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FBI Analyzing Cooker, Black Bag From Bomb Scene
Devlin Barrett explains the significance of the use of a pressure cooker that authorities believed was used in the Boston Marathon bombings. He also points out past attacks in which pressure cookers were also used. Photo: AP Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... and we're back that again is a picture ... of the pressure cooker of fragments of day one of them that was believed to have been ... one of Bond's boss Smith and that is a fragment of the black bag we just how was the pressure cooker ... should update folks and say that the injury count for money fund has risen to at least one hundred and seventy five ... and police still do not of course have a suspect in custody ... the new leader but the pressure cooker kids investigators a clue what ... that Obama was likely assembled nearby but ... again less than forty eight hours after the twin glass there's a lot we still don't know Wall Street Journal's ... Devlin Barrett has been falling the investigation closely tied to Moring gambling ... where are you I'm good I'm good so first off let's let's ask ... why pressure cooker ... here is basically a very handy way to make essentially a large pipe bomb ... which are doing with a pressure cooker is ... by definition it called pressure and ... when you when you ... tighten the lid ... and so when a low explosive like black Otter explodes ... it holds that charges slightly longer so that it's more damaging when it does blow up ok and ... clearly we've seen ... some reports that this type of bomb ... has been particularly popular with ... with time ... Islamist militants we have a list of some of the reasons ... examples where ... he had a ... container bomb a pressure cooker type aam ... was you saw report was tempted ... aam ... freeware with the Soviets and TT use one ... and ... so what I these types of bonds exclusive to ... Islamic militants do we do we have no not all this attack that this is essentially attacking its been around for quite some time ... and it got a lot of attention because of an al Qaeda magazine ... data how to ... instructions set for making one of these bombs ... but ... most people who do ... the Manassas don't ... think that the fact it's a pressure cooker bond ... points necessarily in any particular direction for a set of suspects OK Ave just say it's a common it's a common method for people who wanna build homemade bomb and now we were showing ... the video of the first class there and Finish Line ... Dublin that ... was what one interesting clue here is they're thinking that with this type of bomb ... this this means it hadn't been assembled ... nearby ... yes it's it's a working theory is not something they know definitively yet but the notion being ... essentially these bonds are pretty ... delicate and you would want to be caring Visa net back for a long period of time ... because you have to worry about them going off or ... or or you know the wires getting messed up ... so that that that the working theory now is that they would have been assembled relatively nearby ... and then brought to the site ... is that we should note it's it's unsettling it's ... fairly easy who will ... this kind of fun and instructive ... write ins for the reason why investigators say can just ... assume it's it's militants are all Qaeda anything like that ... because this ... within the instructions for this are pretty ubiquitous online ... it's it's just not ... referred ... to ... contain any one particular group in and ... we should note that big again there's been no claim of responsibility so far the Pakistani Taliban ... has actually come out and said they had nothing to do with it ... but to weaken again we don't know to be an individual inspired by al Cato ... or ... really anyone at this point ... yet it is ... the basic line from the FBI this one is they have enrolled or anyone out essentially in terms of ... types of groups or or or or motives they could be behind us ... they're they're basically appealing to the public to help and they're asking for basically any piece of video any piece of data that came from that day ... to be sent to them to so they look out one interesting note in our story today mention that bomb sniffing dogs had set the scene before him ... Yeh that's right ... it's it's been a long practice it at ... big events like this said to have on the big dogs it was around half of this ... one didn't sit well it's not a perfect six for one thing you don't know ... you don't know when the bomb was introduced to the crowd ... also you're talking about hunted and hunted people packed into a tight space and ... there's no reason to assume that just because the dog passes by the crowd ... every time he's going to ... just get a sense that that's now ... and and and and making education for you ... Bob synagogues are perfect ... because no system is perfect ... we should do ... we should note that here in New York ... recently York subway there were ... a plot to bomb sniffing dogs ice I personally saw them into ... a bunch of different stations yesterday sniffing at the garbage cans ... it's interesting ... another thing to note here London ... the London you'll find garbage cans on the Street these were ... popular or ... perceptive goals for bonds for the IRA ... right and I think I think what you see in places that have ... significant bombing ... periods ... they they do their best to get rid of this many trucks and they can ... for example in New York I know around Times Square a lot of garbage cans will just disappear ... in addition the even ones that are normally there go way out so that went for for big big events took a Devlin Barrett thank you so much for joining us this morning ... and for more coverage on the bombing at the Boston Marathon ... the stay with WS J live ...


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Perhaps infection or something in the environment. Genetic factors might trigger the condition — or we may never know. But even with impaired daily function, patients may live well into their 70s. What better subject for research than multiple sclerosis? What better way to help people living with this mysterious disease?
The scent of discovery hangs in the air as the neuroscientist stands at the white board in front of the room, arm raised, marker in hand, poised to complete the graph. 'The multiple sclerosis disease state is fascinating,' he tells his students. 'More like a syndrome, you'll see many different disease profiles and several types. No two of your MS patients may share the same symptoms, so you must be observant and open to new information.'
Ever the researcher, the neuroscientist decides to investigate potential new pharmaceutical therapies to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). Always the educator, the pharmacologist wants to enlist others in the effort and share what he learns, hoping to improve patients' lives, stimulate students to pursue new lines of research, increase the knowledge base in the scientific community, and, perhaps, develop a cure.
Welcome to Mitchell Emerson's life. A self-described "science guy" since his teens, Emerson faced disease and disability early in life, when, at age seven, he lost his father to melanoma. Three years later, his brother developed a brain tumor. His brother's positive outlook, nourished during the twenty additional years he remained alive, shaped Emerson's perspective on healthcare. "In the face of disability, my brother's example taught me how to live my life the right way," says Emerson. "I know that's why I'm in the healthcare field. I wanted to unlock the secrets that would help my brother and share them with others." Today, Emerson applies his love of research and his passion for teaching to his position as Interim Chair in the College of Pharmacy–Glendale (CPG) at Midwestern University.
At MWU, I see the passion for students everywhere. It's impressive. As a faculty member, I know teaching is MWU's priority." — Mitchell Emerson, Ph.D., Glendale
"While I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Kansas Medical Center, I discovered how much I love teaching," says Emerson. "Rather than go to work in the pharmaceutical industry, I knew I wanted to find a university where I could both teach and continue my research." The student-oriented focus and emphasis on teaching at Midwestern University fit perfectly. "At MWU, I see the passion for students everywhere. It's impressive. As a faculty member, I know teaching is MWU's priority. But I also have the freedom to do pharmacologic research." In his laboratory, Emerson works on an animal model of multiple sclerosis, helps students gain practical skills in basic science research, and mentors pharmacy students who want to learn to design research experiments. He teaches course sequences in both pharmacology and physiology and advises student research projects.
"How does what I'm learning apply to patient care?" That's the question Emerson wants students to answer, whether they're in class or in the lab. Discussions and presentations in his elective class, Recent Advances in Pharmacology, address drugs in the pipeline for approval, clinical trials that will have an impact on patients, orinnovative research techniques. "Our orientation is clinical. We want students to learn practical knowledge that can be applied to patients," says Emerson. "The best learning moment, the 'a-ha,' comes in our small-group or one-on-one situations when we discuss an important pharmacologic process and students see the practical application of basic science research." His approach works — the first-year pharmacy students chose Emerson as 2006 Teacher of the Year.
"The integrated nature of the accelerated CPG pharmacy curriculum — year-round for three years — models the collaboration found in the best professional healthcare teams of today and tomorrow," says Emerson. "CPG's two pharmacy departments, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy Practice, have one goal: to educate the next generation of healthcare providers. We design courses together, we teach together, we attend each other's presentations. Our camaraderie rubs off on the students. They see how we care about our colleagues, how we want to continue our own learning. That's an excellent demonstration of the professional outlook and the team model for healthcare we expect students to use both here and in their work after graduation."
Emerson points to the team-oriented tone set by College and University administrators as the example faculty emulate in teaching. "Students see we have a common goal of patient care. In the MWU Clinic (Glendale), they see — hands-on — how this team approach to healthcare serves the patient. That helps Midwestern University achieve its goal of creating healthcare professionals who will benefit society."
Mitchell Emerson, Ph.D., is Dean in the College of Pharmacy–Glendale at Midwestern University's Glendale (AZ) Campus. Emerson also writes test items for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, reviews manuscripts for several professional journals, publishes scholarly articles, pursues grant-supported research, and makes scientific presentations.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
fgoldteam needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 17 designs submitted by 6 freelance designers.
USPY.ME - The newest GSM SIM audio surveilance system.
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USPY.me Mobile Clip
On the logo must see 'Uspy.me (Mobile Clip)'Must be very simple and inspired from the 'spy thing' why not with a small icon or something nice ;) No fancy colors, must looks professional and not heavy. Light logo.To find more details about the uspy.me mobile clip go http://uspy.me
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Chef Alex Guarnaschelli at the Museum, Thursday, December 13 main content.
by AMNH on
From carrots to cassava, root vegetables are enjoying a culinary renaissance; this Thursday, December 13, at 6:30 pm, noted New York chef and Food Network star Alex Guarnaschelli will be at the Museum for a special Adventures in the Global Kitchen program devoted to how to cook and eat root vegetables, why they're a lynchpin of biodiversity, and more.
She will be joined by Eleanor Sterling, co-curator of the Museum's new exhibition Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture. "My experience in developing this exhibition has given me a renewed appreciation for the tremendous diversity of ingredients that form the basis of so many of our global cuisines," says Sterling, who is also director of the Museum's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. "For example, cassava, or manioc, is a fascinating root vegetable—a key tuber for food security in tropical regions, and the basis for staple dishes in Africa, Asia, and South America."
We spoke with Guarnaschelli recently about her love of familiar and forgotten root vegetables—from turnips to parsley root—and she shared a wintry, holiday root-vegetable soup recipe. Samplings at the talk will include mixed radishes with chopped egg; house-cured bacon with butter-mashed turnips; and root-vegetable holiday cookies.
You're executive chef at two NYC restaurants: Butter and The Darby. Any unusual root vegetables, or root vegetable recipes, you offer there?
I use rutabaga a lot lately, and I am currently working a rutabaga purée into ginger-snap cookies for one of my desserts; I like to put roots in unusual spots on the menu.
What's your favorite root vegetable? Any memories of dishes you ate as a child?
I don't associate a lot of root vegetables with early food memories. I have grown to love them largely because the farmers from our area have inspired me to cook with them in a variety of ways. I especially love purple-top turnips, shaved raw into a green salad with some apple slices or braised with some ground mace and allspice.
At Butter, you emphasize local ingredients—any finds locally for amazing root vegetable sources?
Alex Paffenroth, of Paffenroth Gardens at the Union Square Greenmarket, is great: He is currently swimming in salsify, burdock root, and dandelion root as well as varied turnips, rutabaga, and celery root.
Guarnaschelli's Celery Root, Parsley Root, and Apple Soup
If parsley root is unavailable, feel free to substitute celery root (also called celeriac) in the same quantity. For the amounts of celery and parsley root in this recipe, the loss of the skin (after they are peeled) has been accounted for in the weight.
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, peeled and minced
2 leeks, green tops removed, split, thinly sliced and washed
Kosher salt
Freshly-ground white pepper
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and thinly sliced
2 pounds celery root, peeled and thinly sliced
1 ½ pounds parsley root, peeled and thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
½ teaspoon ground allspice
3-4 cups cold water
2 cups heavy cream
¼ cup parsley leaves, stemmed and washed
1 Fuji or Royal Gala apple, washed, cored and thinly sliced, for garnish
Buy tickets to see Alex Guarnaschelli and Eleanor Sterling, at the Adventures in the Global Kitchen event starting at 6:30 pm on Thursday, December 13. Ticketholders to the event also receive free admission to Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture from 5:45-6:15 pm.


text: Ages: ages 13-17 are welcome with swim experience. Swimmers aged 10-13 MUST have a coach's written verification of his/her ability to complete this distance.Special to the 3Mile: each swimmer MUST have his/her own kayak escort. Please let us know if you need help locating a kayaker/kayak. 3Mile swimmers will have a slightly different registration form. T-shirts: commemorative shirts will be available for pre-registered swimmers. Any leftovers will be given to same-day entrants. Awards: first woman/man will receive awards on the spot. Age group awards will be mailed the next day.Wetsuits: wetsuits will be allowed but will be a separate category for awards.Time requirement: Due to time constraints, OneMile swimmers must reasonably expect to finish in under 50 minutes.3Mile participants must reasonable expect to finish in <2 hrs.3Milers will be accepted pending appropriate qualifications/experience.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Supports National Wear Red Day 10th anniversary event
Members of the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center team gathered at the hospital's main entrance Friday to show their support for the 10th annual National Wear Red/Go Red for Women Day, an event dedicated to raising awareness and funds to battle heart disease in women.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer. To learn more about heart disease in women, visit www.goredforwomen.org.


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Adam und Eva Painted originally by Hans Baldung
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Loyola hosts blood drive for instructor's daughter with leukemia
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Loyola press release - November 26, 2012
The holidays are right around the corner, and as the spirit of the season blooms, faculty, staff and students at Loyola University New Orleans are uniting in a campus-wide blood drive to benefit the daughter of alumnus and music finance instructor Jude Boudreaux '00. The drive will take place Monday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the St. Charles Room of the Danna Student Center.
In September, 2-year-old Lucy Boudreaux was diagnosed with leukemia and is currently being treated at Children's Hospital New Orleans. Characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells, leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affects more than 1,100 children currently in treatment at the hospital. With treatment lasting up to two years, blood transfusions and chemotherapy are vital facets of ongoing disease management.
Organizers hope to receive 150 donations at the event, and although the drive is on behalf of Boudreaux, all of the children at the hospital will benefit. In 2011, patients at Children's Hospital needed more than 15,000 blood components.
Donors must be in good health, at least 17 years old and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds. With parental permission, 16-year-olds who weigh at least 130 pounds may also donate. A picture ID is required. For more information, visit www.thebloodcenter.org.
Donors are asked to sign up by Wednesday, Nov. 28, but people will be able to donate blood without advanced registration. For more information, contact Kristen Jones at 504-865-3984 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Anyone unable to donate can contact Suzy Potter at 504-939-9609 or firstname.lastname@example.com for additional options.
This event is sponsored by the Colleges of Music and Fine Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences, Law and Business, as well as the School of Nursing and the Shawn M. Donnelley Center for Nonprofit Communications.
For the latest updates about Loyola University New Orleans, follow us on Twitter @LoyolaNOLANews or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/loyno.
LoyNews is an e-newswire produced by the Loyola University New Orleans Office of Public Affairs. LoyNews is distributed weekly to local, regional and national news media outlets, communicating the latest news and accomplishments of the university and its community.


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Mohammad Ghafari is a senior research assistant within the Software Composition Group led by Prof. Oscar Nierstrasz, and also a lecturer in the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Bern.
He obtained his PhD in Software Engineering from Politecnico di Milano in 2015 under the supervision of Prof. Carlo Ghezzi. He is passionate about Software Engineering with focus on Software Quality. Specifically, his research is at the confluence of program analysis, mining software repositories, and secure software engineering. You may check GoogleScholar to see his published papers.
Are you keen to research? Discuss new ideas and also possible projects to work on with him.
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|Email :
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|Schützenmattstrasse 14


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Carrie Underwood's 'Good Girl' Goes Platinum
You can't keep a 'Good Girl' down. Congrats to country queen Carrie Underwood on yet another platinum certification, this time for 'Good Girl,' the first single from 'Blown Away.' According to a press release from Underwood's reps, the song has been certified platinum by the RIAA, meaning it has sold more than 1 million digital downloads.
Furthermore, the platinum certification of 'Good Girl' marks the 10th platinum or multiplatinum digital single of the singer's career. Going platinum is getting to be old hat for Underwood.
If you needed more proof that 'Good Girl' is a hit, look no further than the song's win at the 2012 CMT Music Awards for Video of the Year.
There could be more accolades in Underwood's future, as she is up for Choice Female Country Artist at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards. Voting is open now –and Underwood fans aged 13 through 19 can vote once per day in each category- by going here. The awards show broadcasts on July 22 on FOX, so throw her some votes so she can have another reason to celebrate in 2012.
'Blown Away' will be the next single from the album. We're going to predict that it'll be the 11th platinum or multiplatinum digital single of Carrie's booming career. Check out our review of the song here.
Underwood popped up quite a bit in the press earlier this week when she expressed support for marriage equality, too.


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Summer School in the Ohio Valley ConferencePosted by Brian Goodman on August 16th, 2010
Greg Waddell is the RTC correspondent for the Ohio Valley Conference
Around the OVC
- He's Baaack…: Kenneth Faried has decided to return. An Associated Press All-American honorable mention last season, the 6'8 power forward is back in Morehead after garnering NABC All-District honors and sweeping the Ohio Valley Conference awards, earning Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-Conference. His 16.9 points and 13.0 boards per game captured the attention of NBA scouts as he turned down what might have been a second-round pick to return to school. Clocking in at No. 25 on Chad Ford of ESPN's Big Board, he is viewed as a mid to late first rounder by the worldwide leader.
- The Rich Get Richer…and So Do The Poor: Recruiting is a funny thing, and sometimes, crazy things happen. Take this season's OVC recruiting haul, for example. The top two ranked players entering the conference according to ESPN.com, Shawn Jackson and Jeverik Nelson, went opposite routes with one choosing the conference's best team (Jackson to Murray State) and the other the worst (Nelson to Tennessee-Martin). Martin, which limped to a 4-25 record and finished last in conference play (excluding SIU-Edwardsville, who is technically not a member of the conference yet), benefited the most from recruiting as they added three highly-touted players.
Power Rankings:
- Murray State: After winning the OVC regular season title, conference tourney, upsetting Vanderbilt in the NCAA tournament, and falling just short of knocking off national runner-up Butler, the 2009-10 Murray State team was one to remember. The scary thing is the 2010-11 edition may be better. Despite losing senior stalwarts Tony Easley and Danero Thomas, there is help on the way. Easley, the Racers' emotional leader from last season, looks to be the biggest hole to fill but head coach Billy Kennedy managed to work his magic yet again, luring 6'9 big man Shawn Jackson from Florida. Jackson, arguably the best freshman in the conference, should start immediately and looks to be a force in the paint from his first day on campus while Chris Griffin, the other freshman recruit, will look to back up the three, potentially sophomore high-flier Ed Daniel. With the two-headed scoring attack of guards Isacc Miles and B.J. Jenkins returning, OVC Tournament MVP Isaiah Canaan may be relegated to sixth man again. What a good problem for Kennedy to have as the Racers look to be the class of the Ohio Valley once again.
- Morehead State: The other MSU had a decent season as well. Okay that might be a bit of an understatement. Led by Kenneth Faried, who won almost every award the OVC has to offer, the Eagles soared to a second place finish in league play and captured an NIT berth that led to a beatdown of Colorado State and a narrow loss to Boston University in overtime. Projected as a second-round pick in the NBA draft, it seemed that Faried was all set to try his luck in the league, until he decided to come back. Although Morehead State does say goodbye to second leading scorer Maze Stallworth, (12.6 PPG) they welcome back three of their top four scorers and look like a promising pick come tournament time. The only team standing in their way is Murray but after dashing the Racers' hopes of an undefeated conference run, they've shown they can hang with Billy Kennedy's squad. The OVC is a two-team league, and if Morehead can take out their rivals to the west, March Madness may find more than two MSUs dancing.
- Austin Peay – After last season's unexpected finish, a loss at the hands of Tennessee Tech in the first round of the OVC Tournament, the Govs will look to pick up the pieces and build on their 17-15 2009-10 campaign. The only problem is they'll be forced do so without two main components. Guard Wes Channels, whose 16.9 PPG led the team, has graduated, and 6'8 forward Duran Robertson fell victim to a career-ending knee injury in a preseason pickup game. Robertson's injury will affect the Govs' frontline depth where Austin Peay returns 6'9 junior center John Fraley (9.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG) and 6'7 second-team all-Ohio Valley Conference forward Anthony Campbell (15.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG), The Govs do add Tyshawn Edmonson, a transfer from St. John's via Midland (Texas) College, who will look to push for playing time. Edmonson played high school ball at nearby University Heights Academy. Read the rest of this entry »


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Semi jackknifes on Highway 2
A Texas truck driver and his passenger had a close call Sunday morning, escaping what could have been a critical accident with only minor injuries. According to the Custer County Sheriff's Office, the semi, owned by Southern Refrigerated Transport, was being driven by Steven Dale Allvord. Approximately 1 1/2 to 2 miles east of Broken Bow on Highway 2, the truck attempted to pass a slower moving vehicle in front of him. It was 10:56 a.m., and a brief sleet shower earlier in the morning had left a slick surface on area roads and sidewalks. As Allvord pulled out in the other lane to pass, the truck began to jack-knife. The truck then slid off the highway and down through the ditch, coming to rest a mere foot and a half from the railroad tracks. The truck's passenger, Rebecca Freeman, was transported by Broken Bow rescue to Jennie Melham Memorial Medical Center, where she was treated for minor injuries and released. Allvord declined treatment at the scene or transport by ambulance, but was taken to JMMMC by the Broken Bow Police Department just be get checked out. He too was released. BNSF was immediately notified and trains were slowed down and moved down just one side of the tracks at a time while debris was removed.


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Leafs' 4-3 overtime win at Madison Square Garden on Friday night was, by far, the most entertaining game they have played this season. And it has resulted in the fourth win in a row for Big Blue.
The Maple Leafs dominated the Rangers for the better part of the game and if the Rangers hadn't slipped a couple of stinky ones past a seemingly nervous Jean-Sébastien Giguère, Toronto would have won it going away.
After waiting around for MSG's way-too-long pre-game ceremony, the Leafs came at the Rangers non-stop, starting with the opening faceoff. With a kind of speed will intimidate any team, the Kessel-Bozak-Versteeg line was dominant and virtually the complete opposite of Wednesday night in Pittsburgh. Phil Kessel's first goal of the game was highlight-reel stuff. Took a beautiful 2-on-1 pass from Bozak.
The Rangers didn't know which way to turn.
The Leafs' top line got a verbal spanking from Coach Ron Wilson at Friday's skate. Apparently, they were taking extra-long shifts in Pittsburgh and that didin't sit well with the Coach. You want to raise the tempo of a game? Rule number one says: Have the players take shorter shifts. Kessel had seven shots on goal in 19+ minutes.
Clarke MacArthur can't have seen this start to the season coming. His psychic couldn't have seen this coming. Every single person involved with Leafs Hockey in any capacity including the parking lot attendents couldn't have seen this coming. He's the first Maple Leafs' player – in franchise history – to score a goal in each of the team's four games to begin a season.
The great Wayne Gretzky only did that twice – 1983 with the Oilers and 1988 with the Kings. I know, comparing Clarke MacArthur to The Great One seems a little far-fetched but early season facts speak for themselves. And, right now, MacArthur's shocking scoring spree is a fact.
The Leafs defence did a masterful job of pushing the puck forward and their vastly improved transition game was a big reason for their success. Wilson decided Carl Gunnarsson would only see the ice for about six minutes. That meant Dion Phaneuf, Tomas Kaberle and François Beauchemin each clocked over 27.
That is absolutely huge.
Phaneuf was Mr. Everything, even cutting in front of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist just as Kessel fired the power-play overtime winner. But what I was most impressed with tonight from the Leafs was their ability to keep the emotions in check.
Sean "I-left-my-brain-in-San-Francisco" Avery hacked and chopped at Mike Komisarek's legs in the third period. Komisarek just limped away. On the same play, Ruslan Fedotenko tried to use a Leafs' head as a battering ram. 5-on-3 PP Leafs. The Young Leafs were able to display the poise and discipline of a veteran team.
The Rangers suffered a double blow when Marian Gaborik was pounded into the corner by Colby Armstrong. According to the Rangers, he's out 2-3 weeks with a separated shoulder. Chris Drury was also hurt. He's out 6 weeks with broken finger. Same finger he injured in the pre-season, but a different break. Those were two serious blows to the Rangers' offence.
They have now secured their best start in seventeen years. Next game is Monday, hosting the Islanders. They have just one win in four games.
Anyone for 5-0-0? Thought so.


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Vegas Baby!
by Him • October 1, 2013 • Tagged: vacation  • Comments
When we started our blog, we were freshly engaged, and had started to plan our wedding. Readers of our blog know that we had some expensive ideas for the wedding and not many of you agreed with our decisions. We went ahead with our own plans anyway a few years after that first post. Five years after that, we've made it through five years of wedded bliss. Oh how time flies!
While we took an extravagant European trip for our honeymoon, we decided to go a very different route for our five year anniversary and went to Las Vegas. There's a lot about Vegas that I love: the bright lights,the sounds, the people, the shows, the restaurants, the ridiculousness of it all. Of course all of that costs money, not to mention costs for transportation and lodging.
There's another activity that I love in Vegas: GAMBLING. I know, I know, a personal finance blogger who loves gambling? That's bad news, isn't it? Well, yes and no. I would say that over the years I've done quite well and quite poorly at gambling, and have come out about even. During one spectacular trip to Vegas, I won enough money gambling to cover my airfare, hotel, and food, and I went home with a $1,000 extra dollars (which I actually donated to my church!).
I do have rules, though. I always play at a live table. Friends of mine really like the convenience of being able to log in to an online casino from home. They have lots of fun doing that, but it's not for me. I also have a limit as to how much I am willing to lose. I generally give myself $200 to play with. Depending on the night, though, $200 can either last 15 minutes at a very cold craps table, or it could last all night at a hot roulette table. I've heard of people who also have winning limits, but I think that's ridiculous. If I put a winning limit of $300 on myself, I would have left $700 on the table, literally. But you must know yourself and follow your own rules.
My favorite game to play is craps. I'm a fairly conservative bettor and generally bet the minimum on the pass line and take the fewest amount of "free" odds. I'll increase my bets only if I'm up 50% of my original allowance (so if I gave myself $200, I'll increase if I get to $300). The best is when the table is full of rowdy people and there's a hot roller. Everyone goes crazy every time the point is hit and everyone has a good time.
The second most favorite game of mine to pay is blackjack. Yes, the rules are fairly simple, and there's tons of guides online of when to hit, stay, double down, or even surrender. I'll play roulette at the end of the night to wind things down, or pai gow poker if I need some free drinks.
Fortunately this last time in Vegas was with my wife, who isn't an avid gambler but is a good sport. She's also good at keeping me honest and true to my rules. Anyway, I was there to celebrate with her, not just gamble my savings away.


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Progress on renovation of the School of the Osage Heritage Building is moving ahead on schedule.
Progress on renovation of the School of the Osage Heritage Building is moving ahead on schedule.
The building will become a new lower elementary facility to replace the aging and overflowing Mills Elementary School, and for administrative offices.
Assistant Superintendent Tony Hermann presented a brief slideshow to the board of education Tuesday night as a visual update of changes to the building.
"As promised to the public, we've tried to maintain as much of the original character as possible," he explained.
That includes retaining window and door casings, special architectural features and even a set of stained glass art that has been a part of the building for many years. It's unclear yet how the stained glass will be fit into the renovated structure, but designers will find a way, he said. The fireplace also will be worked into the design.
The change orders involve additional demolition including the old field house below the school grounds, a change in the type of elevator, modification of a sanitary sewer structure found to be above grade and removal of potentially hazardous materials.
Greg Goebel of Ittner Architects presented an issue regarding the redesigned library that created some discussion among the board.
He said his team has followed the wishes of the board to allow the character of the Heritage Building to remain, but added some special "polish" to the complex.
Goebel said because of the nature of the building, there are not many features to "excite" the kids. The architects attempted to create something visually interesting and kid specific in the library by pulling from the lake's heritage.
A 10-seat computer lab was proposed within gently curved chest-high walls resembling the subtle shape of a boat. The soffit, likewise, was shaped to match the walls. The area was raised and specially lighted to provide a unique visual area opposite of the library entrance. On the back wall of the computer area was a round, blue-themed window resembling a porthole.
"It's something to excite the kids to be in," Goebel explained. "It's kind of a funky, cool kids play area where they can be read to, or can use computers, or can just relax," he explained.
Board member James Edwards said he had a problem with the area being fixed and immovable. He preferred a more traditional approach with less-permanent cabinetry with a soffit to match.
Board member Steven Hermann said he liked the boat concept, noting that the school doesn't play off the lake aspect. He also said that how the area would to be used would impact the design.
After several more minutes of discussion, the board voted unanimously to remove the boat-shaped soffit, wall structure and raised area and have the architect create a computer lab area that can easily be modified in the future.
Tax levy
The board also approved the school district's tax levy for the 2013-14 tax year.
The operating levy was set at $2.40 per $100 of assessed valuation, which is unchanged from previous years. The debt service was raised 12.9 cents to 44.9 cents per $100 of assessed to accommodate the Heritage Building project.
Total tax levy will be $2.84.9.
"School of the Osage is still one of the best educational bargains around," he said.


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April goals
1) Helgi's mittens, from Folk Knitting in Estonia, for Kittycat's preschool teacher. I already did Anu's mittens from the same book for the other preschool teacher. It would be nice to have them done for Easter...
2) Finish Brea bag. Only need to sew the lining into the bag now.
3) Finish Kittycat's little chevron scarf. I finally finished mine and love it, now she wants one too!
4) Make a Shetland Triangle for MIL. I just did one for myself (see #7 below) and love it. It's in Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky and I have enough, in a different colour, for another.
5) Fix back of Eastlake, finish and knit a sleeve/better yet, FINISH it! I started this in January and as with every sweater I knit, I'm having issues with it! I need to go back and add some rows to the back, then finish the neckline on the front; I'm hoping that once the fit is good in the body, the sleeves will be easier. At least once the first sleeve is done, the second should be easy!
6) CO Sylvi (only if I finish Eastlake first). I just adore this pattern; and I need to knit up all that chunky Atlantic wool that takes up so much space in the stash!
7) Finish Shetland triangle (104 rows). Done! I love it! It needs blocking.
8) Weave fabric for 3 dishcloths. I got a Schact Cricket last month and am enjoying playing with it. So far I have made 6 dishcloths. I'm playing with the dishcloth cotton because I got a whole bunch for free and don't get all ticked off if I make a mistake and waste some.
9) Get sleeves into blue jacket. This is a sewing goal; last month I made myself a top and finished one for Kittycat, but still didn't finish this silly jacket. Problem: I lost the last page of the pattern. ARGH.
10) Start smocking Kittycat's navy dress. I got a kit from Country Bumpkin oh, maybe last year? It's a 3 year old size so I need to make it. She's more of a t-shirt and jeans girl though.
11) Use 5 balls (so far: 2)
12) Buy no yarn or fabric. So far so good! Let's see how long I can last.


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ABC News/Washington Post Bush Iraq Speech Poll, January 2007 (ICPSR 24582)
Version Date: Apr 10, 2009 View help for published
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s)
ABC News; The Washington Post
Version V1
Summary View help for Summary
This special topic poll, fielded January 10, 2007, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on various political and social issues. The focus of this poll was the Iraq war and whether respondents watched President Bush's speech on Iraq on the night of January 10, 2007. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President Bush was handling the situation in Iraq, whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting, and whether President Bush or Congress would do a better job handling the situation in Iraq. Opinions were solicited on Bush's proposal to send additional military forces to Iraq, whether increasing the number of military forces would make a difference in the length of the war, the ability of the Iraqi government to meet its' political and economic commitments, whether the United States is winning the war in Iraq, and whether the United States' involvement in Iraq is similar to the Vietnam war. Demographic information includes sex, age, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), and political party affiliation.
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The data available for download are not weighted. Users will need to weight the data prior to analysis.
The CASEID variable was reformatted in order to make it a unique identifier.Original reports using these data may be found via the ABC News Polling Unit Web site and via the Washington Post Opinion Surveys and Polls Web site.
System missing values were recoded to -1.
FIPS and ZIP variables were recoded for confidentiality.
The variables PCTBLACK, PCTASIAN, PCTHISP, BLOCKCNT, MSAFLAG, CSA, CBSA, METRODIV, ZIP, and NIELSMKT were converted from character to numeric.
Value labels for unknown codes were added in the CSA, METRODIV, and MSA variables.
The data collection was produced by Taylor Nelson Sofres of Horsham, PA.
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Households were selected by random-digit dialing. Within households, the respondent selected was the adult living in the household who last had a birthday and who was home at the time of the interview.
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Persons aged 18 and over living in households with telephones in the contiguous 48 United States.
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- ABC News, and The Washington Post. ABC News/Washington Post Bush Iraq Speech Poll, January 2007. ICPSR24582-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2009-04-10. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR24582.v1
2009-04-10 ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Created online analysis version with question text.
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
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The data contain a weight variable (WEIGHT) that should be used in analyzing the data. The data were weighted using demographic information from the Census to adjust for sampling and nonsampling deviations from population values. Respondents customarily were classified into one of 48 cells based on age, race, sex, and education. Weights were assigned so the proportion in each of these 48 cells matched the actual population proportion according to the Census Bureau's most recent Current Population Survey.
Data in this collection are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions.
This study is provided by ICPSR. ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for a diverse and expanding social science research community.


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This was one of the most incredible moves I have ever seen, unfortunately Kristo hit the pipe and didn't score. Can you imagine if Kristo scores this goal? You're looking at a possible ESPY or goal of the year here.
Kristo just missed what would have been one of the prettiest goals I have ever seen. If it had gone in.
— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) December 9, 2012


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Miley Cyrus was rushed to an emergency room Monday night, after she cut herself with a kitchen knife.
We"re told Miley was cooking in her kitchen in Toluca Lake — in the San Fernando Valley — when she was preparing dinner and made a bloody slip.
Miley"s mom, grandmother and boyfriend Liam Hemsworth took her to the E.R., where doctors stitched her finger up.
In the photo, shot by Star Feine, showing Miley leaving the emergency room, you can see blood seeping through the bandage.


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- 2 heads of broccoli or 1 lb. frozen florets thawed and drained
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- 2 Tblsp. flour
- 5 Tblsp. butter divided
- 3 cups sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup cornflake crumbs
- salt and pepper
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Arrange chicken in a 13X9", greased casserole dish, season with salt and pepper and bake for 20 minutes. (Yes, this dish is too big, but why dirty another dish when you'll need this one later?)
- While chicken is baking, trim broccoli into bite size pieces. Discard stalks (or slice them for snacking).
- Steam broccoli stove top - or place in a microwave safe dish with 2 Tblsp. water, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, cover and cook on high for 3-4 minutes. Only ½ cook the broccoli, on the crisp side of tender/crisp!
- When chicken is done - juices run clear. Cool about 15 minutes. Cut into bite size pieces.
- Turn oven up to 400 degrees.
- In a medium sauce pan, melt 3 Tblsp.butter. Stir in flour until smooth, Whisk in sour cream and a dash of salt and pepper.
- Back to your chicken pieces in the casserole dish!
- Cover bottom of dish with half of the chicken and half of the broccoli.
- Spread with half of the sour cream sauce.
- Sprinkle with just ½ cup of the cheese.
- Repeat : chicken, broccoli, sauce, and the rest of the cheese.
- In a small bowl, mix Panko and cornflake crumbs with 2 Tblsp. melted butter.
- Sprinkle crumbs over casserole and bake at 400 degree for 25-30 minutes.
- Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving. YUM.
- Serve with egg noodles, garlic potatoes or a fresh salad.
Share this Recipe


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The decision to implement medical software is a big one for any physician, but oncologists have a vested interest in making sure the new system can actually meet their needs. In this guide, we'll go over everything you need to know so you can make the best health IT investment for your specialty.
What Is Oncology EMR Software?
Common Features of Oncology EMR Software
Important Considerations
Market Trends to Understand
Oncology is a complex specialty with unique terminology and protocols, especially when it comes to ordering and administering chemotherapy. One of the biggest challenges oncology clinics face is ensuring orders are documented properly and regimens are followed accurately, since there are significant consequences if the wrong drug or dosage is administered. Therefore, many oncologists are adopting electronic medical records (EMR)/electronic health records (EHR) to help reduce these risks, limit liability and increase quality of care.
Oncology EMRs, also referred to as electronic health records (EHRs), are designed to meet the unique requirements of oncologists. First and foremost, this means managing the ordering and administration of chemotherapy drugs. These EMRs also have unique cancer and hematology work flows and templates, and may have applications for reporting, cancer registry and clinical trials.
|Mapping & staging classification
|Based on the information provided, decision-support engines can map the cancer, identify the stage and recommend appropriate treatment options.
|Chemotherapy automation
|Automated dosing, ordering and scheduling prevents errors by making orders easier to read, manage and administer. Oncology EMRs should also incorporate the documentation for drug admixture and administration, including inventory management for accounting for any billable waste.
|Oncology SOAP notes templates
|Because every form of cancer is different, oncology EMRs include specialized templates for different kinds of cancer (melanoma, sarcoma, neoplasm, leukemia etc.), different types of treatment (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery etc.) and other unique situations. When selecting your EMR, make sure the templates are most effective for the type of oncology you practice and for your individual workflow.
|Digital imaging & lab test integration
|Mammograms, ultrasounds, CTs, MRIs and PET scans are just a few of the digital tests oncologists perform in assessing patients during diagnosis and treatment. Ensure that the tests you perform—and the specific tools you use—integrate into your EMR, allowing to store data and track progress over time.
|Clinical trial support
|If your practice is involved in—or considering being involved in—clinical trials, it's important to select an EMR that supports this aspect of your practice. Features might include a database of current research and ongoing trials and automated patient-trial eligibility matching, both to find existing trials for new patients and to bring existing patients into newly approved trials.
|Patient education
|Oncologists have the noble but unenviable charge of helping their patients through one of the most difficult times of life. Education is invaluable in leaving patients with the experience of compassion and support as they navigate this challenge. A high-quality oncology EMR will allow the physician to document the information given to the patient, so you can be sure they are left fully supported.
Make sure the system you purchase meets the needs of your specialty or subspecialty (e.g., radiation oncology, surgical oncology, ocular oncology, gynecologic oncology and others). Recent legislation supports oncologists in particular in the adoption of EMRs, offering full or partial grants for purchasing or upgrading software, so take this into account.
Now that you know which functionalities to look for as you evaluate oncology EMRs, you should also take into account the following factors during the selection process:
Software as a Service (SaaS). The emergence of Web-based oncology software has made a significant impact on the EMR industry. Demand is growing for SaaS-based oncology electronic medical records. Upfront costs are lower, the applications are easier to use and because patient records and charts can be accessed via the cloud, doctors are able to make updates and review notes anywhere there's an Internet connection. While this has raised some concerns around HIPAA compliance and general data security, vendors are making strides to ensure sensitive data remains secure.
ONC-ATCB certification. Perhaps the most significant news for oncologists recently is the U.S. government-backed move towards oncology EHR adoption. President Obama signed the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act into law in 2009, offering a "carrots and sticks" plan for medical offices to move their oncology clinic's medical record system into the Cloud. To qualify, doctors have to show "meaningful use" of an ONC-ATCB-certified EHR system—and qualified practices can earn up to $44,000 in reimbursements in the form of increased Medicare and Medicaid premiums.
Stage 2 of HITECH Guidelines were announced in early 2012, and physicians now have a mandate to become meaningful users. Those that fail to qualify will face decreased Medicare and Medicaid payments. For those evaluating oncology software solutions, one major deciding factor should be whether it's certified or not.
Mobile device support. With Web-based oncology-specific EMR systems hitting the market, more clinics are accessing patient data on the go—via smartphones, tablets etc.—and this number is growing. EMR vendors are responding by offering more support for wireless devices. Some are even offering native apps for various operating systems (Apple, Android, Windows). When evaluating oncology practice management software, consider what you'll need in terms of mobile support.
Our service is simple and 100% free to customers like you because software vendors pay us when we connect them with quality leads. You save time and get great advice. Vendors get great referrals. It's a win for everyone!


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Technology is infiltrating deep into our daily lives. It has rendered many things less necessary than they used to be.
Land-line phones are one example. With a cellphone in nearly everyone's pocket, that old-fashioned cordless is a lot less crucial. Email has eradicated the need for a postage stamp when corresponding.
Even some buildings are becoming less necessary. A lot of people now work from home instead of at an office, connected wirelessly to their coworkers. Others get degrees through the Internet, never setting foot in a classroom.
Are library buildings doomed to the same fate? Books, magazines and newspapers are now available electronically. Hardbound and paperback novels have been replaced with downloads on iPads, Kindles and other tablets.
Personal computers, tablets and smartphones are becoming more commonplace. Technology is generally making people more capable of receiving services remotely, and that includes materials typically provided by libraries.
Despite these technological shifts, library districts in DeKalb County are confident in the necessity of the brick-and-mortar building.
The Daily Chronicle reported Tuesday that Sandwich is the latest of four county communities to plan facility expansions. Millions of local and state dollars are being spent to redevelop, expand and maintain community libraries.
Some might argue that libraries are a waste of precious tax dollars and grant money.
That might be true if libraries' only function was to provide community reading material.
Instead, let's acknowledge (and embrace) the shift libraries are making to become community centers.
Libraries now provide meeting space for various groups. They offer classes, and staff members can provide information and assistance.
Libraries provide valuable Internet access to infrequent users and low-income residents. Parents who might bring their children to a park in the summer can bring them to the library when it is cold. Similar to a YMCA, libraries give community members a place to be.
Some library functions are being replicated by new technology. Fewer books may be checked out, but there is not a shortage of operations. There is also no replacement for the community meeting area, the quiet and calm workspace, the safe after-school haven.
It is important to acknowledge the flexibility and adaptation of local libraries. They are embracing technology to better serve the communities.
They allow patrons to "rent" materials to be used electronically. They provide computers, high-speed Internet and other technological commodities as quickly as they can afford them.
Libraries aren't becoming obsolete; their purpose is changing. Rather than associating libraries with just books, we should consider them community mainstays.
• Lauren Stott is a Maple Park native and a graduate student at Northern Illinois University in the master of public administration program. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Easter is coming up this weekend, and that brings up the annual issue of cute baby animals given as gifts for the occasion. Baby bunnies (known as kits), chicks, ducklings, and other cute creatures require a big commitment. They need special diets and housing and... well... these types of animals tend to poop wherever they feel like it. Ask anyone who lets chickens free-range in their back yards! Just no decorum, I tell ya.Instead of risking the need to re-home these animals when they grow out of the cuddly baby stage and turn into a long-term responsibility, we highly recommend visiting animals on a farm instead. (Of course!) Create memories that will last a lifetime... not a lifetime of chores.
As you know, we love promoting farm stays. But we also love the fact that there are all kinds of events taking place on and around farms that don't necessarily mean staying over night. That's why we're so excited to announce the newest feature of the Farm Stay U.S. website... event calendars!Up above, in the menu bar across the top of the site, you'll see Event Calendars at the far right. The drop-down menu is broken down by region, to help you find special events where you live or plan to travel. When you click on "more details", you'll be provided a link to the farm's listing and have the option to add the event to your own calendars.
Select the region you are interested in. Not sure? Click on the main "Event Calendars" page and you'll be given a list of all the states represented in each region.
Once you find an event you're interested in, you can do a few things:
Want to make sure you never miss an event? Find the region/calendar you're interested in, and scroll to the bottom of the page. Click the button to add to Google Calendar.
When Google Calendar opens, you'll be given the option to add the calendar to your "Other Calendars" section.
This is a brand new option for our farm, ranch, and vineyard members to promote special events, so be sure to check back now and then for new additions to the calendars!
Flint Hill Farm in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania is known as a Farm Educational Center. Located on 26-acres, this multifaceted farm is a working Alpine goat and Jersey cow dairy that procudes milk, cheese, and yogurt. You can pick up these products in their on-site store or enjoy them with your breakfast when you stay on the farm.
Guests and visitors to the farm can also opt to sign up for a cheese making class, where they learn to make chevre, mozzarella, or cheddar cheese. They also give the option of milking the cows and goats in the morning before class!
Overnight guests have the option to be "farmer for a day", which includes hands-on egg-collecting, feed and water the ponies and horses, feed and milk the goats, and observe cow milking. Draft horses help with much of the everyday farm work during certain seasons.
The farm itself dates back to about 1850 and run by two famlies until Kathleen Fields purchased it in 1997. Vacationers can choose to stay in the farm house, where there are two rooms with queen beds, plus a room with twin beds, or stay in a mobile home/RV that is situated in the six acres of woods on the property.
Camps are offered during the summer, including Farm Camp, Horse Lovers Camp, and Kindercamp. More information can be found on the farm's website.
Start planning your trip to Flint Hill Farm today!
Enjoy a closer peek at Flint Hill Farm through this video:
"Life follows the rhythm of the seasons."
This is not your ordinary campground. Located on a certified organic farm in the rolling hills of northern Illinois, Kinnikinnick Farm's Feather Down farm tents (part of the Feather Down Farms franchise) offer guests a charming and authentic farm stay experience.
From spring through fall, guests can stay in the spacious wood-floored tents and enjoy beds made with European style linens; wood stoves, along with kindling and wood to cook and keep warm; and fresh, local foods. With no electricity inside the tents, evening light is provided via oil lamps and candles. Hot showers and flush toilets are located in a nearby bathhouse.
The farm was originally founded in 1849, and has been in continuous production since. David and Susan Cleverdon purchased the farm in 1987 and began their organic garden in 1993. Now, they sell their certified organic produce directly to farmers market customers and Chicago-area chefs, as well as partnering with a program that helps feed Chicago's homeless.
Food and Chores
Guests are welcome to help out with some of the farm chores, like collecting eggs, feeding animals, and harvesting crops, or they may choose to simply explore the countryside and relax.
At Kinnikinnick Farm, guests can purchase meal components like meats, eggs, and produce, then grill outside or cook over their woodstove. The farm also offers "arrival meals" for the first night, and during particular times of year, the outdoor wood-fired oven is available for build-your-own pizza nights.
For folks who want to carry on the fresh, seasonal cooking back home, the farm has a recipe page on their website.
To learn more about Kinnikinnick Feather Down Farm visit their listing here on Farm Stay U.S., then head over to their website to book next year's vacation!
(All photos courtesy Kinnikinnick Farm; Coral VonZumwalt)
If you visit a farm that raises livestock, you may encounter livestock guardian dogs (LGDs). LGDs aren't your usual pet dogs, which people don't always realize. We've heard stories of well-meaning neighbors accusing farmers of mistreating these working animals, or worse, threatening to remove the dogs!
We asked one of our Farm Stay U.S. members, Ruth Pepler of Dogwood Hills Farm in Arkansas, about her experience with LGDs.
Some of the things I have discovered about these amazing dogs over the years I have learned the hard way. Our very first Pyrenees, Maya, was given to us because she would not stay way out in the pasture with the goats. She kept coming to the farm house. Our set up was much more to her liking with our farm house in the middle of the hub of pastures. She was an excellent guardian and could be completely trusted with moms delivering, chickens and baby chicks, and our guests. She knew that the guests belonged there and watched over them as well! They say it's not good to let them socialize with people or they won't do their job. We have not found this to be a problem. When visiting a farm with livestock guardian dogs, it's always good to know the ground rules. These dogs have a very specific job to do, and you would not want to distract them. The rules at Dogwood Farm, for example, are:
LGDs may work alone, if the farm is somewhat small, or there may be several dogs working together.
At first, I didn't know that it's hard for them to be the only LGD if the predators are thick. Our dogs run 72 acres, not a large farm, but surrounded by numerous coyote, big cats, an occasional wolf, and bear. We now have a team of 3 adults and 3 puppies. They work very well rotating and training the younger ones.
One of the things I have noticed as the younger ones step up into a more active role, is that they will dig out a hole or several holes in prime locations for watching their charges. If I can't find a dog, the first thing I do is look out where the goats are, then check the opposite hillside and there, dug into the side of the hill, is a watchful dog.
Winter is a whole other topic. The barn is open on either end. The dogs have access to hay, heated water, and cozy goats to snuggle up with. Where do they sleep? Smack in the middle of the driveway, out in the snow, with a paw over their nose! We've discovered that ice blocks make great toys! They carry them all over the place.
Thanks very much to Ruth for sharing some great photos and talking with us about these special "farm hands"! Do you have questions about livestock guardian dogs? Leave it in the comments.
(Photos courtesy Dogwood Hills Farm)
Farm and ranch stays are generally a very family friendly vacation, and we tend to focus a lot of our attention on that. Travel Blogging Moms want to share the farm stay experience with their family-focused readers, and other writers often base their inquiries on the best places to enjoy vacation time with multiple generations of family.
But kids aren't the only ones who can get something great out of a stay on a working farm. Whether single, part of a couple, or with a group of friends, there are plenty of farm vacation ideas for grown ups:
1) Wine Tasting & Tours
Rustridge Ranch and Winery, St. Helena, CA
Sakura Ridge Farm and Lodge, Hood River, OR
From well-appointed tasting rooms, to farms situated near world-class wine regions, wine and farm stays often go hand-in-hand. Rustridge Ranch and Winery is a rustic Napa Valley vineyard, winery, and thoroughbred racehorse ranch. Gather in the B&B kitchen in the evenings for hors d'ouevres and sampling Rustridge wines. During the day, learn about wine making and growing grapes, or about breeding and training racehorses.
Sakura Ridge Farm and Lodge in Hood River, Oregon, is located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. Cherry, pear, and apple orchards bloom and beckon, and you'll be in great proximity to wineries and tour opportunities in the Mt. Hood region.
Find more farm stays with wine tasting/touring activities.
2) Cheese Making or Tasting
Flint Hill Farm, Coopersburg, PA
Mountain Farm, Burnsville, NC
Cheese goes with wine, after all! Whether you want to learn how to make cheese at home, or just sample some farm fresh goodness, farm stays can hook you up. At Flint Hill Farm in Pennsylvania, the "Cheese Artist Package" will give guests a 2-night stay in their 1850s farmhouse, and hands-on immersion in the process of making cheese, from milking to packaging of the final product for sale.Mountain Farm is the smallest certified dairy in North Carolina, and a member of the Western North Carolina Cheese Trail. They make unique aged goat cheeses, soft flavored cheeses and marinated Feta, and as they are only occasionally open to the public for special events, your stay will be peaceful and private.
Find more farm stays offering cheese making or tasting.
3) Cattle Drives or Cattle Sorting
Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, Sandpoint, ID
Horses N Courage Camp, Lennep, MT
Whether you're a bonafide "city slicker", or you've spent some time on horseback, authentic cattle drives or cattle sorting activities are experiences you won't soon forget. At Western Pleasure Guest Ranch in Idaho, put on your game face and participate in competitive team cattle sorting. They even offer five-night adult only getaways during select weeks in the summer.
At Horses N Courage Camp in Montana, you'll ride alongside the Hereim family while you herd and move cattle. Their cabin, tent, or teepee accommodations, along with camp cooked meals and songs around the campfire will give you a taste of Montana's backcountry.Find more farm or ranch stays offering cattle drives or cattle sorting.
4. Cooking School
The Inn at Crippen Creek Farm, Skamokawa, WA
Bean Tree Farm, Tucson, AZ
Watching a chef (or even just a talented cook) prepare a meal is a delight. Taking it to the next level and actually learning from such a person is something really special. Hosts Don and Kitty Speranza at The Inn at Crippen Creek Farm in Washington owned and operated a successful catering company in Portland before turning to the farm life. These days, they will teach farm guests how to make artisan bread, pasta, and comforting country Italian meals. And then you get to feast on your hard work!For something really different - and really interesting - check out Bean Tree Farm in Arizona and learn to identify, harvest, process, and pepare seasonal Sonoran Desert foods. You might harvest and process barrel cactus fruit, saguaro fruit, dragonfruit, paloverde seeds, and much more. They even make a desert kimchi!
Find more farm stays offering cooking classes.
These are just a few getaway ideas that adults can enjoy, but almost any farm, ranch, or vineyard stay will fit the bill. From relaxing in a quiet farm cottage with a good book, to throwing yourself into farm chores, taking in the night sky, or learning some new skills - alone, or with a friend or partner - these vacations aren't just for kids!
Last week, National Geographic published a list of the top 10 most visited national parks in the United States. We have several USFSA members who have identified themselves as being near national parks or forests. So, if sharing a crowded campground doesn't sound like your cup of tea, check out these farms and ranches that offer a good "home base" for your explorations!
At Liberty Hill Farm, you can walk out the door and have access to miles of cross country trails, surrounded by the beauty of the Green Mountain National Forest. Enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, horseback riding, mountain biking, or watching the wildlife... then head back to the farm for a homemade meal at the farmhouse table.
On the northern side of Yellowstone National Park, you'll find many of the ranches represented by Montana Bunkhouses. At 28,000 square miles, with tons of activities, there is a lot to explore. Go "be a Montanan" for part of your stay and experience the ranching way of life that so well defines this area of the country.
It's only a couple of hours from South Carolina's Thus Far Farm to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, making the farm a great lodging choice on your way to or from your park visit. After roughing it in the woods, see if you have what it takes to rough it on the farm with one of their "grid-down" weekends.
Lucky Goat Family Farm is in Big Sur, surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest. Spend the night and enjoy the oecean views, take a goat cheese making workshop at the farm, and then hit the maintained forest trails - there are 1,257 miles of them!
Seven Oaks Farm is situated in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, between both the Shenandoah National Park, and the sprawling George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The farm is an ideal place from which to begin some fall leaf-peeping adventures; try Skyline Drive, with 105 miles and 75 overlooks from which to take in nature's splendor.
Check out all of our farm and ranch members around the country who have identified that they are near national parks or forests, and see what they have to offer. You're sure to find a great combination for your next outdoor adventure vacation!
Netherfield Natural Farm, located in Fontana, Kansas, offers two types of stays in their restored 1882 Victorian farmhouse. You can opt for a traditional B&B style stay (which includes breakfast, of course), or a farm stay with all family style meals included while you're on the farm.
Up on a hill, with great views and plenty of privacy from neighbors, this rural farm has 14 acres, a fishing pond, two story barn (check out their BAR/N - a saloon inside their working barn!), fire pits, picnic areas, and walking trails.
Innkeepers Scott and Matt have honored the history of the original homesteaders by naming the farm's four guest bedrooms after the Vance family. The accommodations are cozy and inviting, giving travelers plenty of private space while the shared living room and dining room spaces offer opportunities for visiting. The bedrooms have either queen or full-size beds; two with private baths and two sharing a bath.
Other amenities include a full kitchen, laundry faciliites, library, internet with free wifi, fire pit, bbq, and a pond. During the summer months, enjoy the new swimming pool!
At Netherfield Natural Farm, guests can enjoy interacting with cows, free-ranging chickens, a turkey, a livestock guardian dog (LGD) and a "house dog", and barn cats. When there are animals that need to be bottle-fed, guests are welcome to pitch in and lend a hand.
Same goes for other chores around the farm, including the garden, where you can potentially help with planting or harvesting, depending on what's needed during your stay.
The farm's stated goal is to be, as much as possible, a self-sustaining place for vacationers who are looking for a temporary rural agrarian experience.
Children under 12 are welcome at Netherfield, as well as parties, family reunions, corporate retreats, and weddings or elopements. If you want to bring pets or your own horses to ride, they can accommodate you! Check out their listing here on Farm Stay U.S., and start planning your Kansas getaway!
Photos courtesy Netherfield Natural Farm
This post first appeared on Kim Goodling's blog at http://www.livingwithgotlands.com/. Kim is shepherdess to a flock of Gotlands, the curly sheep from Sweden. She invites farm stay guests to experience rural living, sheep, and fiber art at her farm in Vermont. See her Farm Stay U.S. listing at Grand View Farm or visit her website.We thought with all the challenging weather happening across the country right now, a post on how sheep can survive such cold temps would be interesting... enjoy!
This post first appeared on Kim Goodling's blog at http://www.livingwithgotlands.com/. Kim is shepherdess to a flock of Gotlands, the curly sheep from Sweden. She invites farm stay guests to experience rural living, sheep, and fiber art at her farm in Vermont. See her Farm Stay U.S. listing at Grand View Farm or visit her website.We thought with all the challenging weather happening across the country right now, a post on how sheep can survive such cold temps would be interesting... enjoy!
I am often asked how my sheep can survive the harsh Vermont winter weather. Temperatures in our area often hover in the single digits with spells well below zero at times. Snow piles high around the barn, and cold winds blow frequently. With proper shelter and feed, our sheep have no difficulty with these winter conditions and cold temperatures.
Proper Housing
Visitors to our farm often think that a closed barn provides the best place for our livestock in the winter. In fact, that is the last thing that they need. Being shut in a barn, causes a build up of moisture and ammonia in the air, irritating their respiratory tract and causing infection. Sheep stay much healthier if they have access to sun and fresh air every day.
The thermometer registered 15 degrees below zero this morning, with wind chills between 40-60 degrees below zero. On days like this, our barn door remains open for the sheep to come and go as they please. The barn offers protection from the bitter wind, but certainly not much protection from the cold. This morning, all the sheep, as well as the llama, were hunkered down in the barn. With the gusty wind, we fed them their hay in the barn so they did not have to brave the subzero wind chill to eat breakfast. We also have a three sided shelter which provides a wind break for them. The sun shines into the shelter all day, giving the sheep a place out doors, with protection from the wind, without having to be inside the barn.
Warm From the Outside In
Sheep have their own natural source of insulation all over their bodies. Their wool keeps their body heat in and the cold out. That is why you will see sheep with snow piled on their backs; their body heat does not reach the outer layers of their fleece to melt the snow. The lanolin in their wool also prevents moisture from getting to their skin. When doing chores, if my hands get cold, I will take off my mittens and bury my hands in the wool on one of the ewes to get warm.
Warm From the Inside Out
We do give the sheep lots of second cut hay during the winter to eat. Due to the fermentation of fibrous matter, the rumination process actually creates a great deal of heat. This warms the sheep from the inside out, thus the need for good quality hay throughout winter months. The more sheep eat, the more heat they produce. A pregnant ewe will also have added heat from the lamb growing inside of her. The shepherd may provide added energy to their diet during extreme cold weather. We give warm molasses water when the temps dip in the single digits for added energy.
With shelter from the wind and proper nutrition-our sheep stay healthy and happy all winter.
Have you ever walked down the aisle of an orchard? Peaches, or apples, or pears... the aromas are like heaven. Orchards offer a shady escape on a hot summer day. How about touring an olive orchard, or picking fruit right off a tree to go with your breakfast or lunch. (Keep an eye out for opportunistic horses if you're walking around with apples. I'm just saying...)
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text: Dwight Yoakam Is Back On Top 01.16.2013 Congrats to Epiphone's Dwight Yoakam, whose latest album, 3 Pears, has put him right back in the spotlight where he belongs. Dwight's new record, which features help from Beck, made numerous year-end best of 2012 lists including Rolling Stone, NPR, CBS Radio, Village Voice, and All Music. Check out Dwight in action performing with one of his many Casinos, along with his crack live band for the Warner Bros. program Live Room.


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Your Election Opening Thread
I already voted during early voting, which I never have done for presidential elections. I actually like going to the polls on election day. I think I was so tired of hearing about the election, I decided to just get it over with. In any event, I have never had to stand in a line as long to vote for anything.
I want to thank CNN for bleeping out the word b*%%& at this election rally performance by Jay-Z, unfortunately they left in H(*%. Yep. Yep. Yep.
Happy Black Woman has an interesting post called Be the President of Your Own Life.
I quit the internet for about 96 hours.


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This is what I need to know. I don't want to comment, only listen.
Views: 3012
What each woman wants is different. You have to ask her.
Each woman wants to be asked what she wants?
No. She would prefer if you already knew. But realistically, you can't know unless you ask.
This is the problem here.
"She would prefer if you already knew"
Hate this line. This is woman speak for 'I don't want to tell you. Figure it out yourself. If you can't figure it out, then you were just born with bad luck towards women.'
It's reality. You don't have to like it, but it remains true regardless.
Whirled peas and posterity.
Money and lots of it
And who doesn't?
Offer a comparison, Simon. What do men want?
I would like someone to know me completely and at the same time, not know anything about me at all.
It sounds like marriage.
Do you mean what do we want in a relationship, or what do we want in general? That's a wide range of wants!
You're right, it's a very general question. What do women want, that men don't know they want?
What do men want? I think they already get everything they want.


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Two thick slices of white bread plus ham, turkey, lettuce and cheese. And it's all made out of soft, squishy sponge! The perfect clown accessory, this jumbo sponge club sandwich is an oversized laugh-producer guaranteed to garner giggles. Each piece of bread measures nearly 10 inches long. The "stuff" of the sandwich overlaps the bread on all sides.
Each piece of the sandwich is a separate, colored die-cut piece. The turkey is a yellow cut-out of of the familiar fowl, the ham is an outlined image of a pig, and the lettuce is a hand-painted green leaf. The pieces of cheese are perfect sponge imiatations of two oversized slices of Swiss.
Perfect for clowns, comedians, as a production item or anyone else looking for a super-sized laugh.
Do you own this product? Write a review.


text:
Decatur Slim (Feat. Cap1 & Scrilla) - You Know [Unsigned Hype]
Produced By Dj Plugg Directed by i-NightLyfe/Inception LLC FOLLOW ON TWITTER @RealDecaturSlim @RichieCap1 @DjPlugg @NokeyXL #RichLife
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text:
Princess & Diamond Of Crime Mob Confrontation! (At Soulja Boy's 18th Birthday Party)
Princess and Diamond of Crime Mob confront each other at Soulja Boy's 18th birthday party
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Today's blessing comes in the form of a generous dollop of candied Bava. That's right! The Duke has the Bava Goods™, that crystal spike of MAD wonder, injected straight into your disfigured arm like a silver lance of Happy. Release yourself to the MADness once again, and lie in sublime repose upon the cushioned lounge that is Mario Bava and his genius. As you should all know by now, the Duke and Vicar both worship all that is Bava, and we would be remiss if we didn't include in our pantheon of MAD films Bava's lost masterpiece: Rabid Dogs, a film that languished in a filthy lawyer's desk drawer for decades before finally seeing the light of day.
What treasures could it hold? Just how Rabid are these Dogs? How many sweaty, horny Italian males can be crammed into 96 minutes of film?
Let's find out, shall we?
Our film opens with a group of four sleazy gentlemen pulling off a heist, which quickly escalates into violence, as a few of the men are quick to murder at the slightest provocation. It seems the group of thieves found out when payroll arrival day was at a local business, and set up a quick heist to relieve the business of its funds. Grabbing the suitcase full of cash, one of the thieves stabs the case-carrier in the stomach. Before they can escape, the police show up and start shooting. As the thieves are driving away, a crack shot on the police squad shoots one of the robbers in the back of the head through the rear window of the car, and another cop shoots a hole in the gas tank.
|"Of all the times to take a nap!"
The pursuit is on! The thieves quickly realize that their gas is running out, so they drive into a multi-storied parking garage. The police are in hot pursuit, however, and quickly catch up to the punks. The crooks, now cornered, grab the nearest hostages they can: two women, who are enjoying their day out shopping. A standoff quickly ensues, but ends just as quickly when one of the robbers murders one of the women by stabbing her in the neck! The cops, fearing the other woman will be murdered, finally back off, giving enough time and room for the thieves to make their escape.
They quickly realize that the car they are in is known by the cops, so as soon as they can they find another. This one just happens to be driven by the next person they see at a stop light. Jumping into his car, waving their guns, they force the woman hostage in with them. The man is Riccardo (played fantastically by Riccardo Cucciolla), who plays it cool because he has to: it seems the backseat contains his sick son, who appears to be around the age of 10 (we only ever see his face, as he's wrapped in blankets the entire film). Riccardo explains he was on the way to the hospital.
|Sorry dude, just because you stole some money doesn't make you any less gay.
It's time we meet our criminals! First up, is the cool-as-ice Doc (Maurice Poli). He's as smooth as he is tan, and hardly ever breaks a sweat (figuratively, for he, along with everyone else, sweats like a very sweaty thing throughout the entire film). He's the obvious brains of the unit, and pretty much divides his time between coming up with what to do next and keeping the other two miscreants under control. This brings us to Blade (Don Backy), a bushy-topped, impulsive, twitchy man who gets high on the criminal life. He is, however, a controlled tornado next to the brash 32, who puts the "rabid" in "Rabid Dogs." That's right folks, his nickname is 32, as in centimeters, as in he's hung like a mule (which thankfully Bava keeps off-camera; I don't need the Vicar weeping openly in front of me again). 32 is much the focus of Rabid Dogs, and for good reason. Played by George Eastman (aka Luigi Montefiori, aka Gabriele Duma), this guy deserves all the praise he can be given and then some.
Very quickly, Riccardo explains to these men that he's trying to take his sick son to the hospital, and that he wants no part with what's going on. Doc explains he has no options, and that Riccardo, the boy, and the woman will all be free to go once the men make good their escape from the cops. This proves to be a shallow promise, however, as Doc never exactly explains how long he thinks this will take (note: they've already successfully ditched the police). So, with orders to drive on back-country roads in order to avoid attention, Riccardo takes off, the woman Maria (Lea Lander) in between him and Doc, and with Blades and 32 in the backseat, the young boy wrapped in a blanket between them. Got that? Don't make me break out the whiteboard.
|Emergency tracheotomy, Italian-style
As Bava has pointed out before in his films, greed gets you no where. We soon learn, via the probing questions of Riccardo, that the men didn't steal that much money; certainly not enough to warrant the multiple murders that resulted. Not only that, but the money is slowly but surely used up on the get-away journey. First Riccardo (either accidentally or on purpose, we aren't sure) rear-ends another driver in front of him during a traffic bottleneck caused by road construction. Doc, knowing they can't very well kill everyone around them, instead pays the motorist off, using some of the money. In another scene, a farmer extorts money out of them due to some damaged grapes. In yet another, they have to pay exorbitant fees to get gas into their car's tank. Coupled with this is the constant headache of keeping to back roads and dealing with Maria, who is always either pleading to be let free or trying to escape.
|"And then, you must give us all a good spanking!"
One escape attempt leads to a foul scene at an empty farmhouse. Maria asks to be let out in order to use the restroom, and bolts as soon as she can, running to a nearby farm. Blade and 32 chase after her. I was assuming a rape scene was incoming here, but instead we get something that, while not as contemptible, is still pretty heinous: Blade and 32 force Maria to urinate on herself while standing, as they watch and laugh. (The mighty Bava influenced by upstart Wes Craven's Last House on the Left (1972)? Apparently so!) Degraded, Maria can do nothing but slump listlessly as the two men force her back to the car, this time putting her in the backseat.
This proves unhealthy for 32, whose lust overwhelms any need to remain inconspicuous while on the lam. He begins to try and rape Maria, in flagrante de Pinto. Doc tries to calm him down and gets choked by 32 for the effort, though he's released before suffering any real damage. The Doc pacified, 32 continues the rape attempt, causing passing motorists to yell and shake their fists. The car enters a tunnel, and Doc seizes the moment and shoots 32 in the neck! However, 32 is so big and crazed, this doesn't kill him, it merely paralyzes him. Blade doesn't like this, but realizes it needed to be done.
|I think we all know the answer to that question.
The car finally runs low on gas, forcing the crew to stop at a station. After badgering the attendant, who is on break, to fill the tank up, they are just about to leave when a woman happens by. It seems her car has broken down and she needs a ride to a mechanic. She basically forces her way into the car, chatting non-stop. At first she attempts to open 32's door, who is slumped against it with a towel over his head. She assumes he's sleeping and instead sits up front with Maria and Riccardo, the Doc moving to the rear seat. The woman will not stop talking and singing along with the radio, which ultimately proves her undoing when Blade rams his switchblade into her throat. (Hey, the dude just likes stabbing throats, ok?).
|Noticing a theme with ol' 32 here?
Realizing now that they have two dead or dying bodies in the car, the crew pulls over near a ravine. Blade and Doc unceremoniously fling the hitchhiking lady's body over the side, and then haul 32's hulking frame down a path before finally placing him near the crumpled body of the lady. Blade ends 32's suffering with a bullet to the brain, and also relieves him of his watch. After some more driving, the Doc, Maria, Riccardo, Blade, and the boy finally arrive at the destination that Doc has been leading them to, albeit in a very convoluted fashion: a stashed car! Seems the Doc was smart enough to stash a car miles away from anywhere in an abandoned barn, just in case. Smart dude, that Doc.
|"Pop Rocks and Coke... how could I have been so stupid?!"
Blade grabs Maria and starts dragging her over to the new car, as Doc holds a gun on Riccardo, ordering him to take the boy over. As Riccardo is leaning in to pick up the blanket-wrapped boy, we see Doc's not the only one who can plan ahead--Riccardo has somehow managed to secret away a small caliber pistol by hiding it in the boy's blanket! Riccardo stands up and fires directly into Doc's chest, who slumps immediately to the ground. Blade doesn't move fast enough with the sub-machine-gun he's wielding and gets shot by Riccardo, who then notices Doc trying to rise and plugs him again, mercilessly. As Blade lies on the ground, one hand holding his machine-gun, the other holding the money bag, Maria runs across from the new car to the old one, her hopeful face beaming at Riccardo.
|Riccardo had to be very careful: he knew that a mere glimpse at George Eastman's exposed chest hair was enough to shatter the heterosexuality of even the sweatiest Italian stud.
The hope, it fades, with a quickness! Blade uses his last once of life-force to machine-gun Maria in the back, and she crumples dead instantly at a shocked Riccardo's feet. Bava gives us a wide, spectacular view of the carnage as Riccardo stands alone, triumphant, pistol still at the ready as he cradles the young boy. Riccardo scurries over and puts his young ward in the new getaway car. He pauses to think a minute, and heads back to Doc's corpse, bends down, and rips the wallet from Doc's back pocket. Riccardo then walks over to Blade and jerks the money bag free of his clutches. Riccardo's the man! He drives away, free and clear.
|Quilt, tablecloth, drapery, or lady's dress: YOU make the call!
Bava's son, Lamberto, decided to rework the film along with producer Alfredo Leone. They shot a new ending, reworked some key scenes, and released the movie as Kidnapped. Spoiler: it pretty much sucks. I have no idea what they were thinking! The original is far superior, and certainly more visceral and tight. One other interesting bit of trivia: the budget for Rabid Dogs was so tight, Bava had to fire cinematographer Emilio Varriano and take over that role himself, just to have enough money to finish the film.
|Every Vicar-thrown croquet party always ends the same.
I really wish Bava had lived long enough to see his original masterwork released. I honestly believe it would have been a success. In the end, we should all be glad that the original print still exists at all. It is a brutal, unforgiving film that features Bava's trademark eye for quality and ability to get amazingly MAD performances out of his actors. Needless to say, this one gets a stellar 3+ Thumps Up from yours truly. I encourage everyone to track down a copy and give it a go. You shall not be disappointed!
|And whoever frees the switchblade from this hooker's throat, will henceforth be King of All Italy!