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Dr. Andrew Weil, founder of the University of Arizona's Program in Integrative Medicine, recommends the following supplements as part of a program for healthy aging. They provide important nutrients, prevent inflammation, bolster your immune system, support your liver, and increase your energy levels.
Dr. Weil recommends selecting one that fits the following criteria:
Does not contain preformed vitamin A, often indicated as retinol.
Gives you a mixture of carotenoids (lutein, lycopene, as well as other members of this family of antioxidant pigments), not just beta-carotene.
Provides vitamin E as mixed, natural tocopherols (or mixed tocotrienols), not just as d-alpha-tocopherol or, worse, synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol.
Provides 50 milligrams each of most B vitamins, except folic acid (at least 400 mcg) and vitamin B12 (at least 50 mcg).
Does not contain much more than 200 milligrams of vitamin C, which is all the human body can use in a day.
Provides at least 400 IU of vitamin D (but you'll need to take additional vitamin D to get Dr. Weil's recommended daily intake of 1,000 IU).
Does not contain iron, unless you are menstruating, pregnant, or have documented iron-deficiency anemia.
Contains no more than 200 mcg of selenium, a key antioxidant mineral.
Provides some calcium, preferably as calcium citrate (although most women and some men need to take additional calcium to maintain bone health).
Coenzyme Q10 increases oxygen use at the cellular level, improves the function of heart-muscle cells, and boosts the capacity for aerobic exercise. The main problem with it is its bioavailability -- how much gets into your system and used. New softgel and emulsified forms are much better than other forms in this respect but still need to be taken with a meal that contains fat. Recommendation: 60 milligrams a day of CoQ10.
Alpha-lipoic acid (with or without acetyl-l-carnitine) decreases insulin resistance while augmenting the body's antioxidant defenses. If you have any degree of metabolic syndrome (low HDL cholesterol, high serum triglycerides, a tendency to gain weight in the abdomen, a tendency toward high blood pressure) or have a personal or family history of obesity or type 2 diabetes, consider taking ALA. Start with 100 milligrams a day; take up to 400 milligrams a day.
Ginger and turmeric can, of course, be added to food but are most effective taken in supplement form. You can take a starting dose of 1 gram a day of ginger (after a meal) and 1 gram of whole extract of turmeric (rather than a preparation of curcumin, only one of the spice's active components). Many people find their musculo-skeletal and other ailments disappeared after using ginger, while extract of turmeric may have a preventive effect against Alzheimer's disease and may also reduce the risk of cancer.
Aspirin offers many health benefits, including its influence on the same hormones that mediate inflammation -- an influence that offers a reduction of cancer risk as well. Aspirin can cause irritation and bleeding of the stomach and lower GI tract, but in general, the health benefits of low-dose aspirin regimens outweigh the risks. Dr. Weil takes two baby aspirins a day, the equivalent of half an adult tablet.
These include ibuprofen (sold as Motrin and Advil) and other products. Ibuprofen reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease but, like aspirin, can cause GI irritation and bleeding. Dr. Weil recommends its daily use only for those with symptomatic inflammation (such as arthritis) or a significant family history of Alzheimer's.
Astragalus has a long history in Chinese medicine, where it's used to ward off colds and flu. Dr. Weil often recommends it to people who "get whatever's going around," to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, to those with immune deficiencies, and to everyone during flu season. Look for standardized extracts in capsules and take them as the label directs.
These include edible species such as shiitake, maitake, and oyster mushrooms as well as purely medicinal ones like reishi that are too bitter and woody to be used as food. Dr. Weil believes it's better to take a number of these mushrooms together, since their effects are synergistic. Liquid, powder, and encapsulated forms are available, some providing extracts of seven or more species.
Milk thistle is an herbal remedy with an excellent reputation for protecting and enhancing liver function. Anyone who drinks alcohol heavily, who takes drugs or medications that can harm the liver, who has abnormal liver function for any reason, or who works with solvents or has a history of toxic exposures should take milk thistle. Look for extracts standardized to 70 percent to 80 percent silymarin, and take two capsules twice a day or as the label directs.
Asian ginseng is esteemed as a sexual energizer for men. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is valued for its stress-protective properties. Buy products standardized for ginsenoside content, follow dosage recommendations, and don't expect to notice results until after six to eight weeks of regular use.
Formerly called Siberian ginseng, eleuthero ginseng has a long history of use by athletes, military personnel, and cosmonauts of the former Soviet Union due to its energy-enhancing properties. Buy products standardized for eleutheroside content, follow dosage recommendations, and wait six to eight weeks to evaluate the effect.
Arctic root, or rhodiola, can enhance endurance, reduce harmful effects of stress, and improve mood and memory. It may increase sexual energy as well. Buy products standardized to 3 percent rosavins and 1 percent salidroside, and follow dosage recommendations.


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Related Resource
A Vision for the International Polar Year 2007-2008 (May 2004)Report in Brief
The vision of the U.S. National Committee is to recognize the International Polar Year by presenting an overview of potential science themes, enabling new technologies, and providing public outreach opportunities to both individuals and scientific communities. The committee recommends that the U.S. scientific community and other agencies use the IPY to initiate environmental change and variability in the polar regions; explore new scientific frontiers ranging from the molecular to the planetary scale and excite and engage the public by providing useful information about polar regions in the global system. These tactics will also help to advance general science literacy in the nation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Middle Line Butterfly Valve
Tianjin Exxon Valve Co.,Ltd, with professional factory, is one of the leading China middle line butterfly valve manufacturers, we are able to offer you cheap middle line butterfly valve. Welcome to wholesale products from us.
middle line flange butterfly valve
Type Available: Flanged type.
Sizes Available: DN50mm to DN1200mm (2" to 48")
Pressure Range: PN (MPa): 1.0, 1.6, 2.0, 2.5
Materials Standard: Others on request
Basic Design: ANSI/AWWA C504
Face to Face Dimension: BS5155 Short, ISO5752 (Series 13), DIN 3202 F16
Inspection & Testing: API 598,
Flanged End Dimension: DIN PN10/16/25, ANSI B16.1, BS4504, ISO PN10/16,
JIS B2212/2213, BS 10 Table D, BS 10 Table E
Top flange: ISO 5211
Suitable Mediums: Fresh water, sea water, gas, oils, acids, alkalis, etc
Suitable Temperature: -26-82C
Design characters:
Correcting holes are made on flange according to standard, easy correcting during the installation.
Through-out bolt or one-side bolt used. Easy replacing and maintenance.
Shaft and disc connected by pin, torque screw or non pin, to achieve the opening and closing.


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Items where SHU Author is "Borg, Matthew"
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BORG, M. and STRETTON, E. (2009). My students and other animals. Or, a vulture, an orb weaver spider, a giant panda and 900 undergraduate business students…. Journal of information literacy, 3 (1), 1-30.


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For residents of the United States
This contest is conducted in Australia, Canada, Germany, France, United Kingdom and United States. These Official Rules apply to United States participants. If you are an Australia, Canada, Germany, France or United Kingdom participant, please refer to the Official Rules of your country.
For United Kingdom participants, read the Official Rules for United Kingdom
For Australia participants, read the Official Rules for Australia
For Canada participants, read the Official Rules for Canada
For France participants, read the Official Rules for France (French)
For Germany participants, read the Official Rules for Germany (German)
For Germany participants, read the Official Rules for Germany (English)
Sponsored by Marin Software Incorporated (the "Sponsor"). NO ENTRY FEE. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. The Contest begins on April 25, 2016, 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time and ends on June 3, 2016, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time (the "Contest Period").
1. Eligibility: The Biggest Search Geek Contest (the "Contest") is open to legal residents of the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico and Arizona), aged eighteen (18) or older and who have an active e-mail account and Internet access, as of the beginning of the Contest Period. Employees of the Sponsor or Third Door Media, Inc./SMX and their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, fulfillment or other coordinating agencies, individuals providing services to the Sponsor through an outsourcer or temporary employment agency during the Contest Period, and their respective immediate family members and persons living in their same household, are not eligible to enter in the Contest. Participation in the Contest constitutes entrant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules & Regulations (the "Official Rules"). VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
2. To Enter: To enter online, select the Contest link from the Contest main page on http://biggestsearchgeek.com during the Contest Period. Answer all of the questions presented to you on the Contest entry form, which consists of a series of questions that you must answer (the "Contest Entry Form") and click on the button to submit the Contest Entry Form before the end of the Contest Period. No mechanically reproduced mail-in entries are allowed and any use of robotic, automatic, programmed or the like entry methods will void all such entries by such methods.
Only one Contest Entry Form may be submitted per person. Entrants submitting multiple Contest Entry Forms will be disqualified. The contents of Contest Entry Forms may not be shared with third parties. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrants that post or share Contest Entry Form questions or answers.
3. Prize Selection: The entries will be judged and scored based on the number of questions correctly answered in a timely fashion and winners are selected at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Each question has a possible total of 5 points out of 100. Partially correct multi-part questions will receive partial credit, up to 5 points total per question. The score will be represented as a percentage of total questions answered correctly. If any ties must be broken to determine the Grand Prize Winner (defined below), the grand prize will go to the entrant who completed the questions in the least amount of time. The Grand Prize Winner and other prize winners (as set forth below) will be selected at the offices of the Sponsor, located at 123 Mission Street, 25th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 within 7 days of the end of the Contest Period.
Submission of a Contest entry constitutes entrant's certification that the entry is his/her own original work and does not infringe the intellectual property or proprietary rights of any third party, including, without limitation, any third party patents, copyrights or trademarks. Entrant hereby agrees not to instigate, support, maintain or authorize any action, claim or lawsuit against the Sponsor, or any other person, on the grounds that any use of the entry as provided herein, infringes any of entrant's rights as creator of the entry, including, without limitation, trademark rights, copyrights and moral rights or "droit moral." By submitting a Contest Entry Form, entrant hereby grants Sponsor and its successors and assigns an irrevocable, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sub-licensable (through multiple tiers) and transferable license to use, copy, transmit or otherwise distribute, perform, modify, create derivative works based upon, incorporate into other works, publicly perform and display the Contest Entry Form or any portion thereof, in or through any medium, whether now known or hereafter created. Nothing herein shall constitute an employment, joint venture, or partnership relationship between entrant and Sponsor.
The Grand Prize Winner and other prize winners will be notified by e-mail and / or telephone as provided by entrant on the Contest Entry Form.
4. Prizes and Odds: The prizes to be awarded from the Contest across Australia, Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom and United States are as follows:
The Grand Prize will be awarded to the entrant with the highest number of correct answers and corresponding score (the "Grand Prize Winner") as described in Section 4 above. In addition, to the Grand Prize Winner, the Contest entrant from in each of these three (3) geographies (i) United States or Canada; (ii) France, Germany or the United Kingdom; and (iii) Australia who answers the most correct questions in the shortest period of time from beginning the Contest Entry Form to submitting the Contest Entry Form (the "Geography Winners") will also receive a prize from the Sponsor as described below. In addition to the Grand Prize Winner and the Geography Winners, the fifty (50) Contest entrants who answer the most correct questions in the shortest period of time from beginning the Contest Entry Form to submitting the Contest Entry Form (the "Runners Up") will also receive a prize from the Sponsor as described below.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive, subject to the terms of these Official Rules, (i) a round trip flight or train journey, with hotel accommodation included, for the Grand Prize Winner and a travel companion, to SMX Advanced, which will be held in Seattle, Washington on June 22-23, 2016 at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center and (ii) two All Access Passes to SMX Advanced. If the winner has already purchased his or her All Access Pass, a refund of the purchase price will be given. In addition, the Grand Prize Winner will receive an award at SMX Advanced presented on stage by a search expert at Marin Software, during SMX Advanced or by a designee of the Sponsor who is a nationally recognized expert in search engines and online search. Approximate value of the Grand Prize is $6,500 USD.
In connection with the Grand Prize, all other costs and expenses not specifically included herein, including but not limited to transportation to gateway; ground transportation; transfers; food; beverages; mini-bar; insurance; gratuities, souvenirs, etc. are the sole responsibility of the winner. Winner and travel companion must travel together and possess necessary travel documents, e.g. valid Federal or state government issued ID, at least thirty (30) days prior to travel. The trip is intended solely for attendance at SMX Advanced which will be held on the dates referenced above and for no other purpose. All reservations must be made a minimum of 2 days prior to departure, and are subject to black-out periods and availability. Travel must originate from and end at the same airport or train station. Once travel commences, no stopovers are permitted; if stopover occurs, full fare will be charged from stopover point for the remaining segments, including return, of the trip. No changes will be made to travel details once any portion of travel arrangements has been made. Ticket re-issues and/or time extensions not allowed. Only valid on flights operated on airlines approved by the Sponsor. Flight or train travel details are subject to space availability and carrier's regulations and conditions apply. Certain other restrictions may also apply. The trip may not be combined with any other offer and travel may not qualify for frequent flyer miles. Winner and travel companion will be required to provide valid Federal or state government issued picture ID at time of travel; any identification requirements associated with air travel are the winner's responsibility. The Sponsor will make travel and hotel arrangements for the winner, in reasonable consultation with the winner. Prizes are not redeemable for cash; nor are prizes transferable, refundable or substitutable except by the Sponsor with one of equal or greater value. Travel companion must be at least 18 years old as of the date of departure unless he/she is minor child of winner. All federal, state, local taxes and airport and customs fees if applicable are winner's sole responsibility.
Each of the three (3) Geography Winners will receive one of the following, to be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion: (i) an Amazon Echo (with approximate retail value of $179 USD), (ii) an Apple Watch (with approximate retail value $299 USD) or (iii) a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (with approximate retail value $899 USD).
Each of the fifty (50) Runners Up will receive a "Search Geek" recognition prize from the Sponsor, comprising (i) an email announcement to the fifty (50) Runners Up, (ii) listing of the name of each of the Runners Up on the official contest website, accessible at http://www.biggestsearchgeek.com/winners, (iii) a digital button ("Digital Button") to include on the blog/website of each of the Runners Up and (iv) a t-shirt to be picked up at the Sponsor's booth at SMX Advanced or shipped to the Runner Up, if the Runner up is not attending SMX Advanced. The approximate retail value of the "Search Geek" recognition prize is $25 USD. Runners Up may only display and use the Digital Button on websites owned or operated by them for the purpose of identifying their participation in the Contest. Sponsor owns the Digital Button and any and all goodwill and other proprietary rights that are created by or that result from the Runner Up's use of a Digital Button hereunder inures solely to the benefit of Sponsor. Runners Up may be required to discontinue their display and usage of the Digital Button if Sponsor, at any time, determines, in its sole discretion, that the Runner Up's use of the Digital Button is inappropriate.
Neither Sponsor nor any agency has arranged for or carry any insurance of any kind for the winners' benefit or that of their heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, relative to the winners' use or enjoyment of the prizes, and they are solely responsible for obtaining and paying for any life, travel, accident, property or other insurance relative to their use or enjoyment of the prizes.
The odds of winning a prize or receiving an award depend on the total number of eligible entries received. No cash or other substitution of prizes or awards is permitted, except at the sole option of the Sponsor for a prize or award of equal or greater value. The Sponsor will not replace any lost or stolen prizes or awards. Winners are solely responsible for any and all federal, state, provincial and local taxes, if any, that apply to prizes or awards.
Total value of all prizes to be awarded: approximately $7,902 USD.
Winners are solely responsible for all income or other taxes, resulting from any prize won by them in the Contest and winners understand that their winning and acceptance of the prizes will be reported by Sponsor to any government agencies as may be required by law.
5. Notification of Winners and Award Recipients: Winners and award recipients/Runners Up will be notified by e-mail within five (5) business days of the selection, and may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and publicity/liability release within seven (7) days of notification. If a selected winner or award recipient/Runner Up cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim a prize and/or where applicable an affidavit of eligibility and publicity/liability release is not timely received, is incomplete or modified, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner or award recipient/Runner Up will be selected from remaining valid, eligible entries timely submitted. In the event of a dispute regarding who submitted an entry, the entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the e-mail account specified in the entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. No automatically generated entries will be accepted.
6. General Rules: By entering the Contest, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules. The Contest is offered by Marin Software Incorporated, 123 Mission Street, 25th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105, which is not responsible for (i) late, lost, delayed, damaged, postage-due, incomplete, illegible, misdirected or undeliverable entries, responses, or other correspondence, whether by e-mail or postal mail or otherwise; (ii) theft, destruction, unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials; or (iii) phone, electrical, network, computer, hardware, software program or transmission malfunctions, failures or difficulties.
You further agree to release, indemnify, defend and hold the Sponsor and Third Door Media, Inc./SMX and their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees, sponsors and agents, including advertising and promotion agencies, and assigns, and any other organizations related to the Contest, harmless, from any and all claims, injuries, damages, expenses or losses to person or property and/or liabilities of any nature that in any way arise from participation in this Contest or acceptance or use of a prize or parts thereof, including without limitation (i) any condition caused by events beyond the Sponsor's control that may cause the Contest to be disrupted or corrupted; (ii) any injuries, losses, or damages (compensatory, direct, incidental, consequential or otherwise) of any kind arising in connection with or as a result of the prize, or acceptance, possession, or use of the prize, or from participation in the Contest; and (iii) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest.
IN NO EVENT WILL THE SPONSOR OR THIRD DOOR MEDIA/SMX BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOSS OF USE, DATA, BUSINESS OR PROFITS) ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, WHETHER SUCH LIABILITY ARISES FROM ANY CLAIM BASED UPON CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE SPONSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE. Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
7. Additional Conditions: Except where prohibited, by participating in the Contest, entrant consents to the use of his/her name, photo and/or likeness, voice, biographical information, entry and statements attributed to entrant (if true) for advertising and promotional purposes, including without limitation, the world wide web, inclusion in the Sponsor's newsletters, the Contest website at http://biggestsearchgeek.com and the Sponsor's homepages at http://www.marinsoftware.com and http://marketinglandevents.com/smx/advanced/, without additional compensation. All entries, as applicable, become property of Sponsor and none will be acknowledged or returned. Allow six (6) to eight (8) weeks for delivery of prizes.
The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend the Contest in whole or in part, in the event of fraud, technical or other difficulties or if the integrity of the Contest is compromised, without liability to the entrant. The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrant or winner, as determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion. Contest is subject to these Official Rules and all applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations apply. As stated above, the Contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. By participating in this Contest, you acknowledge that you have read these Official Rules and agree to abide by them and by the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to the Contest. These Official Rules are governed by the law of the State of California, without reference to rules governing choice of laws. Any action, suit or case arising out of, or in connection with, this Contest or these Official Rules must be brought in either the federal courts located in the Northern District of California or the state courts located in San Francisco, California.
8. Personal Information: The Sponsor may collect personal data about entrants online, in accordance with its privacy policy and as may be more specifically set forth in these Official Rules. Please review these Official Rules and the Sponsor's privacy policy at http://www.marinsoftware.com/privacy/privacy-central. By participating in the Contest, entrants hereby agree to the Sponsor's collection and use of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted these Official Rules and the Sponsor's privacy policy.
9. Winner's List, Official Rules: For a list of prize winners or award recipients or a copy of these Official Rules, send your request and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Biggest Search Geek Contest, Marin Software Incorporated, 123 Mission Street, 25th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 or (for Winner's list only) send an email message to email@example.com with "Winner's list" as the email subject and contest name specified in the body of the e-mail.
10. The Sponsor's Address: Marin Software Incorporated, 123 Mission Street, 25th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105.
Copyright © 2011-2015 Marin Software
August 17, 2015
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NASA's Kepler space telescope has found two new planets orbiting a distant sun-like star, and the researchers who made the find say these two are the size of Earth or smaller. That's a first in the search for extraterrestrial life.
If the discovery holds up under scrutiny by other scientists, it could be a very big deal. Earth-sized planets are considered critical in the search for life elsewhere in the universe, but until now, scientists said their instruments were not sensitive enough to detect them.
"Theoretical considerations imply that these planets are rocky, with a composition of iron and silicate," wrote Francois Fressin of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the leader of the team that made the discovery. "The outer planet could have developed a thick water vapour atmosphere."
The team is publishing its report today online in the journal Nature.
The two newly-found planets, called Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f, are much too far away to be seen directly. They circle a star about 950 light-years away in the constellation Lyra, which appears high in the sky over North America on a summer night. Scientists measured the miniscule dimming of their host star as they passed in front of it, and then did the math to figure out how large they are likely to be and in what orbits they move.
Kepler-20e and f are probably too hot to be friendly to life -- they are so close to their sun that one of them circles it in just six Earth days, and the other does it in 19. But the simple fact that they've been found, say the scientists, is reason to expect that others like them exist.
"It demonstrates for the first time that Earth-sized stars exist around other stars, and that we are now able to detect them," said Fressin at a news briefing today.
Linda Elkins-Tanton of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington said the larger of the two planets, Kepler-20f, was especially intriguing.
"If it was formed with water, which I think is possible, it could have been habitable in the past," she said.
"We would be remiss if we did not do our best to find more planets just like our own," said Alan Boss, a colleague of hers at the Carnegie Institution, in an email to ABC News. "That does not mean that we necessarily think that only exact Earth twins could be inhabited, just that we at least had better be able to find Earth twins, and then along the way we will be certain to uncover all sorts of other types of exoplanets that should be habitable, and perhaps even inhabited."
Scientists know, from looking at Earth's solar system, that rocky worlds like ours are a precious commodity. If a world is too small (think of Mercury or Earth's moon), any atmosphere will escape into space before life could possibly form. If a world is too large (think of Jupiter or Neptune) it's likely to be all atmosphere, a giant ball of gas or slush that thickens quickly as you plunge beneath its cloud tops, but probably has no solid surface where living things could thrive.
Just two weeks ago scientists reported a planet orbiting a different star, right in the middle of its so-called habitable zone. That planet was believed to be much larger (10 times as massive as Earth), but its temperature was estimated at an average of 72 degrees Fahrenheit -- perfect for liquid water, considered essential for life as we know it.
Put the two finds together, say scientists, and chances are good that some day soon we will find a planet of just the right size and temperature to have at least a chance of being a lively place.
"In less than 20 years, we have gone from not knowing if any other planets exist in the universe, to being able to look out at the night sky and realize that essentially any star we can see has at least one planet, and a good number of those are likely to be habitable," said Boss. "That is a revelation that has not yet dawned on the general public, and even astronomers are having their minds blown when they think about it."


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Two Films, Special Concert Wrap Up America's Music Series at Siouxland Libraries
Siouxland Libraries' program series "America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway" concludes the week of June 23 with the final two films and a special concert at the historic Orpheum Theater.
A film session at the Main Library Sunday, June 23, features blues and gospel music with selections from Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Episode 1: Feel Like Going Home, and Say Amen, Somebody. Doors open at 1:15 p.m., with a live performance by Bobby Gripp and Friends before the film. Library meeting rooms will be open for the program, but the rest of the library will remain closed.
On Wednesday, June 26, at 7 p.m., the library will sponsor "America's Music Live!" at the historic Orpheum Theater, featuring Tom Peterson & Charley Smith and Union Grove Pickers. The local favorites will perform a concert of folk and bluegrass hits. The show is free with limited seating. Reserve tickets by calling 367-8720 or going online at siouxlandlib-americas-music.eventbrite.com.
The final session of the film series on Thursday, June 27, at the Main Library focuses on country and bluegrass with the documentary High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music. Fiddler Krystal Pederson will give a live performance at 6 p.m., followed by the film and discussion at 6:30 p.m.
"America's Music" is a project by the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. It has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor, with additional funding from local sponsors: the South Dakota Humanities Council, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, the South Dakota Arts Council, and the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation.
Call 367-8720 for more information, or visit www.siouxlandlib.org/americas-music.


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Trump eats $50 steak with ketchup, foodies aghast
President Donald Trump dined out in secret Saturday at the BLT Prime steakhouse in his new flagship property, the Trump Hotel in D.C., and ordered his usual — a very well-done New York strip steak with a side of ketchup, according to the Independent Journal Review.
Foodies were appalled. It's one thing to turn an aged, grass-fed, $54 cut of beefsteak into a rawhide chew, but the ketchup?! Twitter gourmets dished out their disdain.
Trump eating a well done steak w/ ketchup. Dawg...— André Leon Stalley (@PhreshTooDeaf) February 26, 2017
"Psst...Trump orders steaks well done with ketchup. Pass it down" pic.twitter.com/jAQotAAAav— Sabith Maliackal (@SABmetrics) February 27, 2017
Don't let the Oscars Best Picture screwup be a distraction from the fact that Trump eats his well-done steaks with KETCHUP— Helen Rosner (@hels) February 27, 2017
But Trump's tastes are actually not out that of the ordinary when it comes to presidential palates. Look at the favorite comfort foods of his predecessors:
Barack Obama: Loves Fran's Smoked Salted Caramels
George W. Bush: Cheeseburger pizza
Bill Clinton: Jalapeño cheeseburgers
George H.W. Bush: Pork rinds with Tabasco
Ronald Reagan: Jelly beans
Richard Nixon: Cottage cheese with ketchup (shudder)
Harry Truman: Steak, well-done
Trump has never been a particularly healthy eater. During the campaign, he often filled up on junk food — Domino's, KFC and McDonald's. He reportedly enjoyed Big Macs served on silver trays on his private jet.
Since being elected as the oldest president in U.S. history, the 70-year-old Trump has reverted to his regular meat-and-potatoes regimen, varying it occasionally with fish. It's doubtful the president follows government guidelines that dictate anywhere from 7 to 13 cups of produce daily.
His favorite snacks are Keebler Vienna Fingers and Lay's Potato Chips washed down with a Diet Coke, according to aide quoted by the news site Axios.
What may be more disturbing than his diet is his lack of exercise. George W. Bush stayed in great condition by mountain-biking regularly, Reagan chopped wood and Obama was a workout junkie while in the White House. The most exercise Trump gets is on the golf course roughly once a week or less, and most of the time he rides in a cart.
In September, at a taping of "The Dr. Oz Show," Trump apparently revealed that he weighs 236 pounds and stands 6-foot-3, according to the New York Daily News. But later it was reported that he's actually 267 pounds.
The would put his body mass index at either 29.5, at the upper end of the "overweight" scale, or 33.4, "obese" territory.
Trump made his health an issue in 2015 when his doctor, Harold Bornstein, declared that Trump would "be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency."


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WASHINGTON (AP) — Under heavy pressure from farm groups, the Obama administration said Thursday it would drop an unpopular plan to prevent children from doing hazardous work on farms owned by anyone other than their parents.
The Labor Department said it is withdrawing proposed rules that would ban children younger than 16 from using most power-driven farm equipment, including tractors. The rules also would prevent those younger than 18 from working in feed lots, grain bins and stockyards.
While labor officials said their goal was to reduce the fatality rate for child farm workers, the proposal had become a popular political target for Republicans who called it an impractical, heavy-handed regulation that ignored the reality of small farms.
"It's good the Labor Department rethought the ridiculous regulations it was going to stick on farmers and their families," said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. "To even propose such regulations defies common sense, and shows a real lack of understanding as to how the family farm works."
The surprise move comes just two months after the Labor Department modified the rule in a bid to satisfy opponents. The agency made it clear it would exempt children who worked on farms owned or operated by their parents, even if the ownership was part of a complex partnership or corporate agreement.
That didn't appease farm groups that complained it would upset traditions in which many children work on farms owned by uncles, grandparents and other relatives to reduce costs and learn how a farm operates. The Labor Department said Thursday it was responding to thousands of comments that expressed concern about the impact of the changes on small family-owned farms.
"The Obama administration is firmly committed to promoting family farmers and respecting the rural way of life, especially the role that parents and other family members play in passing those traditions down through the generations," the agency said in a statement.
Instead, the agency said it would work with rural stakeholders, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union and 4-H to develop an educational program to reduce accidents to young workers.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., a grain farmer known to till his fields on weekends away from Washington, had come out strongly against the proposed rule. The Democrat continued to criticize the Obama administration rule even after it was tempered earlier this year, saying the Labor Department "clearly didn't get the whole message" from Montana's farmers and ranchers.
Tester, who is in a tough race for re-election, on Thursday praised the decision to withdraw the rule and said he would fight "any measure that threatens that heritage and our rural way of life."
The move is sure to disappoint child safety groups who said the rules represent long-overdue protections for children working for hire in farm communities. Three-quarters of working children under 16 who died of work-related injuries in 2010 were in agriculture, according to the Child Labor Coalition.
Last month, the child advocacy group criticized GOP legislation that would have stopped the Labor Department from issuing the rules.
"They will save lives and preserve the health of farm children so they can grow up to be farmers," said Reid Maki, the CLC coordinator. "The department should implement them as soon as possible."
Associated Press writer Matt Gouras in Helena, Mont., contributed to this report.


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Preces apraksts angļu valodā:
With the Samsung 2 Amp Wall Charger, you can be sure that your Samsung Galaxy or other micro USB compatible smartphone will always be fully charged and ready to go. The Samsung 2 Amp charger recharges your phone's battery at a much faster rate than your typical 1 Amp or 700mAh charger.
Rapid Charging
The Samsung 2 Amp Wall Charger plugs into any standard wall outlet via the included AC adapter, and its compact design means it is small enough to throw in a briefcase or backpack when you're on the go. Samsung's quick-charging technology powers your phone while it charges its battery, so you can make calls, check your messages or browse the Web while your phone is charging. This Samsung charger has an output of 2 Amp to give your phone power at a much faster rate than your typical 1 Amp or 700mAh charger.
The Samsung Wall Charger also comes with a detachable USB to Micro USB cable, which allows you to charge your phone from the USB port on your computer or other USB power source if you aren't near a wall outlet. You can also sync and transfer files between your computer and Galaxy smartphone or other phone using the Micro USB cable. Keep one at home and one in your bag to make sure that your phone is always ready to go when you are.


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Posts TaggedTravel
It's amazing how, today, with a smartphone you have information about virtually everything at your fingertips wherever you go. And location-based apps take things a step further by allowing you to find friends nearby, search for restaurants in your area and see how bad traffic is en route to your next destination. But have you ever wished your phone could just tell you about great things to eat/see/do/buy around where you are, when you're there?
That's exactly what NowFloats is all about — it's a new, personal way to discover what's interesting wherever you are, through tips and thoughts shared by other users, and updates on events and special offers. It's perfect for exploring cities you're unfmailiar with or even stumbling upon something you never knew about in your own neighbourhood. Let's take a look at how it works, shall we?


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Stress and Diabetes (Part 3) - Reducing Blood Pressure
Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH April, 2010
Stress, and our response to it, has profound effects on our both our physical and mental health. When it feels like stress is taking over our lives, it does by negatively impacting our health, raising blood sugar and blood pressure among other things. However, we can also learn to use this link to our advantage learning to use the mind to improve the physical functioning of the body! In this month's review, I discuss the ways in which we can use the mind-body connection to improve blood pressure.
Controlling high blood pressure, or hypertension, is important to reduce the risk of health problems related to the blood vessels including heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney damage, sexual dysfunction, and less serious but bothersome problems like varicose veins. The maximum recommended blood pressure for most people is less than 140/90. For people with diabetes or existing heart or kidney disease, blood pressure should not be above 130/80. Optimal or normal blood pressure is less than 120/80.
Hypertension is very common and, for the majority of people, it is often inadequately managed.Nearly 30% of the U.S. population has high blood pressure.1 Among people who have elevated blood pressure, only 70% are aware of their condition, 59% are receiving treatment, and only 34% have their blood pressure well controlled. Furthermore, 34% of patients report drug side effects associated with their antihypertensive treatment. Unacceptable side effects were cited as the top reason for noncompliance, followed by the cost of medication.2Most people with high blood pressure need to try a combination of approaches to bring their blood pressure down.
Chronic stress long has been thought to be the underlying mechanism of much of hypertension. Recall from recent Complementary Corner articles on stress: (Stress Reduction Part 1 - Optimal Stress or Optimal Response? and Stress Reduction Part 2 - Interventions in Diabetes), that in an acute situation, stress triggers a sympathetic (fight or flight) response. The increase in sympathetic function, besides increasing blood sugar to fuel your brain, also increases blood pressure to move blood to the muscles and brain so you can "run from the bear." When we are under stress every day for years on end this persistently increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system leads to high blood pressure. Over time, the prolonged elevation of stress hormones can also lead to increases in heart and vessel, both of which can also contribute to chronic high blood pressure.
Stress is unavoidable, but we can learn how to modulate our reaction to it. As I've mentioned before, one of the largest population studies, INTERHEART, has characterized the relationship between stress and disease. In this study, hypertension and heart attacks were associated with chronic stress to a degree that is equivalent to (but in addition to) traditional cardiovascular disease risk factor like smoking, obesity, and diabetes. For example, there is a nearly 50% increase risk of having a heart attack after several periods of recent general stress and a two-fold increase for permanent or chronic stress!3
Mind-Body Techniques
Underlying many of the techniques that modulate stress is the concept of biofeedback and cultivating a "relaxation response" that shifts our inner chemistry from sympathetic ("fight or flight") to parasympathetic ("rest and digest"). In a relaxed parasympathetic state, stress hormone output diminishes. Oxygen consumption decreases, along with heart and respiratory rates.4 As breathing slows, elimination of carbon dioxide slows and exhaled nitric oxide increases, which help to brings the mind and body into a state of relaxation.
In general, the goal of many "mind-body" therapies is to be able to achieve this intentional awareness of the mind-body connection, turning the attention to the inner state of being. The benefits are worth it! Almost all trials of mind-body techniques have shown positive, if sometimes small, benefits compared to usual care over relatively short time periods (mean study duration = 8 weeks)5, 6 These techniques are also likely to have beneficial "side-effects" in other dimensions including improved mood, well-being, and quality of life. 7 Overall, relaxation techniques focus attention on some aspect of the physical body such as breathing, heartbeat, or muscle tension as a means to cultivate the mind-body technique. You can try as many of the mind-body techniques as you want, and they are safe to combine with blood pressure medications. Just keep monitoring your blood pressure so you know when it's time to talk to your doctor about reducing your medications (if you take any)!
Biofeedback is a strategy that works by using an external device to help you focus on the relaxation response it is a tool that gives you "feedback" about the functioning of your body.
There are many tools and techniques including thermometers, heart rate monitors, and various computer-assisted devices that monitor breathing, pulse, and muscle tension. I am particularly fond of the Resp-e-Rate device. This instrument is a simple to use, breathing monitor that is FDA approved as a treatment for hypertension. The device consists of headphone and audio tracks linked to a breathing monitor. The user wears the monitoring device around their rib cage. The device then senses the breathing pattern and provides audio guidance about how to change your breathing patterns to optimize a parasympathetic respiratory pattern (longer, slower breaths). In clinical trials, Resp-E-Rate users have reduced their blood pressure an average of 14 mmHg systolic (the top number) and 8 mmHg diastolic (the bottom number).8 Another similar device is Healing Rhythms. Even better, each of these devices is covered by some insurers!
Even without a device you can practice breathing exercises to improve blood pressure. Practice inhaling for a count of two, then exhaling for a count of two, gradually lengthen the breathing to counts of 3, 4 or more for a target breathing rate of 6-7 breaths per minute. It is important to note that as soon as it feels like a struggle or competition, you are no longer in the parasympathetic zone! Breathing exercises by themselves show a 6- to 9 mmHg reduction in blood pressure!9
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
You can lead yourself (or listen to a recording) with other types of self-guided relaxation. Progressive muscle relaxation encourages relaxation through awareness of the sensations present in the main muscle groups. For example, first take a few quieting breaths and then focus on your feet, either first simply bringing awareness to any muscle tension there or intentionally contracting the muscles, then, exhaling, relaxing and releasing the tension. Next, move your attention to the lower leg and repeat the tensing and relaxing. This technique aims to elicit the relaxation response through this repetitive mental focus and intentional adoption of a relaxed state.10 In studies, this technique only brings down blood pressure a few points, but at the same time, you are helping your blood sugar control! As a side note, this is also a great way to work with sleeplessness and insomnia!
HeartMath is a series of techniques that helps people focus on their emotional responses to stress. We all know what it feels like to "get our blood pumping" when we are angry; that is an example of an emotional response to stress causing high blood pressure! In fact, it is thought that the expression "seeing red" relates to blood vessels dilating in the eyes in response to really high blood pressure!
HeartMath has nothing to do with arithmetic; it uses a concept called rhythm coherence based on the premise that modern life stressors influence the coherence of heart rhythms, and that the coherence itself can be influenced by intentionally and sincerely focusing on positive feelings. In general, the techniques help you focus on remembering positive experiences (and how the mind-body feel in those situations) and then cultivating the ability to "interrupt" yourself when negative feelings begin. There are many specific exercises used to teach participants to develop this pattern. HeartMath focuses attention on the heart, uses heart-centered breathing (described as extending the exhalation longer than the inhalation) and other mind-body exercises such as "freeze-frame."11People who practice HeartMath principles generally experience blood pressure reductions of about 10 mmHg.
Meditation can be defined as "the intentional self-regulation of attention" or the "systematic mental focus on particular aspects of the inner and outer experiences". There are many meditation practices including mindfulness-based stress reduction and movement-oriented techniques like T'ai Chi and Qi Gong that we talked about in the last article, Stress Reduction Part 2 - Interventions in Diabetes. There is another well-studied technique called "transcendental meditation" or "TM". This is the technique that usually comes to mind when we think of meditating - it focuses on repetition of a word or phrase as a point of focus to quiet the mind and achieve a state of internal peace. Interestingly, across the many cultures that practice types of meditation, the repeated words are strikingly similar: Ohm, Shalom, Amen, etc. Also key to meditation is the concept of non-judgment, or simply observing the thoughts, emotions, and perceptions that come to mind without judging them. That is, if during meditation you are constantly scolding yourself for not meditating, then you are not meditating!
Meditation differs from other techniques thus described in that it incorporates a spiritual dimension; people who meditate usually do so with a far greater intent than simply lowering blood pressure—many are seeking a transformative spiritual experience. On average, transcendental meditation reduced blood pressure an average of 5-10 mmHg. Studies have also measured improvement in insulin resistance, stress and quality of life, and even reductions in mortality!12-14 The mortality reductions are particularly striking. In a study of people who had started meditating to reduce blood pressure, those who kept at it 5-7 years later had a 23% reduction in all-cause mortality, a 30% decrease in the rate of cardiovascular mortality, and a 49% decrease in the rate of cancer-related mortality compared with combined controls.15
Stress Management Education
Working on changing our reactions to stress can take many forms and all benefit blood pressure and much more. Traditional approaches to stress such as talk therapy and counseling are also strategies that can be added to a comprehensive approach to blood pressure reduction when they address the underlying emotional responses that contribute to the stress response and keep us out of the relaxation response. Counseling approaches are most useful for people whose high blood pressure relates to their emotional habits - "type A personalities," - and those with hostility, anger, depression, and repressed emotional responses.6, 16 One clinical trial of stress management education demonstrated an average 9 mmHg reduction in blood pressure.4
All of these strategies are extremely safe, won't negatively interact with any medications, and are likely to give you positive affects in other aspects of your life! Of course, keep checking your blood pressure regularly; you might be surprised to find you can control it so well you will need to talk to your doctor about reducing or discontinuing medications!
In Health, Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH
- Hajjar I, Kotchen TA. Trends in prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the United States, 1988-2000. Jama. Jul 9 2003;290(2):199-206.
- Lip GY, Beevers DG. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and patients--the Rational Evaluation and Choice in Hypertension (REACH) survey of hypertension care delivery. Blood Press Suppl. 1997;1:6-10.
- Rosengren A, Hawken S, Ounpuu S, et al. Association of psychosocial risk factors with risk of acute myocardial infarction in 11119 cases and 13648 controls from 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. Lancet. Sep 11-17 2004;364(9438):953-962.
- Dusek JA, Hibberd PL, Buczynski B, et al. Stress management versus lifestyle modification on systolic hypertension and medication elimination: a randomized trial. J Altern Complement Med. Mar 2008;14(2):129-138.
- Rainforth MV, Schneider RH, Nidich SI, Gaylord-King C, Salerno JW, Anderson JW. Stress reduction programs in patients with elevated blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Curr Hypertens Rep. Dec 2007;9(6):520-528.
- Astin JA, Shapiro SL, Eisenberg DM, Forys KL. Mind-body medicine: state of the science, implications for practice. J Am Board Fam Pract. Mar-Apr 2003;16(2):131-147.
- Stetter F, Kupper S. Autogenic training: a meta-analysis of clinical outcome studies. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. Mar 2002;27(1):45-98.
- Schein MH, Gavish B, Herz M, et al. Treating hypertension with a device that slows and regularises breathing: a randomised, double-blind controlled study. J Hum Hypertens. Apr 2001;15(4):271-278.
- Mori H, Yamamoto H, Kuwashima M, et al. How does deep breathing affect office blood pressure and pulse rate? Hypertens Res. Jun 2005;28(6):499-504.
- Mandle CL, Jacobs SC, Arcari PM, Domar AD. The efficacy of relaxation response interventions with adult patients: a review of the literature. J Cardiovasc Nurs. Apr 1996;10(3):4-26.
- McCraty R, Atkinson M, Tomasino D. Impact of a workplace stress reduction program on blood pressure and emotional health in hypertensive employees. Journal of Alternaive and Complementary Medicine. 2003;9(3):355-369.
- Paul-Labrador M, Polk D, Dwyer JH, et al. Effects of a randomized controlled trial of transcendental meditation on components of the metabolic syndrome in subjects with coronary heart disease. Arch Intern Med. Jun 12 2006;166(11):1218-1224.
- Schneider RH, Walton KG, Salerno JW, Nidich SI. Cardiovascular disease prevention and health promotion with the transcendental meditation program and Maharishi consciousness-based health care. Ethn Dis. Summer 2006;16(3 Suppl 4):S4-15-26.
- Wenneberg SR, Schneider RH, Walton KG, et al. A controlled study of the effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on cardiovascular reactivity and ambulatory blood pressure. Int J Neurosci. Jan 1997;89(1-2):15-28.
- Schneider RH, Alexander CN, Staggers F, et al. Long-term effects of stress reduction on mortality in persons > or = 55 years of age with systemic hypertension. Am J Cardiol. May 1 2005;95(9):1060-1064.
- Kaplan MS, Nunes A. The psychosocial determinants of hypertension.


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Reach for the Skyyyyy!
Graduates, now that you've graduated, a whole new world of possibilities is open to you!
Possibilities like...
Oh, c'mon, I can't be the only one who hears Woody from Toy Story saying this, can I?
And that's not the only problem. Nope, it seems that some bakers are having trouble understanding what those white things are called:
Now, you might think that nixing the troublesome "sky" component all together would help:


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Seasonal Non Sequiturs
I appreciate that some decorators are trying to think outside the traditional wreath/stocking/tree box, but then again...
For the granddaughter who loves dissecting frogs - formaldehyde frosting optional. (And you know, without the comma "Love Grandma" becomes more of a command. A really creepy one.)
Have a cake left over from Halloween? Meh, just slap a Santa hat on it.*
The head of a flower, the face of a snowman, the body of a slug, and a candy cane for a...belt buckle. (Please, let's just go with belt buckle.) "Let it Snow"? How about "Let it Go" - as in, away. Far, far away.
Brace yourself for this next one:
The mind, it boggles. Is this a frilly white Santa caterpillar, crawling up a red boulder? Or has Santa sampled some Wonka chewing gum (with cherry pie dessert)? The back certainly does nothing to clear up the mystery:
What IS that little bump? A tail?
Even more baffling, the decorator thought this was such a smashing design that s/he made it in miniature as well:
Now the bumps are on the side. What does it mean?!?
Try to picture those "cakes" without the plastic Santa heads for a moment. I'm getting a real "raw meatballs sitting in radioactive waste" vibe - how 'bout you?
Thanks to intrepid Wreckporters Brittney E., Meredith O., Kelly D., & Heather K.!
*I'm told this is actually a Grinch cake. Not sure that alleviates the wreckiness, though.


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Remember when your little one first grabbed your finger with their whole hand? Now that they are running around, haven't those moments gone by so quickly? Wish you could make them smile like they used to? Well, you can! Nothing will light up their face like a new toy! Play is good for development, so you're actually educating them, not spoiling them ;) With the best in Toys we have something to get every little face beaming!
We're a giant Toy store in the sky! Come stroll through our aisles without leaving your living room! Building blocks, cars, dolls, dress-ups, water games, wooden toys – you'll find all these and more. We've got the toys kids love from Hasbro, Mattel and Duplo, to name a few. Barbie, My Little Pony and Hot Wheels are just some names you'll recognise and so will they. There's even something for the youngster in you with our range of board games and models so you can spend quality time with them. Whether your children are infants, in kindergarten or primary school or even one of the coolest tweens, they'll be your little angel again with something from our Toy range.
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Puffy Plastic Candy Cane Alphas & more & a freebie
There are THREE alphas in Puffy Plastic Candy Cane Alphas. There are even little hats you can add to your letters if you want and a couple of matching tags for good measure. Click the image to enlarge. Click the Buy It Now Button below the image to purchase from my PayPal store for $3.99. As always, I've got a freebie for you today - the cute word art in the preview - so go snag it!Please support this blog by shopping my PayPal store. God bless you!Download here. Check out my TERMS OF USE here.The password is jesuschristislord.Digifree CraftCrave CraftCrave


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After making a name for herself with a local history book that stands head and shoulders above the norm, Altadena: Between Wilderness and City, Michele Zack is back with a new book: Southern California Story: Seeking the Better Life in Sierra Madre. A career journalist and former resident of Thailand, Zack and her husband have called Altadena home for more than two decades, and she's well known in the community for her involvement, including serving three terms on the Altadena Town Council, as well as on the Watershed Committee and the Altadena Foothills Conservancy.
When she's not researching and writing books, Zack works with Pasadena Unified to integrate local and California history into teaching American history. She's also a heck of a gardener who makes the most of her Altadena back yard.
Zack will be discussing and signing Southern California Story at Vroman's on Wednesday, December 2 at 7 p.m.; get details by going to vromansbookstore.com.
You were trained as a journalist, not an historian. How did you become fascinated with local history?
"The local is the only universal. On that all art builds." Philosopher John Dewey said it, and in taking up a book-writing assignment from the Altadena Historical Society, I began exploring that idea until it developed into a kind of obsession: understanding the big picture through examining hints provided at ground level. Another factor is that I was a journalist for a very long time, but became interested in following a more scholarly muse. I learned classical Tibetan and studied with lamas when I was much younger, and routinely did research in projects like writing the ethnography of a wandering hill tribe in Southeast Asia. I discovered I really like long projects — like writing books.
I began reading American and California history extensively, and I've been fortunate to learn from many academic scholars. I started applying writing tools I already had to my new passion, local history, and as I researched, I was astonished at how much fascinating material there is, and sort of angry that it isn't more widely used. Local stories relate directly to larger historical narratives, make them understandable and more interesting. It is troubling that so many consider history boring when it is, after all, who we are. When I was in school, we studied the Pilgrims and the Revolutionary and Civil wars over and over — it was more like brainwashing than looking critically at our past to learn anything useful about the human condition or our culture. Now I'm completely taken up by learning more and turning that knowledge into books that are a good read, that challenge what people think they know — and that increase discussions about American history.
How long have you lived in Altadena, and what keeps you there?
My husband Mark and I bought our house in 1986. We love it here, and are major homebodies. It is a great place to be a writer. We left for eight years in the 1990s and had a pretty exciting time in Thailand, but I used to dream about the mountains. Bangkok is very flat. I love my current work with the Huntington-USC Institute for California and the West and with the teachers in the Pasadena Unified School District. We integrate local and California history into United States history through a federal Teaching American History grant. Very satisfying to know that history teaching is improving, and that I get to be part of it.
Did your involvement in local politics, as an Altadena Town Council member, affect your work as a writer at all? Do you have a different sort of appreciation for hyper-local politics?
In Thailand, I was always an outsider — even though I was a journalist and I wrote speeches for a few prime ministers. Mark and I told ourselves that if we came back to America, we'd become better citizens. I learned a lot in three terms on the Town Council: about the way the world works, about how people relate to government and, mostly, that I am an activist at heart and that life is frustrating wherever you live. I love the idea of direct democracy and making a positive impact where I live. The Pocket Park at Marengo and Woodbury, push-starting and working on the hillside ordinance, and getting 72 oak trees planted along Fair Oaks are examples.
But, some great individuals aside, as a body the Altadena Town Council never seemed a true reflection of the Altadena I know. Its chairman once waggled his finger at me, saying, "Michele, you just don't get it that the watershed is not an issue in Altadena." I tried to alter that culture but wasn't very successful. I decided I could be more effective elsewhere. In terms of my writing, I'd say the Town Council intensified my desire to use as few words as possible to communicate clearly — I guess as a reaction to listening to too many words being said about nothing.
Why Sierra Madre? What drew you to write that book?
Well, I was hired to write it, but then I got completely wrapped up in trying to write a history as interesting and illuminating as possible. Because of the Altadena book's success, I had a free hand — no one was looking over my shoulder, saying "Don't say Rodney King was from Altadena, don't say Eldridge Cleaver is buried here!" The research in this book is much deeper, the context broader. The focus is one town, and a smaller one than Altadena, but it is a regional story integrated into Pasadena, Altadena and Los Angeles, as well as to the history of ideas.
The beauty of writing about one place is that you can use it as a lens to focus on everything else that interests you. People experience history in a locale, and yet national history always seems to happen somewhere else, and to other people. Examples: Illness was a huge driver of immigration until around 1900, and Sierra Madre was among the most tubercular spots on earth. Maybe a quarter of all people moving to the American West in that period were sick (including lots from Europe). Having the example of one town allowed me to make it personal, while at the same time examine the overall importance of the illness legacy to California's identity. And, what better place to look at the counterculture of the 1960s, and the early environmental movement, than Sierra Madre Canyon?
Tell us one fun story about Sierra Madre that most people don't know.
Anais Nin, the erotic diarist, lived there with the forest ranger Rupert Pole for a decade and helped the Forest Service during the wildfires of 1953. When handling calls about the fire, she started answering with: "Forest Service, Paris Branch," and some people got distracted by her accent and wanted to know who was on the other end of the line. Pole and Nin married in 1955, but she continued commuting between Sierra Madre and New York City, where she was also married to Hugo Guiler, a filmmaker who was editing her diaries. When these were about to be published, she annulled her marriage to Pole because she was afraid of getting her guys in trouble; both had been claiming her as a spouse and a tax deduction! So a major voice in changing sexual mores in the 1960s was quietly living as a bigamist in this pretty conservative San Gabriel Valley town.
Altadena or Sierra Madre — which has more trees?
Altadena has three times the area and four times the population, so the total number of trees must be greater here. But Sierra Madre probably wins "trees per square mile" because it is a city with an actual tree policy and a downtown plan that encourages oaks and other drought tolerants in public right of ways. Altadena is part of the county; historically fewer trees were planted overall, and those on the west side are not maintained as well as trees on the east side, where I live.


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Mint Linde Werdelin Hard Black II HBII.2.6 Green Automatic Index Watch
|Linde Werdelin (Guaranteed Authentic)
|Hard Black II
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Original Linde Werdelin DLC Coated Stainless Steel
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|Original Linde Werdelin Scratch-Resistant Sapphire Crystal
|Original Linde Werdelin Black Index Dial
|Original Linde Werdelin Unidirectional Rotatable 60 Minute Graduated Bezel
|Original Linde Werdelin Green Rubber strap with a Black Tang Buckle
|Yes, this item includes its original Linde Werdelin watch case and outer box (pictured).
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|This item is in Excellent condition, it shows some light wear. It has recently been professionally inspected, time-tested, pressure-tested and cleaned. Please review the images provided.
One-Year Warranty ($400 Value - Included with your purchase). Collectors Coins & Jewelry warrants the dependable functioning of this entire watch for the period of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, loss, theft, tampering, mistreatment or modification through the addition or subtraction of parts or accessories not supplied by Collectors Coins & Jewelry. In the event of a malfunction arising within the warranty period, we will remedy the defect at no cost to the consumer, once the consumer delivers the watch to our office location in Smithtown, NY address listed to the right of this page. This warranty will be valid only if the consumer holds a certificate of authenticity from Collectors Coins & Jewelry of Smithtown or has another form of proof of purchase.
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Reports are coming in from the Google Voice help forums that SMS messages sent through Google Voice are being sent from random numbers. There are multiple complaints, including for voice SMS, claiming that the incorrect numbers are random, and different for each message.
There's an update coming to Google Voice prior to Android 4.2 being released, but no known issues exist for prior software. It's not happening to everyone, though, since we tested it and could not reproduce the bug. Have you guys noticed this happening? Go ahead and share screenshots or images below. [Google via Verge]


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West concedes to Patrick Murphy
Florida Rep. Allen West — the tea party pugilist and face of the class of House Republicans that stormed to power two years ago — conceded Tuesday to 29-year-old construction executive Patrick Murphy in one of the nation's highest-profile congressional races.
After two weeks of battle with St. Lucie County elections officials — and a recount of early votes that wound up extending Murphy's lead — West acknowledged that he couldn't surmount his 1,904-vote, or 0.58 percent, deficit. That difference was just outside the 0.5 percent threshold to automatically trigger a recount of all votes.
Story Continued Below
( Also on POLITICO: Republicans run from Romney)
So the brash conservative opted to bow out rather than wage a long and costly court battle he was unlikely to win.
"For two weeks since Election Day, we have been working to ensure every vote is counted accurately and fairly. We have made progress towards that goal, thanks to the dedication of our supporters and their unrelenting efforts to protect the integrity of the democratic process," West said in a statement to POLITICO. "While many questions remain unanswered, today I am announcing that I will take no further action to contest the outcome of this election."
West congratulated Murphy, saying, "I pray he will serve his constituents with honor and integrity, and put the interests of our nation before his own."
( Also on POLITICO: Dems have own fiscal cliff issues)
Appearing on Fox News Tuesday morning, West did not rule out a future run for office.
"Right now God knows the plans for my life. The most important thing is to enjoy Thanksgiving, my youngest daughter has her 16th birthday on Saturday. That's where my concern is now, to be with the family," he said. "We'll make that decision as a family as far as where we're going to move ahead."
Democrats fell short in their bid to retake the House, but taking out West is one victory they'll savor. The Iraq War veteran seemed to revel in taunting the opposition: He once called President Barack Obama "probably the dumbest person … in America right now" and suggested that 80 House Democrats were communists, among other put-downs.
West was expected to win in the swing district, if only narrowly — he outraised Murphy 4-to-1, and enjoyed almost universal name ID against a candidate waging his first bid for public office.
West ran as a rare truth-teller in politics, trying to turn his blunt talk into a campaign asset. Murphy bet that voters were tired of hearing it.


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Editor's note: This is one of seven 2014 marketing outlooks, the AgWeb.com editors are providing to help you succeed and be profitable in the coming year. Please check back each Monday for another outlook.
The 2012 drought left deep scars on the pork industry, but profit opportunities finally abound.
This year served as a turnaround time for cash-strapped hog producers. For the past several years, record-high feed prices plagued the industry causing herd reductions and monumental debt.
High feed costs have been a persisting problem since late 2006. Then, in a matter of a few weeks during the summer of 2012 drought caused corn prices to begin the surge to record highs. "In three weeks, the world just changed," says Chris Hurt, a Purdue Extension ag economist. "You can't change your breeding program with hogs in three weeks."
Since pork producers were left with few options, they reduced herds as much as possible and weathered the storm. During the last half of 2012 and the first half of 2013, Hurt estimates producers lost a staggering $24 per head, primarily due to high feed prices.
Luckily, for pork producers, those cuts in hog production resulted in strong hog prices and much lower corn prices with the more favorable 2013 crop has returned the industry to profitability. Hurt says as of the last half of this year and during first half of 2014, producers should see profits of about $30 a head.
"While that sounds like a lot of money, producers are really just offsetting the drought losses and doing a little better," Hurt says. "But, these are good returns. By next spring and summer we should see some extraordinary returns – maybe around $40 per head."
Herd Expansion Begins
After several years of herd reductions, Ron Plain, University of Missouri Extension livestock marketing economist, says producers are finally able to start rebuilding breeding herds.
"History says it takes 5 months of profits before we start to see herd expansion," he says. "October was the fifth month of profits, so we're expecting producers to start expanding breeding herds somewhere in the tail-end of 2013 and that will give us more hogs on the market starting in 4th quarter of 2014."
Hurt says producers are retaining and breeding more gilts. By next summer, Hurt predicts the U.S. breeding herd will have expanded by 2-3%.
A Side of Bacon
The past few years of high pork production costs have resulted in higher pork retail costs. Hurt says that since 2007, the average American reduced yearly pork consumption by around 5 lbs.
"Consumption has been weak because pork producers had to see record-high market prices to pay for the record-high feed costs," he says. "When retail prices go up, consumers tend to eat less."
Plain says retail price of pork in August was all-time record high of $3.75/lb.
Even though prices have been high, one pork cut is still in high demand. "We go through food fads," Plain says. "And, bacon is an in food right now. It is popular with chefs and demand is up."
Since only so much of a hog can be turned into bacon, Plain says prices have gone higher. "Bacon is more expensive in grocery stores than pork chops," he says.
Robust Outlook for 2014
From 2006 to 2012, Hurt says the amount of meat that the average U.S. consumer ate per year declined about 20 lbs. While it will take time to regain all 20 lbs., if ever, Hurt says that by 2016 consumers should up their meat intake by 5 to 6 lbs per person per year.
So, which meat species will earn back a bigger spot on the dinner plate?
Hurt says beef will get almost none of it because they cannot increase beef supply until at least 2016. He says before the cattle industry can truly expand, producers need to see the drought completely go away.
"The poultry industry and pork industry will capture most of the increased meat consumption in the next several years," he says. "Poultry has the best opportunity since they can expand the quickest. But, pork is definitely in the game."
Overall, Plain and Hurt agree 2014 should be a profitable year for pork producers.
"Meat supply is tight and prices are high," Plain says. "With lower feed costs, we will expand production and eventually consumers will get lower prices in the grocery story."
Hurt says pork consumption per person will be rising in the U.S., and population in the U.S. is also somewhat growing. Additionally, U.S. pork is in a great position to increase exports. "That's three homeruns," he says. "If pork producers made it through to this point, they are survivors and will do fine."
2014 Marketing Outlooks
The editors at AgWeb.com are taking a look at experts' 2014 projections for corn, beef, wheat, hogs, soybean, cotton and dairy.


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Nothing you're lying upon, wearing, or burrowing into this Sunday could possibly be as cozy at the little nest this chick makes in its obliging cat friend. And the chick burrows into its hiding place just it time, too, because, as everyone well knows, Easter is the holiday during which marauding bunnies prowl the spring meadows, sniffing out the notoriously sweet marshmallow blood of itty-bitty chickies. Don't worry! This little chick is safe, or would be safe if the voyeuristic person behind the camera didn't ruin an ingenious hiding spot.
via Buzzfeed


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Watching Munster had me wishing I was down there on the pitch
Players stood up again when it was required to achieve an epic victory
Paul O'Connell salutes the fans. Photo: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
It finally happened. On Sunday afternoon at The Stoop, watching the controlled ferocity of the Munster pack squeeze the life out of Harlequins, I ached to be out on the pitch. It was bittersweet having to watch the team add another famous chapter to the Munster rugby story.
But still way more sweet than bitter.
I missed being a rugby player during that second half. I desperately wanted to be playing the game that consumed my life until retiring two years ago. As they pounded into Harlequins, I fell into a trance-like state in the Sky Sports studio. That's the only way I can describe it.
Beforehand, all week, I couldn't envisage Munster playing with the intensity needed to win on the Premiership champions' patch.
The closer it got to match day, the more I was inclined to believe Munster would falter at the quarter-final stage for the second season running. That would be the new standard. That's what goes through the mind when you no longer have any influence on proceedings.
By the time I got to Shannon airport on Saturday I had convinced myself Harlequins would be too strong. The 51-24 defeat to Glasgow was in the mind. Then I started meeting travelling supporters. It was amazing how many of them said the same thing: "Don't worry Quinny, we can do this!"
That attitude, more than anything else, epitomises what Munster rugby is all about.
Despite a terribly disrupted season, they still believed the Heineken Cup, do-or-die scenario would bring something extra out of the team. It was blind faith coupled with Paulie's return and knowing Rog would be out there to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
That was enough for many of them.
I'm glad to have entertained everyone on my flight. I left the laptop down on a bench in the airport and went to the shop but when I came back it was gone. I couldn't find it anywhere and had to abandon the search or I'd miss the flight. Panicked and last to board, I was welcomed by a rousing round of applause. It was a bad start to the weekend.
It got worse at Twickenham later that night. I really thought Ulster would edge Saracens but they simply did not perform.
Keeping calm
So there I was Sunday lunchtime alongside Clive Woodward and Will Greenwood trying to keep my emotions in check. But keeping calm during those hectic 15 minutes after half-time was impossible.
Then came an overwhelming urge to be out there on the blindside flank, slowing 'Quins ball when the French ref was watching elsewhere for offside.
Clive snapped me out of it. Nudging me, he said: "This is unbelievable what's happening here, Alan."
The Munster forwards had turned England's World Cup- winning coach into an admiring neutral spectator.
Will Greenwood, a Harlequins man, wasn't of the same mind. Of course you have to detach yourself from it all when analysing for TV but even Will conceded what happened in those 15 minutes was astounding.
At one stage the Munster number seven shot up and made a big tackle, got back on his feet and sprinted back into the line to make another, which he did. Woodward was purring. "Look at Tommy O'Donnell."
He was just one example of a player going to the very limit, doing whatever it took to halt Harlequins around-the-corner carries. Tommy's from my own club, Clanwilliam, so I have always taken a keen interest in his progress.
I was delighted to see that outstanding performance from him on the big stage. He spoke before the team left the changing room. A quiet enough lad usually, his words would have struck a chord with the collective.
This has been no overnight success. Tommy will be 26 in June. He's waited in what seemed a never-ending queue to get a sustained opportunity in the Munster backrow.
I had to keep him at bay in my last few years. I remember, whenever he got over-excited at training, saying to him: "Come on now Tommy, don't let one Clanwilliam man take another's place in the team . . . That wouldn't be right."
The breakdown
He's matured so much in the last 12 months alone. He got outplayed at the breakdown by Ulster's Chris Henry in the 2012 quarter-final in Thomond Park but he outmuscled England captain Chris Robshaw. That type of performance reverberates. It should see him capped on Ireland's tour of North America this summer.
Where did the Munster performance come from? O'Connell nailed it on the head. These boys have been working their socks off for years now. This was the reward. They will have a taste for it now, especially after that lap of honour.'s the drug I still craved. But I took a lot of satisfaction from seeing old friends Paulie and Rog still in the thick of it. Despite both being shattered, they were able to enjoy a quiet pint on their return home on Sunday night.
They would have slept like babies. That type of sleep is something I miss too. Then again, I don't miss the horrible feeling waking up the morning after big loss.
Until Sunday, this campaign must have been a horrible experience for the players. Ten defeats across both competitions. Win a few matches then lose a few matches. People sniping at Penney's new philosophy and the supposed lack of Munster principles.
It all builds up. The Munster team I played for tended to react to defeat with a string of victories. This hasn't happened. But on Sunday we saw the fear, the anger and the hurt coming out. Guys like Zebo and Jimmy Downey took responsibility when they weren't expected to. Zebs grabbed a high ball he had no right to catch and Downey cut Mike Brown in two when the 'Quins fullback tried to counter attack.
Even before the Glasgow match I found it hard to believe Munster had the ability to go to The Stoop and win. Especially factoring in the influence of Conor O'Shea and his knowledge of Munster's players. Conor's a very grounded guy but he would have been targeting this game (the measure of the man was how he shook the hand of every Munster player afterwards).
Munster must have identified Harlequins' vulnerability, losing three games in the lead-in. I watched Exeter beat them 27-16, on March 2nd and remember thinking Munster had a chance if they played in a similarly direct manner.
A threat
I've played on talented Munster teams that would be well able to adopt the Rob Penney wide-wide game – the 2008 backline were a threat from everywhere on the park. But we still built our game around physicality, fitness and pressure. Taking teams through the phases up front.
Paul O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan, Peter O'Mahony, James Coughlan and the other guys like BJ Botha and of course the next generation – Tommy, Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne made it that sort of game.
This victory gives the whole organisation a shot of adrenaline. Contrast that with Ulster, whose previously successful season will always be associated with their lack of a performance against Saracens.
Sport can be cruel like that.
Playing Leinster in Limerick will always matter but the Pro 12 is gone for Munster. The pressure is off for a few weeks and Penney will be tempted to rest some players. However, anyone with Lions aspirations will refuse to give up the jersey.
I'm not sure the Munster players will be able to repeat the intensity levels six days on, but the fear of a heavy beating from a Leinster team chasing a Pro 12 home semi-final should provide ample motivation.
That it might be Brian O'Driscoll's last game at Thomond Park, and Johnny Sexton's for a while as well, should guarantee a hospitable welcome for old friends.
PS The laptop wasn't stolen by the way. I got it by Monday. Safest airport in the world is Shannon.