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It seems kind of strange to have Return to Peyton Place released on DVD as a Studio Classics offering while this prestigious Fox picture comes out for a price one would expect to see in a bargain bin. All quasi-religious movies are not created alike and The Agony and the Ecstasy is really quite good. A gigantic Todd A-O 70mm Road Show extravaganza and one of the last big successess of that dying breed, its intelligent script does an excellent job of making the story of the painting of a ceiling into interesting fare. You don't have to be a blind-faith type to enjoy the philosophical content herein; there are some nice surprises among the cliché and predictable material.
The good thing about The Agony and the Ecstasy is that its script is not The Rennaissance for Dummies. It does remold the character of Michelangelo into the rugged hero required by a Charlton Heston film, and Pope Julius does come off a bit like Henry Higgins Builds His Dream House. But given those limits, Philip Dunne's script makes the story of the famous painting into a satisfying drama.
Reluctant artist for the Pope, Michelangelo gripes and whines and plagues his benefactor (who consistently neglects to pay him) to the point where he receives a beating with a stick - you don't talk to the Warrior Pope, Mike, you listen to him. The film successfully elevates the role of a religious artist to a level at least as holy as that of a priest. Michelangelo can't do anything unless his heart and soul is in it. He becomes a fugitive at one point, doing the same thing that Ayn Rand's he-man Howard Roarke did in The Fountainhead: work off his frustrations in a marble quarry. (Perhaps Rand modeled her character after the real Michelangelo?) While wandering on a Christ-like journey in the wilderness, Michelangelo is inspired with a vision of a painting in the high mountain clouds. The classy cinematography and effects (and particularly the Alex North music score) sell this scene extremely well. It could easily have been as trite as Charlie Brown seeing bunnies and doggies in the clouds.
The Heston-Harrison relationship is a predictable squabble that lasts for years. But they end up at the top of a scaffolding discussing how the artist visualizes God. It is an inspirational moment that compensates for the grandstanding when Michelangelo demands the right to paint man "as God made him, proud in his nakedness." There's also an exchange where Julius tries to explain to Michelangelo that he, the Pope, is but a brush in the hand of God, like one of Michelangelo's brushes. It's a effective observation with a tinge of Sunday School simplification to it.
The story details in The Agony and the Ecstasy range from fascinating to opportunistic. Julius is presented as a ruthless general holding his Papal States together against outside kings. The claim is of course is that he's defending a Holy empire that mere despots would destroy. It is a rationale that would work for any religion or jihad and is always going to be a little unsettling for the non-faithful, especially when one of Julius' cardinals (many of whom get their jobs through the payment of indulgences) extolls Julius to the heavens for being a warrior-soldier of the Almighty.
We don't expect to have Michelangelo portrayed as a libertine but it gets a bit thick when Diane Cilento's character, after trying to seduce him throughout the picture, admits that "There's more love on that ceiling than can ever be between a man and a woman." It also comes off as some kind of message that man-woman relationships are second-rate compared to church-directed faith. Just the same, The Agony and the Ecstasy presents its religious themes with a forceful intelligence. Hollywood pictures about religion at this time were seeking spiritual value in cute nuns that defeat Nazis, ride motorbikes or teach lessons to Hayley Mills.
Reviewers in 1965 were a little harsh on the movie, perhaps having had their fill of Charlton Heston playing overblown epic heroes. He's very good here, and if anything downplays what could be embarrassing material. Also considered coasting was director Carol Reed, whose films got bigger and wider ... critics seemed to blame him for not making more movies like The Third Man even though his good movies in that vein (Our Man in Havana, The Key) were not well received.
Sixties pulp villain Adolfo Celi is the Medici cardinal, but without his Emilio Largo voice from Thunderball. The future star of Marxist spaghetti westerns Tomas Milian plays Michelangelo's student Raphael as a nice-guy competitor.
The film is preceded by a sixteen minute-prologue showing Michelangelo's statuary, scored by guest composer Jerry Goldsmith. This makes the Intermission come rather soon, as the movie is only two hours and eighteen minutes long.
Fox's DVD of The Agony and the Ecstasy looks fine. The colorful enhanced transfer has little grain and comes from a master that's spotless save for a scratch or two. The default soundtrack encoded is just two-channel stereo, but there is a second 5.1 track on the menu. Fox has reportedly found a longer Road Show version of The Sand Pebbles, which we hope surfaces on DVD.
On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, The Agony and the Ecstasy rates: Movie: Very Good Video: Excellent Sound: Excellent Supplements: teaser, trailer Packaging: Keep case Reviewed: March 2, 2005
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2013 Land Rover LR2
TRIM | Original MSRP | 5-Year Cost to Own | Compare |
2013 Land Rover LR2 Expert Review
Staff Writer
- New powertrain
- Off-road capability
- Revised interior
- Exterior styling getting stale
- Uncommunicative steering
- Not as off-road friendly as the LR4
The Land Rover LR2 gets a thorough makeover for 2013 including a new powertrain and substantially revised interior. The Range Rover Evoque's 240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 with 250 lb-ft of torque replaces the LR2's naturally aspirated 3.2-liter I-6 (230 hp, 235 lb-ft). With a six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, the LR2's fuel mileage is EPA rated 17/24 mpg city/highway - an improvement of 2 mpg in both metrics over the outgoing engine. The intelligent permanent all-wheel-drive system features a Haldex center-coupling that uses a hydraulically operated multi-plate wet clutch to alter the front-rear torque split. Most of the engine's power is sent to the front wheels during normal driving, but the system can quickly transfer power to the rear wheels when needed.
During our First Drive, the LR2 encountered a storm on "our way from Montreal to Mont-Tremblant, providing us the opportunity to see how well the LR2 handled snowy pavement. The answer: quite well, even on twisty back roads. Only when it hit the occasional patch of ice did the SUV become at all unsettled, and that has more to do with ice's inherent slickness than the car. … Of course, there was an obligatory off-road section on the drive. Thanks to the storm, it was a bit snowier and muddier than Land Rover may have anticipated, but with Terrain Response in Snow (and, one section, Mud) mode, the LR2 didn't have any problems keeping up with the leading LR4 as it made its way through the forest trail." We concluded that "we wouldn't take it onto anything that would challenge the LR4 or a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, but the LR2 will definitely be able to tackle just about any casual off-roading trail."
The new powertrain is the most notable change to the 2013 LR2, while exterior updates were kept to a minimum (new HID headlights, LED taillights, and revised front and rear fascias). The interior received a much needed revamp including a redesigned center stack with a 7-inch color touch-screen, an enhanced 825-watt Meridian audio system, and the optional satellite navigation system. The Terrain Response dial has also been replaced by buttons, as has the parking brake lever increasing center console storage. The gauge cluster features a center-mounted five-inch vehicle information screen controlled by steering wheel controls. Aintree Green, Havana, and Mauritius Blue are new exterior colors. The 2013 Land Rover LR2 SUV hasn't been rated by the NHTSA or the IIHS.
A turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 replaces 3.2-liter I-6 and a Haldex all-wheel-drive system are new. For 2013, the LR2 receives a lightly revised exterior and substantially revamped interior. Three new interior and exterior colors are available.
- Mercedes-Benz GLK
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
- Range Rover Evoque
A major redesign can't come soon enough
2013 Land Rover LR2 Specifications
Engine Name | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter |
Trim | Base |
Horsepower | 240@5,500 |
Torque | 250@1,750 |
Number Of Cylinders | 4 |
Front Headroom | 40.2 in |
Rear Headroom | N/A |
Front Legroom | 41.9 in |
Rear Legroom | 36.4 in |
Front Shoulder Room | 57.6 in |

subset: commoncrawl


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The Practice: Season 1 & 2 Box Set (8 Discs)
From the creator of Ally McBeal and Boston Legal
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 1564 mins
Retail Price: £39.99
Release Date: 2012
Content Type: Movie
Bobby Donnell is a young, passionate lawyer struggling to keep his small Boston law firm afloat. Full of idealistic dreams of defending the innocent, he quickly realises that being a good defence lawyer is more challenging than he ever expected. Along with his associate attorneys he walks a fine line between his own principles and his legal obligations to his clients. Striving for justice, Bobby squares off against formidable adversaries like tenacious and sexy prosecutor Helen Gamble, a relationship that catches fire both in and out of the court.
The Practice ran for eight seasons winning 7 Emmy awards and 3 Golden Globes and stars Dylan McDermott (Ally McBeal, Will & Grace) , Lara Flynn Boyle (Twin Peaks), and Steve Harris (Law and Order).
Special Features:
Featurette - Setting Up The Practice
Stills gallery
Video Tracks:
4:3 regular
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo English
Directed By:
Dennis Smith
Jeannot Szwarc
Christina Musrey
Arvin Brown
Dwight H. Little
Written By:
David E. Kelley
Jonathan Shapiro
Lukas Reiter
Alfonso H. Moreno
Peter Blake
Steve Harris
Camryn Manheim
Michael Badalucco
Dylan McDermott
Lisa Gay Hamilton
Kelli Williams
Lara Flynn Boyle
Marla Sokoloff
Casting By:
Janet Gilmore
Megan McConnell
Music From:
Marco Beltrami
Stewart Levin
Director of Photography:
Dennis Smith
Michael F. Anderson
Charles McClelland
Susanne Malles
Production Designer:
Charles M. Lagola
Christina Musrey
Joseph Berger-Davis
Pamela J. Wisne
Gary M. Strangis
Executive Producer:
Robert Breech
David E. Kelley
John Tinker
Mediumrare Entertainment


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Lafayette, California (USA) –UFC® Gym™ announced today that it will partner with UFC superstar and former two-division champion BJ Penn to establish a signature BJ Penn fitness facility in the fighter's home state of Hawaii. The facility, which will begin enrolling members in Summer 2011, is set to open for workouts in January 2012, and will be located in the Kamehameha Schools Kaka'ako neighborhood, at the former Pipeline Café on Pohukaina Street in Honolulu.
Integrating mixed martial arts, innovative fitness training, nutrition, and youth programming, the 37,000 square-foot facility is expected to raise the bar for fitness in Honolulu. UFC Gym Hawaii will feature cutting-edge training techniques inspired by BJ Penn, including MMA classes, muay thai and jiu-jitsu, progressive group fitness, UFC Kids' Gym youth training and the Daily Ultimate Training Series.
Much like the three successful UFC Gym locations currently operating in California, UFC Gym members in Honolulu will enjoy a variety of amenities, including the signature Arm Bar Café which will feature some of BJ's favorite foods, a UFC Gym Store for the latest in apparel, and full amenity locker rooms complete with dry saunas. Other features include functional training areas, group fitness rooms and the famed UFC Octagon®.
"BJ Penn is one of the biggest superstars in the UFC, a future Hall of Famer, and an icon in his home state of Hawaii," UFC President Dana White said. "We're excited to open a signature UFC GYM with BJ and expect it to become the ultimate fitness destination in Honolulu."
"I'm very excited to be part of this tremendous opportunity," the 32-year-old Penn, a native of Hilo, said. "I look forward to working with the UFC and UFC Gym to make this a huge success. It will be such an honor to have a UFC Gym with my name, especially in my homeland of Hawaii."
In addition to becoming an instant destination for fitness enthusiasts in Honolulu, the lease to UFC Gym marks another milestone for the local community. Officials from Kaiaulu o Kaka'ako, Kamehameha's 29-acre master planned community in Kaka'ako, envision a healthy and sustainable community and are excited to have a UFC Gym as a cornerstone.
"UFC Gym will be a perfect addition to the master plan for our community" said Christian O'Connor, Kamehameha Schools' senior asset manager. "A true neighborhood includes a variety of housing integrated with retail, restaurants and gathering places. A high-energy fitness center, such as UFC Gym, is the kind of establishment that creates a sense of community."
UFC Gym's enrollment center will be opening in the old Cutter lot on Ala Moana Boulevard in early summer 2011. Anyone interested in the ultimate fitness experience, which combines a conventional gym with mixed martial arts training for families, and people of all ages and fitness levels, may visit www.ufcgymbjpennhawaii.com.
UFC Performance Institute
Dana White On The Opening Of UFC PI Mexico


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Ohio has created an online registry to try to cut down on scrap metal thefts.
The online registry of scrap metal and bulk merchandise dealers is part of Ohio's Homeland Security Website.
It's designed to crack down on scrap theft and protect infrastructure, like railroads whose spikes and rails are a target of thieves.
As part of the effort, the Ohio Department of Public Safety offers training for law enforcement officers and scrap metal industry representatives.
The training includes tips on how to determine if someone is trying to sell stolen scrap metal.
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Climate Tyranny Avoids Scrutiny
by Alan Caruba
You likely did not read much, if anything, in the mainstream press about the climate change conference that was held in Doha, Qatar. The same applies to television and radio news. These are the folks who introduced the Kyoto Protocols in 1997 with the intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions said to be causing global warming. The U.S. Senate unanimously rejected them in an exercise of good sense we don't always associate with that august body.
COP18, shorthand for the Conference of Parties, brought together under the aegis of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was especially devious. Thanks to the Committee for A Constructive Tomorrow those of us keeping an eye on these charlatans, intent on transferring billions from developed nations to those that have failed to keep pace, we learned on December 8th that "The negotiations here in Doha have gone into overtime."
As reported by Craig Rucker, CFACT Executive Director, "After going until after 3 AM last night, negotiations resumed today. Negotiators have sprung a dangerous proposal on the conference at the 11th hour. This time they have inserted a 'Loss & Damage Mechanism' into the final text which would require developed countries like the U.S. to pay poor nations for climate damages supposedly resulting from extreme weather events."
The conference ended on Friday and the last money grabbing gambit failed. It was time for the 7,000 "observers" and its delegates to go home, all knowing that even the Kyoto Protocols will end in 2014 and that COP18 was yet another monumental failure.
CFACT was founded in 1985 by Rucker and David Rothbard, both of whom believe strongly in the power of the market, combined with the applications of safe technologies, to offer practical solutions to many of the world's pressing concerns. They were soon joined by leading scientists, academics, and policy leaders, along with thousands of citizens from around the nation. CFACT has been especially watchful of the many "global warming", now "climate change", claims put forth by the IPCC, attending its conferences and reporting from them, as well as challenging the absurd claims made during them.
It is essential to understand that scientific literature shows no link between recent extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy and the bogus global warming. Indeed, the planet has been in a natural cooling cycle for sixteen years.
As to the weather, the best definition I ever heard was that it is best described as "chaos."
Rucker reported that those controlling the COP18 "have instituted a 'paperless' policy, depriving delegates of daily programs and copies of negotiating instruments that keep them relatively informed." The justification for this is the number of trees saved from becoming paper and, as of Saturday last, it was determined to be 217! As for the delegates' carbon footprint, this policy totally ignores the emissions from their jet travel, their five-star hotels and restaurants, air conditioning, limousines, and the carbon dioxide they are all exhaling.
The delegates, if they could, would impose carbon taxes nation-by-nation and globally, but Chip Knappenberger, a leading "skeptic", writing in MasterResource.org, asked "How much global warming will result from U.S. emissions over the course of this century and how much of that could be prevented by a carbon tax? These two questions have the same simple answer—virtually none. One or two tenths of a degree a century with or without a carbon tax makes the whole climate debate a peculiar exercise."
There have been periods in the Earth's history when there were far higher concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the result was an abundance of vegetation. Lots of dinosaurs ate it and other dinosaurs ate them. There was an increase in CO2 during our present period on Earth that began when the last ice age ended about 11,500 years ago. The rise of agriculture allowed our ancestors to feed more and more humans and livestock, giving rise to the spread of civilization and it too contributed to an increase in CO2. Presumably, these are good things because increase of CO2 suggests that the next ice age has been delayed to some extent.
Meanwhile, back at COP18 what amounted to secret negotiations caused a lot of anger among delegates to the conference. Cathie Adams, president of the Texas Eagle Forum, at a CFACT press briefing told attendees that "in all her 17 years of attending U.N. climate gatherings there has never been this much difficulty getting up-to-date information or reluctance to accommodate informed public input into the process."
As of this writing, it is unknown what the official U.S. response will be to the effort to get developed nations to ship bundles of cash to any undeveloped nation experiencing a hurricane, a typhoon, a blizzard, or any other "climate event." In a cash-strapped nation about to "go over the fiscal cliff" did President Obama instruct U.S. delegates to go along with this absurd demand? Probably.
It is useful to know that Canada, Japan, and New Zealand have already rejected any participation in the agreements to come out of COP18.
One assumes that the European Union, as financially challenged as the U.S. and struggling under soaring renewable energy costs, would be of the same mind. Add to them China, Brazil, India, Indonesia and other emerging markets that need to grow their economies and which are dependent–like every other nation–on coal, oil, and natural gas. Mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions would be the kiss of death.
The U.S. is about to undergo this madness in the form of a deluge of Environmental Protection Agency carbon dioxide regulations that will strangle the economy and kill jobs. Unless the Congress can eliminate them via legislation, it will constitute a form of national suicide.
The United Nations isn't just involved in climate treaties. It is seeking control over the worldwide Internet, the oceans of the world, gun control, and regulating the rights of parents to exercise control over their children's health and wellbeing.
If successful, the U.N. will lead the world back to a new Dark Ages.


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By Dan Merica, CNN
In a sermon that likely broke the law, Indiana pastor Ron Johnson told his 400 congregants Sunday that for those who believe in the Bible, the decision to vote against President Barack Obama "is a no-brainer."
"For Christian people who believe the Bible is the inspired world of God, it is not rocket science," Johnson told CNN after his sermon.
Johnson's anti-Obama sermonizing likely violated the so-called Johnson Amendment, an Internal Revenue Service rule that forbids churches that receive tax-exempt status from the federal government to intervene in "any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office."
But Johnson appears comfortable with defying the IRS. His sermon was part of a national campaign by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal organization that has organized Pulpit Freedom Sunday since 2008, encouraging pastors to flout the Johnson Amendment with political endorsements from the pulpit.
Alliance Defending Freedom said that more 1,500 other pastors across the United States participated Sunday. The goal: to force the IRS to come down on these churches so the organization, whose network includes 2,200 attorneys, can test the Johnson Amendment's constitutionality.
"The IRS has the ability and the authority to regulate their sermons. We are giving them the opportunity to do that, and if they challenge that, we will challenge that in court," said Erik Stanley, Alliance Defending Freedom's senior legal counsel. "It is all about creating a test case to find the Johnson Amendment as unconstitutional."
With less than a month until the presidential election, what was said at this year's Pulpit Freedom Sunday could hold more sway than in previous years.
Critics say the movement is a Republican front dressed up as an exercise in religious freedom, an allegation the event organizer rejects.
"The ADF wants to elect the next president. They want to elect Mitt Romney," said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "This is not about some principle."
Johnson denies that, noting on Sunday he did not endorse Romney, the Republican presidential nominee, but instead urged his congregation to vote against Obama, whose policies he called "un-American."
He said the speech received a number of standing ovations.
When CNN asked to be put in touch with a church that plans to endorse the president, representatives from the organization said they don't screen whom the churches plan to endorse.
The Alliance Defending Freedom has ties to other conservative Christian groups such as the American Family Association and Focus on the Family.
"I think there is a possibility that in some of these mega-churches, a pastor's saying it is OK to vote for Mitt Romney … could increase voter turnout," Lynn said.
So far, the effort has received little to no response from the IRS.
The IRS did not respond to CNN's request for comment.
Many of the sermons from Sunday will be sent to the nation's tax collection agency, a move that organizers hope will make it easy for the IRS to come down on the churches. According to Stanley, the majority of the messages in past years have gone unnoticed, and only a handful of pastors receive letters, some of which threaten to revoke the churches' tax-exempt status.
This nonenforcement by the IRS has emboldened some pastors and the Alliance Defending Freedom, said Lynn of Americans United. According to pastors who have participated in the past, the fact the IRS rarely if ever comes down on these churches encourages them to keep endorsing.
Stanley and the Alliance Defending Freedom theorize that the IRS doesn't want to be challenged in court and that the agency may be disorganized.
But the lack of enforcement stems from bureaucratic uncertainty about what rank an IRS official must be to initiate an investigation, Lynn said.
In the past, the IRS has investigated churches that it suspected of violating the Johnson Amendment.
Four days before the 1992 presidential election, the Landmark Church in Binghamton, New York, ran a full-page ad in USA Today that said, "Christians Beware," followed by a list of Bill Clinton's positions on homosexuality, abortion and the distribution of condoms. At the bottom, the church asked for donations to help pay for the ad.
According to Lynn, Americans United filed a complaint, and the church lost its tax-exempt status in 1995.
Landmark Church pastor Dan Little took the IRS to court, arguing the agency was violating the church's First Amendment rights and the agency was only able to revoke the tax-exempt status of a "religious organization," not an actual church.
Both a U.S. District Court judge and a federal appeals court rejected those arguments.
Johnson, the Indiana pastor, laughs when asked about those who question whether a pastor should be allowed to endorse from the pulpit.
"Pastors understand the so-called separation of church and state, as it is currently understood. We understand how marginalized we are becoming," Johnson said. "We are supposed to be part of the community discussion about issues that matter."


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The Comprehensive Plan for The Woodlands Forests The Integrated Forestry Management Plan is a comprehensive plan for The Woodlands to protect and conserve our native forest ecosystems.
The management plan combines forestry, wildlife and natural resources conservation into a plan which will perpetuate the forest for years to come. The Woodlands is known for its woods, so the major emphasis of the plan is to maintain the existing land as a healthy forest as well as promote native species of plants and wildlife.The developers of this community have paid close attention to preservation of the natural resources. A large majority of the land maintained by The Woodlands is broken up into small strips or acreages that are designated as restricted open space reserves (ROSR) and parks.
Management Plan


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This is episode 9 of Boing Boing's Tell Me Something I Don't Know podcast. It's an interview show featuring artists, writers, filmmakers, and other creative people discussing their work, ideas, and the reality/business side of how they do what they do.
John Porcellino is the creator of the long-running, self-published mini-comic series, King Cat Comics (celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2014). His books include Perfect Example (Highwater Books, Drawn and Quarterly), Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man (La Mano), King-Cat Classix (Drawn and Quarterly), Map of My Heart (Drawn and Quaterly), and Thoreau at Walden (Hyperion). His work is characterized by a thoughtful, minimal drawing/writing style and a unique approach to narrative interpretation and temporal representation. Besides his influential work as a cartoonist, Porcellino is the founder of Spit and a Half – a small press comics and zine distribution company that began in the early 90s.
Tell Me Something I Don't Know is produced and hosted by three talented cartoonists and illustrators:
Jim Rugg, a Pittsburgh-based comic book artist, graphic designer, zinemaker, and writer best known for Afrodisiac, The Plain Janes, and Street Angel. His latest
project is SUPERMAG.
Jasen Lex is a designer and illustrator from Pittsburgh. He is currently working on a graphic novel called Washington Unbound. All of his art and comics can be found at jasenlex.com.
Ed Piskor is the cartoonist who drew the comic, Wizzywig, and draws the Brain Rot/ Hip Hop Family Tree comic strip at this very site, soon to be collected by Fantagraphics Books and available for pre-order now.
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GET TMSIDK: RSS | On iTunes | Download episode | Listen on Stitcher


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Don't wait for your kids to tell you they're thirsty before offering them water, experts say. Instead, offer them water and other hydrating foods and beverages throughout the day, particularly in the summer when more liquids are needed to stay healthy.
By the time children are thirsty, they're already at least 3 percent dehydrated, according to Dr. Holly Benjamin, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Orthopedic Surgery at University of Chicago.
And water does far more than slake thirst, said Marina Chaparro, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Water is a cooling mechanism, it transports fluids and nutrients, helps with digestion, helps with cognitive function and maintains a healthy weight," she told Reuters Health by email.
The amount of water a child needs to stay hydrated and healthy may surprise you: teenagers need as much as adults (eight to 11 cups), while even toddlers aged 1 to 3 should have four cups of fluids a day.
"I use a rule of thumb of 2 to 3 ounces per day per pound of body weight, to a maximum of 8 to 10 cups per day," said Dr. Karl W. Holtzer, a pediatrician with the Pediatric Alliance Fox Chapel Division in Pittsburgh. In email to Reuters Health, he noted that water is not needed for infants under 6 months of age, and babies under 1 year can stay hydrated with breast milk or formula.
It's particularly important to make sure active kids are getting their fill of water.
"Make sure they drink 30 minutes or so before an activity, and then every 20 minutes during the activity, especially during the summer months," Holtzer said. While doctors advise against sugary drinks, they do say that a sports beverage containing electrolytes is okay during prolonged, vigorous exercise.
Aside from complaints of thirst, it can be hard to tell when a child is dehydrated. Some signs could be decreased or dark urine, dizziness and lethargy, Benjamin told Reuters Health by email.
Parents can ensure that their kids get their recommended intake of fluids with these seven tips:
1. It doesn't have to be water – many fruits and vegetables have a very high water content. Offer watermelon, strawberries, broccoli, celery, cucumbers and other watery fruits and veggies for snacks. Chaparro recommends five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
2. Make sipping fun. Let your kids pick out their own drinking cups or travel bottles in their favorite colors or decorated with their favorite characters. Buy a set of crazy straws. Invest in ice cube trays that make ice in fun shapes.
3. If kids balk at drinking "boring" water, give it some flavor and color. Freeze berries or cranberries into ice cubes, or infuse water with fresh fruit, herbs or vegetables such as lemon, mint, watermelon or orange. Even adding unflavored soda to water makes it more of a treat – "bubbles without the calories," says Chaparro. She also suggests using sugar-free drink mixes.
4. Make your own popsicles for a fluid-rich treat. Puree fruit or use no-sugar-added fruit juice and pour into freezer molds.
5. Make sure water is easily accessible for little ones. If they can't reach the sink or the water tap in your refrigerator, set up an easy-to-use water dispenser and a few cups in a place where they can reach it.
6. Be prepared. Invest in an assortment of reusable travel bottles and keep them filled and in the fridge so you can grab them any time you head out for a walk, bike ride or car trip.
7. Create a reminder system for drinking water. This could be a chart on the refrigerator that kids can mark each time they have a serving of water, or, if you're out and about, a timer set on your phone to remind the family that it's time to take a drink.


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April 25, 2013
Contact: Mark Almberg, PNHP, (312) 782-6006, firstname.lastname@example.com
In an editorial responding to a new study on skimpy health insurance among low-income, insured Americans, two policy experts review extensive data showing that tens of millions of insured Americans have grossly inadequate coverage, and that the problem of underinsurance is growing.
The editorial in the Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM) was approved by the journal's editors for publication on today's date and will appear on its website next week. The text of the editorial is available here.
Paradoxically, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may actually increase underinsurance, say the editorialists, Drs. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein.
"Obamacare is lowering the bar for health insurance," said Dr. Himmelstein, a professor of public health at the City University of New York and primary care doctor. "The new coverage sold through the insurance exchanges will leave many families paying 40 percent of their health costs out-of-pocket even after they've laid out thousands for premiums. And the administration is allowing states to institute co-payments under Medicaid, even for the poorest of the poor."
Himmelstein continued: "Under the ACA a 56-year-old making $46,100 will pay a premium of $10,585 for coverage through the exchange and still face up to $6,250 in co-payments and deductibles."
Dr. Woolhandler, the lead author of the editorial who is also a physician and professor of public health at CUNY, said: "Over the past 25 years the financial protection offered by health insurance has steadily eroded. The consequences are grave, not only financially but also medically. For instance, we know that heart attack patients who face high co-payments delay coming to the ER, threatening their lives."
Woolhandler and Himmelstein (who also serve as visiting professors at Harvard Medical School) were co-authors with Elizabeth Warren of a widely cited study that showed that illness and medical bills contribute to 62 percent of personal bankruptcies; most of the medically bankrupt were insured. Sen. Warren played no role in the JGIM editorial.
"Obamacare is making underinsurance the new normal," said Woolhandler. "It will reduce the number of uninsured from 50 million to 30 million, but the new coverage is full of holes. Americans deserve the kind of first-dollar, comprehensive coverage that Canadians already have. But that's only affordable under a single-payer system that cuts out the private insurance middlemen."
"Life or Debt: Underinsurance in America," Steffie Woolhandler, M.D., M.P.H., and David U. Himmelstein, M.D. Journal of General Internal Medicine, approved for publication on April 25, 2013. The text of the article is available here.
The related article:
"Prevalence and Predictors of Underinsurance Among Low-Income Adults," Hema Magge, M.D., M.S., Howard J. Cabral, M.P.H., Ph.D., Lewis E. Kazis, Sc.D., and Benjamin D. Sommers, M.D., Ph.D. Journal of General Internal Medicine, published online Feb. 1, 2013.
Physicians for a National Health Program (www.pnhp.org) is a nonprofit research and education organization of more than 18,000 doctors who advocate for single-payer national health insurance. PNHP had no role in funding or otherwise supporting the study described above. To speak with a physician/spokesperson in your area, visit www.pnhp.org/stateactions or call (312) 782-6006.


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StudyInBurnaby.ca Privacy Policy
Use of this site, available as www.studyinburnbaby.ca signifies your agreement to the Terms Of Use / Disclaimer. International Education Programs – Burnaby School District is a division of the Board of Education Burnaby School District 41, Greater Vancouver BC Canada is herein referred to as IEP-BSC.
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Rise of the Machines
Gideon Weisz of Boulder, Colo., calls my attention to a recent BBC translation gaffe that has British Jews chuckling. In their comedy "Episodes," the British television channel's producers staged a scene in a Jewish cemetery in which there is a tombstone bearing the English inscription:
Beloved Husband and Father
Yehudi Penzel
Dearly Missed
Beloved Head of Family
Above the English, the same inscription appears on the stone in Hebrew. It is, however, written backward, from left to right like English rather than from right to left like Hebrew, so that its first line, for example, which should be ba'al v'av ahuv, reads vuha va'v la'ab. And to compound the felony, the words "dearly missed" have been translated as heḥ – emitz b'yoker, which might be retranslated into English as either "He missed at a high price" or "He turned expensively sour."
It's pretty obvious what must have happened. Someone at the BBC obtained a computer translation of Mr. Penzel's English epitaph into Hebrew and told someone else what Hebrew letters to spell it with, not bothering to mention that these needed to be written in the opposite direction from English. Worse yet, the computer translated the English verb "miss" as Hebrew heḥ emitz, which can mean to sour or to miss or flub something, such as a goal or opportunity, but never to long for a person.
Well, these things happen, even in the year 2012. Back in the 1980s, when computer translation was still a novelty, there was a story — whether true or not, I have no idea — of an English-Japanese program into which was fed the English proverb "Out of sight, out of mind." Back came the Japanese for "Invisible, insane."
To be sure, a more sophisticated translation program could avoid such errors. It would be able to pick up on the fact that the "missed" of Yehudi Penzel's epitaph is in the passive construction of "is missed," that "dearly" denotes emotional preciousness and not price, and that the best Hebrew equivalent would be mitgage' lekha im me'od, "[We] miss you very much." That's not too much to ask of a contemporary computer.
The question I sometimes think about, though, is this: Given the current rate of progress in computer programming in general, and in translation programs in particular, is it theoretically conceivable that someday, computers will outperform human translators, just as they can outperform human chess players? Will human translators one day become as obsolete as human telephone operators?
In many fields, they undoubtedly will. Already today, computers can translate the average newspaper article adequately, if not perfectly, and it's just a matter of time before they're as good at it as any of us and incredibly faster. There's no reason that it won't eventually be possible to put the whole Sunday Times into idiomatic French or German in a matter of minutes or even seconds. Most areas of translation will be automated; some already have been.
But high-quality literary translation is something else. It's not enough for a literary translator to know unerringly what certain words mean and to render that meaning accurately in another language. He or she must also know what those words feel like; what their precise tone and music are; what sensations, thoughts, memories and associations they invoke or are likely to invoke in a reader, and what the best way is to convey all this in another language. The literary translator needs more than the kind of linguistic information that can be crammed into a computer. He or she needs, one is tempted to say, to have lived a human life.
The other day, I was reading the first page of what may be my favorite novel in the world, James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man." It begins:
Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo.
His father told him that story: his father looked at him through a glass: he had a hairy face.
No doubt an intelligent computer can be taught that "Once upon a time" is a formula from fairy tales; that "moocow" and "nicens" are the language of an adult trying to talk baby-talk; that "a glass" is a small child's way of expressing the idea of eyeglasses, and that other languages have their equivalents for these things. But can a computer have had a childhood itself? Can it know the feeling of being told a bedtime story? Can it, even theoretically, understand that "and a very good time it was" may be either the words of the father telling the story or of the son remembering it long afterward, and that it is crucial to preserve this ambiguity in a translation? It's unlikely. And if it can't recognize such things in Joyce's English, it's certainly not going to be able to convey them fully in French, German or Russian.
And this is "A Portrait of the Artist" at its simplest! From here on, as the novel's protagonist grows older, its language gets progressively more complex. Good literary translators needn't fear for their jobs anytime soon.
Questions for Philologos can be sent to [email protected]


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Clash Public Library
I'm not sure whether Mick Jones was inspired or disgusted by his experience at the British Music Experience (probably the latter). In any case, it has moved him to set up a temporary "Rock N Roll Public Library" in some kind of office building under a highway in London. This is a great example of the do-it-yourself ethic that often accompanies punk culture, and which some claim is central to it. Sounds like a great excursion for the whole family to learn about every-day self-empowerment. . . . [more]


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The end is in sight.
Keep reading!
Here is the schedule of events for today:
TZC = Time Zone Conversion
10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks
The way these updates work is that you post your progress for the previous day (today's link should be to your progress for the sixth day of the read-a-thon). Please include a DIRECT LINK to your update post.If you have questions, please tweet us @boutofbooks or email us (boutofbooks at gmail dot com).


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Haiti - Port-au-Prince area - kmz topos Map
Created By: maps4gps
Last Updated: January 26th, 2010 10:01am
Map Coverage:
North: 18.59°
West: -72.43°
East: -72.27°
South: 18.5°
Country: Haiti
Price: free
Most Popular Maps
- My Trails-High Quality Trail and POI Maps
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Other Maps By maps4gps (See All)
The following .kmz image files for the Port-au-Prince area were created from
geopdf files downloaded from NGA's public Haiti relief website.
Note: Garmin GPSr units are currently limited to 100 cells.
pap250.kmz - 1:250000 JOGA/1501 topo maps CI=in feet for 100m/sup50m
21.2m/pixel (20 cells) view=5 mi to 300 ft
pap050.kmz - 1:50000 topo maps CI=20m/sup=10m
4.3m/pixel (77 cells) view=0.8 mi to 50 ft
pap012b.kmz - 1:12500 sheet 2 topo map with collar data CI=10m/sup=5m
2.2m/pixel (54 cells) view=0.5 mi to 30 ft
pap012bc.kmz - 1:12500 sheet 2 & west pt of sheet 3 topo map (collar clipped)
2.2m/pixel (98 cells) view=0.3 mi to 20 ft
haiti250.kmz - 1:250000 JOGA/1501 topo maps resampled to 44m/pixel (48cells)
to include the entire country in one .kmz file the 5 sheets were resampled
view=8 mi to 500 ft
Images of most of the 1:50000 sheets covering Haiti are available.
Single sheet city data at 1:12500 is available for:
Aquin (1:10000)
Cap Haitien
Petit Goave (1:10000)
Port de Paix
Saint Marc
Port-au-Prince is in 4 sheets; however sheet 1 (north of sheet 2) is available
only in .jpg format at a reduced resolution of about 6m/pixel
Images at small scales will cover an area larger than given in the map boundaries.
Download Garmin Custom Map [60MB] (2252 Downloads)


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10 Clever Ways to Use Girl Scout Cookies
It's Girl Scout cookie season. And you know, even if you don't have a daughter selling them, you'll eventually give in. So I thought I'd sahre some inspiration for making use of your indulgence in a variety of different ways, like these Samoas Ice Cream Truffles.


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Samsung UNEH5300
CNET did not review the Samsung UNEH5300 series, but we did review two similar series of TVs.
Quick Take
CNET did not review the Samsung UNEH5300 series, but we did review a similar product, the UNEH6000 series.
According to Samsung's site, the main difference between the two is that the UNEH5300 has Samsung's Smart TV suite, whereas the UNEH6000 has a 120Hz refresh rate and slightly better picture quality specifications. Based on our review of the UNEH6000, however, we don't expect those improved specs to make much difference in the overall picture quality of the two TVs -- in other words, we expect the UNEH5300 and UNEH6000 to have roughly the same picture quality.
The main benefit imparted by a 120Hz refresh rate is the ability to introduce smoothing (dejudder) in the image. If you don't care about adding smoothing -- we think it creates a distasteful, artificial look -- then you'll probably be less interested in 120Hz. The EH6000's higher refresh rate also leads to an improvement in motion resolution, but this benefit is quite difficult for most viewers to discern. Note that Samsung's literature uses the term "Clear Motion Rate" instead of panel refresh rate, and assigns higher "CMR" numbers to each TV (240 for the EH6000 and 120 for the EH5300), but that's basically marketing bunk.
Speaking of bunk, the EH6000 also has a slightly better contrast ratio, but given its mediocre black-level performance, we don't expect the UNEH5300 to perform much worse. According to Samsung's specifications, the two TVs share largely identical picture quality characteristics otherwise.
Aside from picture quality, the UNEH5300 definitely has the edge in features. Samsung's Smart TV suite is among the most capable on the market. Check out our review of the PNE550 for a description -- the UNEH5300 has the same Smart features, including built-in Wi-Fi.
The 5300 also includes better connectivity than the 6000, in the form on one extra HDMI input (three total) and one extra USB port (two total).
The two series also offer different screen sizes. The UNEH5300 series includes a 32-inch size, whereas the UNEH6000 series offers larger 60- and 65-inch options.
Otherwise the two series of Samsung LED TVs are largely identical. For more information, check out the full review of the Samsung UNEH6000 series.


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The General Assembly's top two Republicans said they've found a mysterious $20 million appropriation that in their view looks suspiciously like the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative "slush fund" that already has the Quinn administration in legal and political hot water.
But Mr. Quinn's office says the money is going to train 5,000 youths to get jobs instead of getting into trouble.
The charges came today when the Legislature's GOP leaders, Sen. Christine Radogno and Rep. Jim Durkin, said at a Chicago news conference that they have increasing questions about a $20 million appropriation for the Department of Labor that showed up in a pending appropriations bill just days before lawmakers enacted Mr. Quinn's proposed fiscal 2015 budget in May.
Republicans received "no response" when they asked in committee and on the floor what the money was for and who would get it, Mr. Durkin said. "There was dead silence," he said, with even Democratic committee chairs professing ignorance.
The legislation that passed does say the money will be used to curb gang violence, specifically for "grants to state and local agencies and community providers for at-risk community support programs, after school programs, and youth employment opportunities."
But that language wasn't provided until after the vote, the Republican leaders said. And now, $5 million of the $20 million has been transferred to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and $6.5 million to the Department of Human Services."
"It sounds exactly like what happened four years ago," Mr. Durkin said, when NRI money ended up going to politically connected groups shortly before an election. "We don't want a repeat."
Added Ms. Radogno, "Gov. Quinn has squirreled away $20 million in taxpayer dollars in a way that looks and smells like NRI all over again."
A Quinn spokesman says it is being spent appropriately.
The money is going to a job-training program with "rigorous" standards that involves both DCEO and DHS, the spokesman said. "DCEO has for many years — long before the defunct NRI program began — run several job training programs for youth and young adults that continue today."
A source with knowledge of the matter said Mr. Quinn did not ask for the money and that it was inserted in the budget at the last minute at the behest of House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Mr. Madigan's spokesman did not return a call seeking comment.
Appropriating money for one department that ends up being spent by another is not unheard-of in government. But given the NRI experience, the subject is particularly sensitive now, with federal prosecutors confirming they are probing the MRI expenditures.


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New Product Alert!
Aerospace Components
Titanium Drag Race Rotors
These are a direct replacement for any front or rear brake kit.
The rear brake kit is currently available for purchase:
The titanium rear kits are only 2.6 lbs per side
The original steel kits are 5.6 lbs per side
This is a savings of 3 lbs per side or a total of 6 lbs of rotating weight!


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Identifying an idea pallet rack company can be a challenge. Therefore, you need to be always ahead in every step if you want to be on the safe side. That is by doing your due research about the available pallet rack companies in your locality. The following are some of the tips to identify an ideal pallet rack company.
Choose a pallet rack company that is pocket friendly. Research and find out the price range of the services in the market. Ask people, search online, and also go to different companies asking them about the service. That will help you avoid spending so much money on a service whereas you could get it at a low price elsewhere. Your budget plan is to guide you to avoid investing too much in the service and ending up in debt. Ask if the companies have additional services like discounts and free delivery as it will help you save. Avoid companies with extremely low-prices as they may use that as a tactic to attract customers to their low-quality services.
Choose a pallet rack company that has good communication skills. A pallet rack company should explain how they intend to serve you, the expected date, and payment terms should be clear to avoid confusion. That ensures both the pallet rack company and yourself keep your agreement terms. A pallet rack company that is not clear in its communication may disappoint you. They may not be honest enough to tell you where they need maybe more time or more cash for the service to be as per your word. They may also fail to deliver on time due to miscommunication. Such disappointments can be avoided by working with a pallet rack company that has good communication skills.
Also, choose the used pallet racking Atlanta GA that has all the necessary documentation for them to be running. Ask the pallet rack company whether they have all the licenses from the state and all other documents. A pallet rack company cannot be issued with licenses if it has not met the set standards by the state. You are therefore assured of quality services when you work with a pallet rack company that is licensed. It will also protect you from landing in trouble. If the pallet rack company frauds you, you can recover your money if you report to the necessary authorities. That can be tricky if the pallet rack company you are working with is not licensed.
Also, ask for references from your colleagues, family, and friends. They probably know of a pallet rack company that provides the services.
That will allow you to ask them all the questions regarding the pallet rack company and its services. You could also check on their social media pages and websites. See what clients who have worked with them have to say about their services. Look at how the pallet rack company handled any complaints from clients. You can also ask the pallet rack company to give you their referrals. A pallet rack company without any referrals is a sign that you will be disappointed in their services. Find out more about pallet racks here.


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Barrick's Dirty Secrets: Communities Respond to Gold Mining's Impacts Worldwide
Canadian-owned Barrick Gold, the world's largest gold producer, is exploring, building and operating huge, open-pit gold mines on nearly every continent on the planet.
On average, gold mining today produces 70 tons of waste for every ounce of gold, while also consuming and polluting massive amounts of water. An estimated 50 percent of these mining operations occur on native lands.
For many Indigenous peoples, who often rely on their environment for food and necessities, mining threatens not only their livelihood, but also their spirituality and traditional way of life.
These new "modern mining" projects leave thousand-year legacies of acid mine drainage, destruction of ecosystems, disease, and regional climate change. Riches in the form of gold, silver and copper are exported to first world shareholders, leaving behind poverty, dependency and pollution.
A new CorpWatch report details the operations of Barrick gold in nine different countries, focusing on the efforts on the part of the communities to seek justice from this powerful multinational.
In the report, you will discover:
Download "Barrick's Dirty Secrets: Communities Worldwide Respond to Gold Mining's Impacts"
Download Spanish version of report
Barrick has prepared a response to the CorpWatch report that is available on their website.
Other Research on Barrick Mining Watch Case Study: Porgera Joint Venture (Papua New Guinea) ProtestBarrick.net's Fact Sheet on Barrick's Lies regarding the Pascua Lama project Testimony of Water Shares Agreement and Barrick's "94% approval rating" |
CorpWatch welcomes Barrick's criticism and has amended the report for clarity and fairness. CorpWatch will also repost all of Barrick's responses to our website.
Other reports from Barrick's website:
Go to Barrick's Social Responsibility Report
Download Barrick's Social Responsibility Report in Spanish
Download Barrick's 2006 Annual Shareholders Report
Contact: Sakura Saunders, email@example.com
Also on May 2nd, as part of an "International Day of Action" against Barrick, protests will take place in six different countries as well as in Toronto, Canada, where Barrick is based. On the same day, Canada's second largest gold mining company, GoldCorp, will be protested at their annual meeting in Vancouver. For more information about these actions, go to protestbarrick.net.
This report was made possible in part by a generous grant from the Hurd Foundation
- 104 Globalization
- 106 Money & Politics
- 110 Trade Justice
- 116 Human Rights
- 182 Health
- 183 Environment
- 184 Labor
- 185 Corruption
- 190 Natural Resources
- 195 Chemicals
- 197 Press Releases
- 208 Regulation


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OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sprint (NYSE: S) today completed its transaction with U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) to acquire 20MHz of PCS spectrum in various Midwest markets including Chicago, South Bend, Ind., and Champaign, Ill., and 10MHz of PCS spectrum in the St. Louis market. The additional spectrum will significantly increase Sprint's network capacity and further improve the customer experience in these markets. In addition, the transaction includes approximately 420,000 U.S. Cellular customers.
Sprint and U.S. Cellular have already notified affected customers and Sprint will send them additional information on the exact timing and details of the transition which will last several months. Sprint and its Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile and payLo prepaid brands are providing special offers and incentives for affected customers that significantly reduce the cost of acquiring a new device to transition from the U.S. Cellular network. In many cases, affected customers can switch from their current device to a similar or better Sprint or prepaid device for little or no cost and with a wide variety of contract or non-contract plans. Affected customers will not be charged an Early Termination Fee when switching their service. During the months-long transition period, U.S. Cellular's network will remain active and affected customers may continue to use U.S. Cellular for their wireless service while evaluating their options. For more information, affected customers can call 800-216-7023 or visit www.sprint.com/uscellular.
"We know how important good value, network performance and excellent service are to these customers and Sprint has a wide portfolio of competitive devices, prepaid options, an improved 3G and growing 4G LTE network experience, and unlimited data, text and voice plans to meet their wireless needs," said Paget Alves, Sprint chief sales officer. "We want their business and are motivated to make the transition as seamless as possible."
The 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 U.S. industries, during the last four years. Sprint continues to bring a better wireless experience to more customers across the country as it builds out its all-new 3G and 4G LTE network. Sprint has launched 4G LTE in 88 markets nationwide and announced more than 170 markets where 4G LTE will be available in the coming months. Sprint offers a wide range of 4G LTE devices, including HTC One® and Samsung Galaxy S® 4. The wide selection of devices and Sprint's Everything Data plans – including Any Mobile, AnytimeSM, unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network – Sprint provides one of the best choices in wireless.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.


text:
Quality New and Pre-Owned Foodservice Equipment
We Offer In-Store Pick-Up & Delivery
Accusteam 5-Pan Steamer
2 in Stock!
Accusteam 5-Pan Steamer
For online sale inquiries, please feel free to e-mail our sales team
This item is backed by a 30 day parts/labor warranty within a 50 mile radius of our showroom in Addison. If you live outside our service area, in lieu of a warranty we'll give you an additional 5% off the purchase price. All of our items are guaranteed to be in working order when you receive them, no matter where you are.
This item is available from pick up at our showroom in Addison, IL. We're open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. We're closed on Sundays.
We can also arrange delivery in the Chicagoland area. Please contact us for a quote. Are you seeing this ad from outside of the Chicagoland area? No problem. We can ship/freight equipment anywhere in the USA and most parts of the world. Again, contact us for a quote.


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The State of the New York Giants Defense
Memories are often short for NFL fans. The long offseason, with excitement of numerous roster subtractions and additions, can overshadow recent failure. It's an exciting time for fans, but it is important to remember that the ultimate goal is not to make noise in the offseason, but to make noise on the playing field when the games count.
Aside from a six-game stretch at the end of the 2011 season, the New York Giants defense has been putrid for the last two seasons. It was 27th in yards allowed in 2011 and 31st in yards allowed in 2012. It has had trouble stopping the run (25th in 2012) and the pass (28th in 2012). Indeed, if it were not for 35 takeaways (2nd in the NFL), the defensive stats, including scoring defense (12th in 2012), would surely have been much worse. Personally, I never think it is wise to count on being a league leader in takeaways. Too much luck is involved.
For better or worse, many of core defensive players are now gone: DE Osi Umenyiora, DT Chris Canty, LB Michael Boley, LB Chase Blackburn, and S Kenny Phillips. DT Rocky Bernard also will not be re-signed.
New faces include veteran free agents DT Cullen Jenkins, DT Mike Patterson, DT Frank Okam, LB Dan Connor, LB Aaron Curry, and S Ryan Mundy – all but Jenkins signed to only 1-year contracts. Also added to the mix were rookie draft picks DT Johnathan Hankins, DE Damontre Moore, and S Cooper Taylor.
There still may be a move or two, but the roster heading into camp is largely set. More tweaking could occur in late August and early September when teams make their final cuts.
Obviously, there has been a lot of change. But will change lead to improved results on the playing field both in the short-term and medium-term? Has the talent actually improved? Moving beyond 2013, key veteran holdovers such as DE Justin Tuck, CB Corey Webster, and S Antrel Rolle are aging and taking up too much salary cap space. DT Linval Joseph will be a free agent and DE Jason Pierre-Paul will want a new contract soon. Who will the front office and coaching staff determine to be the core defensive players to build around on this team moving forward? Who will be the defensive leaders? Can Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell restructure the various moving parts into an effective, cohesive unit in 2013 and beyond? Yes, there is change in every offseason, but there is a pretty significant changing of the guard on defense. Can it all come together quickly?
Defensive Line: Except for Pierre-Paul's play in 2011 and late season flashes from everyone else that same season, this unit has largely lived off its reputation rather than consistent play on the football field. And because of that, gone are Umenyiora, Canty, and Bernard. Tuck could be next in 2014.
On paper, the defensive line is still the strongest position on defense. There are 16 bodies present and all of them have talent. The Giants will probably keep five defensive ends and the sure bets are Tuck, Pierre-Paul, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Damontre Moore. But Adrian Tracy, Adewale Ojomo, Justin Trattou, and Matt Broha have all flashed as players. Based on early impressions, it appears that Tuck is reinvigorated to have a big season, if for no other reason than his next contract with the Giants or another team. But he has been physically beat-up and quite moody in recent years. JPP also needs to rebound from a sackless second half if he wants a big-money contract. Kiwanuka should move back to his more natural position with something to prove as well. Moore has exciting potential, but he needs a lot of work in the weight room. If the Giants think Tuck is likely to depart in 2014, can they find a way to hold onto six defensive ends this year?
The Giants added a lot of new bodies at defensive tackle. Due to injuries and declining play, this was necessary. Linval Joseph returns. He has a lot of talent but he needs to be more effectively consistent on the playing field. Cullen Jenkins should add veteran leadership and a pass rush presence. Johnathan Hankins is the type of stout, double team-eating nose tackle that this team has lacked. That leaves one or two spots for Mike Patterson, Shaun Rogers, Markus Kuhn, Marvin Austin, and Frank Okam. Austin is the three-technique, pass rusher of the group. Rogers and Okam are huge nose tackle types. Patterson and Kuhn offer flexibility and can play the run. Moving forward past 2013, if the Giants can re-sign Joseph (a big if), then the Giants will be in good shape with him and Hankins. The real wild card is Austin. Is he a bust or can he become the player the Giants hoped he would when they drafted him in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft?
Linebacker: Most Giants' fans seemed to be more concerned with this position than any other. For quite some time, the Giants have rarely addressed this spot high in the draft (with the exception of Clint Sintim). The team has been more proactive in free agency with additions such as Michael Barrow, Antonio Pierce, and Michael Boley to name a few. The same pattern continued this offseason. The Giants did not draft a linebacker but added Dan Connor and Aaron Curry in free agency. They also re-signed Keith Rivers.
This position is the most unsettled on the team despite the fact there are only eight linebackers on the current roster and it is conceivable that the Giants could only carry six heading into the regular season. There is little stability right now. Not only is there no sure starter at any of the three spots, but five of the eight players will see their contracts expire after the 2013 season. Dan Connor is probably the favorite to start in the middle, but he could be challenged there by Aaron Curry or Mark Herzlich. Curry will also vie for one of the outside spots along with Rivers, Jacquian Williams, and Spencer Paysinger. Long shots include Jake Muasau who was with the Giants in camp last year and rookie free agent Etienne Sabino.
One wonders how much the Giants will actually use three linebackers on the field. Obviously, a three-linebacker set will be their base defense. And one would think that having more linebackers on the field would be a good thing against a run-centric team like the Washington Redskins. But Perry Fewell and many other defensive coordinators are using more nickel-type defenses in today's passing league, and Fewell, in particular, favors the three-safety look.
Rivers has talent, but he can't seem to stay healthy. Williams can run like a deer, but is he physical enough? Paysinger has been working like a dog this offseason to get his shot. But both he and Herzlich need to prove they are more than just special teams players. The real wild cards are Connor and Curry – two highly-touted collegiate prospects who have had their ups and downs in the NFL, each with two different teams.
Defensive Back: It's not the linebacker position that worries me the most, but cornerback. This was the position I was more shocked the Giants did not address in the draft. On paper, the Giants look deep and talented with Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, Terrell Thomas, Jayron Hosley, and Aaron Ross. But Webster and Ross are over 30 and obviously on the downside of their respective careers. Thomas is coming off his third ACL tear on the same knee. If Webster rebounds from a bad 2012, if Thomas' knee holds up and his overall athleticism hasn't suffered, and if Ross can serve as a steady backup, then the Giants should be in good shape. But those are all huge "ifs". Things could get really ugly if the answers to those questions are negative. Moreover, the Giants need Prince Amukamara to build upon a decent 2012 with a better 2013. And they desperately need Jayron Hosley to improve; he struggled quite a bit as a nickel corner in 2012.
Is there any potential gem in the other unknown cornerback candidates? Terrence Frederick, Laron Scott, Trumaine McBride, Charles James, and Junior Mertile are all vying for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Safety is more settled, but the Giants will be without Kenny Phillips. It's hard to envision Stevie Brown duplicating his 8-interception season again in 2013, but we shall see. Rolle is steady and athletic, but he does not make many plays on the football and his cap number may become untenable in 2014. Will Hill flashed a great deal of promise and the Giants drafted Cooper Taylor. Ryan Mundy is a veteran free agent addition, but he was often viewed as a liability in coverage in Pittsburgh. Tyler Sash has not demonstrated anything more than special teams ability and may be on the hot seat. Veteran David Cardwell and rookie free agents Alonzo Tweedy and John Stevenson are the long shots.
Summary: So there has been a great deal of change. But will these changes improve their dreadful defensive rankings? There is talent on the defensive line, but it has to stop living off its reputation. Everything seems to be in a state of flux at linebacker. Are there three quality starters in that group? In the secondary, much depends on the questions surrounding the cornerback spot. Can Webster rebound? Can Thomas come back healthy and strong? Will Amukamara prove to be worthy of a #1 pick?
And can Perry Fewell and his defensive staff successfully mold together all of these changing and evolving parts into a cohesive, aggressive, and physical defense?
The Giants' 2013 season probably depends on it.


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Draw Weight
A Tale of Two Avatars
Remember Avatar Draw Weight? That feature LL added many years ago (I think it was around 2008-2009 or so) which put a number on how much work it was for your computer to render each avatar onscreen. With green numbers being in the "acceptable" range, and red numbers being, well, pretty much everyone if you ever turned it on.
It seems as if no one can get their avatars "into the green". As recently as the last year or so I've read people complaining over on the SL forums that the colour range denoting avatar resource use was unrealistic, that we'd all have to wander around naked to get ourselves down into the green, or even the orange.
I can understand the frustration. Here, LL provided a tool that was supposed to help people manage their avatar's resource use, but the goals it sets seem far out of reach without drastically reducing the quality of our avatars, and to most people it seemed unreasonable.
They blamed the tool, but the truth is, the rendering levels displayed by Draw Weight are not unreasonable at all, it's just that content creators are making no effort to produce reasonably optimized content for avatars.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Here is my avatar. On the left is my avatar how it appeared about two weeks ago. The right is my avatar at the time of this writing. The numbers are, of course, the draw weight of my avatar. And no, that is not a typo. Although my more current avatar appears to have even more detail, it is actually about 1/4th the draw weight it was a week earlier.
How did I achieve this drastic reduction in rendering weight?
Pretty easily, actually.- Many attachments, including new mesh attachments, tend to have a prim hidden inside of them which serves no purpose other than to clog VRAM up with a huge texture nobody sees. I ripped out every single one of those "root prims".
- My mesh body has several clothing/tattoo layers. I don't use those, or any of the scripted functions of the body. So I ripped out every unused layer, plus the scripts.
- I replaced every sculpted prim I could with a mesh attachment.
- I removed every single attachment which was covered up by other attachments. My eyes, for example, have sphere prims over them with a texture adding a glistening effect. It looks great, but with my mask no one can see them. So off they went!
- I discovered my mask had an ungodly amount of polygons, many of which aren't even visible because they're buried inside other pieces of the mask. So I replaced it with a low-poly alternative. The new mask looks every bit as detailed, just different.
- Textures count towards your draw weight, too. I reduced every texture I could down to a quarter or less of its original size. Can you tell which textures I did that to? I doubt it. Unless you zoom in far closer than anyone ever would, you cannot see the difference between a 1024x1024 texture and a 512x512 texture on an avatar attachment. In many cases, you can even go down to 256 or 128 without a noticeable loss in quality.
Now, I did this all over a couple of weeks, but I didn't actually spend all that much time on it. A few minutes here. A few minutes there. I don't get on SL nearly as much as I used to, which is why it was spread out over all that time.
Still not "In the Green".
Now, if you've been paying attention, you might say "this is a big drop in draw weight, yes, but you're still not in the green!" And you'd be right!The problem is, no matter how much I optimize through modding, unless I create all my own content from scratch, I'm at the mercy of content creators. I want my avatar to look a certain way and I'm only willing to make so many compromises for efficiency.
Here's my avatar in wireframe.
Notice how even in wireframe, large chunks of my avatar appear to be solid, or nearly solid? Yeah. That's obscenely wasteful. You could cut the polygon count of this avatar down to a quarter of what you see here and not be able to tell the difference when viewing it normally. Hell, adding simple material maps can make the attachments look even more detailed than they appear out of the box, even with the reduction in polygons.
But without changing the style I want for my avatar, I',m at the mercy of content creators. Take the hair for example. It's got way more polygons and textures than it needs, but I have yet to find a hair style that matches the idea in my head as close as this does. I have a couple alternate hair styles which drop me down to around 38,000-39,000, but they're completely different than the look I'm going for.
Ever notice how it's easy to find mesh furniture that is only 1-5 Land Impact points these days? Even when mesh first came out you were usually looking at 10-20LI This is because we are all beholden to Land Impact. If you want to get the most out of your land, you avoid high LI content and buy the content that looks the best while managing to keep a low LI cost. Content creators realize this, and to get you to spend your hard earned L$ in their shops, they try to make their content cost as few Land Impact points as possible.
Avatars have no such limits. You can wear 38 attachments, each of which can be up to the equivalent of 256 LI. That means you can wear the equivalent of 9,728 LI on your avatar. That is far more than half a sim. TWO avatars can put more strain on your computer than a fully detailed sim can with your draw distance cranked to the maximum.
If avatars had a similarly limited pool of points, you can bet your low-poly behind that every single content creator would be tripping over themselves to try and outdo everyone else in delivering high detail at a low rendering cost and it would be EASY for anyone to look as good, or better, than they do now, while keeping their avatar firmly "in the green" with regards to draw weight.
For an example of how much a single attachment can add to your draw weight, I swapped my hair. I went from 50,328 down to 40,625. Despite the fact that this new hair is arguably more detailed. That's before optimizing the hair's textures, too. I was even able to add that crown/tiara and still come in at only 41,160.
I also replaced my shield, got rid of a couple of the smaller details people might not notice if removed and replaced a couple more sculpts with mesh alternatives, bringing my total draw weight from 207,884 down to 35,827.
That's right! Keeping the same amount of detail and (aside from the hair) the same basic look, I was able to educe my draw weight to less than a quarter of what it was when I started.
I'm still leaning towards the dreadlocks, but this illustrates that I can still lose a lot of draw weight if necessary while still being happy with my avatar's appearance. Reasonable limits are not a bad thing. Done well, limits can bolster creativity and imagination, rather than stifle it as some people fear.
So what good does it do?
What good is it, optimizing my avatar like this, when I'm just going to be surrounded by avatars so bloated and overtextured that my videocard is going to be overwhelmed anyways?That's a fair point. When I'm out and about in the world, it doesn't make a huge difference. Maybe a few FPS here and there. Afterall, my avatar is usually the largest object on my screen and always displayed at the highest LOD level unless I go camming around the sim, so there's at least a little gain. The biggest benefit is that my avatar always loads lightning fast now.
The real difference is when I go to my own builds. Hanging out in one of my skyboxes or sims with a few friends, I have seen a framerate improvement of up to 10FPS between now and a week ago. That's not too shabby. For maybe an hour of work spread out over a week or two, I have gained the equivalent of what I might see spending $250 on a slightly better videocard.
Food for thought.


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When Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God, his language was charged with urgent political, religious, and cultural electricity. But if we speak of the kingdom of God today, the original electricity is largely gone, and in its place we often find a kind of tired familiarity that inspires not hope and excitement, but anxiety or boredom.
Why is kingdom language not as dynamic today? First, in our world, kingdoms have given way to republics, democracies, and democratic republics. Where kings exist, they are by and large anachronisms, playing a limited ceremonial role in relation to parliaments and prime ministers, evoking nothing of the power and authority they did in Jesus' day.
In addition, for many today, kingdom language evokes patriarchy, chauvinism, imperialism, domination, and a regime without freedom—the opposite of the liberating, barrier-breaking, domination-shattering, reconciling movement the kingdom of God was intended to be! If Jesus were here today, I'm quite certain he wouldn't use the language of kingdom at all, which leaves us wondering how he would articulate his message.
It's a very practical question for people like me who believe that the secret message of Jesus has radical transformational potential today—and who feel called to try to communicate it. Of course, we'll always need to go back to Jesus' original words and story, seeking to understand how kingdom language worked in his own day. But then we must discover fresh ways of translating his message into the thought forms and cultures of our contemporary world, if we are to "teach what Jesus taught in the manner he taught it."


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CHICAGO - A cheap, decades-old chemotherapy drug extended life by more than a year when added to standard hormone therapy for men whose prostate cancer has widely spread, doctors reported Sunday.
Men who received docetaxel, sold as Taxotere and in generic form, lived nearly 58 months versus 44 months for those not given the drug, a major study found.
"This is one of the biggest improvements we've seen in survival in adults" with any type of cancer that has widely spread from its original site, said Dr. Christopher Sweeney of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. He led the study and shared the results Sunday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual conference in Chicago.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. In the United States, about 240,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. About 30,000 annually are like the men in this study, with disease that has spread to bones or other organs.
In the study, all 790 men received drugs to block testosterone, a hormone that fuels prostate cancer's growth, and half also were given six infusions of docetaxel, one every three weeks.
About 2 1/2 years later, 101 of the men given docetaxel had died versus 136 of the men who did not receive it. One man died from the treatment, and about 6 percent had fevers from low blood counts, but most were able to tolerate treatment well, Sweeney said.
The National Cancer Institute paid for the study, which took nearly a decade to do. The result shows the importance of federal funding for research that otherwise might not get done, said Dr. Clifford Hudis, who works at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and also is the president of the oncology society.
"These are often studies that industry is less interested in funding, such as a new use for an old drug" that lost patent protection long ago, he said.
Generic docetaxel costs about $1,500 or less per infusion. That's far less than some other cancer drugs, which can exceed $100,000 for a course of treatment.


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International Projects
International Projects - Committee Chairperson Jennifer Willis
The International Project Committee wishes to express our sincere gratitude for the support given to the schools in Ghana West Africa.
We are requesting the following supplies: spiral tablet paper, pencils, crayons, scissors, and glue.
Items may be mailed to Harahan Elementary at:
JoAnn Chevalier or Joyce Blunt
6723 Jefferson Hwy.
Harahan, Louisiana 70123
**Be sure to include the Northeast Louisiana Reading Council within the package.
Take to:
Jennifer Willis
NLRC IP Chairperson
Central Elementary
Calhoun, LA
Jennifer will see that the materials are at the LRA meeting in Baton Rouge by January.
International Development Coordinating Committee
1. Collect and disseminate information regarding international projects to and from all international development committees to NLRA & LRA.
2. Support regional IDCs in promoting IRA membership and council development.
3. Encourage regional IDCs to submit applications for IRA awards and grants and assist them with proposal development for special projects.
4. Strengthen partnerships worldwide with whom IRA can work to expand access to literacy for all; facilitate the development of international projects which focus on professional development through external funding sources; and identify and/or support professional development projects in the regions.
5. Publicize International Literacy Day areawide, in conjunction with Headquarters.
6. Review new resolutions and positions for global applicability and make recommendations to NLRC At spring and fall meetings.
International Reading Association Chairperson
Rizalina C. Labanda
Blk 10 Lot 88
Golden City Subd
Sta Rosa Laguna 4026
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I am generating a key & iv with Ruby's OpenSSL wrapper for an AES CBC 256 setup:
cipher = OpenSSL::Cipher::Cipher.new('aes-256-cbc')
key = cipher.random_key
iv = cipher.random_iv
I am then storing the generated key / iv in blob columns in the database. When trying to display the key or iv it looks something similar to this:
×>×=ñ±8i·ÊahJ[ }öúÇ{xÎÝ¿
My question is:
should the key & iv which seem to be random bytes be converted to hex with an SHA function before using and storing into the DB?
Is it safer this way for storage / use or can they be used just as they are generated in byte form?
Looks like I was mistaken on my terminology and use of SHA.
Revised question: Is a random byte key from OpenSSL just as random and secure if I convert it to hex via unpack('H*')
Any help is appreciated.