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10 Holy Martyrs of Crete
The Ten Holy Martyrs of Crete: Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompius, Agathopus, Basilides and Evaristus suffered for Christ during the third century under the emperor Decius (249-251). The governor of Crete, also named Decius, fiercely persecuted the Church, and arrested anyone who believed in Christ. Once, ten Christians were brought before him from various cities of Crete, who at the trial steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ and refused to worship idols.
For thirty days they were subjected to cruel tortures, and with the help of God they all persevered, glorifying God. Before their death they prayed that the Lord would enlighten their torturers with the light of the true Faith. Since pain did not influence them, the saints were beheaded.
Saint Paul of Constantinople (November 6) visited Crete about a hundred years later. He took the relics of the holy martyrs to Constantinople to serve as a protection for the city, and a source of blessings for the faithful.


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Archive for April 30, 2014
The Fountain Garden
The theme of Garden Fest this year is "Water, Water, Everywhere." Join us on May 9th, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Enid A. Haupt Garden for a celebration of the role water plays in sustaining healthy garden and healthy humans. The day will include live music, the creation of a water-themed community art project, and numerous educational activities. In this blog post Smithsonian Gardens volunteer Annette B. Ramírez de Arellano takes an in-depth look at the history behind one of our most popular water features in the gardens.
Gardens are central to the design of the Smithsonian Quad, which comprises the space between the Castle and Independence Avenue. While the Victorian parterre is the largest and most central area of the Enid A. Haupt Garden, two smaller gardens are tucked among the museums. The Fountain Garden, which abuts the National Museum of African Art, is of Moorish design and incorporates key design elements of the architecture of North Africa.
The Fountain Garden was inspired by the Court of the Lions in the Alhambra, the 12th century fortress and palace in Granada, Spain. The Alhambra, which is at present Spain's most-visited monument, reflects the era of Al-Andalus, when Muslims had control or great influence over territory that extended from Central Asia to Spain. Between the 8th and the 14th centuries, Muslim Spain was a center for the arts and sciences. In the 13th century, Granada was the stronghold of the Nasrid dynasty and a thriving state in both commerce and the arts. The Alhambra, which was begun in 1248 and took 100 years to be completed, was emblematic of the dynasty's power. It is still the world's oldest Islamic palace to survive in a good state of preservation.
Within the structure, the Court of the Lions has been called "the most elegant complex of Muslim architecture." The courtyard consists of two adjacent squares forming a rectangular, with a fountain in the center and 6 fountains in the periphery. The central fountain has 12 lions in a circle surrounding a large marble basin. Water emanates from the mouth of each lion. The courtyard is surrounded by 124 intricate columns which include 11 different types of arches.
Like its predecessor, the Smithsonian's Fountain Garden incorporates water, tiles, and the symmetrical shape formed by the crossing of four streams of water representing the four rivers of paradise (water, wine, milk and honey). But it is highly stylized version of its Andalusian counterpart, and has jets of water rising directly from the ground rather than spewing from the mouths of lions. The garden also includes a Moorish-inspired wall fountain, in which the water falls over a vertical surface. This provides a soothing sound and cools the ambient air during the warm summer months. The wall is planted with vines that form a veil or chador, thereby alluding to the cultural roots of the original fountain in what is now Spain. Art and function therefore merge with history in the garden which abuts the National Museum of African Art and can be enjoyed by visitors within the Museum as well as by those walking through the Quad's open spaces.
-Annette B. Ramírez de Arellano, Smithsonian Gardens volunteer

subset: commoncrawl


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Mouse Ado about Nothing
I've tried to be open-minded, but I've decided that men are givers and women are takers. I study at my local coffeehouse. I am interested in this woman who comes in and often I unplug my computer and offer to let her use the outlet. Two weeks ago, I decided to make my interest clearer by buying her coffee. She said, "Oh! Thanks!" Then she put her nose back in her books. The next time she came in, I offered her my large table because she had tons of books. She blushed as girls do, asking, "Are you sure?" I said, "Of course!" I then worked at a small, cramped table next to her. She made no effort to talk, except when she asked me to watch her computer while she went to the restroom. Finally, I decided to be really clear and asked if she'd like to grab a bite sometime. She smiled and said she'd just see me here, but thanks. Yeah, she'll see me there and expect me to give her my big table. I'm sick of this take, take, take. A woman needs to tell a man right away if she's not interested and not let him sit there like an idiot, planning to make her life easier.
I guess when you ask a woman whether she'd like to use the power outlet, she should just come right out and say, "I would, but I don't find you very attractive."
Why go after what you want when you can dance around it, do it favors, and hope it figures out that you've made a secret agreement with it in your head? There are girls who would respond in a way you'd consider honorable — who would not only show appreciation when you provide them with complimentary food and beverages but even follow you home. Unfortunately, they're the sort of girls who catch a Frisbee in their teeth.
Like the sign spinner on the corner in the Statue of Liberty suit, you think you need to lure women with a special offer, except instead of "Cash for gold!" it's "Snake your drain for a date!" You're apparently convinced that no woman would want you for you. This probably isn't entirely off base, since the "you" you currently are is a guy who thinks instilling a sense of obligation in a woman for favors rendered is your best hope of having sex again before you forget where the parts go.
Stop grumbling that women are conniving takers, and work on accepting yourself, flaws and all. Once your self-respect is no longer trailer-hitched to whether women want you, you can be direct — just talk to a woman, let her see who you are, and ask her out. She may turn you down, but if you feel OK about yourself, you'll see her rejection as your cue — simply to find the next girl to hit on, not to storm out behind the coffeehouse, shake your fist at the sky, and yell, "Hey, weren't the meek supposed to inherit the earth? Where's mine?!"
Wait problems
A friend of a year has a pattern of raving about people she meets and then completely cooling on them. Last week, she met a man online. On their first date, he took her shopping, buying her a gold ring and a key ring he had engraved with both their names and "Thinking of you always." She describes him as perfect, brilliant, etc., and said she loves him and would marry him. I said things like "Take some time to get to know him," but I don't think she really heard me.
A first date like theirs raises some questions for the second date, such as, "Who should pay the invoice for the side-by-side burial plots?" Be prepared to wear out your face trying to talk sense into your friend. The problem is "confirmation bias" — our tendency to seek information that supports what we already believe and toss information that does not. In other words, your time would be better spent painting a wall and speaking meaningful thoughts to the paint as it dries. Another productive use of your time would be adding up how much of it you're spending worrying about this woman's problems. It isn't mercenary or ugly to expect a friendship to be mutual and to influence you in positive ways. If how she lives is dragging you down, you may want to give her a little less prominence in your life. Then, when you do see her, you can just admire her ring and share in her happiness at reaching that milestone golden anniversary — celebrating 50 joyous minutes of knowing a man.
(c)2012, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave., #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com (www.advicegoddess.com)
It's Amy Alkon's Advice Goddess Radio — "Nerd your way to a better life!" with the best brains in science solving your love, dating sex, and relationship problems. Listen live every Sunday — http://www.blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon/ — 7-8 p.m. PT, 10-11 p.m. ET, or download the podcast at the link. Call-in during the show: 347-326-9761 (NYC area code).
Read Amy Alkon's book: "I SEE RUDE PEOPLE: One woman's battle to beat some manners into impolite society" (McGraw-Hill, $16.95).


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China has tested its first stealth combat drone, state media said on Friday, citing online photos of an aircraft resembling a shrunken US B2 bomber and hailing the advance toward Western-level technology.
The test flight of the "Sharp Sword" unmanned aircraft is another step in China's years-long military build-up, with its defence spending now the second highest in the world and growing by double-digit percentages each year.
It comes weeks after Tokyo said a drone had flown near East China Sea islands claimed by both it and Beijing, causing tensions between the rivals to escalate by another notch.
"The successful flight shows the nation has again narrowed the air-power disparity between itself and Western nations," the China Daily newspaper said.
It said Thursday's test flight made China the "fourth power... capable of putting a stealth drone into the sky", after the US, European Union and Britain.
Images posted online showed a sleek grey delta-wing aircraft apparently powered by a jet engine and resembling an American combat drone.
State media widely reported the new aircraft in close detail, although they said the test-flight was first revealed by ordinary Internet users on a popular military web forum cjdby.net.
Chinese authorities quickly censor any news or images exposed online by citizens that they deem sensitive, so it is unlikely they did not approve the reports.
State broadcaster CCTV, citing eyewitnesses, said on its international channel that the test flight lasted 20 minutes on Thursday afternoon in the southwestern city of Chengdu.
The flight "implies that China has made the leap from drones to combat drones", it said, calling it the move of "major significance".
The aircraft was developed by two subsidiaries of Aviation Industry Corp of China, the country's top aircraft manufacturer, the China Daily said.
China is steadily building its military muscle and unveiled its first stealth fighter, the J-20, in early 2011, though it is not expected to to enter service until 2018.
Beijing's first aircraft carrier -- a refurbished vessel purchased from Ukraine and named the Liaoning -- went into service in September 2012 but is not expected to be fully operational for several years.
A drone was at the centre of a recent spat between Beijing and Tokyo, whose dispute over islands known as Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese has raised concerns of conflict.
An unidentified unmanned aircraft flew near the islands in September, where China routinely conducts maritime patrols, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets. The aircraft came from the northwest and returned in that direction, a Japanese defence official said.
Tokyo later threatened to shoot down any such aircraft, a move that Beijing warned would amount to an "act of war".


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Displaying items by tag: IAF
On May 11th, Becky Roberts and I will present "Tweet Jams: Facilitated Social Media or Chaos?" at the International Association of Facilitators North America (IAFNA) Conference 2012, in Halifax, Nova Scotia!
We will explore how to apply the concepts of facilitation to Twitter, as we teach how to facilitate a Tweet Jam / Tweet Chat, from 9:00 to 10:30 Atlantic Time.
Join us using the hashtag #IAFNAjam, or join our non-conference facilitation discussions using #facilichat. We will be tweeting out more information shortly.
The presentation from IAFNA 2012 on Facilitating Tweetjams is available below. We are planning more tweet chats so check back here or search for #facilichat on Twitter.


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Bubinga Celtic Cross Looking Glass XL
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Tha Riot Squad - Straight Outta Far Rock
New Video From Tha Riot Squad "Straight Outta Far Rock" Off Their New Mixtape "Riot Or Diet Vol.4 (Ramadan Season)" In Stores Now!
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Tell Me How This Ends
Yesterday, President Obama defended his new approach to the war in Afghanistan. According to the president, our strategy is to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies. In order to accomplish this goal, Obama's strategy indicates we must create a functioning national state there.
Beltway orthodoxy tells us it's because extremists will emerge in ungoverned parts of the world and attack the United States. As my colleagues Justin Logan and Chris Preble point out here, there's reason to doubt whether state failure or poor governance in itself poses a threat.
But responsible leaders would be upfront about the expected costs of our policy: to transform what is a deeply divided, poverty stricken, tribal‐based society into a self‐sufficient, non‐corrupt, stable democracy would require a multi‐decade commitment—and even then there'd be no assurance of success.
Why Afghanistan's form of governance directly implicates America's security, or why it demands the deployment of tens of thousands of U.S. troops to police it are questions rarely asked let alone addressed.


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You know how working moms are always taking time off because their kid is sick or there's a school play or something, and that's why they're just unreliable workers who can't be trusted with real responsibility. Yeah, that's bullshit — and there's data to prove it.
Victoria Pynchon muses at Forbes on the kinds of discrimination moms face from employers who get mad every time they need to pick up the kids — but the most striking part of her piece comes at the end, when she talks to work/life balance expert Dina Bakst. Bakst points out data showing that workers' absences from non-kid-related reasons, like injury, are usually much higher than child-care absences, across a variety of different industries. For instance, in the field of "management, business, and financial operations," absences due to "illness or injury" were twice as high as those due to "child care problems; other family or personal obligations; civic or military duty; and maternity or paternity leave." In "healthcare support occupations," a traditionally female-dominated field, illness/injury days out were nearly three times as common as kid-and-family related ones.
Bottom line: mommy time is a lot less common than simply calling in sick. So why is it so often cited as a reason why companies simply can't hire more women — or accommodate working moms? Pynchon says she'll be addressing this soon. Our guess, though, is confirmation bias: employers just assume moms will be shitty workers, and every time they need time off for any reason, their preconceived notions are confirmed. Now it's time to go about changing that assumption.
Working Mothers Pose Fewer Burdens For Employers Than Do Their Co-Workers [Forbes]
Image via grublee/Shutterstock.com


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Over the past few weeks there have been updates to many of the apps we work with often. Here's a recap of a few of the apps that have added some great features or new interfaces which make them more user friendly.
|Notice the added Spreadsheet option!
Google Drive recently added the ability to do spreadsheets within the app. I know there were many that felt that just editing documents was limiting. With the add of spreadsheets, it gives me hope of seeing Google Presentations and other features added in the future!
|Basic Interface and Editing Features
Also a feature that is often overlooked with Google Drive is the ability to upload video or pictures from the photo album on the iPad or take a photo or video inside the Google Drive app. This feature can make it easier to move video files that are too large to email, yet you do not want to use a secondary site like YouTube. Once the photos or video are in google drive you can share them as you can any document on your Google Drive.
|Take Photos or Videos Inside the App
|New Blogger Interface
|Ability to Adjust the Image Resolution
Blogger also recently released a whole new updated interface on the iPad. Many teachers use Blogger (blogspot) for classroom blogs. The updated app makes it easy to quickly upload photos with a brief dialogue to post, keeping your blog easily updated in a short amount of time. Other added features include changing photo resolution sizes.
My last "update" on "updates" is Bump. Bump is a free app that we've looked at for ways of sharing pictures between devices or "bumping" photos to a computer. Their last update has added the ability to bump audio, video, or documents as well. It's an easy way to share items without emailing. Students do need to create an account in order to bump.


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Views: 193
We've been living in lalaland. With our increased immigration, religions are pouring into the country and we have zero ground to fight any of it. Canada has lost its status as 'one of the greatest'. Our government is extremely authoritarian (as again attested by this week's BC police looking to use image recognition technology to identify people in gatherings) and a majority of us Canadians are just big pushovers and never fight for anything. The corporate government is in complete control of Canadian brains. Yukon is in theory the least religious place in Canada, but everyone here is very 'religious', just not in church, they just do the 'spirituality' thing instead. Canada depresses me.
As for the atheist component... I don't think there are more in Canada than in the USA. In Yukon, our catholic schools have equal funding as the public schools, and practice hiring discrimination, for religion of course.
Canada's small numbers has precluded us from true competition in the communications field, and CBC used to have intellectual integrity. So english Canadians have mostly been fed only one moderate-liberal message for our modern lives. Now with increased access to right-wing lunacy, Canada's general levels of knowledge will more tightly align with the USA diaspora of available information, which in our lalaland world, will be even more dangerous, Canadians are not critical enough.
I can't speak for all of Canada but in Nova Scotia it appears religion is gradually fading away.Most churches are having difficulty maintaining operations and are relying on senior members for support.Forty years ago religious affiliation was a factor in a lot of things like hiring, etc but today it is more of a non-issue.I don't see religion being a big factor in government here either.It scares me to see the religious bullshit being put forth by the candidates in the US elections.
I think its the same across the country. In Manitoba we have lots of churches going or have gone belly up. Unfortunately there is only one religion thats growing,its the xtian mega churches.I went to one here ( for research on a article ) and there the bookstores sell the same crap message as what you hear from the republican candidates.
What worries me is The Harper gov and their $20 million office of religious freedom. If its anything like the american version , and signs are poiting that way, were in trouble.
Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms states: Under the supremacy of God... I've heard of a few individuals across the country who've considered launching a push to get that out of there... I'd participate in such a campaign.
i live in alberta. in one public school i know of the school starts the day with communal reciting of the lords prayer. in another school district public secular education is not available, just the catholic schools. (alberta is required constitutionally to offer catholic schools wherever requested). secular parents get nowhere trying to get answers on these issues.
also, the government gives tax dollars to private charter schools, most of them religious.
so an establishment clause of some type here would warm my heart.
sorry, didn't notice this was an old thread.
A thread is never old!
I much prefer ongoing long discussions than constantly starting new threads about things already discussed!
Alberta will get even funnier during the next term: A right-wing government, with an extremist-right-wing opposition. This ought to be hilarious! We won't need to talk about USA politics at all, we've got all the USA style right there in Alberta!!!
Wild Rose was beaten easily, but they did win the opposition. The whole media fiasco did raise questions about the misuse and misapplication of poling though, that may contribute somewhat to entertaining future discussions also :)
Wild Rose is but on extremist off-shoot of the Conservatives there. The conservatives were 'pushed' into becoming a little more 'progressive' in order to win over the libs! Boy oh boy, those words just sound dirty in the context of conservatism :(
I got the feeling Sun media was pushing for wildrose in a bigway.They hardley say boo about most prov elections but covered this one nationally


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Sunday, May 18, 2008
Ah....the Month of May
May…it is the worst of times….it is the best of times.
The month of May can be classified as the worst of times because testing has been over for at least three weeks. Students pretty much shut down after the final answer has been bubbled, answer sheets have been checked for stray pencil marks, and the standardized "gold" has been packed up and delivered to those high upon that ivory and jewel encrusted tower for analysis and much manipulation.
The month of May can be classified as the worst of times because by the time the ninth month of school rolls around students, teachers, and administrators have been about as tolerant with one another as they possibly can. The colleage or student that rubs you the wrong way seems to try to do so just that much harder once May rolls around. It gets harder and harder to sit on your hands and keep your mouth spouting positives when what you'd really like to do is cross every bridge and torch it into oblivion as you go.
The month of May is also that happy time when parents you have called, have written, have emailed continously all year to please, please engage in a conversation with you regarding their child finally shows up at your classroom door to- to- to- to NOT discuss why their child has been tardy 25 times, NOT discuss why their child has been absent 30 days, NOT discuss why their child has only turned in half of the assignments in each subject each term of the year, NOT discuss why their child has exhibited violent outbursts towards students and figures of authority on the average of at least once daily, NOT discuss your concerns regarding their child's habit of writing essays that focus on violence and even murder, NOT discuss why their child seems to be so depressed at times, so anxious at times, so insecure at times.
No, that would too easy. Instead May is that happy time of the year when the hard to reach, never have shown their face type of parent shows up and wants to conversate with you after school for two hours telling you their life story extolling a life style that could only exist in someone's imagination because it's all too incredible to believe. Stories involving the botched abortion that resulted in the child sitting in your room, the never ending list of significant others parading through the child's life, and the stints in jail that permeate their child's life suddenly make you all too aware of why the student acts as they do. The parent doesn't tell you these things to shock you, but rather they tell you these things to show that any and everything else might be to blame, but they are not.
You realize, after attempting to steer the conversation back to the child's school performance without little success, the parent isn't there to help their child. They want you to enable them by simply listening, and then saying it's ok, but it's not ok because you'd be fired for telling them what you really think.
On the other hand…
May is the best of times because for many students if you tune in your brain just right and use your best observation skills you can truly see growth in each and every child even the ones like I described above. All children grow in some way during the school year. For example, my dear sweet helper who cried so much at the beginning of the year and followed me around like a little lost puppy…now she is more confident, has stopped following me, and tears? I haven't seen them in at least two months. My young man who couldn't seem to finish an assignment unless an adult sat next to him is completing more and more things on his own. One student who has a form of Autism will now sit with the group instead of hanging out on the periphery. My sweet young lady who was literally thrown out of her home and onto the lawn one cold, blustery morning along with her mother and sister (a pox on her father) has smiled more in the last month because her mom finally secured a place for them in a shelter. Thankfully as I move about the room the conversations I hear are the true conversations of a learning community…one where students are sharing information and resourses, one where I hear the phrase, "This is how I did the assignment. What do you think?" more and more and more. Instead of hearing demanding phrases like "Give it to me now." I hear "Can you show me?", "Can you tell me?" and "please" fills the air more than "shut-up."
May is the best of times because I hear, "Gee I can't wait for summer!" mixed in with "I'm going to miss everyone." Students get on each others nerves, but many have bonded, they have become secure with one another, and they realize many of those bonds are about to be severed. Our time together is precious over the next few days. I realize it. The students realize it, and we strive to make the most of our moments even with the frustration that May can bring.
Still….we long for summer and announce the new tally at the beginning of each day.
On Monday we will begin the day with a chorus of NINE MORE DAYS!
3 comments:
- Joyce said...
What you have said is so touching, and so true. I work specifically with IEPd 6th grade students. It is gratifying to see some of the students come to the understanding that the object of school is for them to LEARN, not just beg someone to help them fill out the assignment so it looks "done."
- EHT said...
Exactly, Joyce! An education is not just a completed page, and it is not a test score. It is something much more precious.
- Cousin Pat said...
Such true words. Though teaching in New Orleans, I tend to identify far too much with the first part than the last. But reading this was catharsis for me, knowing that there are others, even in other states, going through the same.
And I can identify with some of the positives. Mostly with those students who have turned around because of their involvement with football.
Nine days. Indeed.
Thank you for this post.


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Basil Shi no Yuuga na Seikatsu
Yasuko Sakata is a famous Japanese mangaka who was part of the Year 24 Group, just like Moto Hagio and Keiko Takemiya. Sakata made her debut in 1975 with 'Saikon Kyousou Kyoku' in Hana to Yume. One of her best known manga serials is 'Basil-uji no Yuuga na Seikatsu'. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was involved in the yaoi doujinshi movement with her serial 'Loveri', among others. Her best known works are 'Jikan wo Warerani', 'Basil Shi no Yuuga na Seikatsu' ('The Elegant Life of Mr Basil') and 'Yamiyo no Hon'.


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Article Contents ::
Step By Step How to Format Doogee X5 Hard Reset and Soft Reset
Cautions Before The Hard Reset ::
- For Completing the Format Doogee X5 hard reset Code Process it took some time to complete so First charge your battery,
- backup your important data if possible and in most cases take out SIM and SD card. Because your data cant be recovered from phone if once lost during the reset process.
- SuperGeekForum Suggest Backup For all of your Doogee X5 befor hard reset data, a backup should be done on an external device, hard drive, raid system or media.
- Because It is impossible to recover your data from your Doogee X5 after doing a Format or hard reset, so online backup is always important.
- So keep backup first
- and if phone hangs then try to press and hold the power key of your Doogee X5 for about one minute phone will restart it will solve most issues.
Soft Format Doogee X5 Soft reset By Menu Setting Options
- Go to the Main Menu find and select Settings
- open the Backup and Reset folder and select Factory Data Reset.
- tap Reset Phone and read the warning when it pops up. and select erase everything.
- that's all reset done
Soft Reset :: Format Doogee X5
Soft Reset DOOGEE X5 First method:
- At the beginning press and hold the Power button.
- From the options choose Power Off and then tap OK.
- Press the Power button again to turn the phone back on.
Second method:
- Remove the back cover and the battery for a short while.
- Put the battery and the cover back in.
- Wait about 10 seconds.
- Turn on the phone by holding the Power button.
This Hard Reset Process will erase all data from Your Mobile Phone The Above Hard Reset Process may harm your device you are doing at your own risk.
How to Format Doogee X5 hard reset ::
Hard Reset DOOGEE X5 First method:
- At the beginning switch off the phone, by using the Power button.
- Then press and hold together Volume Up and Power button for a few seconds.
- You can release held keys when you see an Android icon.
- In the next step use Volume buttons to select "wipe data/factory reset" and tap the Power button to confirm.
- Afterwards choose "yes" from the menu, and accept it with Power button.
- When a Recovery Mode appears again on the screen accept option "Now you can reboot Your system " using Power rocker.
- That's all. The hard reset operation should be completed.
Second method:
- If the device is off, hold down the Power button to turn it back on.
- Afterawrds from Main Menu find and select Settings.
- Then open the Backup and Reset folder and select Factory Data Reset.
- Tap Reset Phone and read the warning when it pops up.
- Choose Erase Everything and the phone will begin restoring.
- Well done!
This Hard Reset Process will erase all data from Your Mobile Phone The Above Hard Reset Process may harm your device you are doing at your own risk.
More Tips If This doesn't work
Warning! for Format & Reset Doogee X5 ::
- It's all your responsibility to Hard Reset or Format or Root or Unlock your phone we are not responsible for any kind of loss to you or your Mobile.
- By performing "Factory Reset", all user data will be ERASED. You MUST took a proper backup PRIOR to running factory reset & Web update.
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Reading my favorite Facebook posts which are "Down East Portuguese Water Dogs", "Dunham Lake Australian Terriers" and "Australian Terrier International", I am realizing that each page really represents the the owner of the page more than the group. All three pages love dogs, have good information on them and are involved in the showing of American Kennel Club registered dogs. But yet, all three are so very different.
DownEast Portuguese Water Dogs is mostly involved with breeding and showing of their dogs in many different categories. Obedience, rally, conformation and many things that I know nothing about. I joined this group because I love both the managers of the group. They are experienced, they love their dogs, they are careful about where they place their puppies and they work with them in all sorts of ways. I don't have a Portuguese Water Dog so I'm somewhat confused as to why anyone would want to go out on a boat and throw orange things at the dogs. Actually, I can't even swim. Perhaps they could start a life saving training program for them. Maybe there is one already! However, what I do notice is that everyone in this group is totally involved with their dogs. None are chained to doghouses and all are worked with and loved and watch TV on the couch with their owners. These are people that love their dogs and want them to excel in what they were bred for. The people that are involved and communicate with each other in this group are not Presidents that bought a PWD just to be a family member taken care of by an employee. This is a group that is serious about their dogs and I applaud them.
Dunham Lake Australian Terriers is a group that is more social. Although there are many "show" people that contribute, there are more "pet" people. The pictures are more from proud parents and if you are in the group you better darn well "like" the pictures of some of the homeliest Australian Terriers that you have ever seen. Since many of the people don't know everything about the health and care of dogs and many of the people actually DO know much about the care and health of the dogs intelligent questions are asked and people that have been through the same problems or have read something about the problems are more than willing to share the information that they have so that the answer seeker can have some help in solving the problems. Not all people know that their Vet is trying to help but does not know everything and hints and suggestions from the group that are passed to their Vets can help a great deal. There is a lot of love in this group also. When someone's dog passes that we have seen pictures and heard stories about for years passes, it hurts us all. When someone is having personal problems and shares them with the group, again we give advice and encouragement. When someone shares that they are having a litter or going to a dog show we all share the excitement and thrill of new puppies or a nice win. (or even a "no" win but a great effort and performance).
Australian Terrier International is a group that has been needed for years. I do have and love the Australian Terrier because I think they like all four feet on the ground (or in the ground) just as I do my two feet. None of this diving off piers into ice cold water to pick up an orange thing. Because the Australian Terrier is not one of the very popular dogs there is a small gene pool. Combining this gene pool CAREFULLY with European, Russian, Australian, etc. gene pools perhaps we can get back to healthier dogs. When I bred Aussies 25 years ago, no one was willing to fess up to the problems in their lines (what, start over?) and artificial insemination was not common and was very expensive. 25 years later I come back to the breed with the thought of breeding again and I see HUGE Aussies with the same problems only with a bit more confessing going on. The question is whether we are going to combine the gene pools and have the world's Aussies have health problems or are we going to combine the gene pool and cull out the health problems. I pray that it is the later. There are some absolutely gorgeous Aussies out there (with health problems) and unfortunately, because people want to win at dog shows, the don't care as long as they get the ribbon.
Australian Terrier International (ATI) is a way to get in touch with people worldwide and listen to their stories and the health problems with their pet dogs so that you can avoid those breeders that have the health problems. Again, unfortunately, you rarely hear of health problems in the show dogs. Although we need the judges to tell us whether we are "kennel blind", the judges can be persuaded just as politicians to choose an unhealthy (or just plain ugly) dog and can also just not know of the health problems of the dog they choose.
At the moment, I have an Australian Terrier bitch that is way over the standard size but she is healthy, she has the best head I have ever seen, the largest ears, the best front and rear and her tail has not been docked. I have had other Aussies that were beautiful and then had a nightmare litter. So who do I choose? The one I have and breed her to a smaller, healthy dog. It has always been a rule of mine to have a Championship on any dog I breed so that I know that a third party has looked at them and approved them. I now believe that it is frosting on the cake to have a Championship. I just want them healthy. To me, at this time, this is the most important issue because I love the breed.
So, going back to Facebook, I truly believe that the groups that are on Facebook are what the owners want. I give credit to all three of those owners. They keep in touch and read the postings so that they can keep troublemakers out of the groups, they join in with their knowledge, and for whatever reasons, they are the ones responsible for making those groups successful and my hat is off to them. Thank you, you three!
Facebook Groups
Reading my favorite Facebook posts which are "Down East Portuguese Water Dogs", "Dunham Lake Australian Terriers" and "Australian Terrier International", I am realizing that each page really represents the the owner of the page more than the group. All three pages love dogs, have good information on them and are involved in the showing of American Kennel Club registered dogs. But yet, all three are so very different.


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Former hospital technician from Bennington gets suspended sentence
BENNINGTON -- A former hospital technician was given a suspended sentence Friday and told to do community service for pleading guilty to illegally accessing another woman's medical records.
Kathy Tatro, 54, of Bennington, pleaded guilty to four counts of unauthorized computer access. The state dismissed four other such counts along with a felony identity theft charge. Tatro was given a 6- to 12-month suspended sentence, 160 of community service, and 2 years on probation. She was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
In February 2011, Tatro, who worked at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, pleaded not guilty to allegations she accessed the medical records of Catherine Taylor, who is the ex-wife of Keith Tatro, Kathy Tatro's husband, as well as a nurse at SVMC.
Taylor told police in July 2011 she learned Kathy Tatro had accessed her medical records a number of times in the past six months. She told police she also learned her children's records were accessed many more times between 1998 and May 2010.
-- Keith Whitcomb Jr.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


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A Business Relationship Built At The End Of A Pointy Stick Isn't Much Of A Relationship
from the let's-do-business,-or-we-might-sue deptLast week, Microsoft was kind enough to invite me to sit down, one-on-one with Horacio Gutierrez, the company's VP and Deputy General Counsel in charge of intellectual property and licensing. As you might imagine, given my views on the patent system in general, and Microsoft's gradual embrace of the patent system specifically, he and I disagreed on a fair amount. We agreed that the patent system should be focused on encouraging innovation. We agreed that there were abuses of the system. From there, our views pretty much diverged, though the conversation was fun and lively.
Gutierrez began the conversation by focusing on all of the "benefits" that Microsoft sees to the patent system, which focused on all of the licensing deals that the company has done. He positioned it by noting that the patent portfolio allows the Microsoft to get into deeper business relationships with other entities. Specifically, he noted that in many cases what began as a patent licensing discussion eventually leads to a much more complete business relationship that increases interoperability. He cited deals with both Sun and Novell as examples of this.
The problem, of course, is that this ignores how these deals actually began. Rather than approaching each other over mutually beneficial relationships, they really involve an implicit threat. That is, Microsoft shows up with its big patent portfolio (or, let's say, a big pointy stick) and says "hey, let's make a deal, or I'll jab you with the pointy stick." Yes, that can obviously lead to further business deals, but it's not about two companies entering into a relationship willingly for mutual benefit. It's all based on a rather clear threat.
The fallacy that Gutierrez laid out is that these sorts of relationships and interoperability are impossible to come by without the use of that pointy stick. That's difficult to believe. If the relationships really are mutually beneficial, then they are likely to come about in a much more friendly manner anyway. When I pointed out (literally) that Microsoft coming to companies with a big stick didn't seem like the friendliest of business negotiations, Gutierrez suggested that you "need" the stick to make the conversations work. On that we disagree, and there's a pretty long history of companies entering into mutually beneficial relationships that don't necessarily involve the threat of a lawsuit or government granted monopolies on processes.
Gutierrez also pointed out that any complex product these days, by its very nature, will violate numerous patents from numerous other companies and individuals. Thus, his argument is that we really should focus on mechanisms to avoid lawsuits to allow those products to move forward. Thus, licensing is preferable to lawsuits. That's true, but misses the point. The fact that no complex product can be brought to market without violating numerous patents should be seen as the problem, rather than a truism that is solved through licensing. Let's fix the problem that makes it so difficult for products to get to market without paying a "tax" to other companies, and figure out ways to let companies innovate freely and compete in the marketplace.
I was somewhat surprised to also hear Gutierrez claim that because of this "patent thicket" situation these days, you couldn't innovate without patents. I interrupted him to point out that this was ridiculous on its face, as Microsoft's own history showed. His response was that the situation had changed as the interpretation of both copyright and patent law over the past couple of decades had changed, such that protections that the company had thought it had in the early years didn't really exist, and additional rulings made it clear that other protections would be useful. Needless to say, I find that unconvincing. There's plenty of evidence that a ton of innovation occurred when software companies focused on the market, rather than on ownership of ideas.
Gutierrez also insisted on pointing out that Microsoft's rather massive patent portfolio had been voted by some third party to be one of, if not the, best patent portfolios in terms of quality. He suggested that other firms, such as IBM, were more likely to file very questionable patents, but Microsoft was much more focused on quality. Perhaps that's a subjective measure, but given how many questionable Microsoft patents we see around here all the time, some may beg to differ -- or at least point out that some questionable patents are getting through.
In discussing all of this with Gutierrez, I brought up the company's continual FUD campaign, where it goes to the press to wave that pointy stick around, in announcing that Linux violates over 200 Microsoft patents. Gutierrez noted that he was among the Microsoft execs who had made those statements, and he stood by them, claiming that Richard Stallman agrees, and falling back on his earlier claim of all complex products violating some patents, which is why he says they just want Linux vendors to work out some sort of patent licensing agreement. That, of course, doesn't answer the question of why Microsoft keeps screaming about patent infringement, but never bothers to show what patents anyone infringes on.
Finally, we did have a fun conversation on the historical and macro level impacts of patent systems throughout history, where he asserted that perhaps the reason so many countries have found faster innovation in eras of fewer patents was because it makes sense to ignore patents during developmental phases, but after that to put protections in place. I pointed out that it seemed difficult to believe that there was some fundamental shift in economics that meant patents made sense at one time, but not at another -- but by then we were running out of time to discuss things.
On the whole, however, I'll say that we had a spirited discussion on the role of the patent system in encouraging innovation. More than once, we agreed that the conversation might have been more fun if we were having it around a couple of beers, rather than a Microsoft conference table. While I don't think either of us changed each other's minds, I did appreciate the chance to sit down and discuss these issues face to face on the record, and I hope to have a chance to continue the discussion in the future. I can understand where he is coming from and what Microsoft's position on the matter is, but you have to admit, as the holder of a bigger pointy stick than most other participants, Microsoft may be more inclined than others to be a big supporter of being allowed to use the big pointy stick.
Filed Under: intellectual property, licensing, patents
Companies: microsoft


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It's funny think that if I hadn't walked through a glass door and ended up in hospital I might never have made it to Burma. But doing just that put paid to my plans to spend some time diving on the Andaman Coast, and finally made my mind up to book a flight to Yangon.
It's probably worth saying straight off that for a long time I had been a supporter of the tourism boycott (that interestingly seems to have a far higher profile in the UK than in many other countries), but in the last year I've had numerous conversations with other travellers that had started me questioning my stance – and finally this year a friend of mine from back home who knows far more about Burma than anyone else I know talked me into it.
Ultimately the thing that swayed me was the argument that the boycott is damaging the people far more than it is the government (who don't suffer that much at all thanks to being propped up with cash from lots of Asian governments like China). Sanctions mean that Burma gets way less development aid (about a quarter of the amount per capita) than near neighbours such as Bangladesh, Laos & Cambodia. Visiting as an independent tourist offers a way to give money directly to people running private businesses (incidentally the Lonely Planet is pretty helpful at advising you on how to minimise the amount of cash you spend that goes to the government), and we made a real effort to spread our cash around rather than spend it all in the same place. Furthermore, it was interesting to see quite how much people were willing to open up when talking one to one, about their views of the government – and it seems that the vast majority want tourists to come and see for themselves how the junta keeps the people poor and repressed.
I'm so glad I did make the decision to go, as the country was one of the highlights of the whole year of travelling. It was certainly the most intense experience of the whole year, with some amazing highs interspersed with some of the more challenging bits of the whole trip – most notably the rather terrible bus journeys and food that was often even worse (and had us leaping for joy at the sight of this restaurant in Nyaungshwe, by Inle Lake):
There were times too when the poverty became hard to bear – between the five of us, we tried to spread our money round as much as possible to help as many people as possible – but you have to acknowledge you can't help everyone – which led to a sadly farcical situation in Inwa, where we decided we'd rather sight-see on foot, and spent the afternoon being followed around by a horse and cart driver desperately trying to persuade us to use his services (and being told repeatedly no). We ended up trying to escape him by taking short cuts across fields, but every time we thought we'd got away he'd turn up again.
Luckily though the highs easily outweighed the lows. I've already written about how Yangon is one of my favourite cities in Asia, on how Bagan really deserves to rival Angkor Wat in terms of global fame, and on the wonders of trekking from Kalaw to Inle Lake.
But there were plenty of other highlights too. Inle Lake itself is absolutely stunning. It's edges dissolve into a series of floating vegetable gardens and houses on stilts, so it's hard to see where land ends and lake begins. Even better is taking a boat out early in the morning to explore the area – at that time of day on a clear day even the sky and the lake seem to blur into one.
Meanwhile around Mandalay it's easy to spend a day stopping off at the former capitals of Inwa (with its rather amazing leaning tower), Sagaing (and its many temples on a hill overlooking the mighty River Irrawaddy) & Amarapura (with the rather incredible U Bein's Bridge, at 1.2km long, the longest teak bridge in the world).
In terms of natural beauty and historic interest, the places I visited in Burma rival anything else I saw in Asia, and all with way fewer tourists than in most neighbouring countries (and all still pretty cheap too). Even better is the fact that in many ways its traditional culture is better preserved than many countries in the region. For a start, it's the only Asian country I've been to where people still stick to traditional dress, with the clear majority of men & women preferring the skirt-like longyi over trousers. Equally distinctive is the use of thanaka, a creamy paste derived from a sandalwood-like tree, and which most women and children use on their faces and arms as a natural sunblock.
Best of all though, yet again were the people. From the moment we arrived at Yangon airport to the moment we left, we were overwhelmed by the friendliness of the people we met everywhere. Everyone says mingala ba (hello) in the street, people regularly stop just to have a chat, and people go out of their way to be helpful, and even when times got a little bit stressful people were always there to help cheer us up. People constantly surprised us with their reactions, like the woman from Inle Pancake kingdom who chased us down the road to try to return the money we'd left as a tip (she thought we'd accidentally overpaid). It's a great tribute to the people that they manage to remain so friendly and upbeat despite the best efforts of the government, and I hope one day soon that they get to escape from military rule.
You can see all of my photos of Buma here.
Next (and final) stop: Cambodia


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Jango - Closer to Home - 2000 - Samson Music
A good smooth jazz album from Jango. It's tight, funky, and is way above the average "listen, but don't hear" elevator type smooth jazz that is all too pervasive today. This album shows some originality. The musicianship on the album is good, and the sound is very seventies based. There are obvious Donald Fagen/Steely Dan influences here, and if you like the Dan sound, you may appreciate this album more. Check out their 1999 album, "Dreamtown," and for more music in the same mould, listen to Tom Scott & The L.A. Express' brilliant "Tom Cat" album.
Soul Casserole
Joyful Caravan (For Curtis)
Sweet and Low Down
Under the Influence of Love
Diamond Drive
What Your Heart Tells You to Do
The Score Pt. 2
Closer to Home
Pink Flamingos
Nightside Express
The Beard
Kool Down Ez
Soul Casserole (2nd Helping)
All tracks composed by Steve LeGassick, & Michael Price, except
"Diamond Drive," "What Your Heart Tells You to Do," & "Kool Down Ez" by Steve LeGassick, Michael Price, &
Steve Nieves
Steve Nievas - Lead & Background Vocals, Saxophone
Nick Kirgo, Annas Allaf - Guitars
Leon Johnson - Bass
Steve Le Gassick - Keyboards
Dave Bever - Drums, Percussion
Charlie Peterson - Flugelhorn
Many young players think it's hip to include retro-soul elements like Hammond B-3, Wurlitzer and wah-wah guitars into their smooth jazz mix; the five studio musician members of Jango, however, came of age as players in the 70s and revel in living completely in the past, unabashedly centering whole tunes (both vocal and instrumental) around the styles of Ace, Tom Scott and Steely Dan. Last year's debut Dreamtown was a bit too focused on copying the Becker-Fagen style, and while Steve Nieves' voice and the crafty lyrics of oddball tunes like "The Beard" and "Pink Flamingos" on Closer To Home are still in that vein, this overreliance on the overly familiar is balanced by new L.A. Express type instrumentals and gentle ballads like "What Your Heart Tells You" that offer a hint of greater depth. While a decent vocalist, Nieves shines brighter fronting on sax. Caressed by a rising brass section on "Soul Casserole," his jumpy alto leaps and dives around a crunching of wah-wah and rhythm guitars (by Nick Kirgo) and a swirling Fender Rhodes harmony by Steve LeGassick. The swinging funk tune "Diamond Drive" finds multiple textures of Nieves' horn and LeGassick's Rhodes creating a powerful duality, while Kirgo snaps along underneath. The band's exciting synergy is best summarized by "The Score - Part 2," a jam which blends horn accents, a simmering sax line and brooding organ textured with a Rhodes harmony. "Kool Down EZ" offers a peek into what Jango would sound like without the constant 70's mindset. Then again, without that, a lot of the charm is lost. © Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
Consisting of Los Angeles-based studio players, Jango is a group that has focused on Steely Dan-influenced soft rock/adult contemporary vocals as well as instrumental NAC/crossover music. The Jango project came about in 1998, when singer/saxophonist Steve Nieves (who had recorded as a leader for the now-defunct JMI label) and keyboardist Steve Le Gassick joined forces with guitarist Nick Kirgo, bassist Leon Johnson and drummer Dave Beyer. All of the musicians had been quite active in the L.A. studio scene. Jango signed with Samson Music in 1998, and its CD Dreamtown came out in early 1999 Closer to Home followed a year later. © Alex Henderson, All Music Guide


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Inside a cavernous hall, a nose-to-tail replica of a space shuttle fuselage rests like a beached whale on a floor nearly two football fields long. It shares the space with a large mock-up of the International Space Station, a Russian Soyuz capsule, scaffolding, smoke machines, and other tools of the spaceflight-training trade.
When astronauts stride into the hall for a practice session here at NASA's Johnson Space Center, they pass a partition hosting large mug shots of assigned crews, with the shuttle team closest to launch in the "prime" position.
"To the crew members, it's a big deal to get on that wall," says Tim Reynolds, who has managed the facility through 62 shuttle flights and 27 space-station crews.
Even before the wheels of a shuttle touch down on the runway at the end of a flight, he says, the next crew is in line, saying: "Get over here; get those has-beens off the wall!"
With Endeavour's final shuttle mission now underway (it launched Monday, May 16), the queue waiting for the prime spot on "Tim's Wall" has all but vanished. One crew remains to launch aboard the shuttle Atlantis in late June, federal budgets willing.
It's the beginning of the end of the US astronaut corps as generations of Americans have known it. Fifty years after its birth, the astronaut program – one of America's most iconic ventures and an integral part of the nation's self-image – is undergoing a transformation.
The program, to be sure, won't vanish. But as the final two shuttles – the astronauts' main ride into space – are retired and funding for space ventures dwindles, the nation's astronaut corps will become smaller, its role redefined, and more of the space duties likely turned over to private firms.
The move will accelerate the corps's transition from a group once dominated by test pilots to one increasingly made up of scientists and specialists who can live on the International Space Station (ISS) for extended periods, conducting experiments and doing everything from cleaning air filters to cooking meals.
Nor will the astronauts likely be as visible. In the early years of the space program, they were national heroes – John Waynes in moon suits. Virtually everything they did was pioneering – the first American to journey around the Earth, the first American spacewalk, the first human on the moon. To this day, Neil Armstrong's line – "One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind" – is one of the most quoted phrases in the English language. The astronauts graced the cover of magazines. Books were written about them.
With the advent of the shuttle program, journeys into space became more regular, the feats more commonplace. Today, as the astronauts undergo another transition, their identities may become even more anonymous, their work more quotidian, to the extent working 210 miles above Earth can be quotidian. Yet the astronaut corps remains a source of fascination to many Americans – and will remain an integral, if diminishing, part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
"We still will have some opportunities" for new recruits, says Peggy Whitson, chief of the astronaut corps. "We need to maintain the new blood coming in. We want the new faces."
* * *
To a certain extent, Dr. Whitson embodies the new breed of astronaut today. She holds a PhD in biochemistry. She also holds the record for NASA for most days in orbit. She acknowledges it's a challenging time for a corps whose exploits and tragedies – from the lunar landings to the space-suited assembly of the largest structure ever built in orbit to the breakup of the space shuttles Columbia and Challenger – have touched millions of Americans over the years.
The current debates in Washington over the future of NASA's human-spaceflight enterprise and the increasingly loud cries for deep budget cuts from deficit hawks in Congress have left NASA and the corps "without a clear definition of what we should be doing," says Whitson. "We're an action-oriented group. We like to take something and pound the details out to make it work. The times when we don't have a clear direction are the most difficult times. And it's an unclear time right now."
NASA has been preparing for the end of the shuttle program and a downsized astronaut corps since January 2004, nearly a year after the Columbia disaster, when the orbiter broke up on reentry, killing its seven-member crew. At the time, President George W. Bush unveiled his vision for space exploration. It called for terminating the shuttle program in 2010, an end to US involvement in the ISS in 2015, and the development of two rockets, one of which could deliver a crew of four to low-Earth orbit by 2014.
To bridge the gap between the shuttle program's end and the first launch of the next generation of rockets, dubbed Ares 1, NASA bought seats on Russia's Soyuz craft to deliver US crews to the space station. The plan also envisioned US boots on the moon once again by 2020.
Now that day, if it comes at all, has been pushed still further into the future under President Obama's controversial effort to establish a US space program that is financially "sustainable." Astronauts will ride to space on Russian capsules longer than President Bush had envisioned. The United States will remain part of the space-station partnership at least through 2020. And the agency aims to build a single rocket before the decade is out that can make the trip to the space station as well as send astronauts to more distant destinations after 2020 – an asteroid, the moon, and eventually Mars. Even then, explorer-astronauts for those types of trips would likely be far fewer in number than even a space-station-only corps.
In short, astronauts will be seeing far fewer mug shots on Tim's wall. From a peak of more than 100 active astronauts in 2000, the number now stands at 65. The astronaut candidate class of 1996, which included Whitson as well as the current shuttle mission's commander, Mark Kelly, saw 35 people competing to make the corps, in addition to 11 would-be space farers from other nations partnering with the US on the space station. In 2009, the agency accepted just nine men and women (out of 3,500 applicants) for the two-year astronaut basic training program.
Further reductions may be coming. At the request of NASA administrator and former astronaut Charles Bolden Jr., a panel picked by the National Academies' Aeronautics and Space Engineering board will recommend changes to the role and size of the astronaut corps and activities that support it as the shuttle program ends. Its report is due out in August.
Shrinking opportunities to leave the planet has brought a kind of self-selection process to the corps as astronauts weigh whether to leave the agency. The decision is informed in no small part by the different demands of shuttle and space-station missions.
"We have had a grand tradition of test pilots and scientists" serving as astronauts from the beginning of NASA's human-spaceflight program, says astronaut Sunita Williams, who has served as deputy head of the astronaut office and is slated for a six-month stint on the space station beginning in the spring of 2012 – her second tour on the ISS.
But service on the orbiting laboratory imposes a need for an additional set of general skills. "People not only have a specialty in their fields," she says, "they also have an ability to adapt, step back, and take a look at the big picture, and try to be a little bit of a jack of all trades."
That means an astronaut with a pilot's background also will do research, fix computers, repair plumbing, go on spacewalks, and operate the station's robotic arm. Adaptability and patience in working with others are vital.
"We're not looking for just a pilot," says Captain Williams, who retains her commission in the US Navy. "They're up there for six months, and they owe the taxpayers a productive day."
Keeping penned-up astronauts productive also means giving them time for personal pursuits – from playing guitar to watching movies. Cady Coleman, currently serving on the station, packed a flute and wound up playing a duet recently with earthbound flutist Ian Anderson from the rock group Jethro Tull to mark the 50th anniversary of the first human in space (Russian Yuri Gagarin). It conjures up images of a possible new single, "Thick as a Shuttle Brick," that could go on a CD titled "Astrolung."
Beyond the need for a generalist's hands-on skills, astronauts accustomed to shuttle operations face starkly different conditions as they prepare for space-station work. Those differences can weigh heavily in their decision about whether to remain in the corps.
Mike Fossum, a veteran of two shuttle missions since the Columbia tragedy, heads to the ISS in May. He is in a fairly unique position: Over those two shuttle missions he took part in spacewalks that helped assemble the station; now he's going to live in it.
"I dreamed of living on a space station when I was a kid," he says. Even so, he has had to adjust to a dramatically new training regimen. "A shuttle crew is kind of a sprint crew," he says. During a mission, "You've got a short time – two weeks – to get a lot done. You train together as a really tight unit. Because you train together over the course of about a year, you become really close."
While shuttle training involves some travel and the hours can be long, training is still conducted largely in Houston, near family and friends. Space-station training "came as a little bit of a surprise," he acknowledges. Training for a posting to the space station takes at least 2-1/2 years, "and for a lot of it, you're alone in different corners of the globe."
As a result, a space station assignment can be like a military posting – with long road trips during training and six months out on the job (in this case orbit). A returning astronaut also faces a period of physical rehabilitation after a half year floating weightless in space and, perhaps most important, reintegration into a family that has adapted to living without Mom or Dad.
Following Fossum's last shuttle mission in 2008, Steve Lindsay, then head of the astronaut office, called the astronaut in and handed him his next flight assignment – six months on the space station. "There was a family meeting before I accepted the assignment," Fossum recalls. "I got my family and my mother together at the dining-room table and said: 'OK, here's the deal.' Everybody was kind of like: Oh boy – afraid this was coming."
Those dinner-table conversations may only become more frequent. As budgets tighten and the program becomes focused on the space station, astronauts may find themselves taking multiple trips to their "office" in the heavens – both out of demand and because it's part of their DNA. Fossum recalls meeting up with friend and cosmonaut Oleg Kotov in Houston only a few months after Mr. Kotov returned from his first posting on the space station in October 2007.
"I said: 'Oleg, what are you doing?' " Fossum recalls.
"I'm training; I'm assigned again," Dr. Kotov replied.
"I can't believe you're doing that. I'm not sure I could," Fossum replied, referring to the quick reassignment to another long-duration mission.
Then, Fossum adds, "He looked at me, and he smiled and said: 'You will, Mike. It's what we do.' "
* * *
Human spaceflight, as its practitioners repeatedly emphasize, is never routine. Yet Kotov's observation has a ring of regularity to it: up and back, up and back, within the framework of systematic crew rotations, more akin to those of highly skilled but usually anonymous airline pilots or Navy submariners than a Charles Lindbergh or "Wrong Way" Corrigan.
Astronauts "are not household names any more, and that's one of the most interesting transitions in the program," says Matthew Hersch, a space historian on a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. In 1959, while rocket boosters in the nascent US space program were still exploding on the pad, NASA selected the Mercury Seven.
"We started out with this very small number of people," says Dr. Hersch. "They were immediately put in front of the press and used by NASA to compensate for the fact that the human spaceflight program wasn't very far advanced." While the photogenic astronauts captivated the public with their test pilot skills and prowess, NASA engineers struggled to harness rocket science and bend it to their designs.
Astronauts selected through the 1960s lived up to their billing, "engaging in record-breaking flights on virtually every mission," Hersch says. They became overnight celebrities. Watching liftoffs on rabbit-eared TVs was a national event, akin to a Super Bowl. Ticker-tape parades were held in the astronauts' honor. They became symbols of the US superpower competition with the Soviet Union.
That all changed in the 1970s as the Apollo program drew to a close. In 1972, President Nixon approved plans to develop a fleet of space shuttles. Three years later, the US conducted a joint mission with the Soviets – epitomizing the new détente between the two countries – docking an Apollo spacecraft with a Soyuz module. After that, the US would have no vehicle to take astronauts into space for six years, until the first shuttle flight in 1981.
"NASA came very close to discharging a bunch of astronauts because it wouldn't need them for the foreseeable future," says Hersch.
At the time, even the astronauts sensed that their celebrity status was ending. Over the years, as NASA's human-spaceflight program has grown and added layers of management, astronauts have become more like interchangeable members of yet another small, highly motivated, and skilled 21st-century workforce. Now, with the end of the shuttle program months away, the astronaut corps is experiencing changes common to many Americans: an employer phasing out an old product line and trying to figure out what it will do next, inevitably with fewer workers.
* * *
As the corps downsizes, some astronauts are looking for work with private rocketeers. Earlier this year, for instance, astronaut Garrett Reisman left the space agency to work for Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), which is under contract with NASA to provide unmanned resupply flights to the space station and wants to provide rides for astronauts as well. He joins former astronaut Ken Bowersox, who signed on with the Hawthorne, Calif., company in 2009 in a managerial role.
Others hope to keep their spacesuits on as they move to the private sector. "Every one of us professional astronauts is thinking: Hey, what does the future hold?" says Michael "Spanky" Fincke, a mission specialist on Endeavour's last flight who has also served two tours on the ISS.
As commercial space firms mature, he says, they will be sending up their own astronauts and opening up a whole new frontier. "Each and every one of us have thought about that and said: 'Hey, will that fit for me? Will that fit for my family?' " he said during a prelaunch briefing.
The possibility of having a pool of NASA astronauts available for hire is something that would be welcomed by George Whitesides. He's the president and chief executive officer of Virgin Galactic, founded by Sir Richard Branson to offer suborbital flights from a spaceport in southern New Mexico. In April, the company posted its first help-wanted ad – three openings for pilot-astronauts. Mr. Whitesides says he's already had "strong interest" in flight-crew positions among some NASA astronauts who have served as shuttle commanders or pilots.
The private sector also offers the opportunity for people to become astronauts who didn't come up through NASA's ranks. David Mackay, Virgin Galactic's chief pilot, grew up in a remote village in northern Scotland where the military frequently ran training flights. Later, he became captivated with becoming an astronaut after watching the Apollo moon landings. He followed the usual path in trying to do that – becoming a military test pilot.
"It was only when I got into my 30s that I thought: This is never going to happen in the UK," he says. Now, after 16 years in the Royal Air Force and another 14 piloting Boeing 747s and Airbus 340s for Virgin Atlantic, he is setting up the company's astronaut program and will be one of the first pilots for both the passenger rocket, Spaceship 2, and its jet-powered mother ship, White Knight 2. "I find myself in this amazing position," he says.
The demand for commercial astronauts could grow as private companies expand beyond just ferrying high-end tourists into space. In late February, the Southwest Research Institute signed contracts with Virgin Galactic and California-based XCOR Aerospace, another company building craft for suborbital flights, for as many as 17 launches that will focus on scientific research. To Alan Stern, an associate vice president with the nonprofit institute, entrepreneurial space firms could eventually carry out hundreds of flights per year that will dramatically reduce the cost of doing suborbital experiments.
"I'm looking forward to the day when we have a whole bunch of astronauts that people barely remember" because the commercial sector has opened new opportunities, "not just for us NASA types, but for the population at large," says NASA's Mr. Fincke.
Still, for all the talk of making space a common place to work and play, it will always be a singular environment – and the people who command the vehicles part of a singular fraternity. A launch into space always contains elements of a launch into the unknown. As NASA astronaut Sunita Williams puts it: "You never really train for space."


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From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I found the recipe for these biscuits on the Food Network website. It caught my eye because I was looking for something to serve with the bean trio that was being sampled for the holiday barbecue. I thought the touch of cornmeal would add some texture to the biscuits and go well with the spicy sweet flavor of the beans we were testing. I must tell you, these biscuits are lovely. I do want to clarify what I think was meant by the specification for "polenta-style" cornmeal. I think it is fair to categorize any medium to coarse ground cornmeal as "polenta-style" and if you avoid the really finely ground type you'll be fine. As with any biscuit, you'll want to use an easy hand and be sure not to overwork the dough. This recipe can be doubled if you have a gang to feed. Do give these biscuits a try. I really think you'll like them. Here is how they're made.
Cornmeal and Buttermilk Biscuits..from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of The Food Network
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour, plus as needed
2/3 cup polenta-style yellow cornmeal
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 heaping teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon fine salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
3/4 cup buttermilk
1) Set a rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with two layers of parchment paper.
2) Whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Rub 2 tablespoons of butter into flour mixture with your fingertips, until it is completely incorporated. Work remaining butter into flour until it's in even, pea-sizes pieces. Gently stir in the buttermilk to make a loose dough.
3) Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Pat dough into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Fold dough in thirds like a business letter. Pat dough into a 5 by 8-inch rectangle about 3/4 inch thick. Use a 2 to 3-inch round cutter to make 6 biscuits, and put biscuits on prepared baking sheet. Press together scraps of dough, cut 2 more biscuits, and place them on baking sheet.
4) Bake until tops are lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly on a rack before serving. Yield: 6 biscuits.
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Above is a complete list of alternative fuel locations in or near Bowie, MD: biodiesel; compressed natural gas (CNG); ethanol (E85); electric; hydrogen; liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (propane) & more.
Tax incentives and/or other rebates, credits, incentives or related initiaves for drivers of alternative fuel vehicles or for other uses of alternative fuel in Bowie, MD.
A low-speed vehicle is defined as a four-wheeled electric vehicle that has a maximum speed capability of 20 miles per hour (mph) to 25 mph. A low-speed vehicle must be registered with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration and comply with federal safety standards contained in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 571.500. The State Highway Administration or any local authority may prohibit the use of low-speed vehicles on any controlled access highway in its jurisdiction. Low-speed vehicles are only permitted on highways with a speed limit of up to 30 mph, but may, except in certain situations, cross highways for which the maximum speed limit exceeds 45 mph if the intersection is controlled by a traffic light or a four-way stop sign. (Reference Maryland Statutes, Transportation Code 11-130.1, 21-313, 21-1125, and 22-101)
Qualified PEV and FCEV purchasers may apply for an excise tax credit of up to $3,000. The tax credit is first-come, first-served, and is limited to one vehicle per individual and 10 vehicles per business entity. A qualified vehicle must meet the following criteria:
Funding is not currently available for this incentive, but applicants may continue to submit applications (verified April 2020). Additional restrictions apply. For more information, including the request form, see the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration's Excise Tax Credit for PEVs website.(Reference Maryland Statutes, Transportation Code 13-815)
Permitted PEVs may operate in any Maryland HOV lanes regardless of the number of occupants. Qualified PEVs must have a maximum speed capability of at least 65 miles per hour. To operate in HOV lanes, PEV owners must obtain a permit from the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA). The cost of the permit may not exceed $20. Each year the MDOT MVA and the State Highway Administration must report PEV use in HOV lanes to the governor. This exemption expires September 30, 2022. For more information, see the HOV Permit Issuance for PEVs page.(Reference Maryland Statutes, Transportation Code 25-108 and 21-314)
A limited speed vehicle is defined as a vehicle that is capable of achieving a maximum speed of at least 25 miles per hour (mph) but no more than 55 mph. Limited speed vehicles may only operate on highways on which the maximum speed of the vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit by at least 5 mph. Limited speed vehicles may not be sold without the required limited speed emblems. Additionally, limited speed vehicle purchasers must be informed in writing, of the limitations of vehicle use on highways. (Reference Maryland Statutes, Transportation Code 15-313, 21-804, and 21-805.1)
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) offers a rebate to individuals, businesses, or state or local government entities for the costs of acquiring and installing qualified EVSE. Between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2020, the rebate may cover 40% of the costs of acquiring and installing qualified EVSE, or up to the following amounts:
|Qualified Entity
|Business or State or Local Government
|Retail Service Station Dealer
Applicants must demonstrate compliance with state, local, and/or federal law that applies to the installation or operation of qualified EVSE. Other requirements may apply. Total funding for each fiscal year will not exceed $1,200,000. Rebates will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding is not currently available for this incentive (verified April 2020). For more information, see MEA's EVSE Rebate Program page.(Reference Maryland Statutes, Business Regulation Code 10-101, and State Government Code 9-2009)
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) offers time-of-use (TOU) rate options to residential customers who purchase or lease a PEV. Residential customers with a qualified Level 2 PEV charger, capable of separately tracking PEV charging data, may apply for a TOU rate applicable only to PEV charger usage. Residential PEV drivers without a qualified Level 2 charger may enroll in a whole-house TOU rate, which applies to the energy used for the entire residence during a billing period. For more information, see the BGE EVsmart website.
Pepco offers a time-of-use rate to all qualified residential customers in Maryland who own or lease a PEV. For more information, see Pepco's Plug-In Electric Vehicle Charging website.
An AFV powered by propane or natural gas may only use the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and the Fort McHenry Tunnel if the vehicle has a dedicated alternate fuel system installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle or a fuel system that has been properly converted to an alternate fuel system, conforms to applicable federal regulations and industry standards, has a fuel capacity that does not exceed 150 pounds, and displays all proper markings and symbols. (Reference Code of Maryland Regulations 11.07.01.03)
Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) provides rebates to residential and multifamily customers toward the purchase of qualified Level 2 and direct current (DC) fast charging EVSE. BGE offers residential customers a $300 rebate for an eligible Level 2 EVSE. BGE offers customers that own or operate multifamily properties a rebate of 50% of the purchase and installation cost of an eligible Level 2 EVSE, up to $5,000 per port, and 50% of the purchase and installation cost of eligible DC fast charging EVSE, up to $15,000 per port. Multifamily rebate awards may not exceed $25,000 per site. Only chargers purchased and installed after July 1, 2019, are eligible. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information, including how to apply, see the BGE EVsmart website.
Pepco provides rebates to residential and multifamily customers toward the purchase of qualified Level 2 EVSE. Pepco offers residential customers a $300 rebate for a Level 2 smart EVSE. Only EVSE purchased and installed after July 1, 2019, are eligible. Pepco offers customers that own or operate multifamily properties a 50% discount on the purchase of eligible Level 2 smart EVSE and a rebate up to $7,500 for installation costs. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information, including how to apply, see the Pepco EVsmart website.
The city of Bowie (MD) in Prince Georges County has an estimated population of 54,727.
There are currently at least 41 alternative fuel stations in or near Bowie, MD (10-mile radius).
Prices of alternative fuels fluctuate with the cost of manufacturing and processing.


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"The Clover House is a gripping, tender story that spans continents and generations as it delves into the secrets of a Greek American family altered by a long-ago tragedy in World War II. Told with quiet power and authenticity, it's a reader's treat."—Kate Alcott, New York Times bestselling author of The Dressmaker
"[A] stunning debut novel."—USA Today
"[An] insightful examination of memory and the stories that hold us together—or perhaps tear us apart."—The Boston Globe
"A rare treat: an elegantly written debut about a family mystery set during wartime, the slipperiness of memory, and the challenges of forgiveness. Plus, we get to go to Greece! What more could you want from a novel? Read it, read it!"—Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us
"A powerful story of family, betrayal, and forgiveness . . . In her first novel, Power melds the stories of mother and daughter into an absorbing tale that deserves to rank high on the list of women's fiction."—Booklist
"Layered and complex, The Clover House is a provocative examination of family secrets and the things we inherit, a powerful search for self that feels both unique and universal. Henriette Lazaridis Power immerses the reader in a world of tradition and resilience, creating characters who linger long beyond their final pages. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time."—Brunonia Barry, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Lace Reader and The Map of True Places
"Well-paced and filled with likable, plausibly flawed characters."—Kirkus Reviews
"The Clover House is a tremendously readable story of how family secrets reverberate, how war can force impossible choices, and how a very modern woman faces old longings for her mother's love and a true home. This is a smart and lovely novel."—Holly Lecraw, author of The Swimming Pool


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Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition (PlayStation 2) review
"Thats why Special Edition succeeds as a game and as a re-release: It makes things simple without making them easy. Forget the smooth control system or the sweet level design; Im talking about the accessibility. How the game offers difficulties for all skill levels, tailored for the weakest of the weak and the hardest of the hardcore."
Staff review by Zack Little (February 16, 2006)
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The Alabama Crimson Tide may be rolling slower than usual as they're set to start their 2010 campaign without Heisman winner Mark Ingram, who had arthroscopic surgery just four days before the season opener.
The junior running back sustained a left knee injury during practice Monday evening and a decision was quickly made to have the surgery as quickly as possible, reports ESPN.
Head coach Nick Saban said that it was a "situation where everyone thought it would be better to take care of it now, so he would not have any issues with it later in the season."
U.S. & World
While the Crimson Tide should have few problems in their opening game against unranked San Jose State, they face a strong slate of contests in the coming weeks, facing off with #19 Penn State, a greatly improved Duke squad, and #17 Arkansas before a showdown with #4 Florida October 2.
Trent Richardson will handle the ball carrying duties while Ingram rehabs. The sophomore back broke out in last year's BCS title game against Texas, burning the Longhorns for 109 yards and a touchdown.
The injury puts a serious dent on Ingram's chances to win a second Heisman, which would place him in the rarefied company of Ohio State great Archie Griffin.
Ingram was the first Heisman winner in the history of Alabama's storied program, as the powerful runner racked up 1,658 yards and 20 touchdowns last year. He won the closest race in the award's 75-year history, beating out Stanford's Toby Gerhart by just 28 points.
Selected Reading: ESPN, NY Times, Bleacher Report