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InfernoPosts: 2298Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:36 pmLocation: Vienna, Austria Gender: Cake
Re: Debate: Which has a better case, the Bible or Atheism?
Hello everybody! After an incredibly long three months full of studying and other activities, I have finally finished my answer. I have a somewhat complete one, 7.597 words (can be found here), that will be posted in another thread. In this reply, I will focus on what I think are the most important points and offer a counter-challenge in the last 500 or so words. I want to keep this reply under 2,500 words, even though I have to reply to about 60,000 words. If you're suicidal, you're more than welcome to "print it out and read it on the potty".
Short version count: 2.5479
One thing I'd ask of you the next time, Bryan, is to not replace "and" by "&". At least for me, it makes for distracted reading, it makes it difficult to find quotes and I always get this nagging feeling that some edit has been made to the quote. It also seems to me that this practice might take quite some time?!
Very well, have fun reading.
Bible health benefits
You start your introduction by once again pointing out the health benefits that apparently stem directly from the Bible. Let me point out a couple of things here:
1) As explained before, at most three of the blue zones but realistically only one of them are Christian in any meaningful sense to this discussion. (Namely the Adventists of Loma Linda.) It seems to me highly subjective to look only at the Adventists and say "Look how grand the Bible is." Instead, I suggest that we look at all of them and conclude that the reasons for longevity are not found in the Bible, instead they were written into the Bible because of the pre-found knowledge of the people at the time. To make this simple: Not God is the reason, Man is.
2) Many of the things people do to keep fit are not mentioned in the Bible, while some things mentioned make no sense when it comes to health what so ever. For example, your article suggests that SDAs completely abstain from alcohol, yet red wine has beneficial anti-oxidizing functions. Or take the ban against lobster on the other side. That may have been a good law at the time, but it's certainly outdated now.
3) Black-and-white thinking. This is what I touched upon with "red wine" issue above: The Bible paints a very black and white picture of the world, even though there are many shades of Gray in between. The dose makes the poison, right? I haven't heard of a single instance where one turkey or one pork chop were harmful. It's this black and white thinking in the Bible that has no impact on health whatsoever and also prohibits temporary indulgences aka fun.
Also, if God loves us so much, why don't we live to 255 like some species of turtle do? Why do we need sustenance in the first place? It all seems like an incredibly wasteful way to make living beings if you're an omnipotent designer.
Carl Sagan, the level six atheist
A little later, you quote Carl Sagans: "An atheist has to know a lot more than I know."
This is one of the very few times I must disagree with Carl Sagan. If we go by the Dawkins Scale of Belief, then Carl Sagan was a six, which is the same as most atheists believe. Carl Sagan was talking about a "level seven" atheist, something one will encounter very rarely indeed.
This is sometimes called a "Tooth Fairy Agnostic" or a "99% atheist", which all boils down to the same thing: I can not know for sure, but there is not enough evidence, if there is any at all, to persuade me that I should believe in a God.
Naturalism vs following the evidence?
In the Intro to your Intro, you provide us with two possibilities and, this I have to assume, suggest that position B is the atheistic/materialistic position. What you're doing though is completely disregard what I said in this post of the "What evidence would you accept?" thread, by claiming that we demand "higher standards of evidence" for ideas we have an inherent "bias against". But I already showed that you're misusing that quote, that "extraordinary evidence" doesn't mean "different evidence", it simply means "evidence proportional to the claim". I gave the example of neutrinos going faster than light vs my daily dietary habits. In the latter case, it would be sufficient for me to state that I ate X and you would immediately believe it. In the former case, me simply stating it would not make you accept it, because it is such an extraordinary claim. You would expect me to provide tonnes of very solid evidence to back up my claim and if I failed to produce said evidence, you would rightly dismiss my claim as absurd. The same happens with regard to you claiming the existence of God.
What you fail to understand then, is that methodological naturalism makes no a priori assumptions it has to stick with, as I showed in my very first reply to you, when I said the following:
Inferno wrote:1) The Universe exists.
Our observation is that we can learn about the universe, which strongly suggests that the universe is natural, because otherwise we wouldn't be able to learn about it. If there is evidence of a single time when the laws of nature were actually suspended, then Methodological Naturalism (MN) would immediately be rejected. So in summary: There is no inherent bias to MN, there are no traditions, "extraordinary claims" DO require "extraordinary evidence" and both positions you described (A and B) are actually the same, even though you wanted to twist the latter to be something it's not.
As I've already shown before, methodological naturalism does not adhere to any a priori axioms, but instead one acts as if physicalism were true, i.e. supernatural explanations are not per se excluded, but would have to be proven true first to make someone reject methodological naturalism. And that's basically the point of this debate: Is the case of the Bible, that there is a God with specific attributes, justified or not?
You're trying to end this debate by suggesting that we accept a supernatural agent from the outset, which perversely is something you yourself reject. Because if we don't accept said supernatural agent, then we must start from a physicalist perspective and wait for evidence of a supernatural agent. Which, as I will argue, has not yet been the case.
There's another problem here, too: If not methodological naturalism, which philosophy should one adopt to make sense of the world? Until proven otherwise, I hold that methodological naturalism and the related theories mentioned above are the only ones that can help us make sense of the world. I guess this will come up at some point in this discussion, so let me stop these ideas in their infancy: The Transcendental Argument fails.
Active Church Participation
You're missing the point of these studies. The point here is that these benefits arise from participating in Church life, which means the benefits (if there really are any, and that is up for dispute) come not from following a particular life style, at least not in this case, but from group mentality. To my knowledge this isn't well studied at all, but I'd suggest the following: If you were to survey a group of people who all did the same activity, say hiking or doing Tai-Chi, and who were also atheists or agnostics, you'd find the same pattern emerging that you, or rather Neil McQueen, suggest for Church goers.
It's incredibly easy to study this pattern in Church goers because you will always find a very homogeneous group of people, while the reverse is true of atheists. I don't know of an "atheist Tai-Chi" class or any other related godless group that could be studied in such a way, so studies that don't account for that will always have an inherent amount of error. This is also the same problem I have with studies that compare a group of people who care about their health in some way or another, like vegetarians in general, with the populous at large who obviously don't care about their health as much. Is it really surprising that a person who cares about their health is healthier than a bloke who munches a burger with fries and a large coke for every meal? Compare vegetarians in general with any group of meat-eating people who also care about their health and I'll almost guarantee that the differences will entirely disappear or even be slightly reversed.
Note: I draw the above conclusions (that the differences are due to group activity instead of following any one doctrine) because it doesn't matter to which religion you adhere, the benefits are always there.
For example, this study (N=98,975) suggests that religiosity is responsible for "mild" benefits, but no specific religion is mentioned, as does this one, this one (Religion's effects ... generally protective, but modest in strength) and most importantly, this one:
"Even though most studies have been conducted in the United States in Christian populations, in the last few years several of the main findings have been replicated in samples from different countries and religions."
This is just a small sample of mostly meta-studies (see large sample size), and only ones concerned with religiosity's link to mental health, there are virtually thousands of individual studies on this subject and related ones. The outcome is always the same: It's not any one particular religion that gives alleged benefits, it's religion in general. Whether you're Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian or any other religion, you will always "reap these benefits". But as I already explained above, that's not really a fair sampling at all.
I'd also like to point out that you cherry-pick your studies. You suggest that "Belief in God" improves moral behaviour. Apart from the obvious mentioned above, other studies disagree.
The most interesting thing I've found, and this really was interesting to me, was that out of the tens, maybe hundreds of studies I read on this topic, about 2/5ths find a positive correlation between religion and morality, 2/5ths find a negative correlation and 1/5th suggests no correlation either way. All other topics (benefits in marriage and psychology, drug use, etc.) were all fairly clear.
The big challenge
You propose a challenge in section 2, point 7, wherein you ask me to produce another society with better laws/rules/regulations and so on. But if you only understood history, you'd understand why that's a futile task. I once again recommend Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond. In it, he powerfully argues why European societies (and not others) could proliferate and survive. Spoiler alert: It has nothing to do with religion. If you're not willing to buy the book, then at least read the (incredibly good) Wikipedia article on it or if you're up for it, read the pdf version.
Once you've done that, you might understand why your challenge is a bad one. Don't misunderstand me, it's not at all an impossible challenge, it's simply one that has absolutely no meaning.
To answer your very last question: I don't deny the existence of the facts. I do however deny that half of them were found by rigorous research methodology, instead I pointed out the incredibly sloppy work that went into the research most of the time. I also deny that the other half have any importance to this topic whatsoever. Remember that atheism doesn't have any rules or regulations whatsoever, it has nothing to do with morality nor with immorality. The only thing it suggests is that there's likely no God. As such, all of your stats about health are entirely irrelevant. I also deny that the Bible was the first book (or that Judaism or Christianity was the first culture) to stumble upon any good messages you happen to find in that dreadful book. I was easily able to show that by only taking one book, in this case the Bhagavad Gita, you can find the same (and often better versions of these) laws centuries earlier.
My 500-word counter
Now that I've put to rest the various myths you put forth, let me advance my counter-challenge.
Even if I grant that everything you so far claimed is absolutely 100% true, ignoring for a second that I showed most of these claims to be in error or irrelevant, what does that prove? Does it prove or even suggest that there is a God? Because even if I were to grant you that your claims are true, that would at best suggest that there's an advanced society around, nothing more. Were the Europeans "Gods" when they first came to the "New World"? They might have been regarded as such, but they sure weren't. Remember Arthur C. Clarke's third law: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
So here are a few things I'd really like to know: Is there anything you can say with absolute certainty about your God? Can you say with absolute certainty that an afterlife exists? Can you even say, with any certainty whatsoever, that a God exists? And if you can, is it yours?
Now as I've shown before, so much of the Bible directly conflicts with what we know from science. The first two chapters of the Bible are not only inconsistent among themselves, but they're also inconsistent with science. The order in which the Bible depicts the creation of the earth is exactly opposite of what science suggests.
In one part of your text, you state that there are " scientific concept that limit evolution to creationist levels of evolution". But that can't be right because we've already seen speciation happen, something that creationists used to suggest can never happen, we know that whole genera can be traced to a common ancestor, something creationists won't even accept theoretically, and we can even trace back the common ancestors of many other, and seemingly unrelated, species, which makes us able to construct a "tree" of life. (Other metaphors have been suggested to more aptly explain what this "tree" looks like, I'm quite fond of the "tumbleweed" concept.)
Given what we know about science, (see the "Relativity of Wrong"-video I linked to above) how can anyone suggest that we look to a book that doesn't change? If you knew anything about science at all, and I must now point out that it's clear you don't, you wouldn't be able to suggest something like that.
If there is a next reply from me, and please understand that I will stop replying if your next text exceeds 10.000 words (I suggested no more than 1.500 before) because I simply don't have the time to go through pages and pages of unrelated, utter nonsense.
To give you an idea of what might convince an atheist, here's a video by TheFightingAtheist titled How to convert an atheist Part 1. Take a look at that and use some of the suggestions, because what you're doing now is utterly pointless.
"Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed." ― Friedrich Nietzsche
"I shall achieve my objectives through the power... of Science!" --LessWrong
|Thu Jul 05, 2012 5:05 pm


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Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Out and About.
15 comments:
- AnonymousSeptember 7, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Splendid! Pinterest looks really cool, actually - perhaps I'll sign up.ReplyDelete
Also, Pottermore! I totally felt your pain, so I sympathise. Bon courage!
i totally missed the pottermore train. and i understand about the updating regularly. i've been down in the dumps so it's hard to want to do anything at all.ReplyDelete
yay 8tracks! i have one, and i'm going to follow you.
Pinterest and Tumblr are great places for inspiration, I'll be sure to follow you!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousSeptember 8, 2011 at 10:57 AM
So many social media sites! I get so overwhelmed so I haven't hopped on many of these trains... I try to blog consistently, I made a tumblr for my cat but got bored, I still like twitter intermittently...ReplyDelete
I keep forgetting about pinterest, even though I signed up a while ago. Must check it out for real now!
So much imagery! Perused your flickr most thoroughly. How lovely to see how you've moved through the last five years!ReplyDelete
Making me want the full extent of my wardrobe when all I have is a suitcase worth (which is also taken up by sleeping bags and other non wearable items).
I'll just have to get creative I think.
Great Job! You do good!
I adore Pinterest, a total addict. I get really annoyed when people don't link sources properly too... nearly all my pins like properly though. I look forward to seeing your pins now too!ReplyDelete
hope to see you posting more soon! and feeling better, of course!ReplyDelete
Oh, and I've just added a blogroll to my blog, you're on it!
Annah xx
I haven't blogged in so long, but I'm back and following you!ReplyDelete
I just got my Pottermore e-mail yesterday. I think I almost forgot about it, until you mentioned it. And then it came. Wanna be friends on Pottermore (when you get your e-mail)?ReplyDelete
I follow you on twitter.ReplyDelete
And have to say you are adorable.
Love Pinterest!ReplyDelete
Love Grace.
I'm right there with you re: Pottermore! Losing my mind every morning when I sift through the emails with no luck :( And I love tumblr - I'm corley.tumblr.com and I'm addicted to pretty much the same things - Harry Potter and cat gifs forever!!ReplyDelete
I'm right there with you re: Pottermore! Losing my mind every morning when I sift through the emails with no luck :( And I love tumblr - I'm corley.tumblr.com and I'm addicted to pretty much the same things - Harry Potter and cat gifs forever!!ReplyDelete
I know this a random question, but I am desperate. It seems like you've done a good job with creating your blog template. Is there any possible way you could teach me how?ReplyDelete
I just went and added you to my pinterst account. Lovely!ReplyDelete

subset: commoncrawl


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UMSL Alumna helps Found Medical Clinic in Rural India
University of Missouri–St. Louis nursing alumna Rachel Ascher (BSN 2009) is living her dream by helping the "untouchables" in India. At just 21, she has started the Living Way Health Clinic at a boarding school for some of the country's poorest children.
At the clinic, Ascher provides basic medical care to about 300 students. High fevers, skin infections, staph infections, toothaches, headaches, minor injuries and dehydration are the most common ailments treated at the clinic. She is partnering with the Blessed India Ministries to make this happen.
"Right now I'm the only staff, but I'm hoping that will quickly change," said Ascher, who is home in Winfield, Mo., before returning for a six-month stint back at the clinic outside of Visakapatnam, India. "The goal is to make the clinic self-functioning with its own Indian staff and doctor. I will remain the medical director as long as needed."
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About this Story
Campus: UMSL
Key words: Health, St. Louis Campus,
County: Lincoln


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March 7, 2008
When the Lipscomb Lady Bisons were trailing arch-rival Belmont by 11 points in the second half senior point guard Catie Woods tried not to dwell on the thought that could be playing her last game.
"I thought about it when we got down," Woods said. "But as a team we have done everything together. I knew we were going to be able to do it again."
But the Lady Bisons refused to bow out in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Thursday night on their home court in Allen Arena. They rallied and used a shot by Woods with 11 seconds left to play to seal a 73-72 win.
"We wanted to push the ball and see what we could create," said Lipscomb coach Frank Bennett. "If we needed a three we would look for a three. If we needed a two or a one we would look for that. We made a nice job of making decisions on that.
"Jill drove it in and gave Catie a good look and she knocked it down."
The reward for the Lady Bisons is a 2 p.m. game Friday afternoon in the semifinals against first-seed ETSU. The Lady Bisons have lost both games with ETSU this season, falling 77-55 at Allen Arena Jan. 19 and 89-65 in Johnson City Feb. 16.
"ETSU is long, athletic and talented. They have shot the ball very well against us. We haven't been as competitive as we would like to have been in those games. We think we can pick it up a little bit.
"They are obviously the best team in the league. We have to handle their press and find a way to scramble for rebounds. It will be a tough match-up, but we are playing our best basketball right now."
This is the second time the Lady Bisons have advanced to the semifinals of the A-Sun Tournament. The last time they did it was in 2004 when they went on and won the A-Sun Tournament championship.
The Lady Bisons win over Belmont is their fourth in a row, a string that started with a 68-52 win at Belmont Feb. 23. They have shown a resiliency that has enabled them to weather many challenges thrown at them by opponents.
"I'm very proud of my players," Bennett said. "More than anything else our players made plays and refused to fold. They got the stops they had to have and made the play they needed to make at the end."
Those three wins to end the regular season at Belmont and at home against Gardner-Webb and Campbell gave the Lady Bisons confidence when they needed it against Belmont.
"Winning those three gave us a confidence base," Bennett said. "We were really fighting to keep from getting blown out of the game at a couple of points against Belmont."
The Lady Bisons have shown a new level of toughness this season with junior forward Jilian Partin, freshman forward Valerie Bronson and freshman guard Jenna Bartsokas providing a new dimension to the offense with their ability to drive to the basket.
"This year, as opposed to our teams in the past, we have some driving options," Bennett said. "Jilian has been very good going to the basket along with Valerie and Jenna.
"We don't just have a 3-point game and a post game. We have that driving game to go with it and that opens up things for everybody."
The resiliency of the Lady Bisons was tested in the second half. After trailing by 11 twice in the second half, the last time with 10:27 left to play, they started chipping away at Belmont's lead. With 8:04 remaining they pulled within two points, 60-58, on a lay-up and free throw by Bronson. At 7:47 Bronson hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 60-60.
The Lady Bisons fell behind by four before tying the game for the fourth time at 66-66 on a jumper by Bartsokas with 4:41 left to play. The Lady Bisons continued to chip away at the lead, but trailed until Woods connected on her 16-foot jump shot from the side.
"Getting over the hump is a big thing," Bennett said. "Many times we got close to even and slipped back. We expended so much energy, but we kept pushing. It looked kind of bad in that last minute. They had the advantage. They fortunately missed a free throw or two and gave us a chance."
One player not missing free throws was Partin who hit three-of-four free throw attempts in the final two minutes and nine-of-12 for the game.
"I have been a better free throw shooter this year than in the past," Partin said. "We needed those baskets at the end. I had to knock them down,
"In the second half we refused to lose. I was upset I didn't get the last shot. I was glad Catie hit it. I would have felt bad if I had ended our season."
Belmont coach Tony Cross, whose team lost two-of-three games to the Lady Bisons this season, praised the way they refused to fold up and accept defeat.
"Lipscomb had several chances to let up a little bit, but they just kept playing," said Cross. "In a tournament situation there is a fine line between winning and losing. We came up a little bit short.
"When we were ahead by 11 it was time for us to knock them down. But Lipscomb was a team that would not give up."
Partin led the Lady Bisons in scoring with 18 points. Junior center Katie Rollins added 17. Bronson scored 13 and Woods tossed in 11.
Belmont center Jessica Bobbitt scored a game-high 25 points. Amber Rockwell added 14. Guards Shaunda Strayhorn and Brittany Myers each pitched in with 10.
The Lady Bisons held a slight 31-30 rebounding edge. Partin led the Lady Bisons with eight. Bobbitt grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
The Lady Bisons are 10-21. Belmont fell to 14-16.


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Wednesday, August 27, 2008
WotLK Beta - 68 Hunter Experience
So far on Beta, it's been pretty smooth. The quests are all doable for a character of that gear level, and it's very nice getting quest rewards and equipping them right away. The low level gear also looks pretty decent, even the Elemental Shaman chestpiece I accidently picked up and equipped. (I'm looking at the stats on my gear: AP, haste, crit, more AP, spellpower ... what the?)
Corissa and her pet ravager, Fluffy
My hunter is normally Beastmaster, but I tried out Survival. I love Explosive Shot. It's like a shot that hits the mob three times for significant damage each time (shares a cooldown with Arcane Shot) I have the suspicion that it's doing excessive damage, but it's awesome. First off, there's a bug with pets and Growl (or maybe Cower) and they can't hold aggro very well. So I mark the mob, Serpent Sting them, and auto-shot until they start running to me, then Explosive Shot them and let them die as they reach me. Hilarious, especially combined with the Lock and Load talent that gives me free Explosive Shots 30% of the time when I sting the mob.
The only thing is that Survival is a little mana-intensive at the moment. Part of that is that I can't use Steady Shot and gain mana back from Hunting Party as it will rip the mob off my pet and I'll end up having to melee. It's too bad, as Steady Shot has been unlinked from Auto-shot, and is now very easy to use. No more weaving or macroing. I'd love to see what sort of damage I could get from a rotation like Mark, Serpent Sting, Explosive Shot, Steady Shot x2-3, Explosive Shot, etc. Just need an actual tank.
Still, it's fun, and is pretty smooth for a character not decked out in epics. As well, levels 68-70 go by pretty fast. I hit 70 while still in the middle of the first zone.
8 comments:
First off, there's a bug with pets and Growl (or maybe Cower) and they can't hold aggro very well.
Isn't that the infamous "growl no longer scales with AP" adjustment?
No, it's likely the bug with Cower automatically turning back on every time you do... uh, anything.ReplyDelete
Pretty much every time the pet spawns, there's a problem where Cower may reactivate Auto-Cast. It should be fixed in the next build or 2.
- Egamamai3:58 PM, August 28, 2008
"I'd love to see what sort of damage I could get from a rotation like Mark, Serpent Sting, Explosive Shot, Steady Shot x2-3, Explosive Shot, etc. Just need an actual tank"ReplyDelete
Or, good old Dr. Boom, perhaps?
Oh, good call. I forgot about Dr. Boom. Hopefully the DPS meter I have works properly.ReplyDelete
> The quests are all doable for a character of that gear levelReplyDelete
You're a hunter. Easy-soloing is practically a class description :)
- Raynmaker, Alevas (Uther)10:55 AM, August 29, 2008
I'm not in beta, so I can't tell you exactly what to use, but check out one of the "tenacity" pets (I think that's the term). I believe a ravager is listed as a "ferocity" pet which is dps. "Tenacity" pets (if I have the word right) are tanking pets, and you can train him in tanking skills so he'll (or SHE'LL?!?!) be able to hold aggro from you even when using steady shot.
Read some BRK and read some Less QQ more PewPew because they're both writing HEAVILY about the beta right now.
It's more likely a bug. I'm pulling aggro with Autoshot, which even a Tenacity pet should be able to handle.ReplyDelete
If this is intended, that you cannot solo with Tenacity or Ferocity pets, then it is a very bad design decision.
I absolutely love tenacity pets and would recommend all hunter's to give them a whirl! If your'e looking for more information on tenacity pets, check out my link.


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text:
(Updated) Lil Poopy: Brockton boy's rap videos cause stir
Police said the videos of the boy were enough to lead them to involve DCF, but the boy's father said he doesn't believe his son is doing anything wrong.
The dozens of videos posted online show the 9-year-old boy holding wads of cash that barely fit in his hand, rapping about clothing labels, being a "coke boy" and slapping a woman's buttocks.
Police said the videos of the Brockton boy were enough to lead them to involve the state Department of Children and Families. But the boy's father said he doesn't believe his son is doing anything wrong and his lawyer said he believes the accusations are "racially-tinged."
The controversy surrounding the boy, whose rap name is Lil Poopy, started after police watched the videos.
Brockton Police Lt. Robert Sergio told Metro on Monday that another lieutenant filed a report called a "51A," which requests involvement of DCF. No charges have been filed, said Sergio, but police requested DCF to investigate whether there was any child abuse or neglect.
Sergio said the child was not taken from the home and there appeared to be no immediate danger to his welfare.
Cayenne Isaksen, a DCF spokeswoman, confirmed the agency received the report and is investigating.
Joseph Krowski Jr., an attorney who has represented the young rapper for several years, said that he believes the request for an abuse and neglect investigation are "absurd."
"Because they - the police or the powers to be or other persons- don't like something and they don't see the artistic value of it, they take the step of getting the government involved in your life," Krowski said. "There's nothing criminal or abusive in the videos and to suggest otherwise is absurd."
When asked about the boy being taken to nightclubs after midnight, Krowski said it's not much different from a child actor working.
"He's an artist and a performer. There are children singers, performers and athletes that go on the road," he said. "What's more abusive that or someone who sends their child away to train gymnastics 16 hours a day for the Olympics?"
Lil Poopy, whose real name is Luie Rivera Jr., was featured in The Enterprise for his videos that some believe are too edgy and harmful for a young boy.
Some of the videos posted online feature him rapping about being a "coke boy." They also show him inside various nightclubs. One video of Rivera leads with text that it was recorded at a Reading, Pa., club at 12:32 a.m. Another video shows a woman bent over and Rivera slapping her buttocks.
Isaksen said that the agency has up to 15 days for their investigation which could result in a referral to police for criminal charges, leaving it open to work with the family or closing the case.
Rivera's father told The Enterprise that he was going to contact a lawyer first thing Monday morning after learning that the police were filing a report.
"He's not doing anything wrong. He's acting," said Luis Rivera, the boy's father.
Rivera's Twitter handle - @poopythedon - had nearly 5,000 followers as of yesterday afternoon. His profile said he is available for bookings.
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.


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Welcome to the University of Maryland Baltimore County Athletic Ticket Office
At this site you will be able to purchase event tickets to all University of Maryland, Baltimore County athletic events using your major credit card. You will also be able to purchase and/or renew your regular season and post-season tickets. All tickets purchased through this site are covered by our existing "No refunds, No exchanges" policy.
Seth Nagle
Coordinator of Ticketing & Group Sales Specialist
Phone: (410)-455-8425 • Email: [email protected]
The UMBC Athletic Ticket Office is located inside the RAC. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call to check for special weekend or evening hours.


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Mabus plans to rename Navy Cross to 'Navy Plus' medal
WASHINGTON — Navy Secretary Ray Mabus plans to rename the Navy Cross to the Navy Plus award, Duffel Blog has learned.
The change for the nation's second highest award for military valor comes just before the popular service secretary leaves office next year.
Mabus said that the cross, a Christian symbol, could marginalize recipients from other religions. The "plus" sign is more appropriate for today's Navy, he said, since it is emotionally and morally impotent "just like our brave Sailors and Marines."
In recent years, Mabus has been touted as an innovator in the field of changing traditions that nobody had a problem with in the first place. His widely popular reforms have been noted for their diligent analysis of inputs from absolutely nobody across the Navy and Marine Corps.
The Navy first experimented with multiple other designs for the medal, before settling on a simple renaming.
"Our first idea of Buddha holding a Crescent Moon flanked by the two minor Norse deities Bragi and Heimdallr was really inclusive," said Vice Adm. Michael Shards, the Navy's chief medal redesigner. "But everybody loves a plus sign. It's like when your teacher gives you an 'A-plus,' it's so much better than a stinky 'A.'"
Since the announcement, a small sect of plus sign worshipers in Scandinavia have filed a suit against the Navy for misappropriating their religion.
"Well, fuck," said Mabus. "I hate this goddamn job."
Soldier avoids UCMJ by living inside amnesty box
BAGHDAD, Iraq — A soldier in Iraq is successfully avoiding the Uniform Code of Military Justice by living inside an amnesty box, sources confirmed today.
Spc. Ray Thomas, a communications specialist deployed to Camp Taji, began residing in the amnesty box after becoming the focus of a 15-6 investigation into unauthorized drinking on post.
"It came to light that Spc. Thomas, while intoxicated in direct violation of General Order No. 1, allowed a negligent discharge of his M4 rifle in his housing unit," explained Maj. Robert Sandusky, the officer in charge of the investigation. "Unfortunately, when Spc. Thomas learned he was facing punishment that could include extra duty and/or reduction in rank, he just disappeared."
Thomas was declared AWOL 36 hours later when base security contractors discovered him inside a 5'x5′ amnesty box near the post airfield, along with his sleeping bag, a log of Copenhagen, and a rucksack full of MREs, according to sources.
"That amnesty box is essentially a legal forcefield," admitted Sandusky. "Therefore our investigation is on hold pending his emergence from said box."
Prominent experts on military law begrudgingly praised Thomas's legal acumen.
"It's a brilliant move," commented Lt. Col. Simon Curcio, an attorney for the Army's Judge Advocate General. "Under the UCMJ, nothing inside an amnesty box is subject to punishment, so they can't touch him. If he can hold out until he leaves theater, he's home free."
"He's really got them over a barrel — or over a box, so to speak" he added. "But my question is, 'where's he relieving himself?' You know what, never mind. Please don't answer that."
Soldiers on post say that despite the lack of latrine or running water, Thomas has remained in the box for six days and shows no inclination of leaving.
"Ironically, this shitbag move displays more creativity, initiative, and discipline than I've ever seen from Spc. Thomas," said Sgt. Dominic Johnson, his former squad leader. "He should be recommended for promotion to E-5 if he doesn't end up getting a GOMOR [General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand]."
Speaking from inside the amnesty box, Thomas said he has been busy making the most of his environment.
"It's amazing what people just toss in here," Thomas said. "Just in the last week, I've collected a baggie of cocaine, a smoke grenade, a vintage Penthouse from a care package, and two extra-large dildos, which I can use to weigh down the corners of my poncho."
"Plus, I'm supplementing my diet by licking used candy wrappers," he continued. "Those sort of make up for all the cigarette butts and dip spitters that fall on my head when I'm trying to sleep."
It remains to be seen whether Thomas can hold out until his redeployment flight in April, but he remains confident.
"I'm in here for the long haul, man," he said. "You know if I'm living off MREs I won't have to shit for at least another month."
Navy and Disney partner to offer 'the most magical deployments on earth'
SAN DIEGO — Disney is ready to sprinkle some magic over future Navy deployments.
The Navy plans to plus up its fleet over the next five years, but its manpower goals may as well be 'to infinity and beyond.' Even significant efforts aimed at immigrant and transgender communities failed to move the recruitment needle, but senior leadership hopes Disney holds the key to drawing and keeping the necessary personnel.
"Industry partnerships are critical to rebuilding readiness, and bored sailors just aren't as interested in hookers anymore. Disney can help us tackle both issues," said Navy spokesman Cmdr. Anthony Bellin.
Disney executives touted the partnership as an opportunity to serve America's heroes and responsibly dispose of ships no longer fit for paying customers.
The groundbreaking deal includes ten recently condemned cruise liners that the Navy can retrofit with directed energy weapons and an Avengers-themed Chief's Mess. Approximately 20% of new naval vessels will include Disney branding and amenities, such as chow with a Disney princess and flight deck runs with a CGI version of Mr. Incredible.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson acknowledged challenges to balancing a world class vacation vibe with national security goals.
"Activities that do not directly increase lethality, like the Wreck-it Ralph karaoke shack, will shut down during threat engagement in order to minimize distractions and critical power loads," he said.
Sailors can add extra months to their "Disney Fun Deployment" passes at a military discount. E-5's and above can purchase weeklong family passes for dependents. The first three ships will head to Pacific Fleet headquarters in Hawaii by December 2019.
Machinery Repairman 1st Class Shawn VanDiver was excited to re-enlist after hearing the news.
"I'm a single dad and was looking to get out, but now my son can deploy with me over winter break. We're gonna have breakfast with Moana every day. Deployments are about to get lit!"
Navy warns sailors who can't deploy that they will be reviewed for promotion
SAN DIEGO — Non-deployable sailors can breathe a heavy sigh of relief as Navy officials plan to implement its new "Deploy or Get Promoted" policy, sources confirmed today.
The new policy, deemed ingenious by CNN military analysts, will ensure the Navy floods its upper ranks with sailors who are injured, lazy, PT-failing, work-averse as a threat to motivate them to become deployable. Senior Navy leaders are optimistic.
"We will immediately begin processing promotions for sailors who have been non-deployable for 24 months or more," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson. "Even those sailors who have deliberately missed medical and immunization appointments to avoid deployment will be able to stay behind and 'run shit.' I mean, we issued tons of medical waivers when these people enlisted. It's time we cash in that check and grow them into the future we need."
The new policy seeks to promote lazy, wounded broke-dicks, as well as worthless skaters, and it has garnered support in the senior enlisted ranks.
"Everyone who doesn't want to be here, doesn't want to contribute, and doesn't believe in our mission should be given higher levels of responsibly. It's the only way they can grow into the leaders we need them to be," said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russ Smith.
"I always like to say, 'The early bird gets the shitter-scrubbing duty because they are motivated,'" said Senior Chief Petty Officer John Gillespie. "But the sailors who arrive late from phony medical appointments? They have management written all over them! I'm serious. Don't test me. We'll do it. Get in line and make yourself deployable, or else!" he said while pointing to his rank insignia with a smirk.
Roughly 11 percent of members in the U.S. military — approximately 286,000 — meet this criteria for immediate promotion into roles that are expected to swell with incompetence.
After receiving their forced promotion, the sailors will be expected to attend leadership training completely against their will, learn how to delegate all of their assigned tasks, and learn the valuable art of shirking responsibility and hiding behind sham ignorance in order to avoid putting forth any effort at all.
However, not all sailors are getting on-board with this new policy.
"This can never work," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Mike Jones while hiding behind some cabinets to avoid being selected for a cleaning party. "They are already trying to deluge leadership ranks with ineffective, worthless leaders who show 'potential.' It's a program called Annapolis. Ever heard of it?"
There is at least one exception to the policy: if you are non-deployable due to being dead, then you can rest in peace knowing that you will not be posthumously promoted against your will.
Officials also confirmed that their next policy initiative will focus on raising low morale, something the Navy has been mysteriously plagued with for nearly fifty years.
Marine Corps
Navy announces newest occupational specialty: 'meat gazer'
WASHINGTON — The Navy announced today the creation of a new career track to help with its large urinalysis test backlog: meat gazer.
The new Navy occupational specialty will require sailors to keep an eye on the wieners of service members as they urinate into collection cups during drug tests.
"Meat gazing was historically a low-level collateral duty for go getters who volunteered to impress commanders, weirdos who enjoy checking out other dudes' packages, or simple run-of-the-mill perverts. Now, it's a full-time job," said Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer.
The meat gazer rating is the result of a petition that went viral and gained the attention of Navy leaders.
The Marines started the petition.org effort as a joke, but it quickly garnered service-wide exposure. Roughly 245,000 sailors signed the petition within days, which equates to nearly three-quarters of the Navy begging and yearning to stare at rods for a living.
"In addition to the petition, we also noted that a large number of sailors already excelled in staring at the genitalia of other male sailors in the restroom," said Capt. Richard D. Head, who is spearheading the new initiative. "It really made sense to build a satisfying career track for these hog worshipers."
While sailors from across the Navy have been submitting rate-change request packets in record numbers, most of the new meat gazers are expected to come from the ranks of the Navy's master at arms rating, which already has a high number of habitual meat gazers.
Advancement exams for the new specialty will cover topics such as advising sailors on how to handle their beef during testing, keeping urine containers uncontaminated, and requiring sailors to stand far enough away from urinals to allow meat gazers the perfect view to see urine leave the penis.
"Sometimes we are staring more intently and concentrating harder than the person trying to push urine through their meat sticks," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jack M. Hoff. "But the whole experience is satisfying to everyone involved. I'm glad the Navy has heard our voices and is allowing meat gazers to exist. I'm beyond excited."
Sailors hoping to obtain a slot as a meat gazer have been spending their free time hanging out in as many locker rooms as possible, practicing their trade, and honing their skills, according to sources.
Navy SEAL: The best way to tell people you're a Navy SEAL is to tell them
NORFOLK, Va. — Navy SEALs, one of America's most iconic special operations forces, are renowned for their expertise, prowess, and the shroud of secrecy surrounding their operations. However, the life of a Navy Special Warfare operator can also be one of the most rewarding paths in the military service, given the right combination of experience, publishers, and celebrity connections, according to a new book by former SEAL Joe McQueeney.
"Being a SEAL isn't all guts-and-glory, or five-mile swims before dawn," McQueeney said. "There's also networking with publicists, prime-time appearances on cable news channels, and telling complete strangers what you do for a living."
According to McQueeney, it was difficult for him to learn to interject his SEAL service into unrelated conversations, but he overcame his initial hesitance during a PTA meeting at his daughter's elementary school.
"The principal had asked if the parents had any concerns, and I remember standing up to make a comment on the school lunches. I said, 'I think, as a Navy SEAL, the lunches here aren't very nutritious,' and that if I had to eat that food every day, I would never have gotten in camera-ready shape to star in the Hollywood blockbuster 'Act of Valor,'" he said.
"From then on, it got a little easier to bring up my covert ops experience to total strangers, whether I'm buying groceries, chatting up girls at the gym, or even asking police officers to give me their service weapon on Instagram."
McQueeney's interview was cut short when the barista at Starbucks announced that she had a venti no-whip soy mocha frap for a "Quiet Professional."
Another round of high-ranking elves implicated in Fat Blitzen scandal
NORTH POLE – Another round of high-ranking elves face allegations of corruption through their association with the known convict Fat Blitzen, sources close to Santa confirmed today.
"This is ho-ho-horrible," Santa said. "This web of corruption and kickbacks is so pervasive that if I got rid of all the elves who were involved, I'd be left with the two nitwits in the Egg Nog room, Mrs. Claus, and an empty pair of jingle shoes."
Blitzen, the leader of the network, had been bribing elves to redirect Santa to homes where he controlled critical holiday services such as cookie icing, fudge packing, and caroling.
The elves are charged with accepting inflated pricing on magical glitter flying reindeer feed, milk and cookies for Santa, and inflated rooftop landing fees. With the help of the elves, Blitzen was even able to re-engineer parts of the sleigh so it would only fit down Blitzen-approved chimneys.
Santa has shown leniency towards the elves, downgrading charges of caroluption. Buddy, the last elf to see UCMJ for his actions, was sentenced to pay wreathstatution.
Blitzen is facing up to 8 years on the naughty list in the U.S. and possible candy caning in Singapore.
Marine Corps
Meet the woman who got a kidney transplant from an infantryman and woke up craving Monster and Skoal
CARMEL, Ind. – Third grade teacher Kasie Spyker woke up after a long-awaited kidney transplant dying for a cold Monster and fresh can of Skoal after receiving an organ from an infantryman, sources at Methodist Hospital confirmed today.
Spyker, who had been suffering from lupus and on a strict diet of fresh foods her entire life, had never tried any of Monster's products before the life-saving surgery.
"I'd heard from other patients in the transplant ward that they felt different after the transplant." Said Spyker. "For David, he got a lung transplant from a marathoner and suddenly wanted to go running. I got a kidney from an infantryman, and suddenly wanted to pack a fat lip."
Spyker's friends and family had raised over $20,000 to help pay for the transplant surgery and recovery. They were thrilled to learn that she'd be getting a kidney from a young infantryman at the peak of physical fitness after he died suddenly in a freak motorcycle airbrushing accident. They now hope to raise money for the Dodge Charger payments the soldier left behind.
"I feel like a new woman," said Spyker, drawing out a fresh new tattoo to commemorate the transplant. "I'm so thankful for this new lease on life. I can't wait until I'm out of this hospital gown and can go buy some new affliction t-shirts and axe body spray."
Air Force
Charles 'Wide Neck' McDowell leads USO Tour request voting
ARLINGTON, Va. — After weeks of neck-and-neck voting, Charles "Wide Neck" McDowell has pulled ahead of adult film actress Riley Reid as the most requested USO star for an upcoming international tour, sources confirmed today.
Service members from throughout the military placed more than 645,000 votes for McDowell and 320,000 for Reid this month following McDowell's fame after his mugshot went viral.
"This is the kind of guy that everyone has necks-level love for," commented Andrew Green, a specialist with the 82nd Airborne Division. "Soldiers across the world are coming together and neckworking to bring this god to bless our troops and potentially end racism."
Though the voting does play a large role for the USO in selecting and funding the star, many more factors come into play before booking can actually begin.
"We sent someone down to Charles' neck of the woods in Florida where he is currently training for his MMA debut. But despite his schedule he seemed interested, and we will discuss more necks week," said Robert Hales, booking agent for the USO.
Hales did show some hesitation about bringing McDowell along for the European and Middle East tour starting next March.
"I want to give the troops what they have requested, but they're in for a shock as soon as they see his neck is normal and his head is just tiny," he said.
Reid volunteered to go on the tour for free if McDowell decided to attend.
"No lie, wide neck, a go pro, and me could trade his 15 min of fame to 15 min of bliss," she tweeted.
Florida authorities have also voiced their full-throated support for McDowell to give back to the troops, offering to count it as community service and allowing him to travel internationally. Currently out on bail, McDowell has been capitalizing on his fame by appearing on MTV's show "Necks," singing in a feature of Ariana Grande's "Thank You, Necks" hit song, and swallowing watermelons whole for five dollars in Orlando. Hopes are Ol' Saint Neck could travel by Christmas.
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As part of the YMCA's commitment to the community, the Y has teamed up with the Food Bank of WNY and WGRZ-TV Channel 2 to help give back to those in need right here in Western New York. Beginning Nov. 1, all YMCA Buffalo Niagara Branches and YMCA Buffalo Niagara's corporate office will begin taking donations of non-perishable items for the Food Bank of WNY.
Last year, the Y was able to collect enough food to provide 2,241 meals for area families. This year, organizers would like to challenge Western New Yorkers to help provide 6,000 meals.
Donations will be accepted until Nov. 21, and participants in the YMCA Turkey Trot are encouraged to bring cans with them to packet pick-up at the Delaware YMCA Nov. 19 to 21.
"The Food Bank of WNY is excited to be partnering, once again, with the YMCA's annual Turkey Trot. Last year's participants generously donated non-perishables, which were distributed throughout the holiday season to those who rely on us. This year, the numbers of those seeking assistance from us have grown from 31,000 to 36,000 households. The Food Bank of WNY is truly grateful to be a part of this wonderful event," said Marylou Borowiak, president and CEO of the Food Bank of WNY.
Donation locations include the Niagara Falls YMCA, 1317 Portage Rd, Niagara Falls (716-285-8491).
For more information, visit www.ymcabuffaloniagara.org.
About the Food Bank of WNY Inc.
The Food Bank of WNY Inc. is the primary hunger relief organization in Western New York, obtaining and then distributing food to 350 member agencies such as pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, after-school programs and senior citizen centers. Through those agencies, the Food Bank services 36,356 families. A staggering 101,264 individuals rely on its services each and every month, including more than 41,000 children and 9,406 senior citizens monthly.


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Corresponding author: Wade H. Elmer. email@example.com
Elmer, W. H. 2001. The economically important diseases of asparagus in the U.S. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2001-0521-01-RV.
Fig. 1. Asparagus spears (courtesy of R. Mullen) (click image for larger view).
In the central and eastern U.S., the months of April and May bring more than showers and flowers. They mark the beginning of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) season (Fig. 1). Asparagus (Greek for "shoot") has long been a delicacy coveted by many cultures. It is highly nutritious, flavorful, and has medicinal properties (69). It acts as a strong diuretic and benefits people with heart problems. Many claim it is an aphrodisiac.
Asparagus is usually established with 1-year-old plants commonly referred to as crowns that include buds and fleshy storage roots (Fig. 2). Marketable spears are first harvested after crowns have been established in the field for 2-3 years. Spears are cut and trimmed to 18-22 cm in length. Cutting occurs every 24-48 hr. (Fig. 3), and harvest periods can last up to 2 months. Americans are now consuming more green asparagus than ever before. Despite the high demand, asparagus acreage in the U.S. has declined by 20% from 37,840 ha in 1990 to 30,356 ha in 1999 (1). Duty-free imports from South America have seriously threatened the U.S. industry. Keeping U.S. growers competitive will require government, extension, and research efforts. This paper presents a review of the major diseases of asparagus that routinely cause losses in the U.S. and reviews their management strategies.
Fig. 2. Asparagus crowns being planted in trenches (courtesy of T. Reid and M. Hausbeck) (click image for larger view).
Fig. 3. Asparagus harvest (courtesy of T. Reid and M. Hausbeck) (click image for larger view).
Asparagus probably evolved in the eastern regions of the Middle East (3). Some people credit Alexander the Great with discovering asparagus during his exploits and introducing it to Greece around 300 BC. Romans rapidly adopted the crop. In 160 BC, Porcius Cato the Elder published his De Agri Cultura, which described growing methods for asparagus. Pliny the Elder's book, Natural History (57 AD), devoted several discussions to the medicinal properties of asparagus. Surprisingly, interest in asparagus declined in the Middle Ages until the 1600s. Revived interest, due in part to Louis IV's fondness for the plant, led to increased production in France (69).
Fig. 4. U.S. acreage planted to asparagus from 1930-2000. Intervals represent: (1) period of increased acreage due to advances in canning and transportation; (2) period of decline due to Fusarium crown and root rot; (3) period of increased acreage due to new cultivars and increased demand; and (4) period of decline presumably due to competition from imports (click image for larger view).
Advances in processing and transportation in the 1930s led to annual increases in U.S. (Fig 4). Acreage was concentrated in California, Washington, and Michigan. During 1960 to 1980, a sharp decline in acreage occurred. The loss had devastating effects on growers in the eastern U.S. However, increased demand and new cultivars revived the industry in the 1980s. Dr. Howard Ellison of Rutgers University selfed hermaphrodites (male plants with functional female flower parts) to obtain several males that were homozygous for maleness. Tissue-cultured super males (homozygous males) are used to produce an all-male hybrid when crossed with a female parent plant. In 1985, the all-male hybrid, 'Jersey Giant,' was released (16), and currently all-male hybrids are being produced around the world. Open-pollinated hybrids, such as UC 157 are still very popular and better adapted to Mediterranean and desert conditions.
Although demand is still high in the U.S., acreage has shown an alarming decline over the last decade (Fig. 4). Politics may have played a role. Government programs, such as the Agency for International Development that fund large asparagus projects abroad and free trade agreements such as NAFTA and the Andean Trade Preference Act, have eliminated tariffs on asparagus imports leading to a year-round supply of asparagus in U.S. markets. Asparagus imports have risen from 23,978 metric tons in 1992 to 33,901 metric tons in 1997 (64). The ability of exporting countries to cheaply produce the crop year-round has made serious inroads into U.S. production. For example, in the last decade frozen asparagus imports from South America have essentially displaced the frozen asparagus industry in the U.S. Other U.S. programs, such as the Market Access Program, have promoted U.S. asparagus, but growers are faced with the realization that they must reduce costs to remain competitive. Although labor remains the major cost factor for U.S. growers, pest management still requires costly inputs. This article will review the economically limiting diseases of asparagus in the U.S. and explore current and future options for improved management.
Fig. 5. Drawing of Puccinia asparagi spore types (click image for larger view and more information).
Asparagus rust, caused by Puccinia asparagi DC. in Lam. & DC., was originally described in France in 1805, and appeared in New Jersey in 1896 (39). Within a few years, rust had spread to every region where asparagus was grown (54,65). P. asparagi is an autoecious (single host), pathogen which produces four spore types (basidiospores, aeciospores, urediniospores, and teliospores) in succession (Fig. 5). Early spring infections of young spears occur with basidiospores. These infections, in turn, produce oval, light-green lesions about 6 x 19 mm in size. One to 2-weeks later, cream colored aecia are produced (Fig. 6). The wind-blown aeciospores initiate early rust epidemics and then give rise to the brownish-red uredinia stage (Fig. 7). The uredinial cycle repeats every 10 to 14 days during July and August (47) and causes the majority of fern damage. In early fall, telia replace uredinia and serve as the overwintering stage. Because first year fields are not harvested, the aecia stage on the spear is not removed and leads to greater severity than in fields being cut. The difference in rust severity between a 2-year-old uncut field and a 3-year-old harvested field can be striking (Fig. 8).
Fig. 6. Aecial lesion of Puccinia asparagi on the stem of asparagus (courtesy of D. Johnson) (click image for larger view).
Fig. 7. Uredinia of Puccinia asparagi on the stem of asparagus (courtesy of D. Johnson) (click image for larger view).
Fig. 8. Field of 'Delmonte 361' asparagus. Field on the left is 2 years old and was not harvested and aecial lesions developed; field on the right is 3 years old and was harvested preventing the aecial stage from developing (courtesy of D. Johnson) (click image for larger view).
Management of rust in the U.S. has been achieved using an integrated approach of resistant cultivars, fungicides, and sanitation practices. Breeders have since made great improvements in incorporating stable quantitatively inherited resistance into commercial lines (4,42,45,51,52). However, the current level of resistance is insufficient to completely control severe outbreaks (46). Cultivar improvements are needed. Because damage thresholds have been determined (21,49), fungicide applications could be timed to suppress outbreaks during conducive periods (49). The current dilemma in rust management is the loss of registered products and/or the processors refusal to accept asparagus treated with EBDC fungicides. Special use permits under Section 18 have allowed new unregistered products to be used, but these costly inputs could be reduced with improved genetic resistance to rust.
The disease was first noted in 1908 (70). Over the years the disease has been called dwarf asparagus (9), wilt and root rot (8), seedling blight (38), crown rot complex (27), and Fusarium stem and crown rot (53). The disease affects seedlings (Fig. 9) and mature plants (Fig. 10 and 11). The first Fusarium pathogen found associated with the disease was Fusarium oxysporum (Schlecht) f. sp. asparagi (S. I. Cohen) in 1941 (8) (Fig. 12). Gibberella fujikuroi (Sawada) Ito in Ito & K. Kimera [(Mating Group "D"), anamorph F. proliferatum (Synamorph F. moniliforme)] was found to be a pathogen as well in 1979 (53) (Fig. 13). Pathogens are seedborne (12,43) and carried on transplants. The disease became economically limiting in the 1950's (38,39). U.S. acreage declined annually from 1960 to 1980 (Fig. 4). Many growers in the eastern U.S. were forced to abandoned asparagus as a crop.
Fig. 9. Seedling blight stage of Fusarium crown and root rot of asparagus (courtesy of T. Reid and M. Hausbeck) (click image for larger view).
Fig. 10. Mid season symptoms of Fusarium crown and root rot on mature plants (courtesy of J. LaMondia) (click image for larger view).
Fig. 11. Symptoms of Fusarium crown and root rot of asparagus showing vascular discoloration in the crown (click image for larger view).
Fig. 12. Macroconidia, microconidia, and chlamydospores of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi (courtesy of T. Reid and M. Hausbeck) (click image for larger view).
Fig. 13. Chains of microconidia on a conidiophore and macroconidia of Fusarium proliferatum (courtesy of T. Reid and M. Hausbeck) (click image for larger view).
F. oxysporum f. sp. asparagi appears to be present in most asparagus field soils (13,40). The pathogen represents a group that contains many genetically distinct members (5,24,57). Pathogenicity on asparagus may be an unspecialized trait that appears frequently in F. oxysporum. On the other hand, F. proliferatum appears to belong to one mating group (15,19,25). Because perithecia are not found in nature, it is assumed that the asexual stage of F. proliferatum is responsible for dispersal. Using heterokaryon tests to follow vegetatively compatible groups, one group (US5) has been found to predominate in the U.S. and Australia (17,26). Because seed transmission is the likely method of dissemination, simple seed disinfestation alone could slow the spread of Fusarium pathogens to new areas (12,23,43).
Management of Fusarium crown and root rot has been difficult. Pathogens are ubiquitous (13,25,57). Preventative measures, such as choosing sandy, well-drained soils and selecting the best cultivars for the area, are very important, but growers need strategies in place when established plantings show signs of decline. The resistance in the all-male hybrids has helped to reduce the financial losses due to this disease, but improvements are still needed that will ensure plantings' greater longevity. Fungicide applications have traditionally been ineffective or impractical (34,55,59). Nigh (63) stated that any stress factor, such as drought or weeds, will increase the incidence and severity of Fusarium crown and root rot. As a result, management programs that control insects and weeds will reduce damage from Fusarium crown and root rot (14). Although asparagus is drought-tolerant, small deficits in soil moisture can result in large reductions in growth (74) and increases in infection (22). Cutting pressure can also exert stress on a production field; consequently, extending the harvest season weakens the plant's ability to regenerate the stems and ferns that produce the carbohydrates for next year's yield (68) and should be avoided.
Limited success has been made by broadcasting NaCl onto older, declining fields (18,20). The practice of salting asparagus beds was probably used from before 1860 to around the 1940's to control weeds and boost yields (6,7,67,72,73). It appears to be a practice unique to the U.S. and was discontinued after herbicides were developed in the 1940s. About this time the number of reports of Fusarium crown and root rot in asparagus began to increase (8,37,38). Research has found that rates between 560-1120 kg NaCl/ha will boost vigor, slow the rate of decline (18), and may allow growers to recoup some profits for a negligible cost. The mechanism of NaCl on Fusarium crown and root rot is unclear. It does not affect soil pathogens (18), and may improve host defense (20). The treatment offers little benefit to healthy asparagus and may not have value as a preventative strategy. Information about timing and rates are still needed, but concern about environmental issues and salt damage has delayed its acceptance as a management strategy.
Purple spot, which is caused by Pleospora herbarium (anamorph Stemphylium vesicarium), was first reported in the U.S. in 1981 (56). The disease has since been reported in all major asparagus-growing regions in the U.S. (33,50). In addition, the disease has recently become more damaging (41). It was first reported as small (1-2 mm), elliptical, slightly sunken, purplish spots that blemished the spears and lowered its marketability (Fig. 14). Today, the major damage from purple spot is on the fern growth (Fig. 15). Damage to the fern results in defoliation of the needle-like cladophylls that reduces the flow of carbohydrates to the roots and lowers next year's yield (41). It is not known if the resistance to purple spot has been inadvertently reduced through breeding or if the inoculum levels have reached threshold densities. No-till asparagus culture may have contributed to the increase in purple spot by allowing colonized residues to remain in the field (41,66).
Fig. 14. Purple spot lesions caused by Pleospora herbarium on asparagus spears (courtesy of D. Johnson) (click image for larger view).
Fig. 15. Asparagus fern showing purple spot lesions caused by Pleospora herbarium (click image for larger view).
Spear infections are favored by wet, cool weather and by wounding from wind-driven sand (50). During a harvest period in Connecticut, spears were free of purple spot until two days of wet and cold weather occurred, and then incidence increased to 100 % (Fig. 16); when weather conditions improved, new spears remained disease free. Current management of purple spot has focused on sanitation and fungicides. Removing the previous year's fern growth can reduce severity of purple spot on spears during harvest (48). Chopping and incorporating the stalks in the fall can prevent ascospores and conidia from becoming airborne, but the practice does not result in decomposition of the pseudothecia before the spring harvest. However, this practice must be weighed against the potential damage caused to the roots and crown that can favor Fusarium infections (66). Cover crop mulches and wind barriers that reduce blowing sand need investigation. Additionally, the fungicide chlorothalonil has been effective when applied to the fern using the FAST disease forecasting system (58). Benefits in savings between $1,000-$2,000 per ha have been documented in Michigan (60). A further reduction in inputs could be achieved by increasing cultivar resistance to purple spot.
Fig. 16. Purple spot lesions caused by Pleospora herbarium on asparagus spears harvested during cool wet weather (click image for larger view).
The first study demonstrating the effect of viruses on asparagus decline was done in New Jersey (75). A decline in productivity was correlated with the presence of viral agents in young plantings. Three viral agents are known to infect asparagus in the U.S. All three viruses, asparagus virus I (AV-I), asparagus virus II (AV-II), and tobacco streak virus (TSV), appear to be widely distributed in commercial asparagus plantings (29,32,62). However, not all are equal in the damage they cause. None of the three viruses produces distinctive symptoms on asparagus. The damage is exhibited as reduced vigor and increased susceptibility to other diseases (30).
Under field conditions, AV-I infects only asparagus and is transmitted by a wide variety of aphid species in the stylet-borne manner, but efforts to suppress aphids have little effect on the spread of AV-I (61). The virus alone has little effect on plant growth, yield of spears, or longevity of the plant. It is an economic factor because it interacts with AV-II to produce more damage than with AV-II alone (21). Because AV-I is not seedborne, growers can be assured their new plantings are initially free of AV-I. Nevertheless, in Washington, a study found that all plants tend to get AV-I over time (21). AV-II occurs more frequently than AV-I and is more damaging. It is readily transmitted through seed from infected parents and from seed produced on healthy plants that were fertilized by AV-II-contaminated pollen (28,71). Due to routine indexing, only trace amounts of the AV-II are being found. AV-II was presumed to spread very slowly in the field (29). However, studies in New Zealand provided strong evidence that spread of AV-II was occurring during harvest on cutting knives (44). This observation warrants close attention to the possible spread of AV-II in production fields in the U.S. TSV, the second most common ilarvirus in asparagus, is not seedborne, but can spread presumably through thrips-mediated pollen transmission (61). Its contribution to yield loss is minor unless there is prior infection by AV-II. Because AV-II is the major threat, whether by itself or combined with AV-I and TSV, monitoring its presence and spread should become a routine practice. Rapid viral assays may help to index fields at risk and alert growers to use sanitation procedures during harvest.
Fig. 17. Field symptoms of Phytophthora rot of asparagus (courtesy of R. Mullen) (click image for larger view).
Phytophthora spear rot was first described in California in 1938 (2) but was not thoroughly studied again until the 1980's when 30-54% reductions in yield were documented (31) (Fig. 17). The fungus most associated with the disease is Phytophthora megasperma Drechs., although other Phytophthora species have been found (2). Symptoms include soft, water-soaked lesions on shoots at, slightly above, or below the soil level (Fig. 18). As the lesions expand, they turn light brown, collapse, and shrivel. This flattens the affected side of the spear, and the spear bends (Fig. 19). The internal tissues of infected crowns may be a yellow-brown color (Fig. 20).
Fig. 18. Healthy asparagus spear and spear infected with Phytophthora rot (courtesy of R. Mullen) (click image for larger view).
Fig. 19. Bent spear symptoms of Phytophthora rot on asparagus in field (courtesy of R. Mullen) (click image for larger view).
Fig. 20. Phytophthora crown rot of asparagus revealing the yellow-orange coloration to the roots (courtesy of R. Mullen) (click image for larger view).
The damage caused by Phytophthora rot can vary from year to year and site to site and depends on rainfall and soil drainage. The disease is more prevalent in warmer regions of the U.S. and has not been a problem in northern areas. Fungicide applications are helpful in establishing beds when wet weather occurs (35). Products such as metalaxyl (currently only available as the active component, mefenoxam) are effective (35,36), but concerns about pathogen resistance warrants the pursuit of other products and other strategies. Trials to identify resistance to Phytophthora rot have commenced in California.
Another foliar disease that contributes to losses in asparagus in warm, humid environments is Cercospora blight, caused by Cercospora asparagi Sacc. It has been severe in eastern Oklahoma (10) and North Carolina (11), but does not cause appreciable damage in cooler or dryer climates.
Lesions are small, oval, grayish-tan in color, with purple borders, and can be confused with those caused by P. herbarium (Fig. 21). Blighted ferns turn yellow to brown and eventually die prematurely (11) (Fig. 22). Since there are no known sources of resistance to Cercospora blight, management must include sanitation and fungicide applications. Fall removal or burial of the year's fern residue can delay the onset of disease development.
Fig. 21. Symptoms of Cercospora blight on a stem of asparagus (courtesy of D. Sanders and C. Averre) (click image for larger view).
Fig. 22. Defoliation of the lower canopy of asparagus caused by Cercospora blight (courtesy of D. Sanders and C. Averre) (click image for larger view).
Fungicides are also an important component of an integrated approach and can increase spear production the following year (10). The inclusion of disease forecasting models may reduce the number of applications and save cost. Research on cultivar resistance is in its infancy.
The amount of asparagus consumed in the U.S. will undoubtedly continue to increase as availability of the crop increases. However, the full effect of imports on the U.S. industry may not be seen for some time. Industry-sponsored groups, such as Asparagus USA, have made progress in promoting U.S. asparagus abroad and educating government agencies of the economic situation in the U.S. The imported shipments from South America have already diminished the frozen asparagus industry and have begun to make inroads into canned and fresh markets as well. It is also alarming that China committed approximately 54,000 ha to asparagus during the 1992-1997 period (63). Given the perishability of the crop, local fresh asparagus markets will still have some quality advantages provided consumers will pay for that difference.
The development of genetically resistant material has always been a major area of asparagus research. The success of the all-male hybrids has been a tremendous asset to the industry, but increased disease resistance is still needed. As genetic modifications in plants become more advanced, the future should offer many solutions to the problems in asparagus. A concerted effort between breeders and plant health specialists must be maintained and supported to improve genetic resistance to AV-II, purple spot, Phytophthora spear rot, and Cercospora blight. Given the perennial nature of the crop, evaluations require long term-support from private and public sectors.
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29. Evans, T. A., DeVries, R. M., Wacker, T. L., and Stephens, C. T. 1989. Epidemiology of asparagus viruses in Michigan asparagus. Acta Horticulturae 271:285-290.
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This one goes by the name Osai Williams of Accra Ghana, falls in love in 1-2 emails likes Instant Messaging, wants money for visa, passport, travel. Also has numerous medical situations for her and mom that needs money for, also asks for $ for foodstuff and wants gifts, cell phones, Ipods Perfumes ect....Does she sound like a scammer??


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State Farm paid $8.9 million for 309 dog-bite claims in Illinois in 2013, second only to 449 claims and $14.7 million paid in California, the Bloomington-based insurer reported Wednesday.
The numbers were released as the company begins a dog-bite prevention campaign with Victoria Stilwell, an animal trainer featured on Animal Planet�s �It�s Me or the Dog.� Dog breeds are not a factor in homeowner insurance policies, according to the company. Neither does the company track bites by breed.
Other states in the top five for claims were:
* Ohio, 221 claims; $4.2 million paid.
* Texas: 207 claims; $4 million paid.
* Pennsylvania, 180 claims; $5.8million paid.


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Wolves Offroad needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 78 designs submitted by 18 freelance designers.
Wolves Offroad
We are launching a 4WD company called Wolves Offroad... We need a logo for our website and bumber stickers.
4WD Enthusiasts
The logo will need to be easily recognisable and look good on a bumper sticker. The idea for the logo is a wolves print combined with a four wheel drive tyre print.
Maybe one merging into another, or peraps a single strong wolves print over 4WD tracks. We would also like to include the Company Name in the logo.
We have decided against wanting the "classic" wolf logo of a howling wolf. Colors we are unsure of, happy for you to take the lead there.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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7:00 pm
Masterpiece Classic "Upstairs Downstairs, Series 2 - Somewhere Over The Rainbow" On the eve of war, Beryl and Harry face a race against time to get married. Meanwhile, Mr. Prichard makes a decision, which throws the running of the house into chaos, until an old face lends a helping hand. And, as Lady Agnes returns to London, a dark discovery has explosive consequences for all inside Eaton Place. Part 6 of 6G
8:00 pm
New Tricks "Bank Robbery" Family ties might be the undoing of police informant Pete MacKintyre, who returns to the U.K. for his son's 18th birthday after a full 17 years on the run. The UCOS team wrings some fresh evidence from him that might help solve the old crime - if they can work through the contemporary rivalries and complicated connections.G
9:00 pm
Masterpiece Classic "Downton Abbey (S1 E1)" On the brink of the modern era, the inhabitants of Downton Abbey face a more immediate change - Lord Grantham loses his heir and his daughter Mary loses her fiance when the Titanic goes down. The family and its army of servants are thrown into turmoil. The new heir turns out to be Matthew, a handsome lawyer with novel ideas about country life. Part 1 of 4G
10:30 pm
Land Girls After a farm accident, Connie challenges Vernon to a farmers-versus-land-girls competition. At the military hospital, Joyce worries about her husband's recovery.G
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Midsomer Murders "Garden of Death, Part 1" The Inkpen family buys back its ancestral home, Inkpen Manor at Midsomer Deverell, with plans to turn a village Memorial Garden on the land into a tea shop. The family who previously owned the manor and installed the garden leads the opposition to the changes. When the eldest Inkpen granddaughter is found dead in the garden with her skull smashed in, DCI Tom Barnaby and DI Gavin Troy find more than one possible suspect. Part 1 of 2G


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College students across the country will accept diplomas and step out into the "real world" for the first time this month. Some have jobs, many don't, but all are hopeful about what lies ahead.
As to their first steps beyond the comfort of campus, whose advice should they follow? What lessons should they heed as they embark on this great journey of independence and self-sufficiency? How about listening to some of the most successful people anywhere: visionary business leaders who built empires from nothing and now rank among the wealthiest on the planet. Here's a curated list of lessons billionaires have given to college graduates over the years in commencement addresses.
Steve Jobs: Live Each Day As If It Was Your Last
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, some day you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "no" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. ~ Stanford University 2005.
Bill Gates: From Those To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected
My mother, who was filled with pride the day I was admitted here-never stopped pressing me to do more for others. A few days before my wedding, she hosted a bridal event, at which she read aloud a letter about marriage that she had written to Melinda. My mother was very ill with cancer at the time, but she saw one more opportunity to deliver her message, and at the close of the letter she said: "From those to whom much is given, much is expected." ~ Harvard University 2007.
Oprah Winfrey: We All Need Makeovers From Time To Time
People love makeovers, because the physical results are always so astonishing. But I like doing them because of the possibility of transforming more than the way people look. You want to change the way people feel about themselves. One man, a guy we'd just seen walking down the street, with a beard that was almost to the ground, it looked like he was hiding behind all of that beard. And after we got rid of all that hair and he could actually see himself, he said, "I feel alive again." The makeover allowed him to see himself in a way that he'd forgotten was there. You know, we all need makeovers from time to time in our lives, and graduates, I know this, that if you can see the possibility of changing your life, of seeing what you can become and not just what you are, you will be a huge success. ~ Duke University 2009.
Michael Dell: Never Be The Smartest Person In The Room
Try never to be the smartest person in the room. And if you are, I suggest you invite smarter people … or find a different room. In professional circles it's called networking. In organizations it's called team building. And in life it's called family, friends, and community. We are all gifts to each other, and my own growth as a leader has shown me again and again that the most rewarding experiences come from my relationships. ~ University of Texas 2003.
Michael Bloomberg: Don't Stay Down Long
My first job out of school was on Wall Street and I stayed there for 15 years. It was a terrific ride: Fun times, and lots of praise from my bosses. Everybody loved me – right up until the day they fired me! But I remained optimistic – because happiness for me has always been going out and trying to beat the odds. So the next day after I got fired, literally the next day, I started a new company. ~ Tufts University 2007.
JK Rowling: Failure Can Be the Foundation Of Success
So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life. ~ Harvard University 2008.
Source : Forbes.