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When counting blessings, it's easy to take for granted the five senses – taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing – if you've never been without one of them. Lancaster resident Tara Steele is counting having restored hearing in her left ear as a huge blessing, thanks to a surgery performed back in May.
A staple side dish at my summer cookouts is baked beans. I have a traditional recipe that my family loves, but lately I've been trying to switch things up a bit. I think these baked bean recipes may be just what I'm looking for.
Every parent knows, it can be hard to please the taste buds of everyone at the table. But, it seems like Cindy Ferguson does just that with her Spicy Apple Baked Beans.
Drivers on Craig Farm Road in Lancaster County may have gotten a bit distracted on Saturday, July 12, by the row of shiny Mercedes-Benz automobiles parked neatly in front of Kilburnie, the Inn at Craig Farm.
Sherry Archie
For The Lancaster News
The Haires built their home in 1970. Many of the original boxwoods and hollies kept neatly trimmed continue to thrive in the yard – a direct result of Judy's green thumb.
"Growing plants has always been easy for me," Judy said. "Many times I have just stuck a small cutting from a plant in the ground and it really takes off."
In another realm, I was a ball of fire, always full of energy.
Why, I took on all kinds of projects and tasks of all sorts and sizes around our Charlotte Road Camelot.
Now, I get up in the morning with the best intentions of getting our yard in better shape.
No, I don't mean that blue ribbon, Yard-of-the-Month frenzy.
While I enjoy lookin' at the pictures, once you win that distinction, you are under pressure and the lawn is under neighborhood microscope.
Kayland Hagwood
Special to The Lancaster News
Jimmy Wood knows what he loves about sailing.
"The sound of the waves, the feel of the wind and the smile on my wife's face."
And Wood – the acting commodore of Lake Wateree Sail Club – wants other people to experience those things and understand why the Lake Wateree Sail Club is a great place to share experiences.
Barbara Witte
Special to The
Lancaster News
When I learned about the Southwest Florida Honor Flight, I quickly contacted Don Vecoli, founder and organizer.
He and his staff organize the trips for World War II veterans and volunteers to visit the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., two or three times per year.
Katie West
USC School of Journalism
Perhaps nowhere in the country more than in South Carolina does the word evoke a sense of history as rich as the smell of meat in the smoker.
A few years ago, when I did some frequent work-related traveling between Springs' Customer Service Center and their New York office, several of those "real city boys" used to chide me about one of my neighborly tendencies.
For some strange, inexplicable reason, they perceived my inclination of nodding and speaking to people on the street as a "bad habit."
Folks in midtown New York City, they said, never make eye contact with total strangers.
If you did, you were asking for trouble.
Kayland Hagwood
More than 200 people came to the first Tribute to the Golden Legacy event at Mt. Zion AME Zion Church on Sunday, May 4.
The purpose of the night – honor those who worked at Barr Street before it closed in 1970, said secretary of the BSHS Foundation, Dr. Charmaine Stradford.
Kaisha Young
One girl is popular and comes from an affluent family. One girl is reserved and comes from a middle class family.
Both give no indications that anything's wrong, even though they are both harboring heinous secrets.
Both are victims of teen dating violence.
School district youth/peer counselors Deborah Boulware and Sarah Woodring know this tale all too well after hearing it time and time again.
From release
Nature lovers can become certified S.C. Master Naturalists and join a regional corps of citizen scientists by attending a weekly environmental training course beginning in March at the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill.
The Catawba Master Naturalist Program teaches participants how to explore the world around them, identify plants and animals, and better understand ecological concepts they can apply through volunteering in their communities.
Lancaster NAACP release
The fellowship hall at Mount Zion AME Zion Church overflowed with attendees of all ages at the first Town Hall Meeting sponsored by the Lancaster Branch of the NAACP on Dec. 12.
Nearly one hundred people met to present their views on the subject "Crime Watch: Saving Our Youth."
Sean Creeden
USC School of Journalism
It's a cool fall morning in October, and once again streets are closed across South Carolina as runners race another 5K.
These runners rise with the sun to run in one of the many races available on any given weekend. They run to exercise, lose weight and even make friends.
With the holidays and the fun family times along with delicious dinners and deserts that we are destined to eat, I'm going to give you a few extra treats on how to keep your abs and waist line in tip top shape and still enjoy eating your favorite foods.
Whether dashing to visit family or just getting away for a leisurely trip, families spend the winter holidays away from home for different reasons.
The "Three House Run"
Christmas travels begin at 5 a.m. Dec. 24, for the Camp family, who set out on their annual holiday journey to Warner Robins, Ga.
Nov. 2, 2013
There's got to be at least 40 volunteers here.
Some crouching, hammers in hand. The hollow sound of tools banging against the wood echoes. The noise slicing through the autumn air.
Finally, the progress is visible – it's tangible.
Eighty-four-year-old James Hagins is a retired Lancaster resident. He spends his days taking it easy, napping in his recliner when he feels like it. When he lost his wife of 60 years, Peggy, in September of 2012, he found an unusual outlet for his grief – quilting.
"My mother quilted, and with eight of us children, she definitely had help when she needed it," he said. "I didn't mind helping her, and sometimes I was the only one she would let help, because I did things the way that suited her."
If you can't make it the mountains to choose and cut your Christmas tree there's no need to worry – Lancaster County has it covered.
Papa John's Christmas Tree Farm, located at 6980 Flat Creek Road in Kershaw, offers six different varieties of trees customers can choose and cut, including Blue Ice, Carolina Sapphire, Eastern Red Cedar, Leyland Cypress, Virginia Pine and White Pine.
Decking the halls for the holidays is a beloved tradition for many families. A home's exterior festooned with lights help create a festive holiday mood, while stockings hung by the chimney and a Christmas tree in the living room bring that holiday cheer inside.
Though the holiday season is a festive time of year, it can quickly turn tragic if safety is not emphasized when decorating a home. When decorating this holiday season, be sure to employ the following precautions so your holiday season is festive, decorative and safe:
Copyright © 2019
The Lancaster News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Lancaster County and Lancaster, South Carolina, and the surrounding area..


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112 comments
Teenage girls are the bravest.
and a drink :)
well said ;)
Sometimes, according to retired models, it wasn't the young girl's choice…
It's a rather old fashioned thought, but here we go: would you want your daughter out there? She looks so vulnerable.
I agree, that's what I see too (naked, vulnerable, somewhat "hunted")
Hallo Zoe W,
yes she looks vulnerable. But I think, most impressive is the contrast between the girl in her bright transparent blouse and all the photographers in dark clothes with their cameras pointed at the girl. Scott Schuman has a talent for the right moment. He can catch contrasts and always makes a good composition in his photographs.
Besides, a few years ago I have seen a lady in a Munich subway station. She must have been in her forties – she was definitely not a teenager anymore – and she wore a transparent black blouse and NO bra underneath. She really looked great to me. That must have been one of those Satorialist-moments.
Thanks for saying that
Unfortunately, teenage girls are suffering from the sexualization of their bodies and the infantilization of women that the fashion industry promotes on a daily basis. This picture is a prime example.
An average teenage girl is more boy-crazy and sexualized then all of the fashion industry, Hollywood, and probably the staff of Penthouse. I doubt you have ever met one. I am quite sure the woman walking the runway here is an adult, so perhaps you shouldn't infantilize her.
What's brand?
oooooh my , nice pic!
Oh wow, beautiful and inspiring pic!
It takes confidence, certainly. Its definitely not for the shy, and its easy to start wanting to be the center of that storm. Everyone has their own brand of bravery, and its all to be commended. I am not sure guts is the word I would use, but I suppose we all have our own idea of what that word means.
Yes, it must! I kind of wonder what goes through models' heads when they see what they have to wear sometimes, and as women, what they think of the purchasing value of some of the pieces. I'm sure that you could easily style the piece successfully in other ways, but obviously, the impact wouldn't be the same. At what point does the "shock" value has more value than the selling and wearing capacity that is thought to be the driving force behind a collection?
Did you also take a shot of the front? Why did or didn't you? It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this as a visual professional!
A very thoughtful response! Thank you.
Pretty obviously because he wanted the juxtaposition of the girl in the diaphonous garment and the photographers, critics, and other judges of the look wearing their black armor. I don't think it was necessarily about the model being a woman. Male models going forth in some outlandish vulnerable looking get ups will feel exactly the same. Its about being judged while you are in your undies.
Reminds me of the last scenes in Robert Altman's "PrĂŞt-Ă -Porter" from 1994!
Wow super sexy! There is such a thin line between sexy and vulgar, but this one is so far from the dark side
beautiful, I love it.
xx Amy.
who do you mean, the model or the photographers?
I don't think the question is whether you have guts or not.For me, the real question is:why do it?
This screams :'I want attention.' Rather than:' I'm artistic, I have imagination.'
Models aren't paid to be "artistic" and "have imagination" – they are simply supposed to draw attention to the artistic imagination of others.
Why not? Why should it be a problem that her body is visible? When you think about it, it's just her breasts. There is nothing scary or shameful about it. All this controversy regarding nudity only messes peoples minds and body images up. Not that I would walk down a catwalk like that, but I'm messed up by society and social discourses too.
And I don't really think she gets to choose her outfit. Only if she wants to participate in the show or not. Modeling is about showing off your body. When you are used to striking poses, it probably isn't such a dramatic thing to loose your top too.
Well most of all I just wish it was possible, that the "naked female body" didn't necessarily equal "objectified body". I wish it was possible to have an image of a naked female body, without some jerk thinking that he has the right to say something like "show us the front view please!". Just because the chick is naked, it doesn't mean that you own her.
That is really perfect pic. You made perfect job.
Love it! Amazing contrast!
beautiful light !!
You are a genius.
Love this photo!!
Beautiful picture. Quelle image !
Being a model doesn't look so glamorous from this point of view. Nice work Scott!!
It is all a question of method.
Model Courage!
I think this is a powerful strong statement….. feels empowering to me…. totally sexy and well seductive..
Who is the model?
When did it happen?
This just makes me smile. Thank you :)
A lot of guts and loving the attention! Can't be shy in this job!
I can almost feel how exposed she feels!
I can tell this guys are professionals. In my country at least some of them would be enjoying their work…if you know what I mean…
No you can't.
It depends on how you feel about breasts, really. If the model is from Europe, where revealed breasts aren't really that big a deal, then, maybe it's not so much about guts but a part of the job. Revealed breasts doesn't have to mean exploitative or daring, just, breasts. Whatever.
I don't think you can generalise Europe like that. There are big culture differences between countries and I believe opinions would vary a lot as you travel from south to north or from east to west. I'm from north-west europe myself and find it slightly annoying that exposed breasts have become so widely present in fashion.
Of course there are. and one cannot generalise about much of anything. but as a european, I can certainly say that there are powerful differences between US and European culture. And the boundaries between countries are closer, and therefore cultural relativity is more prevalent. I'm from central Europe and I don't care if breasts are shown one way or the other.
All these comments, and yet nobody wonders about how the model feels, only whether it is de rigeur, or whether the designer feels the clothes show better on a nude form. Make no mistake, topless and panties might as well be nude for all of the hiding one can do behind them.
As a model, I can tell you that she will have disconnected from her body already in order to do this work, and that is the shame of it. Being a teenager, and feeling like you have to expose yourself no matter what in order to get the work is the most insidious brain washing going. And how many years will she have to do this to be 'successful'?
Not that I expect non-models to understand.
Well said!
Well, it's not like she was forced to do this job!! this is her choice. If she doesn't like being "exposed" she can work in a pizza shop, in an office, or stay home and study! But obviously, she pursued this career and most probably wants to keep doing it, as long as it's fun, and she is young enough. As a photographer, I meet lots of models who enjoy posing nude- no, they even prefer posing nude. I never felt like she was forced to do it. and I wouldn't call it Guts. When a model reveals her breasts in a studio, she knows that her picture is being taken and will be seen by 1000s or 1000000s. Whether it's one photographer pointing his camera at her, or 10 photographers, doesn't really matter, to the experienced model.
I think you are missing H's point — ie that to put forward a "European culture" perspective.
I'm English, and I think we, for example, have more in common with much of American culture as we do with Greece for example. Not being rude to anyone here – as I enjoy the variety of multiple cultures.
Is it wrong to say that I wish the model would turn around and say 'hi'?
both ways…
I don't think it's a big deal when you look that amazing lol
xo Jennifer
I don't think this it takes Guts AT ALL. Come on..!
This is their job and as paradoxal as it might seem, fashion and 'nudity' very often do go tohether, and any professional should know
"Oh, poor little girl, feeling vulnerable"….. urgghh
cool picture!!!
Well, the trend here is 'transparency': a consumer might be willing to wear this dress over a top and leggings, some sexy lingerie, jeans… Infinite combos.
I guess there are several reasons why the designer might have chosen to present the piece alone..
BTW, a very interesting sort of garment for Garance's next FW challenge.
What's with some of the cameras (apparently) pointing at her knees (or just above), judging from an imaginary line I draw with my eye? Did anyone else see that? Like that guy with the ble bag at his feet to the left of the model. Others doing it too. Is that a thing in Europe these days? [Assuming it's in Europe, of course.]
I believe those photographers are taking pictures of her shoes? They may gawk at the model's body later when they look at the photos, but now they are just doing their jobs.
I'd do it for the pay they make. I daresay they couldn't care less about flashing it all. I was a retail lingerie buyer in the 80′s and saw this in showrooms all the time. No big deal.
Well, at least she had the panties on…
show us the front view please!
Love this shot of the 'shooters.' Very clever, Scott. You have a great sense of humor…it made me laugh.
Fabulous photo!
Beautiful photo, I would love to see the front as well.
Wow, and people say that models don't work hard, amazing to see what happens from their point of view!
I'd say it takes more guts to walk down the street being gawked at and flirted with by random guys whose intentions are unknown than it does to walk down a runway surrounded by professional photographers and fashionistas.
still I am not sure what to think of this. one one hand I think: well, come one. fashion is also a kind of art, and art and the naked human body go hand in hand, she is beautiful, the clothes are pretty, so what? On the other hand I can only think…what a bunch of cynical, cruel bastards gawking at an teenage girl, exposed like a piece of meat. and I cannot help always thinking that second part as well. and of course they've chosen this profession themselves, but do we really know for what reasons? after all they are mostly just very young insecure girls, who genuinely believe that the prettier they are, the more love they deserve – and that is sadly the down side of fashion. not the nudity itself is a problem. It's like you say. you look at this and think "it must take a lot of guts to do this." or a lot of desperation, desire for attention, confusion. I'd rather just put a bra on her to be honest. It would still be a killer shirt, wouldn't it?
I have the same hesitation as Margarita. On the one hand, these women can make a living from their natural beauty (with all the sacrifices they make to stay thin and to compete in the industry). At the same time, I worry about the balance between pay and exposure.
I appreciate the perspective Mr. Schuman's gives here, which frames the discussion differently… instead of discussing how WE look at models, we're talking about what THEY see, and how they might feel in that position. I think this instance of considering a woman's position within the context of fashion affords her a level of complexity that is often denied to women who fit the fashion image of being tall, thin, and beautiful. After all, no matter how we look, we're all being looked at.
The emperor's new clothes
Great photo, you captured the moment, perfectly, the nonchalance everydayness of it.
I believe that it's just perfect that you showed only the back. This way it's only inviting and not explicit. Regarding the model – she's just doing her job. To me there is nothing spectacular about this. Models are comfortable with their bodies, good for them!
Immediately I thought of that episode of Sex and the City when Carrie was walking the Dolce and Gabanna show in those sparkly panties!
Someone forgot a layer.
guts? if I had that body I would never wear clothes.
I can say without a shadow of a doubt that THIS is my most favorite picture you've ever posted on this site.
If you were to create a poster out of it, I would definitely buy it.
Thank you for your great work!
I wonder if we aren't doing ourselves a disservice with all the nudity these days. At MOCA's recent independent book fair, it seemed every vendor was trying to out-shock the rest with unnecessary, often graphic nudity. I'm no prude – the nude body has always been at the nucleus of Art. But when it's so omnipresent, it feels like a cheap way to label oneself or one's product as "cool." Like swearing, nudity is best when it's used judiciously.
I was at that art book fair and felt exactly the same way. I'm glad I wasn't the only one!
No. Just a perfect body.
That's exactly what I was thinking!
Would a small stain on the under garment kill the look?
what a perceptive comment, that would totally take the outfit from beautiful to gross
This fabulous shot not is only visually beautiful, it also tells a story, starts a dialogue, insists the viewer question their gaze. Instead of merely documenting clothes, this image elevates fashion to politics, making it infinitely more fascinating for the viewer. (Well, me, at least…) This is why The Sart, using all the powers of his intelligent, insightful observation keeps him head and shoulders above the pack. Merci x
The title of this post is more appropriate for your Steve McCurry interview.
This is not taking guts. This is doing a simple job that she has been trained to do. A job that takes guts, is one where you are unsure of the outcome or your own safety. Wake up!
That's true! And your post is also a proof of your empathy…
LOL! Agreed. That and a perfect body.
Wow, this image is really stunning. She looks both powerful and vulnerable at once. Amazing.
Guts?!? If I looked like her, this is exactly what I'd be wearing :)!
Somebody dressed like that in front of me when I was fourteen years old. I've never recovered, thankfully.
Wow, I almost feel like I am walking in her shoes and got a little nervous for her.
Fabulous image.
I teach life drawing at a college, so this is a very ordinary occurance, a nude model in front of many working artists. I think it takes generosity more than guts – I tell my students all the time that models are generous beings.
Modelling is a performance. They do their act just like actors in a theater stage. Ok, not that much but definitely a demanding performance!
Where's the Leica?
umm would she have had any choice about wearing that outfit, bravery implies she had a choice, which i doubt?
Agree. She knows she's disposable and if she refuses, there're hundreds more who want to take her place. I'm curious to know if models' permission is sought with outfits like this, or if it's discussed beforehand.
I think the bravery is from a designer who designs a barely there "whatever." It's not from the model who is use to baring it all in front of a lot of people. I believe and correct me if I'm wrong that It's really about a garment that don't really make any sense both in a runway and in real life. You have minimal time to make an impression for a collection and you send this in the runway? Call me crazy.
… or very few guts, as the case may be…
Wow, I've never thought about the models' perspective when looking at fashion weeks and runways and all that…they are really brave and fearless to be able to put themselves out there with so much confidence. I really applaud them!
Guts? Why? It takes guts to to work as a construction worker on the Empire State or lead a troop of men in Afghanistan. She's a model it's her dream like many women (and men) to be admired and desired so I think she's probably in her element!
Every person has different boundaries. This is brave or takes "guts" if it is outside the model's comfort zone. For some of us (Scott, based on commentary) walking a runway in a diaphanous garment with photographers recording the moment would be a challenge. For others, whether the body is perfect or not, this would be no problem. I too would need more guts or a stiff drink to pull this off.
It's a bit violent to be be shot this way. Most of the time they are disconnected from their body, playing a role … it's really a powerful game
As far as I understand, showing various kinds of clothing is a requirement of being a model. There's nothing personal in this. A model at work is a body. I will compare it to a model standing in front of a bunch of artists to be painted naked. Nothing personal, nothing vulgar. Only professional.
i like the silver shoes bottom left hand corner
I don't remember exactly where I've seen that face before.
I don't know how that model can face the impressive sea of photographers without thinking about all the pictures of her that will be on the web in a few minutes after the show.
I am starting to realize that moments captured like this one are possibly the strongest motivator in fashion.
a different view!
Great pic!
I'd do it for twenty quid.
what is this show? is from fall 2013?? you know the brand??
Guts by nudity or the amount of photographers? Intimidating! With or without clothes…
haha. oh lord
When I initially looked at this picture, it was about the model and what she was modelling and why. When I looked again, however, what jumped out was the spectator in the pink hat who appears to be gazing at the model's face and eyes and person wonderingly, and the bald and bearded phtographer on the right who appears to be making a quick and critical study of the model for compositional value. My gaze bounces between the two of them. The model is simply their focal point.
I love this shot! The view from the other side…

subset: commoncrawl


text: When designing office environments, Vitra unites the interests of the company and its employees. A key factor in activating productivity potential is making it easy for the individual to achieve his or her personal best, and it has been proven that this is much easier in a comfortable environment. This defuses the apparent conflict of interests between the company and the individual employee.


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Let $\{f_n\}$ be a sequence of functions in $L^2[0,1]$ such that $f_n(x)\rightarrow 0$ almost everywhere on $[0,1]$. If $|f_n(x)|\le 1$ for all $n$ and almost all $x\in [0,1]$.
I require direction in answering the following questions:
(a) $$\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty} \int_0^1 f_n(x)g(x)~dx =0$$ for all $g\in L^2[0,1]$.
(b) Will the conclusion still hold if the condition $|f_n(x)|\le 1$ is replaced by the condition that $||f_n||_{L^2} $ are uniformly bounded?
Thanks for your responses.


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Women's Studies
Women's Studies
WS 200 Introduction to Women's Studies 3 SH
The course will introduce students to the broad variety of scholarship on women throughout the world. The course content includes topics such as: gender, gender roles, and sexuality and power. The course will examine women's lives through the lens of history, race, class, ethnicity and sexuality. The course may also address: women and work, welfare, family issues, AIDS, violence, reproductive rights, civil rights, communication, health, literature, militarization and welfare. General Education: Humanistic Studies.
WS/HIS 210 Women in American History 3 SH
See HIS/WS 210
WS/COM 211 Women, Language and Communication 3 SH
See COM/WS 211
WS/PSY 217 Psychology of Women 3 SH
See PSY/WS 217
WS/ANT 236 Culture, Sex & Gender 3 SH
See ANT/WS 236
WS/JLA 301 Women and Criminal Justice 3 SH
See JLA/WS 301
WS/HIS 319 Women in Medieval and Early Modern Europe 3 SH
This class will focus on the history of women during the medieval and the early modern period, from roughly the 9th until the 16th centuries. Discussion begins with understanding medieval and early modern categories of women in European culture: mystics, queens, witches, authors, nuns, mothers, etc. Then the course examines the lives of specific women who may or may not conform to the expectations of these categories of women. Course discussion also focuses on the origins and persistence of gender stereotyping throughout these periods and debate over their continued relevance. Prerequisite: Junior standing or written permission of the instructor. Competency: Intercultural, Oral Communication.
WS/ANT 321 Gender and Globalization 3 SH
See ANT/WS 321
WS/ENG 334 Women Writers 3 SH
See ENG/WS 334
The following courses also have been approved and are offered periodically:
WS/ECO 327 Economics of Gender
WS/NUR 250 Women's Health Issues
WS/ANT 314 Native Peoples of the Southwest: Women, Spirituality and Power
WS/HIS 320 Women and Leadership


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Meredith Martin – The Rise and Fall of Meter: Poetry and English National Culture, 1860–1930
Winner of the 2012 MLA Prize for a First Book, Modern Language Association
Meredith Martin's The Rise and Fall of Meter is an impressive, elegant work that intervenes in old and new literary histories alike. This book traces the surprisingly polemical history of the standardization of English prosody. Bringing to light new archival materials, the work excavates the full turbulence and excitement of the nineteenth- and twentieth-century debates about English verse rhythms. Complex, concise, and clear, Martin's book deftly weaves together cultural analysis; the study of language, form, and sound; and literary history. With a rich critical eclecticism, the book reframes and reanimates our understanding of the history of poetry and poetics. The result is an intriguing story, as relevant to the new aesthetics as it is to older historical and cultural studies. Martin's work reminds us that at its best, great scholarship has much in common with great storytelling. To read more, click here.
The Rise and Fall of Meter tells the unknown story of English meter from the late eighteenth century until just after World War I. Uncovering a vast and unexplored archive in the history of poetics, Meredith Martin shows that the history of prosody is tied to the ways Victorian England argued about its national identity. Gerard Manley Hopkins, Coventry Patmore, and Robert Bridges used meter to negotiate their relationship to England and the English language; George Saintsbury, Matthew Arnold, and Henry Newbolt worried about the rise of one metrical model among multiple competitors. The pressure to conform to a stable model, however, produced reactionary misunderstandings of English meter and the culture it stood for. This unstable relationship to poetic form influenced the prose and poems of Robert Graves, Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, W. B. Yeats, Ezra Pound, and Alice Meynell. A significant intervention in literary history, this book argues that our contemporary understanding of the rise of modernist poetic form was crucially bound to narratives of English national culture.
Meredith Martin is associate professor of English at Princeton University.


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — U.S. stocks ended with broad gains Monday, reclaiming some of the ground lost in the previous week as investors took their cue from an unexpectedly strong rise in March retail sales and consensus-beating results from Citigroup Inc.
Stocks wobbled in late trade, with the Nasdaq briefly dipping into negative territory before regaining its footing. In the end, the Nasdaq Composite COMP, -0.38% rose 22.96 points, or 0.6%, to close at 4,022.69.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.52% ended with triple-digit gains near the highs for the day, rising 146.49 points, or 0.9%, to 16,173.24. The S&P 500 SPX, -0.38% rose 14.92 points, or 0.8%, to 1,830.61. Read: MarketWatch's stock market live blog.
Despite the Monday bounce, stocks may be poised for further losses in the near term, strategists said, particularly as earnings season progresses under a cloud of anxiety over valuation levels.
"There's no telling how long the current bout of volatility will last, or how deep the pullback will go. But if history is any guide, markets may overshoot on the way down," said Jerry Webman, chief economist at Oppenheimer Funds, in a note.
With no 2008-style systemic crises or wild, 2000-style valuation concerns and subsequent recessions currently on the horizon, Webman said that a significant selloff is likely to be "relatively contained—and prove to have been a good long-term buying opportunity."
A positive tone had been set ahead of the opening bell as stock-index futures extended gains after data showed retail sales jumped 1.1% in March, marking the biggest rise since September 2012 and topping forecasts for a gain of 0.9%. February sales were raised to show a 0.7% gain from an initial estimate of 0.3%.
Read more: Real news in retail sales report is absence of bad news.
"Significant strength in consumer spending last month provides a strong challenge to the bearish tone of late – not that much of the bout of selling was driven by concern for the health of the economy," said Andrew Wilkinson, chief market analyst at Interactive Brokers in Greenwich, Conn.
The data cheered investors as it offered some reassurance that soft economic data earlier this year was attributable to extreme winter weather.
"The amelioration of the chilly winter possibly had much to do with the latest reading, but the snapback in dollars spent was tremendous," Wilkinson said, in a note.
Stocks paid scant attention to data that showed business inventories rose 0.4% in February, just shy of expectations for a 0.5% increase.
Citigroup C, -1.01% shares rose 4.4% after the bank's first-quarter results easily topped Wall Street forecasts. Citigroup reported a 3.5% rise in profit, boosted by lower expenses and provisions for soured loans, even as revenue fell. See: Citigroup's stock is cheap, but should you buy it?
U.S. stocks were shellacked last week, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both seeing their biggest weekly losses since mid-2012, while the Dow saw its biggest weekly fall since mid-March.
The relatively upbeat results from Citigroup stood in contrast to disappointing results Friday from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. JPM, -1.08%, which contributed to the Friday selloff. Analysts said earnings and, perhaps more important, sales results continue to hold the key to near-term direction, particularly in the tech sector, which has been hardest hit as investors grow worried that valuations have been stretched too far.
"Weak sales growth is nothing new, but now that the market appears to believe that valuations are looking rich, investors are starting to take notice. If companies can't beat sales expectations in an environment of low interest rates, when can they?" wrote Kathleen Brooks, research director at Forex.com in London. See: Google, Intel, IBM outlooks to trump earnings results.
Elsewhere, shares of Herbalife Ltd. HLF, -0.05% rose 4.4%. Shares had tumbled at the end of last week on news reports the company is the subject of a criminal investigation by U.S. authorities. The nutrition-supplement firm said Friday it wasn't aware of a probe.
Shares of Edwards Lifesciences Corp. EW, -1.54% rose 11%, making it the top gainer in the S&P 500. The company said late Friday it won a preliminary injunction limiting the sale of Medtronic Inc.'s MDT, -0.42% CoreValve system, which had been found by a federal jury to infringe on an Edwards patent. Medtronic shares fell 1.9%.
More from MarketWatch:
History suggests value outperformance has room to run: Morgan Stanley
Benefits: The secret weapon in the talent war


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When "The Dark Knight Rises" opens up at midnight batfans will hash out whether the film meets expectations; however, the other big ticket on people's minds is not if, but how this film will fit into the box-office records book.
Fans have been pitting TDKR as the must-see movie event of the year, so it only made sense for people to wonder how the Dark Knight will match up against "The Avengers," which shattered box-office opening weekend records earning an unexpected $207 million.
So, will the Caped Crusader beat out the Marvel crew at the box office?
So far, the answer is an outstanding "no" from The Wrap, Forbes, and other film sites.
Surely it has some elements to beat out "The Avengers" ticket sales (the hype, the capacity and success of its viral campaigns, the sell out of tickets in January-nearly seven months ahead of the film).
One has to wonder how it could not make more money than "The Dark Knight." Anticipated sequels tend to win out over their predecessors regardless of whether or not they're well received (i.e. " Spider-Man 3" and " Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith").
Variety is already giving projections of $25 million in presale tickets for "TDKR," far north of "The Avengers" $18.7 million. However, not all presale tickets account for midnight showings.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let's break this down.
Going in, yes, we know the odds are against the film. Forbes writer Mark Hughes pointed this out in a very poignant numbers argument back in early June.
There are three factors being thrown around which will hold the Caped Crusader back from breaking all the records: demographic, 3-D, and showing counts.
Let's play the numbers game ...
There will be less showings of "The Dark Knight Rises" than Marvel's "The Avengers."
Clocking in at a lengthy two hours and 45 minutes Nolan's final film is slightly longer than "The Avengers" two hours and 22 minutes.
Sure, this may lead to a few less screenings during the day (an extra 15 minutes can add up); however, how many fewer showings can this actually lead to in theaters?
This appears to be the least of "The Dark Knight Rises" worries. Why? For one, "The Avengers" was the longest of all the Marvel films-both "Iron Man 2" and "Captain America: The First Avenger" were two hours and four minutes- and people went out to see that because it was a hugely anticipated film.
As well, 2008's "The Dark Knight" was 152 minutes long-a whopping two hours and 30 minutes-and with an estimated worldwide gross of more than $1 billion to date, that film did just fine. TDK also sees the third-highest opening weekend of all time behind "The Avengers" and the final installment of "Harry Potter."
In addition, the majority of Nolan's films average around 2 hours, save "Following," so we find this is a moot point.
To combat the "fewer showings" theory and to meet the possibly high demand for the film, some AMC and Regal theaters around the country are keeping their theaters open all hours of the evening.
About 10% of Regal Cinemas will air the film anywhere from 24-72 hours. Both Regal and AMC Theaters will also offer screenings between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. with the latest showing we've seen at 5:00 a.m. in Cherry Hill, N.J.
There are no 3-D screenings of "The Dark Knight Rises."
If "The Dark Knight Rises" was released in 3-D, there's no question as to whether it would give "The Avengers" a closer run for its money; however, Nolan refused to have his final film converted into a cheap 3-D flick.
Simply put, Christopher Nolan dislikes 3-D, and doesn't believe movie goers should have to shell out the big bucks for a quickly converted film that's not up to par. It's one of the reasons we love him.
In an interview with Salon, Nolan spoke freely on his reasoning to release the film in 2D:
"I never meet anybody who actually likes the format, and it's always a source of great concern to me when you're charging a higher price for something that nobody seems to really say they have any great love for.
"It's up to the audience to tell us how they want to watch the movies. More people go see these films in 2-D, and so it's difficult data to interpret. And I certainly don't want to shoot in a format just to charge people a higher ticket price."
Paramount knew what they were doing when they released "The Avengers" in 3-D. It's not clear how much of the film's earnings were from 3-D ticket sales overall; however, most of the film's midnight showings were only available in the 3-D format.
From MovieTickets.com on The Avengers presale:
- 56% of pre-sales for MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS are from fans wanting to see the film in 3-D.
- Nearly 37% of pre-sales for MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS are from moviegoers buying tickets to see the film in IMAX 3-D.
3-D IMAX tickets range in price from $12-$17 across the country. (12 in AZ / 17 in NY).
IMAX tickets: $12-$14 on average.
Batman's Not For Kids
Batman's not kid-friendly. Anyone who's parents were slaughtered and then dresses up like a bat can be slightly scary and give nightmares. What little kid wants to imagine how "The Dark Knight" Joker got his scars?
After the second film, it's safe to say Gotham's protector may be a bit too dark for the little ones.
While, for the most part, we agree, we're going to go slightly against the tide on this one.
We imagine 11, 12, 13 year-olds would still want to go out and see this film. Why? The same reason any kid goes out to see a film they're "not supposed" to see, because it's "the film" to see.
If word of mouth spreads that this is the must-see movie, then kids are going to find a way to see it. If it's the film you tell them not to see because it's "too dark" and "too violent," they'll want to see it. There's been so much hype out there, it's hard for kids to not want to see it.
With the recent cartoon, "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" and reruns of "Batman: The Animated Series" daily on Disney's The Hub, it's easy to make the connection that any kid seeing their favorite small screen superhero plastered on mountain dew cans, billboards, and TV ads, would be interested in witnessing him on the big screen.
Let's not forget there's been an entire line of "The Dark Knight Rises"-themed toys in stores around the country. Don't tell us kids of some capacity don't want to see the film.
So, where does this leave our silent guardian? What does Batman have going for him?
A lot.
According to Fandango's Head of Public Relations, Harry Medved, the film is accounting for 85% of all ticket sales. It's no surprise the film has been the number one ticket seller on Fandango since tickets went on sale June 11th.
Let's take a look at a few more factors:
Nolan Fanboys Going Batty For Bats
The viral marketing campaigns alone show how much bat fever there is to see the film.
OperationEarlyBird.com (which will now redirect you directly to thedarkknightrises.com) was an early viral site revealed to give away free tickets at select IMAX theaters to watch a six-minute prologue of the film. After the site was revealed, the free tickets vanished quickly for the December 2011 showings ahead of "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol."
Here's a look at what the site looked like:
Monday morning, April 30, thedarkknightrises.com launched a world-wide campaign asking fans to locate Batman graffiti and email or tweet it to accounts. Each mark unveiled a frame from the new trailer, set to be revealed Friday, May 4, ahead of "The Avengers."
The trailer was revealed in less than 24 hours. The task required the cooperation of Bat fans in multiple countries including Argentina, Germany, North America. It's not just fans in the U.S. waiting to see this film, but everywhere.
Early Ticket Sale Sellouts
Way before tickets went on sale June 11th, IMAX midnight showings for "The Dark Knight Rises" began selling out in January.
This was the earliest ticket pre-sale since "Avatar" offered tickets four months in advance and "The Hunger Games" one month ahead of time.
Number of screenings:
"The Dark Knight Rises" is set to have as many, if not more screenings than Marvel's "The Avengers" with its added graveyard showings.
Not since the final "Harry Potter" film, have we seen so many screenings in a short time span for a midnight screening.
The title for the most screenings we've seen so far goes to AMC Loews Cherry Hill in New Jersey. The theater will run showings from 12:02 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. in the morning. Not even AMC Empire 25 in Times Square has that many showings (In case you're wondering, they have 18.)
Forget the lack of super powers, Batman has the odds stacked against him. However, if from what we've heard is right, that this may be the must-see film of the year, maybe Batman can pull out the impossible and come somewhere close, domestically or overseas, in its box-office earnings. Without an added boost from 3-D sales, though, it will be an uphill battle. At the very least, we expect Batman to break "The Avengers" midnight ticket sales.
For argument's sake, the Marvel team only beat out "The Dark Knight" by $200,000 opening night, and the Caped Crusader wasn't in 3-D.
With its estimated $25 million in pre-sales, provided at least $19 million of that amount goes toward midnight sales, that puts the film far ahead of the eighth-ranked "Avengers."
The numbers to beat:
1. The Avengers: $207,438,708 2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: $169,189,427 3. The Dark Knight: $158,411,483 4. The Hunger Games: $152,535,747 5. Spider-Man 3: $151,116,516
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: $43.5 million 2. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1: $30.3 million 3. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse: $30.1 million 4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon: $26.3 million 5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: $24 million 6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: $22.2 million 7. The Hunger Games: $19.7 million 8. The Avengers: $18.7 million 9. The Dark Knight: $18.5 million 10. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith: $16.5 million
We'll have a full report Friday morning as the first figures come in for the film along with our thoughts on the movie.


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Drones will never take the place of the hands of toddlers who delight in constructing tall towers with blocks. However, on a larger scale, it is curious to see the work of the Swiss architects Gramazio & Kohler who are working on future plans to use drones in the construction of skyscrapers. Check out the video: http://vimeo.com/33713231
Image from article by Stan Alcorn at Co.Exist


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Peller, Cabernet Franc Icewine, 2016 37.5cl (Case)
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Peller Riesling has a delicate straw yellow colour with an intriguing aroma of lemon drops, quince, Bartlett pear and golden raspberries, with a touch of floral honey. On the palate this Icewine displays a luscious yet elegant mouth-feel with fruit flavours of lemon, melon, papaya, mango and orange. It has a refreshing acidity and a long length.
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A gold yellow colour with an aromatic bouquet of lemon marmalade, carmelized oranges, golden pineapple and a touch of honey. A rich, medium to full-bodied wine with explosive flavours of honey, golden pineapple, star anise and brown sugar. Sweet citrus and star fruit linger on the finish.


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For those of you that don't like reading math, please feel free to skip to the bottom for my TL:DR version of the post.
Should I refresh DoTs while Eclipse is up?
Please Note: Most of the assumptions I made in part one will apply to this post as well. The one exception is to my 5th assumption. For this section I am assuming that you have the [Idol of the Shooting Star] equipped when casting both Starfire and Wrath to maximize the Starfire Eclipse buff.
This is probably the most common question I hear regarding Eclipse, and I'll be honest. I've had a hard time figuring out what is the best way to tackle it, but lets give it a shot.
What do you lose by casting a DoT?
The cost of casting the DoT is the global cooldown (GCD) that could have been used to cast Starfire. The problem is know what the value of that GCD is, because it is near impossible to know if the Starfire cast will receive the Eclipse buff or not. So I will look at it both ways and take an average.
First lets look at the average cast time for Starfire with and without the buff and the global cooldown.
Global Cooldown = (1.5 / 1.17) = 1.2821 secondsSo we know now that the GCD is 56.07% of a buffed Starfire's cast time and53.09% of an unbuffed Starfire's cast time. Next we should look at the damage for a buffed and non buffed Starfire.
SF cast time w/ buff = ((3 - (0.5 * 0.65)) / 1.17) = 2.2863 seconds
SF cast time w/o buff = ((3 - (0.5 * 0.35)) / 1.17) = 2.4145 seconds
Avg SF (buffed) = ((((1285 + (2000 * 1.2)) * 1.1)*1.0712)*(1-0.65))+((((1285 + (2000 * 1.2)) * 1.1)*1.0712)*2.09 * 0.65) = 7418.49 damageWith this information we can say that the GCD is worth 4159.55 damage for the buffed Starfire (7418.49 * 0.5607), the GCD is worth 3363.43 damage for the unbuffed Starfire (5998.62 * 0.5309). Since we have no way of knowing which value is more likely, I will assume each of them have a 50% chance of occurring. Therefore by using the GCD for a DoT, on average, you lose 3761.49 damage from Starfire.
Avg SF (un buffed) = ((((1285 + (2000 * 1.2)) * 1.1)*1.0712)*(1-0.35))+(((1285 + (2000 * 1.2)) * 1.1)*1.0712)*2.09 * 0.35) = 5998.62 damage
What do you gain by casting a Insect Swarm, and is it worth it?
For Insect Swarm this is easy, because we only have to look at Insect Swarm's DPS. It can be calculated like this:
IS DPS = (((1290 + (2000 * 0.76)) * 1.3) * 1.0712) / 12 = 326.09 DPSSo, now we know we gain 326.09 DPS by casting IS. We learned above that for Insect Swarm to be worth casting, it needs to do 3761.49 damage before your next opportunity to cast IS without clipping Eclipse.
(This ignores Natures Splendor because it doesn't change the results.)
This means IS must be on the boss at least 11.5351 seconds for IS to be worth casting. Since IS has a talented duration of 14 seconds it is theoretically worth it to refresh insect swarm if Eclipse just procced. However, in reality the benefit to refreshing IS is very small and our reaction times will make it difficult to be worthwhile.
Therefore, it is my opinion that there is no need to refresh IS while you have the Starfire Eclipse buff.
What do you gain by casting a Moonfire, and is it worth it?
Moonfire is more complicated for a couple of reasons. First, we have to consider both the direct damage and the DoT. Second, we have to consider the extra damage from Starfire due to Improved Insect Swarm.
First lets look at the direct damage portion of Moonfire. Its not large due to the Glyph of Moonfire, but it does factor into the equation. Basically since it happens up front we can subtract it from the damage lost by using the GCD for Moonfire. Here is the math.
Avg MF DD = (((((441 + (2000 * 0.1487)) * .3)*1.0712)*(1-0.41))+((((441 + (2000 * 0.1487)) * 0.3)*1.0712)*2.09 * 0.41)) = 343.34 damageIf we subtract this from the GCD value that means the Moonfire DoT and extra Starfire damage only have to make up 3539.34 damage.
The DoT portion of Moonfire looks like this:
Avg MF DoT DPS= (((800 + (2000 * 0.5224)) * 1.95) * 1.0712) / 12 = 321.12 DPSTo figure out the affect of Moonfire on Starfire lets calculate Starfire with and without the 3% chance to crit.
SF w/ MF = ((((1285 + (2000 * 1.2)) * 1.1)*1.0712)*(1-0.68))+((((1285 + (2000 * 1.2)) * 1.1)*1.0712)*2.09 * 0.68) = 7560.48 damageSo, refreshing Moonfire will increase the damage from Starfire by 141.99 per SF cast. Since a buffed SF takes 2.2735 seconds to cast on average this increases our DPS by 62.45 DPS.
SF w/o MF = ((((1285 + (2000 * 1.2)) * 1.1)*1.0712)*(1-0.65))+((((1285 + (2000 * 1.2)) * 1.1)*1.0712)*2.09 * 0.65) = 7418.49 damage
Lets calculate how long moonfire must be on the boss for it to be worth the cast.
Break-even Point = (3761.49 - 321.12 ) / ( 321.12 + 62.45 ) = 8.9693 secondsSo, theoretically Moonfire must be on the boss at least 8.9693 seconds for it to be a net increase in your DPS. In reality you probably want a little more because of reaction times and such.
My recommendation is that you only refresh Moonfire if it runs out right as Eclipse procs. Otherwise the benefit is small and not worth worrying about.
TL:DR Version
One of the most common Moonkin questions is, Should I refresh my DoTs during Eclipse?
The results are mixed. It is theoretically possible to increase your DPS by refreshing both Insect Swarm and Moonfire at the very beginning of the Eclipse buff. However, reality makes this a little difficult.
The benefit of refreshing Insect Swarm during Eclipse is very small at best. Therefore I recommend that you never refresh Insect Swarm during Eclipse.
The benefit of refreshing Moonfire during Eclipse is more sizable, and can be worthwhile if you do it quickly enough. I recommend that you only refresh Moonfire during Eclipse if your are at the very beginning of the Eclipse buff.


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Published Dec 19, 2017
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text: Find this wine Find this wine Biltmore Cabernet Sauvignon Very smooth and buttery Pin It Tweet 7 years ago by Ron M. More posts Biltmore Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Flavorful and dry. Would compliment a spicey meal. 6 years ago by Dlquin Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon Loved it but boycotted same reason as biltmore. 6 years ago by Lauren F. Biltmore Cabernet Sauvignon A family favorite 6 years ago by Jeffreyplack Biltmore Cabernet Sauvignon Biltmore Riesling, semi-sweet, yet crisp & fruity & even floral...really nice! 6 years ago by Serious Wining Biltmore Cabernet Sauvignon Smooth, a little oakey for our taste. 6 years ago by Phathermike


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Last week, in a fug of self pity because I have a haematoma the size of a fist on my left hip meaning I can't sleep, and because I've been cycling around with a suspected broken wrist, I read an email from my friend Dean Johnson. I was overwhelmed not only with the news but the lesson therein, so I asked him to write it up for the blog. J
My affliction seemed as well timed as it could be. I would go out on top. One week before the onset of symptoms, I had my best finish ever (third fastest) in a six hour adventure race where we competed in 37 deg. C heat. The day after symptom onset, I was in full denial mode and won my team classification in a six hour orienteering race. At almost 52, finishing uninjured by the cut off time is a realistic goal. Finishing near the top or winning is out of the question.
On my nightstand, the latest New Yorker magazine contained an article detailing the lack of benefit from massive intervention to advanced stage cancer. Many medical professionals agreed that hospice care resulted in no diminishment in life remaining and certainly a far more comfortable decline. This finding corroborated my belief that my time left, to the extent I could control it, would be marked by vibrancy and not a drug addled struggle to prolong breathing.
Admittedly, no one thought that I was going to die. I had a disk between C4 and C5 in my cervical spine that was severely bulging into my spinal cord. In several places, my spinal cord was compressed into ribbon.
I am not the first person in the world with this condition, but the consulting neurosurgeon stunned me within the first 15 seconds of his entering the exam room. He had been fully briefed by his resident and Fellow who had each evaluated my current symptoms (numbness in hands, arms, torso and back and gradual loss of fine motor skills) and closely consulted my MRI. In the manner of a man accustomed to dealing with gruesome spinal conditions on a daily basis, he matter-of-factly stated that I was one strong sneeze, bad cough, minor auto accident or fall away from serious spinal cord injury. The kind of spinal cord injury that could lead to quadriplegia...
You could have pushed me over with a feather.
He reckoned that normally I would want to research procedures, doctors and medical centers, but in my place, he would not wait an instant. He consulted his next day's surgery schedule and offered to cancel the morning operation and substitute my case. His canceling another neurosurgery operation forced reality on a previously surreal situation. Medical consumerism would never outweigh the potential harm from spinal cord injury.
Scarily enough, the precise condition that was so concerning to the neurosurgeon had already been acute for a month. It took that long to weave my way though the US insurance-driven necessity of a GP visit, physical therapy, another GP visit, an MRI and another GP appointment. On top of that, I had to enlist the help of a neurosurgeon friend to get a neurosurgery consultation in less than two months. During this time, I had sneezed, coughed, driven, had kids hanging around my neck and orienteered. Ignorance had been bliss (with a healthy chance of paralysis).
I took him up on this offer for next day surgery. The procedure involves making an incision in the neck, moving the esophagus and trachea to the side and getting to the cervical vertebrae from the front. The surgeon remove the bulging disk, replaces it with cadaverous bone and screws a bracket to the surrounding vertebrae to secure them while bone forms and the vertebrae fuse. In my case, they removed two disks and bracketed three vertebrae. One loses the flexibility of the joints, but there is still much movement available elsewhere in the cervical spine.
The physical recovery has been pain and trouble free. The "flirting with death" part has been the larger matter. My current work/family/leisure balance results in my physical vitality being the key to all other happiness. I crave serious exercise and have taken up endurance bike rides as my next physical challenge.
Not only was all that extraordinary activity in danger from my impaired condition, but also I was slowly losing my fine motor skills -- like buttoning shirts, tying shoes and typing. When the activities of daily living become a challenge, this condition risks becoming the defining event in one's life. The traumatic realization that I had a "near miss" with life defining quadriplegia was pretty terrifying and is only starting to fade.
I am now three weeks post surgery. My numbness has gradually declined and fine motor skills are coming back. While I am making progress, it has been at a slow enough rate to appreciate the unfortunate alternative. I do not want to over dramatize, yet this is precisely the physical condition I mean when I, lightheartedly, had hypothetically balanced my quality of life versus euthanasia.
I joke with my 8 year younger wife and 42 year younger kids that they will not need to pick out a nursing home for me because I will have topped myself before moving in. I have an agreement with a friend that if I am on a respirator, he will pull the plug when the nurse is not looking. I promised to do the same for him.
Perhaps my life has been so worry free that I am excessively self absorbed with this close call. Maybe. However, my principal learning from counseling has been that my problems do not amount to a hill of beans in this world, but my problems are my problems.
As the old people say, "If you have your health, you have everything." More germane to vibrant souls like ours is not to waste a day, an hour, or a minute. Shorten your time horizon. Take that day off, do that bike ride, do an extra push up because you can and for heaven's sake, take nothing, not a walk, a jump, a ride, a lift, even shoe tying, for granted. God forbid the "time coming," but at least you will have no regrets.


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Shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sarah Weber walked out of Binkert's Meat Products in Essex and locked the door behind her — an early departure for the third-generation sausage and deli meats producer.
Just down the hill, traffic narrowed and was pushed onto a shoulder as drivers passed a large, muddy hole in Philadelphia Road, surrounded by orange traffic cones and Baltimore public works crews.
A 16-inch-wide, city-owned water main burst under the road Monday morning, cutting water to Binkert's and more than a dozen other businesses, 60 homes and two nearby institutions — MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and the Community College of Baltimore County's Essex campus.
"We're closing early, and we'll lose some business," Weber said as she locked the front door, a display case of meats darkened inside the brick building, next to a Royal Farms store that was also without water.
The business, started by Weber's German-immigrant grandfather in 1964, produces hundreds of pounds of German sausages and deli meat each week for restaurants and delis around the region, including many in Washington, Weber said.
Most production occurs at the start of the week, in time for deliveries Wednesdays and Thursdays, and the water outage will make it difficult to meet their orders, she said.
"We're hoping it comes back by tomorrow so we can continue production," Weber said. "We'll have to play catch-up."
At Franklin Square, bottled water and hand sanitizer replaced water fountains and hand-washing, while morning classes at CCBC-Essex were canceled. Businesses and homeowners braced for a night without water in their kitchens and bathrooms.
By 4 p.m., water had returned to the hospital and campus, a city public works spokesman said. The community college reopened at 5 p.m., and evening classes and activities were held as scheduled.
At Dellis' Bar & Grill on Philadelphia Road, water went out in the morning but was restored by the afternoon, a manager said.
And Loraine Luebben, a 60-year resident of Lennings Lane, said that when she got home from work about 3:30 p.m., her sink faucet sputtered when she first turned it on but then started running normally.
Crews were busy breaking up asphalt and excavating the hole in Philadelphia Road. A city dump truck parked nearby, as an excavator filled it with mud and crumbled pieces of the road. The damaged portion of the water main had been removed as of Monday evening.
Unlike recent water main breaks in the city, including one Monday morning at East Madison Street near Guilford Avenue, the Essex break did not cause lasting torrents of water.
Still, some business owners and residents remained unsure late Monday when their service would be restored.
"I don't know how long it's going to be out. They haven't said anything," said Deanna Reinhardt, who lives on nearby Mayflower Road.
Kurt Kocher, a public works spokesman, said crews would remain at the scene, and he was hopeful water service would be restored to all customers before Tuesday morning.
"They should be able to fix this," he said, noting electric lines were above ground in the area, out of the way of repair crews. "Hopefully, there aren't any other utilities down there."
Utility lines entwined with water lines underground have complicated recent repair jobs in the city, extending their duration and causing associated power and gas disruptions.
The city's water system serves a large portion of the region, including Baltimore County.
In addition to the Essex break and the 30-inch-wide water main that burst at East Madison, a 60-inch water main broke last week at East 20th and North Charles streets, flooding multiple streets. Other serious problems have occurred with the city's water infrastructure this year as well, including a large water main break on Light Street downtown this summer and multiple collapses of a storm runoff culvert on East Monument Street.
Repairs have stretched into the millions of dollars.
Many of the problems have occurred along lines that are decades old. The water main beneath Light Street was more than 120 years old. The burst water main in Essex is likely not as old, though Kocher could not immediately provide the date it was installed.
He did not know the cause of the break Monday afternoon.
Kocher said a break in a water main in one area of the city can cause pressure changes along other lines, thereby causing more problems. But he said he didn't think the downtown break Monday had caused the Essex rupture.


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Barclays PLC BARC, -2.27% and the U.K. banking regulator have launched investigations into allegations that information about thousands of the bank's customers was stolen and sold to brokers.
The bank said Sunday it is reviewing 2,000 files of customer details that it said were handed to it by the Mail on Sunday newspaper late last week. The newspaper said in an article that it was given the files by a person it described as a whistleblower, who alleged that information about as many as 27,000 people was stolen. It didn't identify the person who provided the information.
The article alleged that the brokers, which weren't identified, used the records, which it said included passport and national insurance numbers, to pitch financial products to Barclays's clients. A spokesman for Barclays said that the records it received from the newspaper were mainly from 2008 and relate to clients who contacted the bank's financial-planning division for advice.
The Financial Conduct Authority has received the information and is reviewing the case, a spokeswoman said. "We will continue to investigate the issue with Barclays over the coming days," the FCA said.
An expanded version of this article appears at WSJ.com
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Black Law Students / Re: illegal« on: May 02, 2012, 08:17:36 PM »
I was stopped on I-85 in Greenville South Carolina by a Greenville City police officer. I was arrested and was not read my rights. At my trial they claim that the patrol car did not have a camera but I know for sure it did. There was a camera I did see it. I am now serving 30 years in prison. I was not speeding and the police followed me for a while before pulling me over. There was also an individual with me who was arrested with drugs and gave the officers a statement that they were carrying drugs and I was charged with them.