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Author: Preston St. Pierre
SAM Linux Desktop, an Xfce-fronted distribution based on PCLinuxOS, aims to be a complete and modern desktop operating system. Though it has problems that need to be worked out before it will match the competition, it offers an easy install, a 3-D desktop environment, and a flurry of programs to suit your needs.
The SAM install image is actually a live CD with the option to install. I was able to choose my Dvorak layout on boot by pressing F3, and SAM correctly set the layout for the system keyboard as well as the setting under X. Most distributions set one or the other, but rarely both. When SAM booted I ran the installer linked from the desktop. It was an easy, straightforward install with a few simple questions followed by about seven minutes of copying files on my Sempron 2800 with 512MB of memory. One of the things that impressed me about the installer, as small a thing as it may be, was the fact that the keyboard layout selection screen had Dvorak selected for me, reflecting my decision at boot. This is a logical consequence, but few installers take it into consideration.
When I booted to my installed system and loaded the skinned Xfce desktop, I decided to run the Install Video Driver shortcut located on the desktop. While it required manual selection of my video card (an Nvidia GeForce 7300GS), the program automatically installed the driver for me and told me to restart X. I decided to try the Activate 3D shortcut next, enabling Compiz-Fusion with full effects. However, when I restarted X and logged in, I got an error that said "'SAM Linux Menu' could not be loaded," and the bottom left SAM menu did not work. There were also no 3-D effects. I tried running it again with xgl instead of native (though my card supports it). This time there was no error when I logged in, but the clock program on the desktop was not displayed, with a gray box covering the area it usually occupied. There were some 3-D effects, such as switching desktops, but it was unusably slow.
I disabled the 3-D effects and attempted to do a little troubleshooting. Turns out, the Install Video Driver program, while claiming to have successfully installed the driver, actually did nothing of the sort. xorg.conf was set to load the "vesa" driver, and when I set it to "nvidia," thinking the script had simply not changed my configuration, X would no longer start. I went to Nvidia's Web site, downloaded the driver for my card, and successfully installed it manually. Activating the 3-D effects was also successful at this point, though the clock was still a solid gray box.
Compiz-Fusion really is amazing. It adds some incredible visual effects without impairing usability or noticeably lagging the system. It was disappointing, however, that I had to install the driver manually after the distro's script claimed to have installed it.
After manually installing the drivers for my card, not only did Compiz-Fusion work, but the green tinge and horrible lag I had seen when playing videos with gXine were gone. All sorts of codecs seemed to be installed, but without the video drivers the rendering was not handled well. The default audio player is Exaile, but it couldn't handle my modest 10,000 MP3 collection without noticeable lag, especially when searching and loading the program. Luckily the Audacious audio player, a fork of Beep Media Player, which is itself a fork of XMMS, was also included.
Since I have never had problems with XMMS, I assumed Audacious would work similarly well. To my dismay, however, the scroll bar in Audacious would not work properly. I could not drag the bar up and down, making scrolling the only way to traverse the songs. As you might imagine, scrolling through that many songs is not fun. The searching at least went as quickly as I'd hoped, but the whole experience left me missing the old working XMMS.
When it comes to office programs, SAM chose to include Abiword, Gnumeric, NoteCase, Orage, and PDFedit instead of the usual OpenOffice.org. I like Abiword, and I don't begrudge SAM for including it instead to save space, but the lack of PowerPoint support in the default SAM install led to me downloading OOo anyway. Perhaps most home desktop users won't need to open PowerPoint presentations though, and the installed office suite covers general word processing, scheduling, and financial management areas well.
SAM includes GTKam and Xsane for your digital camera and scanning needs, as well as Inkscape and the GIMP for when you're feeling artistic in a vector-y or bitmappy sort of way. A variety of time-wasting games are included for your playing pleasure. Streamtuner lets you browse Internet radio streams. Grip rips your music to disk, and GnomeBaker can back it up in case your disk crashes. XChat, Pidgin, and Skype are available for those who like to chat, Liferea for those who want to keep up to date via RSS feeds, and Claws Mail for staying in touch. Putty and TightVNC are included for remote connections. Firefox is the default browser, but Dillo is installed too. Wine is also included and already configured.
I ran into a few snags while using SAM, and there may be other problems I didn't encounter. Yet even with these problems, SAM proved to be relatively easy to configure and use as a desktop system. The large variety of available programs will suit most home user needs, yet the install is kept to one CD.
SAM still has a way to go before all of the bugs get worked out, but it's worth downloading now to take a look at.
- Reviews
- Linux
- Distributions


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Audio Video
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subset: commoncrawl


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My. 2010 went by bloody quickly, didn't it? I can't believe it's already a year ago that I was waking up on New Year's Day on the lovely peaceful island of Gili Air in Indonesia after a rather large night of dancing on the beach with my mates Simon & Katie from back home.
2010 wasn't a bad year at all as far as travelling concerned, as I got to see more countries than any year apart from 2009 (which made up the bulk of my round the world trip). So here's what I got up to…
After spending the new year in Gili Air, I made a quick stop back in Bali (where annoyingly I had both an iPod and my new shorts stolen) before flying off to the other end of the archipelago to the huge island of Sumatra to spend a couple of days chilling out on the shores of Lake Toba and then trekking through the jungle to see Orang Utans in Bukit Lawang – which was an absolutely incredible experience, getting to see such beautiful creatures close up.
I had a quick stop off in Kuala Lumpur, giving me enough time to see the Petronas Towers, watch Avatar in 3D (and wish I hadn't bothered), do a bit of shopping and stuff myself full of amazing Malaysian food. I had planned to spend more time there in February, but my planned visit coincided with Chinese New Year and everything was booked up. So I shall have to return another time to see all the things I want to see.
The Philippines
The Philippines were never on my original travel itinerary but thanks to an amazingly cheap sale over at Air Asia I decided it was too good an opportunity to miss, and I am so glad I did – it was my favourite country of all the ones I visited in 2010. So many incredible experiences, from trekking through the stunning rice terraces of Batad, seeing the hanging coffins and incredible cave system of Sagada, seeing the best beaches of my life in Palawan, seeing the adorable little Tarsiers in Bohol, diving with Thresher Sharks in Malapascua, and best of all, swimming with whale sharks in Donsol, the absolute highlight of my entire round the world trip. Words cannot describe quite how incredible the experience of swimming just inches away from those beautiful creatures.
February saw me spending a week in Singapore, eating more great food, doing a fair bit of shopping, catching up with my best mate from school, and taking a well-earned break from hectic travelling by watching lots of the winter Olympics. If I'm honest, I'd have to say Singapore was my least favourite country of all the ones I visited in my round the world trip, but it was worth visiting to see an old friend and to chill out.
I had planned to spend a bit longer in Thailand enjoying the beaches and doing some diving…but walking through a plate-glass window on my second day put paid to that, and I still have the scars to remind me. But I did get two separate visits to Bangkok, which is rapidly becoming one of my favourite cities in the world.
Burma / Myanmar
The plus side of my accident was it meant I had to make new travel plans – and gave me time to fit in an extra country. The two weeks I spent in Burma were incredible – it was a real adventure from start to finish, I saw some amazing sights (the temples of Bagan are probably the most impressive ruins I have seen anywhere – I reckon even better than Angkor, Machu Picchu or Tikal), and spent time with the best group of fellow travellers I met all year.
March saw one final stop before heading home to England, but I had just enough time to see Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Angkor, before chilling out on an incredible private island off the coast of Sihanoukville.
Back Home
I flew back to a bitterly cold and wet London on March 29th but was soon rewarded with three months off enjoying a beautiful spring of unemployment and plenty of time to explore bits of London I'd never seen before, and quickly remembered why I love this city so much. Elsewhere during the year I managed visits to Newcastle for a mate's birthday, Edinburgh for the festival, Somerset for my sunniest and best ever Glastonbury festival, and Lyme Regis in Dorset for a wedding. But there was no way I was going to spend the rest of the year just in the UK…
I celebrated the end of my year of travels and unemployment with a week in Croatia in June, travelling down the gorgeous Dalmatian coastline, gorging myself on Italian food, narrowly avoiding being speared by sea urchins, and trying to escape the constant drone of vuvuzelas blasting out of all the football bars.
My final trip of the year took me to Nicaragua, which was the perfect two-week holiday spot – I spent a bit of time on both Pacific and Caribbean coasts, climbed up four volcanoes, explored the stunning cities of Leon & Granada, and drank far too much delicious Flor de Caña rum.
You can see my favourite photos from my 2010 travels here. And here's a map showing all the places I went to:
Not a bad year at all. Nine countries, Nine world heritage sites, nineteen islands, five national parks, and nearly four months of travel in total.
So what does 2011 have in store for travels? Hopefully I'll be skiing in Switzerland in February, and I'm currently considering my first ever trip to Africa with a possible trip to Madagascar in April. I'm also thinking of spending next Christmas doing a bit of hiking in Patagonia. Other than that I'm sure I'll find time to fit in some mini breaks in Europe too. I might even finally get round to blogging about Nicaragua and the rest of Croatia.
Happy New Year to anyone still reading, and I hope you all have lots of exciting travels in 2011.


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AfriGeneas Genealogy and History Forum Archive
Re: Death Certificate Question
In Response To: Re: Death Certificate Question ()
Thanks for responding Vera.
I did not mean to sound harsh. I am just frustrated. I have all the cenus information that I could find on a Will Witherspoon. This is my problem. Not knowing whois parents were, I do not no which of these families I have found on the censes records from 1930-1970 is his. I went to the church where he was buried, and was informed by the deacons, that they did not keep any records before 1950. I called every funeral home in Lancaster County, SC. None of these funeral homes have any Will Witherspoon in the archives. I requested his death certificate from Vital records in Columbia, SC. I was told that they did not have it, to check with the funeral that was the undertaker at that time. Ingoring that fact that I stated in my request that I had no information on Will as far as his burial. I contacted Lancaster County office, of course they sent me back to Vital Records in Columbia. I am just frustrated being sent back and forth to the same places that has already told me that they have no records. I do apprecaite your assistance, I was just upset because I knew that I have cover all of my grounds and was seeking for help in other directions that I may not know of.
Thanks again.
Messages In This Thread


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Effect 1
The magician shows a quarter dollar coin and a one euro coin in his left hand. He closes both hands and when he opens his hands, he finds only a quarter dollar, because the 1 euro coin has traveled to the other hand.
Effect 2
The magician shows two coins, a quarter dollar and 1 euro coin, he places them on the pad or a tablecloth. He covers them with the hand for a second and uncovers them: he only finds one coin and the other coin has gone through the pad. When he lifts the pad, the 1 euro coin will be there.
Do you own this product? Write a review.


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- News Center Main
- About Us
- Press Releases
- Multimedia
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Offers Free Recycling for any Office Technology Product on Earth Day, April 22
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS), the world's largest office products company, today announced it is rewarding customers by offering free printer recycling and a $50 rebate with the purchase of a new printer (regularly priced $179 and up) at all Staples 1,500 U.S. stores and Staples.com through May 2, 2009.
Staples is offering free technology recycling (one item per person) at Staples stores on Earth Day, April 22, 2009. (Business Wire: Photo)
Staples, a leader in office technology recycling, is hosting the printer recycling event for the second consecutive year. During the 2008 recycling event, Staples collected more than 100,000 printers, and expects to recycle even more this spring. To make it easier for customers to recycle office technology, Staples is also offering customers free recycling of any technology product it sells on Earth Day, April 22, 2009, at any Staples store nationwide. Customers can bring in any item Staples sells to recycle at their local Staples, including telephones, digital cameras, computers, laptops and GPS devices (one per item customer).
"Staples is a one-stop shop for a wide variety of technology products, from computers and printers to digital cameras and GPS devices," said Scott Rankin, VP/DMM of technology merchandising, Staples. "We are committed to making it easy for customers to make a difference, what Staples calls EcoEasy, by providing customers with recycling services. The printer trade in program is an easy way for customers to recycle their old printers safely, and upgrade to a new printer that best meets their needs."
The printer recycling event also offers significant savings on exclusive Staples EcoEasy Edition printers by HP. Each printer in this line is an Energy Star-qualified product and helps customers save resources with automatic double-sided printing. Plus, with every purchase from this line, Staples will make a donation to Carbonfund.org to offset the average energy consumed over three years of product use. These donations will go toward supporting Carbonfund.org's Return to Forest reforestation project.
The HP Staples EcoEasy Edition printers available at Staples stores include:
Every day at Staples customers can earn $3 back in Staples Rewards® or Staples Teacher Rewards® when they recycle any brand of ink and toner cartridges, up to 10 per month. Staples also offers every-day free in-store recycling of cell phones, PDAs, Dell computer equipment and any brand of computer accessories, and technology recycling for printers, laptops, computers and monitors for a $10 service charge.
About Staples' Environmental Commitment
Staples long-standing commitment to sustainable business practices is based on four key environmental cornerstones: recycling, offering a wide assortment of eco-friendly products, investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy and educating customers and associates about sustainability. Through its EcoEasy commitment, Staples makes it easy for customers to make a difference for the environment by offering more than 3,000 eco-friendly products and providing everyday, in-store recycling for computers, office technology, personal electronics and ink and toner cartridges. For more on Staples environmental initiatives, please visit www.staples.com/ecoeasy.
About Staples
Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. With 2008 sales of $23 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples serves businesses of all sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. In July 2008, Staples acquired Corporate Express, one of the world's leading suppliers of office products to businesses and institutions. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.
About Carbonfund.org
Carbonfund.org is the country's leading nonprofit carbon offset and climate solutions organization, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact. Carbon offsets enable individuals and businesses to reduce carbon dioxide emissions they are responsible for in their everyday lives by supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects where they are most cost effective. Carbonfund.org works with over 1,000 corporate and nonprofit partners including Discovery, Staples, Hyundai Motor America, Amtrak, Virgin America and Orbitz. Visit www.carbonfund.org for more information.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5922595&lang=en


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Holiday Inn Tomball hotels are provided below. Search for cheap and discount Holiday Inn hotel prices in Tomball, TX for your family, individual or group travels. We list the best Holiday Inn Tomball hotels/lodging so you can review the Tomball Holiday Inn hotel list below to find the perfect place.
This technology will also list discounted Tomball, TX hotels/motels that have similar star rating to Holiday Inn.Need a group/meeting discount? Get quotes from hotels in Tomball TX
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Is Justin Bieber Smoking? [PHOTO]
With all the stress in his life from his various legal issues and court cases and his on-off relationship with Selena Gomez, has Justin Bieber picked up a nasty habit and started smoking? While he posed for a picture with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, he has clarified that is not a smoker.
While the Biebs did test positive for pot in his system related to his Miami arrest in January, the singer isn't down with cancer sticks. He posted a black and white photo on his Instagram, wearing a white t-shirt and showing off his sleeve of tattoos, with his pompadour 'do in full view.
The image and the pose was very reminiscent of the late James Dean, the young hunk of 'Rebel Without a Cause' who died tragically and too soon in a car accident at the age of 24 in 1955.
Dean was emblematic of the anti-teen idol that Bieber was when he first got famous. Now that he has become a bit of a rebel, Bieber's pic certainly pays homage to Dean in more ways than one.
With the cig in his mouth and his gaze averted, the Biebs projected a smoldering image, but he realized that he would catch heat and flack for it, posting: "This is James Dean inspired. Don't ask me if I smoke ciggys cuz I don't."
Got that, Beliebers? He is not smoking.
However, a lot of fans and their parents might see this pose as promoting smoking regardless of the fact that he doesn't partake in the habit. It might even be seen as glamorizing it, since, whether he likes it or not, he is a role model and millions of teenagers look up to him and his every move.
See the pic below.


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So boys and girls, I thought I had already posted THE simplest necklace to make in the world, but I was wrong! This new creation needs no talent, no skill and no time - seriously, the emphases is on NO TIME. Once again, I'd like to claim it to my name and in some way I guess I can, though it suspiciously looks like a necklace for 400 USD I found somewhere on the internet :). Keep on breathing and reading ... this one will cost you only about 10 USD or less.
The 400 USD inspiration:
This is what you need:
A chain about 3 (2.5) feet (depending on the length you like) with links big enough for a ribbon or fabric to pass through
1/4 inch ribbon
Cut your ribbon to 6 inch length strips, fold in half, loop through the links. I did 2 loops per link but if you want a bushy necklace, go crazy looping! Attach clasp as usual.
I seriously did everything today to post a photo of me wearing the necklace like you see in those professional looking blogs and the kind I turn green reading :) I covered our standing mirror with a sheet, dressed up and down for the shoot trying headless (and headful) poses, built a tripod from cook and craft books, used a timer for the first time on my camera, ran back and forth into the shot and it all ended up looking like roadkill on a way to a red carpet event. So with that said, here is the end product displayed on my brand new Guatemalan coffee sack bag:
Now run and buy some chain and ribbon (though I think pretty torn fabric pieces would look amazing also) and start looping! And if you make one let me know ok?
I am hoping to be back at least once a week again.
LoLoVie to you all,


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• My design is unique and my high-quality print is vibrant. I am fond of long-lasting relationships and adventures, so my outsole and toe cap are made of durable rubber.
• My inside is soft and comfy. You will be walking and dancing on my super memory EVA insole to give you the best comfort and support.
• I am a Yes We Vibe high top shoe, so if I don't fit, no worries; the team will send you another pair! I'd love for you to take me on your journey with all my good vibes!
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Upcoming Events
- August 24, 2019
- 12:00 am
- Museum of Military History, Museum of Cultural History, Pioneer Museum, Tswaing Meteorite Crater
Museum of Military History
During the First World War (1914 – 1918) no formal showcase was made of South Africa's involvement in that war. In 1940, Capt J Agar-Hamilton was appointed official historian of the Union Defence Forces. The formation of an Historical Research Committee that same year was to ensure the preservation of documents and military memorabilia and lay the foundation for the establishment of a museum.
The South African National War Museum was officially opened on 29 August 1947 by the then Prime Minister of South Africa, Field Marshal J C Smuts PC, CM, OM, DTD, KC. At the opening ceremony, Smuts stated the following: "… We are gathered here today to open what may not unfairly be looked upon as a memorial to the greatest united effort our country has been called upon to produce. Memorials, of course, have more than one use. They serve to remind us of what is past, of great deeds of heroism and sacrifice; they also serve as a pointer, and sometimes as a warning to the future.
It is in these senses that the South African War Museum may be regarded as a memorial. It will remind us, I hope, not only of the part we played in the recent great struggle to save civilization, but also of the horrors, the loss of life and the devastation, and serve as a warning to us to create a world in which we shall never have to use again the weapons of mass destruction we see here today, or those dreadful weapons to follow them …"
He was referring to South Africa's participation in the Second World War and had pinpointed the raison d'etre of the Museum's existence. In 1975 the Museum's name was changed to the South African National Museum of Military History and its scope was expanded to include the history of all military conflict in which South Africans have played a part. The Museum also serves as a popular and unusual venue for conferences and other functions.
In 1999, following the restructuring process of national museums, the Museum was amalgamated together with the Transvaal Museum of Natural History and the National Cultural History Museum into the Northern Flagship Institution. This institution was renamed Ditsong: Museums of South Africa in 2009 and the Museum is now called the Ditsong National Museum of Military History.
The Museum is also regarded as the spiritual and symbolic home for all soldiers and veterans in South Africa. As a result a number of veterans' organisations use the Museum as their headquarters. The South African Military History Society, the South African Arms and Ammunition Collectors Association, the South African Arms and Armour Society, the Gold Reef Scale Modelers and the Warsaw Flights Commemoration Committee use the Museum for monthly and annual meetings and are considered to be part of the 20 organisations that are stakeholders.
Our Mission
To be a memorial for all South Africans who have died in or as a result of military actions and to preserve our nation's military history for future generations.
The Museum provides programmes and activities for all age groups.
A visit to the Museum may include:
- An opportunity to study relevant artefacts on display
- A guided tour, available on request during the week
- An opportunity on weekdays to use our extensive library and photographic facilities for research purposes on week days only.
Museum View
The Military History Journal
Published bi-annually in conjunction with the South African Military History Society, the journal carries articles on military history (especially South African Military History), as well as book reviews, letters, personal reminiscences and news of the activities of the SA Military History Society. You can visit the Society's website at www.samilitaryhistory.org .
The Museum Despatches
This newsletter appears twice a year and informs our stakeholders of the latest news and developments at the Museum. Included are informative articles on activities and special events, new displays, special visitors and staff.
Admission Fees
Prices for Adults, Learners and Senior Citizens
|R45.00 p/p
Learners/Students and Children
|R30.00 p/p
SA Senior Citizens
|R20.00 p/p
Guided Tour
|R65.00 p/p
International Visitors : Adults
International Visitors : Child
|R70.00 p/p
R70.00 p/p
|R40.00 p/p
Conferencing Facilities
The W F Faulds VC Conference and Function Centre
The Marrières Wood Banqueting Room, the Delville Wood Workshop Room and the J C Lemmer Auditorium are the facilities that constitute the W F Faulds VC Centre. The Dan Pienaar Gun Park is also available for evening functions.
The Marrières Wood Room
- On the ground floor
- For dining and cocktail functions
- Kitchen for use by caterers
- Seating space for 160 diners
- Cocktail space for 250/ 300 participants
- Air-conditioning
- Public address system
The Delville Wood Room
- On the first floor
- Covered external stairways
- Workshop seating with moveable trapezoid desks for 100 people
- Overhead projector
- Digital projector
- Air-conditioning
- Suitable for exhibitions and displays
The J C Lemmer Auditorium
- Seating for 176 people cinema style
- Overhead projector
- Digital projector
- Public address system
- Two white boards
- DVD and video facilities
- Air-conditioning
The Dan Pienaar Gun Park
- Cocktail and dining facility
- Kitchen and preparation area
- Seating space for 200 diners
- Cocktail space for 350 participants
- Public address system
The Museum does not provide its own catering but can offer a list of recommended service providers. Tea, coffee and biscuits can be arranged on request.
Prices for the use of the Museum facilities are dependent on the facilities required, staff overtime and the length of the function.
Information Centre
The Lt Gen A M L Masondo library, archives and photo archives has a unique collection of over 70 000 books, periodicals, primary archival material and photographs. Pre-arranged bookings for viewing archival files and photographs must be made. Identity books must be shown before any viewing can take place.
Interviews with military veterans are conducted in the library as part of an ongoing oral history collection project.
Services provided by the Information Centre for a fee include
- Photocopy facilities
- Prints or scans of photographs
- Reading room
Take note
- This is not a lending library.
- No service records of South Africans in the First and Second World Wars and the Border War are held here. These are available at the SA National Defence Force Documentation centre. You can contact them at email@example.com .
No service records of British soldiers who fought in the Anglo Boer War are kept. These are available from the National Archives in the United Kingdom. You may visit their website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
The War Store, not attached to the Museum, sells military ephemera to collectors. After a tour of the Museum, visitors can relax and order refreshments at the Vargas Café. For more details on both stores visit www.warstore.co.za
Contact Information
Physical Address:
Museum of Military History
22 Erlswold Way, Saxonwold, Johannesburg, South Africa
Postal Address:
PO Box 52090 Saxonwold, 2132
GPS Coordinates:
Contact Details:
Tel: 087 086 7019; 011 646 5513
Fax: 011 646 5256
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Admission Daily:
09:00 – 16:30
(Excluding Good Friday, Christmas Day and the first Sunday in September when the Jazz on the Lake concert is held at Zoo Lake)
Facilities for Visitors with Disability:
All exhibition areas, displays, the Auditorium and the Marrieres Wood Room are easily accessible. Toilets for the disabled are provided.
Where We Are:
The Museum is situated in Erlswold Way in the northern Johannesburg suburb of Saxonwold adjacent to the Johannesburg Zoo and close to the recreational area of Zoo Lake. It is easily reached by road and bus routes down Oxford Road and Jan Smuts Avenue pass by our entrance. The latter option leaves a short walk to the Museum. There is ample parking for the motorist.


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SEATTLE - Nate McLouth gave Baltimore a quick start with a leadoff home run and the Orioles beat the Seattle Mariners 10-4 Monday night to tighten the AL East race.
Matt Wieters went deep and Adam Jones scored four times for the Orioles, who moved within a half-game of the first-place New York Yankees. Baltimore also opened a three-game cushion over the Los Angeles Angels for the second AL wild-card spot.
Chris Tillman (8-2) allowed one run and three hits over six innings, supported by Baltimore's 15 hits. He struck out four and walked none.
Jones and Tillman were two of the five players Seattle sent to the Orioles in a lopsided trade for left-hander Erik Bedard in February 2008. The right-hander is 4-0 with a 0.98 ERA in four career starts against his former club. Against everyone else, he is 11-17 with a 5.44 ERA.
McLouth, Wieters and Jones each had three hits. Jones' four runs set a season high for an Orioles player.
The Mariners scored all their runs on homers. Michael Saunders hit an opposite-field shot, his 16th, to left in the second off Tillman. Eric Thames hit his eighth off Zach Phillips in the eighth and John Jaso had a two-run drive, his ninth, off Luis Ayala in the ninth.
The Orioles jumped on starter Hector Noesi (2-12) from the first batter and didn't let up until they chased him after just 1 1-3 innings.
McLouth opened the game with a home run into the right-field seats on an 0-2 pitch. Mark Reynolds and Manny Machado each had an RBI single later in the first.
J.J. Hardy and Reynolds each had a run-scoring double in a four-run second, and Jones added an RBI single. Another run scored on an error for a 7-0 lead.
Noesi gave up eight hits and six earned runs in his 54-pitch outing. He walked two and struck out one.
Wieters hit a two-run homer to center in the fourth on the first pitch from Oliver Perez. It was his 22nd, tying his career high.
Endy Chavez finished the Orioles' scoring with an RBI single in the sixth.
The Orioles have won six of seven meetings with the Mariners this season.
Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said he's "pleasantly surprised" that OF Nick Markakis does not need more surgery on his injured right thumb. Markakis was hurt Sept. 8 and was given a six-week timetable for a return. It's unlikely he'll be available unless the club advances well into the playoffs. ... Orioles RHP Jason Hammel, who came out of his start last Tuesday with a knee issue, is progressing slowly, according to Showalter. It's uncertain when he will start again. ... Baltimore RHP Miguel Gonzalez likely will start Friday in Boston. ... Mariners manager Eric Wedge started his regulars. "We are going to put out our best lineup," he said. He added that his players are doing more than just showing up. "No one is looking at the finish line right now," he said. "I don't sense that at all. They're all focused on today."


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Samsung S7500 Trebon
Read help info
You can select which network modes your phone can use. This setting determines the data speeds you can achieve. Follow these instructions to change network mode.
1. Find "Network mode"
2. Select network mode
If you select GSM/WCDMA (Auto mode), your phone automatically switches between the two network modes provided that you're within range of a 3G network.
If you select WCDMA only, your phone can only connect to 3G networks.
If you select GSM only, you can't achieve high data speeds.
3. Exit
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- Rather than having a set list of book abbreviations, Accordance only requires that you enter enough of a book name to uniquely identify it. Thus, "1p" is all you need to identify 1Peter, while 1Corinthians would require "1Co" (to distinguish it from 1Chronicles).
This ability was recently beefed up in Accordance 6 to account for an even wider variety of abbreviations. Thus, "Luk", "Lu", and "Lk" will all find the book of Luke. "Mat", "Mt," "Mw," Maw", "Matw", "Mtt", and other combinations will all find Matthew. Basically, as long as you get close, you're likely to find the book you're looking for.
- When dealing with book names beginning with a number, you can have a space between the number and the book name ONLY when it is the first reference in the entry box.
Thus, you could have "1 Peter 3:1; Matthew 5; 1Sam 17" and it would work. But if you have "1 Peter 3:1; Matthew 5; 1 Sam 17", that space between the "1" and the "Sam" will cause Accordance to protest.
Why does that space cause so many problems? Because Accordance has no way to tell whether the "1" is part of the preceding reference (i.e.: "Matthew 5; 1") or part of the reference which follows ("1 Sam 17"). This ambiguity doesn't apply when a numbered book name begins an entry, so the space is permissible there.
- You can use "f" or "ff" (an abbreviation which means "and following") after a reference to see all the following verses/chapters. Thus, "1p 2:8f" will show you all the verses from 1Peter 2:8 through the end of the chapter. "1p 2f" will show you all the chapters from 1 Peter 2 through the end of the book. Finally, "1p f" will show you all the books from 1 Peter through Revelation. It's a lot quicker than trying to enter a range with an ending book, chapter, or verse.
David Lang


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division cases
This information was the most current on file in criminal division of Marion County District Court as of Dec. 13. Information often is not available until more than a week after hearings. Journal entries must be checked before they are filed.
Todd Michael Beneke, c/o Marion County Jail, Marion; pleaded no contest Dec. 2 to charge of criminal false communication, sentenced to 30 days jail; ordered to pay $233.
Robert Scott Henderson, 808 N. Poplar St., Peabody; charge of criminal damage to property dismissed Dec. 2.


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Full TitleAn Evaluation of the Toxicity and Therapeutic Effects of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Immune T-Lymphocytes Derived From Normal HLA-Compatible or Haplotype-Matched Donor in the Treatment of EBV-Associated Lymphoproliferative Diseases or Malignancies and Patients with Detectable Circulating Levels of EBV DNA Who Are at High Risk for EBV-Associated Lymphoproliferative Diseases
This study will evaluate a therapy for the treatment of a blood disorder caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), the same virus that causes infectious mononucleosis. This blood disease, called EBV-lymphoproliferative disorder, occurs when a type of white blood cell, called a B cell, divides uncontrollably in the liver, lung, brain, or other vital organ. This disorder can be life threatening, and conventional cancer therapies often are not successful against it.
An EBV-lymphoproliferative disorder can develop in patients with weakened immune systems, such as those who have received bone marrow transplants or organ transplants. At Memorial Sloan-Kettering and at several other institutions, successful treatment of this disorder occurred in a small number of bone marrow transplant patients who received infusions of white blood cells taken from their bone marrow donors who were immune to Epstein-Barr virus.
Based on these studies, Memorial Sloan-Kettering doctors want to learn whether donor white blood cells immune to EBV can be grown and treated in the laboratory to increase the number of EBV-immune cells and to reduce the number of cells that may react against a patient's tissues (a process called graft-versus-host disease) or against a transplanted organ following a heart, lung, kidney, or liver transplant. Patients in the study will receive intravenous infusions of white blood cells, called T cells, which are immune to EBV.
To be eligible for this study, patients must meet several criteria, including but not limited to the following:
- Patients must have weakened immune systems due to the immune suppression associated with a bone marrow or organ transplant or treatment of a cancer; or have a severe genetic deficiency of immunity, EBV-related lymphoma, or lymphoproliferative disease; or be at high risk for developing such a disorder.
- Patients must have a genetically matched or half-matched relative who is immune to EBV and willing to donate T cells, or a genetically matched unrelated bone marrow donor who is immune to EBV.
For more information about this study and to inquire about eligibility, please contact Dr. Susan Prockop at 212-639-6715.


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March 8, 2005
MACON, Ga. - The Atlantic Sun Conference coaches have selected Georgia State senior guard Patechia Hartman as the 2004-05 A-Sun Women's Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. UCF's Gail Striegler won the A-Sun Coach of the Year award after leading the Golden Knights to the A-Sun Regular Season title for the third consecutive year, compiling a 16-4 conference record. UCF's Celeste Hudson earned the A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year honor, while Troy's Amy Lewis earned A-Sun Freshman of the Year honors, the second consecutive year a Lady Trojan has won the award and third time in the last six years.
In earning her second consecutive A-Sun Player-of-the-Year honors, Hartman finished second in the A-Sun in scoring with 16.1 points per game, as well as second in assists with 5.17 per contest. Hartman became just the fifth person in league history to win multiple awards and just the third to do it in consecutive years. The senior was also named first team all-conference for the second straight year.
The rest of this year's A-Sun all-conference first team is identical to both last year's all-conference team and this year's preseason team: Lipscomb's Courtney Boynton, Stetson's Kristy Brown, UCF's Celeste Hudson, and Belmont's Brandi Miller.
The A-Sun all-conference second team selections include Belmont's Hollie Davis, Troy's Laura Lee Holman, UCF's Ali Roberts, Stetson's Nefertiti Walker and Florida Atlantic's Shontavia Williams.
Troy's Amy Lewis led the group on the A-Sun all-freshmen team, after finishing 13th in the A-Sun with 12.8 points per game. Joining Lewis is Campbell's Letitia Dickson, Florida Atlantic's Missy Glaser, Lipscomb's Kaleigh Gossman and Belmont's Brooke Sunday.
Voting for all A-Sun honors was completed by the 11 conference head coaches. The 2005 Coca-Cola A-Sun Women's Basketball Championship will once again be held in Dothan, Ala. at the Dothan Civic Center, this coming Thursday thru Saturday.


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Most or all visual depictions displayed on this Website are exempt from the provision of 18 U.S.C. section 2257 and 28 C.F.R. 75 because said visual depictions do not consist of depictions of conduct as specifically listed in 18 U.S.C section 2256 (2) (A) through (D), but are merely depictions of non-sexually explicit nudity, or are depictions of simulated sexual conduct, or are otherwise exempt because the visual depictions were created prior to July 3, 1995.
Should there be any visual depictions displayed on this Website of actual sexually explicit conduct, such models, actors, actresses and other persons appearing or otherwise contained in this Website were over the age of eighteen years at the time of the creation of such depictions.
All visual depictions displayed on this Website involving nudity and/or partial nudity have been thoroughly vetted by the webmaster to only include visual depictions of subjects appearing to be clearly above the age of 18, though this is not a requirement according to the Section 2257 Compliance herein referred to.


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Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
I attempt to install with the LinuxMCE Quick install DVD and it fails as it goes through the installation.I get to the option to select which drive to install it to.I select the drive and it sets up the partition (inodes and stuff) and then states it created the filesystem and returns both drive identifiers (hdb1 '/' and hdb5 'swap').I'm not sure what's going wrong. I also go to CTRL-ALT-F8 and the last thing it states was initializing was:"Running local boot scripts /etc/rc.local" and never progresses any further.I have had Ubuntu and MythTV both on this box before so I don't believe it's the hardware causing an issue.Any help is sincerely and greatly appreciated.
[ ... ]We've installed lmce-0704 from the DVD iso numerous times now on different i915/i945 & i965 Cores without problems... so I assume there is something about your hardware that is causing the DVD iso to fail. Not sure what that might be though.
Quote[ ... ]We've installed lmce-0704 from the DVD iso numerous times now on different i915/i945 & i965 Cores without problems... so I assume there is something about your hardware that is causing the DVD iso to fail. Not sure what that might be though.I had exacly the same problem, what U have to do is switch to console (alt+2)sudo -ivi /usr/bin/lite-installer.shcomment the line that runs the formatdrive functionand run the /usr/bin/lite-installer.sh script againit worked for meBest Regards
Press ins button, then pres the #Save exit is :wq
Sorry for the delay in my response from the question before.3. vi /usr/bin/lite-installer.sh- move the cursor down to the beginning of the line that you need to comment out- type the letter "i" on your keyboard and this will place you to "edit" mode ("i" stands for "insert" as in: insert text starting here)- type the "#" sign (shift-3) ... the # sign is used to comment out a line, when the script is parsed it skips anything after the # sign and moves to the next line- hit the "ESC" key on your keyboard and this will take you out of edit modeNow to save the file:- type the ":" key and that will put you in "command" mode- type the "wq" ("w" stands for "write" and "q" stands for "quit") keys so that now the line at the bottom of the screen reads like ":wq" and hit the "ENTER" keyGood luck.


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I'm back with part two of my no-laptop challenge (have a look at the No Laptops Allowed Challenge Part 1, in which I introduce my personal challenge to work solely from my BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 smartphone), and this time, it's all about the hardware I'd recommend you have on hand to most easily succeed with just your BlackBerry® smartphone for your day-to-day tasks.
First, let me thank everyone who responded to the first post! Not only was it motivating to hear about your experiences, but it was also nice to see some additional challenges thrown my way. In part three, I'll cover application essentials; but here in part two, we're going to talk about the hardware that is essential to this challenge. You'll be able to find all these items at the Official RIM BlackBerry Accessories Store, so be sure to stop by and order a few of these handy items for yourself!
|BlackBerry USB Charger x 2:
One charger should be dedicated to the BlackBerry® Presenter (as it doesn't run on a battery), and the other can be used for various charging purposes. I would also highly recommend the smaller plug for size consideration when it comes to packing your bags.
|BlackBerry Presenter:
You can read the blog post about BlackBerry Presenter to find out more details of this product, but I've been finding this piece really helpful while travelling. I'm always presenting different material, from Microsoft® PowerPoint® to sections of PDF files, and this is a must-have in my bag.
|Bluetooth® Headset:
Another must have for two key reasons:
1. In some states and several provinces in Canada, it is against the law to drive and talk on your phone (unless it is hands-free).
2. Hands-free is great because it enables you to talk while taking notes or listen while watching a Cisco WebEx®.
Also, for more Bluetooth tips, check out this recent post from the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog about how to pair your Bluetooth-enabled headset with a BlackBerry smartphone.
Note: If you prefer, a wired headset is fine. You could also choose high performance ear buds and save a little room in your bag.
|Extra Battery:
Having an extra battery for those extra-long days is handy. This came in handy last week at Lotusphere when my day started at 6 AM and ended around midnight with no time to charge. (Again, the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog has got a great post about battery-saving tips)
|BlackBerry® Leather Swivel Holster or BlackBerry® Leather Pocket:
The magnet in the case does wonders for overall battery life.
|USB Splitter Cable:
I would list this as an optional item, but I did find it useful when charging my BlackBerry smartphone and Bluetooth headset at the same time.
|microSD Card:
I would recommend getting the largest one possible to carry your files, music and movies. I have at least 10GB of space dedicated to corporate files.
|Performance Ear Buds:
For music, video and even podcast a good pair of in ear buds are great, especially for those noisy flights!
|BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet (coming soon):
There were several comments on the first post regarding the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and how it would fall into my challenge. I've started to travel with one now, so look for a future post on how it was used.
That wraps up what I use from a hardware perspective. Did I miss anything you use for essential hardware? Post a comment and let me know!


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New SOF website with expanded shop!
You may have noticed on your way to purchase a 2012 Studio On Fire Letterpress Calendar that studioonfire.com has a completely overhauled look! We're pretty proud of the new site and have plans to add more features in the coming weeks. Being the paper-oriented people that we are, our friends over at westwerk design handled the creation of the site for us. Not only were they were great to work with, but their studio is conveniently located just upstairs from our basement workspace.
Along with the new site is additional merchandise for the store! All of our classic items are still available, as well as the 2012 calendar and several new posters.
Above: Artisan Activist Poster, Crane Lettra Flo White 110C, 13″ x 19″, 2 Color Split Fountain on 2 Separate Plates + 1 Tonal Varnish
Above: Sunshine Poster, Crane Lettra Flo White 110c, 12" x 16", 3 Color Split Fountain
Above: Matter Into Spirit Poster, Crane Lettra Flo White 110c, 13″ x 20″, 2 Color Split Fountain + Blind Impression


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It's funny, when I work on the majority of my clients, I extend a wash of color from all over the lid out to the end of the brow and up to include the crease. But when I do my own makeup, I only shade in the lid. Is it a preference thing or a case-by-case basis? Does it depend on the time of day or the outfit or mood? Yes to all! Still, I wanted to do a side-by-side experiment with the same eye and the same single shadow color to draw a personal conclusion and open it up to our TBD readers for your opinion. Please take a second to vote and share any comments below!
For inquiring minds, the eye shadow I used above is Buxom Stay There Eyeshadow in Pug!


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OAKLAND — When very large, high-strength steel rods on the new Bay Bridge snapped in early spring, worried commuters suddenly saw bolts everywhere and wondered why some hold and others fail.
And rightfully so. Steel fasteners clamp together everything from office furniture to spaceships, and questions about their strength are natural.
Metallurgists have been studying the same thing for more than 50 years.
But as the broken bolts on the Bay Bridge demonstrate, not every industry pays the same level of attention to the answers.
Where weight-conscious aerospace and auto designers write highly customized specifications for critical components that absolutely cannot fail, bridge engineers often bulk up on parts and rely on safety in numbers.
As a result, Bay Bridge designers used "off-the-shelf" industry standards for the bolts — including 32 that later snapped — which is the equivalent of "going down to Home Depot," said Detroit auto materials engineer Cory Padfield, who is writing a textbook for the American Society for Metals that will feature the busted Bay Bridge bolts as a case study.
"I feel bad for Caltrans because they did get bad steel," Padfield said. "But Caltrans didn't put in enough effort into the initial specifications. The automobile and aerospace people learned this lesson a long time ago, but the construction industry is just now starting to catch up."
Rather than write their own specifications for the myriad pieces and parts on a project, Caltrans engineers and the design consultants they hire rely heavily on standards set by American Society for Testing and Materials International, which has 144 technical committees made up of public and private industry representatives who are experts in everything from cement to steel alloys to electrical conduits.
But the guidelines are voluntary, and registered professional engineers must exercise their best judgment given the specific project.
"ASTM is the minimum, and specifications can be written to modify or increase those levels," said Ron Bianchetti, a corrosion engineer with Russell Corrosion Consultants. "But it is up to the professional engineer to evaluate every element of a project's safety and consider the well-being of the public; it is what we are tasked to do under the law."
One-of-a-kind projects such as bridges are purposefully overdesigned, meaning they contain duplicate and heftier components that give the structures 150-year life spans, experts say. Space and weight are lesser factors in the design, and if a few bolts should crack, it won't — usually — doom the entire span.
On the other end of the spectrum, aerospace, airplane and auto manufacturers don't need products to last 150 years, but they do need them to be relatively compact and light. Engineers for those products operate within tight weight and space constraints, where a bigger fastener or an extra bolt is not an option.
When an O-ring seal failed on the space shuttle Challenger in 1986 shortly after takeoff, for example, it broke apart and all seven astronauts died. Seven years earlier, when key bolts securing the engine on a DC-10 airliner sheared, the engine fell off over Chicago and the plane crashed, killing all 258 passengers and 13 crew members.
These industries treat fasteners and other pieces deemed too important to fail as "safety critical" and demand customized fabrication specifications and testing designed to significantly reduce the odds that a bad part will end up on a car, airplane or rocket.
"A rocket launch vehicle is a flying bomb," said aerospace engineer Leon McKinney, whose St. Louis-based firm consults on NASA projects and private satellite systems. "If a part fails and the launch blows up, a lot of bad things happen. At minimum, you lose a $500 million satellite. At worst, it could fall into a populated area and kill people."
Steel choices
The Bay Bridge design team at Caltrans, TY Lin and Moffatt & Nichol, could have written tougher specifications that might have averted the bolt failure.
As it was, the engineers included about 500 pages of special provisions, plus hundreds more in a series of amendments to the eastern span contract. They put the heaviest testing and inspection requirements in the areas where they anticipated the biggest construction challenges for what would become the largest bridge of its kind in the world. But when it came to the bolts, like the vast majority of government transportation departments, they opted for the industry standard and chose a superstrong grade of galvanized steel for its combination of strength and flexibility. The steel was used for 2,306 fasteners on the new self-anchored suspension span, including 96 very large anchor rods embedded in seismic stabilizers.
On the flip side, high strength steel is susceptible to a well-known phenomenon in which hydrogen atoms invade the spaces between the alloy's crystalline structure, causing it to become brittle and fracture. ASTM standards warn that galvanizing increases the chances of embrittlement.
But the bridge team went ahead, relying on ASTM's recommended fabrication practices for "safeguarding against embrittlement of hot-dip galvanized" fasteners.
And as the world now knows, despite the preventive measures, a third of the 96 anchor rods produced in 2008 by Dyson Corp. in Ohio snapped in March within days after contractors tightened them down.
The bolt failure triggered a retrofit estimated to cost as much as $20 million, and cast doubt on the integrity of the span's other fasteners made from the same grade of steel. The problem also delayed the bridge's planned Sept. 3 opening date to at least December.
Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty repeatedly has reminded policymakers that the broken fasteners met all ASTM specifications and passed all tests in place at the time. But with critical fasteners broken and unusable and the rest of the steel undergoing additional testing, Caltrans in April backtracked and tightened its specifications.
It's still not enough, countered materials engineer Padfield.
"On safety-critical parts, Caltrans needs to write custom specifications just like Boeing does," he said.
Lacked expertise
If the bridge design team had seriously consulted metallurgists who fully understood the reasons behind the ASTM warnings against galvanizing high-strength steel, they wouldn't be in this mess, said UC Berkeley materials science professor Tom Devine.
"It may be that you can design and build a bridge without input from a metallurgist, but if you are going to do it, it is incumbent upon you to rigorously adhere to the industry-accepted specifications and standards," Devine said.
Others say the bridge bolt problem shouldn't be used as a call for writing custom specifications for every fastener. Frieder Seible, chairman of the Seismic Safety Peer Review Panel for the Toll Bridge Program, and John Fisher, a fellow panelist, said the snapped bolts were the inevitable consequence of engineering innovation driven by the demand for public safety in a seismically hazardous region. Engineers chose high-strength galvanized rods to meet the state's stringent earthquake safety standard for the new span, while accounting for the corrosive marine environment.
Unfortunately, the panelists said, the research and experience behind the ASTM standards and testing protocols used by the bridge design team was based on bolts that were half the diameter and used at far lower loads.
The Bay Bridge bolt experience likely will lead to engineers turning to lower-grade alloys, dropping hardness levels and reducing the loads or change designs.
"It is one of those moments in time where engineers, as a profession, learn a little bit more and move the state of the art to the next level," said Seible, who has advised Caltrans since 1990.
Still, the Bay Bridge is the first and only span either man has seen where galvanized high- strength fasteners of this grade, diameter and length are loaded to 70 percent of their capacity.
That pushed the rods into the danger zone on three fronts: The higher the strength and the greater the load, the more susceptible the fasteners are to hydrogen-induced fracture. Slightly less than half of the span's 2,306 strongest fasteners are tightened to more than 50 percent, the level metallurgists consider the threshold for embrittlement.
"I didn't even know they were using (this grade of steel) until the bolts failed," said Fisher, an internationally recognized expert on structural steel failures who joined the peer panel in 2008.
On the whole, the panel never discussed the adequacy of the bolt specifications until the March failure, said Seible.
Contact Lisa Vorderbrueggen at 925-945-4773, http://politicswithlisav.blogspot.com or Twitter.com/lvorderbrueggen.


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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) Chris Eversley scored 19 points, sparking Cal Poly to an 88-59 victory over Hawaii on Thursday night.
Cal Poly (8-9, 4-3 Big West) went on a 14-0 run early in the game to take control. Cal Poly snapped a three-game losing streak, and defeated a conference opponent at home for the eighth straight time.
Brian Bennett scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Cal Poly, which had a 38-21 advantage on the glass.
Reese Morgan scored 16 points, including 4 of 8 shots from 3-point range, and Drake U'u scored 14.
Christian Standhardinger and Isaac Fotu scored 14 points each to lead Hawaii (10-9, 4-4). Brandon Jawato added 12 points.


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JAKARTA (Reuters) - China's plan to board and search ships that illegally enter what Beijing considers its territory in the disputed South China Sea is a very serious turn of events, the head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said on Friday.
"My reaction is (this is) certainly an escalation of the tension that has already been building. And it is a very serious turn of events," ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"It is extremely important to exercise restraint and to try to approach this development with a level head and be open to listen to concerns of all parties, all sides," he said.
The South China Sea is Asia's biggest potential military trouble spot with several Asian countries claiming sovereignty over waters believed to be rich in oil and gas.
China claims virtually the entire sea. The Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia claim various parts.
The shortest route between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the South China Sea has some of the world's busiest shipping lanes. More than half the globe's oil tanker traffic passes through it.
New rules, which come into effect on January 1, will allow police in the southern Chinese province of Hainan to board and seize control of foreign ships which "illegally enter" Chinese waters and order them to change course or stop sailing, the official China Daily reported.
"It certainly has increased a level of concern and a level of great anxiety among all parties, particularly parties that would need the access, the passage and the freedom to go through," said Surin, speaking from Thailand.
"The problem is that you can stake the claim, you can initiate measures and policies but there is that potential of misunderstanding, miscalculation that could lead to major tension and major incidents," he said.
The move, if mishandled, could undermine confidence in East Asia as a locomotive of global economic growth, he said, adding that whether or not it was legal depended on the positions of the parties involved.
Matthew Bigg
Reuters - http://www.chicagotribune.com
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For those with celiac disease who need to adapt to the gluten-free diet for their health, finding there's weight gain involved along with the diagnosis is the ultimate kick in the pants.
Talk about an emotional rollercoaster: the celiac journey begins with years of feeling awful, with no answers in sight; then, the thrill of a diagnosis; next, the grieving period as celiacs say goodbye to favorite foods; then optimism, as you find a gluten-free diet you can live with; and finally, the frustration of gaining weight on the regimen that heals.
It's been eight years of such ups and downs for Anna Baldassini. The 40-something mom and accountant, diagnosed with celiac disease in 2009, had been experiencing unusual symptoms since 2003, including iron deficiency and unexplained weight loss. Standing 5-foot-6, she'd long hovered between 160 and 170 pounds, but was down to 150 after her second child was born in 2004.
"People started saying I looked a little gaunt and skinny," she recalls. "I hadn't been that low since I was 16, so I was liking it." Still, a nagging worry about her iron levels led her to an eventual celiac diagnosis.
Baldassini is an avid cook and baker who was used to spending hours in the kitchen making breads and cookies with her two kids. Determined not to feel deprived or go hungry, she immediately immersed herself in all things celiac – especially gluten-free baking. "I was in discovery mode," she says. Within a year, she had gained 30 pounds. "I wasn't paying attention. My weight started creeping up."
The adjustment was hard, says Baldassini, who lives just north of Toronto with her husband and children. "I'm Italian, so I love to bake bread. Pizza and me are good pals. I felt like these things got pulled away from me." That's a common reaction among the newly diagnosed.
"Celiacs go through a series of emotions, including a mourning period of giving up their favorite foods," says registered dietitian Beth Wall, a nutrition support specialist at the University of Chicago's Celiac Disease Center. These feelings of sadness and anger are fueled and complicated by a subsequent weight gain. It just doesn't feel fair.
So what is behind the extra pounds with a gluten-free diet? There are three main factors at play.
Healing Brings Calories: When a person with celiac disease eats foods containing gluten, the immune system responds by damaging or destroying the villi – the tiny, finger-like protrusions lining the small intestine that, among other things, help the body to absorb nutrients. But once on a gluten-free diet, the intestinal lining and the villi usually heal, and that's when patients finally start absorbing protein, calories and fat, explains Alexandra Anca, a Toronto-based registered dietitian, celiac specialist and author of the recently published Complete Gluten-Free Diet & Nutrition Guide.
The result: those with celiac disease who eat the exact same amount of calories, protein and fat as they always did can suddenly begin to gain weight.
Next: Overeating before diagnosis, with no weight gain


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Books, articles, news, updates and links from Southern California writer Chip Jacobs
Strange As It Seems: The Impossible Life of Gordon Zahler
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The Ascension of Jerry: Murder, Hitmen and the Making of L.A. Muckraker Jerry Schneiderman
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text:
Degenerative changes of the vertebrae and disks that make up the spine are common in the aging population and may be associated with either osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. However, when these changes result in an asymmetry, a sideways curve of the spine measuring 10 degrees or greater, the condition is described as degenerative scoliosis.
The cause of spinal osteoarthritis and degenerative scoliosis is not known, but clearly the condition is accentuated by daily "wear and tear" or micro-trauma, and activities that jar the spine repeatedly - for example, as in a person who operates a jackhammer. Less frequently, a fall or other traumatic accident can ultimately lead to a diagnosis of degenerative scoliosis.
To understand how this process occurs, it is helpful to think of the spine as a series of bony blocks, the vertebrae, which are connected by facet joints that permit movement in the spine. Disks sit between the vertebrae and provide cushioning and protection. The spinal cord runs through the spinal canal, a passage created by the vertebrae.
Degenerative changes can occur in the discs or the facets. When arthritis develops in the facet joints, it is very similar to the process that occurs in the other joints of the body, with thinning of the joint cartilage and rubbing together of the bone ends. Disc degeneration includes the inner part of the disk: a jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposis that begins to dry out as it ages, or the outer part of the disk: the thickly ligamentous annulus fibrosis, which develops rips and cracks as it wears. The cumulative degenerative changes in all three of these can result in spinal stenosis, in which the passage surrounding the spinal cord and cauda equina become constricted and the nerves circumferentially compressed.
Patients with degenerative scoliosis usually seek medical attention when they experience pain or other symptoms in the back, hip, buttocks, or legs, according to Matthew E. Cunningham, MD, PhD, who is an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).
Pain in the back is typically related to spine arthrosis or muscle spasms, and can radiate into the buttocks, the thighs, and the hips. These are referred to as axial symptoms. Radicular symptoms result from compression or pinching of a nerve, and may include shooting pains, sometimes described by patients as "lightning bolts," sciatica, or numbness in the legs. These pains may take different pathways down the leg and foot, depending on the specific nerves compressed in the affected area of the spine.
Another manifestation of a compressed nerve is muscle weakness in the leg or foot; an example may be a condition called foot drop, in which the patient has difficulty lifting the front part of the foot. Patients with degenerative scoliosis who have developed stenosis may also experience fatigue when walking or a heaviness in the legs that subsides when the he or she leans forward or sits down.
In addition to a physical exam and patient history, orthopedic surgeons use imaging techniques to confirm the diagnosis of degenerative scoliosis. These will include: full spine x-rays from the front and from the side and in some cases a CT scan, which can provide additional detail including evidence of arthrosis of the facet joints. CT images may also reveal the presence of small fractures that may not be visible on x-ray images.
Figures 1 & 2: X-rays showing degenerative scoliosis in its first stages (left) and in a more progressive case (right).
Figure 3 (left): CT scan showing normal facet joints with a green arrow pointing
to the smooth and regular joint surfaces.
Figure 4 (right): CT scan showing abnormal, osteoarthritic facet joints with thinned and irregular joint
surfaces (shown by the green arrows) and bone spurs (noted with the letter B).
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be used to obtain information about the nerves, disks, and soft tissue in the spine. This is particularly helpful in determining the cause of radicular symptoms in the legs.
Figure 5 (left): MRI of a patient with a facet cyst (shown by he green arrow) causing compression of nerves.
Figure 6 (right): MRI of same patient after facet injection and cyst rupture (shown by the green arrow),
completely relieving the compression and eliminating the patient's pain.
When assessing a patient in whom degenerative scoliosis is suspected, the orthopedic spine surgeon looks at the angles in the spine as well as the balance of alignment between the head, spine, and hips. If a curve is present, it's important to assess whether it is likely to progress and to find other factors that may be contributing to the patient's deformity, such as spondylolisthesis, a condition in which one vertebra slides forward, backward, or sideways relative to the vertebra below. Spondylolisthesis suggests instability of the spine and can produce stenosis (abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal), pain, and sometimes nerve injury.
Figure 7 (left): X-ray showing a lateral view (from the side) of a normal spine.
Figure 8 (right): X-ray showing anterior spondylolisthesis, also known as anterolisthesis.
Note the white outlined arrow pointing to the affected vertebra.
Many patients with degenerative scoliosis achieve pain relief from one of a number of non-surgical treatments, including:
Patients who do not respond to activity avoidance or physical therapy measures may find relief with oral medications. For back pain, the orthopaedic surgeon may recommend either a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen or naproxen, or a drug from the COX-2 inhibitor class of medications, such as celecoxib.
For radicular symptoms, drugs that reduce inflammation in the nerves and surrounding soft tissues may be prescribed, or drugs that reduce "overactivity" in nerves (neuroleptics) can be used to limit symptoms. Although the neuroleptic agents (such as gabapentin or pregabalin) can be very effective, they also depress the function of normal nerves and can leave patients with a "rubbery" sensation in the legs; in addition, some patients taking these drugs report feeling sleepy much of the time, a side effect that may fade over time. Anti-depressants may also improve radicular symptoms, although the mechanism involved is not well understood.
Dr. Cunningham notes that Oxycodone is a common and typical narcotic to use on rare occasions to manage extreme pain symptoms. "Narcotics can offer effective pain relief on a short term basis; for example, in the week or so leading up to surgery or for a few weeks following surgery," he says. "However, these drugs are not a good choice long-term as the patient accommodates to the dose and requires increasingly greater doses of the drug to achieve pain relief. Moreover, they eventually become ineffective."
If oral drugs do not offer sufficient relief for axial and/or radicular symptoms in the back and legs, the patient may be referred to a physician specially trained in physiatry or pain management for injection-based treatment.
For back pain due to symptoms coming from the facet joints, the specialist may decide to perform a facet injection. Facet injections deliver two medications directly into the joint: a numbing agent and a corticosteroid which is intended to reduce inflammation.
"Injections can be helpful in two ways," explains Dr. Cunningham. "If the patient feels numb or 'funny' in the injected area, but the pain is still there, we know we have not found the problematic facet joint. However, if the pain does goes away, we know we've found the correct facet joint responsible for causing the pain symptoms. At this point, the cortisone reduces inflammation and diminishes - or in some cases completely relieves - pain for a matter of weeks to months." Because more than one facet joint may be affected in degenerative scoliosis, the patient may require multiple injections.
If pain returns after the facet injections, the specialist may consider a facet rhizotomy, in which a special thermal probe is inserted near a small nerve just outside of the painful facet joint. The probe can then be heated up where it contacts the nerve and serves to destroy the nerve. This process of rhizotomy effectively "turns off" pain signals to the brain. This procedure can provide several months to years of relief.
In patients who are experiencing leg symptoms only, an epidural steroid injection can be considered. The concept of an epidural injection is that the needle is guided either from the midline skin or from the side, and the tip of the needle is advanced to an area near one of the spinal nerves that is either inflamed or is being irritated by inflammatory tissue. A slightly different epidural technique is called a caudal, where the needle is inserted at the base of the spine. With any of the techniques used, the purpose is to deliver corticosteroids to bathe the affected nerve roots, thereby reducing inflammation and pain (see Figure 6, above).
Injection therapy may continue to be effective for some time; however, patients in whom it is ineffective, or in whom it becomes ineffective, may eventually be candidates for surgery.
Surgical treatment for degenerative scoliosis may involve a fusion, a decompression, or both. If the patient's pain is restricted to the back and degenerative changes in the facet joints, fusion in the affected area may be recommended. In essence, the vertebrae are "welded" together and screws or other instrumentation are used to secure and immobilize the bone, with the goal of eliminating the pain associated with movement in that area.
Figure 9 (left): X-ray of a patient with degenerative scoliosis (50+ degrees)
and lateral spondylolisthesis prior to fusion surgery.
Figure 10 (right): X-ray of the same patient after fusion surgery with instrumentation,
which eliminated her listhesis and reduced her curve to 10 degrees.
In the presence of stenosis and radicular symptoms, decompression surgery (also known as laminectomy) is performed to take pressure off the nerves, a procedure that involves the removal of bony structures, ligaments, and in some cases, other soft tissues that help to support the spine.
Figure 11 (left): MRI of a patient prior to spine decompression surgery,
with a triangular nerve space (shown by the white arrow).
Figure 12 (right): MRI of the same patient after spine decompression surgery, with an increased nerve space
and 90% improvement in stenosis and radicular symptoms.
"In determining the appropriate surgery we have to look at the entire spine," Dr. Cunningham says. "For example, although the patient with degenerative scoliosis may only have radicular symptoms, if we perform a decompression only and do not stabilize the scoliosis, the resulting instability generated by the removal of bone and ligaments can be problematic. Therefore, fusion may be necessary, in addition to the decompression, to maintain the stability of the spine. If we find spondylolisthesis at one or more levels of the spine, we can expect this deformity to progress, and we typically need to address this with a combined decompression and fusion as well."
Figures 13 & 14: X-rays showing patient from the front (left) and side (right) prior to decompression and fusion surgery for stenosis and anterolisthesis. Note the bone in the center of the spinal canal in the image on the left, as shown by the white arrow.
Figures 15 & 16: X-rays showing the same patient from the front (left) and side (right) one year after decompression and fusion surgery. Note the absence of bone in the center of the canal in the image on the left, as shown by the white arrow, due to the decompression. Also note the excellent fusion bone produced in the cages between the vertebral bodies in the image on the right, as shown by the green arrows. The instrumentation (rods and screws) can be seen in the center of each image.
"Our goal in surgery is to alleviate the pain, restore and maintain stability, and to correct the curve as much as is safely possible," Dr. Cunningham says. To help protect the patient during surgery, the nerves are monitored through wires attached to the skin in the arms and legs, which are then connected to a computer for interpretation, and are overseen by an HSS neurologist.
For the majority of patients with degenerative scoliosis, pain relief or reduction can be achieved with aggressive use of non-surgical measures. In patients for whom surgery becomes necessary, the results vary with the underlying problem. Patients who undergo decompression for stenosis or radicular symptoms almost always have an improvement in symptoms. Those whose pain, numbness, or weakness was intermittent prior to surgery tend to experience the greatest benefit.
Patients with degenerative scoliosis who undergo fusion of the spine for isolated back pain have results that are comparable to those achieved in patients with degeneration and straight spines.
Good outcomes are also based on appropriate assessment of surgical candidates by a multidisciplinary team, Dr. Cunningham notes, especially in an older population. "Whenever we consider surgery, we have to ask, 'Does the patient have other medical problems that will make it difficult to tolerate surgery or to participate in rehabilitation? Is she or he taking any medication that will interfere with surgery and recovery, and is it necessary to stop these medications temporarily?'"
In order to continue improving outcomes in treatment, Dr. Cunningham and his colleagues at HSS are looking at ways to optimize bone tissue. Substances called bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) may actually help build bone and already have a role in augmenting spinal fusions. In addition, ensuring that patients are not Vitamin D and/or calcium deficient can help to strengthen the bone and improve the patient's ability to tolerate the insertion of rods, screws, and other instrumentation, as needed.
Finally, some research in the field is focusing on surgical techniques that are less invasive or minimally invasive, a development that would, in some cases, allow surgeons to perform procedures using an incision of one to two inches in length instead of requiring the longer incisions typically in use now. This is expected to not only minimize soft tissue trauma, but to be better tolerated by patients, and allow them to become mobile again more quickly following surgery.
"This makes good sense for patients who require short fusions, or longer fusions that are straightforward," Dr. Cunningham notes. "However, for those who require more extensive surgeries involving decompressions and fusions, traditional 'open' approaches may be unavoidable."
If you would like more information about treatment of degenerative scoliosis at HSS, please visit the Physician Referral Service or call 1.877.606.1555.
Posted: 5/31/2011
Summary prepared by Nancy Novick; images by the HSS Department of Radiology and Imaging


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Major Board Decisions
The Board of Trustees may declare agenda items to be Major Board Decisions.
Major Board Decisions shall require a minimum twenty day study period before enactment.
Any changes to Section B-Goals, Expansion and Physical Plant, Policy A048 - Bylaws of the Board, or Policy D032 - Collections Management Policy, are considered to be Major Board Decisions.
The Budget Document shall be developed over a period of months beginning no later than February of the calendar year preceeding the fiscal year. Major public policy decisions related to the budget shall be presented to the Board and the resulting decisions incorporated into a document to be presented for final passage.
The Director or Board President may recommend that other policies, agreements or actions of the District by their nature constitute a Major Board Decision.
Other decisions may be tabled as per Roberts Rules of Order upon a majority vote of those present.
(Revised and approved 3/10/2008)