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Actually, a few hours of golf involve only a few minutes of demanding exercise, namely the forceful swinging action of the drives. Although brief, the explosive nature of the golf swing places considerable stress on the hip, back and shoulder joints, which may lead to a variety of injuries. It would therefore seem important for golfers to perform some stretching and strengthening exercises to condition their musculoskeletal system and reduce the risk of swing-related injuries. Obviously, pre-season preparation becomes a more critical concern for older golfers who have lower levels of muscle strength and joint flexibility.
While golf may be a captivating and satisfying activity, it has essentially no value in terms of fitness enhancement. And although there are certainly exceptions, it would appear that the majority of golfers are not exercise enthusiasts. Generally speaking, most golfers could benefit from regular participation in an appropriate exercise program.
Strength Training Misconceptions
Unfortunately, golfers have traditionally avoided those activities that are most useful for muscle strengthening and injury prevention. For years, golfers have shunned all forms of strength exercise for fear that it would reduce their joint flexibility and decrease their movement speed (7). Of course, there are many other myths that have scared golfers and other adults away from strength training. Leading misconceptions are that strength exercise increases bodyweight and blood pressure readings. Both of these assumptions are categorically untrue.
Strength Training Benefits
Research clearly demonstrates that properly-performed strength training significantly improves both body composition and blood pressure (1, 3, 12). In fact, sensible strength exercise has been shown to replace muscle (1, 12), increase metabolism (1), build bone density (8), reduce low back pain (9), decrease arthritic discomfort (11), improve glucose metabolism (4), accelerate gastrointestinal transit (6), and enhance blood lipid profiles (5, 10). ThatScale mul/_uOThickness xdef}ifelse} is, strength training is an effective deterrent to many of the degenerative problems that accompany the aging process (2).
Strength Training and Golf Driving Performance
There is even evidence that a basic program of strengthening and stretching exercises produces a more powerful golf swing. In the Summer 1995 issue of Nautilus Magazine, I reported the results of a preliminary study in which a small group of golfers performed 15 Nautilus exercises and six stretches, three days a week, for a period of eight weeks. At the completion of the training period, the participants recorded significant improvements in their golf driving power. Their maximum club head speed increased 6 percent (5 miles per hour), even though they did not practice golf during the two-month study period.
Golf Study
We have subsequently conducted a larger-scale study using the same conditioning program. By means of a newspaper article and an evening seminar featuring a golf professional, a stretching expert, and a strength training enthusiast, we convinced 17 serious golfers (13 males and 4 females) to participate in the eight-week exercise program.


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ATLANTA, March 25 (UPI) -- Young adults who attend religious activities frequently when they are young, are 50 percent more likely to become obese by middle age, U.S. researchers say.
Lead investigator Matthew Feinstein, a fourth-year student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said an earlier Northwestern Medicine study established a correlation between religious involvement and obesity in middle-age and older adults.
By tracking participants' weight gain over time, the new study confirms normal weight younger adults with high religious involvement became obese -- rather than obese adults becoming more religious.
"We don't know why frequent religious participation is associated with development of obesity, but the upshot is these findings highlight a group that could benefit from targeted efforts at obesity prevention," Feinstein said in a statement.
"It's possible that getting together once a week and associating good works and happiness with eating unhealthy foods could lead to the development of habits that are associated with greater body weight and obesity."
The research is being presented at the American Heart Association's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism/Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention scientific sessions in Atlanta.

subset: commoncrawl


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|How the restaurant serves Skyline Chili.
|My version: The spices waiting for meat and onions.
2 pounds lean ground beef
2 onions, minced
35 black peppercorns
6 bay leaves, crushed
4 whole dried red chili peppers, seeded and diced
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 gloves garlic, whole
1 (6oz) can tomato paste
3 Cups water
2 Tbsp. Chili powder1 tsp. Ground cayenne pepper
2 ½ Tbsp. Distilled white vinegar1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
1 ½ tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1 can Chili beans
1 can diced tomatoes
Shredded Colby cheese
- Brown ground beef in skillet with onions. Drain fat.
- Place the whole peppercorns, bay leaves, small red peppers and pepper flakes in a spice bag.
- In a large pot, combine the garlic, tomato paste, water, chili powder, cayenne pepper, vinegar, cinnamon, allspice, Worcestershire sauce and salt with the ground beef and onions and spice bag. Add can of beans and diced tomatoes. Cook over low hear for 3-4 hours.
- When ready to serve, remove spice bag and whole garlic cloves. Top with cheese.


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Join Date: Mar 2008
Casino cash: $18775
PFW: Flowers told teammates he would give all the money back if he could just leave
A day before the country voted on Election Day, the Chiefs gave their concession speech for the season following a 1-7 start.
It came off as a conciliatory measure when, three days after an embarrassing 31-13 prime-time loss to the Chargers — their third consecutive double-digit setback — Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel removed himself as defensive coordinator, promoting Gary Gibbs to that post, and the team cut starting CB Stanford Routt.
A day later, Crennel announced that QB Matt Cassel (who previously had been benched for Brady Quinn) would start again in Week 10 because Quinn was suffering the aftereffects following a Week Eight concussion against the Raiders.
Assuming that the embattled duo of Crennel and GM Scott Pioli are not employing Socratic irony in running their NFL franchise, we only can assume that the first two moves are their contrition for a lost season. The third, their hopeless QB situation, is a symbol of their severe limitations.
"Their QB situation is bad and they really have not upgraded it at all," a former Chiefs evaluator said. "Not to mention, the playmakers on the roster — Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Derrick Johnson, Brandon Flowers, Tamba Hali — they were already there. (Pioli has) added nothing like that. The left tackle (Branden Albert) they complained about — guess what — he is still playing. He was already there.
"(Pioli) gives $60 million to a backup quarterback, then swap him out for Brady Quinn who now has a concussion. They have done nothing to that roster but (screw) it up."
The Chiefs are bad — not necessarily historically so, but to a shocking degree:
In more than 485 minutes of football this season, including the lone sudden-death victory in New Orleans, the Chiefs have not had a second tick off the clock with a lead on the scoreboard. You have to go back to the pre-World War II days of professional football to find that kind of inefficiency.
The Chiefs committed 29 turnovers through eight games, the most in the NFL at the midpoint of a season in 15 years. They had 28 for the entire 2011 season.
The combined TD-INT ratio of Cassel and Quinn is 6-14. The only team that has so few TD passes is the Dolphins. No team has more interceptions.
Their point differential in 2012 is minus-107. At home, where they have an 0-4 record, it's minus-46.
When the Chiefs next return to Kansas City in Week 11, an unpleasant sight might be awaiting them. Two banners flew over Arrowhead Stadium the last time they played there, a hard-fought 26-16 loss to the Raiders. One read "Return Hope, Fire Pioli" and the second read, "Blackout Arrowhead 11/18," the date when the Chiefs face the Bengals. The "blackout" portion encourages fans to wear all black (instead of their traditional game-day red) as a sign of protest for the direction of the team.
The banners were sponsored by a fan-based group, SaveOurChiefs.com, that is frustrated with the miserable start to the season that began with reasonably high expectations but has endured — and for most intents and purposes, ended — with massive disappointment and the futures of Crennel and Pioli very much up in the air.
"It's as bad as it's been here," said Kansas City Star columnist Sam Mellinger, who has been a frequent, caustic critic of the team this season. "The fans are tired. They are tired of not having a quarterback. (The Chiefs) were a chic Super Bowl pick for some people, and this happens. Fans are angry right now, and you can understand why."
Naturally, Chiefs coaches and players are frustrated, too. A source told PFW that CB Brandon Flowers, who signed a six-year, $49.3 million deal last September, has been telling teammates in the locker room that he would give back all his new money just so he could leave the team.
"I haven't heard him saying that," Chiefs LB Derrick Johnson told PFW. "Brandon Flowers isn't a problem guy — let's just get that out there.
"His locker is right by mine. He's one of our better players on defense. I didn't know he said that. He does his talking on Sundays on the field. That's all we ask of him."
Even with talented players on the roster such as Flowers, the Chiefs have not been able to win. Earlier in the season, after Cassel was injured in the 9-6 loss to the Ravens and replaced by Quinn, ORT Eric Winston launched into a postgame tirade, railing against what he said were fans cheering Cassel's injury, when neutral observers struggled to hear what Winston said he heard. The rant didn't do wonders for the relationship with the rabid fan base, some of which is calling for heads to roll, namely those of Crennel and Pioli.
"(Pioli) let a Hall of Famer and great locker-room and great community guy in Tony (Gonzalez) get out of there," the former Chiefs evaluator said. "(OG Brian) Waters was a great leader and locker-room guy and community guy and went to New England and played at a Pro Bowl level. There are a lot of mistakes there."
There's also the issue of Pioli's contract, the details of which remain closely guarded. It was reported by other news agencies in October that Pioli had been offered a two-year extension during the offseason, but a well-placed league source told PFW that he might quietly have signed such an extension this summer. Like his mentor, Bill Belichick, the Chiefs' GM does not speak about his contract status. It's not known what a potential buyout might cost the team, but it certainly would not come cheaply. Either way, fans remain perhaps even more frustrated with Pioli than anyone else in the organization, and it will be tough for him to retain his job without significant second-half improvement.
"I bet (Chiefs owner) Clark (Hunt) is praying that they finish with three more wins some way, somehow," a top NFL executive said. "If they go 1-15, he can't justify (keeping Pioli). But get to 5-11 or 6-10 — they will go get a QB and hope they'll be fine, try to sell that Kool-Aid.
"That is not the answer either. They need a QB and need a lot of other things on defense, too. I love it when it is third down and (2012 first-round pick Dontari) Poe and Tyson Jackson are sitting on the sideline — how many top-10 picks are sitting on the sideline next to the coach on third down?"
Following the loss to the Raiders, Crennel said, "I understand their frustrations because I'm frustrated myself. What we're doing — coaches, players — we're continuing to work to try and get it right. And if they'll just hang with us, hopefully something will change."
That was followed by the 18-point loss to the Chargers last Thursday. Monday night they face the Steelers, winners of three consecutive games, in Pittsburgh.
"They have big-play potential every play, and we know what they are capable of," Johnson said. "We've seen it, plenty of it, before."
Awaiting them is former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley, the Steelers' offensive coordinator who, according to various reports last week, isn't afraid to run up the score against the team — and, more specifically, the man, Pioli, with whom he repeatedly butted heads for two years — that fired him prior to Week 15 last season. Fox's Jay Glazer reported on Sunday that the Chiefs had not yet paid the remainder of Haley's contract that he was owed.
Following Haley's ouster last season, Crennel was promoted from defensive coordinator to interim coach, engineering a colossal upset of the 13-0 Packers in a defensive masterpiece. It's believed that the victory, along with Crennel's good working relationship with Pioli and the players was what earned him the full-time job in the offseason.
But things have gone south since. After Flowers' deal, plus long-term contracts for Tamba Hali and Johnson the past two seasons, Pioli deemed re-signing CB Brandon Carr too expensive. Instead, the team let him walk to the Cowboys at an average-per-year salary of $10 million, signed Routt as a Band-Aid (three years, $19.6 million, $4 million guaranteed) and used the franchise tag on WR Dwayne Bowe.
No long-term deal has been signed with Bowe, who is playing on the one-year tender of $9.5 million but is expected to walk in free agency this coming offseason. Joining him could be free-agents-to-be OLT Branden Albert and DE Glenn Dorsey. There has been talk about a long-term deal with Albert, and the team could opt to use the franchise tag on him, but it's not known if any real progress has been made toward an extension. At the start of the season, per NFLPA figures, the Chiefs were $14.5 million below the salary cap.
Of course, the more pressing issue is whether Pioli will be the one making that decision. Some league sources believe that his strong relationship with Hunt — and how much money Pioli has saved the owner by not spending up to the cap every season — could spare the GM for another season, but others believe that ship has sailed and there's little he or Crennel can do in the final eight games to save themselves.
The moves of cutting Routt, who was signed since Carr left, and promoting Gibbs (which Crennel said would help him spend more time with the struggling offense) appear on the surface to be last-ditch efforts to do so. But many around the league believe that Pioli has not done enough to warrant a return. If Hunt lets Pioli go, it's unlikely a new general manager would retain Crennel, as he likely would want to hire his own head coach.
The approval ratings and morale around the team are as low as they've been since Pioli's arrival in 2009. Although the Chiefs are strong candidates to earn the first pick in next year's draft, there doesn't appear to be a college quarterback in the caliber of Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III to provide relief — or hope.
"Scott has never been a guy who hits the road hard," an NFL GM said. "I heard he was out scouting the QB at USC (Matt Barkley). To me, that is a sign Scott is running away from his problems. If anything, he needs to be in-house protecting his head coach. Now is not the time to be running out."
Hunt has heard the fans and seen the midseason results. It's going to be a tough sell to keep the current administration in place for another season.
"We have to play hard, play for pride," Johnson said. "It's not easy. No one is feeling sorry for us. We just have to make the best of this and win as many games as we can."
Last edited by Quesadilla Joe; 11-12-2012 at 11:59 AM..
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And LOL is an acronym, so it should be capitalized. When you use it lowercase, it just looks like someone drowning.
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I learned that in the example that you are looking at, your way became the proper way simply because of a flaw in printers.
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Everybody Lies.
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I like 'em mustard & biscuits
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if it weren't for bad luck we'd have not luck at all....gloom, despair Casshole is our QB.
A naked American man stole my balloons.
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I like 'em mustard & biscuits
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like this...
I've seen it so many times. lol
let's fight.
A naked American man stole my balloons.
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text: 13 May 2014 14:30 Etihad Regional has commenced a three-times-per-week service from Zurich, Switzerland, to Turin, the capital of the Piedmont region of Italy. The airline officially celebrated the occasion today when flight F7498, operated by Etihad Regional's newly branded 50-seat Saab 2000 aircraft, touched down at Turin Airport at 8:40am local time. Turin is a major cultural and business centre located in northern Italy, close to the Alps and the border with France. Its airport serves a region of more than 4.5 million people. Maurizio Merlo, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Regional, said: "Etihad Regional is proud to be the first airline to offer a direct air link between Zurich and Turin. "The new route will extend our presence in the Italian market, where we already operate to Rome, Florence and Bolzano, and where soon we will also fly to and from Verona. "Both business and leisure travellers will benefit from the new service, further facilitating the already strong trade and tourism ties between Switzerland and Italy. "Today demonstrates our strategy to continue building a strong regional airline network linking European cities and towns, which also connects to the global network of our partners, including Etihad Airways and airberlin." Welcoming the launch, Roberto Barbieri, Chief Executive Officer of Turin Airport, said: "We are delighted that Etihad Regional has commenced operations here, which will boost the regional economy, and offer the airline's passengers a convenient new entry point to Italy through our modern and efficient facility." Beyond linking Turin and Zurich, the new flights will also offer travellers a convenient way to connect on Etihad Airways' upcoming services from Zurich to Abu Dhabi.* Flights beyond Abu Dhabi, offered by Etihad Airways and its equity partners, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia connect well with destinations in the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Asia and Australia. Contact met Etihad Als wereldwijd opererende luchtvaartmaatschappij hebben wij natuurlijk overal ter wereld vestigingen. Lees hoe u contact kunt opnemen met uw dichtstbijzijnde Etihad-kantoor. Bekijk onze contactgegevens Feedback Als u een opmerking, compliment of klacht wilt doorgeven, of een vraag wilt stellen, klik dan hier Vind ons leuk Bezoek onze Facebookpagina! Bekijk ons Bekijk ons YouTube-kanaal! Volg ons Etihad Airways | Etihad Aanbiedingen | Etihad Help | Etihad Rewards


text:
Delivery driver robbed at knifepoint in Orange
A Domino's Pizza delivery driver was robbed at knifepoint near midnight Sunday, Oct. 6, after the store received a call requesting delivery to the 2200 block of Cross Lane in Orange.
Orange Police Department Captain Cliff Hargrave said the male delivery driver got out of his vehicle to deliver a pizza to the address given by a caller and was approached by a man with a knife. Hargrave said the delivery driver "fought back," and the suspect did not get away with any money or the pizza. However, he reached into the victim's car, grabbed an MP3 player from off the dashboard, and fled the scene on-foot. Hargrave said no one has been arrested, but police have an unnamed suspect who is wanted for questioning.
Police are still investigating the incident.
OPD Captain Cliff Hargrave said delivery drivers often face dangerous circumstances when working, and one delivery driver actually invented the concealable bulletproof vest that police wear and has "saved the lives of millions of people," according to Hargrave. He was referring to pizza delivery driver and owner Richard Davis, who founded the Second Chance body armor company in the 1970s after an incident that occurred in Chicago while he was delivering pizza. In a YouTube video featuring Davis, he said he fought off two of three armed gunman who were attempting aggravated robbery. The third assailant shot Davis. He related that while on the operating table at the hospital, he started thinking that there must be a way to protect people in similar, dangerous situations, like other delivery drivers or law enforcement officers. He started Second Chance out of his garage, and the company was the first body armor manufacturer to utilize Kevlar.


text:
Lisa's Mum has been hiding in my hand luggage since I got to Europe, and now is the time to dust her off and get her back in action. It's not that she was intentionally hiding; it's just that the summer wardrobe that she'd packed for Italy had consisted solely of bikinis and coconut oil and up until now it's been too cold to leave the apartment. But now that Summer is here (a bold statement, given that we are on day #4 of sunshine and have only just stopped building the Ark), so is Lisa's Mum.
It is less than a week until the Tour de France, and Mum is already getting her Le Tour fantasy tipping team in order and has pitched her tent on the Col du Tourmalet. She is also currently interviewing for the position of Lance Armstrong's new girlfriend. Applicants must be one or more of the following: (a) supermodel; (b) rock star; (c) blonde; (d) willing to wait on the side of roads for indefinite periods during race season. Ability to flash dazzling smile and withstand constant references to Texas an advantage. (Cyclists, career women and ladies over 5ft4 need not apply)
Mum has received lots of fan mail asking for her tips for Le Tour. This has come as no surprise to her; after all, she is practically a member of the SBS commentary team (tbc) and is internationally recognised as Alphington's (postcode: 3078) foremost authority on all things cycling. So here, it is, Mum's top tips for the 2010 TdF:
- Brad Wiggins, Britain's Great White Hope, will issue a press release at the start of stage 17, warning the British public that despite hundreds of newspaper clippings to the contrary, he may in fact not win the Tour. Wiggins will explain that, whilst the ₤40m budget of Team Sky does buy a lot of skinsuits, no amount of money can ever teach an Englishman how to survive in 30deg weather for 23 days straight
- Team Garmin will issue a press release immediately following Wiggins', in which the phrases 'sucked in Sky' and 'we didn't want you anyway, you pasty white Brit' feature prominently
- The suspicion surrounding motorized doping will build after Fabian Cancellara is spotted filling up his bike at a petrol station before the prologue
- A chink in Contador's armour is exposed when the Spaniard suffers a severe allergic reaction to the cobblestones in stage 3. At least, that's what he claims the epi-pen in his back pocket is for. Contador will be relying on Oscar Pereiro to be his faithful domestique on the pavé, but will discover too late that Pereiro only agreed to be on his team because Contador is the only rider who calls him Oscar and not 'that guy who sort of won the Tour in 2006'
- Mark Cavendish will win the sprint stages graciously, smile adoringly at the media and afterwards attribute all his successes to teammate André Griepel whom, Cav explains, insisted on giving Cav his place as HTC-Columbia's team sprinter, no matter how hard Cav tried to convince him otherwise*
- Lance Armstrong will not win, but will use the Tour as a platform to launch his new fragrance, restaurant franchise and music video. The release of the music video will be delayed until after the Tour as edtors scramble to dub over the bit about him winning the Tour 8 times
- The Tour organisers will introduce a new classification, the maillot vieux, awarded to the highest placed GC rider who is also a qualified pensioner. It will be a closely-fought battle between top contendors Armstrong (38), Robbie McEwen (38) and Jens Voigt (38), although Hincapie (37) will be in with a strong chance on the basis of his first name being George. Yaroslav Popovych may not look young on paper, but after 30 years of living in Ukraine his complexion more than qualifies him as an outside chance
*HAHAHAHA that one was just to keep you on your toes... Lisa's Mum promises that Cav will be just as obnoxious as ever
Stay tuned for more top tips from Lisa's Mum... right now she is off to find the SBS team hotel (left off the email list AGAIN, one would almost think it was deliberate)


text:
My Story
I started buying and selling quality goods at a young age. When real young it was mostly garage and yard sales but because my family was in the flea market business here is where my home base would be.
Graduating to larger markets, and working for years in the flea markets of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, in 2001 I took a much needed break from local markets and focused on ebay and other sites like it. Being a musician and songwriter I also dabbled in selling digital music downloads on sites that offered the service.
Around the same time I started to teach myself DIY web design in which I created websites for the intent on advertising my songwriting. It was my websites that brought on the desire to learn about domain names and eventually start to buy and sell them. Today I have several web stores where domains can be bought with a safe and easy checkout. - OGM (OhioGuitarMan)
My Home


text:
- Kitchen Counter Installation
- Considering Countertop Materials
- Choosing A Kitchen Countertop
- Advantages Of Installing A Granite Counter Top
- Purchasing Granite Countertops
- The benefits of pure marble
- Maintaining marble surfaces for a lifetime
- Best Granite Colors
- The Trends In Kitchen Countertop Fabrication
- Best Material to Be Used In the Bathroom
Quartz and Granite Kitchen Countertops in Bay Area and Northern CA
Welcome to Marble City
611 Taylor Way, Suite 6
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 802-8189
M-F 8AM - 5PM (Sat. and Sun. By Appointment Only)
Your source for Commercial & Residential stone
fabrication and installation
We specialize in the fabrication and installation of granite, marble, limestone, soapstone, quartz (Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone, Zodiaq, MSI Quartz, PentalQuartz), recycled glass (IceStone, Vetrazzo), sintered stone (Dekton, Lapitec, Neolith) and an exclusive semi-precious stone collection (Concetto).
We are experts in the fabrication and installation of stone projects and in addition we have specific expertise working with 1¼" thickness material.
Our teams of design professionals and installation personnel all have vast experience in the industry and offer the best in craftsmanship, timely delivery, expert/timely installation, and a positive customer experience.
Our goal is to provide the best service possible; our knowledge and experience in the field as well as our strong sense of responsibility are the keys to our success. From initial customer consultation and project planning to templating, fabrication and installation, we achieve our goals. We listen to the needs of our clients and based on those needs, provide the best possible results at the best possible price. If your project structurally requires ¾" material, we will work with our partners to acquire the stone and fabricate and install it.
Serving the entire Bay Area California: Alameda, Atherton, Belmont, Berkeley, Brisbane, Broadmoor, Burlingame, Campbell, Capitola, Castro Valley, Colma, Concord, Cupertino, Daly City, Dublin, El Granada, Foster City, Fremont, Half Moon Bay, Hayward, Livermore, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Milpitas, Monerey, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Newark, Oakland, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Petaluma, Pleasanton, Redwood City, Richmond, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Saratoga, Stanford, Sunnyvale, Tracy, Union City, Vallejo, Walnut Creek, Watsonville, Woodside and other.


text:
Once upon a time, the basketball team of Teikou Middle School rose to distinction by demolishing all competition. The regulars of this team became known as the "Generation of Miracles". After graduating from middle school, these five stars went to different high schools with top basketball teams. However, a fact few know is that there was another player of the "Generation of Miracles", the phantom sixth player. This mysterious player is now a freshman at Seirin High, a new school with a powerful, if little-known, team. Now, Tetsuya Kuroko, the sixth member of the "Generation of Miracles", and Kagami, a naturally talented player who spent most of middle school in America, are aiming to bring Seirin to the top of Japan, taking on Kuroko's old teammates one by one.
Informations Source: Wikipedia


text:
Don your favorite mask and join us for Asheville's annual New Year's Eve Masquerade, taking over all three stages at New Mountain AVL, featuring performances from Empire Strikes Brass, Supatight, DJ Bowie, ElectroChemical, Backup Planet, G3MS and more to be announced. Trust us — you don't want to sleep on this Asheville tradition.
Empire Strikes Brass intentionally stretches the boundaries of the stereotypical brass band paradigm, fusing sounds from around the globe; there are definite nods to Old School Funk, Ska, Southern Rock, Alt Country, Hip Hop, Boogaloo and New Orleans Jazz. Expect face melting guitar solos, soul shaking synthesizer solos, lush vocal harmonies, powerful moving drums, thick nasty bass, hypnotically rhythmic keys and wall to wall horn power.
While specializing in hard-hitting funk, Supatight's music incorporates elements of jazz fusion, soul, reggae, and comedic country. They blend intricately-timed grooves with improvisational components resulting in an authentic and diverse sound.
The Nashville quartet Backup Planet writes arena-size anthems echoing with progressive intricacy, funk swagger, and even a little metallic edge. Giving listeners an inspiring and invigorating aural haven, their moniker couldn't be more apropos.
If you just can't wait for tickets, you can snag them here. We're celebrating the most wonderful time of the year with your chance to WIN tickets to this NYE tradition.
For a chance to win a pair of tickets to New Year's Eve Masquerade at New Mountain Asheville, comment below before midnight, Tuesday, Dec. 26 and STAY TUNED – the winner will be announced Wed. Dec 27 via email.


text:
Health topics
Health-care waste
Waste generated by health care activities includes a broad range of materials, from used needles and syringes to soiled dressings, body parts, diagnostic samples, blood, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and radioactive materials.
Poor management of health care waste potentially exposes health care workers, waste handlers, patients and the community at large to infection, toxic effects and injuries, and risks polluting the environment. It is essential that all medical waste materials are segregated at the point of generation, appropriately treated and disposed of safely.


text: Sculpt Your Body in Six Easy Moves\\nHere's how.\\nWhatever you think of John Mayer, he was right about one thing: Your body is a wonderland ... and you're about to look wonderful.\\n__Target:__ The latissimus dorsi\\n\\n__Why it works:__ The lats are big back muscles. They're attached to your glutes (aka butt muscles) by deep tissue—right lat to left cheek and vice versa, in a crisscross. \\"They're connected, so making your lats stronger will help your glutes engage more effectively,\\" says Abbie Appel, a master trainer in Boca Raton, Florida.\\n\\nWhy you care: Because engaged glutes mean you'll turbocharge the tush-tightening powers of every lower-body exercise you do.\\n__Target:__ The latissimus dorsi\\n\\n__The move:__ Plow\\n\\nSit on a chair with legs extended, feet flexed, heels on floor; loop a resistance band around soles of feet and hold a handle in each hand at sides, palms up. With torso tall and shoulders down, draw arms as far as you can behind you, squeezing shoulder blades together (as shown). Return to start. Do 3 sets of 12 reps. Focus on keeping arms straight, Appel advises, to work your lats, not your biceps.\\n__Target:__ The serratus anterior\\n\\n__Why it works:__ Put your hands on the sides of your rib cage at your bra strap. You're feeling these small, hardworkin' muscles. When they're strong, they act like little arrows pointing to defined abs. \\"The serratus highlights or accents the ribs, making the whole torso appear more defined,\\" says trainer James Bowman, owner of Northwest Strength Lab on Bainbridge Island, Washington.\\n__Target:__ The serratus anterior\\n\\n__The move:__ Floor Press\\n\\nLie faceup holding a weight in left hand, arm extended over shoulder. Keeping right arm at side, lift left arm until shoulder blade and head are off floor (as shown); hold for 3 beats. Return to start. Do 5 reps. Switch sides; repeat. \\"Lying down helps you stay more stable than standing, and it allows you to lift heavier, so you'll see results faster,\\" Bowman says. Use the heaviest weight you can, then work up to a 20-pounder.\\n__Target:__ The anterior tibialis\\n\\n__Why it works:__ That, folks, is geekspeak for shin, a body part you probably haven't given a whole lot of thought to. But strengthen these suckers and you'll create that sexy line of definition in your lower legs, says Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist at Quincy College. And, if you care, being strong is also pretty great for injury prevention—no shin splints or ankle rolling for you.\\n__Target:__ The anterior tibialis\\n\\n__The move:__ Reverse Toe Tap\\n\\nSit on a chair with left thigh crossed over right and tie a string around a 3-pound dumbbell, creating a loop; hang it on left shoe. Keeping leg still, flex left foot toward shin (as shown); release. Then flex left foot toward shin and to left; release; repeat to right for 1 rep. Do 15 reps. Switch legs; repeat. If all the movement seems a little dizzying, know that it's the key to hitting the anterior tibialis muscles from every angle, Westcott says.\\nHere's some easy math: Take these 6 moves, add 20 minutes of cardio, repeat 3 times a week, and earn 1 smokin' bod.\\n__Target:__ The Rotator Cuff Muscles\\n\\n__Why it works:__ This group of four muscles encircles the top of your shoulder and keeps it stable. Typical front and side dumbbell raises hit a couple of the rotators, but to create the pulled-back, stand-out shoulders hot girls have, you need to activate all four.\\n\\nHow? It's easier than you might think: Go in circles. \\"They're called rotator muscles, so it's not surprising that you need rotational movements to fire them,\\" says Paul Frediani, owner of Elysium Fitness in New York City.\\n__Target:__ The Rotator Cuff Muscles\\n\\n__The move:__ Wax on, wax off\\n\\nStand with right arm extended at shoulder height, palm pressing a ball against the wall (as shown). Slowly move ball in a small clockwise circle for 20 reps, then counterclockwise for 20. Switch arms to complete 1 set; do 2 sets. We used a rubber ball; as Frediani says, go light—it takes only rotation, not weight, to work the quartet.\\n__Target:__ The gluteus medius\\n\\n__Why it works:__ You may *think* you're defining your booty doing routine squats and lunges, but stronger muscles, like hamstrings, tend to take over.\\n\\nWhich stinks, because the medius—the fan-shaped muscle that creates the booty divot—gets no love, explains Brent Brookbush, a trainer in NYC and the author of *Fitness or Fiction*. Pay that medius attention: Toners that have you balance on one leg will zero in on the muscle and give it one big honing hug.\\n__Target:__ The gluteus medius\\n\\n__The move:__ Knee Side Plank\\n\\nLie on right side, propped on right forearm, elbow under shoulder, knees bent and stacked. Raise hips and extend left leg so toes hover about 12 inches off floor (as shown). Hold for 30 seconds. Switch sides; repeat. \\"Picture squeezing a dollar bill between your butt cheeks for ultimate medius activation,\\" Brookbush suggests.\\n__Target:__ The posterior deltoid\\n\\n__Why it works:__ Meatheads refer to this muscle as the rear delt. You can call it the back of your shoulder. It sits right above your triceps—the muscle to blame for bat wings. If you have side-by-side muscles like these that are untoned, you can't tell where one starts, the other begins ... or whether or not that arm belongs to Gumby.\\n\\n\\"Strengthen the rear delts and you highlight the separation between the triceps, making both look more sculpted,\\" says Yumi Lee Matthews, a trainer in Los Angeles. That's two-for-one toning, ladies!\\n__Target:__ The posterior deltoid\\n\\n__The move:__ Rainbow raise\\n\\nHold a resistance band in front of hips, hands slightly wider than shoulders, palms facing thighs. Raise arms overhead as you pull hands away from each other, keeping arms straight and creating tension in the band (as shown). Lower arms behind you, turning thumbs toward floor. Reverse movement to return to start. Do 3 sets of 12 reps.\\n\\n \\n__[Lose 2 Pounds a Week!](/club)__ \\n \\n__[Tone All Over With this At-Home Workout](/fitness/workouts/2012/10/at-home-workout-slideshow)__ \\n \\n__[The Stand-Up Paddleboard Workout](/fitness/workouts/2012/08/stand-up-paddleboard-workout-slideshow)__


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Feel the rush of discovering tons of coins in brand new coin-rich worlds with the new Gold Mario, gold pipes, gold Fire Flowers, new block head Mario that transforms enemies into coins, and while challenging your friends in the new Coin Rush Mode. Can you get one million coins?
New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a side-scrolling Platformer video game for Nintendo 3DS. A sequel to the 2006 Nintendo DS release, New Super Mario Bros., this new game version challenges players to rescue Princess Peach from the latest kidnapping by Bowser, and to collect as masses of Nintendo gold coins while doing so. Of all Mario titles released to date, New Super Mario Bros. 2 contains the the greatest emphasis on gold collection, with over a million coins available throughout the game's 80+ stages. Additional game features include: wireless co-op multiplayer support, new and returning power-ups and hidden items, and SpotPass automatic download functionality for the wireless sharing of information with friends.
Bowser has once again kidnapped Princess Peach, but besides rescuing his lady love, this time Mario has another objective. The Mushroom Kingdom is bursting with more gold coins than ever before. Each level is littered with gold as coins rain down from overhead pipes, trails of coins are left behind special gold enemies and gold pipes transport Mario into coin-filled caverns. It's up to players to collect as many coins as possible throughout their adventure.
New Super Mario Bros. 2 allows players to share the fast-paced fun with a friend over a local wireless network. The game's 2-player co-op mode requires both players to have a Nintendo 3DS system and a copy of the game. Together players can play through the entire game, collect double the coins, team up to unleash devastating double Ground Pound attacks on enemies, and more. An extra player can even help when continuing from your solo play save file.
Coin collection is important in every adventure in the Mushroom Kingdom, but New Super Mario Bros. 2 takes this to new heights. The game is filled with more coins and gold-related features than any Mario game before, and includes the frenzied Coin Rush mode in which you play three levels back to back trying to earn as many coins as possible. In fact, the game literally holds more than a million possible coins, and keeps track of each for you as you proceed from beginning to end. SpotPass functionality built into the 3DS allows you to share your running total with friends. If you reach a million coins, you'll get something special.
Team up in wireless co-op play.
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Take flight as Raccoon Mario.
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Create your own gold.
View larger
Explore familiar environments.
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The blue ringed octopus is one of the most poisonous creatures that you can encounter, but it didn't stop us getting in close for some photos. After a few rounds of the strobes, the blue rings were bright and being … Continue reading
Turtle in flight
As we drifted along a wall at Bunaken in Indonesia, this turtle approached me from below and continued right over me.
Pygmy Seahorse
This seahorse was tiny, smaller than the nail on my little finger. It was very difficult to get a shot in focus as it swayed around in the current.
Peek a boo
Hiding inside an old bottle, this little guy was cautiously poking his head out.
Coconut Octopus
Hiding inside the shell is a coconut octopus.
Painted frogfish
I waited for sometime for this frogfish to launch its lure and open its mouth wide open. I wasn't quite quick enough to capture it fully open though. Taken in Lembeh, October 2012.
As our guide pointed out a large common cuttlefish, I spotted this pair hiding amongst some coral.
Ribbon Eel
Whilst taking this photo of a ribbon eel I missed an eagle ray swimming past behind me. Back on the boat everyone was talking about the eagle ray, but I was happy to have missed it as ribbon eels have … Continue reading
John Dory
On the stern section of the James Egan Layne in Plymouth, this John Dory was a rather shy subject. Thankfully they don't swim very quickly so I was able to reposition and capture this side on shot.
Grey Seals at Lundy
The seals at Lundy are incredibly friendly. This one caught a glimpse of himself in the dome of my fisheye lens and started nosing it.


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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Patience, the way Aaron Rodgers sees it, can be more than a virtue. It can be part of a process to actualize hopes and visions. So when he sees the Jaguars nurturing Blake Bortles, instead of expecting Bortles to nurture the rest of the team, he smiles.
"What they are doing has a lot of merit," the quarterback of the Packers said of the Jaguars' approach with the third pick of the draft. "Some of these guys who are going to bad teams are expected to play well right away. It's hard to do that. I've seen a couple guys able to do it. [Ben] Roethlisberger was able to do it. He had a team kind of around him. [Joe] Flacco had some success early but he had a team kind of in place. You go to a place that has some pieces and you can have some success early. But if you go to a team that doesn't have the pieces… it can really mess with your confidence."
Rodgers understands the benefits of waiting. Or being forced to wait. He came to the Packers in 2005 and was Brett Favre's backup for three years before becoming the starter.
It wasn't always pleasant then. In his first year, he threw passes in just two games -- at the end of a 52-3 win, at the end of a 48-3 loss. In the second game, he fumbled twice and watched two defenders recover and score.
Then there was a coaching change and a new offense to learn. New coach Mike McCarthy had him sitting in quarterback school for six hours a day in the offseason. And he was ordered to cut his body fat. In his second year he came off the bench in a 35-0 blowout loss in November and he broke his foot, ending his season. At one point, Rodgers was rumored to be the subject of trade talks with the Raiders.
But Rodgers made the best of it. As the scout team quarterback, he approached every chance on the practice field like a fourth quarter drive with the Super Bowl on the line. Favre didn't want to be his mentor, so Rodgers just followed him around and wrote down everything he said.
Now, with the perspective of a 30-year-old and the perfect vision of hindsight, Rodgers believes that long apprenticeship made him the quarterback he is today. "I learned a lot in those years, how to attack quickly and play slowly," said Rodgers, a former MVP and Super Bowl champion. "It was the best thing to happen to me."
Rodgers would like to see more young quarterbacks go through similar deliberate acclimations. "You look at a guy like [Jimmy] Garoppolo," Rodgers said. "He's in a good spot with the Patriots. If he can wait two, three, four years that will make him more ready to play right away. It will help him get his body in great shape and learn offense and defense, and he won't feel that pressure early on. When you see other quarterbacks who might have to play quickly like [Teddy] Bridgewater potentially in Minnesota and Johnny [Manziel] in Cleveland, who knows if their teams are ready enough to complement their skills?"
Rodgers believes younger quarterbacks may be better prepared than quarterbacks from his era were, based on the way youth football has changed, placing a greater emphasis on the passing game and more sophistication in training. But no matter how much good coaching a young passer has had, the leap to the NFL remains challenging.
For Rodgers, the advantages of waiting still are being realized. "I do feel younger because of it," Rodger said. "I think it extended my career."
When he was a younger player, Rodgers used to talk about playing until he was 36 or 37. Not anymore. Nine years into his career, he said, "I hope I have nine more chances at it."
He also recently tweeted this:
9 years ago the G & G took a chance on a 21 year old kid from Cali. It's been an amazing run, looking forward to more memories. #9in9togo
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) April 23, 2014
Even though Rodgers is coming off his first significant injury since his second season, he is feeling healthy, strong and energetic. That's part of why he sees so much sand remaining in the top half of his career hourglass. During minicamp this week, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers is having his best spring, and he is impressed with the shape Rodgers is in.
Rodgers weighs about 220, which is down about five pounds from his playing weight last year and ten pounds from his weight at this time a year ago. He attributes the weight loss to eating right -- frequent meals, smaller portions, lean meats and vegetables. He also has embraced yoga as a way to increase flexibility and extend his career and active life. "I'm going to put myself in position to play as long as I can," said Rodgers, still tan from offseason golfing in San Diego.
It seems like Rodgers has been a veteran for a long time now, but his maturity continues. The quarterback is evolving with his role and his surroundings.
While Jermichael Finley bobs as a free agent, Rodgers goes over a route with third-round tight end Richard Rodgers on the practice field. Old reliable James Jones is in Oakland now, so Rodgers tries to coach up rookie Davante Adams. Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, who also were instrumental in Rodgers' success, are long gone. "It's the league," Rodgers said. "I've seen so many guys come and go. It is different because we had [Driver] for a lot of years, Greg a lot of years, James a lot of years. There were a lot of touchdowns, a lot of yards, a lot of wins. We have to find a way to make it work a little differently."
At a time when Rodgers is rumored to be interested in investing in the Milwaukee Bucks, it also is clear he has invested in his Packers. One of the reasons he spends to much time at Lambeau Field, even when he doesn't have to, is his commitment to his young teammates.
A friend of McCarthy's recently sent him an old Candid Camera video of the Asch Conformity Experiment. In it, a number of people walk in an elevator with one person who is not aware of the experiment. All of the people in the know stand facing one direction. Eventually, the person who doesn't know what's going on faces the same way. They take their hats off. He does the same. They put their hats back on. He follows.
As he watched the video, McCarthy thought of Rodgers, the player to whom others conform. "I think you see Aaron's leadership here," he said. "It's about developing leaders as well as followers. The followers have to follow the right guys because they start behaving the same way. You talk about what your program stands for, what is the Packer way. This is our ninth year. Aaron has been here the whole time. We're seeing the positive effects."
Part of being a leader is knowing how to conform to others, too. Alex Van Pelt now is Rodgers' third quarterbacks coach in four years. He was moved from running backs coach to replace Ben McAdoo, who left in the offseason to be the Giants offensive coordinator. "Alex brings a different look, different ideas to the room," Rodgers said. "He played the position for a long time, so he knows what the quarterback is thinking at all times. He and I got close when he was the running back coach and it's been fun to be able to work with him every day. He has a great knowledge of the game. I'm excited about how he can take my game to the next level."
Rodgers doesn't worry about things out of his control as much as he used to. Intrusions on his private life used to bother him more. This offseason when his relationship with actress Olivia Munn was exposed, and overexposed, he just shrugged. "I'm 30," he said. "It might have meant more to me 10 years ago I'm going to live my life, enjoy my personal life and not worry about the other stuff that comes with it. It's part of it. It's not what you sign up for. You sign up to play football. But it comes with it. If you hide from it, you'll go crazy. If I happen to get photographed time to time, it's part of it."
Surrendering to the journey has made Rodgers what he is today.


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Recently, I have received a good number of emails containing conversations between readers and CFTC Commissioner Bart Chilton about the allegations of a silver price manipulation because of the large concentrated COMEX short position held by JPMorgan. Chilton had previously led the move to begin the current silver investigation in September 2008 and has always been quick to respond to those writing to him, a rarity for high officials. I couldn't help but notice that Commissioner Chilton had recently begun to say things that seemed to try to explain away the allegations of a silver manipulation, much different from his former stance of promising to look into it. I found this change disturbing and it has influenced my thinking that the CFTC would never do anything about the silver manipulation. One particular response from Chilton to a reader prompted me to write to the Commissioner myself (aside from sending him all my articles) -
Dear Commissioner Chilton,
A reader sent me the following reply from you to him about the short concentration in COMEX silver –
> Hi Tom
> The Commitment of Traders report does not show net positions. So, simply adding all the largest longs up, or looking at one of them, only give you one piece of myriad portfolio. Those reports also don't give over the counter positions. We look at all of that by trader. While there are a few (at times) traders that have been in excess of what our belated position limits would require, the sizes aren't like they were a few years back. I saw one trader with 22 percent net short a while back. We obviously look to see what that trader did at volatile times. And, for those that claim they know who the traders are, I'm not sure how they make such determinations. Certainly it isn't based upon our reports.
> Best,
In all due respect, much of your reply is factually incorrect. Every long form Commitment of Traders report does show net (and gross) positions for every commodity by the 4 and 8 largest traders on both the long and short side of every market. The whole point of your agency keeping concentration data is to insure that no one trader or small group of traders hold such a large net position on a regulated exchange as to manipulate the price. For you to say otherwise is wrong.
While over the counter positions aren't included in COT data that is beside the point. I am not alleging that the OTC market is manipulating the price of silver; the manipulation is emanating from the concentrated position on the COMEX, a market under your jurisdiction. A concentrated position on the COMEX (the world's leading silver market) which manipulates the price of silver can't possibly be excused just because an OTC position may have been created to take advantage of the manipulated price (by the manipulator itself). Nor would it be legitimate for an entity to acquire physical silver after manipulating the price lower via a concentrated short COMEX position. In other words, it doesn't matter what positions may exist off the exchange, if the position on the exchange is so concentrated as to constitute manipulation.
I don't know where you have come to learn this incorrect information, but it has clearly prevented you from fulfilling your obligations as a regulator. In the current COT, for positions as of the close of business December 4, the net concentrated short position of the 4 largest traders is listed at 38.1% (versus 11.3% on the long side).
This translates into 54,002 net short contracts held by the 4 largest traders in COMEX silver futures. By the way, since there are over 36,000 contracts listed as spreads in the companion disaggregated COT report that means the true net position of the 4 largest COMEX shorts is more than 51.1% of the market, not 38.1%. This is the largest concentrated net short position in COMEX silver in more than two and a half years.
As I have previously explained in numerous articles that I have sent to you and the other commissioners, your agency disclosed (quite inadvertently) the identity of the biggest COMEX short seller as JPMorgan, in explaining to various lawmakers that the large and sudden increase in the US bank category in COMEX silver futures in the August 2008 Bank Participation was the result of a merger earlier that year that could only have been the JPMorgan takeover of Bear Stearns. I'll send you a sample copy on request.
Currently, JPMorgan appears to hold 36,500 contracts (of the 54,002 contracts held by the 4 largest traders) on a net basis. After deducting spread positions from total open interest, JPMorgan's net short position is more than 34.5% of the short side of the market, much greater than the 22% figure a while back referenced in your response.
From your response, it is clear that you are operating on faulty information which may explain why your agency hasn't intervened in the ongoing silver manipulation. While this is surprising and disappointing at this stage of the manipulation, it also creates the opportunity of setting the record straight should you endeavor to do so. Many citizens and market observers feel your agency has dropped the ball on terminating the silver manipulation. I'm sure you would agree that it is not healthy for so many to doubt our important public regulators and this may present an opportunity to assuage such growing doubts.
Ted Butler
In simple terms, Commissioner Chilton's response to the reader confirms my worst fear – the reason the CFTC hasn't moved against the silver manipulation is that they don't understand it. Even though the agency publishes remarkably detailed and accurate data on concentration in their weekly COT reports, they apparently don't comprehend what it is they are publishing. As a big believer in the premise that recognition of a problem is 50% of the ultimate solution; I also believe that if a problem is not recognized, it is unlikely to be remedied. I've always considered Chilton to be one of the "good guys" at the Commission, so it is quite disheartening to see him so misinterpret his own agency's data.
This is no small matter. The CFTC's main mission is to guard against price manipulation, the most serious market crime possible. The reason price manipulation is the most serious market crime is because it distorts the free market, thereby affecting everyone, consumers and producers alike, not just active market participants. The one sure cause of manipulation is a large concentrated position held by one or a few collusive traders. That's the whole purpose of position limits, namely, to diffuse and prevent concentration. Whether it was the Hunt Bros on the long side of silver in 1980, or the Sumitomo copper trader known as "Mr. 5%" on the long side of copper, or JR Simplot on the short side of Maine Potatoes in 1976, the common denominator of all market manipulations has been the concentrated holdings of one or a few traders. So it is with JPMorgan on the short side of COMEX silver today. What is shocking is that our most important commodity regulator, the CFTC, has seemingly failed to recognize this.
Of course, perhaps it is not that the agency doesn't understand what is occurring in silver, but more that it doesn't want to understand. Perhaps there were some guarantees exempting JPMorgan from future charges at the time of the Bear Stearns acquisition. Perhaps JPMorgan and the CME are so powerful and above the law that the CFTC can't hope to confront them on such a black and white matter of excessive market share concentration. Most remarkable of all is that more market observers have written to the Commission about silver-related matters than the cumulative total of all other issues. Still, the agency doesn't get it (or want to get it).
What to do about all this? I think the answer may come from none other than the CEO of JPMorgan, Jamie Dimon. Truth be told, were it not for silver, Mr. Dimon would rank high on my list of effective business leaders. I've followed his business career with admiration for many years. The best thing about him is that he comes off as a no-nonsense, to the point kind of guy. This morning, in a special broadcast on CNBC, Dimon was a featured speaker at a special conference. He talked about the greatness of America in so many ways and bristled at a suggestion that JPMorgan was too forceful in their dealings with the regulators. Mr. Dimon's retort was that the Bill of Rights allowed everyone, including JPMorgan, freedom of speech and the right to petition the government. I agree with Mr. Dimon and that has largely been my approach concerning my allegations that it is JPMorgan manipulating the price of silver. As citizens, we all have the right to petition the regulators to move against perceived market crimes. I intend to continue to exercise that right and suggest you do the same. I'd also like to help educate the regulators as well, as far as understanding their own published reports. Lord knows, they could use the help.
Chairman Gensler email@example.com
Commissioner Chilton firstname.lastname@example.com
Commissioner Sommers email@example.com
Commissioner O'Malia email@example.com
Commissioner Wetjen email@example.com
Ted Butler
For subscription information, please go to www.butlerresearch.com


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When the United States Fed Soviet Russia
September 4, 2011
The Great Famine is a documentary about the worst natural disaster in Europe since the Black Plague in the Middle Ages. It tells the little-known story of the American effort to relieve starvation in the new Soviet Russia in 1921. Five million Soviet citizens died. Half a world away, Americans responded with a massive two-year relief campaign, championed by Herbert Hoover, director of the American Relief Administration. The film, produced and directed by Austin Hoyt and co-produced Melissa Martin, premiered on PBS's American Experience in April 2011.
Visit the project website.


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We are at the bitter end of summer.
There are a few more days of freedom.
A few more nights of drinking wine and eating late dinners under the stars while the kids ride their bikes and eat ice creams at ungodly hours.
When school starts it's back to reality.
Back to driving children around to various practices, lessons, and birthday parties. Back to being surrounded by annoying parents that hover over their children making sure that their lives are perfect.
Even though a couple of weeks ago I said I was dreading making lunches the most…in actuality I hate helicopter parenting more than lunches.
My biggest gripe with helicopter parents is that I just don't know how they have so much time. They spend their days scurrying about making sure that their children do not experience anything unpleasant.
I don't understand why I barely have time to clean my house and do the laundry, yet they magically have time to worry themselves over nonsense.
They run around making sure that their kid's dolls don't look like whores, that their kid's sandwiches look like daisies and that their children believe that they won in sports even when they are big fat losers.
In the latest show of insane American parenting, I was recently greeted with a disturbing article about Legos.
Apparently, studies have been done and the fact that Lego guys sometimes have frowny faces can possibly cause tension or aggression in children. Parents are upset by this latest revelation.
I have two boys who are obsessed with Legos.
There's not one room of my house that doesn't have some little brick in it. I have spent many mornings cursing the Lego Corporation after stepping on legos in my bare feet.
They are a pain in the ass to clean up and keep organized and until I had my trusty Bissell, I would accidentally vacuum them up.
I totally get how Legos can be annoying.
But to be upset because the Lego guys are in bad moods? Really?
First of all let's get something straight. Legos occupy my children for hours and hours on end. I don't give two flying shits what their facial expression is. I don't care if the Lego guy is giving the finger…as long as they are playing and not bothering me.
Apparently, parents would like the Lego guys to be in good moods and be pleasant, smiling, law-abiding citizens. Well what will that teach children? Is it a good lesson for kids to believe that everyone is just going to be super-smiley and happy all the time?
Sometimes people are miserable assholes…and apparently so are legos.
Also, has anyone taken a little gander at dolls lately?
They can sell a little panda with this doll all they want – it won't change the fact that she is extremely angry and unpleasant to be around.
Why is it ok for the dolls today to be raging whores with attitude problems and the lego guys can't be a little rough around the edges??
Guess what everybody…..there's a lot going on these days.
There's some stuff in this world that could make even the happiest of people have a frown.
That's life!
Sometimes life sucks. Sometimes people make a bad face.
Some people are dicks and apparently so are Lego guys.
Like I have said many times before….can't we all find something else to do or be upset about?
Overprotective parents and overzealous researchers should turn their attentions to important matters and just face reality.
It's not a big deal….it's just that like them, some Legos are just assholes.


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Job board operator Dice Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DHX) acquired onTargetjobs, which includes three healthcare-related job boards, from private equity firm Warburg Pincus for $50 million in cash.
The acquired online recruiting sites include HEALTHeCareers, a healthcare recruiting site; Hcareers, a hospitality job site that brings Dice a presence in the hospitality market; and BioSpace, online community for industry news and careers for life science professionals.
The sites generated trailing 12 months revenue of approximately $38 million.
"This acquisition fits with our expansion strategy and adds the leading vertical recruiting services in healthcare and hospitality to our portfolio," said Dice CEO and President Michael Durney. "It's no secret we've wanted to be bigger in online healthcare recruiting."
The transaction closed Nov. 7 and onTargetjobs' management will remain with Dice Holdings.


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In a roundtable discussion hosted by Al Día News at The Union League in Philadelphia on Friday, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett laughed off the question of why there are no Latinos in his administration by saying, "If you can find us one let me know."
Corbett noted that Pennsylvania's 800,000 Latino residents represent about 6.8 percent of the population, and a 2008 survey found that Harrisburg's metropolitan region "is home to more than 18,000 people of Hispanic or Latino origin," one third of whom live in the city of Harrisburg.
While discussing the "impact of Latinos" in Pennsylvania, Corbett refrained identifying Latinos specifically, instead saying, "I represent every one of you." He talked about developing stronger relationships with all communities, including "Latino, African-American, Italian, German, whatever."
"When it comes to decision-making, it's what's in the best interest of Pennsylvania. And, trying to grow jobs in Pennsylvania, I think is in the best interest of whatever nationality that we are talking about. When it comes to the economy, growing jobs is in the best interest of every nationality in Pennsylvania."
Plagued with low job-approval ratings, Corbett has yet to announce whether he will seek re-election in 2014.


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Today at 12h30, all the international rugby sevens captains will attend a signing session at the Greenacres Mall, where fans will also be able to view the HSBC Sevens World Series trophy on display.
Springbok Sevens playmaker Cecil Africa's inclusion in the final squad is however subject to a fitness test later in the week, to ascertain the readiness of his troublesome knee which prevented him from travelling to Dubai.
Bernado Botha and Cheslin Kolbe are the two additions to the squad after Kyle Brown, the Blitzbokke captain, was ruled out of action because of a broken ankle.
Coach Paul Treu will name his final 12-man squad on Thursday afternoon at a media conference at the Garden Court Kings' Beach hotel in the Friendly City.
South Africa had their first outdoor activity on Monday afternoon since arriving in Port Elizabeth from Dubai on Sunday evening.
Samoa went for a recovery swim at the nearby Summerstrand beach while New Zealand and some other teams did some light gym training.
South Africa opted for a walk through at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, the venue for round three of the HSBC Sevens World Series on Saturday and Sunday.
Speaking to media on the side of the field, Treu said his troops were glad to be on home soil and were looking forward to play in front of the South African supporters.
"The Port Elizabeth fans gave us unbelievable support last year and we could feel the buzz in the city upon our arrival last night. The guys realise that they did not play to their potential in Dubai and we will work hard on our mental preparation to hopefully deliver the type of performances that will make our fans proud of us.
"It's also nice to have Cecil back. He is an inspirational player and a great team member so his presence will no doubt give the boys an extra lift. However, we will not take unnecessary risks with him and he will only play if he is fully fit," added Treu.
Article source: http://mype.co.za/new/2012/12/sevens-fans-in-for-a-treat/


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Southern California-based Airwolf 3D is premised on the philosophy of providing the public with something it has never seen before-an affordable, durable, easy to use 3D printer whereby users of all ages and backgrounds can create objects thought impossible until now. Come meet Airwolf 3D printers at this year's OC Mini Maker Faire 2015!
Tag Archives: 3D printing
Airwolf 3D
Posted in Maker Faire
Tagged 3d printers, 3D printing, airwolf 3d, DIY, Maker Faire, OC Mini Maker Faire
MatterHackers 3D Printer Giveaway
Stop by and visit MatterHackers Orange County based 3D printing company at this year's Orange County Mini Maker Faire May 9th. They will be giving away a 3D printer to a lucky attendee at this year's event.
MatterHackers offers 3d printers, software, to supplies and they are working hard to enable people to turn the ideas into the things they can use. They are also the developer behind MatterControl software a platform to enable and enhance 3D Printers. MatterControl lets you edit, organize and manage your 3D designs and your 3D printer. Lucky winner of 3d printer will also receive MatterControl.
Posted in Maker Faire
Tagged 3D printing, DIY, Maker Faire, matterhackers, OC Mini Maker Faire
RapidTech at UC Irvine offers cutting-edge 3-D manufacturing technology to students. They are located in the UC Irvine Engineering building teaching students advanced manufacturing techniques but also providing low-cost solutions for local businesses.
They are finding applications in a wide range of non-traditional fields beyond technology and engineering, including medical, architecture, animation, rapid digital manufacturing, and consumer level mass customization.
Check out the different 3d printing technologies by Rapidtech at the OC Mini Maker Faire, buy tickets here to attend
Come down to the OC Mini Maker Faire May 9th and check out some 3d printing by Deezmaker, meet the team, make something or get yourself 3d scanned.
Deezmaker 3D Printing retail shop & Hackerspace in Pasadena, Ca manufactures 3-D printer kits Bukobot & Bukito created by Founder Diego Porqueras. In 2012, Deezmaker was the 1st 3-D printer store on the west coast to open up and the second one in the country. Their in-store hackerspace gives 3-D printing enthusiasts a place to get together and find ways to innovate and create do-it-yourself projects (diy). Coming soon, Deezmaker will also open up their new showroom and workshop Makerspace added to their Pasadena location – May 3rd 2015.
3D Printing and Hackshop
Saturday was the Grand Opening of Deezmaker in Pasadena, Southern California's first 3D Print shop and Hackerspace! It was indeed a grand celebration with plenty of local makers, hackers and geeks in attendance to welcome the new space.
Located in a small strip mall right off the 210 freeway on Hill St in Pasadena, this place was brought to life with the passion and enthusiasm of Diego Porqueras, the financial support of his dad, Romulo, and lots of moral support from many friends and family members who were all there to celebrate the beginning of a wonderful and unique thing.
Diego first heard about 3D Printers from a CNN report on the MakerBot, afterwards he went to CrashSpace and attended some MakerBot Monthly meetings and was hooked. Soon after he purchased and built his first 3D Printer which was a Prusa Mendel kit from RepRap and that led to the development of his own 3D Printer the BukoBot. Diego wanted a machine that was more easily expandable to accommodate larger print jobs as well as inexpensive and easy to build.
A year ago the pieces started coming together and Deezmaker began to take shape, you know things are meant to be when that happens. The new shop has a very comfortable feel sporting both a roomy area for workshops with two pull down screens and a corner for relaxing stocked with a growing library and a guitar.
Currently the shop is open for the purchasing of parts and filament but, once it's fully operational it will be open for 3D Printer rentals, as a Hackerspace and will offer a variety of workshops and classes as well as a place to purchase 3D printers and parts. One of the best things about being at the Grand Opening was seeing the people who had come from just down the street as well as people who had traveled up from the depths of Orange County to support this endeavor. It was good to see many familiar faces and to make new friends in the maker community. I was especially pleased to see a Likeame photo frame which had been purchased by Diego, it served as yet another physical reminder of how this community supports one another.Something to watch for in the next few months is a 3D Printer Kiosk opening up at the Irvine Spectrum in Orange County in January 2013. Imagine being able to go to the mall and have your design printed up while you wait. Or you can place larger orders and pick them up later. Brian may also host a pop-up store at OC Mini Maker Faire 2013.
The 3D printer is growing in popularity, more and more people are finding amazing uses and building better, faster, bigger machines. One day 3D printers will be as common as ink and paper printers, Deezmaker is a step in that direction.
For more information on Deezmaker contact Diego at: (657) 333-MAKE or email: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Posted in Around Town
Tagged 3D printing, Deezmaker, Pasadena


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JewishGen is proud to announce its 2013 year-end update to the JOWBR (JewishGen's Online Worldwide Burial Registry) database. The JOWBR database can be accessed by clicking here. If you're a new JOWBR user, we recommend that you take a look at the first two explanatory screencasts by clicking here.
This update adds approximately 114,000 new records and 19,000 new photos! The database is adding 172 new cemeteries along with updates or additions to an additional 219 cemeteries. This update brings JOWBR's holdings to 2.14 million records from more than 4,200 cemeteries / cemetery sections representing 83 countries! (We've even added two new countries, the Dominican Republic and Sri Lanka.)
Once again, donors for this update include a mix of individuals, Jewish genealogical societies, historical societies and museums. We appreciate all our donor's submissions and the transliteration work done by a faithful group of JewishGen volunteers.
I want to particularly thank Eric Feinstein who has been helping me to find and gain permission to add many of the records from under-represented countries. In addition, without our volunteer transliterators, led by Gilberto Jugend, we would not be able to add the information from some very difficult to read photos.
Of particular note in this update are the following additions:
- Sharon, Massachusetts. Thanks to the administrators of the Sharon Memorial Park with assistance from Jerry Wyner and the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) for their submission of 37,100 records.
- Praha, Czech Republic. Thanks to Randy Schoenberg and the Jewish Community of Praha for 25,200 records from the New Jewish Cemetery.
- Pennsylvania. Thanks to Susan Melnick, archivist for the Rauh Jewish Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center for 9,100 records from the Beth Shalom Cemetery connected with Congregation Beth Shalom in Pittsburgh, Pa and for the Johnstown area cemeteries (including 1,050 records from 6 cemeteries in Westmont and Geistown.
- Germany. We are adding close to 62 new German cemeteries (7,300 records). Significant contributions came from Dieter Peters, who submitted approximately 40 cemeteries with 5,000 records from his collection. Additional cemetery records will be added in future updates. In addition, by partnering with JewishGen's German Special Interest Group (GER-SIG), we have added 20 cemeteries with approximately 2,150 records.
- Zhytomyr, Ukraine. Thanks to a team of volunteers from JewishGen's Ukrainian Special Interest Group (UKR-SIG) for 4,100 additional records and 5,300 photos to link to the entire collection.
- Sadgora, Ukraine. Thanks to a project funded by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Ottawa, Canada, the submission includes 3,500 records and their linked photos.
- Hégenheim, France. Thanks to Professor Frowald Gil Huettenmeister for the submission of 3,200 records from his book on the cemetery: Hüttenmeister, Gil und Rogg, Lea: "Der jüdische Friedhof in Hegenheim. Le Cimetière Israélite de Hégenheim (Haut-Rhin)".
- Ontario, Canada. Thanks to Allen Halberstadt, coordinator of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada, Toronto's Cemetery Project, for updating 190 cemetery sections resulting in 2,800 additional records from various cemeteries.
- Porto Alegre, Brazil. Thanks to David Jovegelevicius, President of the Centro Israelita, Porto Alegre, Brazil for submitting his data set of 2,600 records.
- Waterbury, Connecticut. Thanks to Ruben Poupko for submitting 1,800 records and photos for 3 additional Waterbury cemeteries. Included in this update are records and photos from Hebrew Benefit Cemetery, Melchizedek Cemetery, and the Farband Cemetery.
- Kursk, Russia. Thanks to Mikhail Moiseevich Kaner, Chairman of the Jewish community of the city of Kursk for submitting 1,300 records along with 1,100 photos.
- West Springfield, Massachusetts. Thanks to Jeff Kontoff for photographing the Kodimoh Cemetery and submitting 1,250 photos and an additional 250 records.
- Forest Park, Illinois. Thanks to Debra Wolraich for submitting 1,200 records from the Anshe Motele Society section in the Waldheim Cemetery.
- Eisenstadt, Austria. From the book "Die Grabschriften aus Alten Judenfriedhoes in Einsenstadt" by Bernhard Wachstsin, a listing of the 1,200 burials in the old cemetery that took place between 1679 until 1874.
Whether your name or records are listed above, we appreciate all your submissions! Thank you to all the donors that submitted information for this update.
If you have not already done so, please consider making a donation to help support our important work. You can donate via Credit Card by clicking here. (Gifts of $100 or more grant Value Added Services). PayPal donations can be made here. Checks can me made payable, and sent to:
JewishGen, 36 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280
Nolan Altman
JewishGen Acting VP for Data Acquisition
JOWBR – CoordinatorDecember 2013


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It's that time of year when the weather starts cooling down and my apple, pear and pumpkin cravings are in full force. Not to mention I'm 7 months pregnant, so cravings are a natural part of my daily life. :)
I adapted this recipe from a book that I purchased at Barnes & Noble for $5.00 – gotta love a good cookbook bargain. The book is titled "Cupcakes & Muffins". Going by the title alone, what's not to love about this book?!? My new cookbook has over 300 pages of recipes and pictures of every kind of cupcake and muffin you could ever desire to make – SOLD.
This recipe was so delicious, I had to share. Pair this muffin with a cup of coffee and you'll be off to a great start in the morning.
Apple Muffins with Streusel Topping
Makes 12
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup milk
1 green apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped
Streusel topping
¼ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
3 TBSP light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 TBSP unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with paper cupcake liners.
With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Sift flour and baking powder in to a small bowl. Fold flour mixture into butter mixture alternately with milk. Fold in apple. Spoon mixture into prepared liners to two-thirds full.
To make streusel topping, whisk together flour, sugar and cinnamon. Using fingertips, rub in butter. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping evenly over cupcakes.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a skewer inserted in the center of a cupcake tests clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, and then transfer muffins to wire rack to cool completely.
"Cupcakes & Muffins" Published by Weldon Owen, 2011.


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The State Board of Education will hold a public hearing for citizens in the First Congressional District on Tuesday, February 28, 2012. The meeting will be held from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Bacon County Board of Education, 102 West 4th Street, Alma, GA 31510.
The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments from citizens and educators regarding public education in the district. Mrs. Linda Zechmann will conduct the hearing.
Persons wishing to speak should sign in upon arrival. For more information please contact Mrs. Brenda Turner 404-657-7410.
The Georgia Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services or activities. Individuals who need assistance or auxiliary aids for participation in this public forum are invited to make their needs known to Mrs. Brenda Turner at (404) 657-7410, no later than 72 hours before the scheduled event.
2-15 & 2-22ch
gpn16 STATE BOARD MEMBER TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING February 28, 2012 Linda Zechmann to Host State Board of Education First District Public Hearing
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Let's discuss.
|Considering the human condition along with the Vampyroteuthis infernalis condition seems appropriate because "we are both products of an absurd coincidence," writes Vilém Flusser.
Subject of Vilém Flusser's Vampyroteuthis Infernalis: A Treatise
Q. How are you and humans the same? Flusser writes "We and the vampyroteuthis harbor some of the same deeply ingrained memories, and we are therefore able to recognize it in something of ourselves." Do you agree?
You know, it's hard to say—I haven't met all that many humans in my time. The oxygen minimum zone is pretty rough on humans, and conversely, I'm a fairly poor traveler when I leave this biome and drift upwards. I guess I'm a bit of a homebody. Flusser did visit me once, however—I don't remember the year—in a special suit he'd made himself, or so he said.
So I can, I suppose, extrapolate from him as he did for my species from me. (In fact, I'm currently working on a book called Vilém Flusser: A Treatise, with a Report by the Institute Aquatique de Spéculatif Humanoïdes so this is a bit of an advance preview. Please check any reused quotes against the final published text.) He was a nice man, and I'm pretty nice as far as deep sea cephalopods go, so that's one thing we had in common. He had huge glasses—he said they were the largest glasses in the animal kingdom—and I have massive globular eyes—they are the largest eyes in the animal kingdom in proportion to my body—so that was another bonding moment. Both our species, I could see, had deep relationships with our respective habitats—as if the very functions of our bodies and our behaviors were in some deep way determined by the habitats we ourselves inhabited. He wore a cape, and I have a cape-like webbing between my tentacles. I suppose what Flusser was discussing in your quote is something we talked about at great length, which is that when you get down to it, we really do come from the same phylogenetic tree after all.
So in some ways, what once was mine was also once yours?
I think we both preferred the dark in some ways. Which reminds me of another strange similarity. You may not know this, but I'm covered in photophores—meaning, one might see flashes of light shimmer off my mantle. They're these amazing little light-producing organs. It's quite nice, and a useful thing in a sea of eternal night where light can be your only way to communicate, throw a distraction, entice some prey, or see the manuscript you're working on. Well: Flusser was excited to see this light in action—something about technical images—because he felt it was so unique and different from anything humans could do. But when he was down here, we discovered that when his thinking grew excited, we'd start seeing these bursts of light flash from around his head and crackle through is beard and out into the water column. He was amazed—and said you couldn't see this up in his natural habitat. But down here, well—it really was quite spectacular to watch.
Q. What can the vampyroteuthis infernalis teach humans about the earth and our mutual place in it?
There are a few simple things. Don't try to send me some candy in a styrofoam cup, because by the time it reaches me it will have been compressed down to the size of a thimble, spilling all the candy. Flusser tried that once. But then again, do try—we in the deep sea have a phrase we like to use: "it's the thought that counts." And the thought really did make me feel good.
A couple other things:
1) It's okay to be a drifter sometimes. Use your jet propulsion once in awhile (it is fun) but going with the flow can be really nice. Flusser read me this great poem about "wandering lonely as a cloud" or something like that like that. It was very deep-sea in spirit, and reminded me of my life as a sometimes-drifter in the pelagic zone. Though I don't drift as much as others—like that Deepstaria enigmatica, dude, they are so LAZY.
2) Not everything with a scary name is scary. Sure I do a cloak thing where I spin my webbed tentacles up around my body and there are these little bristles that come out. I always yell PINEAPPLE when I do it. Does it look scary? Sure, maybe. It works to hide, and scare a predator away. But I'm doing this because I'M scared! Seriously! Those spines couldn't hurt a sleeping Laetmogone violacea and that thing just sucks mud all day long. I'm not trying to be scary, I'm just hiding all my wonderful photophores and my big eyes. Did I mention I have really big eyes? I'm kinda famous for it. Google it. But to someone else I look all scary—so now I'm a Vampire. From hell, supposedly. And there are so many way creepier things down here.
Oh, my friend Macropinna microstoma is BEGGING me to tell you about its eyes too. Ugh. Okay. I admit they're super cool.
3) Don't think for one second that weird and beautiful things like me don't exist, because they do. I do. Really. And have for a very, very, very long time.
Q. Did Flusser's intervention on you miss anything?
I am a really good dancer. For real. Giganticus is always amazed how light on my tentacles I am. And we throw some killer light shows down here at our dance-offs.
Q. A recent review of the book culminates with "So ask not what you can do for the vampire squid from hell. What you do for the vampire squid from hell, you do for yourself." What the devil does that mean?
(Incidentally, the article also mentions the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, which, I understand, is a big fan of yours.)
Oh, such nice folks those MBARI kids. I like it when they visit. I'm not sure about the review—I live one measly biome outside the LA Times delivery area. Do you know they deliver all the way to the mesopelagic zone?!? I've been asking for years for them to expand their coverage. Every once in awhile an issue floats down through the bathypelagic zone, but by then it's been chewed on so many times and there's usually someone faster who gets to it first (stupid Sixgill Sharks!).
So I really shouldn't guess without having seen the review, but it sounds like it's maybe got something to do with biological interaction. You know what I'm talking about, the whole touch one thing it touches everything. Mutualism, Symbiotic relationships, Neutralism, Commensalistic relationships, Parasitism, Amensalism, Antagonism. I suppose we're all better at certain forms of biological interactions than others. Humans included I guess.
But seriously, what do I know? Maybe if I got the LA Times I'd be up to date.
Q. What are the three most shocking things about you?
My dancing. I don't have ink sacs—instead, I expel this awesome bioluminescent mucus that erupts in a dazzling cloud to blind and confuse any potential predators. Oh, and my dancing.
Vampyroteuthis Infernalis: A Treatise, with a Report by the Institut Scientifique de Recherche Paranaturaliste by Vilém Flusser. Join him in the digital abyss on Twitter: @vampyinfernalis.
"At once inquisitive and whimsical, this unclassifiable book brings together some of the best work of two cutting-edge thinkers that were not only geographic but also intellectual neighbors."
—Eduardo Kac
Happy Halloween!


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A Glimmer Of Hope From The Mariners
Since their last winning season in 2009, the Seattle Mariners have more resembled a comatose hospital patient in the ICU, stuck on the Critical list, than a competitive baseball team for the last three and a half years.
Yet during this time, I have purposely plopped my patootie on the couch every night, turned the TV on to the M's game, and had two thoughts in mind---- 'I can't believe I'm watching this …stuff… again'; and 'I sure love Baseball'.
Their inability to score runs reached epic proportions in 2010 when they plated only 513 runners, the lowest in Baseball since the introduction of the Designated Hitter to the game in 1973.
For some perspective, the LA Dodgers of my youth were renown for not scoring runs.
During the pitching heyday of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, a 'Dodger Rally' consisted of a Maury Wills walk, a steal of second base, a sacrifice bunt by Junior Gilliam, followed by a sacrifice fly from Tommy Davis.
A run on no hits --- a Dodger rally.
More often than not, that one run would stand up and be enough to get the Dodgers a win on their way to pennants in 1963, '65, and '66.
In those three years, those anemic Dodgers scored only 640, 608, and 640 runs.
Again, in 2010, the M's mustered only 513 runs. In 2011, the number improved, albeit slightly, to 556. Last year it 'rocketed to 619'.
The league averages those same three years were 721 ('10), 723 ('11), and 721 ('12).
During this time, a two-run deficit has been a death sentence in any given game for this team.
In fact, the M's have struggled so much at the plate the last three years, you could play the Alphabet Game with them while you're waiting for the light to turn green.
Start with the letter A and find an adjective to describe them -- 'awful', 'abyssmal' and 'atrocious' come readily to mind. Work your way up the rest of the alphabet. (When I've gotten to E, I've had to settle for 'ewww'.)
Having said all this, finally, at long last, the M's are starting to show some signs of life, like that patient finally beginning to emerge from his coma.
In the last month, seven young position players (virtually all of them home-grown) have begun to click as their baseball pedigrees have suggested they would, sooner or later.
Zunino, Smoak, Franklin, Miller, Seager, Saunders and Ackley have provided a spark, reintroducing local fans to the long-forgotten concept of the timely base-hit --- one that actually drives in a runner and puts a run on the board. Sometimes, even, the next hitter does the same thing, and what do you know, will you look at that?
It's a crooked number on the board!
With runs (or simply the threat of being able to score) any and all things are possible.
This is not to say this team is a threat to play .500 ball this season, much less contend for the post-season.
With a pitching staff of "Felix and Iwakuma and three days of doom-a", this team's recovery is nowhere near complete.
But at least there is reason to hope, if not believe, that there are better days ahead.
I say we upgrade this team, cautiously, to Watchable.
In time, we may even pronounce them Interesting.
There's no question about it.
Frank the Man


text:
Staff writer
County residents using the connecting bridge at Alfalfa Road over the Cottonwood River will soon need a detour when traveling to U.S. 50.
A fracture-critical inspection of the 126-foot bridge, located about two miles east and a half-mile south of Florence, found significant losses to bearings of concrete pedestals due to spalling.
Commissioners acknowledged Monday the bridge is the biggest structure in the county in bad shape, and there are not many options besides a total replacement.
"Our backs are against the wall," Commissioner Dan Holub said.
The replacement is estimated at $680,000, of which 80 percent could be paid with federal assistance.
"I'm the type that I'd rather have something new than put a bunch of money into something old," Road and Bridge Superintendent Randy Crawford said. "With the 80-20 money, we need to take advantage of that."
Mark Johnston, associate vice president of Lochner, the engineering firm contracted to inspect bridges, said the worst-case scenario would begin with further failure of the bearings.
A chain reaction could occur, the bearings dropping the bridge's truss onto its pier cap, making stability an uncertainty.
"It doesn't need to be tomorrow, but it needs to be fixed sooner than later," Johnston said.
Crawford said the next step is contacting CFS Engineers to discuss designs, which are already finished.
Commissioner Randy Dallke requested final price estimates in order to begin receiving bids.
Crawford hopes to begin work as soon as possible, which, depending on the contractor, could take nine months to a year to complete.
"It's in bad shape," he said. "It depends on the weather too, when they start building this, because a lot of the work's going to be below ground."
The commission also:
- Accepted a higher tire bid from Rod's Tire and Service for $29,408, because the low bid did not comply with the specified tires the commission asked for.
- Approved and extended Marion's proclamation for the state of local disaster emergency for flooding.
- Approved a yearly bid for Florence's trash service at the county lake for $400 April through October and $22.50 November through March.
- Agreed to pay out County Appraiser Cindy Magill on her final day of work instead of the end of the month.