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Keeping elephants wild: choosing not to intervene in the natural cycle of life
One of the females from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) social disruption study in Amboseli National Park in Kenya is missing..
Goodness had given birth to a healthy and adorable female calf in March, whom I found and photographed before leaving on a fundraising trip to the US. While I was away, Goodness developed what we suspect were post-birth complications, sickened and stopped producing milk. Her beautiful little calf starved to death in May, just before I returned to Kenya.
Also on IFAW.org: Living tortoises do not make good art
Goodness herself, was not with the family yesterday when I saw them, and as I write this, my colleagues are investigating reports of a carcass not far from our camp. If it is her, I will miss her. More importantly, so will her sisters and other family members.
These situations of course make me sad, but they also make me think carefully about our obligations to the elephants for whom we care so deeply.
Many people find it hard to understand why we don't intervene to treat sick or wounded elephants. They think it our duty, especially for elephants, whose pain and suffering is so hard to witness.
I know this may seem harsh, but I have to say I don't agree. Let me explain why.
Elephants have been doing just fine for a very long time without human intervention. In fact, the reason they are not doing so well right now is because of humans.
If humans left them alone, elephants would thrive.
And therein lies my caveat: We do intervene, of course, when people have caused harm or injury. We pull baby elephants out of human-dug wells, we call vet teams to help us remove snares or treat spear or bullet wounds, and we rescue the orphans of poaching and human-wildlife conflicts, sending them to the expert care of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
But the fact remains that treating and handling elephants carries risks to both elephants and people. Even with expert ground crews, sedation and handling can cause such stress to animals that they cannot recover. We are often going in blind; we have no idea of what other conditions an animal may be suffering from which may cause negative reactions to anaesthesia or other drugs.
Some people might say that we should have "rescued" Goodness' starving calf.
But intervening would not have been beneficial for the family: it would have been stressful and hugely disruptive and would almost certainly have altered their trust in our research vehicles.
Not every calf taken into human care survives, even under expert care. The biggest killer is the stress of losing their family, and the elephant-based world they were born into. For many young elephants, chronic stress results in autoimmune and chronic digestive disorders, which further challenge their growing bodies.
I am not a vet. I am a scientist, a behavioural ecologist and a conservationist. My job is to understand how elephants behave, contribute to our understanding about the kind of things that elephants need, and to help spread the word about how special and important elephants are.
If we have anything you could call a duty, it is to learn about elephants in their own world, on their terms.
Not every elephant born will die of old age, but as long as their cause of death is natural, I can live with the sadness of watching them suffer. And their family will have to live with the sadness too.
Darwin's "Struggle for Existence" is defined by the verb "to struggle." Life in the wild is not easy; whether you have to catch food, avoid being eaten, or (usually) both.
Every living thing on this planet depends on the dazzling complexity and wonderful subtlety of intact ecological systems. These can only be understood by observation, not by trying to control or change the elements of the system.
You cannot control what you do not understand. And we still have a great deal to learn about elephants, and the sensitivities and subtleties of their lives.
Even great lives must come to an end, and, assuming Goodness is indeed dead, she had a good life, lucky to be born in Amboseli where she didn't have to live every moment wary of humans.
As a conservationist, I believe we are fighting for the right for all elephants to live and die like Goodness and her calf, wild and free and liberated from human persecution. For me, fighting for elephants is a fight for the places in which they can live their lives without human intervention.
After all, wild and free is the only way elephants can be.
For more information about IFAW efforts to protect elephants around the world, visit our campaign page.


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Casey Martin summed it up best. After a Tuesday practice round at The Olympic Club with his old Stanford teammate, Martin, the current golf coach at Oregon (and only golfer to have a Supreme Court decision named after him) said, "I get to go see all the top players coming up and watch them when they're young. No disrespect to anybody I've seen, but there is no one even close that was like Tiger."
Martin should know. He saw Tiger as a junior and as a collegian and then as a fellow tour player during the 1998 - 2002 stretch when Tiger did things no one dreamed possible in the game. And very few people would argue with Martin's assessment. No golfer in his 20s comes close to the kind of career Tiger had when he was their age. And no junior golfer can touch the kind of dominance Tiger had when he was kid.
Steve Eubanks is a former PGA professional, author, columnist and contributing editor at PGA.com. He shares his thoughts here each week.
But all that is history. This week is about the here and now. And as we prepare for the first tee shot of the 112th U.S. Open, the question remains: is the Tiger Woods of today the same golfer that he was 10 years ago?
The reflexive answer is no, but that response isn't as cut and dried as it was at the beginning of the season when Tiger was still struggling with swing changes that nobody understood and still battling the aches and pains of this injury or that.
His supporters will point to his two wins at Bay Hill and Muirfield Village against some of the strongest fields of the year and to his stats: No.1 in total driving, ball striking, birdies on par-threes, and putts made from 20 to 25 feet, and No.7 overall in greens hit in regulation. They will point to the Sunday 62 he shot at the Honda Classic to climb into second place, and the birdie-par-birdie finish at Jack's Memorial Tournament, a stretch that included the shot of the year so far: a flop shot from high rough that trundled into the hole.
Those are all valid points and serviceable reasons why Tiger is the favorite to win his 15th major championship this week.
But his detractors have some good points as well. When he got into contention at the AT&T at Pebble Beach, a course he has owned over the years, Tiger shot a final-round 75 playing head-to-head with Phil Mickelson, as he will be doing the first two days at Olympic. Then, immediately following his 62 at the Honda, he withdrew from the WGC event at Doral citing a booboo on his Achilles tendon.
He followed up the win at Bay Hill with a T40 finish at the Masters, a missed cut in Charlotte, and another T40 at The Players Championship: not typical Tiger post-win performances, and certainly nothing you could point to as a reason he will win this week.
If coming in with a "hot hand" is your rationale for picking a favorite, then Jason Dufner would have to be your man. He also has two wins and a second, but they have come in his last four starts. He hits more greens than Tiger and has played better on Thursdays and Fridays than any player on tour all year. Yet, Dufner is not part of any marquee pairing, nor is he generating much buzz.
Tiger's practice round with Casey Martin attracted thousands of fans and scores of photographers – his pre-tournament press conference watched by millions. Dufner and Hunter Mahan (the only other player with two PGA Tour wins this year) warmed up to Olympic with only smattering of fans walking every step, their shots greeted with polite applause once standard in golf in the pre-Tiger era.
Tiger could very well turn his major championship fortunes around this week. Certainly his ball striking is as good as it has been in several years and the swagger seems to have returned after The Memorial.
But the golf world is a much different place now than it was when a pre-major victory for Tiger could be viewed as a prelude to another dominating performance.
"The reality is without Tiger in the mix, it's opened up opportunities for other guys to get in there and get themselves a major championship," PGA Champion and Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger said. "It's a return, really, to when Curtis (Strange) and I were playing. It was deemed there were no real dominant players. As much as Greg Norman stayed on top of the world rankings, there were several patches where there was a different winner at every major."
Tiger is no longer the longest driver on tour (that title goes to Bubba Watson), nor is he the best putter. Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson and a host of others gain more shots with the flat stick than Tiger.
But he is still the rumbling giant, the man whose every birdie can cause the earth to tremble and the hills of San Francisco to reverberate with a deafening roar.
He might not win, or even contend. But for the first time in several major championship starts, nobody is counting him out. And you can bet that everyone – player and fan like – will keep an eye on the leaderboard, and stand a little straighter when the name Tiger Woods appears somewhere near the top.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tough week for Bono. First, the door on his private jet blew off in mid-air and his luggage went flying out, then he got in a bike accident this weekend in Central Park and broke his shoulder. Of course, his shoulder was already considerably weakened from bearing the weight of the world for so many years.
RE: the luggage, Stephen Colbert reported "His bags fell out of his private plane and after three days of intense searching, Bono still hasn't found what he's looking for."


text: Consumers in the market for less expensive health insurance may be drawn to claims touting affordable health-care options, extensive discounts and no deductibles or co-pays. Though the assurances from telemarketers or in advertisements may appear to offer attractive, low-cost health insurance, most instead are actually pitches for medical discount programs. These programs are not the same as health insurance, and they often charge a high price for little payoff. In fact, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel won a lawsuit against one company that said it offered health insurance, but instead provided a medical discount card with few benefits. The Florida-based Consumer Health Benefits Association had enrolled hundreds of Arkansas consumers into a program that cost more than $100 a month. About 80 percent of those consumers cancelled their enrollment within six months. McDaniel's office recently distributed restitution checks to about 1,000 consumers who had fallen victim to the company, which overstated the benefits that were available to consumers. CHBA has since declared bankruptcy and is under investigation by federal authorities. In an effort to prevent consumers from being victimized in similar scams, McDaniel has issued a consumer alert to provide Arkansans information about the potential drawbacks to health-care discount cards. "Many medical discount programs claim that they can offer big savings on doctor's visits, dental exams or prescriptions, but they fail to make good on those claims," McDaniel said. "Consumers should be skeptical of these kinds of promises and should ask for as much information as possible before agreeing to enroll in a discount program." McDaniel noted that consumers who purchase health discount plans are protected under Arkansas law, and they have the right to a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Health discount programs are required by law to prominently display on their cards that the product is not health insurance. McDaniel offered these additional suggestions to consumers who are considering enrollment in medical discount card programs: • Remember that discount programs are not health insurance, even if they claim to be. • Before paying to enroll, ask for a list of medical and dental providers that participate and ask about the specific discounts and services that are offered by those providers. If few or no nearby medical providers participate, consider whether enrollment is worth the investment. • Consider other options if the company is not forthcoming with a provider list or other information. • Be aware of the company's refund policy. • Make sure that the costs of the program are less than the anticipated savings. Substantial upfront enrollment fees plus other fees and costs may total more than the plan's actual benefits. For more information about this or other consumer-related issues, visit the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division website, www.GotYourBackArkansas.org, or call the Consumer Protection Hotline, 1-800-482-8982.


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The Blackwell Companion to Science and Christianity
The Blackwell Companion to Science and Christianity
ISBN: 978-1-118-25652-7 March 2012 Wiley-Blackwell 664 Pages
DescriptionA cutting-edge survey of contemporary thought at the intersection of science and Christianity.
- Provides a cutting-edge survey of the central ideas at play at the intersection of science and Christianity through 54 original articles by world-leading scholars and rising stars in the discipline
- Focuses on Christianity's interaction with Science to offer a fine-grained analysis of issues such as multiverse theories in cosmology, convergence in evolution, Intelligent Design, natural theology, human consciousness, artificial intelligence, free will, miracles, and the Trinity, amongst many others
- Addresses major historical developments in the relationship between science and Christianity, including Christian patristics, the scientific revolution, the reception of Darwin, and twentieth century fundamentalism
- Divided into 9 Parts: Historical Episodes; Methodology; Natural Theology; Cosmology & Physics; Evolution; The Human Sciences; Christian Bioethics; Metaphysical Implications; The Mind; Theology; and Significant Figures of the 20th Century
- Includes diverse perspectives and broadens the conversation from the Anglocentric tradition
Notes on Contributors x
Introduction xviii
J. B. Stump and Alan G. Padgett
Part I Historical Episodes 1
1 Early Christian Belief in Creation and the Beliefs Sustaining the Modern Scientific Endeavor 3
Christopher B. Kaiser
2 The Copernican Revolution and the Galileo Affair 14
Maurice A. Finocchiaro
3 Women, Mechanical Science, and God in the Early Modern Period 26
Jacqueline Broad
4 Christian Responses to Darwinism in the Late Nineteenth Century 37
Peter J. Bowler
5 Science Falsely So Called: Fundamentalism and Science 48
Edward B. Davis
Part II Methodology 61
6 How to Relate Christian Faith and Science 63
Mikael Stenmark
7 Authority 74
Nicholas Rescher
8 Feminist Philosophies of Science: Towards a Prophetic Epistemology 82
Lisa L. Stenmark
9 Practical Objectivity: Keeping Natural Science Natural 93
Alan G. Padgett
10 The Evolutionary Argument against Naturalism 103
Alvin Plantinga
Part III Natural Theology 117
11 Arguments to God from the Observable Universe 119
Richard Swinburne
12 "God of the Gaps" Arguments 130
Gregory E. Ganssle
13 Natural Theology after Modernism 140
J. B. Stump
14 Religious Epistemology Personifi ed: God without Natural Theology 151
Paul K. Moser
15 Problems for Christian Natural Theology 162
Alexander R. Pruss and Richard M. Gale
Part IV Cosmology and Physics 173
16 Modern Cosmology and Christian Theology 175
Stephen M. Barr
17 Does the Universe Need God? 185
Sean Carroll
18 Does God Love the Multiverse? 198
Don N. Page
19 The Fine-Tuning of the Cosmos: A Fresh Look at Its Implications 207
Robin Collins
20 Quantum Theory and Theology 220
Rodney D. Holder
Part V Evolution 231
21 Creation and Evolution 233
Denis R. Alexander
22 Darwinism and Atheism: A Marriage Made in Heaven? 246
Michael Ruse
23 Creation and Evolutionary Convergence 258
Simon Conway Morris
24 Signature in the Cell: Intelligent Design and the DNA Enigma 270
Stephen C. Meyer
25 Darwin and Intelligent Design 283
Francisco J. Ayala
26 Christianity and Human Evolution 295
John F. Haught
27 Christian Theism and Life on Earth 306
Paul Draper
Part VI The Human Sciences 317
28 Toward a Cognitive Science of Christianity 319
Justin L. Barrett
29 The Third Wound: Has Psychology Banished the Ghost from the Machine? 335
Dylan Evans
30 Sociology and Christianity 344
John H. Evans and Michael S. Evans
31 Economics and Christian Faith 356
Robin J. Klay
Part VII Christian Bioethics 369
32 Shaping Human Life at the Molecular Level 371
James C. Peterson
33 An Inclusive Framework for Stem Cell Research 381
John F. Kilner
34 The Problem of Transhumanism in the Light of Philosophy and Theology 393
Philippe Gagnon
35 Ecology and the Environment 406
Lisa H. Sideris
Part VIII Metaphysical Implications 419
36 Free Will and Rational Choice 421
E. J. Lowe
37 Science, Religion, and Infi nity 430
Graham Oppy
38 God and Abstract Objects 441
William Lane Craig
39 Laws of Nature 453
Lydia Jaeger
Part IX The Mind 465
40 Christianity, Neuroscience, and Dualism 467
J. P. Moreland
41 The Emergence of Persons 480
William Hasker
42 Christianity and the Extended-Mind Thesis 491
Lynne Rudder Baker
43 In Whose Image? Artifi cial Intelligence and the Imago Dei 500
Noreen Herzfeld
44 How Science Lost Its Soul, and Religion Handed It Back 510
Julian Baggini
Part X Theology 521
45 The Trinity and Scientifi c Reality 523
John Polkinghorne
46 God and Miracle in an Age of Science 533
Alan G. Padgett
47 Eschatology in Science and Theology 543
Robert John Russell
48 The Quest for Transcendence in Theology and Cosmology 554
Alexei V. Nesteruk
Part XI Signifi cant Figures of the Twentieth Century in Science and Christianity 565
49 Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 567
James F. Salmon
50 Thomas F. Torrance 578
Tapio Luoma
51 Arthur Peacocke 589
Taede A. Smedes
52 Ian G. Barbour 600
Nathan J. Hallanger
53 Wolfhart Pannenberg 611
Hans Schwarz
54 John Polkinghorne 622
Christopher C. Knight
Index 632
"The Blackwell Companions are a well-known and prestigious series that always form an up-to-date and high-quality entry to a certain academic domain ... My appreciation prevails and I believe this book really offers a most worthy introduction to the issue of science-Christianity relations. Congratulations to Stump and Padgett for putting together this valuable collection of well-written essays." (Philosophia Reformata, 1 November 2015)
"As I said at the outset, this Blackwell Companion has proved itself to be an indispensable companion to me as I try to set out the current shape of the field for the third generation, but I cannot help but wonder how different such a volume will look in their time." (Modern Believing, 1 January 2014)
"The result is a fascinating, rich collection of fifty-four essays grouped into eleven major sections . . . To sum up, this volume nicely complements other recent works in the ongoing interaction between science and religion. Students and teachers in the field will find this volume an accessible, reliable, and up-to-date resource for the contemporary discourse between science and Christianity." (Themelios, 1 April 2013)
"For those who have such a background, this book will be a valuable asset for orienting themselves in the broader conversation." (Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 1 March 2013)
"Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty." (Choice, 1 December 2012)


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The Marines provide the following, they've suspended the use of 60 mm mortar rounds from the same lot that were being used in Nevada. The suspension for mortar rounds from that lot applies to training in the US and in Afghanistan. There is no blanket suspension of mortar rounds.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A Marine Corps official says the seven Marines killed in Nevada died after a 60mm mortar exploded unexpectedly during a training accident. The Marines immediately issued an indefinite moratorium on firing of all such mortars worldwide until an investigation clears as safe the type of weapon and ammunition in the tragedy. Several other Marines were hurt.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was not immediately clear whether the mortar exploded prematurely inside its firing tube or whether more than a single round exploded. The official was not authorized to speak to a reporter about the accident.
The 60mm mortar is a weapon that traditionally requires three to four Marines to operate, but it's common during training for others to observe nearby.
HAWTHORNE, NV - At least seven US Marines are dead after a mortar explosion at the Army Depot in Hawthorne Monday night. They are from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, and were training in Nevada.
A statement from the Marine Corps reads:
"A fatal incident occurred during a training exercise shortly before 10 p.m. Monday at Hawthorne Army Depot, Nev., killing seven service members and injuring several others with 2nd Marine Division.
The injured have been transported to area hospitals for treatment and further evaluation.
The identities of those killed will be provided 24 hours after primary next of kin notification. The status of those injured will be provided as it becomes available.
We send our prayers and condolences to the families of Marines involved in this tragic incident. We remain focused on ensuring that they are supported through this difficult time," said Maj. Gen. Raymond C. Fox, II MEF commanding general. "We mourn their loss, and it is with heavy hearts we remember their courage and sacrifice."
The cause of the incident is under investigation."
A depot spokesperson says the explosion is not related to ammunition stored at the depot.
Hawthorne is about 135 miles southeast of Reno. The Hawthorne Army Depot stores and disposes of ammunition. The facility is made up of hundreds of buildings spread over more than 230 square miles.
Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno received eight of the patients from Hawthorne; one of them was one of the seven total who died. As of noon Tuesday, four of the patients are in serious condition, two are in fair condition, and one has been discharged.
General types of injuries include trauma, fractures and vascular injuries.
A general family assistance center phone line, 775-982-6060, has been activated.
KOLO 8 News Now has crews in Hawthorne and will provide updates throughout the day.


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Notice to Members 99-10
NASD Guidelines for Compliance with New Requirements for Non-California Attorneys Representing Parties in NASD Arbitrations in California
Effective January 1, 1999, the NASD Regulation, Inc. (NASD RegulationSM) Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) adopted the following Guidelines and Certification Form to govern the practice of non-California attorneys in all arbitration proceedings in California. These Guidelines are in response to a change in California state law, effective January 1, 1999, that requires non-California attorneys participating in California arbitration proceedings to associate with California counsel and to file a Certification Form with the arbitration forum and the State Bar of California in each case in which they participate. Non-California attorneys who fail to comply with the state statute may be engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in California.
Questions concerning this Notice may be addressed to Terri L. Reicher, Assistant General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD(r)) at (202) 728-8967 or via email.


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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
Contact us for information about using this image.
The Massachusetts State Legislature named the Mohawk Trail a scenic route in 1914. The existence and history of the trail goes back much further. Originally a travel route for the aboriginal peoples of the northeast, it was later traveled by European settlers and their descendents. It was chartered as a turnpike in 1797 to facilitate travel between western Massachusetts and the towns of the Connecticut River Valley. Travelers and tourists have long appreciated its scenes of natural beauty, made more accessible with the invention of the automobile.
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[Look for the podcast play button below.]
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download


text:
|Aquino, former Philippines president, dead at 76
There are no translations available.
MANILA, Philippines – Former President Corazon Aquino, who swept away a dictator with a "people power" revolt and sustained democracy by fighting off seven coup attempts in six years, died on Saturday, her son said. She was 76.
The uprising she led in 1986 ended the repressive 20-year regime of Ferdinand Marcos and inspired nonviolent protests across the globe, including those that ended communist rule in eastern Europe. Aquino rose to power after the 1983 assassination of her husband, opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
She was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer last year and confined to a Manila hospital for more than a month. Her son said the cancer had spread to other organs and she was too weak to continue chemotherapy.
For the past month, supporters have been holding daily prayers for Aquino in churches.
"She was headstrong and single-minded in one goal, and that was to remove all vestiges of an entrenched dictatorship," Raul C. Pangalangan, former dean of the College of Law at the University of the Philippines, said earlier this month. "We all owe her in a big way."
But Aquino struggled in office to meet high public expectations. Her land redistribution program fell short of ending economic domination by the landed elite, including her own family. Her leadership, especially in social and economic reform, was often indecisive, leaving many of her closest allies disillusioned by the end of her term.
Still, the bespectacled, smiling woman in her trademark yellow dress remained beloved in the Philippines, where she was affectionately referred to as "Tita (Auntie) Cory."
Her son, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, said she died at 3:18 a.m. Saturday (1918 GMT Friday). Requiem Masses were scheduled for later Saturday, and yellow ribbons were tied on trees around her neighborhood in Quezon city.
Aquino's body will lie in state at the De La Salle Catholic school in Manila from Saturday evening to Monday morning, and she will be buried beside her husband at the Manila Memorial Park in a private ceremony Wednesday, her son told reporters.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is on an official visit to the United States, remembered Aquino as a "national treasure" who helped lead "a revolution to restore democracy and the rule of law to our nation at a time of great peril.
"She picked up the standard from the fallen warrior Ninoy and helped lead our nation to a brighter day," Arroyo said.
The Philippines will observe 10 days of national mourning, she said. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it would accord full military honors during Aquino's wake, including gun salutes and lowering flags to half-staff.
TV stations on Saturday ran footage of Aquino's years in power together with prayers while her former aides and supporters offered condolences.
"Today our country has lost a mother," said former President Joseph Estrada, calling Aquino "a woman of both strength and graciousness."
Aquino's successor, Fidel Ramos, who was the military's vice chief of staff when he broke with Marcos and embraced Aquino, said the former leader "represented the best of the Filipino of the past and the future."
Exiled Communist Party founder Jose Maria Sison, whom Aquino freed from jail in 1986, paid tribute from the Netherlands.
President Barack Obama was deeply saddened by Aquino's death, said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.
"Ms. Aquino played a crucial role in Philippines history, moving the country to democratic rule through her nonviolent 'people power' movement over 20 years ago," Gibbs said. "Her courage, determination, and moral leadership are an inspiration to us all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who wrote to Aquino last week, and Sen. Richard Lugar from Indiana also praised Aquino's courage. Lugar headed a team of American poll monitors who declared the February 1986 elections flawed, a significant turning point in Marcos' ouster.
Aquino's unlikely rise began in 1983 after her husband was gunned down at Manila's international airport moments after soldiers escorted him from a plane on his arrival from exile in the United States to challenge Marcos, his longtime adversary.
The killing enraged many Filipinos and unleashed a broad-based opposition movement that thrust Aquino into the role of national leader.
"I don't know anything about the presidency," she declared in 1985, a year before she agreed to run against Marcos, uniting the fractious opposition, the business community, and later the armed forces to drive the dictator out.
Maria Corazon Cojuangco was born on Jan. 25, 1933, into a wealthy, politically powerful family in Paniqui, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Manila.
She attended private school in Manila and earned a degree in French from the College of Mount St. Vincent in New York. In 1954 she married Ninoy Aquino, the fiercely ambitious scion of another political family. He rose from provincial governor to senator and finally opposition leader.
Marcos, elected president in 1965, declared martial law in 1972 to avoid term limits. He abolished the Congress and jailed Aquino's husband and thousands of opponents, journalists and activists without charges. Aquino became her husband's political stand-in, confidant, message carrier and spokeswoman.
A military tribunal sentenced her husband to death for alleged links to communist rebels but, under pressure from U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Marcos allowed him to leave in May 1980 for heart surgery in the U.S.
It was the start of a three-year exile. With her husband at Harvard University holding court with fellow exiles, academics, journalists and visitors from Manila, Aquino was the quiet homemaker, raising their five children and serving tea. Away from the hurly-burly of Philippine politics, she described the period as the best of their marriage.
The halcyon days ended when her husband decided to return to regroup the opposition. While she and the children remained in Boston, he flew to Manila, where he was shot as he descended the stairs from the plane.
The government blamed a suspected communist rebel, but subsequent investigations pointed to a soldier who was escorting him from the plane on Aug. 21, 1983.
Aquino heard of the assassination in a phone call from a Japanese journalist. She recalled gathering the children and, as a deeply religious woman, praying for strength.
"During Ninoy's incarceration and before my presidency, I used to ask why it had always to be us to make the sacrifice," she said in a 2007 interview with The Philippine Star newspaper. "And then, when Ninoy died, I would say, 'Why does it have to be me now?' It seemed like we were always the sacrificial lamb."
She returned to the Philippines three days later. One week after that, she led the largest funeral procession Manila had seen. Crowd estimates ranged as high as 2 million.
With public opposition mounting against Marcos, he stunned the nation in November 1985 by calling a snap election in a bid to shore up his mandate. The opposition, including then Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime L. Sin, urged Aquino to run.
After a fierce campaign, the vote was held on Feb. 7, 1986. The National Assembly declared Marcos the winner, but journalists, foreign observers and church leaders alleged massive fraud.
With the result in dispute, a group of military officers mutinied against Marcos on Feb. 22 and holed up with a small force in a military camp in Manila.
Over the following three days, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos responded to a call by the Roman Catholic Church to jam the broad highway in front of the camp to prevent an attack by Marcos forces.
On the third day, against the advice of her security detail, Aquino appeared at the rally alongside the mutineers, led by Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramos.
From a makeshift platform, she declared: "For the first time in the history of the world, a civilian population has been called to defend the military."
The military chiefs pledged their loyalty to Aquino and charged that Marcos had won the election by fraud.
U.S. President Ronald Reagan, a longtime supporter of Marcos, called on him to resign. "Attempts to prolong the life of the present regime by violence are futile," the White House said. American officials offered to fly Marcos out of the Philippines.
On Feb. 25, Marcos and his family went to the U.S.-run Clark Air Base outside Manila and flew to Hawaii, where he died three years later.
The same day, Aquino was sworn in as the Philippines' first female leader.
Over time, the euphoria fizzled as the public became impatient and Aquino more defensive as she struggled to navigate treacherous political waters and build alliances to push her agenda.
"People used to compare me to the ideal president, but he doesn't exist and never existed. He has never lived," she said in the 2007 Philippine Star interview.
The right attacked her for making overtures to communist rebels and the left for protecting the interests of wealthy landowners.
Aquino signed an agrarian reform bill that virtually exempted large plantations like her family's sugar plantation from being distributed to landless farmers.
When farmers protested outside the Malacanang Presidential Palace on Jan. 22, 1987, troops opened fire, killing 13 and wounding 100.
The bloodshed scuttled talks with communist rebels, who had galvanized opposition to Marcos but weren't satisfied with Aquino either.
As recently as 2004, at least seven workers were killed in clashes with police and soldiers at the family's plantation, Hacienda Luisita, over its refusal to distribute its land.
Aquino also attempted to negotiate with Muslim separatists in the southern Philippines, but made little progress.
Behind the public image of the frail, vulnerable widow, Aquino was an iron-willed woman who dismissed criticism as the carping of jealous rivals. She knew she had to act tough to earn respect in the Philippines' macho culture.
"When I am just with a few close friends, I tell them, 'OK, you don't like me? Look at the alternatives,' and that shuts them up," she told America's NBC television in a 1987 interview.
Her term was punctuated by repeated coup attempts — most staged by the same clique of officers who had risen up against Marcos and felt they had been denied their fair share of power. The most serious attempt came in December 1989 when only a flyover by U.S. jets prevented mutinous troops from toppling her.
Leery of damaging relations with the United States, Aquino tried in vain to block a historic Senate vote to force the U.S. out of its two major bases in the Philippines.
In the end, the U.S. Air Force pulled out of Clark Air Base in 1991 after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo forced its evacuation and left it heavily damaged. The last American vessel left Subic Bay Naval Base in November 1992.
After stepping down in 1992, Aquino remained active in social and political causes.
Until diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2008, she joined rallies calling for the resignation of President Arroyo over allegations of vote-rigging and corruption.
She kept her distance from another famous widow, flamboyant former first lady Imelda Marcos, who was allowed to return to the Philippines in 1991.
Marcos has called Aquino a usurper and dictator, though she later led prayers for Aquino in July 2009 when the latter was hospitalized. The two never made peace.


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HDA Analyzer
From AlsaProject
The HDA analyzer tool provides a graphical interface to access the raw HD-audio control, based on pyGTK2 binding. The program gives you an easy-to-use GUI stuff for showing the widget information and adjusting the amp values, as well as the proc-compatible output.
This tool can parse also proc files (/proc/asound/card#/codec*) and output from alsa-info.sh script and monitor mode (check --help option);
Get the basic run.py script:
wget -O run.py http://www.alsa-project.org/hda-analyzer.py
Quick run:
python run.py
Quick help:
python run.py --help
Quick alsa-info.sh file analyzer:
python run.py /tmp/alsa-info.txt
Quick monitor mode:
python run.py --monitor
Do not forget to install pygtk2 or python-gtk package (depends on distribution).
Custom Search


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Team: Sales & Marketing
I specialise in: Sales & Marketing - Regional
Languages I speak: English & Spanish
About me: I always like to challenge myself and test how far I can go. I grew up in Los Angeles, CA and have always been interested in different cultures as well as traveling. I came to London because I wanted to expand my view of the world and it's the perfect place to meet people from all over! I chose a career in Recruitment as I feel that it's an industry that is constantly keeping you on your toes as well as giving you an exposure to different industries and people with different interests.
If I were a famous person, I would be: Dr. Ingrid Visser – who doesn't want to swim with marine mammals In the open ocean all day!?
A fun fact about me: I ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon in an Elephant onesie.


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fuzzone brauchte ein neues Website Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 20 Designs von 7 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
Mum's Mall
We are a UK based online shopping mall that exclusively feature baby products, toys, children's and maternity clothing from top online stores
We are a shopping mall dedicated to mothers/parents looking to buy:
- baby products
- baby clothing
- kids clothing
- toys and
- maternity products & clothing
Vistiors would be able to search for deals, compare prices across a number of stores and get voucher codes
We currently developing our main website but would like a landing page designed specifically for generating email signups.
Pregnant Mothers to-be,
New Mothers
Mothers with Toddlers/Kids
New Parents (Dads and Mums)
**NOTE** the logo has been changed and it attached as "mumsmall_logo.pdf"
The landing page we require designed would be our home page until our main website design is completed.
It would be linked to a Google AdWords campaign, email newsletters and other online marketing campaigns to generate interest and to build our database.
The core objective of this landing page is to gather email signups via a clear and easy to use email sign up form.
The landing page should communicate trust and warmth in order to encourage email signups.
Other objectives are brand awareness and to also encourage visitors to click through to our list of partner sites
The design on the landing page of this site is very similar to what we are trying to achieve: mumandbabyonline.co.uk
We also hope to incorporate aspects of the this landing page in flyers and other print marketing material.
We have attached the content of the landing page as:
Sections on the main site:
Baby Clothing
Bathing & Changing
Car Seats, Carriers, Boosters
Pushchairs & Strollers
Feeding & Baby Health
Nursery Furniture & Safety
Toys, Bouncers & Baby Gifts
Mothers / Maternity
Clearance & Offers
Shop by Brand
Discount Codes
The landing page that is to be designed should incorporate a list of should highlight the the existence of the above sections section (note that is not on the attached freehand design mock-up)


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US Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States will use a NATO summit next week to push for a coalition of countries to beat back incursions in Syria and Iraq by Islamic State militants who are destabilizing the region and beyond.
"With a united response led by the United States and the broadest possible coalition of nations, the cancer of ISIS will not be allowed to spread to other countries," Kerry wrote in an opinion piece published in The New York Times on Saturday.
Public anger over the beheading of American journalist James Foley has led President Barack Obama to consider military strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria. So far, the United States has limited its actions to the group's forces in Iraq.
The militant group, also referred to as both ISIS and ISIL, has seized about a third of each country and declared a caliphate, a reference to an Islamic state ruled by a caliph, which indicates a successor to the Prophet Mohammad, with temporal authority over all Muslims.
Kerry said he and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will meet with their European counterparts to enlist support for a coalition to act against Islamic State militants. "The goal is to enlist the broadest possible assistance," he wrote.
Hagel and Kerry will then travel to the Middle East to shore up support from countries directly affected by the Islamic State threat, he said.
Islamic State fighters have exhibited "repulsive savagery and cruelty" as they try to touch off a broader sectarian conflict, Kerry wrote, and the beheading of Foley "shocked the conscience of the world."
"Already our efforts have brought dozens of nations to this cause," he said. "Certainly there are different interests at play. But no decent country can support the horrors perpetrated by ISIS, and no civilized country should shirk its responsibility to help stamp out this disease."
Republicans and Democrats in Congress have called for lawmakers to vote on whether the United States should broaden its action against Islamic State.
Two prominent Republicans criticized Obama on Saturday for saying the United States has not yet developed a strategy for confronting Islamic State in Syria.
In an opinion piece also published on the op-ed page of Saturday's New York Times, Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham called Obama's statement on Thursday "startling" and "dangerous" and said the threat from Islamic State requires "a far greater sense of urgency" than the administration is showing.
McCain and Graham, in an essay headlined "Stop Dithering, Confront ISIS," suggested revising the Authorization for Use of Military Force so it could be used for evolving terrorism threats like Islamic State.
That would negate any need for members of Congress to approve specific military action against the group, or suffer the consequences of such a decision.
(Editing by Sandra Maler and Leslie Adler)


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Maspeth Teens Serving Notice of Tennis Dreams
Poland has never been known for its tennis players. Since Wimbledon hosted the first major tennis tournament in 1877, only one player born in the country has reached a Grand Slam singles final—her name was Jadwiga Jędrzejowska. She reached the women's finals of Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the French Open in the late 1930s; she lost on all three occasions.


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Amazon: And Now for Something Completely Different
Apr 2, 2014 7:09 AM PT
Amazon is widely expected to reveal a new set-top video streaming device on Wednesday. The company sent out teaser invites to journalists that include a photo of a couch with popcorn and the words, "Please join us for an update on our video business."
Vague? Definitely. But rumors that Amazon has been working on a streaming device have persisted for months, and The Wall Street Journal last week reported that it also was considering a free, advertising-supported video streaming service.
Variety, in the meantime, reported that an Amazon spokesperson denied plans to offer a free streaming-media service.
While no Amazon employee has gone on record to confirm a set-top box device, several reputable publications have -- over the last several months -- cited unnamed people familiar with Amazon's plans. Hardly a smoking gun, but considering that Amazon saw fit to refute the free-streaming service rumor -- but not the device rumor -- it's safe to say Amazon is going to deliver a streaming device.
Inside Amazon's New Set-Top Video Box
Amazon likely will introduce either a streaming stick like the HDMI Google Chromecast or a set-top box like the Apple Apple TV. Or, the company might produce both options -- like Roku's new Streaming Stick or more traditional Roku box.
Like the Kindle Fire, Amazon's operating system will be Android-based. It will provide streaming access to Amazon's video streaming library of movies and TV shows, which currently has two segments. The first is a "free" library of mostly B or C movies paired with thousands of TV shows available for on-demand access to Amazon Prime customers, who pay US$99 a year for augmented fast shipping of retail products, with the video access bonus.
In function, Amazon's Prime video service is similar to Netflix's video streaming service. And the second part of Amazon's video library? The company also lets customers rent or buy movies and TV shows on-demand, and this for-payment library includes Hollywood blockbusters and current-season TV shows.
More of the Same or Something Different?
The real question about this rumor is how might an Amazon-based video hardware device change anything?
Right now, Apple iOS users can stream Amazon Prime content via the Amazon Instant Video app, which even lets them throw the content to their Apple TV-connected HDTV via Apple's AirPlay feature. Xbox owners can stream Amazon Prime content to their living room HDTVs, too, with the Xbox-based app. And Roku? Roku owners can use an Amazon Instant Video app too.
If Apple has sold 13 million or so Apple TVs at $99 a pop, and if Roku has sold 8 million or so boxes and sticks at $50 to $99 -- and with some unreported number of Google Chromecast sticks sold at $35 -- what's the big deal if Amazon comes to the living room party?
Answer: ecosystem extension.
With its own hardware, Amazon won't have to rely on other companies to distribute its content. In addition, Amazon will be able to ensure that its content gets prime real estate on its device instead of fighting for attention with other apps, channels and services on every other device.
In fact, Apple doesn't even let Amazon have its Amazon Instant Video app directly on the Apple TV device (or Amazon doesn't want it there; hard to pinpoint why the app isn't native on the Apple TV since both Amazon and Apple are mum on the subject).
Right now, Amazon Prime is just another video streaming service. After this week's announcement, Amazon will be able to introduce a full chain of interconnected products and build it's ecosystem of content. From a consumer-focused position, this means that consumers can invest in a Kindle Fire tablet and have a content consumption experience that's replicated in their living room.
With Amazon's huge customer base, a set-top box will help ensure that customers keep Amazon top-of-mind -- not only for video content, but also for its Prime service, which also makes buying retail products online with super-fast shipping insanely easy. If the Amazon brand is always front and center in the living room, it stands to reason that shopping for products and books also might become more Amazon-focused for consumers.
All of this helps Amazon pump up customer activity.
Behind the scenes, if Amazon can expand its customer base and usage of its video services, it simply will gain power in the entertainment world. To reach these customers, Amazon will be in a better position to negotiate for streaming broadcast rights, as well as lay the foundation to build content delivery partnerships with Hollywood and television studios. Plus, in a new world where Net neutrality is suddenly just a pipe dream, Amazon may begin to be able to fight for -- if not pay for -- preferential streaming quality to its own hardware. In fact, according to one recent report, Apple currently is looking for special treatment on Comcast's cable internet network. If there's a new content war brewing, Amazon is going to want hardware to fight in it.
Even if Amazon doesn't angle for special Internet treatment, the company already is shaking up the content delivery space by activity investing in the creation of new television shows and movies. Amazon recently released 10 new pilots for possible TV shows to its Amazon Prime customers -- and even solicited feedback from fans to help decide which shows to green light for full seasons. Apple isn't doing this. Google isn't doing this. Roku isn't doing this. Amazon is.
Remember the wildly successful Stephen King breakout hit, Under the Dome? Amazon negotiated a new sort of streaming deal that helped goose CBS into producing the show, which has led to a second season as well as a brand new TV series with CBS, Extant.
"Our partnership with Amazon for Under the Dome helped build a creative, financial and marketing model for event television in the summer," noted Scott Koondel, chief corporate licensing officer for CBS Corporation, earlier this year. "We look forward to using the same model for Extant, a series whose creative auspices, on-screen talent and intriguing concept [are] already generating great excitement."
Any way you slice and dice Amazon's video efforts, it's all nontraditional with few competitors lining up head-to-head -- and a hardware device will only make Amazon stronger.


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Welcome to the Computational Biology Group!
The Computational Biology Group (CBG) is part of the Department of Computational Biology (formerly Department of Medical Genetics) at the University of Lausanne. We have interest in various fields related to Computational Biology, which are detailed in the Science section of this wiki. Briefly, there are two main directions: We develop and apply methods for the integrative analysis of large-scale biological and clinical data. This includes molecular phenotypes like gene-expression and metabolomics data, as well as organismal phenotypes (such as height, BMI or a disease). We focus particularly on relating these phenotypes to genotypes such as "Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms" (SNPs) and "Copy Number Variants" (CNVs) measured by microarrays or next-generation sequencing. Our goal is to move towards predictive models in order to improve the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease. A complementary direction of research pertains to relatively small genetic networks, whose components are well-known. We collaborate closely with experts of the field to identify biological systems that can be modeled quantitatively. Our goal in developing such models is not only to give an approximate description of system, but also to obtain a better understanding of its properties. For example, regulatory networks evolved to function reliably under ever-changing environmental conditions. This notion of robustness can guide computational analysis and provide constraints on models that complement those from direct measurements of the system's output.
In general, our group seeks an interdisciplinary approach, bridging the traditional gaps between physics, mathematics and biology. Our lab collaborates with experimental groups within and outside our department. In particular, due to our proximity to the University Hospital (CHUV) we have close contacts to medical research groups and assist the analysis of clinical data.
General info on this wiki
This wiki is the main instrument to centralize and archive information on and generated by the CBG. Ask Micha if you have any questions or need an account.


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· 5ft Kingsize Nancy Headboard
· White Colour
· 53.5cm in Height
· Other Sizes Available
· Other Colours Available
A sturdy yet economical strutted headboard finished in a practical wipe clean faux leather. Available in four colour options and designed to complement our standard divan base options.
The team at Interiors HQ are proud of all the products we offer, each of which have been carefully selected by our team of experienced interior professionals.
Create the look you'll love...
Standard Delivery will be in 5-7 working days.
For products and order values over €79.99 or £60 delivery is free.
For products and order values under €79.99 or £60 delivery will be charged at €8.99 or £7.00.
Express delivery (1-2 working days) is available on products and orders over €79.99 or £60 and will be charged at €39.99 or £30.


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Six former Wisconsin Badgers joined over 300 fellow draft prospects at the 2014 NFL Combine in Indianapolis over the weekend. Chris Borland, Jared Abbrederis, Ryan Groy, Dezmen Southward, James White, and Jacob Pedersen represented this year's class of alumni invited to the coveted showcase, all hoping to raise their stock in June. The six are the most selected from any team in the Big Ten, along with Ohio State who also had six. Every team in the conference had at least one recent graduate playing in Indianapolis.
Baylor and Oregon also sent a sextet to the combine. Alabama led the nation with 12 representatives, while defending NCAA champions Florida State sent nine. Only 13 programs sent at least five players.
Wide receiver Abbrederis dominated headlines as the likely premier pick coming out of Wisconsin. Already boasting higher stock as a result of an impressive showing at this year's Senior Bowl, Abberderis added 10-pounds to his frame and nearly met his self-proclaimed goal of a 4.4 second 40-yard dash. Only nine wide receivers at the combine managed better than 4.4 seconds. The Wisconsin native's best performances came in the three-cone drill and the shuttle. He placed within the top-15 wide receivers in both.
Blemishing Abbrederis' otherwise solid weekend rankings was a last place finish in the bench press. Struggling with strength at the Senior Bowl as well, he posted just four reps at 225 pounds in the final workout on Sunday.
Also noted in state press was the invitation of stand-out defensive lineman Borland. Earning a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award for his senior season in Madison, Borland's future as a pro was very much in question prior to the weekend. At just under six-feet, he is one of the smallest linemen on showcase in-front of the scouts, and his stats in the 40-yard dash, vertical leap, and broad jump reflected that. However, 27 reps at the bench press was good enough for fifth most, and unexpected top-15 showings in the shuttle and three-cone drill seems to have provided some redemption.
Groy joined Borland in the lineman workouts, finishing in the top-20 in all but one event. Pedersen matched that mark in the tight end corps, including a second-place 60-yard shuttle.
White's combine performance among running backs was about what was expected. 23 reps at the bench press put him in the top-five for the event, though lackluster standings in the other drills only strengthened critic's assertions that his overall small size will hold him back.


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|Japan Hot Movies
Click here to visit site
Content Amount: There are now 25 pages of videos, with 12 films on each page (for a total of 300 vidz). Movies range in length from an hr to close to 2 hours. New releases are added very oft, ensuring a constant supply of Japanese pornography.


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Wednesday 3rd April 2013
If you've been tuning in to the Breakfast Show on 1Xtra this week you'll already know that "Soundbwoy" the immense new single from UK dancehall star Stylo G is Twin B's 'Best of British' record of the week!
And this morning Stylo got up nice and early to join Twin in the 1Xtra studio for a chat. If you missed it you can listen back here.
If you didn't see it already, check out the "Soundbwoy" video here.
As well as being Twin B's 'Best of British', the single has been getting spins from the likes of Trevor Nelson, MistaJam, David Rodigan, CJ Beatz, Seani B and Robbo Ranx at 1Xtra. Radio 1 plays have come courtesy of Toddla T and Idris Elba (in the mix with Trevor Nelson) and over at Choice FM Daddy Ernie, Ras Kwame, Firin' Squad and Woody are all big fans.
Tuesday 2nd April 2013
People's Prince Charlie Sloth has chosen "Soapbox" – the new single from "Magnetic Eyes" star Baby Blue – to be his Record of The Week! The track will play out every day this week on Charlie's 1Xtra drivetime show between 4 and 7pm. Baby Blue will join him live in the 1Xtra studio on Thursday, April 4th.
Best known for her recent chart smash with Matrix & Futurebound, the London based singer, rapper, songwriter and all round superstar returns to her rap roots with "Soapbox". The tough-talking street track has Blue throwing out punchline after punchline and features the production skills of hot new talent Diztortion (currently grabbing attention for his work on Stylo G's "Soundbwoy" and Lethal Bizzle's "They Got It Wrong" featuring Wiley).
If you didn't already see the video for "Soapbox", made by SBTV, you can check it out here.
Charlie Sloth debuted the track in March and Blue joined him on the phone…jokes! If you missed it the first time round you can listen back here.
Since then it's been getting spins across 1Xtra (DJ Target, Viz, Nick Bright), Choice FM (Woody, Manny Norte, Firin Squad, Ras Kwame) and Rinse FM.


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366 Days of Anime School Uniforms: Day 163/366 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Day 163/366
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is about TIME TRAVEL!!!
Nice and simple which is how I like my real life school settings with a little sci-fi twist. Dark bottoms and white tops. AOK by chii.
Overall: Meh.
Top 15 MADHOUSE TV Shows
MADHOUSE is one of the biggest anime studios with well over 200 titles to their name. They hold almost all of the late Satoshi Kon's works too. They are still working on his final film Dreaming Machine that I actually can't wait to see. You'll find many of his titles in the lists below as I was a huge fan of his stuff. MADHOUSE is currently working with Marvel Entertainment to bring us some wonderful superhero anime that we have grown to love in comic form in the US. Some people might not like these titles as much as I do since I've been enjoying every single one so far. None of them has a rating lower than 8/10 for me. I also can't wait to finally watch Redline. I've heard wonderful things about it so far and it's one of the movies I'm really looking forward to sinking my teeth into.
I can not praise this show enough. It totally blew me out of the water and had me watching non stop whenever an episode would be released. It has a fun kind of CSI feel to it but it takes solving cases to a new level by using a new science that can look at the brain of the dead person to see if there are any clues to who murdered them. THAT IS SO COOL. I love murder mysteries so there's no reason why anyone who enjoys them too won't like this show. It also has a very good sub plot following the main detectives in the show that will keep you guessing.
Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell are 2 of the most manly men around in anime. Living the life of crime it was only sooner or later that something would come between the 2 men. This anime is about that tale and I was glued to my seat from start to finish. I know a lot of people are pretty confused with the first episode of the series as it is VERY different from the rest of it. But if you are willing to give it a chance past that episode you are in for a real treat. I need to re-watch this badly!
Kick ass women fighting monsters! There really isn't much more I can say honestly. That is probably good enough to get most to watch it anyway. I want a re-make or a season 2 of this show very much. I'll be getting the manga for it at some point when I can afford to do so. These girls seriously kick so much ass!
Chobits was the first manga I read. I collected the volumes as they came out and once it had an anime made of it I watched it happily. I can't say which is better because I honestly love both very much. Ironically my name is NOT a copy of Chii from Chobits as most generally think. I had the nickname chi when I was a kid in elementary school because I had a lot of "energy". Happy coincidence that the adorable Chii shares the same name. This is one of my most favourite romcom's because it's a little out of the ordinary.
Texhnolyze is one of those anime that I can't overly explain why I loved it so much just that I do. It was slow and gritty but kept me interested all the way through. It made me think and wonder about many things not just about the anime but in life. It's not one I would recommend to people unless they are willing to give anything a try and actually sit through it all.
Trigun is one of the first anime I watched and really got into. Everything about it was just so fun. I love western movies and this fit that spot for anime very nicely. It was a great treat to have gotten a movie made from it after all these years last year. It rebooted my love for this series and pushes me to re-watch it whenever I think about it.
Paranoia Agent I probably don't like for the same reasons as everyone else does. I liked it for Misae Ikari, the wife of Detective Keiichi Ikari. She shows up late in the series and if I remember was only in one or two episodes. Like I said in her character post I really DO have a Diary of an Anime Lived post half written that will explain my thoughts on her and the show further. I highly recommend watching!
I love prison movies so it was no surprise to me that I would love an anime about prison life. I liked the dated aspect of this show and how it actually showed life for the inmates after their release. The dark and terrible aspect of the show was grim and just right. It kept you watching just to see how terrible things could get. It also had a remarkable cast that you could love and hate at the same time as appreciating what they brought to the show.
Zombies, boobs, guns, and lots of action. Seriously what more do most need in a good post-apocalyptic story?
I'm a huge fan of X-Men so some blind sightedness is in order for this placement. But I feel that X-Men translated very well into an anime and I would actually like to see more someday. I don't think that will happen but I can hope! This is the way Wolverine should have been in his own anime!
Featuring adaptations inspired by six short stories from Japanese literature this series was a real treat. I love compilation anime and this one is one of the best I've seen. All were honestly very delightful to watch and it was great seeing Run, Melos! remade with pretty graphics.
Monster is a long anime that very slowly builds to a pretty awesome finish. Every character is very well thought up and watching their struggles was very enjoyable. Johan will send chills down your spine and Dr. Tenma will lead you on a fantastic journey to find out the truth behind everything. If mystery and suspense is your thing, why haven't you watched this show yet?!
Shokujinki are monsters that eat human flesh! But they look just like us until they are ready to feed! This story is fun and romantic in a very strange but charming way. The animation is so far out there that even people that like that kind of stuff might think they are taking it a bit too far but I think it's simply wonderful. It's very much worth watching if you can stand the strange awesome animation.
This show is very lovable for some reason. The characters were very interesting and well ninja fighting is awesome. I think I enjoyed it so much because someone actually said I wouldn't like it. HA! Proved them wrong! Season 2 was pretty kick ass as well.
MADHOUSE is to thank for how darn beautiful Casshern Sins is. Casshern Sins it's self is an pretty good story, slow in spots here and there but all is forgiven when you are watching it because of how wonderful it looks. Some might not enjoy how it looks since it's done in a very different style from the norm but that's precisely why I loved it as much as I do.
Other fun information
MADHOUSE shows that I've watched that are awesome too but missed the list: Kaiji, Akagi, Mouryou no Hako, Tatami Galaxy, and Kurozuka
MADHOUSE shows I still have to watch that will make this list a top 20/25 list eventually: Nana, Paradise Kiss, Master Keaton, Souten Kouro, Allison and Lillia, Record of Lodoss War, Tenjho Tenge, Hajime no Ippo, Uninhabited Planet Survive, Gokusen, Saiunkoku Monogatari, Mokke, Tokyo Tribe 2, Okusama wa Joshikousei, Hidamari no Ki, and Supernatural The Animation
MADHOUSE shows I still have to watch but have NO interest in actually watching them anytime soon: Dragon Drive, Magical Meow Meow Taruto, Chance Pop Session, Pita Ten, Aquarian Age, Magic Users Club, Maple Story, and Kamen no Maid Guy,
MADHOUSE shows I simply can't stand: Beck, Chaos;Head, Ichigo 100%, and Needless
MADHOUSE shows I was really disappointed by: Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Boogiepop Phantom (don't hate me digiboy :P), Ultraviolet: Code 044, and Death Note
Bonus List!
Top 10 MADHOUSE Movies/ovas
1. Ninja Scroll
2. Nasu: Summer in Andalusia
3. Battle Angel Alita OVA
5. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
6. Millennium Actress
7. Tokyo Godfathers
8. Perfect Blue
9. Metropolis
10. Chi's Sweet Home (Short series)
11. A Wind Named Amnesia
12. Birdy the Mighty OVA
13. Barefoot Gen
14. Paprika
15. Phantom Quest Corp OVA
I know I said that J.C. Staff would be next but for the 24-27 of June 2011, I'm holding a Monthly Marathon over on Anime-Planet and the theme is MADHOUSE anime. So clearly this list is more appropriate to advertise for the marathon than a J.C. Staff one! So I encourage people to sit down this weekend and watch some awesome MADHOUSE anime that they haven't seen or hell re-watch an old favourite!
chii Finally Made One!
Favourites are a great thing. What makes these shows mine is that I think about them very often when I'm thinking about anime and wish to watch them more than once. Some of them I've already watched 5+ times. To be a favourite they also must be entertaining as a whole series. So if they have season 2's or more, I should have loved them just as much as their season one. Everything on the list below applies! I've been meaning to make this kind of list for many years now and I've finally sat down and mulled through all my anime titles and picked these 100 to be my absolute favourites.
Like digitalboy I'll be updating this list regularly from now on but not once a month. I will only update when I feel an anime has stood up to my standards to break into this 100 anime list. I will keep a list at the bottom of this page which of which anime has moved in and which it has kicked out. I doubt that it'll happen very often but time will tell. Check out my Does Not Want List for a taste of my dislikes.
1. Legend of the Galactic Heroes
2. Fullmetal Alchemist
3. Full Metal Panic!
4. Hikaru no Go
5. Macross Plus
6. Romance of the Three Kingdoms
7. Jyu Oh Sei
8. Baccano!
9. Ristorante Paradiso
10. Infinite Ryvius
11. Mushishi
12. Princess Mononoke
13. Serial Experiments Lain
14. Ninja Scroll
15. Berserk
16. Super Dimensional Fortress Macross
17. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
18. Strawberry Marshmallow
19. Hi no Tori
20. Nasu: Summer in Andalusia
21. Gintama
22. Neon Genesis Evangelion
23. Koi Kaze
24. Oseam
25. Rose of Versailles
26. You're Under Arrest!
27. Durarara!!
28. Kare Kano
29. Kita e ~Diamond Dust Drops~
30. Twelve Kingdoms
31. Kemono no Souja Erin
32. Cowboy Bebop
33. Crest of the Stars / Banner of the Stars
34. Mobile Suit Gundam 00
35. Himitsu: The Revelation
36. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni / Umineko no Naku Koro ni
37. 3 x 3 Eyes
38. Whisper of the Heart
39. Honey and Clover
40. Now and Then, Here and There
41. Katanagatari
42. Kurenai
43. s-CRY-ed
44. D.Gray-man
45. Hunter X Hunter
46. Yakitate!! Japan
47. Detroit Metal City
48. Battle Angel Alita
49. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
50. Last Exile
51. Turn A Gundam
52. Guin Saga
53. Blue Submarine No. 6
54. Haibane Renmei
55. Astro Fighter Sunred AKA Tentai Senshi Sunred
56. One Piece
57. Detective Conan
58. Kara no Kyoukai - The Garden of Sinners
59. Bokurano
60. Claymore
61. House of Five Leaves AKA Sarai-ya Goyou
62. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo
63. Chobits
64. Vandread
65. Hotori: Tada Saiwai o Koinegau
66. Tytania
67. Heroic Age
68. Dirty Pair
69. Millennium Actress
70. Neko Rahmen
71. Kuruneko
72. Kuragehime
73. Puni Puni Poemy
74. Excel Saga
75. Arakawa Under the Bridge
76. Giant Robo
77. Dominion Tank Police
78. Canaan
79. Antique Bakery
80. Tokyo Godfathers
81. Iria: Zeiram The Animation
82. Nodame Cantabile
83. Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind
84. Grave of the Fireflies
85. Trigun
86. Alien Nine
87. Gunbuster
88. Texhnolyze
89. Rurouni Kenshin
90. Patlabor: The Mobile Police
91. Junjou Romantica
92. Ryofuko-chan
93. Gravitation
94. Gungrave
95. Sora no Otoshimono
96. Video Girl AI
97. Simoun
98. Shangri-La
99. .hack//SIGN
100. X: The Movie
My Top 20 Movies of the Decade 2000-2009
The second installment of my decades list brings us to Movies of 2000-2009. The Movies were a lot easier to do than the OVA's. At first it came out to 19 so it was very easy to pick just one more to make it an even 20. The ordering was pretty easy as well I found.
Lots of other bloggers have already put up their lists and you can find them all listed over on Kitsune's page. Check them out! There's a lot of great lists to be had for all those list crazy people! Also don't forget to check out my OVA's list if you missed it.
Ok, here we go with the movies!
20.) Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie 2: The Sealed Card (2000) - Now don't take this as I'm a CCS fan girl. Far from it. I just thought this movie was the best the entire series had to offer. It actually ended and actually made me care about the characters. Something that the series couldn't do.
19.) Arashi no Yoru Ni (2005) -Sure it's your typical, wolf meets goat story and they become friends. They get shunned by their own kind and then bad things start to happen. There is a nice message within this movie and it should not be missed because of animal protagonists.
18.) Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek (2004) - This short horror flick was actually successful in being pretty creepy. Which I find amazing as most anime in the horror genre aren't all that scary. With the cold dark animation and the chilling sound. This movie is sure to make you rethink what may be around that dark corner in the night.
17.) Nasu: Suitcase no Wataridori (2007) -An amazing follow up to Summer in Andalusia. Throws in more jokes and continues to shine right where the 1st one left off with a whole new setting yet the very same goal.
16.) Interstella 5555 - The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003) - Daft punk animated in space. Hell yes. Awesome music, entertaining visuals. Nothing more needs to be said.
15.) Kino's Journey: Life Goes On (2005) - After sitting through all of Kino's Journey it left me asking a lot of questions and wanting to know more about Kino in general. This movie gave me exactly what I was looking for. A great background story about Kino when she first started out with her adventurous ways.
14.) Howl's Moving Castle (2004) - This is one of my all time favourite Ghibli movies. Such wondrous adventures await these spectacular characters. With magical encounters at every turn this movie does not disappoint.
13.) Metropolis (2001) -This movie was my very first anime DVD I bought (all other stuff before it was on VHS :P) Sci-fi with robots it's best. Engaging characters and a killer plot, it'll keep you on the edge right till the very end.
12.) Steamboy (2005) - Steam punk never fails to entertain. Big huge machines and the stories of the people that deal with them everyday. They take you on one wild ride and won't let up till they have served you well. I've always loved the dark and gritty feel that the animation gives off.
11.) Mind Game (2004) -Perfect title for a oh so messed up flick. It kept me wondering what on earth was going on all the way through, while visually stimulating my brain. Studio 4C never disappoints!
10.) Tokyo Godfathers (2003) - A baby, homeless people, Christmas, and trannies. What more could I ask for in a movie?! lol ok well it might not be for everyone but it makes for a great Christmas movie to watch with the family... No seriously... LOL
9.) Millennium Actress (2001) - Following the story of an old retired actress she give one last interview diving into her memories which are mixed with real and fake memories from her movies that she stared in. This movie was a wonderful surprise in how enjoyable it was considering the constant jumping around it did. A tad confusing at times but it delivers in telling this womans fantastic story in a creative way.
8.) Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008) - I'm a HUGE RE fan and when this came out I was never happier. Seeing the wonderful work the animators did was simply amazing. Had some cute jokes thrown in here and there for the fans as well. Who can say no to delicious zombies?
7.) Kara no Kyoukai (2007 - 2009) -The Garden of Sinners is an amazing story with drool inducing graphics. Just watch!
6.) Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (2006) - Sci-Fi, romance, and time travel! I think I have a thing for time travel as almost anything that has that element in it I end up liking. At first I thought it was just going to be a boring slice of life show but I was pleasantly surprised with how things turned out. The characters are all lovable and keep you wanting to watch to see what happens.
5.) Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (2000) - Dark and deep this movie will keep you on your toes to guess what happens next. Shocking consequences occur for main characters that you soon won't forget.
4.) Nasu: Summer in Andalusia (2003) - Who would have thought a movie about cycling could hold such a fantastic story and keep me interested. Sure it's about Pepe riding a bike pretty much the entire movie but that is exactly what made it so special. If anyone can make something as boring as that entertaining I'm all for it.
3.) Oseam (2003) -A touching South Korean film filled with tragedy and adventure. I can not simply express how amazing this movie is. It touched me in a way that not many anime has been able to. It moved me to tears and I hope others get the exact enjoyment out of it that I did.
2.) Fullmetal Alchemist The Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (2005) - The adventure continues and ends with this amazing movie from the FMA series. Sure some people didn't like how it ended or how it was done. But it certainly pleased me and I was glued to the screen the entire time I watched this movie as I didn't want to miss a single moment. I can re-watch this movie at anytime.
1.) Cowboy Bebop The Movie (2001) - Everyone's back and as entertaining as ever in this wonderful movie. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride in what this movie had to offer me. Lots of action, awesome characters, and a driving plot. It never fails to entertain no matter how many times I've seen it.
Look forward to the next in line for the decades list! My Top 60 Series of 2000-2009.


text:
For those who keep asking me, "What books should I read, O Master?" but who have not read Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, and for those who keep asking, "I have no teacher, whatever shall I do?" I present this excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki's classic. It's on page 72 and the chapter is called "Right Attitude." Take it away, Shunryu!
"Our Soto way puts an emphasis on shikan taza, or 'just sitting.' Actually we do not have any particular name for our practice; when we practice Zen we just practice it. Even though we are sleepy, and we are tired of repeating the same thing day after day; even so we continue our practice. Whether or not someone encourages our practice, we just do it.
"Even when you do Zazen alone, without a teacher, I think you will find some way to tell whether your practice is adequate or not. When you are tired of sitting, or when you are disgusted with your practice, you should recognize this as a warning signal. You become discouraged with your practice when your practice has become idealistic. You have some gaining idea in your practice, and it is not pure enough. It is when your practice has become rather greedy that you become discouraged with it. So you should be grateful you have had some warning signal to show the weakness in your practice. At the same time, forgetting about your mistake and renewing your way, you can resume your original practice. This is a very important point."
By the way, for the "I have no teacher" crowd, you know, you really do need to make a little effort. It's not enough to just Google® the name of your hometown and the word "Zen" and then just give up when the entries you find there don't live up to your expectations. In Zen, there's a saying that you should not answer questions about Buddhism until the questioner asks three times. I don't know anyone who practices this literally. It's just a rule of thumb to follow so that you're not wasting time with people who just want to make frivolous conversation and who are not serious. Many good teachers do not advertise their presence. Most of them certainly don't blog!
My advise to those who don't have a teacher? Get out from behind your computer screen and look. It takes time sometimes.


text:
Editor's Note: In January 2005, more than 3,500 members of the 155th Brigade Combat Team, a National Guard unit based in Tupelo, Miss., were deployed to Iraq. The brigade is stationed across five bases just south of Baghdad. Members of the 115th BCT have been tasked with both establishing peace and restoring the Iraqi economy through grassroots projects like building schools and assisting Iraqi farmers.
In April, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo sent reporter Jennifer Farish and photographer Thomas Wells to Iraq to report on the lives and jobs of the 155th BCT. The following story by Farish was a result of that assignment.
Despite the obvious cultural differences between life in the United States and here at Forward Operations Base Kalsu, Iraq, it seems some things are universal.
Soldiers with the 155th Brigade Combat Team who work in civilian life as farmers are using those common bonds both to communicate with Iraqi tribes and to offer new ideas to improve the small farming community.
"I try to show them that other than being soldiers, we are just like they are. We just speak a different language," said Sgt. Charles Smith of Holly Springs, Miss.
Smith, who works in a guard tower just yards from one of those farms, has shared homemade tomato juice, pickled okra and other Southern delicacies with farmers who grow many of the same vegetables.
"I like to show them that we grow the same things in America, we just use different spices," he said during a visit to a farm.
As you survey the flat, lush fields surrounding the dry, rocky Army base, it is easy to see the similarities between this area and parts of northeast Mississippi. Rows of wheat, corn and vegetables are offset by fields in which the farmers watch over herds of goats, sheep and cows. The animals are herded much as they were in Biblical times, watched by children holding staffs.
The Iraqi women play an important role in farm work, spending most of their days harvesting feed for the animals. The grass is harvested in blocks from one end to the other, so that by the time they reach the opposite side, they can start over.
Sunup to sundown
"I've watched the women work from the tower," Smith said, "and they will work in the field from sunup to sundown and then go home and take care of the house and their families."
The 155th agriculture project, dubbed Amber Waves, is aimed at introducing new farming and animal care methods to the area, which relies heavily on their crops as a source of income.
Two pounds of squash will yield a mere 15 cents at the market in Basrah, while male cattle will sell for more than $100.
Growing season is just beginning here, explained Capt. Jesse Cornelius of Palmetto, Miss., head of the project. "What we would consider spring is still winter here," he said. "The temperatures have been in the 80s for weeks, and things are just now turning green."
Speaking to farmers through a translator, Cornelius told a group of six men that the 155th BCT will help them replace aid provided by the former Iraqi government.
"The farmers are going to have to organize and do some of these things themselves," he said. "We are going to try and help you do that."
To which one of the Iraqi farmers responded, "Your ideas are much appreciated. It is very good for my animals and my tribe's animals."
The soldiers plan to help in other ways, such as building a bridge so farmers can herd their animals across the deep canal; offering a dip tank for the herds of animals to remove lice and insects; and clearing the banks of the canal to allow better water flow.
But the American farmers might learn from the Iraqis as well. They recycle everything, using animal waste for compost and brush and trash for heating their outdoor ovens.
"If it is something they can use, they are going to use it," said Sgt. Jacob Alexander of New Albany, Miss. "Nothing in this country goes to waste."
How to help
Editor's Note: The following e-mail from Capt. Jesse J. Cornelius is a response to an inquiry about how American farmers and agribusinesses might help U.S. soldiers as they try to improve farming in Iraq, a part of their mission in establishing peace and getting the Iraqi economy back on its feet. Anyone interested in provided needed supplies and information can contact Cornelius by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Things have been really hectic here and I have been on the road a lot. I have been in contact with the (Iraqi) minister of agriculture office and they are excited about your offer to help.
They are looking for seed corn for variety trials. They don't start planting corn for another month or so here and plant through the middle of August. They have asked our assistance in securing 1 ton of seed for 10 to 20 varieties of hybrid corn. This seed will be used to plant test plots throughout the country. This would be a great opportunity for seed companies there to get a foothold into Iraqi agriculture. If the varieties do well they will be looking to buy seed in the future. Do you have any contacts in the seed industry who might be interested in helping in this area? I know that is a lot of seed but most planting is complete in the states and they may have some seed left over.
We are also looking for companies who would like to provide vegetable seed for the same purpose. If we can prove they produce well here, it will open a very large market for American companies.
We have the clearance to get seed shipped in here so that should not be a problem.
Also any educational materials you might have on raising corn, soybeans, rice, wheat and barley. Vegetables are also big here.
Do you have any contacts in the poultry industry? I recently met with a representative of the Iraqi poultry producers association. He is interested in talking with some American companies. The poultry industry has a lot of potential here in Iraq.
Do you have any contacts in the vegetable processing business? I am looking for portable food processing units that can be moved by tractor trailer.
Also anyone you know who works with cooperatives. We are trying to start up cooperatives and any info you could get us on how to operate them would be great.
All of these areas need our help.
Agriculture Officer, 155 BCT