartphones, why make them wait for Monday?
The simple answer is tradition. Retailers have trained customers to look for online deals on the Monday after Thanksgiving, a self-reinforcing expectation. Adobe, whose software tracks website activity across 500 large retailers, predicts that Cyber Monday sales will hit $2 billion this year.
Like Black Friday, the casually observed retail phenomenon turned into an institutionalized event, Cyber Monday may well outlive its usefulness.


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Threat causes brief lockouts at 6 Ogden schools
Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to show the schools were on lock out, not on lockdown.
OGDEN — A handful of Ogden schools were on lockout Friday after a threat was reported in the area.
According to a series of tweets from the Ogden School District, police responded to a threat in the "northeast area of Ogden," which set off lockouts at Highland Junior High, Bonneville Elementary, Ben Lomond High, Horace Mann Elementary, Gramercy Elementary and Mound Fort Junior High.
The lockouts were lifted about 1:30 p.m. Friday after police resolved the threat, one tweet said.
School district spokesperson Jer Bates said the lockouts lasted around 30 minutes.
A tweet from the Ogden Police Department said police were investigating a report of a suicidal person in the area of 8th Street and Porter Avenue and locked out the six schools as a precaution.
The lockouts were lifted after "nothing substantiated" from the threat.
Bates said the lockout did not impact the scheduled release times from the schools.
Contact reporter Jacob Scholl at email@example.com t or follow him on Twitter @Jacob_Scholl.


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So many supersoldiers, so little time.
Crysis 3 puts the player in control of series veteran Laurence "Prophet" Barnes, an augmented warrior who at the start of this episode, more than 20 years after the events of Crysis 2, reports some chilling visions involving the race of aliens known as the Ceph.
Throw in a New York City choked by rainforest growth, an imposing dome overhead, some serious anti-corporate sentiment and some horrible alien life, and in the middle is you: the last hope for a withering but committed resistance force.
Prophet's new weapon, the bow, is the coolest thing going in first-person shooters right now. The hero initially baulks when his comrade, Psycho, hands him the weapon after a "messy" first combat scenario - but after a rundown of its features, Prophet admits he's "coming around". So he should - the bow has great range, almost laser-precise accuracy, adjustable draw strengths and a selection of customised arrowheads that can help you wipe out entire squads and even bring down enemy aircraft. Being something of a traditionalist, I find the standard impact arrows the most agreeable. They're handy for stealth kills (using firearms can mess with your cloaking ability) and if you use them well you can pin your enemies to walls. Plus, you can retrieve spent arrows if they land in accessible places or in bodies, which is a small mercy considering the relative scarcity of arrow caches and a limited carrying capacity.
The bow is a weapon set all on its own, but there's a handy range of firearms at your disposal as well. Toss in some nasty melee attacks, some grenades and the ability to hack enemy turrets and traps for control, and Prophet may be the best-prepared warrior in gaming. Even better, the suit's visor allows you to locate and track individual enemies - and each one's level of threat awareness - to help you plot your next move.
Thanks to some brilliant control design, it's a piece of cake to master the commands necessary to have Prophet do what he does, and advanced weapon settings can be configured without the need to pause the game. Add in the upgrade system for the nanosuit, which will augment your abilities and even set extra challenges for you along the way, and the battle system is as agile and efficient as Prophet himself.
The one aspect of Crysis 3 that was likely to be beyond dispute was the graphics. Crytek's challenge was not to avoid disappointment but to exceed expectations and this game does it in spectacular style, with jawdropping detail throughout. The Liberty Dome and the remnants of New York engulf you in an all-encompassing world that is wide open and utterly claustrophobic in one. Sure, you could strip a lot of the game's active areas back to the wireframe beneath and you'd find level design much like any other shooter on the market, but Crytek's artists really know how to apply a layer of paint.
Some passages of play are more linear than others, and Crysis 3 allows you to play in a sandbox style, and does it tantalisingly well. Once an area is cleared, don't be surprised if you want to go back and play it again to see how you could do it differently, especially once the Ceph enemies come into play. If the Cell soldiers can be picked off like scabs by patient players, these aliens attack with breakneck speed and rabid ferocity that is jarring to your rhythm.
The plot and scripting are ambitious and thought-provoking, but also predictable and hackneyed in places. It'll take more than that to scrape the gloss off of Prophet's armour though. Crysis 3 is clever, cool, and comes highly recommended.
Stars: 4/5
Platform: Xbox 360, also on PlayStation 3 and PC
Rated: R16
- TimeOut


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This greeting card features Arthur the zebra finch, framed in silhouette. Arthur is one of the much adored pets featured in the Family Portrait Series. The range is printed in vibrant 50s inspired colours.
Professionally offset printed in Sydney onto 70% recycled paper stock, this card is accompanied by a mauve C6 envelope and comes individually packaged in a clear plastic sleeve. It is blank inside for your own message. Actual card size is 150 x 107mm, C6 envelope measures 162 x 114mm.


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Regular price
Beautifully handmade, classy, regular A-line fit style that will flatter your shape. Made from a micro-nylon material infused with a .600 micron PU coating which is very lightweight and stylish. The Monsoon Regular raincoat has a silver coated water resistant backing which retains body heat and will keep you both warm and dry. With a durable zipper which runs the full length of the jacket, it is complemented with two deep pockets, a turn back collar and turn back cuffs. Both inner and outer layers of the jacket are made out the same material which makes the jacket 100% reversible, essentially you get 2 coats in one
This super lightweight Monsoon Regular raincoat is 100% water resistant with two durable layers and comes in an easy carry bag.
The rain coat shown in this picture is maroon with a reversible black inner.
Bust Measurement:
Underarm to Wrist Measurement:
Your Height: