text:
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
A Prissy Snit
Alfalfa fulminates.
CIAO. My my my. Get a load of George Will on the Miers nomination:
Senators beginning what ought to be a protracted and exacting scrutiny of Harriet Miers should be guided by three rules. First, it is not important that she be confirmed. Second, it might be very important that she not be. Third, the presumption -- perhaps rebuttable but certainly in need of rebutting -- should be that her nomination is not a defensible exercise of presidential discretion to which senatorial deference is due.
It is not important that she be confirmed because there is no evidence that she is among the leading lights of American jurisprudence, or that she possesses talents commensurate with the Supreme Court's tasks. The president's ``argument'' for her amounts to: Trust me. There is no reason to, for several reasons.
He has neither the inclination nor the ability to make sophisticated judgments about competing approaches to construing the Constitution. Few presidents acquire such abilities in the course of their prepresidential careers, and this president, particularly, is not disposed to such reflections.
Furthermore, there is no reason to believe that Miers' nomination resulted from the president's careful consultation with people capable of such judgments. If 100 such people had been asked to list 100 individuals who have given evidence of the reflectiveness and excellence requisite in a justice, Miers' name probably would not have appeared in any of the 10,000 places on those lists.
What a jackass. Honestly. Let's be clear what is being proposed here: that in order to preserve the Constitution, we must dispense with the Constitution and employ confirmation rules dreamed up by a twit in a snit. Who are we to consult for the purpose of identifying 100 people who are capable of making "sophisticated judgments about competing approaches to construing the Constitution"? Let's take a wild guess. Would it be George Will? But he doesn't answer that question exactly. There's much too much showing off to do. For example:
(C)onstitutional reasoning is a talent -- a skill acquired, as intellectual skills are, by years of practice sustained by intense interest. It is not usually acquired in the normal course of even a fine lawyer's career. The burden is on Miers to demonstrate such talents, and on senators to compel such a demonstration or reject the nomination.
We told you yesterday this whole thing was about snobbery. The tirade quoted above demonstrates that and something else; the snobbery is being amplified by pure dudgeon about a number of conservative beefs, including Will's pet peeve:
(T)he president has forfeited his right to be trusted as a custodian of the Constitution. The forfeiture occurred March 27, 2002, when, in a private act betokening an uneasy conscience, he signed the McCain-Feingold law expanding government regulation of the timing, quantity and content of political speech. The day before the 2000 Iowa caucuses he was asked -- to insure a considered response from him, he had been told in advance he would be asked -- whether McCain-Feingold's core purposes are unconstitutional. He unhesitatingly said, ``I agree.'' Asked if he thought presidents have a duty, pursuant to their oath to defend the Constitution, to make an independent judgment about the constitutionality of bills and to veto those he thinks unconstitutional, he briskly said, ``I do.''
Let's go Mr. Will one better and actually think about the argument he is trying to assemble here. First of all, interpreting the Constitution is a talent -- unless it's a skill (Which is it, George? Those aren't synonyms in my dictionary) -- that can only be acquired by highly trained specialists who represent only a subset of all attorneys. It can't be done by amateurs, and no amateur should even try. Oka-a-a-y. George Bush isn't an attorney of any kind. Under what article of the new George Will Constitution would the President have the right to pass judgment on the constitutionality of McCain-Feingold? Oh. Of course. Under the article (or its penumbra) which legitimizes all executive actions congruent with the intellectual or emotional whims of the Founding Father, George Will. But instead, the President deferred the matter of McCain-Feingold's constitutionality to the U.S. Supreme Court -- i.e., highly trained specialists in interpreting the Constitution -- who proceeded to declare it (drum roll, please!) constitutional.
Well, by Mr. Will's own argument with respect to the Miers nomination -- remember what he started ranting about in the first place -- this outcome means that the President (if he thought McCain-Feingold was unconstitutional) was wrong, and the great intellectuals of the court were right. So what is George Will's beef? That he disagrees with the highly trained specialists of the court. Hmmmm.
Will was born in Champaign, Ill., and was educated at Trinity College in Hartford, and Oxford and Princeton universities. Prior to entering journalism, Will taught political philosophy at Michigan State University and the University of Toronto...
This is a quote from Will's Washington Post bio. Very nice education. Very impressive. One slight problem, though. No sign of a law degree or "years of practice sustained by intense interest" in constitutional reasoning.
There's plenty of room to criticize George Bush for failing to veto McCain-Feingold, but it's no more than pompous rhetoric to declare that the President has "forfeited his right to be trusted as a custodian of the Constitution." Particularly in light of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold it AND the astonishing conclusion reached by George Will that the Senate somehow merits the trust he no longer feels for the President. His hopes for the senate are lofty indeed:
It is important that Miers not be confirmed unless, in her 61st year, she suddenly and unexpectedly is found to have hitherto undisclosed interests and talents pertinent to the court's role. Otherwise the sound principle of substantial deference to a president's choice of judicial nominees will dissolve into a rationalization for senatorial abdication of the duty to hold presidents to some standards of seriousness that will prevent them from reducing the Supreme Court to a private plaything useful for fulfilling whims on behalf of friends.
Standards of seriousness. Right. Are we allowed to ask who it is that passed McCain-Feingold into law? Who? Oh. The Congress, including approximately the same senate that is now miraculously endowed with the "sophisticated judgment" to detect either the talent or the skill George Will requires, whenever he decides which it is. The approximate same senate that gave 97 votes to Ruth Bader-Ginsberg, who never met a clause of the Constitution she wouldn't be happier rewriting than interpreting.
From this point on, Will's tantrum degenerates into a charge of victimhood the nominee seems to have spent a lifetime eschewing. We can safely ignore all that part of the denouement. But what are we left with? A columnist with no law degree has more authority to select supreme court nominees than a non-lawyer president who has disappointed the columnist's political expectations.
Time to correct a few misimpressions. Supreme Court judges are not the democratic equivalent of Vestal Virgins. They don't follow a special diet, breathe special air, and they don't live in sacred temples. Nor for that matter do they have to be lawyers, any more than the Constitution's authors had to be. Benjamin Franklin had some pretty impressive reasoning skills, but no law degree.
The Constitution does not say that if the President isn't intellectual enough to suit the educational snobs of his generation that he must find 100 smarter people to make his supreme court selections for him. (We'd dearly love to have witnessed the outcome of the duel that would followed George Will's attempt to give this particular lecture to Andrew Jackson. Oh well.)
The inflated demands in this piece remind us of another blowhard's famous canard (Carl Sagan, Cornell, no law degree) that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof." As a matter of fact, they don't. They require exactly the same kind of proof needed for ordinary claims. Presidents have selected supreme court justices for all kinds of reasons, including politics, friendship, and legitimate credentials. The founders knew this would happen. That's why they gave the senate a role in advice and consent. Not because the senators would turn out to be better or smarter than the President, but because government appointments take place in the arena of politics and open political proceedings tend to be more noisy and less corrupt than closed political proceedings, except when it's the other way around. That's one of the many many flawed compromises our form of government asks us to accept.
Those who don't accept such compromises are free to propose their own rules, as George Will has done. God bless his First Amendment right to speak down to the rest of us. Perhaps we should follow his lead. Here are three rules we think will improve the confirmation process for Harriet Miers:
1. Don't ever take seriously any sermon delivered by an adult male who is wearing a bowtie.
2. Don't ever forget that lawyers are great at causing trouble and rarely competent at fixing it..
3. Regardless of what happens in the Miers hearings, we will -- most of us -- continue living our lives as if the terrible outcome of the confirmation process had never occurred.
Now get some rest. Relax. Do something that makes you feel good and happy today. Here endeth the lesson.
UPDATE: Now here's an idea we can all get behind.


text:
[Date Index]
[Thread Index]
[Author Index]
RE: Raise lists of a list to powers
-----Original Message-----
From: Matthias.Bode at oppenheim.de [mailto:Matthias.Bode at oppenheim.de]
To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
Subject: [mg27119] [mg27079] Raise lists of a list to powers
Dear Colleagues,
I have a list of lists
{{a, b, c}, {d, e, f}, {g, h, i}, ...}.
1. To each value 1 has to be added. (I can do that.)
2. The new values (a+1, b+1, ...) have to be raised to a series of powers:
a, d, g have to be raised to r;
b, e, h have to be raised to s
and c, f, i to t.
There is no function governing the exponents r, s, t; they are just a list
of values like -(1/256) or -(1/12).
Map, Thread, Apply &c. so far knew to thwart my efforts most effectively.
Thank you very much for your help.
Matthias Bode
Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. KGaA
Koenigsberger Strasse 29
D-60487 Frankfurt am Main
Tel.: +49(0)69 71 34 53 80
Mobile: +49(0)172 6 74 95 77
Fax: +49(0)69 71 34 6380
E-mail: matthias.bode at oppenheim.de
Internet: http://www.oppenheim.de
Dear Matthias,
MapThread[Power, {Transpose[{{a, b, c}, {d, e, f}, {g, h, i}}], {r, s, t}}]
{{a^r, d^r, g^r}, {b^s, e^s, h^s}, {c^t, f^t, i^t}}
or else
Thread[Power[Transpose[{{a, b, c}, {d, e, f}, {g, h, i}}], {r, s, t}]]
{{a^r, b^s, c^t}, {d^r, e^s, f^t}, {g^r, h^s, i^t}}
-- Hartmut Wolf

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Oregon Historical County Records Guide
Umatilla County Scenic Images
Umatilla River Bluffs
buy high resolution copy | next image
Bluffs over the Umatilla River west of Pendleton. (Photo No. umaDA0097)
About this image
Dimensions: 3872 x 2571 pixels (300 dpi version); Date created: August 2010; Camera: Nikon D80 Digital SLR; Lens: Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED; Photographer citation: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives; Keywords/Tags: horizontal, Oregon, Umatilla County, Reith Road, Umatilla River, bluffs, rock formations, blue sky, clouds, rural.
buy high resolution copy | next image
County guide home | Scenic images home


text:
Barney's cancels Jay Z launch party?!
Huffington Post is reporting that Barney's canceled the launch scheduled for Wednesday in NYC. Barney's released a statement saying "due to unforeseen circumstances the event has been canceled". Yeah like the unforeseen bad press about the racial profiling allegations against Barney's. Jay Z has a new line will launch as planned called sans soiree' (?). Anyway the way I see it. It seems as though whatever the allegations are seem to be bothering alot of people. Jay has said he would continue working with Barney's on his community projects and his new line while the investigation into Barney's continues. Do you think Jay should sever his ties with Barney's now or wait until the investigation is over? Take the poll below and let us know what you think. I will give out the results this Saturday 2pm to 6pm. Read the full story here:


text:
2014/2015 – The next step is to get the WSET Diploma Program in Houston. This is a huge challenge for the Texas Wine School as very few schools are allowed to provide the Diploma Program. This Program will be the only one in the Mid USA which to be honest is way overdue for this region.
2013 – The Texas Wine School is taking leaps and bounds with expansion into Austin, Texas and the introduction of the Society of Wine Educator Certifications (SWE).
Austin is the first expansion and will be offering all the Certifications offered by the Texas Wine School (WSET, FWS & SWE) and their own Wine Seminars and Fundamentals.
We are hoping to expand into San Antonio in the Fall of 2013 as well.
The SWE Certifications, CSW & CSS, is a great addition and privilege as we are only one of three "private schools" sanctioned to teach these, usually self-study, certifications.
The school has been expanding with classes for all levels & subjects. The result has been an increase in students and an ever widening recognition in the market.
Provence Master Level with the FWS.
2012 – Reaccreditation for the BIVB Burgundy Wine Educator – 4 days tasting followed by an exam.
Languedoc Rousillon Master Level, FWS, including a trip to the region and then a 2 hour exam.
2011 – Offered all the Certification Courses, WSET Levels 1,2 & 3 & FWS. Very pleasing response considering it is the first time they have been offered. The consumer classes are also a success with Wines of France, Italy & California being the standouts.
2010 – Started the Texas Wine School in the Fall.
Conducted training seminars in Calgary, San Francisco and Los Angeles for the annual North American West Coast Burgundy Wine Board's (B.I.V.B.) Tastings.
Selected to be a wine judge at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (largest wine competition in the world).
Studied in Bordeaux and was awarded the International Bordeaux Wine Educator Accreditation.
Studied in the Napa Valley and was awarded the Wine Educator Accreditation.
May 2010 I introduced the Sake Service Institute Sake Adviser Certificate Course for the Wine House to much acclaim hosted by one of the few Certified Sake Educators in the USA, Toshio Ueno.
Finally, in late 2010 the Italian Sommelier Association of California will be hosting classes at the Wine House. This after suggestions and meetings between myself and their board that an introductory level certification is what the trade and the consumer needs.
2009 – With the success of the WSET program I was asked to join the French Wine Society. I became one of the first French Wine Scholar Educators. Then after studying in the regions of Rhone and Burgundy I was awarded the Master Level Educator Accreditation for Rhone and Burgundy.
Launched the French Wine Scholar Program for The Wine House, one of the first 'schools' in the USA to teach the French Wine Scholar Program.
I also developed and delivered the lecture on the region of Burgundy at the French Wine Society Conference in October 2009 to over 80 attendees (Allen Meadows was the speaker in 2008).
2007 – I setup the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) program at the Wine House. The WSET has been a huge success for the Wine House enhancing its already impressive reputation as one of the best retail stores in the country for Wine and Spirits Education. I educated over 300 students for WSET Intermediate level 2 and WSET Advanced Level 3 and two colleagues to become WSET educators as well.
2003 – Moved to Los Angeles with my new wife (Michigan) who I met in Sydney.
I set up a small wine importing business and a private client wine club. This allowed me to purchase old and rare wines and also special deals from distributors for my private clients. In addition I started wine tasting events and wine education for private clients and corporations. The importing introduced me to the retail store, The Wine House, whom I sold wine to and then started working part time for.
1997 – Started work for Montana Wines in Sydney, Australia, covering all aspects of the distribution and sales side of the business.
1996 – Passed the WSET Diploma Program.
1994 – Joined Majestic Wines, London, UK.
1993 – I got the wine bug in my last year at Edinburgh University when I went on a University sponsored trip to Alsace and compared Alsatian and German wines for a week.


text:
- Vegetable cooking spray
- 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 4 large egg whites
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon confectioners' sugar
Preheat the oven to 375°. Lightly coat a 4-cup soufflé dish with cooking spray. In a small bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stir the chocolate until melted; alternatively, melt the chocolate in a microwave oven. Let cool to tepid.
In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, vanilla, espresso, paprika and cinnamon. In another bowl, stir together the cocoa and flour.
In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Gradually beat in the granulated sugar until stiff peaks form. using a rubber spatula, lightly fold in the melted chocolate. Fold in the yogurt mixture and then the dry ingredients just until combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared dish. Bake in the lower third of the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the top is just set and moist crumbs cling to a toothpick inserted in the center. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve.


text:
Pope says Church to return to basics in Holy Year proclamation
By Steve Scherer
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Saturday proclaimed an extraordinary Holy Year starting in December that he said will bring the Roman Catholic Church and its 1.2 billion followers back to basics, focusing them on the need to show mercy toward others.
In a ceremony held at St. Peter's Basilica before the Holy Door, a massive bronze door decorated with panels depicting human sin and God's mercy, the pope presented a document known as a papal bull to cardinals.
The papal bull outlined the pope's vision for the Holy Year, one of the Church's most important events, which he declared in a surprise announcement last month.
Holy Years normally take place every 25 years unless a pope decrees an extraordinary one to bring attention to a particular issue. The next one had been scheduled for 2025.
"It is time to return to the basics and to bear the weaknesses and struggles of our brothers and sisters," Francis wrote in the document, titled "Face of Mercy" in Latin.
In his homily after the ceremony, Francis said a Holy Year was necessary "because the Church, in this time of great historical change, is called to offer more evident signs of God's presence and closeness".
During the last Holy Year -- or Jubilee -- in 2000, millions of pilgrims came to Rome to take part in religious festivities.
The papal bull indicated that Francis intends to focus this Jubilee on many of the themes that have embodied his papacy, including that the Church should be poor and that its mission is to serve the poor. Continued...


text:
I could introduce those two BGs to my lawyer, Mr. Al Ligator, who resides in the canal behind my house. The neighbors would have no objections.
Printable View
I could introduce those two BGs to my lawyer, Mr. Al Ligator, who resides in the canal behind my house. The neighbors would have no objections.
A layered defense is definitely the best. A dog is great to give you that heads up but you still need to lock your doors! Too many people do not do that simplest of things.
Were the doors locked? Alarm set? Dogs there?
Doors were locked, they broke the window in the living room. No alarm system, do not know if they had a dog or not. I don't know these victims' myself.
In Oklahoma, last December an 18 year old mother who lost her husband to cancer in the same week two low lifes tried to break in her house and steal her deceased husband's pain meds. She called the police and they were going to send someone but of course no one knew how long it would be. She told the dispatcher that she had a shotgun and revolver and asked should she use them to defend herself. The dispatcher told her that she could not tell her what to do but she needed to do what she needed to protect her and her baby. She had the couch pushed up against the door and bad guy number#1 who was armed a hammer and a butcher knife and when he got through the door he was met by some 12 gauge buckshot. Liberal news media painted it as a tragedy that could have been avoided, right thinking people praised her for defending herself and her baby. I heard one comment that went "well how do they know that bad guy number#1 had violent intent?" Well you don't kick someone's door down late at night with a hammer and a butcher knife when your out collecting for the red cross.


text:
Thursday, May 28, 2009
A post about nothing...
I so wish I was funny. My delivery is horrible. But, I have accepted the fact that this is something I am not good at. I can move on. At least I don't try. Nothing's worse than someone unfunny that thinks they are funny.
Also, I don't get out much. I am always amazed that I actually know people when I go out in public. And, I am so not used to crowds. What do I live in? A bubble?
The opening act was Tom Papa. He was actually really good! Being a comedian would be terribly hard.
And, for those of you Seinfeld fan's here is a little YouTube video for you:
I would put something funny here but as previously mentioned, I got nothing.
Posted by katie@tulsadetails at 9:38 PM
2 comments:
Dwayne and I saw him about 8 years ago too, on his last comedy tour when he came to Houston and he was hilarious...i think my face hurt from laughing so hard! I miss Seinfeld - I mean, reruns and the DVD set are good, but new material is always funny too. By the way...I'm waiting on you to blog about Allison's baby - do we know what she's having yet?????? miss you guys! (and yes...I do LOVE ALL 436 pics from your trip - I have some great comments but have not had a quiet moment to send them to you yet but promise to! I have some suggestions on some you should enlarge & frame for your home! I hope you plan to do that - you really got some great ones Katie - quite the photographer you are! good job and thank you for sharing - I'm jealous...looks like it was a fabulous trip!!! love, jenniferReplyDelete
I'm so jealous! Had no clue he was in Tulsa or we would've made the trip in..I'm so out of touch. Love your final "I got nothing" line...see, there's a little wit in you after all! :)ReplyDelete


text:
Tascam iXZ
Tascam iXZ, High-quality mic/instrument preamp for Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod, for recording, guitar/bass/vocal training or karaoke, Balanced/unbalanced combo input connector (XLR/TS), Switchable phantom power for condenser microphones, Level control on mic input, Headphone output, Connection with Apple device via 4-pin mini plug (analogue), No battery required when used as instrument preamp, Two AA batteries required for mic preamp and phantom power, Tascam 2-track recording app can be downloaded from AppStore at no charge, dimensions: 106 x 40 x 45 mm, weight: 87 gr. - compatible with: iPhone3, iPhone3GS, iPhone4, iPod Touch 1G,2G,3G, iPad1G and 2G
Test Report
Tascam iXZ
Test Report
TASCAM iXZ
Test Report
Tascam iXZ
Online guides
Mic Preamps
Microphone preamps, are analogue devices that will remain important even as most other equipment is superseded by digital alternatives.
test results:
Smart Navigator
- go to product group Accessories for Audio Interfaces
- go to product group Guitar Preamplifiers
- go to product group Preamps
- go to product group Studio and Recording Equipment
- show manufacturer details for Tascam
- Tascam Studio and Recording Equipment at a glance
- printer friendly version of this page
- Free take back of Electrical and Electronical Equipment (WEEE) and Batteries
Further Tascam items
Offers include 23% Irish VAT and are valid as long as stocks last. Shipping costs to Ireland are 15 EUR, free shipping on orders above 199 EUR. Please click here for international Shipping rates. We do not accept liability for typographical errors or inaccurate information of any kind. *RRP = manufacturer's / distributor's recommended retail price in Germany


text: The Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan is established as part of the City of Seattle's comprehensive effort to make Seattle the most walkable city in the nation by identifying actions, projects, and programs to improve pedestrian safety while equitably enhancing the vibrancy and health of Seattle's communities. It is expressly the purpose of the Pedestrian Master Plan to provide for and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the general public, and not to create or otherwise establish or designate any particular class or group of persons who will or should be especially protected or benefited by its terms. Nothing contained in the Pedestrian Master Plan is intended to be nor shall be construed to establish a standard of care or to create or form the basis for any liability on the part of the City, or its officers, employees, or agents, by reason or in consequence of any act or omission in connection with the implementation of the Pedestrian Master Plan.


text:
XTRACPADS Logic Mouse Pads Evaluated
Posted 21 April 2011 - 01:23 AM
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz / ASUS P5Q Deluxe / Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB PC2-9600 DDR2-1200MHz / 2x Seagate ST3160827AS 160GB RAID 1 / Seagate ST31000340AS 1TB
Corsair TX750W / Sapphire HD 5870 1GB GDDR5 / SilverStone TJ05 / Scythe Zipang 140mm CPU Cooler / ASUS VH202T-P 20" widescreen monitor (x2) / XP Pro SP 3
"however, i cannot claim to be such a fish as i am not a fish at all..." - hardnrg,Jul 4 2005, 02:49 PM
Follow OCC on
Subscribe to the OCC Newsletter
Posted 21 April 2011 - 05:18 AM
My current Ratpadz GS is textured and it is so worn that there is a depression where the mouse sits, except that I rotate the mouse pad every once and awhile so pretty much the entire middle of it is now untextured.
If you see the cops - LEAVE.
If the cops are coming - Don't be there.
If you show up and the cops are already there - DISAPPEAR.
Anyplace the cops are and you aren't, is a good day
Rig specs:


text:
Chaitin's construction
From HaskellWiki
1 Introduction
Are there any real numbers which are defined exactly, but cannot be computed? This question leads us to exact real arithmetic, foundations of mathematics and computer science.
See Wikipedia article on Chaitin's construction, referring to e.g.
- Computing a Glimpse of Randomness (written by Cristian S. Calude, Michael J. Dinneen, and Chi-Kou Shu)
- Omega and why math has no TOEs (Gregory Chaitin).
2 Basing it on combinatory logic
Some more direct relatedness to functional programming: we can base Ω on combinatory logic (instead of a Turing machine).
2.1 Coding
See the prefix coding system described in Binary Lambda Calculus and Combinatory Logic (page 20) written by John Tromp:
of course, c, d are meta-variables, and also some other notations are changed slightly.
2.2 Decoding
Having seen this, decoding is rather straightforward. Here is a parser for illustration, but it serves only didactical purposes: it will not be used in the final implementation, because a good term geerator makes parsing superfluous at this task.
2.3 Chaitin's construction
Now, Chaitin's construction will be here
- hnf
- should denote an unary predicate "has normal form" ("terminates")
- dc
- should mean an operator "decode" (a function from finite bit sequences to combinatory logic terms)
- should denote the set of all finite bit sequences
- Domdc
- should denote the set of syntactically correct bit sequences (semantically, they may either terminate or diverge), i.e. the domain of the decoding function, i.e. the range of the coding function. Thus,
- "Absolute value"
- should mean the length of a bit sequence (not combinatory logic term evaluation!)
3 Related concepts
4 To do
Writing a program in Haskell -- or in combinatory logic:-) -- which could help in making conjectures on combinatory logic-based Chaitin's constructions. It would make only approximations, in a similar way that most Mandelbrot plotting softwares work: it would ask for a maximum limit of iterations.
chaitin --computation=cl --coding=tromp --limit-of-iterations=5000 --digits=10 --decimal


text:
UPDATE 1-Diesel's 'Riddick' unseats Oprah's 'Butler' at box office
By Lisa Richwine and Chris Michaud
LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Vin Diesel's return as glowing-eyed space traveler "Riddick" won the weekend movie race, ringing up $18.7 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales and knocking three-time box office queen Oprah Winfrey to second place.
Civil rights drama "Lee Daniels' The Butler," starring Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and media mogul Winfrey, slipped to second, bringing in $8.9 million from Friday through Sunday.
"Instructions Not Included," a Spanish-language film starring and directed by Mexican television star Eugenio Derbez, was third with $8.1 million in its second week in release in U.S. and Canadian theaters.
The movie doubled its reach to more than 700 theaters after its limited debut a week ago set records for a Spanish film opening in the United States. The film stars Derbez as an Acapulco playboy forced to raise a baby girl left on his doorstep.
Jennifer Aniston comedy "We're the Millers" took in $7.9 million for fourth place, followed by animated Disney film "Planes" with $4.3 million.
Concert film "One Direction: This is Us," about the popular British boy band, fell to the No. 6 slot with $4.1 million, according to studio estimates.
While "Riddick" fell short of industry forecasts for a start between $21 million and $24 million at domestic theaters, distributor Universal Pictures, a unit of Comcast Corp , had predicted a lower opening between $18 million and $20 million. Continued...


text:
Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Metropole (New California Poetry)
by Geoffrey G. O'Brien
No current Talk conversations about this book.
No reviews
References to this work on external resources.
Wikipedia in English
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0520268873, Paperback)
Geoffrey G. O'Brien's third collection opens with a set of lyric experiments whose music and mutable syntax explore the social relations concealed in material things. O'Brien's poems measure the "vague cadence" of daily life, testing both the value and limits of art in a time of vanishing publics and permanent war. The long title poem, written in a strict iambic prose, charts the disappearance of the poetic into the prosaic, of meter into the mundane, while reactivating the very possibilities it mourns: O'Brien's prosody invests the prose of things with the intensities of verse. In the charged space of this hybrid form, objects become subjects and sense pivots mid-sentence into song: "The sun revolves around the earth revolves around the sun."
(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:13:00 -0400)
No library descriptions found.
Amazon Kindle (0 editions)
Audible (0 editions)
CD Audiobook (0 editions)
Project Gutenberg (0 editions)
Google Books — Loading...
RatingAverage: No ratings.
Is this you?
Become a LibraryThing Author.


text:
You were born into comparative privilege but still want to head into the shittiest parts of town and lend a helping hand in whatever way you can, don't you? Well, fuck soup kitchens, battered women's homes, and shelters for the homeless. If you follow the Ghetto Doorway method of social aid, you'll not only help impoverished African American women earn an income, you'll witness some of the most deviant and destructive interracial and all-black hardcore porn the world has ever seen. Once you pass through Ghetto Doorway, you'll never be the same again.
From the makers of Undisciplined Subs, Gangbang Arena, Ass Bangers Ball, and Femdom Violations comes the tightest, shiniest all-female hardcore site you've never seen. Latex Slut Show takes Germany's most bodaciously sexy women and outfits them with the most restrictive, seductive latex outfits mankind has ever seen. From catsuits to cowls, leotards to long gloves, everything kinky and thrilling about latex is on full display at Latex Slut Show.
When it comes to discipline, nobody is more deserving of punishment and humiliation than the German women of Undisciplined Subs. Why? Well, 'cause they're both undisciplined and willing to submit themselves to whatever their master decrees, be it needle insertion, rope restraints, forced orgasms, or a simple barrage of verbal abuse. Undisciplined Subs, part of the Burning Ticket network of online kink-fests, has everything a dom-ish or sub-ish porn viewer could want… almost.
While not specifically known for his fondness for large breasted women, French porn performer and director, Christoph Clark, long ago decided to dedicate a fair amount of time, money, and energy to showcasing Europe's bustiest pornstar babes in explicit hardcore scenes that fit his signature style. Keeping the passion level high and the fucking fierce, Clark still manages to work in a solid helping of breast worship that'll have lovers of naturally busty broads frantically clicking away on a quest for satisfaction. Knowing Clark, though, the quest will be both fruitful and brief.
Visit Christoph's Big Natural Tits | Christoph's Big Natural Tits review
Just what on Earth does a Real Slut Party actually entail? If the Mofos site of the same name is to be believed, one such shindig will see everyone doing anything they (or anyone else) can think of to make it a night to remember. And it'll be one you'll remember, too, what with all the naked female bodies flying around and attaching themselves (sexually) to each other and whatever stiff dicks happen to be around. A Real Slut Party can take place in a bedroom, ballroom, nightclub, or the sunny surroundings of a Hollywood Hills estate and it can include two, three, four, even nine girls. So, dear reader, are you ready to fucking party or what?
What's black and white and naked? The women of Ebony Cum Dumps. Roped into shooting a blowjob scene that they gag, spit, choke, and sometimes even puke their way through, the African American beauties taking the starring roles at this Ghetto Doorway site might look nice and clean when the scene starts, but they'll soon have red, watery eyes, saliva all over, and loads of man-juice oozing from their mouths. This is interracial fellatio porn at its finest, ladies and germs. Get it while it's hot.
In my time I've worshiped musicians, painters, filmmakers, gurus, lovers, and adult performers, but never the latter's feet. Foot Worship might change all that, though. Home to over a hundred exclusive foot-focused domination scenes shot in glorious 720p HD, Foot Worship is a haven for those on either side of the sock. If you wish to have your toes sucked by an enslaved harlot, Foot Worship has smut for you! If you'd prefer to be worshiping at the bipedal altar of, say, Isis Love, you're in very good hands (and feet) here with Kink.
What's even more taboo than getting a sloppy handjob from a fully-clothed woman who calls herself your step-mom? Beating your meat to just such a porno scenario while fantasizing about any number of women you're really not supposed to be thinking about. Taboo Tug Jobs is a site that clearly believes in familial support of a rarely discussed type and presents its members with sizzling roleplay scenarios that see step-mothers, step-daughters, and step-sisters (and their friends) indulge in some handiwork that the rest of the family need not know anything about. Part of the acclaimed Fetish Network, Taboo Tub Jobs is arguably the filthiest handjob site known to man!


text:
Detail Images
Current Color
Free 2-Day shipping on orders over $50*
Select a Size:Select options
Select a Color:Select options
3 Reviews
Go faster.
While training is the primary factor that contributes to a stellar race day performance, Pearl Izumi's P.R.O In-R-Cool Tri Shorts are designed to work with you by reducing drag, regulating your core temperature, and supporting the muscles of the leg.
The shorts were sewn from Pearl's proprietary In-R-Cool fabric. Unlike common dark textiles, which absorb heat, these fabrics have a UPF rating of 50+ and reflect the sun's radiant energy. This reduces the fabric's surface temperature in order to avoid overheating during the ride and run stages on hot, sunny days. Also keeping you cool is Pearl Izumi's proprietary P.R.O. Aero fabric, a blend of nylon, elastane, and polyester. The resulting engineered knit produces an outer-surface that's optimized to smooth turbulent air and reduce drag, and as stated above, it also provides core comfort. It's textured for breathability and to accelerate moisture transfer away from the skin. And by keeping your skin cool and dry, irritation on the bike and run is minimized.
Providing a lightly compressive fit that maximizes muscle efficiency, the P.R.O In-R-Cool's multi-panel design ensures that the shorts provide the greatest degree of mobility by working with the Aero fabrics natural stretch in order to eliminate binding. It has a stretch draw cord to securely hold the shorts in place, and an easy-access envelope pocket that gives you a place to stash small items.
For further comfort, Izumi also included its TRI quick-dry chamois. This insert is constructed with variable density padding that's contoured for an anatomically correct fit. Its minimal design makes it nearly unnoticeable during the swim and run portions of your race.
The Pearl Izumi Elite In-R-Cool Tri Shorts are available in four sizes from Small to X-Large and in the color Black.
- Item #PLZ000E
Tech Specs
Gearhead Help
Tech Specs
- Reviews
What do you think about this product?
Have questions about this product?
Looks great, feels not-great
- Familiarity: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions
- Fit: Runs small
- Size Bought: XL
I'll cut to the chase: the chamois on these shorts rubs worse than any triathlon shorts I've used in recent memory. If you look at the pictures helpfully provided by Grant, you'll notice that PI used a zig-zagging pattern to stitch the chamois into the shorts. I'm sure there are reasons for this, but comfort is not one of them. The edge of the padding is a raw cut (not folded or welded down), so the zig-zag stitch creates little bubbles of raised padding on the edge of the chamois. These bubbles were noticeable as soon as I sat on the bike for an hour-long spin class. I imagine they would leave me pretty raw if I was sitting in a static position for any long rides. Along with that, I'm frankly nervous to take them out for a run. Nobody wants to be feel the friction before even starting a run, and these are uncomfortable simply walking around.
This breaks my heart, because these shorts are also some of the flashest I've seen in a loooong time. I was excited for some race pictures of me looking all pro like, but 'twas not to be.
The Best Out There:
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
- Fit: True to size
- Size Bought: Medium
I've got 5 pair of the Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Tri Shorts and the only thing i can say is there the only Tri shorts I'll wear in the summer. Great fit, Feel awesome and look great. Very true to size which is always my question when buying online. I've not had any issues with them at all and always look forward to each years new look.
Waist band
In addition to all of the info above I want to add that these shorts do have a drawstring in the waist to help get that perfect fit and secure it while riding.
This is a photo of the back, inside out.
This is a picture of the front, inside out.
Can someone please post a picture of these...
Can someone please post a picture of these turned inside out?
Hey Peter,
I went into the warehouse and snapped some pictures of these inside out. Check them out.


text:
Sign up to our newsletter to receive exclusive news and offers
You have no items in your shopping cart.
How can I get it?
Credit is subject to application & status.
Bearmach Limited act as a credit broker and not the lender.
Barclays Partner Finance act as the lender.
Part Number: BA 158
Stainless steel braided brake hoses are more resilient to damage, corrosion, oil and perishing than standard rubber hoses. The stainless steel also offers a longer life in addition to a more responsive feel and a more pleasing aesthetic overall.


text:
I hope this is the correct place to post this message, and hope this is an appropriate topic - if not, I sincerely apologize. I'm just looking for a little direction.
I'm 28 and am currently in a situation in a studio where I intern and there is nothing going on (I'm not in college). I come in first thing in the morning, do all my cleaning, etc and, once finished with anything they need, I sit around all day (along with the owner and other engineer - though they do attend meetings a few times a week).
I realize that you have to pay your dues in this business, but I would expect in return for my efforts in helping to keep the studio running efficiently, one would (especially when there is not much going on) endeavor to teach me things so that I can become an asset. I'm not a complete beginner, I have taken some courses, etc and do some of my own home recording and have learned a lot - but I want to learn more and make some kind of career out of AE/Production.....I love this stuff.
Anyhow - all that said, here's where I'm at:
I am very interested to find a good mentor. I'm not expecting for someone to give me a job (though that would be nice). I just want an opportunity to truly learn the craft and get my foot in the door. I have no problems doing the normal "intern" duties at all. I'll clean, run errands, etc.
If anyone happens to have some advice, or perhaps is in the Nashville area and would be interested in speaking with me, I would genuinely appreciate any advice and help.


text:
The holidays will sparkle with Alexei Ratmansky's new version of The Nutcracker for American Ballet Theatre at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (Dec. 22–Jan. 2). Along with Tchaikovsky's soaring score, there are fanciful sets and striking costumes by Richard Hudson, scenery designer for The Lion King, to re-create the beguiling fable.
American Ballet Theatre's New Nutcracker Performance
American Ballet Theatre Presents a New Nutcracker for New York
American Ballet Theatre's Swan Lake
More from T+L


text:
© 2012 American City Business Journals. All rights resereved. Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 3/14/12) and Privacy Policy (updated 3/14/12).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of American City Business Journals.
Forums: Admins | Moderators
Lacrosse news straight to your inbox.
Tuesday November 5th, 2013 12:44am
IL High School Insider Joe Lombardi, the author of the "Lax with Joe" blog at LaxLessons.com, focuses on the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tristate region. Joe is also an analyst for the MSG Varsity television network and is the primary author of the new edition of "Lacrosse for Dummies," which was released in 2010. You can follow Joe Lombardi on Twitter @joe_lombardi. You can follow LaxLessons on Twitter @LaxLessons.
The varsity programs that have dominated Long Island high school boys lacrosse the last decade are front and center in the conference seedings decided voted upon by the coaches of Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Two-time Class B state finalist Garden City is ranked No. 1 in Nassau Conference 2. Manhasset, the team the Trojans beat to win the Nassau County title, is No. 1 in Conference 3. Syosset drew the top spot in Conference 1. Cold Spring Harbor is No. 1 in Conference 4.
In Suffolk, West Islip has once again drawn the No. 1 seed in Suffolk's ultra competitive Division I, followed by Ward Melville, Smithtown West, Sachem North and Northport.
Shoreham-Wading River drew the No. 1 spot in Division II.
For the complete seedings in both counties, click here.
Senior signings were in the spotlight much of last week as the National Letter of Intent Fall Early Signing Week ended on Wednesday.
The next day, a verbal commitment by a Long Island sophomore had become the talk of the lax recruiting world.
Attackman Brian Cannon, one of the most heavily recruited players in Northport history and No. 3 on Inside Lacrosse's Top 20 Sophomore Young Gun Watch List, decided on North Carolina over Duke, Michigan, Maryland and Princeton.
"UNC has always been one of my top choices in colleges since I was young," said Cannon in an in-depth interview with LaxLessons.com. "I am a big fan of Nicky Galasso and have followed Billy Bitter's career. The facilities at UNC are top-notch. I don't think it gets much better than what they offer."
For more info, and the entire interview with Cannon, click here.
One of the speediest and most skilled midfielders in the Western New England Division 1 League, will soon become a Delaware Blue Hen.
Salisbury (Conn.) School standout John O'Connor, who also excels in soccer and hockey, decided on Delaware.
"Speed is my main strength," O'Connor, a native of Canton, N.Y., told LaxLessons.com. "I like to play a fast-paced, physical game, getting the ball up and down the field and playing the body whenever I get the chance defensively."
To find out what other schools O'Connor considered, click here.
Chaminade High School has nine senior commits and seven junior commits – as we write this.
Among the seven Flyer juniors to give verbals is midfielder Brian Pratt.
The skilled and speedy Pratt has committed to Yale.
"I knew that lacrosse was going to be a huge part of my college experience no matter where I decided to play, but in the end I thought Yale would give me the best chance at success in the future," Pratt told LaxLessons.com.
For the complete story, and a look at the other colleges he considered, click here.
Nick Strano realized a Division I career was awaiting him more than a year ago when his email inbox was full after colleges were first allowed to officially contact him Sept. 1 of his junior year.
Strano, a midfielder and one of three Rocky Point senior commits, is bound for Manhattan College.
For more on his choice, click here.
Alex Dodge thought a D-I career might be on the horizon when he saw he was able to keep up with Smithtown West teammates Brett Madarasz, Jordan Stevens, Kyle Keenan and James Pannell in practice.
"It gives you confidence," said Dodge, a dodging midfielder who signed with Sacred Heart.
For more on his selection, click here.
You can reach Joe Lombardi by email at email@example.com.


text:
Suave Everlasting Sunshine
View Single Post
View Public Profile
Send a private message to capellifelici
Find More Posts by capellifelici
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 26
Monday, September 3, 2012 at 02:16AM
: Suave Everlasting Sunshine
Smells so good!!! I was looking for a slightly thicker, less runny, better smelling alternative to VO5, and I found it! And I think my hair likes it even better because no proteins :-) It plays nice with KCKT, which I've been using as a leave-in, then blasting cold water over it. I used to think my hair was too fine for leave-ins and that it would make it too producty, but it just sucks it up, maybe it was thirsty and I never realized it
Happy happy! Highly reccommend both of these products: Everlasting Sunshine and Kinky Curly Knot Today :-) Also, the smell of Everlasting Sunshine LASTS. It still smells beautiful on day 2 hair :-))
-->3a/some 2c underneath; long, fine (porosity?); plop, no heat, CG since 07/11<--
Day 1: NoPoo, One Condition, KCKT, Mop Lift, Recoil, AnGel
Day 2: Mister Right
Day 3: Mister Right/KC Gloss Pomade for the frizzies
Days 4/5/6: repeat Days 1/2/3
Day 7: LowPoo, Suave ES
Last edited by capellifelici; 09-02-2012 at


text:
|Members List
|Today's Posts
|Mark Forums Read
|Photo Gallery
greatlakes4x4.com is the premier Great Lakes 4x4 Forum on the internet. Registered Users do not see the above ads.
|Thread Tools
|Search this Thread
|July 22nd, 2007, 10:45 AM
Wheelin the HD
Anoying chime while driving....
I have a 2005 E250 van I drive for work, I am in this thing all day 7 days a week and now it decided it wants to chime 5 times, and then repeat itself 5 times roughly every half hour while driving, its softer than the regular chime...
I just had a fuel pump installed on Friday and the pump control module installed Saturday (same shoppe) and it started this beeping after I left, I am now over 100 miles away and don't feel like going back on Monday because they don't normally deal with newer vehicles.
Anyone know what the chime is for? anyone know how to disconnect the chime? either or both would be great news...
|July 25th, 2007, 03:08 PM
Join Date: 11-06-05
Location: lansing
Posts: 4,561
iTrader: (47)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
yes its more than likely the seat belt chimer. in the owners manual there is step by step instructions an how to shut that off.
|July 26th, 2007, 05:00 PM
GL 4x4 Vendors
This should help, but I would double check that the safety belt warning wasn't somehow enabled when they did the work.
The instrument cluster produces a repetitive chime for either a predetermined amount of time or continuously, under the following conditions:
the driver safety belt is unbuckled and the ignition switch is in the RUN position
the key is in the ignition switch and the driver door is open
the headlamp switch is in the HEAD or PARK position, the driver door is open, and the key is not in the ignition switch
the Safety Belt Minder feature is enabled and the appropriate parameters have been met
Air Bag Warning Chime
The air bag warning chime warns the driver that the air bag warning indicator lamp is not working and a fault occurred by sounding a chime when the ignition switch is in the RUN position for more than 20 seconds. When these conditions exist, the retraint control module (RCM) sends a chime request through the communication network to the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster then activates the warning chime. The warning consists of 5 sets of 1-second tone bursts. Each set is separated by 5 seconds of silence.
Safety Belt Warning
The safety belt warning chime reminds the driver to fasten the safety belt. This occurs when the ignition switch is turned to the RUN position and the driver safety belt remains unbuckled. The chime is terminated by buckling the driver safety belt at any time during the 4-8 second chime warning.
The chime works in conjunction with the safety belt warning indicator in the instrument cluster.
Key-in-Ignition Warning
The key-in-ignition warning chime sounds continuously when the ignition key is in the ignition lock cylinder with the key OFF and the driver door open. The chime continues to sound until the key is removed from the ignition lock cylinder or the driver door is closed.
Headlamps On Warning
The headlamps on warning chime sounds continuously when the headlamp switch is in the PARK or HEAD position, the driver door is open, and the key is not in the ignition lock cylinder.
The chime continues to sound until the headlamp switch is turned OFF or the driver door is closed.
Park Brake Warning
The park brake warning chime provides an audible indication to the driver that the park brake is engaged while the vehicle is in motion.
Safety Belt Minder
NOTE: The Safety Belt Minder can be configured with or without using a diagnostic tool. For additional information on configuring this feature with a diagnostic tool, refer to Section 418-01. To configure this feature without using a diagnostic tool, refer to Belt Minder Deactivating/Activating in this section.
The Safety Belt Minder feature supplements the safety belt warning function. The Safety Belt Minder feature is enabled after the current safety belt warning is complete. The Safety Belt Minder reminds the driver that the safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster once the vehicle speed has exceeded 3 mph. While activated, the Safety Belt Minder activates the chime and warning indicator for 6 seconds, with a 30 second interval between activations.
The Safety Belt Minder stops when:
the driver seat belt is buckled.
the ignition switch is turned to OFF or ACC.
5 minutes have elapsed since the belt minder started.
Fail Safe Cooling Warning Chime
When the engine coolant temperature reaches an over temperature condition, the powertrain control module (PCM) provides an over temperature signal to the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster positions the temperature gauge in the HOT range and flashes the CHECK GAGE indicator. The instrument cluster also provides an intermittent chime, consisting of 3 tones within a 5 second interval for level one fail safe cooling mode or 5 tones within a 9 second interval for level two fail safe cooling mode.
|July 27th, 2007, 01:04 PM
Wheelin the HD
bingo... Airbag indicator light is off... what a retarded deal... I Fing hate ford... If I wasn't being paid by someone else to drive it I would have never gotten into it.
|July 27th, 2007, 01:16 PM
Join Date: 11-06-05
Location: South Lyon, MI
Posts: 12,507
iTrader: (39)
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Inviscid Motorsports
Special Thanks and Recommendations to;
Motorcity Machines
Ironman Offroad
Branik Motorsports
Maxxis Tires
Raceline Wheels
PAC Racing Springs
Joint Clutch and Gear
|July 27th, 2007, 08:43 PM
Wheelin the HD
|July 27th, 2007, 11:14 PM
Wheelin the HD
|July 28th, 2007, 08:39 AM
GL 4x4 Vendors
Here's the bad news.... Just because the bulb doesn't work doesn't mean it's bad. It could be a wiring issue (or it could just be the bulb).
|August 25th, 2007, 10:34 AM
Join Date: 08-23-07
Location: Big Rapids, MI
Posts: 60
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
I had the same problem with a friends truck. The cluster itself wasn't too difficult to pull. I think I had the truck apart and back together in an hour or so.
If it is the bulb, remember it does take a special bulb. I ended up finding one laying around the garage for whatever reason, but I would guess you'd probably have to get it from the dealer OR out of another cluster with a good bulb.
After I replaced the blub on the truck the tone stopped, but the light was on because of a broken clocksping in the steering column.
|Thread Tools
|Search this Thread


text:
Latin Currencies Keep Rising—Until They Don't
On Aug. 12 Latin American finance ministers will meet for the second time in a week to discuss how to contain the damage from their currencies' steady appreciation. They may soon face the opposite problem: what to do if investors react to the debt crises in rich nations by dumping emerging-market assets, a move that might actually crater the region's currencies.
Latin America's six major currencies strengthened 30 percent as the region bounced back from the financial crisis of 2008. Capital flooded in thanks to near-zero interest rates in the U.S., Europe, and Japan that led investors to seek higher-yielding assets elsewhere. Another factor: Asian demand soared for the region's iron ore, copper, and soy.
Brazil's real, propped up by inflation-adjusted interest rates of more than 5 percent, has reached its strongest level since 1999. To stem its rise, Brazil has tripled, to 6 percent, a tax on foreign purchases of domestic bonds, increased reserve requirements on short-dollar positions, raised levies on foreign loans, and bought record amounts of dollars in the spot and forward markets. Brazil also slapped a 1 percent tax on bets against the dollar in the futures market.
None of this has worked very well, though the real has recently given up some of its gains against the dollar. Traders who had bet on yet another interest rate hike by Brazil's central bank are now thinking that Brazil will actually lower rates as inflation finally starts to cool.
Now investors may be underestimating the risk of a sudden selloff, says Gray Newman, chief Latin America economist at Morgan Stanley. "This may all turn quickly," he says. "The sharp appreciation of the real and of the other currencies raises the specter and the concern that you could see a sharp reversal."
The International Monetary Fund warned in April that the region's currency appreciation could come to an "abrupt end" if easy financing dries up or commodities prices fall. The super strength of the real makes it vulnerable to a change in sentiment, Newman says. JP Morgan's Latin America Currency Index dropped 20 percent after Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy, led by 24 percent drops in the real and Chilean peso.
If a selloff does hit the Latin currencies the region will be better prepared to handle it. Brazil would go into any fresh crisis with foreign currency reserves of $350 billion, up from $205 billion before Lehman collapsed, and public debt of just 39.7 percent of gross domestic product, compared with 69 percent in the U.S. and 119 percent in Italy.
Colombian Finance Minister Juan Carlos Echeverry said in a radio interview on Aug. 8 that his country's reserve levels would protect it from any "turbulence," while Chile's central bank President Jose De Gregorio said on Aug. 9 that Chile's economy is in a "good position" to keep growing. If the region shows it can withstand another crisis as well as it did the last one, says Gustavo Rangel, ING's chief Brazil economist, investors may start to question whether Latin America is really riskier than so-called safe havens.
The bottom line: Latin American currencies could depreciate suddenly if investors, worried about financial losses, dump emerging market assets.


text:
Traditionally I've just used light oil, but I have been told that the 1911 works better and will last longer if you use grease on the slide rails and around the barrel where it meets the bushing.
Tetra-Gun grease was recommended to me. I did find one article that said that this grease tends to seperate in the tube. It seems like if it would seperate in the tube, it would also seperate on the gun.
Unfortunately I don't get the opportunity to fire my gun every day, but I do try to clean it after every opportunity I have to fire it. What would you recommend as the best lubricant for a gun that isn't necessarily fired that frequently?


text:
2 Recommendations
designerista's recommendation
When someone asks you an uncomfortable question at the dinner table, distract with these no brainer question cards!
My Collections:
StraightLine's recommendation
It's always a good idea to have a back up plan when a dinner party turns south. Thanksgiving is no exception. The Thanksgiving Box of Questions will keep the conversation lively even when your two aunts, who haven't spoken to each other in 20 years, decide to show up and threaten to throw a damper on the whole event.
My Collections:


text:
Hey dolls. So I have been reading all your reviews and have decided I want to have sx with DR. Cabral at the end of the day we all put ourselves at risk with EVERY procedure no matter what doctor you go to wether it's in the US or not. He has quoted me $5500 for Bbl and breast aug. I sent him my pics and he says I do have enough fat to graft but I am certain I will have to gain more weight. I am about 125lbs at the moment and 5'4.
I know I have a lot of weight to gain which I plan to do that's why I have chosen to do it in OCT. What recovery houses are the best and how long do you guys recommend staying at the RH's before you can go and do your own thing?


text:
hey sorry didnt know where to post the noob thread
ive been looking at rexes for a while
haha im 17 dont worry i dont drive like one though
i think xD
im just looking for the best car for the price
seems like the wrx is it
im not looking to go racing or anything
seems like the bug-eye is a good choice to me
please dont flame me for my questions..they are a bit on the noobie side
i read somewhere that low psi turbos actually up the gas millage
is that true what so ever? seems to me itll just kill the gas
secondly how does cruise control work on a stick?
i was just playing around with it in my car and wondered how it would operate on a stick car
thanks in advance


text:
Think air travel is a one-way ticket to dry, dead-looking skin? Give yourself a makeshift facial with these plane-friendly product tips.
The TIG founder, Suits star, and veteran jetsetter shares her tips for taking an unforgettable getaway—and making sure your luggage smells fresh when you get home.
Chances are you're hitting the road during the holiday season. Make sure it's a smooth (and good-looking) ride with these tips from the Birchbox and BuzzFeed Life editors.
The chic brand recommends what to pack when you're headed to the shore.
Learn travel tips from the real experts: the crew members at JetBlue!
Face masks are the beauty MVPs of summer travel. Never leave home without one!
One editor chronicles the many adventures her favorite shade of eye shadow has been on—and how it's her perfect travel companion.
Birchbox Director of Editorial Operations and veteran traveler Benedicta Cipolla shares the rewards of traveling solo.
Afar editor Jen Murphy shares her inspiration for warm weather getaways.
Summer means exactly one thing: vacation. With a few savvy tricks, you can travel extremely well, no matter your budget.
Birchbox's video editor Lorelei prepares for the trip of a lifetime—and reveals what she'll be stashing in her suitcase
Drank a little too much vino? Didn't wash your hair while camping? We're here to help your skin and hair bounce back
Slash what you pack with these multitasking products and flight-friendly sets.
Honey, we shrunk your favorite products! Just in time for your summer getaway.
Don't leave home (literally) without reading our guide to plotting a breezy, affordable getaway.


text:
Stan 1958
- 23 total posts
- 23 comments
Recent comments from Stan 1958
The provider sounds very fair and ethical above. There are a few issues here: no before photos to compare; a patient that clearly had unrealistic expectations, and NOT an ideal candidate based on age and extent of laxity. I dare say... READ COMMENT
How can we tell if there was an improvement without a BEFORE picture. Also, I really do not think that anything would work with this much loose skin (other than surgery). READ COMMENT
I understand your feelings. I misunderstood your original post and thought that you had only had 1 procedure. Still, Mary, the protocol is a minimum of 6 treatments for skin tightening. If you only did 3 (face) or 4 (neck), you did not... READ COMMENT
Please check with the manufacturer of the device or any other provider of the Venus Freeze or Venus Legacy service. One treatment is NOT meant to show any result, or at most, a temporary "Cinderella" effect. Long term and more dramatic... READ COMMENT
Nice! A real CLASS act. READ COMMENT


text:
Any Suggestions? re-siliconing windows in metal frames
2 Attachment(s)
hi there,
i have a home that has ALOT of glass. it is a concrete, glass and metal house with appx 5200 sq ft of glass. there's a 28' high wall that consists of 18 panels of dual pane panels and also part of the roof is pitched with appx 50 panels that opens onto a roof deck. all windows are stationary with exception of 3 crank outs and a sliding door on the roof.
Attachment 27870
Attachment 27871
my problem....:confused1:
the silicone is shrinking?, maybe...and when it rains, water is leaking in a few places. :boat:
all windows are framed with metal and set in steel framing to make a wall of glass. on the concrete walls, the slide windows are siliconed into the opening. there are only a couple butt glazed windows
i cant find where the water comes in at, but can see it running down the inside of the metal frames and concrete walls and dripping down 3 stories to the great rm below
what kind of silicone do i use to re-silicone them and how should i go about it? cut out silicone first? i know its a big job...(it looks like black caulk was used)
i have a lot of buckets out with homemade funnels/diverters catching the water leaks.:help:
i would appreciate any advise
Holy Camoly! 5200 sf of windows? I think "...i know its a big job......" is the biggest understatement I've heard in a while, partner. I'd croak if I had to re-seal all that glass. I have done my dad's house several times when growing up, and it took weeks, and only "a bunch" of windows. You have a TON. I think you may well need a professional crew that has all the scaffolding, etc. If you are going to attack it, then you are a brave soul. Good luck. j
what's a good silicone?
needed to redo the silicone on the windows....any suggestions for high grade, industrial stuff anybody? or should i just use roofing grade black...:huh:
very doubtful it was black caulk but its possible - if you've identified the mtl correctly, remove the sealant w/utility knife, wipe w/denatured alcohol & blk hand pad, then reseal - be sure to tool the mtl properly.
best mtl cost's buying in bulk containers & using bulk caulk gun - NOT HOMEOWNER CARTRIDGES ! ! ! don't even think about apron/vest stores - find a const supply house - either ge or dow/corning would be our choice.
silicone usually doesn't shrink - it just loses adhesion & that's probably the leak source,,, as i recall, the anticipated useful life of silicone in hgwy jnts was 8yrs - bldgs about the same,,, ALL dependent on the integrity & skill of the installers.
thank you for the information...i will be checking into that and the bulk guns and caulk. the metal framing being blk and against the three score architecture block, you can tell it is blk.
thanks again
please be careful easy to overstress a window or take a fall
thanks for the heads up
i'm going to make a gig with stabilizers attached to a board that will go across the entire window, reaching across to the steel frames and not touching the glass.. if i'm not confortable once there then the pros will have to be called in... the guy that built this place (i think), was just "a little crazy"....but then again, we bought it :whistling2:.
I'm partial to crazy in buildings
Wow, that's quite the window wall. I once worked with a crew replacing windows in similar setup (but not quite as big) and I can tell you it was a huge job. Good luck! :thumbsup:
are you sure your dealing with silicone? are there any type of weep holes/slots in the bottom glazing bar?
most glazing systems have an internal drain or weep systems that shouldn't be caulked closed
|All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:44 PM.
vBulletin Security provided by vBSecurity v2.2.2 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2017 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2017 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.


text:
I have a lot to be thankful lately, and one of those things is definitely my readers! I've been blogging since January 2007, but it still shocks me how many people read this site and send me questions in email.
So, I've decided to hold a big mid-summer giveaway! I bought my dream makeup bag, the new Gucci Diamonte Leather (which I fully admit is still en route to my house, but the contest is long so there's time for it to arrive!) and to go with it, the winner will get a $150 GC to Sephora (or ULTA if you prefer) to fill it up!
The contest is open to those in the US only (sorry, I'm a little blogger and can't pay lawyers to deal with international sweepstakes laws), and over 18 years old. Note that only entries in the widget are valid, if it isn't loading for you try clearing your cache or a different browser.
Good luck!


text:
Get $100,000 in Poker Sponsorship packages
Over $100,000 are up for grabs between February 27th – March 13th, 2011, as poker sponsorship. That means players can win great packages to participate in some of the world most exciting poker events.
Betfair Poker is the poker room to play at in the coming weeks. Take a seat at the GSOP poker tournaments on Betfair Poker and you can win any of the following prizes:
– 4 WSOP packages, each worth $15,000. Any Betfair Poker player who finish on the final table on any 3 GSOP events can earn one of the 4 sponsorship packages to play in the World Series of Poker 2011 in Las Vegas.
– 10 Betfair Poker Live Tallinn packages, each worth $1500. Any player who finishes in the money on any 3 GSOP events (No Limit Texas Hold'em) can earn one of the 10 Live Tallinn packages.
– 30 tickets to the GSOP Mini Grand Slam, each worth $525. Any player that buys-in or qualifies to a GSOP event on Betfair Poker will receive an entry to an exclusive freeroll where 30 tickets will be awarded for GSOP Mini Grand Slam.
That folks is $100,000 in poker sponsorship packages offered by Betfair Poker.
New players will also get up to $2500 in welcome bonus when registering using our recommended Betfair Poker promotion code.


text:
Jan. 4, 2012
Saturday, Jan. 7 -- vs. Indiana (Canham Natatorium), Noon
Live Results
The No. 4 University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team return to the pool after an extended holiday break to take part in the squad's first home dual in more than two months, hosting the Indiana Hoosiers Saturday (Jan. 7) at Canham Natatorium. Earlier in the week, the Wolverines took part in a holiday primer meet, the Orange Bowl Classic, in Key Largo, Fla., winning all 12 events at the Jacobs Aquatic Center and earning 320 team points to defeat George Mason (105.5), St. Leo (52.5), Calvin College (21) and PSU-Behrend (19).
Schedule of Events
200-yard Medley Relay
1,000-yard Freestyle
200-yard Freestyle
100-yard Backstroke
100-yard Breaststroke
200-yard Butterfly
50-yard Freestyle
100-yard Freestyle
200-yard Backstroke
200-yard Breaststroke
500-yard Freestyle
100-yard Butterfly
400-yard Individual Medley
400-yard Freestyle Relay
One-meter Diving
Three-meter Diving
We Meet Again
The last time the Hoosiers and Wolverines matched up was on Nov. 5, as the Wolverines earned victories over the Hoosiers and perennial power Texas at Canham Natatorium, defeating Indiana 216-84 and narrowly edging the Longhorns 150.5-149.5. The Nov. 5 meeting between the two schools marked the first of four competitions between the two schools. Saturday will represent the second competition, followed by Big Ten and NCAA Championships. The Hoosiers also figure to be in competition for the Big Ten Championship again this season after placing second at last year's championship, 74 points behind the Wolverines.
Races to Watch
A pair of races Saturday -- the 500-yard freestyle and the 800-yard freestyle relay -- will feature top-10 national performers from both schools. Michigan's Connor Jaeger (Rumson, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven), ranked No. 2 (4:15.94) in the country in the 500-yard freestyle, will face off against Indiana's Eric Hinshaw, who is ranked ninth (4:19.01) nationally in the event. The 800 freestyle relay will pit the fifth-ranked Wolverines relay squad (6:28.09) against the No. 10 Hoosiers (6:33.20).
Wolverines in the National Top 10 (as of Dec. 15)
NAME EVENT NAT'L RANK TIME Evan Gregg 50 free 5 19.69 Connor Jaeger 200 free 10 1:37.21 500 free 2 4:15.94 1650 free 6 14:55.70 Dan Madwed 100 fly 6 47.01 200 fly 3 1:43.88 Sean Ryan 1650 free 9 15:00.13 Miguel Ortiz 100 back 6 46.56 Kyle Whitaker 200 IM 6 1:44.83 400 IM 2 3:45.17 John Wojciechowski 100 fly 4 46.61 400 Free Relay 7 2:54.38 800 Free Relay 5 6:28.09 200 Medley Relay 6 1:26.36
Historically Speaking
Michigan holds a 42-30-3 all-time record against the Hoosiers, dating all the way back to the 1922-23 season. Prior to the win over the Hoosiers earlier in the season, Indiana and Michigan tied 150-150 on Nov. 5, 2010 in Bloomington, Ind., while the Hoosiers defeated the Wolverines in dual meet action on Jan. 8 of last season by a 163-137 tally.
Break Out the Brooms
In individual events at the Orange Bowl Classic, eight different Wolverines earned wins. Freshman Richard Funk (Edmonton, Alberta/Stratchcona) earned wins in the 50-meter breaststroke and the 100-meter backstroke and Bruno Ortiz (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International), junior Miguel Ortiz (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International) and junior Roman Willets (Whitehouse, Ohio/St. Francis deSales) were members of both the 200-meter medley relay and the 200-meter freestyle relay teams that placed first.
Additionally, sophomore Connor Jaeger (Rumson, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) (400-meter freestyle), junior Sean Fletcher (Vienna, Va./James Madison) (50-meter butterfly), senior Jan Konarzewski (Warsaw, Poland/LO im Andersa) (100-meter backstroke), Willets (100-meter freestyle), sophomore John Wojciechowski (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix Brophy) (100-meter butterfly), Miguel Ortiz (50-meter backstroke), junior Evan Gregg (Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg) (50-meter freestyle), and sophomore Kyle Whitaker (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) (200-meter individual medley) all earned individual event wins on the afternoon.
In the 200-meter medley relay, the Ortiz brothers, Fletcher and Willets combined to clock a time of 1:41.32 for the event win. The second relay victory of the day came in the final event of the meet, as Miguel Ortiz, Bruno Ortiz, Willets, and Gregg touched the wall with a time of 1:33.53 in the 200-meter freestyle relay.
Divers in Action at Fort Lauderdale Invite
A pair of Michigan freshmen took first and second place at the Fort Lauderdale Diving Invitational. Kevin Bain (Northville, Mich./Northville) and Jeff Camalo (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) finished first and second, respectively, in the men's three-meter diving competition Saturday (Dec. 31) at the Fort Lauderdale Diving Invitational. Bain took the victory with a 294.60 total, followed by Camalo in second at 281.31, to conclude the team training during the squad's annual winter break trip.
Jaeger Earns Second Big Ten Weekly Honor
Sophomore Connor Jaeger was named Big Ten Men's Swimmer of the Week on Dec. 6 after his performance at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa. Jaeger earned two individual event titles -- in the 500-yard freestyle and the 1,650-yard freestyle -- and a relay title (800-yard freestyle) to earn a trio of NCAA consideration marks. Jaeger began his weekend performance on Friday, Dec. 2, with a pool-record win in the 500-yard freestyle, clocking a 4:15.94. The effort ranks as the top time in the Big Ten this season and second nationally.
On Saturday, Dec. 3, he placed third in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:36.86 and closed out the day's effort with a top finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay, combining with sophomore Kyle Whitaker, sophomore Michael Wynalda (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville) and junior Roman Willets to swim a pool-record 6:28.09 and rank fifth in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten.
On Sunday, Dec. 4, Jaeger blew away the competition with a 14:55.70 mile, another pool record, and was nearly five seconds faster than his second-place teammate, sophomore Sean Ryan (Hixson, Tenn./McCallie School). The mark ranks sixth in the nation and tops in the conference.
The honor was Jaeger's second of the season and second of his career, as he previously earned the plaudit on Oct. 18 for his performance at the Dennis Stark Relays. The honor is the third of the season for the Wolverines, as senior Dan Madwed (Stamford, Conn./Towson) earned the honor on Nov. 8.
Divers Take Part in Miami Invitational
Michigan's divers were in action at the Miami Invitational Dec. 1-3 at Corwin M. Nixon Natatorium. Sophomore Thomas Jahnke (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) led the Wolverines on day three with a second-place finish of 406.35. Sophomore Jack Lee (North Egremont, Mass./Berkshire School) took fourth on day three with a 303.95, while senior Chris Morrison (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) placed sixth with a 292.45. Day one and day two featured the Chinese National diving team, as Choa He won the one-meter competition on Friday with a 445.20. The Wolverines took fifth through eighth, as Morrison placed fifth with a 301.30. Sophomore James Ross (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) followed in sixth with a 298.60, while Lee took seventh with a 297.15. Jahnke closed out the Michigan performance with a 288.20 to take eighth. Day two featured China's Jun Wu, who blew away competition with a 523.00 in the platform competition. U-M took fourth through seventh in the event, as Lee scored a 289.05, followed by Ross (287.00), Jahnke (265.10) and Morrison (240.75).
Five More Race Wins Solidify U-M's Team Title at Hawkeye Invite
Then No. 1-ranked Michigan collected five event titles on day three of the Hawkeye Invitational on Sunday, Dec. 4, to capture the 2011 Hawkeye Invitational team title with 967 points, outdistancing second-place Iowa (723 points) in the seven-team event held at the Iowa Aquatic Center. The Wolverines earned race wins in the 1,650-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly and 400-yard freestyle relay to close out the three-day competition with 15 event titles over the three-day event. Day two saw the Wolverines earn event wins in the 200-yard medley relay and 800-yard freestyle relay in addition to the 400-yard butterfly, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard backstroke and hold 654 points to second-place Iowa's 476. The Wolverines earned a commanding lead on day one of competition on the heels of a trio of individual titles and one relay crown on Friday, Dec. 2. In addition to the individual excellence, Michigan's 400-yard medley relay squad collected a victory with a meet-record time.
Eight Swimmers, Diver Highlight 2012-13 Class
The University of Michigan men's swimming and diving squads announced their 2012-13 signing class Monday, Nov. 21, with the signing of nine prep standouts to National Letters of Intent for the 2012-13 season. The class is composed of swimmer Dylan Bosch (Johannesburg, South Africa/Crawford College Sandton), Peter Brumm (Cornelius, N.C./Hough), Reid Elliott (Austin, Texas/Lake Travis), Paul Corbae (Austin, Texas/Westlake), Nick Killeen (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier), Matt McNamara (Huntington Woods, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit), William Raynor (Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep), Paul Soley (Lebanon, N.J./Berkley) and diver Timothy Faerber (Potomac, Md./Churchill). Five of the eight swimmers rank in the top 130 in the CollegeSwimming.com rankings. Bosch enters as the No. 7 swimmer in the CollegeSwimming.com rankings, while Brumm is the No. 2 swimmer in North Carolina and No. 42 swimmer nationally, while Elliott ranks as the No. 8 swimmer in the state of Texas, and 48th nationally to round out the top 50.
Morrison Lone Diving Upperclassman
Senior Chris Morrison returns to anchor the diving squad after placing 14th off the platform with a 250.55, 19th in the three-meter (315.85) and 30th in the one-meter (234.55) in the NCAA Championships during his junior campaign. He holds career bests of 315.65 in the one-meter, 342.30 in the three-meter, which was second on the team last season, and a 341.78 in the platform competition.
Young Diving Team
Of the 10 diving team members, five carry freshman eligibility, while four are sophomores. Jack Lee returns after a solid freshman season in which he led the team in the one-meter with a 326.17 and in the platform with a 567.00. Additionally, sophomore Thomas Jahnke led the team in the three-meter dive with a 367.73 and was third in the platform with a 290.85 at the Big Ten Quad Meet.
Divers Stay Local
Thomas Jahnke, as well as freshmen Nate Argetsinger (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) and Jeff Camalo all hail for Ann Arbor. The trio, along with freshman Kevin Bain, were members of the local Legacy Diving Club, which is based in Canham Natatorium.
Michigan Edges Texas, Crushes Indiana
U-M edged the University of Texas 150.50-149.50 and crushed Indiana 216-84 to sweep a double dual meet on Nov. 5 at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines led by 10 points heading into the final event, the 200 free relay, and held onto the lead with a second-place finish in the event. Junior Evan Gregg, junior Miguel Ortiz, freshman Bruno Ortiz and junior Roman Willets clocked the runner-up time of 1:20.47.
Adding Titles
U-M collected seven wins in the Nov. 5 double dual against Texas and Indiana, highlighted by sophomore Connor Jaeger defeating Texas All-American Jackson Wilcox in the 500 free as Jaeger took the event with a time of 4:20.15. The win was Jaeger's second victory of the day after capturing a win in the 200 free. Senior Dan Madwed was part of a three-event win streak which began with junior Miguel Ortiz winning the 100-yard backstroke and Richard Funk winning the 100-yard backstroke. Madwed closed out the streak with a win in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:45.6 and won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 47.42.
Feeley, Madwed Earn Pan-Am Games Medals
Two current men's swimmers took part in the 2011 Pan-American Games, representing the United States Oct. 15-21 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Junior Ryan Feeley and senior Dan Madwed were each members of the 4x200m freestyle relay gold medalist quartet. Additionally, Feeley participated in the 1,500m freestyle and garnered a silver medal, while Madwed collected a silver medal in the 200m butterfly.
Madwed and Vanderkaay Selected Co-Captains
Seniors Dan Madwed and Dane Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams) have been named co-captains for the 2011-12 men's swimming and diving team. Madwed is a four-time NCAA All-American and fourth-time Big Ten champion. Vanderkaay earned All-Big Ten second team last season, placing second in the 500-yard freestyle, fourth in the 1,650-yard freestyle and 11th in the 400-yard individual medley at the conference championship.
Returning Big Ten Champions
The Wolverines claimed their league-leading 35th Big Ten championship last season. U-M led wire to wire en route to a 74-point win over Indiana. Head coach Mike Bottom was named the Coach of the Year and Kyle Whitaker was named the Rookie of the Championship. The Wolverines won 11 of the 18 swimming events and scored points in both springboard events. Overall, U-M had 10 swimmers claim individual conference titles.
Six NCAA All-Americans Return in 2011-12
Michigan has six returning All-Americans from last season's team that finished ninth nationally. The Wolverines are led by four-time All-American Dan Madwed, three-time honoree Kyle Whitaker and two-time Sean Ryan. In addition, Ryan Feeley, Sean Fletcher (Vienna, Va./James Madison HS) and Miguel Ortiz earned All-America accolades for the Wolverines.
Bottom in Fourth Season
Mike Bottom is in his fourth season at the helm of the Michigan men's swimming program. The Wolverines have compiled a 26-3-1 record under Bottom, including a 15-1 mark against Big Ten opposition. Bottom has guided the program to a pair of Big Ten Championships crowns (2009 and 2011) and a second-place finish during the 2010 season. He has led the team to three straight top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships.
Li Directing Divers
KZ Li is in his second season as the head diving coach. He spent two years as the co-head coach of the U.S. Elite Diving Academy in Columbus, Ohio, before accepting the U-M coaching position. Li, who coached Minnesota's divers from 1996-2003, is a two-time Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year, winning the honor in 2001 (men) and 1998 (women).
Follow the Wolverines on Twitter and Facebook
Stay current with everything going on with the Michigan men's swimming and diving team through social media. Sign up and follow the Wolverines on Twitter (@umichswimming) and Facebook. Connect with the program, alumni and fans by clicking the "Like" button at www.facebook.com/michiganmensswimming.
Fri-Sat., Jan. 13-14 -- at SMU Classic (Dallas, Texas)
Contact: Scott Kemps (734) 763-4423


text:
Weekend Bookworm: The Way of the Knife
13 September 2013 , 9:13 AM by Rob Minshull
The Way of the Knife: The CIA, a Secret Army, and a War at the Ends of the Earth by Mark Mazzetti
Back in late 2002, a relatively unknown state senator from Illinois gave a speech about Iraq which effectively launched his career toward the White House. "I don't oppose all wars," Barack Obama told the crowd. "What I am opposed to is a dumb war."
More than a decade later, the smart war Obama has embraced involves drones. This new, "cleaner, less personal" war has decimated al Qaeda and forced Osama bin Laden's dwindling band of followers to find new places to hide. As Mazzetti asserts: "Many believe that the drone program is the most effective covert-action program in CIA history." It is low cost and with little risk - at least for those with the drones.
The flipside of targeted killing by drones is, however, that the tactic may create more enemies than it eliminates. They tend to occur in collusion with a local or unpopular government or in violation of a country's sovereignty; clearly, they also risk provoking anti-Americanism and the extremism which generally accompanies it.
There is little doubt that drone attacks have taken out significant numbers of al Qaeda. The real debate, however, is whether the success of the drones in one location masks the creation of bigger problems elsewhere. The record in Pakistan and Yemen shows that drone strikes disperse al Qaeda further afield which in turn necessitates more drone attacks in more places. That is not success by any set of standards.
The key question, as this superb book posits, is whether drones, rather than democracy, are driving US foreign policy. More importantly, according to Mazzetti, the vast expansion of the CIA and its adoption of the drone program have transformed the spy agency into "a killing machine, an organisation consumed with manhunting".
The Way of the Knife is a fascinating and trenchant account of how and why the change occurred. Before 9/11, the CIA had been chastened for its dark history of 'black-bag jobs' and harebrained assassination plots. Events in the 1970s, and again in the 1980s with the Iran-Contra scandal, led the US Congress to force the CIA to refocus on its traditional role as an espionage agency.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, changed all that. The CIA acquired a license to kill and the CIA director locked himself into a battle with the Pentagon as to who would be most able to run America's clandestine war.
The result, argues Mazzetti, has been a remote-controlled war with very little oversight and even less accountability. The CIA, far from providing intelligence to an elected political leadership, has instead "gone on a killing spree" and transformed itself into the "willing executioner of America's enemies."
In part, Mazzetti says, this is also due to a 2004 report by the CIA's inspector general who condemned the agency's detention and interrogation of terrorists as "unauthorised" and "inhumane". Fearing criminal prosecution, the CIA leadership saw drones and targeted killings as offering a new direction "not as the long-term jailers of America's enemies but as a military organisation that could erase them."
The reverse effect on the military means the Pentagon has, Mazzetti writes, "been dispersed into the dark spaces of American foreign policy" and is now running more spying missions than ever before. Legal ambiguities of course make this difficult and The Way of the Knife is jam-packed with stories about the 'colourful' private contractors who have stepped in to fill the void (and rake in millions from government coffers.)
Both the CIA and the Pentagon are now, says the Pulitzer Prize winning author, locked in turf battles, mimicking each other, building ever more lethal paramilitary organisations with no clear ground rules and each seeking 'to prove to the White House that they ought to be in charge'.
Mazzetti believes these changing - and competing - roles for the military and the CIA has caused US intelligence to miss the Arab Spring uprisings which ousted friendly rulers in Tunisia and Egypt and ultimately drew the Americans into conflict in Libya. (And for good measure, he adds that Washington's $80 billion-a-year spy system also failed, for several days, to learn about the death of Kim Jong Il, the leader of nuclear-armed North Korea.)
Critics might not be so easily convinced. After all, as one reviewer in The New York Times put it, if the post-9/11 shift to manhunting caused the CIA to "miss" the Arab Spring, then when CIA assassinations were banned in the 1980s, how did America's espionage service managed to miss the fall of the Berlin Wall or the collapse of the Soviet Union?
What is not in doubt is the massive shift in focus and role of the world's most powerful spy agency. The Way of the Knife not only reveals the many eccentric characters who have emerged during these massive changes in the US military and intelligence communities - many of them so unbelievably wacko that they would strain the imagination of even the most devoted fans of thriller writers like Frederick Forsyth - but it also highlights a relatively new phenomenon: the privatisation of the military and intelligence fields, areas which were traditionally a core government function.
The global battlefield, writes Mazzetti, has stretched America's secret army beyond its capacities. Outsourcing essential missions to private contractors is the new and only way American can fight many wars at once. Not only does this mean diminishing public and political accountability, it also raises basic questions about loyalty to the mission: does it lie with the flag or with the company's bottom line?
The Courier Mail recently said that Mazzetti's book was an "astounding tale [which] melds the immediacy of fiction with the authority of fact." In fact, The Way of the Knife is much more than that. It is a story about the seduction of secrecy and the growing unaccountability of the CIA, about the slow death of diplomacy and the violation of sovereignty. It is a tragic tale about a new American way of fighting a war it cannot afford to lose.
THE WAY OF THE KNIFE by Mark Mazzetti
Published by Scribe
Rob Minshull produces Weekends with Warren and is an avid reader
The ABC accepts no responsibility for content on non-ABC websites
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.