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|Slalom Cone Skating Forum Discussions about slalom cone skating, high-jump, and other freestyle trick skating. (Note that vert, street, and park skating discussions should be posted in our aggressive skating forum.)
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|September 22nd, 2015, 07:42 AM
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 11
rockered wheels
Hey guys... hows everyone?
I just got 243mm frames for my skates. At what point should i venture into rockered wheels? Im only just starting slalom... working on snake etc..very very beginner...should you wait to do this? Or get used to it sooner rather than later? or wait til im a better skater??? Im thinking its going to be a real spin out getting used to it.
|September 22nd, 2015, 10:12 AM
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 82
asap. much more usable for slalom
if you find it a bit uncomfortable for street skating, or recreational skating, you can switch them out. but it will definitely make learning slalom easier
|September 23rd, 2015, 04:58 AM
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 11
ok..thanks..next pay day.
|September 23rd, 2015, 11:23 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Highland NY
Posts: 430
Hi, I skated through cones UN-rockered for about 15 years. Granted it was all easy tricks. I won't let my son rocker his wheels until I see his balance is where it needs to be. If you have good balance go for it. It feels just like ice skating. You may love it.
|September 24th, 2015, 04:00 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana USA
Posts: 666
I am just starting out in slalom. I am an expert skater otherwise with 50 years experience - hockey (inline), speed (inline), dance (on quads), urban in heavy traffic (inline), but never aggressive, parks, pools, etc. I can skate backwards better than frontwards. I was a defense-man in hockey on fully rockered wheels.
OK, that said, I am finding it easier to leave my wheels un-rockered doing basic starter tricks in slalom. I have tried rockering them and for me it just feels to squirrely. I think it might come down to the ankle support of my slalom skates is MUCH more confining than my hockey skates. Also hockey is an entirely different set of motions very rarely requiring skating for any length of time on one skate.
I think my approach will be to keep progressing with basic tricks un-rockered until I find this limits my ability to progress further. Then I will go back to rockered wheels to learn the harder tricks if necessary.
As one experienced slalom skater above mentioned they skated un-rockered for many years before skating on rockered wheels. I'm going with that approach.
2 Inline Skates, 1 Quad Skates, 4 Longboards, 3 Bicycles, 0 Cars
|September 24th, 2015, 05:11 AM
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 11
Thanks guys.
i ordered some wheels.. i have two weeks off work..so figure its a good time to give it a go as i have some time. I guess if i dont like it Ill take them off til later. I did ice skate as a kid..so i am curious to try..if i fall on my face or break my neck... well... ill make sure someone has the camera handy to catch my graceful moment!
Guess i wont know til i try.
Thanks for all your info. Much appreciated.
|September 25th, 2015, 10:43 AM
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 82
if you have used the curve blades on your iceskates before then it will feel familiar! the rockered setup is meant to emulate the banana shape of the hockey iceskate frames
|September 28th, 2015, 09:30 AM
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 11
So i tried it out very briefly....so far i like it and it does feel like ice skating. ( not that i was any good at ice skating!) but it does...so im interested to really try it out tomorrow.
Thanks for the info everyone
|October 13th, 2016, 03:09 AM
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 14
Experiencing Skate Rocker
Thought I'd share my experience with rockering...
Have always skated with a banana rocker, as it was how my old ROCES and K2 flights were set up for me when I bought them decades ago. Rockering does not seem as popular now, even to the point where manufacturers are bringing it back and claiming it as a modern revolution, surprisingly with people believing them.
I love playing on flat rinks and consider my focus to be somewhere between slalom and artistic.
I have recently moved and don't have access to a free skate rink surface so have been skating Urban environments more. Thought this would be a good excuse to buy another pair of skates and my first brake. Never had the need for one on a flat surface, Ha. Yes my braking ability is pitiful.
I bought a pair of XSJADO skeletons with a Seba 84mm 255m flat frame for a bit of fun(heavy but awesome I must add). Boy do they feel different. So very stiff to the point I feel unbalanced when turning as I am used to the skates following me within a micro second. The flat setup is very directional and you need quite a bit of ankle strength to transition between edges. I also noted that l I started to get some pain in my lower back, probably from trying to get the skates turning quicker. My balance point thus needs work.
I think whichever direction you go, flat to rocker/ rocker to flat,it is a valuable learning experience, and will improve your balance ability only benefitting your skating ability.
My prime skate is Powerslides HC EVO2. It is an awesome skate and its rockered frame is such that with 4x80mm and 4x76mm it can be set up to either flat or rockered by changing wheel positions. I still prefer banana rocker, but have been finding many of the slide braking techniques easier to practice safely with the flat setup. I have never had a more comfortable skate straight out of the box, which is contrary to a few other forums I have read. We all have different feet I guess.
Also remember that if you intend on playing slalom, you may intend on doing heel and toe wheeling tricks. Due to the increased force on one wheel, wheel hardness and quality will play a big part to how your rocker feels. There is not a lot of technical info about how wheels perform with specific tricks and technique. Probably mostly because the durometer rating system seems rubbish at predicting the difference between different wheels (85A is not always 85A). The secret is to play with a lot of different setups. After a while you will find which brands/hardness work for you(make sure to write it down). Try lots of different wheels. This may take time.
Typically I like my toe and heel wheels to be a couple of grades harder than wheel 2/3 in a rockered slalom setup. If you think about this a lot it starts to make sense. But I do recommend you do what you have to do.
I can't afford new wheels most of the time so make trawling Ebay for bargains part of my hobby. Sometimes you can get newish wheels and bearings with a pair of boots chucked in for free!
Happy rolling. I hope my comments help, inspire or challenge your own learnings.
PS. Am very keen to roll some snow-white artistic frames. Asymmetric wheel spacing on these rockered frames Is supposed to aide spins with weight on forefoot. Not sure about the toe stopper though...
PPS. Heel height is another overlooked specification that can be considered when comparing skates.
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The Weinstein Company is pretty proud of Quentin Tarantino's latest effort, Django Unchained. Aside from the two Golden Globe wins for Best Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) and Best Screenplay (Quentin Tarantino), and along with the five Oscar nominations the film received (including Best Picture), Django Unchained has officially become Tarantino's highest grossing film to date (domestically). Have a look at The Weinstein Company's official release after the jump.
New York, NY – January 17, 2013 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) is thrilled to announce that DJANGO UNCHAINED has just become Quentin Tarantino's highest-grossing film to date in the domestic marketplace, with a cumulative gross nearing $130 Million. The movie, starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson, was released wide on Christmas Day 2012. Tarantino's previous record was set by INGLORIOUS BASTERDS which grossed over $120.5 Million in the U.S.
Fresh off this weekend's two Golden Globe® wins for Best Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) and Best Screenplay (Quentin Tarantino), and celebrating the movie's five Oscar® nominations including Best Picture, DJANGO UNCHAINED is continuing to gather steam in the awards race, and continues to receive critical and popular acclaim. Some of the many supporters include the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, who released this statement, " [DJANGO UNCHAINED] captures the cultural, physical and psychological pain heaped upon the lives of men and women of African descent-expressing in dramatic terms the existential nightmare endured by so many for so long. By this measure, the scar of violence, exploitation and subrogation made evident—and the focus of this film—is not just a picture of random violence, but portrays America at its lowest moment as a nation. The violence that we see portrayed in this drama might well renew our focus on the 256 years of racial violence that continues to be an indelible chapter in the history that is America."
"Bob and I have had the most extraordinary filmmaker relationship with Quentin Tarantino and we are proud to be here for this incredible milestone. We also appreciate working with Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton, and the incredible Sony team on this project. They have been great partners internationally," said Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company.

subset: commoncrawl


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West Quadrant Plan Wraps Up Concept Development Phase
At its December meeting, the West Quadrant Plan SAC wrapped up the concept development phase of its work with the approval of the remaining revised West Quadrant-wide Concept Layer maps. Revisions to the original set of draft concept maps were guided by the SAC; they incorporated feedback received from the October open house and online feedback form, stakeholder and association meetings, and individuals contacting project staff directly. The concept maps do not constitute a plan for the area; rather, they will be used to lead/steer more detailed district-level work in the new year.
In January, the SAC will begin the plan development phase of its work, reviewing initial discussion drafts for Old Town/Chinatown, Goose Hollow and South Downtown/University District. The remaining four districts (the Pearl, West End, Downtown and South Waterfront) will be shared with the SAC in February, and a public open house covering all seven districts will be held at City Hall on the evening of March 10.
Developed by pulling from the overall West Quadrant Concept Layer Maps that the SAC spent the last four months refining, these initial drafts are a starting place for discussion, review and revision with the community. The drafts will be revised several times over the next six months as they move through a public process with the SAC, various district groups and associations, and the general public.
Future blog posts will review highlights from each district's set of draft goals, policies, and actions.


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Do today's MBAs need Analytical Skills? That was the question that a recent Symposium tried to answer.
On October 21, George Washington University's Institute for Integrating Statistics in Decision Sciences (I2SDS) and IBM's Analytics Solution Center held a Symposium entitled: Analytics and the 21st Century MBA. The abstract provides a good description of the thesis of the Symposium:
The 21st century belongs to those who can think and act analytically. No longer is it good enough to make business decisions, no matter what the field, based on little more than feelings or gut reactions to events. Consumer products companies, insurance companies, banks, governments, and even sports teams are turning to Analytics to improve their bottom line and assure their survivability in this age of hyper-competition and increasingly severe externalities.
This Symposium… will demonstrate how Analytics is, a critical component of 21st Business careers, whether the practitioner's primary responsibility is in a functional area (Marketing, Operations, Finance, Strategy, International Business, HR) or a vertical such as Health Care or Tourism.
The Symposium provided talks by leading users of Analytics in Marketing, Retail, Finance, and the Public Sector. More on the Symposium is at: http://business.gwu.edu/decisionsciences/i2sds/pdf/GWU%20ASCOutline.pdf
Do you agree with the thesis? Are you seeing more need for employees with analytical skills? Do you think those with these skills are having an easier time getting jobs?
I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Frank Stein, Director, Analytics Solution Center


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Here at Steel City Auto Sales we believe in being as easy, honest , and convenient as possible. We think that buying a new vehicle should be a fun and transparent experience that makes Both parties happy!
Give us a call at 610-419-1000 and ask for Jose,Chris or Fred. We promise it will be a good experience!
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Our experienced sales staff is eager to share its knowledge and enthusiasm with you. We encourage you to browse our online inventory, schedule a test drive and investigate financing options. You can also request more information about a vehicle using our online form or by calling (610) 419-1000.
If you don't see a particular vehicle, fill out our vehicle finder service form. We will gladly inform you when a matching car arrives. If you'd like to see a vehicle in person, contact us online or give us a call. We look forward to serving you!
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Many of you might have read about Microsoft's latest mobile OS, Windows Phone 7. From mostly positive vibes, to some little grouses with its interfaces, it has all been said and done.
However, when Windows Phone 7 was given the official global announcement and had its devices ready on the retail shelf, it was still in its teething stages. Apps are still populating the Windows Marketplace, and there's much more to explore. From October 21st, various Windows Phone 7 devices became available on retail shelves, and with it, the floodgates finally opened.
In commemoration of the 7, we bring you seven days worth of highlights in this article chronicling our Windows Phone 7 impressions.
What is extremely striking about the Windows Phone 7 is that it has a pretty easy and straight forward homepage, and its simplicity is clearly discernible from the get-go. Sure it is less decorative than its competitors, but instead of focusing on the attractive elements, it concentrates on providing a streamlined design that gives users a birdeye's view. You simply scroll either up or down to get a quick glimpse of what's available (or what needs attention), and it's extremely easy to pin apps or your important contacts - simply long press them to add and if need be, long press the tiles to move them around - onto your home page. While you can put as many tiles as you like, the list gets longer as you start pinning more shortcuts and tiles; you'll definitely find yourself scrolling quite a bit. As much as we like the simplicity of the UI, Microsoft should work around something more effective like spreading these hubs and tiles across individual pages to make the browsing experience even snappier and useful.
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Trade in your old phone and walk away with a new iPhone for even less.


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Our company, Shakti Enterprises is a professionally managed organisation, engaged in the production and supply of a variegated range of Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems. We supply our range to several sectors like railways, mines, textiles, steel plants, ships, paper, power plant, generators and automobile industries. The complete range of products is designed and precisely manufactured based on the modern technology. In addition, we offer our array of products in both standard as well as customised fashion to suit the specific needs of our clients in a timely manner.
Leveraging on our vast expertise and industry experience, we are able to extend to our clients with an impeccable range of Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems. Our products are well received for their sturdy construction and efficient functions. In our endeavour to meet the manufacturing target, we have established a highly modern manufacturing infrastructure that encompasses technologically superior machinery & equipments. We hold the support of a sound team of professionals who has to their credit a vast expertise and experience in this industry domain. All these aspects have enabled us to enhance our standard of functioning as per global standards. Furthermore, our technical professionals are prompt in offering the after sales support to our customers in a professional manner and this has helped us to a great extent in offering optimum satisfaction to our wide client base. We focus all our efforts to upgrade our manufacturing process at par with global standards and the shifting market trends.
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About the ISBN Standard
"ISBN" stands for "International Standard Book Number". An ISBN is a number, not a bar code. One agency per country is designated to assign ISBNs for the publishers and self-publishers located in that country. The U.S. ISBN Agency cannot assign ISBNs to publishers and self-publishers located outside the United States and its territories.
The ISBN identifies the title or other book-like product (such as an audiobook) to which it is assigned, but also the publisher to be contacted for ordering purposes. If an ISBN is obtained from a company other than the official ISBN Agency, that ISBN will not identify the publisher of the title accurately. This can have implications for doing business in the publishing industry supply chain.
ISBNs are assigned to publishers and self-publishers as follows: 1, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 or 100,000 numbers.
When participating in the ISBN standard, publishers and self-publishers are required to report all information about titles to which they have assigned ISBNs. For more than thirty years, ISBNs were 10 digits long. On January 1, 2007 the ISBN system switched to a 13-digit format. Now all ISBNs are 13-digits long. If you were assigned 10-digit ISBNs, you can convert them to the 13-digit format at the converter found at this website. A 10-digit ISBN cannot be converted to 13-digits merely by placing three digits in front of the 10-digit number. There is an algorithm that frequently results in a change of the last digit of the ISBN.
Note about 979 ISBNs:
ISBNs beginning 979 will not be issued in the United States for at least several years until current inventories of ISBNs are depleted. When they are assigned, they will not replace those beginning with 978.
- ISBNs beginning 978 and 979 will coexist in the book industry for a number of years.
- 978 ISBNs cannot be converted to 979 ISBNs.
- 979 ISBNs are not convertible to a 10-digit format and exist only in a 13-digit format.


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Automating Network Devices throughout Your Home
Advances in home automation technology, including lower hardware costs and new home networking protocols, are making home today seem like they're from the future. Home automation refers to the control of devices in the home such as light switches, heating and AC controls, and appliances; as well as the automation of those devices — according to a schedule or in response to the situation.
For example, you could program a system to turn lights on at a certain time of day, or to do so when a motion sensor detects someone entering a room or even when you've finished watching a movie and turned the TV off.
Types of home network automation devices
Examples of home automation technologies and their possible uses include:
Refrigerators: Using RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to identify the contents of your refrigerator, you can use your smartphone to build your shopping list while you're at the grocery store, surf the Internet for recipe ideas based on what you have in the fridge, manage your perishables and leftovers to better reduce spoilage, leave a note for your family on the refrigerator door's LCD screen, or stream a saved episode of Emeril Live to your refrigerator door so you can listen while you cook.
Ovens, bread makers, and coffee makers: Automatically program and synchronize all of your clocks and schedules, download new recipes from the Internet, and get text or e-mail notifications when your Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas bread, or a fresh pot of coffee is ready!
Washing machines and dryers: Download new wash-cycle programs from the Internet, check the status of your laundry online, and automatically notify the manufacturer or a repairman when a malfunction occurs.
Heating and cooling thermostat: Remotely program your thermostat while you're away — in case you forgot to do it before leaving on an extended business trip or vacation.
Lighting and blinds: Turn the lights on or off so you never have to come home to a dark house and open/close your blinds to scare off potential burglars or help you reduce your energy bills.
Security cameras: Monitor your front door or a nursery with wireless security cameras.
How to shop for home network automation devices
When shopping for network-capable home appliances, look for standard networking technologies and protocols, such as 802.11 wireless, Bluetooth, UPnP (Universal Plug and Play), and Ethernet or Powerline adapters.
For most folks, the first step into smart home (home automation) technologies is to create a wireless control network that controls simple devices such as lights or blinds. There are two main wireless protocols for this type of home control, both of which are relatively widely supported by vendors:
Both of these technologies are wireless, but they're different from (and don't interfere with) more familiar wireless technologies in the home like 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Both ZigBee and Z-Wave are low-power, relatively short-range wireless systems that use something called mesh networking to extend their reach throughout the home.
Mesh networking is essentially the lily pad approach to networking, where a signal hops across multiple ZigBee or Z-Wave devices to get from point A to point B. This means that the more devices you have in your home, the better coverage you'll have throughout the house, as there are more nodes in your mesh network to help transmit control signals.
There are a lot of vendors of ZigBee or Z-Wave systems on the market, ranging from fancy whole-home automation vendors like Control4 to companies that make electrical equipment like Leviton to home theater vendors like Monster Cable, which makes a popular universal programmable remote (the Home Theater and Lighting Controller) that incorporates Z-Wave for lighting control.
A great way to get started with wireless home control is with a kit like Schlage's (yep, the door lock company!) Nexia Home Automation starter kits. These kits start with remotely controllable door latch/lock devices, but the kits can be easily expanded to include controllers for lights, drapes, thermostats, and other devices. Be careful — once you start automating your home, you'll never want to stop!


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Developing in Windows Azure is at once not that much different from what you're familiar with in on-premises systems, and different in significant ways. Because of these differences, developers often ask about the specific process to develop and deploy a Windows Azure application - more formally called an Application Lifecycle Management, or ALM.
There are specific resources you can use to learn more about various parts of ALM - I've referenced those at the end of this post. But ALM has multiple definitions, from the governance of code injection, domain upgrade, testing, process flow and more. Many developers are interested in the finer-grained information, like how do I develop and deploy an application? What tools do I need, and how do I get the code running somewhere that I can test?
I'll cover the very high-level process here, and refer you to specifics at the end of each section, so that you can take it all in at one viewing, and then bookmark for more detail when you need more information. I won't be covering processes like Continuous Integration or Agile and other methodologies in this post - I'll blog those later.
Initial Development
You start with writing code. You have three ways to do this. You can use Visual Studio (even the Express Edition Works), Eclipse, or by leveraging the REST API format. You can do this in a standalone (non-connected) environment like your laptop.
Using Visual Studio is one of the simplest methods to create an Azure application, allowing you to combine the Azure components you want to leverage (Storage, Compute, SQL Azure, the Service Bus, etc.) along with the on-premises code you have now or are creating. Once you've installed and patched Visual Studio, just download and install the Windows Azure Software Development Kit (SDK) and you'll have not only all the API's you need to talk to Azure, but a fully functioning local environment to run and test your code before you deploy it. You'll also get a robust set of samples. You can download what you need for all of that (free) here: http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/develop/downloads/ . There's a step-by-step process here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ee336122.aspx
You can also use Eclipse to develop for Windows Azure. You won't get the full runtime environment in just that kit alone, but you can use this successfully on a Linux system. I have several folks using this method. The downloads and documentation for that is here: http://www.windowsazure4e.org/
You can use REST API's to hit Azure Assets and control them. Not my preferred method, but possible. There are REST API's for various sections of Azure. You can find the main reference for that here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/ff800682.aspx
Note: We recently demonstrated using a Cloud-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Node.js deployment to Windows Azure. More on that here: http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2012/01/cloud9-ide-to-enable-nodejs-ap.php
Deploying to a Test Instance
After you write the code, you'll need to test it somewhere. The Azure Emulator on your development laptop is for a single user on that laptop, and it also has some subtle differences from the production fabric as you might imagine. Normally you'll set up a small subscription to run and test the application, just like you would have a set of test servers. Each subscription has its own management keys and certificates, so this assists in keeping the testing environment separate for billing and control.
More on that general information here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff803362.aspx
Deploying to Production
Once you have developed the code and tested it, you need to move it to a location where users can access it. In reality, there is no physical difference in the type of machines, fabric or any other component in "Production" Windows Azure accounts and the "Test" accounts, but you'll most often pick smaller systems to deploy on in testing, and you'll probably keep the URL in the plain format.
In the Production Windows Azure account, the team normally limits the access to the account for deployment to a separate set of developers. This ensures code flow and control. A DNS name is normally mapped to the longer, Microsoft-generated URL so that your users access the application or data the way you want them to.
More on setting up an account here: http://techinch.com/2010/06/14/setup-your-windows-azure-account/
Managing Code Change
With the application deployed, there are two broad tasks you need to consider. One is managing changes through the application, and the other involves management, monitoring and performance tuning for an application.
To make a code change, the standard ALM process is followed, just as above. You can use command-line tools to automate the process as you would with an on-premises system. A vide on that shows you how: http://www.microsoftpdc.com/2009/SVC25. Normally this is used with an "In-Place" upgrade into Production Account, since your testing is completed in a separate account. More on that process here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/ee517255.aspx
One difference is the "VIP Swap" process you can use for the final push to Production. In essence, this allows you to have two copies of the application running on the Production account, with a quick way to cut over and back when you're ready. The process for that is detailed here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/ee517253.aspx
For monitoring, you have several options. You should enable the Windows Azure Diagnostics in your code - more on that here: http://archive.msdn.microsoft.com/WADiagnostics.
You can observe uptime and other information on the Windows Azure Service Dashboard, where you can also consume the uptime as an RSS feed: http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/support/service-dashboard/
From there, you can also use System Center to monitor not only Windows Azure deployments but internal applications as well. The Management Pack and documentation for that is here: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=11324.
There are also 3rd-party tools to manage Windows Azure. More on that here: http://www.bing.com/search?q=monitor+Windows+Azure&form=OSDSRC
Other References:
There is a lot more detail in this official reference: https://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/develop/net/fundamentals/deploying-applications/
Bryan Group explains the ramifications of the Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL) with lots of collateral you can review: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/bryang/archive/2011/04/26/applying-the-sdl-to-windows-azure.aspx


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People who have fulminant hepatitis typically develop the symptoms
seen in viral hepatitis. Then rapidly—within hours, days, or sometimes
weeks—they develop severe, often life-threatening liver failure.
Symptoms of severe liver failure include confusion, extreme
irritability, altered consciousness (usually leading to unconsciousness or
coma), blood-clotting defects, and buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity,
arms, and legs.
CitationsBell BP, et al. (2004). Hepatitis A virus. In RD
Feigin et al., eds., Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 5th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2069–2086. Philadelphia: Saunders.
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Fill out this form for Park Concerns you have noticed, maintenance issues, clean up etc. Please keep in mind the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services does not maintain Santa Clara County Parks.
Once you submit the concern, it will be sent to our Parks Division. You may receive a response from a representative if available. However, due to high volume, this may not always be possible. All concerns will be entered into a work order and handled according to severity.
This field is not part of the form submission.
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10 Midseason TV Shows Worth Watching
(NEW YORK) -- For now, it's holiday specials galore, punctuated by re-runs and more stuff you've probably already seen (Christmas with the Kranks? No, thanks.)
Look forward to January and February, when a slew of new series will make their mid-season premieres, or, in some cases, continue after a lengthy hiatus.
Here are some shows to catch up on over the holidays and DVR in the new year.
For a fun, guilty pleasure.
Revenge and Pretty Little Liars. No new drama on broadcast TV has corralled as much of a fan following as Revenge, ABC's show about an innocent-looking schemer trying to avenge her father's tarnished name and death by wiping out just about everyone in the Hamptons. Critics are loving it too -- Madeline Stowe, who plays the nemesis of a bitter Emily Thorne, scored a Golden Globe nomination. They get back to plotting on Jan. 4.
Over on ABC Family, Pretty Little Liars begins the second half of season two on Jan. 2. Part Gossip Girl, part Beverly Hills, 90210, the series about a group of genetically blessed high school girls and the mysterious text messages they receive draws you in but doesn't take itself too seriously. It's frothy fun for the whole family.
For all-out laughs.
30 Rock and Eastbound and Down. After a longer-than-usual break (owing to star, creator and executive producer Tina Fey's new baby), 30 Rock comes back to TV on Jan. 12. The sixth season of the NBC cult favorite features a new boyfriend (James Mardsen) for the unlucky-in-love Liz Lemon and per usual, a roster of A-list guest stars, including Kelsey Grammer and Denise Richards.
Eastbound and Down, the hilariously dark series about a washed-up MLB pitcher and his questionable cast of characters, returns to HBO for its third (and final) season on Feb. 19. Season two saw Danny McBride's Kenny Powers hustling up cockfights for money in Mexico. Expect similar ridiculousness with the upcoming batch of episodes.
For critically acclaimed fare.
Downton Abbey and Justified. The Emmy-winning period drama Downton Abbey is back for its sophomore season. The show takes place in England around the time of the first World War, where matters of the heart, threat of financial ruin and Jane Austen-esque family entanglements dominate. If you like your wit dry and served with a British accent, this one's for you. Season two starts Jan. 8 on PBS.
FX's Justified also scored an Emmy (best supporting actress, Margo Martindale). The updated take on a cops-and-robbers western with Timothy Olyphant as a stone-faced, Southern-bred, sometimes above-the-law enforcer earned a heap of praise last season. The gang comes back for Justified's third installment on Jan. 17.
For a foodie fix.
The Layover and Bizarre Foods America. Gawk at awesome food while actually (gasp) learning something. In the case of Anthony Bourdain's Layover, you'll find answers to questions like, "Where should I grab lunch when I find myself in Miami for three hours?" Each show finds the No Reservations host in a new city for a day or so, and he always manages to have an enviable time while eating some drollworthy local grub. (We cheated a little here -- you can actually see new episodes through the holidays and into the new year, a welcome break from the yule log you're probably watching right now.)
Andrew Zimmern's leaving the exotic insects alone for the latest season of Bizarre Foods and hitting the road in the good old US of A to uncover little known eccentricities of the American diet. We may not eat crickets but we're pretty interesting in our own right. Series premieres Jan. 23.
For a dose of reality TV drama.
"The Bachelor" and "The Jersey Shore." When you want to revel in someone else's drama instead of your own (and who doesn't after the holidays?) tune into these reality TV staples. The 16th season of "The Bachelor" premieres Jan. 2 on ABC. Expect hopeful eyes, glittery dresses, tearful rose ceremonies and maybe, possibly, love.
Love's not likely to be found on MTV's "Jersey Shore," which starts its fifth season on Jan. 5. But glass-throwing, high-pitched shrieking, and GTL-ing? Check, check and check.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio


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Bellator 187 Fight Forecast
Fight Forecast is a recurring series at StrikeScoreMMA.com that provides a stats based preview of upcoming events. Since striking stats are not available outside the UFC, we need to get a bit creative. The following uses Fight Matrix rankings, peak rank, Tapology user votes, betting odds and Rankings Momentum.
In this case, the period used for Rankings Momentum was 1/1/2016 to 10/1/2017. Fighters must have been ranked in at least four quarters during the period to be included. Tapology scores are as of Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Betting odds are from 5Dimes as of Nov. 11 at 11:30 a.m. ET.


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Judge the Cover. Buy the Book.
by Ed Masessa
Senior Manager, Product Development, Scholastic Book Fairs
Member, ReadKiddoRead Board
Over the years, the idiom "Don't judge a book by its cover" has been used more as a metaphor than a literal translation. The outward appearance of something or someone does not necessarily convey the beauty of what lies beneath – be it words in a book, or the heart, soul, and personality of a person.
There was a time when we operated at a slower pace, and books had a fighting chance! In the 50s and 60s, we had twelve stations on TV to choose from, and for the most part, they were tailored to adults. It was a very big deal when PBS appeared in 1970. Then, suddenly, we entered the age of cable TV. Television occupied more of our time – and our kids' time — because there was so much variety from which to choose. Add a few components like VCRs and game consoles, and more free time was sucked into the vacuum. When all those things became mobile… fuggedaboutit.
Now a book's competition is formidable and intimidating. Reading a book takes more time and may seem much less glamorous than the flashy alternatives. Yet without reading we have no future. I don't have to cite the myriad of studies from the multitude of institutes that point to the deterioration of our children's ability to read and comprehend. And I won't go into the political and social complexities that stymie the educational system.
Instead, I will focus on one of the few weapons a book has at its disposal to capture the attention of a prospective reader: the COVER!
Just as everyone has an opinion on what constitutes art, many of the decision makers in the publishing field have differing opinions on what makes a good cover. The in-house experts in marketing, sales, and publicity, as well as editorial staffs all weigh in on the vision that art departments have created. In my day job at Scholastic Book Fairs, I select many of the books that will be part of your child's school book fair. These once- or twice-a-year events showcase between 600-1200 titles in shiny metal cases that roll into schools like portable book stores. For many children, especially with the decline of brick-and-mortar stores, this might be the only exposure they have to seeing the vast variety that the children's publishing world has to offer. And, while I firmly believe that what my company does plays a significant role in fostering good reading habits, this is not an advertisement.
Anyone who thinks that the act of bringing books into schools creates a captive audience is sorely mistaken. We can bring books to children, but we can't make them read. The first challenge is getting their attention. Every one of the titles on a book fair is displayed with the full cover facing the child, who then has a short period of time to scan the entire selection before having to make a choice. Many of them will zero in on what they are familiar with – long-standing series, and media-related properties. But there are hundreds of other books that they are just seeing for the first time – books that are begging to be read. We have to get them to notice. This is why covers are so blasted important!
What constitutes a good cover might change week to week, month to month, decade to decade. There was a time when publishers would start with a very stylized cover for the jacketed hardcover edition, and later give the book something with more mass appeal for the paperback edition. While we still might be able to get away with this practice in certain genres, the tide has shifted. Greater attention is being given to grabbing a child's attention right out of the gate. The advent of ebooks will continue to drive this strategy.
Children might not know who Carl Hiaasen is, but show them the cover of Hoot and they really won't care. What child can resist a book with such a simple design that still sets a hook into their imagination? The initial cover of The Wanderer by Sharon Creech was drop-dead gorgeous and certainly got my attention as well as that of thousands of librarians. But the paperback design appealed directly to a child's instincts and emphasized the level of drama contained in the story. Who can resist the comical Doberman on the cover of Gordon Korman's Swindle series? Or the creepy-kooky covers on David Lubar's Weenies books that have made them our best-selling books of short stories of all time. And the iconic genius of covers like Matched by Ally Condie, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Cinder by Marissa Meyer.
Inevitably, a good book will find its audience. But we have to get a child to pick it up. Is there a magic formula for covers? No. Do some color combinations work better than others? Yes. Will a dog on a cover attract attention? You betcha. Will a title that a child can barely pronounce influence their choice? Undoubtedly. Am I upset when a book that has a dynamite cover fails to live up to its sales potential? You can usually find me crying at my desk.
Over time, we can identify trends — what's working and what isn't. But by the time we figure out why, the market has shifted. Still we owe it to the authors to give their babies a fighting chance, and we owe it to the kids to make them interested enough to want to read those marvelous books.
We can't afford NOT to judge a book by its cover. Our children need to read more, and we need to figure out how to make that happen. Our first line of offense is to make them pick a book up. Because until they have it in their hands, they are not going to open it.
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Ricky Rude - She Wants My Dick (New Studio Mix) [Artist Submitted]
RY reports "The new hottest single of the summer from ya boy RICKY RUDE "She Wants My Dick" (New Studio Mix) Video presented in High Definition Dir. DIY RYAN For more info & more videos goto www.DIYRYAN.com & myspace.com/rickyrudethewhitedude"
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Gov Doc Kids
Visiting Librarian Service
Back to GODORT Projects
Government Information for Librarians,Teachers, Parents, & Children Sponsored by the GODORT Education Committee
Gov Doc Kids Group is a national group of government information librarians, primarily from the Johnson County Library and the Eisenhower Presidential Library (KS). Members are also based at Muskingum University in Ohio. The Group is co-sponsored by the State Library of Kansas, Kansas Library Association Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT) ,the State Library of Ohio and the Government Documents Roundtable of Ohio.
Our goal is to promote government information for kids in grades K-12.
Please join us here to share best practices in spreading the word about educational aspects of online government information. You may also reach us and use our resources at http://govdocs4children.pbworks.com/FrontPage and http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/Gov_Doc_Kids . A press kit is also available at http://community.fdlp.gov/files/doc_download/48-gov-doc-kids-group-press-kit.html . A video commercial highlighting our Constitution Day Poster Contest is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It6ktjFSivM .
- Constitution Day Contest Details and Resources - NEWS FLASH! 2010 Constitution Day Poster Contest entry form now available!
- Constitution Day Archives
- Kids and Government Websites: Together @ Your Library
- E-Government Resources - Design your own E-Government program!
- Primer on GDP and the National Income Product Accounts
- Free Government Information - Professional Development Resource for Librarians and Teachers
- U.S. Congressional Bibliographies - committees and hearings - 1985 to present
- US Experiment Station Publications - US Department of Agriculture
- Government Documents Resources Online - subject search source for government information - sponsored by Hamline University
- Presidential and Executive Branch Resources - St. Mary's University - San Antonio, Texas
- Citing Government Information Sources - University of Nevada Reno
- Kids.gov The Official Kids Portal for the U.S. Government
- Government Information Clearinghouse and Handout Exchange Sponsored by ALA GODORT
- Gateway sites
- United Nations Cyberschoolbus
- Congress for Kids
- Congress in the Classroom Online
- Dirksen Special Projects
- DOE Information Bridge
- USDA Kids Resources
- ScienceLab DOE
- GovTrack
- Free Ed Gov
- OpenCongress.org
- GovDocs 2.0 Wiki
- Ag in the Classroom
- Federal Reserve Educational Resources
- PTO Kids Page
- FDIC Money Smart
- Women of the Oklahoma Legislature
- USGS for Kids
- DTV Transition Resources
- Census in Schools
- NCES Kids Zone
- US Electoral College
- National Constitution Center
- Center for Civic Education
- Free ed.gov
- United States Senate
- United States House
- International Labour Organization
- Congress for Kids Constitution Resources
- Library of Congress
- Smithsonian Collections
- DATA.gov
- RITA_Dept_of_Transportation
- Science_Accelerator_DOE
- State Library of Ohio
- State Library of Kansas
- Defense Commissary Agency
- My Money for Kids
- USDOJ Juvenile Justice
- Texas Workforce Youth Links
- 100 milestone documents
- World Trade Organization
- US Department of State
- Ohio Center for Law-related Education
- OnGuard Online
- USDA Invasive Species
Contact GovDoc Kids Group Members and Sponsors
Although the group is made up primarily of government documents librarians, a youth service librarian, and an archivist, individuals in other areas of expertise are welcome to join. Persons interested in participating in or creating new activities falling within the mission are welcome to join. Please contact one of the members if you would like to be an active member:
- Tom Adamich firstname.lastname@example.com ; firstname.lastname@example.com - Muskingum University/Visiting Librarian Service
- Mary Burtzloff firstname.lastname@example.com
- Martha Childers email@example.com
- Arlene Wiler email@example.com
- Cindy Roupe email@example.com
- Wichita State University
- State Library of Kansas
- State Library of Ohio
- Constitutionfacts.com
- Mannington Mills
- Defense Commissary Agency [government partner]
Back to GODORT Projects


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There are no products listed under this category.
Includes suggested activities and questions on every page so you don't have to create from scratch
Offers activities for before, during, and after reading.
Questions and activities build comprehension and higher-order thinking skills.
"I developed this series as a result of observing the pressures and time limitations in today's classrooms. Key Links provides teachers with explicit guidance on every page, in every book, which ensures that all the necessary literacy skills are covered at the appropriate stage."
Based in New Zealand, Jill Eggleton is an international educational consultant in literacy with a wide variety of teaching experiences spanning 30 years. She has trained teachers and implemented internationally-recognized literacy programs with educators and administrators in Canada, USA, Australia, and New Zealand.
Watch Jill Eggleton explain how to use Key Links resources. Learn the philosophy behind each series and practical applications for your classroom.
Explore shared, guided, independent, and small-group independent reading within the Key Links series.DOWNLOAD SERIES OVERVIEW
Use poetry to reinforce the rhythm of language and create a powerful vehicle for oral literacy development.
Each grade-level poetry card set includes:
Exciting, Read-Aloud 11.75" x 15.25" Shared Readers are fun for the whole class! Patterned, rhythmical, rhyming text helps students learn and practise listening and speaking skills, and develop a rich oral vocabulary.
The fiction selections feature vibrant illustrations and recurring characters to engage all readers. Documentary-style nonfiction selections feature outstanding photography and include graphic organizers, maps, visual summaries, and more!
Grades 2–3
Bridge the gap between guided and independent reading. Students work together to practise and apply comprehension strategies and oral language skills to gain reading independence.
114 levelled Little Books: 36 nonfiction, 12 fiction
Please contact your Nelson representative to learn more.
There are no products listed under this category.


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Helping Corporations, Employers, & Entrepreneurs
At Toppins Law Firm, P.C., our Houston-based attorneys are dedicated to providing knowledgeable legal counsel for corporations and employers throughout Texas. We work with small and large business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs to help protect their best interests in a number of complex legal matters.
To learn more, contact our Houston corporate business lawyers today.
We Are Not Afraid to Take Your Case to Court
When you are facing a complicated business law matter in Texas, it is important that you turn to a firm that you can trust. Since 2003, Toppins Law Firm, P.C. has been the preferred choice for clients with both domestic and international business interests. We are dedicated to providing a high standard of professional legal counsel to find solutions for complex problems, both in and out of the courtroom. Our Houston business lawyers are your company's partners for success.
Schedule your initial consultation in English or Spanish.
About Toppins Law, P.C.
Our team of dedicated Houston business lawyers always strives to provide the highest quality legal assistance for employers and companies of all sizes. We handle legal matters in all industries and can assist both domestic and international clients. Founded by Attorney Wilka Toppins, Esq., who has 14 years of experience practicing corporate business law for companies such as Exxon and SBC Communications, our firm applies this background to investors, entrepreneurs, and owners of private companies, who merit the same level of representation as their larger counterparts.
Toppins Law, P.C. is a bilingual firm, and our professional staff are fully diverse. This helps our attorneys always treat our clients with the cultural respect that they deserve. We are also able to approach cases from a diverse perspective, and we look at your matter from all angles to find the best solution to your problem. We are flexible, understanding, knowledgeable, and able to deliver a high-standard of service without the high legal fees that other firms require.
Why Choose Toppins Law Firm, P.C.
Multilingual Representation for Spanish Speakers
Solely Focused on Corporate & Business Advocacy
Top 25 Lawyers in Houston by H Texas Magazine
100% Success Rate for Visa Filings & Approvals
All Cases Handled with Utmost Discretion
Over 40 Years of Combined Legal Experience
Choosing the right company for your service is easy when you turn to us. To schedule an appointment, complete the form below with your name, and contact information. We look forward to working with you!


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Female songbirds sing! Yet their songs are under-represented in recording collections. Help make their voices heard by recording female songs in your own backyard or on your next recording trip. Your recordings will make a valuable contribution and help researchers understand how complex song evolved in female and male songbirds.
Record female bird songs
What is xeno-canto?
xeno-canto is a website dedicated to sharing bird sounds from all over the world. Whether you are a research scientist, a birder, or simply curious about a sound that you heard out your kitchen window, we invite you to listen, download, and explore the bird sound recordings in the collection.
But xeno-canto is more than just a collection of recordings. It is also a collaborative project. We invite you to share your own bird recordings, help identify mystery recordings, or share your expertise in the forums. Welcome!
Latest News
Paulina Meller adds a nice set of mysteries from Angola, a really underrepresented country in XC. Help out if you can!
Dante Buzzetti's last two sets were from Murici in Alagoas, Brazil in 2002. More to come from that expedition he says. Exciting stuff and important documents.
Lots of recordings coming in these days. Gabriel Jamie is adding a really nice set from north-western Zambia. Always nice to see some blanks in Africa being filled in. & Richard Webster has been busy for weeks now uploading a meticulously annotated set, representing many sound types per species, as is his custom, from Mexico. Thanks for sharing everyone!!
nice, some more Zambia additions by Kyle Finn today, while Tony Archer continues to add to his nice collection of recordings from South Africa. Thanks guys!
Thank you for providing such a great platform for us to share our recordings on!
you're welcome Gabriel, spread the word!
3 replies :: Your reply
Marc Anderson, Barry Edmonston and Ken Behrens have added quite a few recordings from Papua in the last few weeks. The region is stacked with poorly known and spectacular sounding birds. Thanks for sharing!
Peter Ericsson and Phil Gregory recently have also contributed with a great set of recordings of several rare species from this unique island..
1 replies :: Your reply
Latest Additions
- XC507099: European Robin by Ireneusz Oleksik from Poland
- XC507098: Red Crossbill by Uku Paal from Estonia
- XC507097: Red Crossbill by Uku Paal from Estonia
- XC507096: Red Crossbill by Uku Paal from Estonia
- XC507095: Red Crossbill by Uku Paal from Estonia
- XC507094: Identity unknown by Frank Pierik from Netherlands
- XC507093: Whooper Swan by Juha Saari from Estonia
- XC507092: Coal Tit by Ireneusz Oleksik from Poland
- XC507091: Fieldfare by Baltasar Pinheiro from Sweden
- XC507090: Eurasian Bullfinch by Baltasar Pinheiro from Sweden
- More...
Great work!
Latest Mysteries
- XC507094 by Frank Pierik from Netherlands
- XC507044 by Ulf Elman from Sweden
- XC507043 by Łukasz Cudziło from Poland
- XC507000 by Frédéric Cazaban from France
- XC506995 by Bates Estabrooks from United States
- XC506949 by Audio file sent forwarded in a WhatsApp group from Italy
- XC506948 by Thomas Bergman from Sweden
- XC506939 by John Sirrett from United Kingdom
- XC506926 by Nick Gardner from Panama
- XC506905 by johannes buhl from Germany
- More...
Latest Articles
- birds in stormy weather by johannes buhl
- IOC8.2 => IOC9.1 update 14 august 2019 by Willem-Pier Vellinga
- IOC updates december 2018 by Willem-Pier Vellinga
- Identification of some Brazilian elaenias by voice by Jeremy Minns
- Mimicry of Western Bonelli Warbler by the Common Redstart in Northern Europe by Jacques Comolet-Tirman
- More...


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Keep your fruit and vegetables fresh longer with VegieFresh
Stop throwing away your hard earned money on produce that seems to spoil just days after you buy it! The New York Times estimates Americans waste an astounding 27% of the food each year to spoilage. That translates into almost $2,300 annually per family... and fruits and vegetables account for the majority of the losses.
How to keep produce fresh?
Introducing VegieFresh... a money saving solution that help you keep fruit fresh and keep vegetables fresh up to 50% longer! One bad apple spoils the bunch isn't just a cliche... it's a fact! As fruit and vegetables ripen they emit ethylene gas. This ethylene gas not only causes your fruits and vegetables to ripen faster it also accelerates the spoilage of other produce in your refrigerator.
How to keep bananas fresh?
VegieFresh protects your fruits and vegetables using a 100% natural mineral mix containing zeolites, the world's only mineral with a naturally occurring negative charge, that locks and holds positive ions, absorbing contaminants that lead to spoilage.
VegieFresh is easy to use
Just remove VegieFresh from the packaging, mark the month and day, and place in your crisper. VegieFresh keeps your produce fresh and delicious for up to 3 months.
Order VegieFresh Today
Order VegieFresh today for just $14.95 and we'll ship your order absolutely FREE! That's up to three months of fresh fruit and vegetables with VegieFresh. Stop wasting food and keep fruit fresh with VegieFresh.


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A deadly form of "bird 'flu'", the H7N9 Avian Influenza A virus, was detected in four provinces of eastern China, where it has infected 135 people, and 44 of the infected individuals have died in the course of the past five months. These incidents are of particular importance, since it is the first time that this subtype of the Avian Influenza A virus has been verifiably transmitted from infected poultry to humans. The public health risk remains low at present. No cases of poultry or human infection from this novel H7N9 subtype have yet been reported outside China. The virus is classified as "low pathogenic", which means that the infected birds appear healthy although they carry the H7N9 virus and are thus a potential threat to human health.
للإتصال بنا | شـروط وأحكـام | الرسائل التحايلية


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Brennan: Sooner or later, Incognito will be back in NFL
It is fitting that Jonathan Martin has a job in the NFL, and Richie Incognito does not.
Martin has wound up in a better place, back home in San Francisco, reunited with Jim Harbaugh, his coach at Stanford who stood by Martin during his most trying days last fall.
And Incognito is where he needs to be: reportedly in a psychiatric care center, hopefully trying to learn how to become less of a bully and more of a human being. It's a transition that by the looks of last month's Wells report might take some time.
Most of us probably can agree that Incognito should never play another down in the NFL. His behavior toward another teammate was despicable, even by the rough-hewn standards of an NFL locker room. Racial slurs, sexual taunts: he did it all. He was suspended for eight games and is no longer on the Miami Dolphins roster.
BELL:Harbaugh hopes for win-win with Martin
Q:Get all the latest news from the NFL
Logic would tell us he's damaged goods. While he was good enough to start, he wasn't exactly the second coming of Jerry Kramer. Who needs the trouble?
So he's done, right?
Not so fast.
There are 32 teams in the NFL. Injuries happen, lots of injuries. If no one signs Incognito, isn't there the likelihood that a team needing an offensive guard at some point during the 2014 season will hold its nose and take the plunge?
USA Today Sports' Jarrett Bell surveyed six NFL teams last month to see if they might be interested in signing Incognito. Five said no way. One general manager was hesitant, but then said he wouldn't rule it out, football being a business and all.
"I sure wouldn't want to, but when it's the middle of the season and half of your O-line is on IR (injured reserve), he might look very attractive," said the GM, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic. "Never say never in personnel."
I'll bet Incognito comes back. A team in need of a veteran offensive guard will sign him sometime this coming season. When it does, it'll say he's a changed man, that he learned the error of his ways in rehab. Incognito will hold a news conference. His eyes will well up. He'll declare that he learned his lesson and that he's thankful for the opportunity.
PHOTOS: NFL players on the move
The NFL has a history of giving second chances to those whose behavior has ranged from bad to loathsome. Ray Lewis was in a fight in January 2000 in which two men were stabbed to death. (That immediately puts bullying into perspective, doesn't it?) He eventually pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, but the murders remain unsolved. The next season, Lewis not only played in the NFL, he was named MVP of the Super Bowl.
Then there's Michael Vick, who pleaded guilty to felony charges in a dog fighting ring in August 2007 and served 21 months in prison, then returned to the NFL and led the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs.
Lewis and Vick were much better players than Incognito ever was or will be. Still, precedent has been set. Bad guys do make sports comebacks, especially when a team desperately needs the services they can provide.
If and when a team brings Incognito back to the NFL, it will say that it has put him on warning: one menacing text and it's over. It won't make the huge mistake the Dolphins did and let him be a leader in the locker room.
It just might work. For everyone in the outside world who finds Incognito radioactive, there are some significant people who seemed to really like the guy, and vouched for him during the sordid bullying scandal. These people were his Miami teammates. And he had accomplices, offensive linemates John Jerry and Mike Pouncey, who also bullied Martin. Pouncey is still on the team.
So isn't it reasonable to expect that the NFL, whether it should or not, will find room for Incognito? He doesn't deserve a second chance. But I think he'll get one.
Follow Christine Brennan on Twitter @cbrennansports.


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Viewing the Customer Sales Report
The Customer Sales Report provides information on customers' purchasing habits such as how much they're spending and what they're buying. You can narrow it down by product type, order type, and customer type.
With this information, you can begin to better understand your customers and their needs. Understanding their needs lets you tailor your product offerings, product prices, and marketing strategies.
By reviewing a customer's order history, you can learn which products they already use, make relevant suggestions for complementary products they might find useful, and know if they have already tried and refunded a particular product.
If you choose to contact your customers to build relationships, asking open-ended questions lets you understand their needs and perhaps help them achieve their goals. Reviewing the customer sales report gives you information to figure out a customer's average order size, which can also help you to make appropriate recommendations.
To View the Customer Sales Report
- Log in to your Reseller Control Center.
- Go to Reports, and then from the Customers menu, select Customer Sales.
- From the Show or Date menu, and then select or enter the date range you want to view.
Note: You cannot select a time period greater than one year.
- To add a filter to the report, select from one or more of the following filter options:
- Product Type
- Order Type
- Customer Type
- Click View Report.
You can view a customer's name, address, email address and phone number by clicking the hyperlink under Customer Name, or a customer's complete order history by clicking the hyperlink under Orders. All orders display the time, date and total amount of the order. You can expand each order to see more detail.


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Chic boutique property on Sukhumvit Soi 29, one of Bangkoks most coveted locations. Its prime position places it walking distance to the Phrom Phong BTS SkyTrain Station as well as the Sukhumvit MRT Subway station, the ultra-chic Emporium Shopping Center and Benjasiri Park.
Legacy Suites Bangkok consists of 108 spacious, well-appointed Studios and One-Bedroom Suites. The rooms are stylishly designed and equipped with the latest amenities that include 32 LCD TVs, DVD players, high-speed internet connection and a fully-fitted kitchenette. Facilities include the Sakinoya Japanese Restaurant, an outdoor pool, gymnasium and a full-size roof top tennis court.


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Stocks booked their second-straight week of gains on Friday after consumer sentiment beat expectations and companies from Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF) to Campbell Soup (CPB) topped earnings estimates.
The S&P 500 is close to eliminating its year-to-date losses in part due to Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen's indication earlier this week that the central bank's stimulus tapering plans will stay the course.
- The S&P 500 finished up 0.48% to 1,838.63, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.79% higher at 16,154.39. The Nasdaq gained 0.08% to 4,244.02. The S&P, Dow and Nasdaq gained 2.3%, 2.3% and 2.9%, respectively.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of U.S. consumer sentiment was unchanged in February from a month earlier at 81.2. Expectations were for a decline to 80.2.
- "The truth is that confidence has not been a reliable predictor of consumption for some years now, so this really doesn't offer much comfort. We would place more weight on the trends in job and income growth," Capital Economics senior U.S. economist Paul Dales told clients.
- January industrial production fell 0.3% after rising 0.3% in December. The result was below expectations, with manufacturing output falling 0.8%, partly due to severe weather.
- Top gainers in the S&P 500 included Cliffs Natural Resources and Campbell Soup after both beat earnings estimates. Their shares added 5.8% and 5%, respectively. Defensive play Exxon Mobil (XOM) was a top gainer in the Dow, rising 2.9% amid the cold weather, while Murphy Oil (MUR) increased 5%. Reuters reported Friday that Murphy is considering selling some of its Asian oil and gas assets in a deal that could fetch up to $3 billion.
- Import prices rose by a slightly more-than-expected 0.1% in January after an upwardly revised 0.2% in December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- The European Union's gross domestic product rose 1.1% at an annualized rate during the fourth quarter, the third-straight quarter of growth. For 2013 as a whole, GDP fell 0.4%.
- Italy's sacked prime minister Enrico Letta has submitted his resignation, with Matteo Renzi, a centre-left Democratic party leader, expected to form a new government next week.
- Jos. A. Bank Clothiers (JOSB) closed up 0.36% after its announcement that the company is acquiring Eddie Bauer for $825 million. Weight Watchers International (WTW) tumbled 27.7% after its quarterly earnings missed projections.
- Germany's DAX closed ahead by 0.68% while the FTSE finished up 0.06%. Japan's Nikkei closed down 1.53% while the Hang Seng was 0.60% higher.
-- By Jane Searle, Andrea Tse and Joe Deaux in New York


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Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
195 Little Albany Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2681
Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited, progressive muscle disorders. All forms cause progressive weakness and degeneration of the muscles that control movement. Some also affect the heart or other organs. Age of onset is between infancy to adulthood. The different forms include:
This condition is caused by defects in genes that control muscle development and function. In some cases, the genes are passed from parent to child. In other cases, the genetic mutation occurs spontaneously.
Males are at increased risk for Duchenne dystrophy and Becker dystrophy. Factors that increase your chance of developing muscular dystrophy. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:
The risk of muscular dystrophy is increased if you have a family member with muscular dystrophy.
Each type of muscular dystrophy has its own unique symptoms. For example, the muscles that are affected may differ depending upon the type.
Symptoms common to most forms of muscular dystrophy may include:
Initial symptoms:
Later symptoms:
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
Symptoms specific to Duchenne and Becker dystrophy include:
Symptoms specific to myotonic muscular dystrophy include:
Symptoms usually become worse over time. In many forms, life expectancy is shortened.
You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
Your blood may be tested for evidence of muscle damage
A muscle biopsy will identify the type of muscular dystrophy
Your muscles and nerves may be tested. This can be done with:
There is no cure for muscular dystrophy. However, treatment may help improve the symptoms.
Treatment may consist of:
Physical therapy and exercise can help prevent the muscles from permanently contracting and stiffening.
In earlier stages, wearing braces may improve your ability to move around. A back brace may slow curvature of the spine.
Medications may include:
In severe cases, surgery may be needed to release muscles that are painfully tight. If there are heart problems, a pacemaker may be needed.
Muscular dystrophy is an inherited disease. Get genetic counseling if you are concerned about having a child with muscular dystrophy, especially if you:
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Muscle Dystrophy Canada
Aartsma-Rus A, den Dunnen JT, et al. New insights in gene-derived therapy: the example of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2010;1214:199-212.
Amato AA, Griggs RC. Overview of the muscular dystrophies. Handb Clin Neurol. 2011;101:1-9.
Congenital muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at: http://www.mda.org/disease/congenital-muscular-dystrophy. Accessed May 11, 2016.
Distal muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at: http://mda.org/disease/distal-muscular-dystrophy. Accessed May 11, 2016.
Emery-dreifuss muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at: http://mda.org/disease/emery-dreifuss-muscular-dystrophy. Accessed May 11, 2016.
Escolar DM, Hache LP, et al. Randomized, blinded trial of weekend vs daily prednisone in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neurology. 2011;77(5):444-452.
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at: http://mda.org/disease/fsh-muscular-dystrophy. Accessed May 11, 2016.
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at: http://mda.org/disease/limb-girdle-muscular-dystrophy. Accessed May 11, 2016.
NINDS muscular dystrophy information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/md/md.htm. Updated March 4, 2016. Accessed May 11, 2016.
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Available at: http://mda.org/disease/oculopharyngeal-muscular-dystrophy/overview. Accessed May 11, 2016.
Last reviewed May 2018 by John C. Keel, MD Last Updated: 10/14/2013


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Why Iowa and Kentucky have humid climates
"Oh, it's hot and humid here in Kentucky," Miss K. assured me. "But this is nothing compared to Iowa! I've lived all over the U.S., and Iowa has the worst heat and humidity of anywhere! Oh my gosh, Iowa was even worse than New Orleans!"
I had never thought of Iowa as a place that rivaled New Orleans in heat and humidity, so I mentally filed her remark under "Odd things people have said to me about the Midwest". (Also in that mental file: a customer's remark that it's downright rude how people in Kansas talk so fast.)
Later, I did a little research and found the following chart on NOAA's National Climatic Data website.
I wasn't too surprised that no cities in Iowa made the list of the top ten most humid cities in the U.S! However, I'm sure that Iowa gets a full share of humidity. I don't doubt that Iowa becomes an uncomfortable place on summer days when it's very hot and very humid.
You see, Kentucky and Iowa are in the same climate zone. Both states lie entirely east of the 100th Meridian. You may remember from geography class that meridians are imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. The 100th Meridian cuts through the middle of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
East of the 100th Meridian, we Kentuckians and Iowans (and the folks in various neighboring states) share a humid-continental climate. Our part of the U.S. is kept humid and rainy by the flow of warm, moist air northward from the Gulf of Mexico. West of the 100th Meridian, the climate is much dryer, and while summer temperatures can reach high levels, the average rainfall and humidity are much lower.
New Orleans is an entirely different climatic category. It has a humid subtropical climate, due to its location near the Gulf of Mexico.
Let's compare statistics from Weather Underground for July 2010, so far:
- At Witmer Park in Des Moines, Iowa, temps have averaged 76.1°F, and humidity has averaged 78.4%.
- At the Christian County Weather Operations Center at Hopkinsville KY, temps have averaged 79.1°F and humidity has averaged 77%.
- At the Louis Armstrong Airport near New Orleans, temperatures so far have averaged 81.0°F and --wow!-- humidity has averaged 85%.
So, New Orleans wins both the high temps and the high humidity contest, so far in July 2010, for these three locations. I'm not shocked. Furthermore, it can't be denied that Des Moines has a much shorter summer than either New Orleans or Hopkinsville. I suspect that Miss K. was indulging in a bit of hyperbole or selective memory when she made that statement about Iowa's summers.


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[media-credit name="Dana Coffield" align="alignright" width="150″][/media-credit]
Aside from the comforting hum of cicadas out in the cottonwood trees, the uninvited insect communities congregating in my yard this year are have been a borderline buzz kill. Earwigs have laid waste to the zinnias and are swarming the just-emerged corn. Yellow jackets, wasps and hornets are harassing the beehive. And there is only so much progress two chickens can do to defend against rapidly advancing army of grasshoppers and slugs.
I was this-close to being swept up in cloud of bug-darkened gloom when I noticed shiny clusters of chokecherries spilling over my neighbor Craig's fence. I watched the crop for days before screwing up enough courage to knock on the door and ask if he had plans for the crop. "Chokecherries? Take all you want," he said. "I haven't eaten chokecherries since I was a kid in Michigan."
[media-credit name="Dana Coffield" align="alignleft" width="150″][/media-credit]
His blessing to pick was a gift that stirred up memories of my own as I stood in the high-noon heat plucking the perfect purple berries for jam. I thought of picking chokecherries with my grandmother up in Estes Park, replicating for her the many trips to harvest in Spearfish Canyon of South Dakota with her sisters and my mother and aunts.


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One of the most promising technologies for breaking the bandwidth bottleneck is ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, sometimes also called Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line). ADSL is one of several similar technologies generically called xDSL. Another popular variant is HDSL (High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Loop).
All of the xDSL technologies involve the installation of electronic boxes on the ends of relatively standard telephone lines, which allows for transmission speeds of as much as 1.5 Mbps for HDSL and 6 Mbps for ADSL.
ADSL is really an extension of HDSL. It is the fastest of the xDSL technologies, and it is also designed to handle packet-switched transmission technologies, such as ATM. (Sending data in self-addressed packets-via routed rather than switched circuits-is a much cheaper way to send all forms of data than via voice circuits. This is how information is transmitted over the Internet, and this method of transmission will eventually become the standard for all transmissions.)
ADSL technology ADSL uses three transmission channels: 1. A high-speed (between 1.5 Mbps and 6.1 Mbps) downlink from the carrier to the customer. 2.A full-duplex data channel at 576 Kbps. 3.A plain old telephone service (POTS) channel. A key feature of ADSL is that regular telephone service (POTS) remains functional even if the other ADSL channels drop out.
ADSL is expected to support throughput (the amount of signal, measured in megabits, put through the circuit) as high as 6 Mbps in a single direction, with a much lower throughput of about 64 Kbps in the other direction.
An ADSL circuit connects ADSL modems on both ends of a twisted-pair telephone line. These modems create the three information channels: a high-speed downstream channel, a medium-speed duplex channel, and a POTS or ISDN channel. The POTS/ISDN channel is split off from the digital modem by filters, thus guaranteeing uninterrupted POTS/ISDN, even if ADSL fails. The high-speed channel ranges from 1.5 Mbps to 6.1 Mbps, and duplex rates range from 16 to 640 Kbps. Each channel can be submultiplexed to form multiple, lower rate channels, depending on the system.
ADSL modems provide data rates consistent with North American and European digital hierarchies and can be purchased with various speed ranges and capabilities. The minimum configuration provides 1.5 or 2 Mbps downstream and a 16 Kbps duplex channel; others provide rates of 6.1 Mbps and 64 Kbps duplex. Products with downstream rates up to 8 Mbps and duplex rates up to 640 Kbps are available today. ADSL modems will carry ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) transmissions with variable rates.
Downstream data rates for ADSL depend on a number of factors, including the length of the copper line, its wire gauge, presence of bridged taps, and cross-co upled interference. Line attenuation increases with line length and frequency, and decreases as wire diameter increases. Ignoring bridged taps, ADSL will perform as follows:
- -Data- -Wire - -Distance- -Wire- -Distance - -Rate- -Gauge - -1.5 or- -24 AWG- -18,000 ft- -0.5mm- -5.5km - -2 Mbps - -1.5 or - -26 AWG- -15,000 ft- -0.4mm- -4.6mm - -2 Mbps - -6.1 Mbps- -24 AWG- -12,000 ft- -0.5mm - -3.7km - -6.1 Mbps- -26 AWG- -9000 ft- -0.4mm- -2.7km
Although distances vary from one telco (local telephone company) to another, ADSL, based upon the chart shown above, can cover up to 95% of a local loop, depending on the desired data rate. Customers beyond these distances can be reached with fiber-based DLC (digital loop carrier) systems. As these DLC systems become commercially available, telephone companies can offer access in a relatively short time. ADSL modems use a special type of error correction ("forward error correction") that dramatically reduces errors caused by impulse noise. This is necessary for the successful transmission of digital compressed video, which may be one of the more popular transmissions over ADSL circuits.
ADSL depends upon digital signal processing and algorithms (structured mathematical formulas) to get large quantities of information through twisted-pair telephone lines. Special transformers, analog filters, and A/D converters are also involved.
Long telephone lines may attenuate signals at 1MHz (the outer edge of the band used by ADSL) by as much as 90 dB, forcing analog sections of ADSL modems to work very hard to support large dynamic ranges, separate channels, and maintain low noise figures.
Tech details To create multiple channels, ADSL modems divide the available bandwidth of a telephone line in two ways-Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) and Echo Cancellation. FDM assigns one band for upstream data and another band for downstream data. The downstream path is then divided by time division multiplexing into one or more high-speed channels and one or more low-speed channels. The upstream path is also multiplexed into corresponding low speed channels. Echo Cancellation assigns the upstream band to overlap the downstream, and separates the two by means of local echo cancellation, a technique well known in V.32 and V.34 modems. With either technique, ADSL splits off a 4 KHz region for POTS at the dc end of the band.
An ADSL modem organizes the aggregate data stream created by multiplexing downstream channels, duplex channels, and maintenance channels together into blocks, then attaches an error correction code to each block. The receiver corrects errors that occur during transmission up to the limits implied by the code and the block length. The unit may, at the user's option, also create "superblocks" by interweaving data within "sub-blocks." This allows the receiver to correct any combination of errors within a specific span of bits, allowing for effective transmission of both data and video signals alike.
The importance of ADSL
ADSL's transmission rates of 1.5 to 6 Mbps are only a fraction of what would be available with optical fiber to the home or office, which would be at least hundreds of gigabits, but compared to regular telephone circuits, it is phenomenal.
These transmission rates (or anything close to them), would expand existing bandwidth by a factor of 50 or more-without new cabling. ADSL could transform the existing information network from one limited to voice, text, and low resolution graphics; to a powerful, ubiquitous system capable of bringing multimedia, including full motion video, into millions of homes and offices.
ADSL could play a crucial role over the next ten or more years as telephone companies enter new markets for delivering information in video and multimedia formats. Success of these new services will depend upon reaching as many subscribers as possible. By bringing movies, television, video catalogs, remote CD-ROMs, corporate LANs, and the Internet into homes and small businesses, ADSL could make these markets viable for telephone companies and application suppliers alike.
Will this really happen? ADSL modems have been tested successfully in more than 100 telephone companies. Thousands of lines have been installed in various technology trials in North America, Europe, and Asia. Several telephone companies plan market trials using ADSL, principally for data access, but also including video applications for such applications as personal shopping, interactive games, and educational programming. Semiconductor companies have introduced transceiver chipsets already being used in market trials. These chipsets combine off-the-shelf components and programmable digital signal processors. Some industry "experts" expect the phone companies to act according to market conditions. That is, to provide the bandwidth desired by their customers to the home, but that may never happen on a large scale. Local telephone systems are not designed for high-speed circuits like ADSL; they were built to send each call through a switching system. That is how they charge for their services. ADSL, and all new data systems are designed for Internet-type routed systems. In other words, they do not run through switches. Instead, they are routed from one place to another, providing a much less expensive and far more versatile network. But, it leaves the phone companies with less to charge for.
Fundamentally, the phone companies are facing a choice. The can continue to charge $1500 per month for 1.5 Mbps T1 lines, or they can invest in a lot of equipment so they can sell 6 Mbps ADSL lines for $50 per month.
Obviously, it is not in the immediate interest of the phone companies to jump into ADSL. And because local telcos have government-enforced monopolies, there is no direct competition to spur them into action. A few years ago, ISDN was touted as the new high-speed digital circuit that would provide high-speed service to homes and businesses. It died on the vine, due essentially to the phone companies not really wanting it to succeed. There is a good chance the same thing could happen to ADSL. In that event, the technology will be developed, but not easily obtained or supported. Time will tell. (See November 1998 article, "Breaching the digital bottleneck.") Computer makers and software designers have prototypes sitting on their shelves that would give you incredible features, such as scanning a video log, and downloading your favorite NFL game, movie, or old TV show at a moment's notice, and watching it any time you like. But these products will stay on the shelf until there is enough bandwidth to make them usable. There is no point to downloading the 1986 Super Bowl game if it takes four hours and ties up your phone lines as well. But, if there is fiber to the home, you can download the whole game in the time it takes you to grab a Coke from the fridge.
The telephone company/government regulatory establishment has things closed off for the moment, and many wonder when they will see a need to change.


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'lo folks.
So I got into it on Twitter with some nut that said "atheists can't have any morality" because he thinks the only logical source for morality is Yahweh (go figure). I'd been meaning to write on the topic (yes, it's been covered multiple times, I'm aware), so I made this.
Now he's claiming it's "the most fallacious thing" he's ever read, that it's full of begging the question, and somehow proves "absolute morality". Since I'm too close to my work, does anyone want to take a crack at it and confirm either that he's full of shit, or I am?
Views: 454
Sure, I'm open to those improvements; if you care to post in the comments what that might be, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks. That's a good point to be aware of. Been pondering a rewrite, so I'll consider that, although I don't feel I relied exclusively on evolution to explain morality. I do think I didn't do enough to address what to do about cheaters.
I'm wondering if because I didn't give more explicit definitions of "morally right" and "morally wrong" he's complaining, but eh.
Alright, thanks. I probably will try a rewrite in the future, but break it up into a series so I can better focus on the different topics.
Common sense
A theist pointing to something being fallacious, especially the fallacy of begging the question, is unbelievably rich.
Yes, I am sorely tempted to reply with that, but he'd probably cry more.
@Zivaeros, you seem to be a gamer and a scifi enthusiast, so you must have seen 2001: A Space Odyssey, even if only on DVD. Remember the scene where, under the influence of the black obelisk, the ape/proto-man grasped the tapir bone and began brandishing it as a club? Somehow knowledge was telepathically imparted to his primitive brain by this alien artifact, left on earth.
Well, we both know that's not real. But around 600 BCE, something similar seemed to happen throughout the then civilized world. People began searching for absolute moral values. The Greek philosophers were working hard at it, the Zoroastrians in Persia (Iran), were doing the same, as was Confucius, in China. Different gods had different rules, but on an almost world-wide basis, during that time period, deep thinkers were looking for moral values that would be independent of the capricious whims of the gods, values that would stand the test of time, and regime changes in the pantheon of gods. I would suggest researching this time period for the beginning of the concept of "good without god(s)."
Most of us are aware that Yeshua (Jesus) was quoted as saying, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," but few are aware that Confucius said the same thing, hundreds of years earlier.
To my mind, the Bible would have to be the worst source of morality to be found anywhere. How does anyone equate the commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Kill" with the later, supplemental commandment, "Thou shalt not suffer (allow) a witch to live"?
The Bible is loaded with mass murders of men, women and children, not only sanctioned, but ordered by the Bible's god. Daughters getting their father drunk and having sex with him, god's "Chosen Ones" being deceptive and cowardly - don't get me started. The Bible is one of the worst sources of moral inspiration I can imagine.
pax vobiscum,
I mentioned Confucius in there as predating the gospel authors, as well as a smidgen (smidgin?) of the atrocities put across as good in the bible.
Thanks for the research suggestion. It may be useful background material for a further writeup.
For bonus points, here's a resource I saw for killings post-Bible: http://notachristian.org/christianatrocities
Zevaeros - here's some more - look for my post about a third of the way down the page:
That should keep you supplied for a while --
Zevaeros, the problem is that once again the argument is being misunderstood.
This is an articulate version of the argument:
"Being a good person is the right thing to do because right and wrong are tied to some ultimate spiritual truth. It doesn't matter what our individual religions teach. All of us adhere to a very similar archetype and this archetype justifies our acceptance of the very concept of morality. We see no justification for your present acceptance of the very concept of morality in the first place. Morality can't be justified because it is natural. It can be accepted, it can have utility, but no logical justification can be provided to justify any case where morality is no longer advantageous to an individual."
So basically what they are contending is that if you do not believe in the supernatural, you need to pull a Descartes, and throw out all morality. When you point out things from the bible that appear immoral, the reply is then that you haven't really done a Descartes, and proved that morality is a rational concept to accept in the first place. The contention is that without an archetypal justification, morality is logically good only as long as it is advantageous. This is because without an archetype, morality is reduced to personal benefit, rather than being adherence to something bigger.
I, however contend there is something bigger, and that is why morality works in the first place. And it is really rather big.
HE'S full of it!
We know morality has a natural basis, but my take is that morality needs a philosophical basis for the sake of greater inspiration. I can't spend too much time explaining this because of classwork I need to do, but here is where I am at right now in discovering the basis.
I believe that morality works so well, because it is tied into a the orderly principle of the universe. Orderly things are functional, this is why we value morality. It is attached to something bigger and we need to find that connection.
I think I am getting closer to finding that. Value is measurement.
Morality is a system of values. Between order and disorder, only order can be given value because disorder has no measurable properties so disorder can't be given value. Value is a measurement, but value has its limitations in functionality for finite beings.
So morality is grounded at the intersect between order and functionality. This makes pure order, like stasis not a good thing, and disorder have no value.


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The Willinger, Willinger & Bucci, PC Team
Employment Lawyer Thomas W. Bucci, Sr.
Employment Lawyer Athan Mihalakos
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