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Really? Sunday nothing was on sale at my WM. Be nice to get some more army builders for cheap(er).
I'm going to bet no on the big Hoth packs being on sale, but you never know I guess. Around here though, they're selling out. Imperial ones are pretty much gone already, and Rebel sets are going.
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This article is fan fiction
The contents herein are entirely player made and in no way represent official World of Warcraft lore or history. The characters, places, and events listed are of an independent nature and are applied for roleplaying purposes only.
One of the most likely possible races (in the author's mind) as put forward by fans for future expansions is thought to be furbolgs. There has even been a plausible storyline fabricated to show their implementability as a race.
What have they got going for them?
There are several factors that suggest the furbolgs as a likely race; especially for the Alliance due to their close links to the furbolg tribes, the most notable being the Stillpine of the Azuremyst Isles, one of which is even a shaman trainer for the draenei in the Exodar - Gurrag:
Old Alliances and Tribes
Furbolgs used to be the strongest allies of the night elves until the Burning Legion corrupted most of them. Those furbolgs that were corrupted became aggressive and feral. Only a few tribes escaped corruption, such as the Timbermaw who inhabited areas of land around Hyjal. Some uncorrupted furbolgs in game say that the Timbermaw are the only tribe that escaped corruption, but this is obviously untrue - the Stillpine of the Azuremyst Isles and Krolg of Ashenvale are living proof that the Timbermaw furbolgs, trapped in their hold for years, have little knowledge of life beyond the confines of their hold. It is also believed that Barkskin tribe still lives upon the slopes of Hyjal, untouched by the madness below them. Anyway, if there is any need for bending the lore, it would be a minor sacrifice considering there is a plausible excuse and the other positive aspects to furbolgs being a player race. Blizzard have already shown that, if a player race appears particularly suitable for expansion content, they are willing to undertake a retcon to enable the race's joining one faction or another (the draenei being a prime example).
Why would the player furbolgs be uncorrupted? Either they could be on an island far from Kalimdor like the Stillpine, somewhere around Northrend (in which case they would be polar furbolgs) or in an isolated territory like Hyjal - the Timbermaw's purity, for example, could be explained by their inhabiting the lowlands around the mountain. Furthermore, a tribe of furbolgs could theoretically live entirely underground, and thus be protected to a certain extent from the corruption of the surface forest. Note that a small tribe of furbolgs managed to hide in the Barrow Deeps during the Warcraft III night elf campaign.
In addition to this, the generic pro-life ethos of the furbolgs fits in with that of the Alliance and especially the night elves. Also, they may find a friend in the dwarves, another race which has a tendency to live underground. The furbolg relationship with the draenei is likely to be expanded on in the future.
The state of Hyjal
Hyjal has been confirmed as a raid instance. That is, a 'past battleground' in the Caverns of Time in the Expansion. The 'current' Hyjal would be used as the furbolgs starter area. There is, as well as this, a large 'grey' area below Hyjal which could be remodeled or possibly even made into an underground level 10-20 secondary area (the Barrow Deeps springs to mind - possibly even complete with a new instance (Illidan's Prison) complete with a group of rather hostile Wardens). Space for the areas is no problem as expansion content occupies separate space to original WoW content. Thus Hyjal and the Barrow Deeps could be as expansive as the developers wish as long as the zones within reasonable boundaries.
The Barrow Deeps
As mentioned above, the Barrow Deeps, as yet un-utilised in game, have significant potential for being a furbolg dominated zone, perhaps even a starting area, if Hyjal is occupied with a raid instance. Firstly, the Barrow Deeps were colonized by at least one tribe of furbolgs (see above) in order to avoid the corruption. Secondly, furbolgs are well known for constructing their most sizable dwellings underground (a good example is Thistlefur Hold in Ashenvale.) In addition, many underground instances are filled with plant and animal life, so it is perfectly possible that an inhabitable cave could be used by a furbolg tribe without it ever having to visit the surface. Finally, the idea of an entirely underground zone is as-yet unexploited by Blizzard, so using the Barrow Deeps as a starting area would be certainly original, novel and interesting.
"Ugly", cool and furry
The Horde have mostly 'ugly races', and only one 'pretty race'. The Alliance, however, seems to be made up entirely of 'pretty' races with often very human features (the dwarves, draenei and gnomes are debatable in terms of prettiness, however...). Therefore, it would make sense for the Alliance to have an 'ugly race' to balance out the factions. The furbolgs fit perfectly - they are a feasible race that is 'ugly' in the same way as the Horde.
It is worthy of note that Blizzard usually only picks races on a basis of either being 'cool' - in the sense of being similar to a popular fantasy creature or a real life race - or 'pretty'. Furbolgs might fit the bill of providing a 'different' and 'cool' if not 'ugly' race that appeals to that subset of players.
Graphical overhaul
Furbolgs are a race in need of a graphical overhaul - or at least another model. So far, there have only been two furbolg models used to cover the hundreds of different furbolgs in the world, including the several tribes that appear in The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King. In addition, they are currently mute as no sound files have been made to cover the friendly furbolgs in-game. They are a common race (possibly more so than even the ogres), but with only two models between them, reality and a loincloth stretches pretty thin. Design issues are no problem in any case - the problems encountered with furbolgs need not be any more difficult than those experienced by tauren in the making of World of Warcraft. They in fact have a rather similar physiology to the tauren - the hump, the fur...
Also, furbolgs would involve the production of a bear-like model file that could be theoretically used to produce pandaren NPCs, a race created by the Blizzard artist Samwise Didier and favoured by many.
In the RPG there is a furbolg made armor called Armor of the Glade.
The bear-men are proven to be a relatively advanced race; maybe even more so than the tauren. Evidence of their abilities include:
- Masonry: See the inhabited Timbermaw Hold, a tunnel carved out of solid rock and lined with wood; and the entrance to Timbermaw Hold in Azshara, which is a large stone fortress (quite possibly constructed by the furbolgs). Also, the three enormous bear-headed wood and stone entrances to Timbermaw Hold in Felwood, Moonglade and Winterspring are further evidence of their strength in this craft. Timbermaw hold is one location that stretches to all three places.
- Linguistic skills: As well has having developed a functional spoken and written language, Ursine, Timbermaw/Stillpine furbolgs and Krolg in Ashenvale are perfect evidence that the furbolgs have the ability to communicate perfectly with other sapient races.
- Craftsmanship and civilised behaviour: The furbolg huts, carvings, mats, dream catchers and miscellanea at all furbolg villages indicate that the furbolgs possess much skill within these disciplines.
- Brann Bronzebeard: Furs cover the floors and furniture, which is large and comfortable, and woven tapestries lend some color to the walls. Weapons and other trophies are mounted above doors and windows, which have thin sheets of skin to keep out the cold. Large fire pits stand at the center of every house, and some large rooms have their own smaller pits down the middle.[1] (LOM 104)
- Drinking!: It is quite likely that, like their pandaren relatives, the furbolgs follow on from their demigod patrons Ursol and Ursoc in appreciating fine drink.
- In the RPG there is a furbolg made wine called Amity Wine.
Flexible classes: no more class problems
The furbolg class options are extremely flexible and could redress the lack of hunters, warlocks and shamans in the Alliance, while not making the lack of priests and paladins in the Horde worse.
Furbolgs have had ample time to set up their own city and populate a starting region. After all, no-one has entered Hyjal or the Barrow Deeps in years and other possible furbolg starting areas have probably never even been found by outsiders. Thus they don't need to pull the same lore-bending crash 'n' build trick as the draenei.
RP variety
The furbolg appearance is rather easy to apply to different scenarios - try and imagine a Keeper as drunken pirate and you can see what I mean.
C'Thun and the furbolgs
There has been speculation about C'Thun being the taint affecting the furbolgs in Feralas (with the taint of the Burning Legion affecting those in North Kalimdor). C'Thun would not need to be the only corrupter, as there is also Yogg-Saron, and of course two other Old Gods rumoured to be imprisoned beneath Azeroth. With C`Thun's death in Ahn'Qiraj the furbolgs could have broken free of the Old God's grip. This would mean a possible boost to the furbolg faction's population.
Other furbolg factions
One of the main arguments against furbolgs is that with their inclusion, the Timbermaw faction would have to be taken out of the game. This would most certainly not be needed. There are Wildhammer dwarves and Ironforge dwarves, as well as the Zandalar Tribe from Zul'Gurub and the Hordish Darkspear troll tribe. We could easily have the Timbermaw and the playable furbolg tribe existing side-by-side.


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They do have cool calendars.
They do have cool calendars.
"Man needs but two things to survive alone in the woods. A blow up female doll and his trusty old AK-47" - Thomas Jefferson 1781
rguns DOES have great calendars ...... but they sure suck for service.
Hate takes LESS energy & thought... Dont be so Lazy.
Building or Bitching? which are you here to do?
YES, i work for TEC Tactical. 02/07 SOT
RGUNS is JUNK!!!!
Cheap prices but, absolute JUNK!!!
I will NEVER do business with RGUNS again. They sold me some less expensive 9mm ammo that had quite a few duds in the batch. They would NOT take care of it.
Bought two rifles, 5.45 ammo, Yugo 5.56 parts kit, several magazines and parts over the years. Never had a problem with quality, shipping time (except during the mad rush but so did everyone), packaging, or price of any item. Are they assholes? They excel at being Yankee assholes! When ever I phone an order to Illinois, New York, New Jersey or Detroit it almost goes with the territory but have been suprised by a professional and almost always a lady. I'm from Texas and talk too slow for them. Bet they refer to me as another moron from the south.
I went in with a buddy to buy an AR lower, they could care less. The guy didnt come up front for 20 minutes. He was not knowledgeable on fire arms at all. He just kept saying R-guns makes there own ar15's and there the best. I asked better than Larue or Noveske and he said yeah! HAHA. YA fuck them.
I read the reviews here and other places about rguns.net AFTER I placed an order from them. Needless to say I was concerned.
However the next day after I placed the order I got an email with a UPS tracking number from them. My order arrived and everything was perfect. Exactly like I ordered.
On another note their AR lower receiver parts kit is one of the best Ive ever seen. Stainless steel, very well done.
Just my $.02


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Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The University strives to give students a foundation for a more productive life by upholding the principles of Abraham Lincoln's life: a dedication to individual liberty, responsibility, and improvement; a respect for citizenship; recognition of the intrinsic value of high moral and ethical standards; and a belief in a personal God.
The University is committed to teaching, research and service. The University's curriculum and commitment to quality instruction at every level are based on the beliefs that graduates must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in an era of rapidly and continuously expanding communication technology, must have an appreciable depth of learning in a field of knowledge, must appreciate and understand the various ways by which we come to know ourselves and the world around us and must be able to exercise informed judgments.
The University believes that one of the major cornerstones of meaningful existence is service to humanity. By making educational and research opportunities available to students where they live and through various recreational and cultural events open to the community, Lincoln Memorial University seeks to advance life in the Cumberland Gap area and throughout the region through its teaching, research, and service mission.
LMU Women of Service is a group of women dedicated to provide opportunities for students at LMU.
Be assured that 100% of your gifts will go to the Women of Service Initiative Fund to be used by the group for service projects. Through Women of Service, we are able to pool our resources and our efforts to build on the long-standing foundation already in place at LMU.


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If you've ever seen a Mazda rotary engine or driven an RX, you've wanted the same powerplant plopped into the nose of a Miata. Mike Burlas Design has done just that and thrown in a turbo.
Not only is this Miata equipped with a turbocharged rotary mill (Renesis we're told, but we couldn't get the hood up to confirm) but it also has a beautiful carbon fiber fastback kit along with a questionably necessary widebody setup and wing. Looks cool if you're into that kind of thing. We just want some turbocharged rotary wickedness in Miata action.


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FHA Refinance and Loan Fact #46
Detecting Disreputable Lending Practices
FHA guidelines are very clear about above-board lending practices that help you get into an FHA mortgage. Still, you may encounter individuals who don't adhere to FHA rules. The FHA and HUD routinely warn people to stay away from anyone who claims they are your only chance to get into a home. You should also beware of anyone offering you paperwork to sign with blank pages or spaces.
Don't trust anyone who tells you that a good deal is only available at a particular lender. Beware of any situation where high-pressure tactics are used. If the closing terms are not what you agreed to, don't sign. Never sign under those circumstances. If you encounter a questionable person in the pursuit of your FHA home, report the suspicious activity and consult a housing counselor for advice.
Guidelines and Facts for FHA Loan Borrowers in 2020
Useful guidelines about FHA refinance loans, new FHA loans, and the guidelines that HUD wants you to follow.
Today the mission of the FHA includes helping borrowers get amounts they qualify for, and assisting lenders by reducing their risk in issuing loans.
If you have had credit problems in the past, the FHA recommends a Consumer Credit Counseling program to avoid being denied an FHA loan.
If you submit FHA paperwork electronically, the FHA TOTAL Scorecard is used to measure the credit risk of all FHA loans submitted through the automatic underwriting system.
The FHA asks for a lot of information on your FHA loan application. You will need to provide the FHA with a wide range of details.
The FHA asks that veterans submit the DD Form 214 along with their FHA loan application paperwork. The DD Form 214 is the official record of discharge from the Armed Forces.
If you have an FHA loan or HUD insured mortgage, you may have paid an "up-front" mortgage insurance premium at the closing of your house.
The 203(b) FHA Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan Program is the widely used FHA home loan, especially among first time home buyers.
FHA loans do not come directly from the FHA. The FHA guarantees home loans, reducing the risk to lenders and offering increased borrowing power to qualified applicants.
To pre-qualify for an FHA loan, you should be able to demonstrate employability, job stability and reliability.
Each year, HUD calculates their mortgage loan limits and usually increase the lending limits for FHA-insured home loans being made available to borrowers for single-family home mortgages.
"Reasonable and customary" mortgage loan fees can include appraisals, inspections, credit reports, document preparation fees and more.
There are fees included in the processing of some loans that are not directly related to closing costs. Some of these include courier fees, wire fees, real estate broker fees, recording fees and recording taxes.
Your FHA mortgage is designed to get you into a home for a fair price; you should not pay above and beyond the normal fees associated with buying a home.
One major mistake potential homebuyers can make when applying for an FHA home loan is to make a major credit purchase. Don't cloud your debt-to-income ratio with a big purchase before applying for your loan.
If you have a poor credit rating, work to establish payment reliability over a period of at least one year before starting your FHA loan paperwork.
FHA mortgage insurance protects lenders in case of a default by the borrower of the FHA loan. An FHA mortgage helps reduce the cash needed to purchase a home.
Streamlining your FHA mortgage is particular kind of FHA loan refinancing plan. To qualify, your FHA mortgage must meet certain requirements.
The Service Members Civil Relief Act passed in the 1940s allows active military people to qualify for an interest rate reduction to a maximum of six percent per year during active duty service.
In most circumstances, falling behind on your FHA mortgage requires quick action. Never ignore it. Always act immediately to avoid foreclosure.
Some FHA mortgage holders may qualify for help in the form of a one-time payment from the FHA insurance fund, to help bring your FHA mortgage up to date.
FHA Connection is an online system that allows authorized lenders and FHA business partners to access FHA computer systems to originate loans.
FHA Connection Neighborhood Watch allows authorized users to monitor FHA mortgage delinquency patterns in a geographic area, by lender or by loan details.
When shopping for an FHA home, the FHA adjustable rate loan for your FHA home means you should do some homework about the index, which is the measurement of how the interest rate changes.
The FHA does set limits on FHA mortgage loans, and they may differ by county and state. FHA mortgage loan limits are based upon the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac limits on conventional mortgage loans.
FHA loan limits can change based on factors including average area home prices. FHA loan limits also increase with the number of units.
FHA home mortgages can include FHA loans for a "fixer-upper" home. The FHA loan for fixer-upper property combines the purchase price of the house and the cost of repairs.
The FHA EEM allows you to borrow additional money to incorporate energy saving features into your new home. To qualify for the FHA EEM, you'll need to meet some FHA loan guidelines.
You may qualify for FHA-insured financing for either mobile homes or factory built houses. FHA loans for mobile homes located in mobile home parks are separate from the FHA loans for people who own the land where the mobile home would be located.
The FHA does allow refinancing on an FHA loan. Lenders are permitted to include the closing costs into the new mortgage, as long as there is enough equity in the property.
Refinancing your FHA home can be profitable. An FHA refinance can give lower your monthly payment, and allow you to pay less interest. An FHA refinance can be used to convert a thirty-year FHA mortgage to a fifteen-year mortgage, building equity in your home faster.
According to FHA loan guidelines, you may be eligible for an FHA "reverse mortgage" which allows you to convert part of the equity in the home into cash.
FHA loan guidelines require the borrower to have already paid off the home or owe very little in order to get an FHA reverse mortgage.
FHA guidelines do not require you to have an FHA mortgage currently in order to qualify for the FHA reverse mortgage. Your new mortgage will be an FHA insured loan, regardless of the status of the prior loan.
If it's been more than a year since you last looked into an FHA loan, FHA mortgage or FHA reverse mortgage, check to see what new developments have occurred since last time.
Do a little research and you'll find that HUD and the FHA have always changed for the better. The FHA constantly evolves to serve potential homebuyers best.
The Fair Housing Act, FHA regulations, and FHA loan guidelines forbid discrimination in lending. Discrimination can include denying a loan or home sale based on racial criteria.
The FHA offers homeowners a chance to avoid foreclosure and make good on their FHA mortgages in delinquent status.
All housing appraisals required by FHA guidelines must be performed by appraisers on the FHA roster. The appraisal is a very important part of meeting FHA requirements and it's best to schedule it as early as possible.
FHA loans are intended for homes that meet safety and financial standards. The FHA has rules in place to prevent substandard housing from being passed on to FHA mortgage seekers.
When selling your home, scammers may approach you offering "help." They may offer to pay off your FHA mortgage or promise you money after the house is sold.
For those in more serious situations in danger of a foreclosure, there is a way to give the property back to the bank. The FHA home can revert to the bank.
In the FHA mortgage process, your lender will work to help you provided you can demonstrate a legitimate need and a desire to be financially responsible.
Follow some good FHA home loan/HUD advice. Never sign any document you don't understand. Ask for a complete explanation of all terms and conditions.
The FHA wants you get the loan amount you are qualified for and sets up conditions to allow you to successfully buy an FHA home.
If you begin the process of buying an FHA home only to realize you can't really afford the payments, immediately discuss the situation with a housing counselor and your lender.
FHA guidelines are very clear about above-board lending practices that help you get into an FHA mortgage. Still, you may encounter individuals who don't adhere to FHA rules.


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Tagged: Ryan Braun
Back to yapping
Editor's note: I know, it's been awhile. Sincerest apologies for the lack of blogging. Life has once again gotten in the way of Yankee Yapping, but I assure you I am alive and well; I'm here, and we're back in action!
This 2013 MLB season, which is almost ¾ of the way over, has quickly turned from interesting to nearly unwatchable – at least if you are a Yankee fan. At the end of April the Yankees were a group of unlikely heroes; a vanguard of veterans taken off the scrap heap that carried the team to the top of the AL East.
But since then, the vanguard has vanished.
The battered and aging Yanks fell off, due in large part to their inability to score runs. Of course the surging Red Sox, Rays, and Orioles didn't help matters, either. It's always difficult to reach the top when the teams in front of you won't get out of the way.
While first place in the division seems so far off with the Yankees (54-48) sitting 6.5 games out in fourth place at the moment, a chance to make the play-in game for the AL Wild Card spot isn't impossible: the Bombers just three games out.
During this up-and-down stretch, a number of storylines have surrounded the Yankees. A lot needs to be discussed, and we'll start with the giant elephant in the room…
The biggest news of the week involved the suspension of Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers for his connection to the infamous Biogenesis clinic – a clinic in Miami, Fla. which was responsible for selling PEDs (namely HGH) to players. Braun, who was banned for the remainder of this season and postseason, was one of 20 players on the Biogenesis list. A list, by the way, which an injured-yet-nearly-ready-to-return Alex Rodriguez's name is also on.
Rodriguez underwent surgery on his hip in the offseason, and was originally scheduled to return to the Yankees on Monday after rehabbing in the minor leagues. A grade one left quad strain, however, put his comeback on hold.
And now, a suspension could put potentially set his comeback even further back.
Many believe in light of Braun's suspension A-Rod is next, but in fact, some feel it could be worse than just a season-ending ban. Rumors are floating around that the three-time AL MVP could face a lifetime exile from baseball by MLB for his involvement in Biogenesis – probably because A-Rod already admitted, prior to the 2009 season, he used steroids in his career.
Or, perhaps it's just because baseball dislikes him.
The Yankees seem to be distancing themselves from A-Rod; almost excommunicating him by keeping him in the minors and dragging out the process of his return as much as possible. As we all remember, General Manager Brian Cashman had some choice words for him when he tweeted that he was cleared to play baseball, making it clear the Yankees aren't happy with him. According to reports today, Rodriguez will rehab his quad, start playing in simulated games, and will be reevaluated after the first of August.
Is a lifetime ban fair to A-Rod?
Probably not. No one else on the list, including Braun, is facing a possible lifetime banishment from baseball; no one else linked to Biogenesis is in danger of never playing another game. A-Rod is under intense scrutiny because he's the highest-paid player in the league, and for that reason, every critic wants nothing more than to see the mighty fall – and no, it's not fair.
Yet, would a lifetime ban for Rodriguez benefit the Yankees?
Probably. The organization, at this point, seems to be doing everything and anything possible to void the fat contract they handed A-Rod following his monster 2007 season – an MVP campaign in which he averaged .314, smacked 54 home runs, and batted in 156 runs. The third baseman is still owed $86 million over the next four years, and if the Yanks are able to somehow get around paying him that sum, they could potentially use the money to rebuild their thin lineup.
The so-called "A-Rod drama show" is bound to continue for the rest of the season, and undoubtedly will keep on playing throughout the offseason. But if the baseball brass has its way, it could be curtains for the Yankee third baseman; the "A-Rod drama show" closing on Broadway.
Could they hit land if skydiving?
The Yankees have used 46 different players this season, constantly trying to figure out how to right the offensive ship which has been off course for the entire year.
Consider these rankings:
The Yanks are currently 22nd in the majors in runs scored (393), 25th in the majors in hits (817), 25th in the bigs in batting average (.242), 24th in the bigs in homers (88), 29th overall in slugging percentage (.371), 24th in on-base percentage (.306), and 28th in on-base plus slugging (OPS, .677).
For such abysmal numbers and terrifying offensive ranks, it's actually quite miraculous the Yankees are only three games out of one of the Wild Card spots. The 2013 Yankees are the masters of soft grounders, lazy pop flies, and lead the league in at 'em balls. Sometimes watching this team, it begs the question:
Could the Yankees hit land if they were skydiving?
Well, according to the truthful numbers, the answer is no.
Three guilty parties that stick out like sore thumbs are Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner, and Lyle Overbay. Each are being run out basically every game by Joe Girardi, only to come up short in key spots.
Wells started off hot but cooled off in a jiffy, now only batting .240 after he was averaging close to .300 in April and the beginning of May. His production has been spotty at best, and despite some great moments in the 93 games he's played, he's enjoyed several moments of infamy as well.
Hafner has been next to useless, batting .209 with 76 strikeouts – out of the designated hitter hole, no less. His only job is to hit the ball, and it's evident he hasn't been showing up to work the past few months.
Overbay has been the best of the three, averaging .247 right now, yet a sore 0-for-6 with two Ks in the rubber game of the Yanks' series in Boston on Sunday – a crucial series the Yankees needed to win – puts him in the same breath as Wells and Hafner.
If the Yankees are even going to think about making the postseason, the silent bats need to get loud – and an adjustment, any kind of adjustment, must be made.
Sori, not Sori
During the All-Star break, it was reported that Cashman was working the phones like a madman asking other GMs around the league for help on offense. One name that came up was former Yankee and current Chicago Cub Alfonso Soriano.
Though Soriano isn't what the Yanks need in terms of field positioning (an outfielder when the Yanks are desperate for a hand on the left side of the infield) he could certainly provide them with a jolt with his bat. With 17 home runs on the year, a .254 BA, and 51 RBIs, his offensive numbers are a step up from basically every player the Yankees are currently sending to the plate other than Robinson Cano.
On Tuesday morning George King reported the Yankees and Cubs were "close" to a deal for Soriano, but nothing has come to fruition just yet, other than Soriano announcing he would waive his no-trade clause for the Yankees and knowledge that the Cubs would pay off the majority of the $23.9 million he's owed on his contract.
Thus meaning a return to the Bronx for Soriano is indeed possible.
Concerns about Soriano's age, 37, are being raised; the common Yankee fan arguing, "why take on another aging player?"
A fair point.
But then again, take a long, hard look at who is stepping up the plate in pinstripes these days. All things considered, Soriano would be an improvement.
A "Mo"ment for the ages
Although the Yanks are in a state of flux, the biggest sports thrill of the summer (for me, at least) had to be the All-Star game at Citi Field on July 16 when Mariano Rivera made his entrance in the eighth inning.
As "Enter Sandman" blared through the speakers of the Mets' ballpark (sounds weird saying that), and Rivera ran onto the field from the bullpen – all by himself – the fans and players stood and clapped, giving him the respect he so rightfully earned and deserves.
One way to describe it: beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
Watching it gave me goosebumps and only made me wish I was there, in-person, to witness such a wonderful moment.
It may have been a little strange to see Rivera in the eighth inning, and he probably should've been in there for the ninth, but as long as he didn't mind pitching the eighth (which he didn't) it was fine with me.
Rivera was named All-Star Game MVP, becoming the first Yankee to earn the honor since Derek Jeter in 2000.
A look at the Baby Bombers
As noted, life has gotten in the way of my blogging – and a huge part of my life is being a reporter. For the summer I'm covering the Hudson Valley Renegades again (as I did last summer) and the first game of theirs I covered this year was a matchup vs. the Staten Island Yankees, the big club's Single-A farm team.
I got a good look at some of the Baby Bombers, including Michael O'Neill, nephew of beloved former Yankee Paul O'Neill, of course. Michael collected a hit and scored a run on the Renegades, but perhaps the best performance I saw was out of young third baseman Eric Jagielo.
Jagielo drove in three runs, leading the Yankees to a 6-0 shutout of the Renegades, and after that game was batting a robust .444 for the season. Given A-Rod's current foibles, it's nice to see a third baseman in the system show some promise.
Also taking into account the age of most of the Yankees, the organization should consider giving one of the Baby Bombers an opportunity. It seemed to work out for players like Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Yasiel Puig, among others.
They have to listen to that popular Imagine Dragons song and take to heart the lyrics:
"Welcome to the new age, to the new age!"
Final quick hits
- Derek Jeter came back for one game, went 1-for-4, and got hurt again (quad strain, what else is new?) The Captain is eligible to come off the DL on Saturday, and from the footage shown today, he looks to be moving even better than he did in his first game back. I guess we'll see what happens on Saturday.
- CC Sabathia hasn't been himself this season. Tough to pinpoint what's wrong with the big ace, but his slider doesn't have much bite to it and his breaking balls belong in a closet, because they hang. I don't think the Yanks can win if he doesn't get it right soon.
- Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain were reportedly being pushed hard (by Cashman and the front office) to be traded. If neither gets moved this season, I don't see them returning next year, as their contracts are up and they haven't done much to help the Yanks win in recent times.
- Austin Romine has been part of the Yankees' offensive struggles, earning the Yankee Yapping moniker "Stone Cold Austin Romine." However he's picked it up the last couple games, going 3-for-4 in this afternoon's 2-0 victory over the Rangers in Arlington with two doubles and a run scored.
- ·"42" was released on DVD last week. I picked it up. Be sure to read the Yankee Yapping review of "42" here if you haven't seen it!


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In 2005 Megan, Max and myself crewed for Morgan 'Goat' Beeby's solo Furnace Creek 508. Crewing requires feeding the rider and, at night, following behind him in the support vehicle.
We kept track of his caloric/water intake and motivated him along the way. He slept little and we barely slept any more (except for Max who earned the Adventure Snore award). Some time during those 41 hours from Santa Clarita to Twenty Palms, via Death Valley, we came up with the idea to ride the 2006 race as a 4-person relay. Fixed-gear. And it really happened. Morgan could not ride because of his car-induced injury in May so Brian Davidson became our fourth rider. The following is my account from the long weekend.
The 508 is a non-stop bicycle race from Santa Clarita, CA to Twenty Palms, CA (on the northern border of Joshua Tree National Park) via Death Valley put on by Adventure Corps. 'Non-stop' means that the clock never stops running. Can you sleep? Yes, but at the expense of your time. For relay teams there is always someone riding. The route is broken down into 8 stages and each team member rides two stages in the pre-determined A-B-C-D-A-B-C-D order. The other three are crewing for the current rider and preparing to ride or resting post-ride. Five different riders have completed the race solo on fixed-gears, but no relay team has ever ridden fixed. Finishing guaranteed us the course record! Lastly, an important part of the race is the 'totem'. No boring numbers: each person or team gets to choose an animal (loosely defined) and it's assigned for life. Morgan 'Goat' Beeby, and only him, will be 'Goat' whenever he races again. The totem must be displayed on all four sides of the support vehicle; looking at people's creative totems entertained us throughout the race.
The most difficult pre-race aspect was picking a totem. We couldn't decide between Tofu Antelope (from the Far Side cartoon) or Bonobo (the chimpanzee species famous for it's egalitarian and sexual promiscuous lifestyle). Which would be funnier? We chose bonobo and then took it a step further and used the race as a fundraiser for bonobo conservation. 'Los Angeles vegan bike kids race across death valley on fixed-gear bikes to raise money for endangered bonobos' sounded like an LA Times worthy headline to us.
Did we train much? Well, I rode 2200 miles on the Great Divide trail on a cyclocross bike (see previous posts and Steevo's blog), Megan became a messenger and road the track at night, Max road his tall bike around a bunch and Brian just did everything he does, which includes running, riding and swimming, at 110%. So, sort of, in our own way.
Our rad friends came through: Vmaas made us a logo and did layout for our fundraising postcards, Alec made us cycling caps and a screen for t-shirts, Jen Diamond made us jerseys, Orange 20 sponsored us and numerous others helped us with logistics. Eleven days after getting back from my Great Divide trip we were loading up Max's mom's van and heading to Santa Clarita.
Friday October 6th
'I thought you had the cooler?' 'I thought you had it!'…etc, etc. What else would you expect? Finally we are on our way to the check-in hotel. Megan's friend Sasha and three of her classmates are making a documentary about us and are around all day filming us. Just what we need: A camera in our face egging us on to be more obnoxious. We check in and tell Chris Kostman that we are using a banana as our baton. 'Yeah, it'll make it 36 hours in our jersey pockets. Of course.' Morgan is helping with the webcast and interviews us. Mostly we mumble jibberish that is only funny to us. We get some good points in about our team being vegan. Later we play foot-down in the parking lot. Max and I skip most of the pre-race meeting to get tamales for everyone. We make it back in time to be on stage with all the racers. Amazing! My main thought is: At least I'm not riding solo.
Brian tells us he is not feeling well. Uh-oh. Brian is one of the most resilient, disciplined athletes I know. Sure, I don't know many athletes, but he would top most people's list. He's the type of person you just expect to never get tired or to slow down. Him being sick was scary. We got some water into him and he went straight to bed. While Morgan and our friend Chris Cheung finished editing the sound files for Adventure Corps the rest of us crashed out in their hotel room.
After the alarm goes off at 630am we savor the last couple minutes of comfort. We know that we won't be sleeping much over the next two days. A few of us head downstairs to watch the solo racers' start. We wish Emily Archaeopteryx O'Brien, the only woman to do 508 on fixed, a great race. We get back, wake everyone up, get Megan sorted and load the minivan. Brian is feeling better! All of us are nervous as Megan sits on her bike with the other teams' first riders. The race starts with a huge climb out of the valley; we know that Megan will not be off to a fast start riding fixed. The remaining three of us head to mile 24, the first point where we can assist our rider.
Last year at this point we waited while almost every other team helped their rider and drove off. Where was Morgan? Him and a couple of others made a wrong turn and went 7 miles out of the way. Megan stayed on course and was looking strong as she rode by. We passed her some fresh water bottles. The first leg is a tough 80 miles. We leap frog her a couple of times and before I know it, and before I am ready, we are in California City, the first time station. This is where Megan passes the baton (our banana!) to me.
My friend Catra, whom I met when she was crewing in Badwater, is there crewing for the same woman, Linda McFadden. Yep, Linda ran the 135-mile Badwater ultramarathon and is now attempting the 508. Chris Kostman (Adventure Corps director) and part of our film crew is there as well. That would be fun and all if it weren't for my nervousness. Not sure why I am so nervous. Probably the realization of how little I have trained on my fixed gear. Or the pressure of being on a team. After hanging out about ten minutes we see Megan coming. I trackstand in the street and she rolls up and passes the banana. I take off. Definitely faster than I should be going. Soon Chris rolls up in a car and starts filming me. I continue to push. He shoots some pics and is off.
When the climbing to Randsburg starts I am ready for it. Glad to be out of the saddle and climbing. Since I do not have a cyclocomputer on my fixed I do not know my speed or how far I've ridden. Megan and I talked later about how this may have been beneficial. I'm still not sure. Soon I am passing people. Some solo riders and some teams. As the 7-mile climb gets steeper I gain on more riders. I'm not a particularly strong climber, but the gear I chose to run is hard. This means I can go faster on the flats and spin less on the downhills, but have to push harder on the climbs to keep the pedals turning. When I hit my first fast descent I realize I made the right decision. Struggling uphill is absolutely worth the price of a slightly lower RPM coming down. The downhills are real challenging. On some occasions the rider I passed going up would pass me going down. 30 MPH on a fixed for any extended period = not fun.
My goal was to reach Trona, the second time station, before 6pm. 'Night' starts officially at 6pm and the support vehicle must follow behind the rider. I came up about 30 minutes short, despite my pace of 17.75 MPH for the 70-mile section (the fastest team rode the section in 3.5 hours, 20 MPH).
Saturday Night
Max hops on his bike and we are off right behind him. This is one of the best sections of the whole course. You ride out of Trona, past the church with no windows, climb out of the Searles Valley and into the Panamint Valley. From here you ride across the valley and can see, way off in the distance, Townes Pass. It is a monster of a climb: 13 miles with 3800 feet of climbing and sections at 10-13% grade. Max's bike is geared for the climb so his flat speed is limited. Finally we reach the turn and start climbing. Metal is blaring on the roof speakers and Max starts picking up the pace. It's phenomenal to watch him passing people like they are standing still. Some people see him, step on it, but can't hold his pace. At some points he can barely turn the pedals, but he pushes on. At the top we dress him in warm clothes for the 17-mile descent. It's brutal to watch him spinning away for so long. Other, coasting, cyclists pass us. Eventually we hit Stovepipe Wells and then Furnace Creek and the end of his 100-mile stage.
Getting Brian out of the van and on to his bike was a relief. The kid had been in the van, watching us ride, for 17 hours before he got on his bike for the first time at 2am. All that stored
energy came gushing out. I'm pretty sure he sprinted the entire 74 miles. On Jubilee and Salsberry Pass (15 miles of combined climbing) he went faster. We counted something like 14 people passed in 3 hours. There was one short period where I was driving and handing him his bottles while Megan and Max napped. The sun started to come up as he descended out of Death Valley into Shoshone.
Sunday Morning
Megan is back on the bike and we have to follow behind till 7am. Then we start leap frogging. Her knees are bothering her, but that doesn't stop her from holding a strong pace on a tough section. The road quality here on out is very poor. We leave her early so I can get to Baker and get ready. Here the time station volunteer tells us how much he admires bonobos. Very quotable stuff like:
'The christian right wants to keep bonobos from having fun'
'I wish I could live the life of a bonobo for a day'.
The bonobo totem has fulfilled our goal of being funny and an opportunity for jokes. It started early on Saturday when we ran into Team Swallow, a team of four female, super friendly, triathletes. 'Do you think they know their totem is funny?' They have to!' When we were both waiting for our first rider I asked them which totem would be the butt of more sexual jokes. They said when they picked up their jerseys and got a look from the guy they said 'Yeah, it can be a noun and a verb'. The guy's response: 'It can be a noun?' Very funny stuff. Throughout the race they cheered us on and we all made pointed jokes (Props to them for later posting to their triathlon list about our fundraising efforts). Good times.
I'm back on the bike straight into a boring 20-mile gradual climb through the Mojave Desert National Preserve. The reality of having not slept for over 24 hours hits me pretty hard. The team rolls up and I tell them there is something wrong with my bike. 'It's not fast!' The road is empty and I don't see anyone except the one solo male on fixed. Damn we didn't pass him till 400 miles in! As I roll towards the Kelso time station I see a line of cars. A train is stopped on the tracks and we can't get across. I hang out at the van and we eat Molly's crazy chocolate raspberry blondie bars till the train leaves and I can pass the browning banana to Max.
Max's section is a lot like mine. One big up and a big down over 35 miles. We do some math and realize that we could finish before 'dark', 6pm, if we held a good pace. Even with the 30-minute train delay this still looks hopeful. Max turns it out and at the final checkpoint he passes the banana to Brian for his last stage. Traffic picks up as we get closer to Twenty Palms. Tons of dickwads pulling trailers of 4-wheelers in their big trucks at 80 MPH. We stay behind Brian and he pushes along as if he's fully rested.
He passes some more riders, but one in particular does not look happy about it. Team Swamp Rat has 4 bikes for 2 people, each one worth more than all of our bikes put together. The dude is on his aero bars with zipp wheels and, about 5 miles from the end, pushes up and past Brian. It's on. Then he runs two stop signs! We, by no means, are purists about stopping at stop signs, but it is an official rule of the race. Adventure Corps could lose permits if riders are caught blowing stop signs. The worst part is that he did it to pass Brian.
So Brian catches him again. About two miles away Brian rolls up to a red light right behind the guy. So he runs it! What a chump! We 'boo' his team and are astonished he wouldn't sprint finish verse someone on a single speed. So Brian catches him for a third time. We pull ahead so we can be at the finish and, in our rearview, see Brian pull into the wrong hotel! The mileage was just off and he thought he was at the finish. Then he pops back out and catches the guy AGAIN. Amazingly they pull into the finishing hotel together and climactically Brian slides out in some water and the swamp rat pulls ahead and beats him. Brian was alright and we walked him across the finish. Did swamp rat come over and congratulate us or see if Brian was okay? Nope. Total suckas.
Sunday Night
Chris awards our medals and takes our pic at the finish. We are elated on our 32 hour 23 minute time. Hours faster than anticipated. We ceremoniously ate the baton banana. Alec and
Jenny (Brian's wife) are there as are Morgan, Chris and Sasha. We take some more pics and head over to our hotel (thanks Jenny!). Some more antics, food and filming and then back over to the finish to hang out. Watching solo riders finish is a beautiful thing. It goes way beyond physical aptitude; it's a mental and spiritual adventure that is unimaginable. We start to talk about next year. Who is going to ride solo? Could our crew put together a strong female team? Around 1030pm we call it a night. After 40 hours without sleep I'm ready. Well, after a second dinner (burritos!) of course.
Working on a team and riding 508 miles in less than two days was fantastic. We have such a tight bond. Again and again I say that the bike is merely a medium to experience the world and to enjoy life with your closest friends. That, and a reason to eat a lot. Thank you to everyone who was a part of our adventure. Thanks to Chris Kostman and Jenny Davidson for the pictures.
Fundraiser Update
We have raised over $1200 for the Bonobo Conservation Initiative, but are still thousands short of our goal of $5000. The money is going towards sending bikes to the Congo for a sustainable transportation infrastructure. Please log in and donate! Mention the Furnace Creek 508.


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This Challenge series will evolve the complexity of Genome DNA Sequencing. DNA Sequencing and the Shot Gun Method will be naively simplified into Cody Challenges. Genome sizes is another interesting wiki page.
DNA is represented by symbols ACGT, which for Matlab will be encoded as 0123. The basic goal is to reconstruct the original serial string of ACGT given multiple short segments. Segments are gleaned from multiple copies of the Virus/Bacteria/Chromosome thus there are overlapping and duplicative segments. There are potential errors and duplicative stretches in the created segments. Chromosome 20 in its 59,187,298 base pairs has a segment of 820 that is repeated in at least two locations. The data being non-random largely increase lengths of duplicative stretches.
Example: G = ACGTCGGCCATGGACATTACG
Given three overlapping pieces, ACGTCGGCCA, GGCCATGGACAT, and GACATTACG these can be readily seen to overlap and create the original.
ACGTCGGCCATGGACATTACG ACGTCGGCCAsssssssssss sssssGGCCATGGACATssss ssssssssssssGACATTACG
Genome_001 Challenge is to reconstruct a genome under ideal segment creation conditions.
Input: segs, Array of M rows of 48 value segments. Values are [0, 1, 2, 3].
Output: Gout, Genome vector of values [0,1,2,3]
Example: [0 1 2 2; 2 2 3 1; 3 1 1 2] creates [0 1 2 2 3 1 1 2] M=3,W=4, Overlap=2
Future: Flipped segments, Random Position of Segment start locations, Extra Segments, Phage Phi X174, Parallel Processing Simulation(Shot Gun Approach), Haemophilus Influenza, Sequence with Segment Errors, and Chromosome 20 with its 59M length using 100K 4K-segments (Matlab - 19.2 sec single thread benchmark)
Maintain shape of logical-index mask
86 Solvers
24 Solvers
Removing rows from a matrix is easy - but what about inserting rows?
161 Solvers
138 Solvers
135 Solvers


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Dr. Janice Haworth, professor of music and chair of the Bemidji State University Department of Music, is leading a new summer program on campus, "Bemidji Global Grooves," beginning in June.
This summer workshop, which will focus on the traditional music of the West African country of Guinea, will be held in four sessions that can be attended individually, beginning June 1. The sessions are scheduled for June 1, June 15, July 6 and July 27 and will be held from 9 a.m. until noon in the Thompson Recital Hall of BSU's Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex.
The workshops carry a fee of $29 each, or $22 each for seniors 65 and older. Participants wishing to attend all four workshops can do so for $100, a $16 discount over the individual session price. Seniors can attend all four workshops for $75.
Early bird registration is available until May 6. Interested participants can register for individual workshops for $25 each or participate in all four for $85. Seniors can attend individual sessions for $18 each of $60 for all four.
There is a maximum of 35 participants in each workshop, and workshop participants must be at least 10 years old. Children ages 10-14 must have parental supervision. Photo IDs will be required to obtain a senior discount.
Registration is available online.
Workshop schedule
Although each weekly workshop will present a different aspect of Guinea's musical culture, the workshops will be separate. They will be hosted by Haworth, who spent two years living and teaching in Guinea as a Fullbright scholar, and Dr. Janet Moen,
an adjunct instructor in sociology, who spent time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia.
Each week's workshop includes stories and videos of musical examples from that region and hands-on opportunities to play drums and recreate the musical experiences. Haworth and Moen will also examine each region from a historical and cultural perspective, as music comes from people and their heritage, history and resources.
The weekly schedule of workshops is:
- June 1 – The Music and Culture of Coastal Guinea
- June 15 – The Arabic Influence in the Music of Middle Guinea
- July 6 – The Sounds and Styles of the Forest Region of Guinea
- July 27 – The Mali Empire Musical Traditions of High Guinea
For more information, contact Angie Gora, director of summer programming at Bemidji State University, (218) 755-2851.


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Wikipedia recently posted a call for strategic proposals, and one subset of them looks quite interesting for me - it is a bunch of proposals to support some kind of the client side scripting. They have a choice between JavaScript, Flash, Java and Silverlight. After all that at the end happened with FOSS Java implementation, Java applets seem an interesting option so let's propose.
To be heard by needed people, this proposal have been uploaded to Wikipedia Strategic Projects space so it can also be viewed there. It is up to you where to make the comments.


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Josh Mitchell was featured in Kickoff back in August and as we reach mid-November, he and North Central are still in the picture.
North Central photo by Steve Woltmann
Subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in iTunes.
Roughly 200 teams have already turned in their gear for the season, but there is still lots of exciting football left to play. For many teams, the past 10 games have been a buildup to the playoffs and the chance to prove their worth on the national stage.
D3football.com's coverage will be going strong over the next few weeks, and that began Thursday with our 32-team capsules, one of the cornerstones of our postseason reporting. They offer insight on how to tell if a team is playing well or poorly, along with how far into the bracket we think each team can make it. We also took a long-view look at who might surprise and disappoint by the time the first three rounds are in the books.
But you're still hungry for more, right?
From now until the second weekend in December, Pat Coleman, Keith McMillan and Ryan Tipps will not only pick the winners of games in Triple Take, but we'll also project the scores. It's a transparent test of our perceptions week in and week out. (And we each make our picks independently.)
These postseason Triple Take predictions are not intended to be lines on the games, but rather a broad test of expectations vs. outcome.
How does this work?
• First, look at the scoring margin. If they are predicted to be a close game, we think the teams are evenly matched.
• Second, look at the winners. If it's a three-man sweep, we think there's a clear favorite. If it's a split decision, it's definitely a toss-up.
• Third, look at the total points. If most of us predict a lot of points, you can expect a shootout. Weather permitting, of course.
It's not a competition between the three of us, so we have no stake in being right — we'd rather see you show off your smarts in the bracket challenge. Ryan, Keith and Pat aren't keeping score, but usually the first weekend, each picks between 12 and 14 correct winners, often in the ballpark of the actual final. That means these Triple Take picks set the expectation, but we know at least a few teams will surprise us in the opening round. Will it be yours?
If you don't feel your team is getting enough love, jump in and explain to us in the comments section below why they're going to win. And if you're feeling prescient, leave your final score guesses for any or all games below, and check back in afterward to see how you did. Be sure to follow the updates across the country on Twitter, using the hashtag #d3fb.
For more info on the 32-team race to Salem, including the brackets, info on each team and feature stories, check our playoffs home page.
Ryan's take: Linfield 28, Pacific Lutheran 20
Keith's take: Linfield 27, Pacific Lutheran 24
Pat's take: Linfield 47, Pacific Lutheran 24
Ryan's take: Cal Lutheran 30, North Central 28
Keith's take: North Central 35, Cal Lutheran 34
Pat's take: North Central 35, Cal Lutheran 32
Ryan's take: Bethel 33, Concordia-Chicago 10
Keith's take: Bethel 35, Concordia-Chicago 21
Pat's take: Bethel 32, Concordia-Chicago 14
Ryan's take: UW-Oshkosh 44, St. Scholastica 13
Keith's take: UW-Oshkosh 55, St. Scholastica 10
Pat's take: UW-Oshkosh 56, St. Scholastica 6
Ryan's take: St. Thomas 43, St. Norbert 7
Keith's take: St. Thomas 28, St. Norbert 7
Pat's take: St. Thomas 45, St. Norbert 0
Ryan's take: Coe 42, Elmhurst 13
Keith's take: Coe 31, Elmhurst 21
Pat's take: Elmhurst 38, Coe 35
Ryan's take: Heidelberg 33, Wittenberg 24
Keith's take: Heidelberg 21, Wittenberg 17
Pat's take: Heidelberg 27, Wittenberg 20
Ryan's take: Hobart 37, Washington and Lee 14
Keith's take: Hobart 35, Washington and Lee 31
Pat's take: Hobart 35, Washington and Lee 14
Ryan's take: Mary Hardin-Baylor 37, Louisiana College 21
Keith's take: Mary Hardin-Baylor 28, Louisiana College 14
Pat's take: Mary Hardin-Baylor 35, Louisiana College 10
Ryan's take: Adrian 21, Franklin 17
Keith's take: Adrian 17, Franklin 14
Pat's take: Adrian 21, Franklin 18
Ryan's take: Cortland State 31, Framingham State 24
Keith's take: Cortland State 29, Framingham State 15
Pat's take: Cortland State 38, Framingham State 7
Ryan's take: Wesley 41, Mount Ida 14
Keith's take: Wesley 42, Mount Ida 20
Pat's take: Wesley 62, Mount Ida 0
Ryan's take: Mount Union 56, Christopher Newport 7
Keith's take: Mount Union 49, Christopher Newport 0
Pat's take: Mount Union 61, Christopher Newport 0
Ryan's take: Washington and Jefferson 28, Johns Hopkins 27
Keith's take: Johns Hopkins 28, Washington and Jefferson 17
Pat's take: Johns Hopkins 24, Washington and Jefferson 21
Ryan's take: Salisbury 27, Rowan 20
Keith's take: Salisbury 21, Rowan 12
Pat's take: Rowan 31, Salisbury 20
Ryan's take: Widener 49, Bridgewater State 24
Keith's take: Widener 60, Bridgewater State 20
Pat's take: Widener 63, Bridgewater State 6


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Basenotes Member
New Member
If you purchase a fragrance and it comes with a free gift and you end up returning the fragrance, do you return the gift or keep it?
Originally Posted by barclaydetolly
Just hate it. Love the op's description: "cucumber salty Korean salad." Couldn't have said it any better.
I've never really noticed much of a dry down to be honest . Maybe I was too annoyed with the cucumbers and saltiness, I didn't pay it much attention. LoL
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Note: This is the 2012–2013 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Dean's Welcome
To Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows:
I am extremely pleased to welcome you to McGill University. Our world-class scholarly community includes over 250 doctoral and master's degree programs, and is recognized for excellence across the full range of academic disciplines and professions. Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) collaborates with the Faculties and other administrative and academic units to provide strategic leadership and vision for graduate teaching and research across the University. GPS also oversees the admission and registration of graduate students, disbursing graduate fellowships, supporting postdoctoral fellows, and facilitating the graduation process, including the examination of theses. GPS has partnered with Enrolment Services to offer streamlined services in a one-stop location at Service Point.
McGill is a student-centred research institution that places singular importance upon the quality of graduate education and postdoctoral training. As Associate Provost (Graduate Education), as well as Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, I work closely with the faculties, central administration, graduate students, professors, researchers, and postdoctoral fellows to provide a supportive, stimulating, and enriching academic environment for all graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
McGill is ranked as one of Canada's most intensive research universities and among the world's top 25. We recognize that these successes come not only from our outstanding faculty members, but also from the quality of our graduate students and postdoctoral fellows—a community into which we are very happy to welcome you.
I invite you to join us in advancing this heritage of excellence at McGill.
- Martin Kreiswirth, Ph.D.
- Associate Provost (Graduate Education)
- Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies


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'Tis the Season
Make shopping easier this year with our gift suggestions for the do-it-yourselfer.
For the jack-of-all-trades. IDL Tools International offers a new three-in-one 48-inch-long level ($50) that will help the do-it-yourselfer complete any task. The design combines a 10-inch level and a 24-inch level that can be used together or apart. Magnets and rubberized ends keep the level in place. Visit idltools.com for product details, or look for it in your hardware store.
For the coastal gardener. Make tangled water hoses a thing of the past with the No-Crank retractable hose reel ($45-$57). A water-powered engine does all the work, leaving garden hoses neatly coiled and out of sand and sun. Buy one with a sink station and storage shelf ($120) to keep the messiest projects from getting out of control. Visit garden-gadget.com or call 866/493-7638.
For the neatnik. Cleaning porch floors, beach chairs, and boats just got a little bit easier. Black & Decker's new cordless, battery-operated power scrubber (around $100) works even under water, and its 18-volt motor means boat owners no longer have to use elbow grease to keep watercraft looking good. Find one at hardware stores.
For the exterior decorator. A copper weathervane from New Concept Louvers offers a fanciful way to show off a home's unique personality (and it tracks wind direction). The company's coastal designs include sailboats, lighthouses, and dolphins; visit newconceptlouvers.com.
For the out-of-towner. The Fairmont extra-large security mailbox ($106) by Gibraltar Industries is perfect for the friend who's always on vacation. The mailbox is designed to hold several days' worth of mail, and its locking door protects against identity theft. Purchase at Home Depot or other hardware stores.


text: Jew & Gentile, Audio, CD September 8, 2018August 18, 2019 $16.00 The School of Theology, Level One, Jew & Gentile set of all audio study files. The School of Theology address foundational doctrinal issues that pertain specifically to us today as members of the body of Christ. Level One consists of seven courses and MBI recommends that they be studied in the order they are presented. Jew & Gentile, Audio, CD quantity Add to cart Want a discount? Become a member by purchasing Current Studies - III, Current Studies - II or Current Studies - I! SKU: SOT-L1C4_A_cd Categories: 01-L1C4, Audio CD Media Description Description Four lessons which explain the differences between God's program with the nation of Israel and His program with the body of Christ. The beginning of each program is identified along with God's eternal purpose for each program. This study contains, among other things, details concerning the "Last Days," an explanation of the commissions given at the end of the four gospels and the difference between the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of the grace of God. Related Related products Jew & Gentile, Audio, Flash $19.00 Add to cart Rightly Dividing the Word, Audio CD $22.00 Add to cart the Bible, Audio, CD $16.00 Add to cart Jew & Gentile, Video, Flash $25.00 Add to cart Related


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Need some Betta help and other fishies
So for Christmas I am getting my mom a Betta for her desk at work. I know Christmas is over but we haven't gotten together yet to celebrate. She's wanted one for a long time and her office area is quite large and she has pleanty of time to take care of it etc...and he will be in a safe place.
1-what would the ideal aquarium size be for a betta, is 5g good?
2-live plant or fake plant and if live what type and how do you keep the plant alive? I know nothing with rough edges etc...as they can injure thier fins.
3-feeding- what is the ideal food and there are a lot of different answers to this but how many time a day and what about Sat and Sun when she's not there? I have read not feeding for two days is a good thing....is this true. Now my dad goes in on sat or sun to clean so he could feed one meal on the week-end.
4-are there any other fish that could live happily with a betta in a 5g tank that would be ok on the week-ends?
I know my mom was thinking of something fancy to keep him in but I am going to get her to agree to a nice looking aquarium with heater and filter as the temp in her office is always changing. She'll want what is best so she will be fine with that.
Other than Betta's what are some other fish that do well in a 5g tank(providing there is no Betta in it). I was going to get the same thing for my brother for Christmas(he's 22) but don't know if he would prefer a different fish. Everyone in my family is a huge animal lover so I know they will be taken care of. My mom already know's of my plans so it's not one of those unplanned pet gifts which I think is wrong.
My parents had fish many, many years ago so they're not complete novices(I am) but they had 50+g tanks and I assume taking care of a 5g is different.
We have a 3.5L for my daughters betta and have the colored stones for the bottom,we feed blood worm fish food and betta buffet food.and we use betta water conditioner as our city water has lots of chlorine and heavy metals in the water.and we use aquarium salt for the gills.we don't have and plant.
we asked about putting other fish in with and we told not to as it would most likely attack it as it would if you put another betta in with it.they told us if we were going to do it anyways it had to be a different kind of fish and the other fish had to be slow introduced into the tanks.so we never did it.
fishie fishie
betta's can be ok with other fish just dont get anything with lotsa fins! they will chew on fins, but there are many that can go with a betta, go to a really really good fish person. NO male betta's and no females either.... then they can live happily ever after.. if u get a betta alone then u don't really need to worry too much about a heater. it is goof that they can see other fish otherwise they wont puff up thei fins and they need to excersise. that is why people put betta bowls beside eachother, so they will puff up... I have had many betta's some lived a long time!! Make sure u go to a really good person and they can answer all kinds of questions. I have always had lots and lots of tropical tanks. Have 2 large ones and a small one now..
Bettas do well in smaller tanks so you dont really need a 5 gallon tank unless you really want to add extra fish. I have had 3 Bettas, my last one I added 2 other fish and the Betta got Ick (also known as Whitespot) likely from the stress of the two fish, or from something with the water. I have a bamboo shoot in my tank, its easy maintenance and looks nice, my current betta likes to swim up against it. Personally I would keep the Betta on its own, my previous 3 did best on their own, the longest lived 4 years. I lost the one to Ick pretty quickly once it got sick. For tank size mine is 2 Gallon and he is perfectly happy there, I have a "bubbler filter" that just makes air bubbles, I dont have a heater or acutal filter system. I change the water and treat the water as required. Good luck!
Thank you for all the replies.
There is just so much info on the net and it's all different so I never know what to believe.
I was planning on going to Big Al's(I think that's what it's called) in London since all they deal with is fish. I just know from experience that not all the people that work in pet stores know what they're talking about(some do but some just want to make a sale).
As for adding other fish I just thought that he might be lonely but it sounds like they do just fine alone.
As for tank size I have always been one to go big(but that has been with rodents and birds and we always ended up making our own enclosures).
If anyone know's of any places in London, On that know's what they're talking about please let me know.
5g is a good size though since it's big enough to heat and filter easily. Though you could technically keep a betta in something smaller I wouldn't do so since a bigger tank should stay more stable. (The smaller the tank the more likely a heater is to overheat it, and the faster toxins build up).
You don't need an aerator because bettas breathe atmospheric air, but it is best to keep a betta in a filtered tank. Bettas are still affected by poor water quality and can end up with ich, fungus, columnaris and other issues when subjected to it.
You DO need a heater if you want a healthy betta unless the aquarium is going to be kept in an area with a warm and constant temperature. Temperature swings and low temperatures can cause a betta to get sick. Ich is especially likely when you keep water temperatures too low. Bettas like water temperatures of 75+ and ich is less likely the warmer your water is (I used to keep mine at 80).
As far as other fish go, it's REALLY easy to overstock such a small aquarium. I'd just stay with the betta and nothing else.
The danger of a betta attacking other fish isn't as likely as you think (they're called fighting fish because they attack their own species, not because they're necessarily aggressive with other fish). It's actually more likely for a betta to be picked on because they have such long fins.
Either way the betta will be fine by itself. It will get stimulation by interacting with people during feeding time and whatnot. If you want to give him more exercise you can put a small mirror next to the tank sometimes and they'll think it's another betta and flare up and try to fight with it (That's what's going on in my avatar pic). It's funny to watch anyway, just don't leave the mirror on the tank or they will eventually get stressed and worn out.
I wouldn't do live plants. Keeping the plants alive can be a problem (some plants that pet stores sell aren't even aquatic, so be careful of that also) and dying plants only hurt the water quality.
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Alexander McQueen
Another dazzling collection from Sarah Burton.
Soon after British designer Alexander McQueen burst onto the scene in 1992, he became known as an enfant terrible who courted controversy (Legend has it he scrawled obscenities inside a suit destined for Prince Charles while working on Londons famous Savile Row.). His couture-level designs were as theatrical as the spectacles that showcased them, whether it was a life-size chess game or re-enactment of an insane asylum. After the designers tragic death in 2010, his right-hand woman, Sarah Burton, who had been with the company since 1996, took over as creative director. She continues McQueens legacy, producing gorgeously constructed pieces that combine elements of British tailoring with French couture, and is known for her frequent collaborations with Prince Charless daughter-in-law, Kate Middletonmost famously, on Middletons wedding dress.


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Facebook has created a new position to deal with all of its privacy problems -- a new director of privacy.
Facebook announced that it hired Erin Egan, a privacy and data security expert and a law partner with Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., to become the social network's first ever director of privacy. According to Forbes:
Egan has previously helped corporate clients out with assessing their privacy practices and responding to data breaches, as well as "handling government requests for customer information."
Facebook has spent the last two years dealing with its controversial and seemingly ever-changing privacy policy. First, Facebook was going to give out user phone numbers and addresses to any third-party developer (and advertiser) who wanted them, then it backtracked but not before Congress suggested investigating the matter further. In June, the social network came under fire for its automatic facial recognition which tagged subjects in any Facebook photos.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
It seems to us that some of the duties of the new privacy director position will be bailing Facebook out of trouble and keeping abreast of the latest data privacy laws.
In addition to Egan, Facebook also made two other hires: Louisa Terrell, a former special assistant to Obama in legislative affairs, will become the social network's director of public policy; and Erika Mann, a former member of the European Parliament, will be its new lead spokeswoman for European Union institutions in its Brussels office, the Washington Post reported.


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Fill in a magic coloring page and watch your picture come to life. Use an awesome app called Quiver to interact with the page and even play games using a smart device - that's augmented reality!
*For the safety and comfort of children, a responsible adult or caregiver must accompany children 10 years of age or younger while they are using the Library.
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LYNX Bus Link 443 / Winter Park | Pine Hills
The Fairview Shores Branch first opened its doors in 1950 as the College Park Branch at 703 Smith Street. The branch moved several times over the next four decades. In 1997, the branch opened as the Edgewater Branch at its last home at 5049 Edgewater Drive in the Northgate Plaza. This location served the neighboring communities for approximately 22 years and is now expanding its reaches to the wider surrounding communities as it transforms to the new Fairview Shores Branch.


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Angela writes –
This is a video of my take on the automated Etch-A-Sketch. It's an EAS that automatically draws out the time then erases itself, every minute. It's built on the Arduino platform and references Scott Fergerson's awesome CNC EAS as well as Douglas Jones's excellent site on steppers.
Etch-A-Sketch clock on Revver – Link
Control an Etch-A-Sketch with a serial mouse – Link
James Lebron Etch-A-Sketch art – Link
MAKE VIDEO PODCAST: Computer Controlled CNC Etchasketch – Link


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Here's something to keep in mind whilst browsing book22.com, an online sex toy shop designed especially for Christians: The code word for vibrator is "aid."
And sorry, you won't find any dildos shaped after the manhood of a porn star here. Or fantasy sex games. You won't even find a pack of condoms on the subtly designed site, devoid of the typical pornographic imagery.
Book22 — whose name references the Bible's sauciest book, Song of Solomon — is dedicated to serving a growing market of married, heterosexual Christian couples who have become more open to bringing toys into the bedroom in recent years, says Oregon-based owner Joy Wilson, a 41-year-old mother of two.
"I think we attract people who agree that sex isn't just for procreational purposes, who do want to stay somewhat pure and not be exposed to obscenity and pornography," she says. And contrary to the stereotype of a modest, pious, prudish Christian woman or man, it seems God is A-OK with the faithful having a great time in the sack, according to Wilson. "The Lord doesn't give us a ton of restrictions."
Since book22.com launched 11 years ago, shops selling sexy stuff to Christians have proliferated online — and similar businesses reaching other faiths have followed suit. Last fall, koshersextoys.net set up shop, selling Orthodox Jewish patrons everything from vibrators to prostate plugs. And in 2010, El Asira, an online sex shop that caters to Muslims, began selling massage oils and lubricants through separate Web pages for men and women.
While married religious folk have (obviously) been getting it on for generations, never before has sex — and the controversial sex toy — been on the lips of the faithful quite the way it is today. And across religions, the message and mentality appears to be the same: A sexier time in the sack can lead to a happier marriage and therefore (one can pray) a stronger relationship with God.
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach devotes an entire chapter to sex toys in his bestselling book Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy, published 12 years ago and credited, at the time, for bringing Jewish teachings on sex to the broader public.
"If married couples want to use a sex toy, more power to them. Who cares?" he says. "As long as it's something that increases the love and sexual passion between man and wife, that's a beautiful thing."
But there are limitations, Boteach says. Pornography — as evangelical Christians and Catholics, Orthodox Jews and observant Muslims might agree — has no place in a married relationship.
"Porn does not increase (a couple's) attraction to each other," he says. "It serves as an artificial barrier exciting them about strangers."
Judaism celebrates sexual passion between husband and wife and it "takes female sexuality very seriously."
"A husband has an obligation to pleasure his wife. So whether that's through direct physical contact or with a sex toy, Judaism doesn't shun that at all," Boteach adds.
A similar obligation is written in the Koran and its chapters, called suras, says Abdelaziz Aouragh, the Netherlands-based founder of El Asira. During sex, the deed is not considered complete until climax is reached. He insists it's especially important for newly married Muslim couples — who are typically virgins when they wed — to have the time and space to explore what gives them pleasure. That said, there will be no vibrators or dildos allowed in the Muslim bedroom. Pornography is also verboten.
But sure as there are many plots on the spectrum of faith, there are myriad reactions to the idea of bringing sex toys into a religious marriage.
Pamela Dickey Young, a professor in the religion department at Queen's University, says these online sex toy shops likely attract only the more conservative religious couples.
"They're not for all Christians, they're not for all Jews, they're not for all Muslims. They tend to be more directed to those who are devout and those who are trying to live according to what they perceive to be their religious group's sexual guidelines," she says, adding that a Reform Jew or a member of the United Church of Canada might be more inclined to go to a run-of-the-mill sex shop.
Religious groups have been more inclined to give guidance about sexuality since the 1980s, when birth control became more common, the status of women changed and the idea of gay rights entered the public realm, says Dickey Young, who studies Christianity and sexuality. There were varied reactions within conservative religions to these kinds of societal shifts, she says, just like there are today in a society where pornography is just a mouse click away.
Wilson has seen these diverse reactions herself. When book22.com began, "the Christian community didn't want to touch me with a 10-foot pole," she says. But that quickly changed.
"We've gotten flak for this over the years — 'Why do you sell specifically to Christians?' And 'What makes your sex toys Christian?' " says Wilson, a certified counsellor who specializes in sex therapy and sexual abuse and trauma, as well as spirituality. (She started her business after having trouble connecting with her husband during post-baby sex.) "It's not about that. I was just trying to help people who did share my faith — who had the same values as me — be able to buy stuff in the same avenue I wanted to."
Wilson stopped selling condoms in order to stop the steady stream of emails from anti-contraceptive Catholics (a year ago, the Canadian Catholic bishops warned married couples to not get too caught up in sexual acts other than intercourse that may "fall short of what God intended"). She also carefully rewrites product descriptions and ensures all her clients receive their toys in discreet and label-free white packages. Her sales average 100 products a month — this January has been particularly busy, she says, having already sold 100 products two weeks in.
"I think there really is that idea that Christians are prudes, but I think a better way to put it is simply that Christians are private," says Sheila Wray Gregoire, a Christian speaker based in Belleville, Ont.
In her new book, The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex (And You Thought Bad Girls Have All the Fun), which comes out in February, Wray Gregoire references surveys that say Christian women are most likely to orgasm during sex and that women married between 15 and 25 years report having the best sex.
"So it's not the Kardashians having all the fun," she says, wryly skewering what she — and many others — sees as an oversexed culture.
Even still, Wray Gregoire is not sure she's buying what Wilson and the other faith-based sex toy vendors are selling.
"I don't think they're wrong," she says of sex toys. "I just think there can be danger of getting too reliant on having a vibrator in the bedroom."
The real key to a sizzling Christian sex life, she says, is improving communication between yourself and your partner.
"If the problem is that your sex life isn't great, usually the solution isn't to buy a dildo."


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Alex Heuer
Alex Heuer joined St. Louis Public Radio in 2012 and is a producer of St. Louis on the Air. Alex grew up in the St. Louis area. He began his public radio career as a student reporter at Tri States Public Radio in Macomb, Ill. and worked for a time at Iowa Public Radio.
Alex graduated summa cum laude from Western Illinois University with a degree in history and earned a teaching certificate in social studies. In 2016, he earned a Master of Public Policy Administration with a focus in nonprofit organization management and leadership from University of Missouri-St. Louis. He has won local and national awards for reporting and producing and his stories have been featured nationally on Morning Edition and All Things Considered.


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Sheriff Hooper (Thom Barry) races to the Sawyer farmhouse, where hulking Jed Sawyer has run amok with his beloved chainsaw.
A tense stand-off spirals out of control when Burt Hartman (Paul Rae) and his gun-toting posse arrive at the scene and torch the house with the family still inside.
Gavin Miller (David Born) and his wife Arlene (Sue Rock) steal the last surviving Sawyer baby from the farm and claim the child as their own. Two decades later, Heather (Alexandra Daddario) discovers the truth about her adoption.
She heads to her hometown with her boyfriend and friends. En route, they pick up a hunky hitchhiker.
Alas, the out-of-towners unwittingly stumble into a bloody battle for survival against Leatherface (Dan Yeager).


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Lawrence Mooney
Lawrence Mooney
Lawrence Mooney is best known as the host of his own hilarious show, Dirty Laundry Live, on ABC TV. This edgy, irreverent, comedy panel show which has become a cult favourite.
He is familiar to ABC1 audiences through his brutal honesty and sage advice on the Agony series, as well as featuring on It's a Date. Lawrence also co-wrote episodes of It's a Date for the first and second series.
Lawrence is of course first and foremost one of this country's most celebrated Stand Up comedians nominated for The Barry Award at The Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2015 and winner of Best Show at The Sydney Comedy Festival 2015 for his hit show Surely Not! which toured all around Australia receiving rave reviews.
Lawrence has hit the microphone with his unique view of the human condition for twenty one years and he is now at the top of his game.
If you want to work with one of the funniest, comically creative minds in the business then Lawrence Mooney is your man.


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James McPherson: Returns to Gustavus as Sesquicentennial Scholar
Source: Gustavus News, 3-5-12
Sesquicentennial Scholar and 1958 Gustavus alumnus James McPhersonGustavus alumnus, Civil War historian, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author James McPherson '58 will return to his alma mater April 15-17 as a Sesquicentennial Scholar.
Besides visiting several History Department classes during his visit to campus, McPherson will speak publicly during the College's Monday, April 16, daily chapel service at 10 a.m. in Christ Chapel. His talk will be titled "Two Sesquicentennials: New Beginnings" and will address how the founding of Gustavus provided leadership for a people making a new beginning in a new country and compare it to the new beginnings for Americans – black and white, Northern and Southern – generated by the Civil War. Following his talk in Christ Chapel, McPherson will sign books in the President's Dining Room in the C. Charles Jackson Campus Center from 10:30-1130 a.m. McPherson's chapel talk will be live-streamed on the Gustavus website. Both the chapel talk and book signing are free and open to the public.
On Tuesday, April 17, McPherson will speak at Interlachen Country Club in Edina at an event that is also open to the public. McPherson's lecture will be titled "Why the Civil War Still Matters" and will address the ways in which the war's impact on America is still being felt today. Those interested in attending this event, which will include a reception at 4:30 p.m., McPherson's lecture at 5 p.m., and a book signing at 6 p.m., should RSVP by going online to gustavus.edu/go/mcpherson, or by contacting the Gustavus Office of Alumni Relations at 507-933-7511….
For more information about McPherson's visit to Minnesota as Gustavus Adolphus College's Sesquicentennial Scholar, go online to gustavus.edu/go/mcpherson or contact Gustavus Professor of History Greg Kaster at email@example.com.