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The United States government is developing a computer system that would allow it to conduct cyber warfare without the intervention of a human programmer.
Recently, stories have leaked detailing the U.S. government's creation and implementation of two cyber attacks on the information systems of other nations.
"Flame" was the name of a computer virus reportedly developed and launched by the United States in order to glean critical data from computers in several Middle Eastern countries.
According to a story published in the Washington Post, the United States and Israel launched a joint venture to develop the Flame virus. Once launched into cyber space, the code reportedly collected online intelligence data that was then used to create a similar bit of malware that would cripple Iran's nuclear capabilities. Officials cited in the Post article revealed that the effort was a collaboration of the National Security Agency (NSA), the CIA, and the Israeli military.
One product of that Israeli-American secret enterprise was the Stuxnet virus. Stuxnet was the virus allegedly deployed by the United States to decelerate Iran's progress toward the development of a nuclear weapon.
Apparently, Flame and Stuxnet were just the beginning of a more sophisticated and sustained American cyber assault against the Iranian nuclear infrastructure. As one source quoted by the Washington Post reports: "This is about preparing the battlefield for another type of covert action," said one former high-ranking U.S. intelligence official, who added that Flame and Stuxnet were elements of a broader assault that continues today. "Cyber-collection against the Iranian program is way further down the road than this."
There is substantial evidence that this unnamed intelligence official knew what he was talking about.
Soon after the existence of Flame and Stuxnet was uncovered (some say leaked by the Obama administration itself), the Post ran a story claiming that the ultra-secret Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was preparing to test "unmanned cyber attacks" that launch themselves without the need of a human at the controls.
Last month, Ellen Nakashima wrote an article about a just such a program being carried out by DARPA. According to Nakashima, the project is codenamed Plan X, and its goal is to "develop systems that could give commanders the ability to carry out speed-of-light attacks and counterattacks using preplanned scenarios that do not involve human operators manually typing in code — a process considered much too slow."
Yes, the need for a human being to launch these cyber attacks is seen by the government as an unnecessary speed bump, much the same way they see the Fourth Amendment's requirement that a warrant be obtained before anyone is searched or anything is seized as a result of that search.
One former member of the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps sees the Pentagon's creation of these weapons as the first step toward the deployment of an autonomous weapon that not only launches without human direction, but can choose its own targets, as well.
"News reports that DARPA is seeking proposals for methodologies that would automate cyber responses in predetermined scenarios is an almost inevitable development given the speed in which cyberattacks can cause harm," said Charles Dunlap, now a Duke University Law School professor. "The very idea of autonomous weapons systems of any kind, cyber or kinetic, is controversial on legal, ethical and even pragmatic warfighting grounds. Yet the development and deployment of such weaponry is sure to continue even as we sort out the law and policies to address it."
For its part, the Department of Defense responds that any operations conducted by the government in cyber space will be used solely for the protection of our national security. Of course, the United States does not control the Internet, despite its best efforts. Within the worldwide web of interconnected computers, there are many who would and could develop and deploy many of the same cyber weapons against the United States. The Pentagon knows this, as well, and is apparently taking steps to prevent it.
One such defensive measure is the National Cyber Range being created by DARPA. The Strategic Technology Office at DARPA reports the following progress and purposes of these efforts on its website:
Replicating the complexity of thousands of globally interconnected network systems is a challenge faced by researchers developing tools to protect our nation against the growing threat of cyber attacks. Sophisticated attacks as well as adaptive malware have the ability to devastate defense and commercial networks. DARPA was tasked by the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI) to "establish a front line of defense against today's immediate threats by creating or enhancing … the ability to act quickly to reduce our current vulnerabilities and prevent intrusions" (National Security Presidential Directive 54 (NSPD)-54).
It would seem that the more we live by the cyber sword the more likely it becomes that we will eventually die by it — or at least be seriously wounded. There are those working in the shadowy world of Internet security and cyber warfare who recognize the substantial danger posed by these digital weapons to the stability of our own online infrastructure.
Dave Aitel, president of Immunity, Inc., a cyber security company, is a former NSA computer scientist and he believes that Flame and Stuxnet utilized certain "techniques that could have been used against us just as effectively."
In a statement by Aitel quoted at Nextgov, the order to deploy Flame and Stuxnet was given by President Obama himself. "Obama has to say, yes or no," he said.
Naturally, the Pentagon is ready to launch these cyber weapons at a moment's notice. "If so directed, [the Department of Defense] is prepared to defend U.S. national security interests through all available means," Defense spokeswoman Lt. Col. April Cunningham said. "[The Department of Defense] is committed to protecting the individual privacy of communications on the Internet and the civil liberties of the American people," she told Nextgov.
There is nothing unconstitutional or immoral about the active protection of American cyber security from attack. It can be rightly said that such actions represent a 21st-century application of national security that is in complete harmony with the enumerated powers of the federal government as set forth in the Constitution. The problem that arises, however, is when these shields are hammered into swords and used to attack and disable the Internet infrastructure of other nations. That sort of preemptive attack has no constitutional or moral basis.
Besides, there is the frightening scenario described above by Aitel. What will the United States do if a nation decides unilaterally that its own national security is threatened by America's possession of so many nuclear weapons and decides to dismantle the computer systems that control those missiles? On what moral ground will the United States stand in defense of such attacks?
What's more, just as there is collateral damage in traditional warfare, it seems only logical that there would be some such analogous harm that occurs as the result of cyber attacks.
Nextgov reports just such an incident associated with the development of the Flame virus:
Still, Microsoft suffered some collateral damage from Flame. The designers of the virus exploited a previously unknown flaw in the company's digital certificates to disguise malicious code as a Microsoft product. The software firm subsequently issued an update to block other hackers from abusing the fraudulent certificates.
Kaspersky Labs, the security firm that discovered Flame, describes the bug as "the largest cyberweapon to date," referring to its 20 megabytes. The tool can scoop up massive amounts of valuable information such as screenshots of online chats, audio recordings from internal microphones, and storage files.
Is it too incredible to believe that our own government would secretly launch these viruses on its own citizens? As the size, scope, and resources of the surveillance state continue increasing, it seems possible if not probable that the federal government would be willing to use the technology it is developing to expand the view open to its ever-prying eye. And the most worrisome aspect of all this is that most of the snooping is done without warrants in direct violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.
Some disagree.
General Harry D. Raduege, a former director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, insists, "All new cyberweapons must adhere to all the U.S. federal laws."
As true as General Raduege's statement might be in theory, no one can argue that the law (including the Constitution) is repeatedly and routinely ignored by the federal government in its quest to track, target, and eliminate those it considers enemies of the state or potential threats to our national security.


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text: Korean Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Everything sports questions(finding teams, places, gyms) Speak Korean Now! Korean Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Everything sports questions(finding teams, places, gyms) Goto page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 Next Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message MarinerJoined: 24 Apr 2009 Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:05 am Post subject: Bball Bump - Anyone still playing? Back to top Monster357Joined: 11 Mar 2012 Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:16 am Post subject: Does anyone know if there are fitness classes in Daegu? Like do they offer yoga or cardio boxing or anything like that? Back to top whalewhalewhaleJoined: 11 Apr 2011 Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:29 am Post subject: Looking for road bike clubs who go out for long rides on the weekend. Anyone have some ideas? Back to top zengerJoined: 07 Jun 2012Location: Illinois Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:48 am Post subject: Golf. How expensive? Availability of courses? How many people play? Ranges? Back to top zengerJoined: 07 Jun 2012Location: Illinois Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:21 pm Post subject: Does anyone have information on this? I've scoured the web to try to find relevant info from blogs, searches, social networking, and agencies; seems no one can help me. Back to top FredypcmJoined: 01 Jun 2012 Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:34 pm Post subject: I am looking for some people to play football (soccer) in Daejeon. Anyone? Back to top InternacularJoined: 15 Sep 2011 Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:21 am Post subject: Posted in the other thread, but I'm looking for a good place to play hoop indoors on weekends now that the rains are here, particularly south of the Han near Gangnam/Seocho. Definitely willing to travel a little bit, though, if its a good spot Back to top Wangta01Joined: 03 Oct 2006Location: Seoul, S. Korea Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 2:03 pm Post subject: Internacular wrote: Posted in the other thread, but I'm looking for a good place to play hoop indoors on weekends now that the rains are here, particularly south of the Han near Gangnam/Seocho. Definitely willing to travel a little bit, though, if its a good spot Looking for the same thing. Would even sign up for an annual contract if needed. Back to top pzebraJoined: 12 May 2009 Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 3:30 pm Post subject: My school is letting me use our gym on weekends. Unfortunately I'm a good 45 minutes train ride from Seoul Station in Unjeong(Near Ilsan). 2 hours play time. The courts and rims are comparable to my 24hour fitness back home. Anyone guys or girls of any skill level and age are welcome. Back to top UnomeJoined: 11 Apr 2012Location: Seoul, South Korea Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:28 pm Post subject: I've had some issues finding some places to play football (soccer) either indoors or outdoors in Seoul. Anybody know of teams, meetups, or places to play? Looking for anything, competitive or recreational. Back to top jpark1207Joined: 15 Jan 2013 Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:58 am Post subject: basketball I play ball indoors in a nice gym right next to boramae station. It's not a league. We play pickup but it's the same members. There is a hundred thousand won fee for three months which pays for the gym rental and the drinks that we get. Message me if you are interested. (010-2200-9323). Jason We are actually taking this month off but we will be starting back up in February. Back to top tsambaJoined: 24 Feb 2013 Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:04 am Post subject: Newbie hehe I am looking an indoor basketball court near Pyeontaek. does anyone know where I can play basketball near at my place? Thanks in advance. ^_^ Back to top yodaJoined: 19 Jan 2003Location: Incheon, South Korea Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 5:35 am Post subject: Ultimate Frisbee in Incheon: Sunday Pick up Game There is a fairly regular pick up game of ultimate frisbee in Incheon on sundays. Time: 12:00 Place Chadwick International School (great field!) in SongDo New City. ALL WELCOME! Come out and meet some new people even if you've never played the game before. For directions or more information about games visit the facebook page: Incheon Ultimate Frisbee Sunday Pick up Games Back to top hacheondoJoined: 05 Apr 2013 Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 6:02 pm Post subject: Anyone interested in getting into playing table tennis in Korea, send me a PM. If you love pong, Korea is pong heaven. I've been playing here for awhile... clubs everywhere. You can become Forrest Gump in this country. Back to top neilioJoined: 12 Oct 2010 Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 10:34 pm Post subject: Soccer players Sunday Soccer http://www.ssflkorea.org/ email all team contacts and see if they need players. Weeknight Soccer https://www.facebook.com/groups/81326825809/ Tuesday night https://www.facebook.com/groups/30096042241/ Thursday night https://www.facebook.com/groups/74654650185/ Hopefully that will get you somewhere. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 HoursGoto page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 Next Page 3 of 4 Jump to: Select a forum Forums:----------------FAQJob-related Discussion ForumGeneral Discussion ForumOff-Topic ForumTravel ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumBuy/Sell/Trade Forum You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe


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Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, certified by Medicare and licensed as an acute long-term care hospital providing specialized medical care to acutely ill patients requiring extended recovery time after the acute care hospital stay.
Patients are stable enough to transfer but medically complex and often admitted directly out of ICU. Patients are medically and physically compromised with multi-system complications that require acute hospitalization. The length of stay is determined by each individual patient's needs based on their diagnosis and treatment program. We participate in a variety of insurance plans with out-of-network plans negotiated on a case-by-case basis. LTACH's are licensed acute care hospitals and utilize acute hospital days. We bridge the gap of services for those who need a continued high level of acute care for a longer length of time. Due to multiple medical issues, our patients require daily physician observation and care, as well as the intense services of an interdisciplinary team.
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NH 2nd Congressional candidates Bass, Kuster differ on Medicare, agree on Afghanistan
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Their families are old friends, but in the race for New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District, politics comes first for Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Bass and Democratic rival Ann McLane Kuster.
The two sparred Wednesday night in an hour-long debate over their differences on Medicare and taxes. Both said they didn't like the tone of each other's ads — which they called misleading.
But that did not stop Bass from calling Kuster a liberal who will raise taxes — a familiar Republican campaign strategy. Nor did it stop Kuster from repeatedly tying Bass to votes she said shows he backs extreme Tea Party positions.
The two 2nd Congressional District opponents squared off on WBIN-TV in a debate sponsored by AARP-New Hampshire.


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Being Charlie Sloth - Join The Line (Life of an Independent British Rap Artist)[Webisode]
Harold report "In this weeks episode Charlie the artist makes a cameo in "Marcus The Sadist" Theater Production, hires a bodyguard to protect him in Camden and responds to the comments on WorldStarHipHop.com. Cameos this week are from Jonzi D & Akcent. The outro music is "Mr International" by Charlie Sloth ft Craig G.
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Recent News
April 07, 2014
Natural Organics, Inc. Recalls One Lot of Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Mouthwash Due to Bacterial Contamination
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services received information regarding a recall of Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Mouthwash after they were notified by its contract manufacturer INTEGRIA Healthcare (Australia) Pty Ltd. that one lot of Tea Tree Mouthwash failed microbial contamination testing.
The mouthwash was distributed nationwide to retail stores and to the following foreign countries: Trinidad; Philippines.
The mouthwash is packaged in clear plastic bottles with green and white labeling bearing the following product code and lot number printed on the back panel of the product label:
- Thursday Plantation, Tea Tree Mouthwash, 8.45 fl oz./ 250mL, Product No. 6710, Lot 9810
The full recall including a list of products can be found at www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm391771.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.


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Following are our top tips for planning the best bachelor party imaginable.
The Cheshire Cat Inn in Santa Barbara is a lovely, romantic, and welcoming bed and breakfast with an Alice in Wonderland theme
"The Rules," by Dipika Guha, tells story of three women falling for the same man, winks at what has been considered the "seminal antifeminist dating guide" with the same title, "The Rules: Time-tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right"
If you are looking for a comedy show that takes real life experiences and turns them into a laugh out loud entertainment, look no further than #DateMe: An OkCupid Experiment at The Second City
Monte Carlo Resort & Casino will host 156 couples as they declare their love on the run during the Run Thru Wedding Ceremony at the GEICO Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon on Sunday, Nov.15th between approx. 5:40 p.m. and 6:00 pm
Through a legacy of adventure, Julian Ritter pursued his passion for creating art and beauty at all cost.
What makes the challenge of making a woman your wife or lifelong partner even harder on guys, is the pressure of having to find the perfect ring.
Peabody and Emmy Award Winning Director Laurie Kahn presents inside look at the surprising Romance writing industry
Women should embrace their feminine qualities as strength even though changing roles in our society may force them to evaluate themselves & their value as "feminine" as a weakness in traditionally male dominated professions
Does your bedroom need a little spice?
An embrace with Valerie ends a lifetime of loneliness for rescued Pepe
Fifty Shades of Grey is the hotly anticipated film. Stepping into the roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele (Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson) Release date Friday February 13, 2015. Directed by: Sam Taylor-Johnson. Book: E L James
Know how to attract men and improve yourself. Be a happy and real woman,from now on
March 7, 2014, the Monte Carlo Ballet performed an exciting modern and quite entertaining version of Swan Lake, at the Segestrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, California
Learn why NOW time to start dating on the Internet. You can save yourself time and money through online dating.
Getting married in Las Vegas is far more than a spur of the moment and forgettable event these days. Las Vegas can create for you the unforgettable wedding and this year makes for the even more special 11/12/13 wedding that is a once-in-a-lifetime wedding event
Stephanie Smith reveals that the motive behind her food blog, 300sandwiches, is an engagement ring and sparks heated responses
"The Bachelorette" Season Finale is tonight (8:00. - 10:00) Followed by "After the Final Rose" at 10:00 on Will Chris or Drew propose to Des? Lori Peters of LASplash interviews Host Chris Harrison and gets the inside scoop
What if your job was to eat chocolate all day and be with the one you love? That's the dream life of the royal couple of chocolate: Jacques and Hasty Torres. You won't believe what they cook up together!
The Unveiled Bridal event was put together to provide an upcoming bride with perfect resources for her wedding planning, such as catering, designs, dresses, jewelry, photgoraphy, cinematography, floral, and more


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World of Reggae Music Collection: Vintage Reggae
The Early Years
The Jam-Tex selector digs deeper into the reggae genre, focusing in on some of reggae's earliest hits. Positive vibrations drip from songs like Dobby Dobson's "Loving Pauper" and The Pioneers' "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah." Reggae legends Bob Marley & The Wailers, Toots & The Maytals, and Delroy Wilson all laid down foundational tracks during this early period of reggae music.
This particular collection features early vintage hits from the well-known male artists like John Holt, Alton Ellis, Desmond Dekker, Johnny Clarke, Ken Boothe, and Bob Andyand female artists Marcia Griffiths, Susan Cadogan, and my favorite Phyllis Dillon. Many of the musicians from the rock steady era like Derrick Morgan and Stranger Colerecorded early reggae hits. Alongside the more well-known vocalists, this collection features lesser-known artists like K.C. White and Watty Burnett, who laid down infectious reggae tunes like "No No No (You Don't Love Me Anymore)" and "Rainy Night in Portland."
Here in the early reggae cuts you find amazing originality. Dennis Brown tracks like "Westbound Train" and "Man Next Door" encapsulate the raw power of reggae. And, Delroy Wilson's bass heavy "Better Must Come" might be the greatest reggae song ever recorded. Plus the early Bob Marley & the Wailers' songs forged music and message into a powerful punch. Together Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer recorded original classics like "Mr. Brown," "Try Me," and "Jailhouse." These legends of reggae music would forever change the course of music history.
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Mr. Brown
Errol Dunkeley – Ok Fred
Marie Bryant – Tomatoes
Delroy Wilson – (I'm in A) Dancing Mood
Alton Ellis – Mad Mad
Don Evans & the Paragons – Danger in Your Eyes
Dandy Livingston – Rudy, a Message to You
Ken Boothe – Old Fashioned Way
Phyllis Dillon – Woman In the Ghetto
Toots & the Maytals – Monkey Man
Barrington Levy – Sister Carol
Desmond Dekker – Reggae Recipe
Dennis Brown – Man Next Door
Susan Cadogan – Nice And Easy
Horace Andy – Natural Mystic
Don Carlos & Roots Radics – Fight Fight
Johnny Clarke – Don't Trouble Trouble
Toots & the Maytals – Do The Reggay
The Pioneers – Let Your Yeah Be Yeah
U-Roy – Hold On
Derrick & Patsy – Housewives Choice
Lord Creator – Don't Stay Out Late
Dobby Dobson – Loving Pauper
Roman Stewart – Try Me
Leroy Smart – Ballistic Affair
Bob Andy & Marcia Griffiths – Young Gifted And Black
K.C. White – No No No
Horace Andy – Do You Love My Music
Bruce Ruffin – Rain
Delroy Wilson – It's A Shame
Johnny Clarke – Tears on My Pillow
Cornell Campbell & the Aggrovators – I Will Never Change/Version
Desmond Dekker – Fu Man Chu
Derrick Morgan – Tougher Than Tough (Rudie In Court)
Dennis Brown – Westbound Train
Kingstonian – Nice Nice
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Bend Down Low
Jacob Miller – Mr. Officer
Owen Gray – Midnight Track
Delroy Wilson – Living In The Foots Steps Of Another Man
Alton Ellis – Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
Bob Marley & the Wailers – One Cup Of Coffee
Delroy Wilson – Run Run
Peter Tosh – You Can't Fool Me Again
Lord Creator – Independent Jamaica
John Holt & Alton Ellis – Rum Bumper's
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Try Me
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Try Me (Version)
Desmond Dekker – Mother Pepper
Derrick Morgan – I Am The Ruler
The Tennors – Ride Me Donkey
The Majesterians – If I Didn't Want Your Loving
Alton Ellis & Phyllis Dillon – Why Did You Leave Me To Cry
Delroy Wilson – Cool Operator
Al Barry & the Cimarons – Morning Sun
Watty Burnett – Rainy Night in Portland
Stranger & Patsy – Give Me The Right
Alton Ellis – If I Could Rule the World
Lord Power – Adults Only (AKA Big Race)
Lord Messam – Linstead Market


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Good Bread: Amy's Bread
For Amy Scherber, it was the loaf that launched her bakery. Amy started her career as a pastry chef but soon discovered that "working with sugar didn't suit my metabolism." She loved the sensual elements of making bread, so she traveled to France to study baking. Her first bakery job was at Tom Colicchio's Mondrian, where she developed her own bread formulas. In 1992, Amy opened her eponymous bakery on Ninth Avenue. She sold a variety of sourdough, whole wheat, and Italian country-style loaves, all the while playing with flavors back in the kitchen.
She started adding blanched fresh fennel and golden raisins to her semolina bread. Everyone loved it. However, the blanching was too involved so she substituted fennel seeds. She made the bread into rolls, coated them with cornmeal, and handed them out to her wholesale customers. The 1990s became the decade of Amy's fennel and raisin rolls, found in all the city's best bread baskets.
Nearly 20 years after Amy's Bread opened, you can still taste why that bread was so popular--and why Amy's has risen to the top rank of city bakeries. A loaf of her semolina with golden raisins and fennel is pure pleasure from outside to inside. Many competitors have tried to copy it, but they just don't measure up. The crust is thickly coated with cornmeal, giving it an extra crunch. Inside you find plump golden raisins and whole fennel seeds and a dense but moist crumb. The only problem is what to eat it with, because I find the pungent fennel overpowers most fillings. If you're not going to eat it plain--and once you start, you can't stop--I say keep it simple, with a smear of butter and honey or a slice of soft Gouda.
For a less provocative Amy's loaf, I can't resist her walnut whole wheat. Once again, all the elements coalesce into a scrumptious whole. Thanks to a touch of walnut oil, the full flavor of the toasted walnuts blends seamlessly into the whole wheat flour (with none of the bitter tang of poorly picked nuts found in the competition). As usual with Amy's breads, the crust is just crisp enough, while the crumb is a perfect balance between soft and dense. It's a well-crafted, delicious loaf.
Amy's tangy sourdough is a throwback to the days when the city was mad for any bread that was white and sour. (Blame it all on Eli Zabar!) This smallish boule has a tight crust and a densely knit crumb that makes an excellent base for cream cheese and smoked salmon--if you're going to continue the retro dining motif.
For the more adventurous of her customers, Amy likes to play around with stronger tastes. Her pumpernickel is nothing like the German or old school New York loaves; she makes it her own. To pumpernickel and unbleached flours, she adds sunflower and caraway seeds and deepens the flavor with molasses, honey, and cocoa. It doesn't have the sour tang of Old World pumpernickel but makes it up with a richness highlighted by the bite of caraway.
There's not room to extol each of Amy's 23 different bread varieties, except to say that they all show her signature consistency and craftsmanship. (Well, let me just tout one more: her organic miche is one of the best in the city.) But if you want a short course in baking excellence without buying whole loaves, you should try an assortment of Amy's "signature twists." Moist, chewy, and flavored with everything from chocolate to olives to, yes, fennel and golden raisins, these are the gateway morsels, the first steps toward an Amy's Bread addiction.
Amy's Bread
75 Ninth Avenue, New York NY 10011 (map) 212-462-4338
672 Ninth Avenue, New York NY 10036 (map) 212-977-2670
250 Bleecker Street, New York NY 10014 (map) 212-675-7802
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Also in the Jefferson Building for another month is "Down to Earth: Herblock and Photographers Observe the Environment" curated by Carol Johnson and Sara Duke. Carol's the photograph curator, Sara the Herblock one. I thought this was an excellent exhibit. The photographs and the cartoons really complemented each other, and the unlikely pairing made for a stronger exhibit than either alone would have.
There's a small brochure for the exhibit, although you have to get it at the Madison Building's Prints & Photographs department.
At the same location is "Herblock Looks at 1962: Fifty Years Ago in Editorial Cartoons," an exhibit curated by Sara Duke. This smaller exhibit focuses on President Kennedy.
Obviously Sara made curatorial choices to influence this in both exhibits, but it's still depressing how relevant 50-year-old cartoons are:
The third exhibit is a small one on comic books featuring Presidents that Megan Halsband did in the Serials Department (in the Madison Building) for President's Day. The majority of these comics are from Bluewater's current biographical series, but she did find an issue of Action Comics that I don't remember seeing.
The Prints & Photographs division showed off its new acquisitions this week. Sara Duke showed some original comic book and strip artwork:
A piece by Keith Knight, and two pages from Jim Rugg's anthology. They collected the entire book except for the centerfold. Not shown is...
Above are voting rights prints by Lalo Alcaraz, possibly selected by Helena Zinkham.
Martha Kennedy had some great acquistions this year, including works by James Flora, editorial cartoonist Signe Wilkinson, Garry "Doonesbury" Trudeau, and Charles Vess' entire book of Ballads and Sagas:
This artwork isn't on exhibit, but you can make an appointment to view it.


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Holly Wrote: Why not also name all the other presidents who used this program?- Rand Paul Versus Barack Obama
Dear Comrade Holly,
I'm not sure if you're asking me why I don't name them in my column or if you are asking Rand Paul why he doesn't name them in the lawsuit.
In either case, the answer is the same: The only president who actually can be forced to do something about it now is the president who sits in the Oval Office.
This isn't a punitive suit seeking damages from the presidents for civil right violations. It's as suit questioning the constitutionality of section 215 of the Patriot Act.
Or is your question just another form of "Bush did it too"?
Seriously: There are so many things that Obama does that "Bush did it too" I'm surprised that the Democrat Party hasn't started a fan page for Bush on Facebook.
I'm not sure how Democrats tell the two apart.
David3036 wrote: There is an important lesson here in how Townhall.com writers often distort facts or leave out relevant information in order to appeal to the most conservative readers. Sometimes you have to go to another source to balance the Townhall view. Ransom writes, "They did it because they're poor." He also doesn't tell you that the couple is raising seven other children -- two related by blood and five special needs kids that they fostered and then adopted. If they were in it for the money, they could have continued receiving the foster-care funding and not adopted them.
Sperm, Craigslist, Lesbians, and Welfare; What Could Go Wrong?
Dear Comrade 3036,
This is the story where the Kansas court found a sperm donor liable for child support after two lesbians who had the kid applied for welfare benefits to support him.
I also left out the part where the two lesbians had been separated for over a year. I left it out because the original AP story said the impetus for the claim was that one of the parties became unemployed.
In fact, none of the parties have acted responsibly in this matter.
You don't adopt eight kids, then use a sperm donor to get knocked up and then break up and leave the state to clean things up.
And as for the guy, the "donor": It's like my granny used to tell me on her knee: "Johnny," she used to say, "there are many things to avoid in this world. But the one absolute is: don't spread your sperm around. Neither for love or money."
And as much as any man can, I've tried to live by those words.
DoctorRoy wrote: I agree. But the real test for the Republicans is would they back this if there was a GOP President in office? I'm a little skeptical. Rand Paul Versus Barack Obama
Dear Comrade Doctor,
Gee, you skeptical?
I call it delusional.
If Barack Obama snorted cocaine on live TV during the State of the Union you'd say: "Bush did it too."
You don't have to worry about woulda, coulda, shoulda.
All you have to do is support what you know is right, right now.
Jokamura wrote: Conservatives like to throw the word morality around a lot, but when they do, it is only in certain cases, while ignoring the immorality of other acts. When are was the morally right thing to do? Is using a drone to drop bombs on peoples head, because you believe they are bad guys, the morally right thing to do? What happens when that bomb kills others around the target, is that morally right? Is the death penalty the morally right thing to do? Is preventing people who try to enter this country illegally, seeking to live a better life, the morally right thing to do? Rand Paul Versus Barack Obama
Dear Comrade Joker,
I didn't throw around the word "morality."
I observed that institutions don't have the capacity to be moral.
Only people do.
And that's why it's dangerous to invest institutions like the NSA with broad powers; or the CIA with the power to use drones to kill people.
Obama has expanded the use of drones, by the way, and as a result our relations with Pakistan have never been worse.
I have grave reservations about the use of the death penalty but I can assure you that they disappear with the certainty that the people who committed the crimes are actually guilty.
Ted Bundy- death penalty. Jeffery Dahlmer- death penalty.
I have no moral qualms about that.
Nor do I have moral qualms about the use of war powers to secure U.S. security or the security of any other peoples that are important to our national interests.
There was death and destruction going on in Iraq long before we invaded; there has been death and destruction long since we left.
Iraq's one chance to have a rational world was the USA.
They blew it. We did not.
DoctorRoy wrote: Sorry off topic. But since Ransom covered the NFL I wonder if he ever saw this. This is a first as far as I can recall. I don't ever remember a potential pick threatening a team with revenge if they don't draft him.
Dear Comrade Doctor,
No, but I remember John Elway saying he wouldn't play for the Colts if they drafted him. And that is one of the reasons why the Colts left for Indianapolis, which subsequently drafted Peyton Manning, and then subsequently released him so he could end up in Denver and choke in the playoffs.
LiberalSuperTroll wrote: This is all balloney, the only reason more US troops are being killed [in Afghanistan] is because our enemy (created by Bush) has become more experienced with the ways our soldiers fight and hence are able to better preempt their actions and cause more casualties. This certainly has nothing to do with Obama, who has been extremely supportive of our troops and has actually gone out of the way to bring the focus back on military and modernize their weaponry and keep our troops happy.
Dear Comrade LSD,
What an idiot you are!
You must be Obama top thinker on Afghanistan.
The causalities expanded because we had more troops there, with a larger footprint to attack.
In the image "Shifting Plans" we see the surge under Obama.
I have always been against the surge policy in Afghanistan. And my problem is that so was Obama, but that didn't stop him from campaigning on it, executing it and thereby getting troops killed.
Commanders in Chief have the unfortunate role of commanding young men into battle, and as a result some of them die. It really sucks when they miscalculate as happened in Iraq. It's beyond the pale when they order them to battle even when they know they are doomed to die and fail.
From the USAToday:
In a passage about a key meeting in March of 2011, [then Sec of Defense] Gates writes that "as I sat there, I thought: The president doesn't trust his commander, can't stand (Afghan President Hamid) Karzai, doesn't believe in his own strategy and doesn't consider the war to be his," according to the Times. "For him, it's all about getting out."
Bush didn't "create" the enemy in Afghanistan either.
Osama bin Laden declared war on the United States in 1996 from Afghanistan when Bill Clinton was president.
Marie150 wrote: Changing the subject just a little, wondering about the guy Beck had on his radio program yesterday. He studies the natural ebb and flow of the market. He was mentioning highs and bottoms. The highs it seems are being unnaturally manipulated. Meaning when the market is high people normally react in a predictable manner but now someone or group is acting in the opposite manner. Can you explain this to me?-- Yellen Economist Says It Would Be Better if Unemployment Was Higher
Dear Marie,
That's a good question.
So let me try to explain as simply as possible what I think he meant.
In order to do so, I have to give a little primer on quantitative easing, zero interest rate policy and the Federal Reserve (the Fed).
The Fed controls interests rates somewhat by determining what interest rate at which they loan money to banks. Right now they are following a zero interest rate policy, which means that banks can borrow from the Fed for little or no interest.
That makes borrowing money attractive because there is little to no cost to it.
In addition, the Fed is buying U.S. Treasury securities in the open market from investors. This is also known as quantitative easing (QE). QE also exerts a downward pressure on interest rates, keeping them low because it helps inflate bond prices. Bond prices have an inverse relationship to interest rates. High Bond prices equal low interest rates.
Now when investors cash out of United States Treasury securities, they won't reinvest that cash in bonds, because interest rates are so low that bonds really don't even keep up with inflation.
So that means that all that money that investors are getting when the Fed buys their U.S. Treasuries has to go somewhere else.
Right now it's going to the U.S. stock market.
The premium investors are willing to pay for U.S. stocks versus other investments therefore is expanding. And depending how one might measure it, one could make the argument that stock prices are very high.
This expansion will continue, the theory goes, because the Fed is keeping interest rates low and making those bond purchases, which means that the cash from the Fed has to be reinvested in the stock market every month.
Now normally the stock market is supposed to act as a gage for economic activity, either as a leading or lagging indicator of the growth in the economy. But because of the policies of the Fed, we are seeing the stock market become completely divorced from the results of the economy.
Instead, it trades on the money it's being supplied by the Fed.
Mark Hulbert, a publisher who follows stock market newletters, says that there are a number of indications that the market is at a top.
The Price-to-Earning ratio on the S&P 500, says Hulbert, was 18.6 as on January 17th,"which is higher than those that prevailed at 24 of the 35 bull market tops since 1900."
So in only a third of cases does the market go higher when you compare today to bull markets since 1900.
A broader way of looking at the market is comparing the Wilshire, the market index with the largest number of companies, to GDP.
Says Gurufocus.com:
As of today, the Total Market Index is at $ 19665.8 billion, which is about 115% of the last reported GDP. The US stock market is positioned for an average annualized return of 1.9%, estimated from the historical valuations of the stock market. This includes the returns from the dividends, currently yielding at 2%.
As pointed by Warren Buffett, the percentage of total market cap (TMC) relative to the US GNP is "probably the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment."
My own view is that the market still has a bit of room to go this year, but that 2014 will mark a major market top, followed by several years of below average returns, until after the 2016 election.
DBraum wrote: I thought that one of the two missions of the Fed was to promote full employment? So in Newspeak, is the equation thus: lots of unemployment = full employment? Please explain but don't bother telling me it's Bush's fault. 'Cause I already know that; they told me so themselves. Yellen Economist Says It Would Be Better if Unemployment Was Higher
Dear Mr. D,
No one really knows what the Fed's mission is anymore.
Originally it was a reserve bank for commercial banks so that they wouldn't run out of money. Then it was supposed to provide full employment; and then it was supposed to fight inflation.
I think it will be an important part of the discussion in campaigns over the next few years.
Many economists are saying that "natural" full employment rate is around 6 percent unemployment now. This despite the fact that during Bush's presidency unemployment was only over 6 percent for a short period of time.
So congratulations America! You did it. You're almost fully employed now that unemployment rate is at 6.6 percent.
Yup. Everyone who wants a job has one.
And you made the world's best cup of coffee, too.
Jsingletary wrote: Did you read the book? The monster is never called Frankenstein. That was the name of his creator. Actually, the book is not anything like all the movies by the same name. I found the book much better. Sperm, Craigslist, Lesbians, and Welfare; What Could Go Wrong?
Dear Comrade J,
Yes, I have read the book. I first read it in an upper-level English literature class in college my junior year. Along side it we read Milton's Paradise Lost.
Both stories are about rebellion against God, with man and the devil seeking to usurp His powers while neither being able to take responsibility for their actions. In Frankenstein, it's man in rebellion; in Paradise, it's Satan.
And yes I know that Frankenstein is the doctor not the monster. But explain to me why when you do a Google search of Frankenstein, you get images of the monster not the doctor. In popular culture we equate the name Frankenstein with the monster. But still even then my reference was to the doctor, not the monster.
The monster is only a symbol of the evil created by Frankenstein.
But Shelley's is an important work and cited by me for a reason.
In that great Russian masterwork, Brothers Karamazov an aspiring socialist and atheist observes that man will find the capacity to love humanity, and have the power to carry on even without God.
Well as recent events have proved: They can't even run an Olympics.
Or a website.
Or a sperm bank.
Maybe what they need is a tad more humility and a whole lot of God.
That's it for this week,


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This blog will be on a break for about a week so now is a good time to wish everyone out there "Shana Tova" for the new year. If you have no idea what I am on about, you might wish to check out Wikipedia's Rosh Hahshana article to get more information about this very special time in the Jewish calendar.
The image above is titled "Double Trump" and shows two fractal shofarim, in honour of the upcoming holiday.
In other news, I will be away on dance camp this coming weekend, which explains the reason for the blog's very temporary hiatus.


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I am completely obsessed with the TV show Once Upon A Time, I've talked about it before. I'm one of those girls who believes in Fairy Tales, and True Love obviously (pretend you didn't hear that okay?). One of the stories that is tied in with the show is Pinocchio.
The Blue Fairy is the one who turned Pinocchio into a real boy, and my favorite characters from that story. so when I saw this fabulous Fairy Gown & Wings from Valentina E. Couture at The Costume Ball, I had to grab it in this color! It's an absolutely fabulous mesh fairy dress, and I love it! It comes with the matching wings, and also comes in 3 other colors.
The Aria Mask fromNoodles that I am wearing was just something I thought would add some mystery to The Blue Fairy. It's super cute and perfect for a Costume Ball. It comes in 8 fabulous colors! It's sure to be something I use again, provided I have an event to wear it to!
I had come across these I Do Believe In Fairies poses from D.Luxx Poses, at the Cinema event that is still open for a few more days! They actually were the perfect set for these pictures! There are 10 awesome poses in the pack. I actually posed while flying to make it look more Fairy like!
Get My Look…
Costume Ball Stuffs…
Outfit: Valentina E. Couture – Fairy Gown & Wings – Starry
Mask: Noodles – Aria Mask – Blue Metal
Everything Else…
Skin: Glam Affair – Lilith – America
Eyes: Mayfly – Liquid Light Mesh Eyes – Deep Ice
Lashes: Redgrave – Eyelashes 39 – Luscious
Nails: Synthetique – Ultimate Colour Tactics
Necklace: Caroline's Jewelry – Angel Necklace – Silver
Poses: D.Luxx Poses – I Do Believe In Faries @ Cinema
With Love and Cupcakes,


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Archive for December 2010
I feel crap…
I've got a much longer post in the making about returning to work and all that jazz, but right now I just need to whine. The other post doesn't portray much of how I'm really feeling. It is about recovery, yet at the moment that seems like a strange concept.
I feel crap. Not just a little crap, but really crap.
I've been trying to avoid admitting this, but pretending things are okay never does me much good. Maybe if I'm more honest and accepting of how I feel, it will help to ease the pressure a little? I am trying so hard to keep functioning that I am probably making myself worse. I don't know, but I need to do something and I hope that writing about it will help for a moment.
My mood has dropped. Not just a little bit, but a lot. I could feel depression creeping up on me again, but this past 10 days or so have been far, far worse. During the past week, I have felt worse than at any other point in the last six months. My mood slumped at the end of September /early October, but it didn't slump this far or this fast. Things had picked up quite nicely since then (and the increase in Reboxetine) and I thought it was just a temporary blip, but now I feel awful and I'm less sure it will be temporary this time.
Every morning is a real struggle at the moment. It is hard for anyone at this time of year, waking up when it is dark and cold outside, but this is more than just winter blues. When I wake up from yet another night of broken sleep and nightmares, I feel the familiar cloud hanging over me. It is a cliché, but it is definitely there, dark and cold, looming over the bed. I realise that it's back. Depression is here and I am hit with a daily dose of disappointment that I haven't woken up feeling any better. The sense of dread about yet another day hits me and I want to hide under the cover and never come out.
I know I need to keep functioning and I am forcing myself to keep going, but it is getting harder. On some days I have to go to work and there is plenty for me to do the rest of the time, so I have no choice but to keep going. I force myself out of bed, but it is getting later and later and the incentive to do so is diminishing. I was making myself get out of bed by 9am at the latest, no matter how badly I'd slept the night before, but I can't do that now. Most mornings I am forcing myself up at 10am, but it was later than that yesterday. If it carries on like this, before long it will be lunchtime before I usually get up. I am doing my best to stop that happening.
I feel guilty when I am like this. I chastise myself for being lazy, but I don't want to be. I just can't find the motivation to not be. I know the bloke would chastise me too and that makes me feel more guilty and makes me want to hide how I am feeling. It is nearly always the motivation that goes first. Motivation is tied to noradrenaline and that is what the Reboxetine is meant to be working on, but it doesn't seem to be doing enough at the moment. I need to get it back, but even forcing myself to do things isn't likely to help much. It will just tire me out and make me frustrated when I can't seem to cope.
I am still going to work. I refuse to admit defeat on that. I can't give up on work. I don't want to let people down and I don't want to admit that I can't cope. I'm worried that everyone will blame this relapse on work and say that I can't do it. Maybe work is to blame, but I don't see how it can be. It is not stressful and I was enjoying it at first. It felt really good to be going back and I had definitely missed it. I was being careful not to push myself too hard. My four hours a week were going really quickly, but as my mood has dropped, time has slowed down to a crawl and my last few shifts have felt excruciatingly long, despite being so very short. I have been struggling to find the motivation to go as well and have arrived late a few times because I had been putting off getting ready. My concentration appears to be slipping and I have to keep stopping to remind myself of what I was meant to be doing. I had run out of work the other day as well, so it felt like a complete waste of time and boredom was not helping my mood, but I have now got something new to do, which made it a little easier today. I will manage though. I have to.
I am struggling to do much else at the moment though. Fighting depression and carrying on with work is sapping all my energy. There is housework to be done, but I am trying to get by with the bare minimum. I sit and stare at the laptop, but I don't do much with it. I am barely bothering to read blogs or even the news at the moment. I spend too much time hitting refresh on facebook or hotukdeals, because they require little attention. I leave emails unanswered or unsent because I can't concentrate long enough to write them properly. I am trying to knit a hat for my sister's Christmas present, but it is slow progress and I keep making mistakes, despite switching to an easier pattern. I tried to go Christmas shopping on Monday, but I was so indecisive I barely bought anything and it took the whole day instead of the few hours I had planned. I have voluntary stuff to do – website updates and press releases to write, but I am putting it off.
I did manage to cope with fundraising at the Christmas Fair on Saturday though, which was a relief. I had been dreading it because I didn't know how I was going to cope. Adrenaline helped get me through the day, which was a long one to say the least, but I survived. I was working with a decent bunch of girls for most of the day, so at least I had some support and there were plenty of yummy cakes to cheer me up, but I was flagging by the end of the day. We raised a decent amount of cash, which I guess makes it worth it. I felt completely frazzled afterwards though. I had to go out for the bloke's work do in the evening, but I was exhausted and didn't really want to go. I did and it was a nice enough evening, but I think I'm still recovering from the late night and long day. Everyone else was drunk too and I was driving, so that didn't help me enjoy it. My head was so fuzzy, I have no idea how we got home safely. Not good really.
I curiously did the PHQ-9 and the BDI the other day, because I saw reference to the PHQ-9 somewhere and I suspected my scores would show I was depressed again. Scores of around 20 and 30 respectively puts me right on the Moderate-Severe threshold on both scales. I don't believe that it has got that bad so quickly and I think severe is pushing it, but moderate depression is probably a fair assessment at the moment. Strangely, my scores are worse in different areas to where they used to be, but it's still higher than I had expected. My BDI score did get up to the late 50s/early 60s though when I was really unwell, so there is a long way to go before I get like that. I did a retrospective scoring for how I was during the summer, just to compare and I would have said my PHQ-9 was about 4 or 5 (not depressed/mild depression) and my BDI around 8 (mild depression?). Things have definitely gone down hill. I think my "natural" state is probably a little on the low side anyway, but this is more than that.
Physically I feel awful as well. Tummy troubles continue. I spent one afternoon last week rolling around in agony. The pain in my gut was just so bad and it came on so suddenly I didn't know what to do. It was probably the worst attack that I have had and it took a few hours to settle down to a dull ache. My appetite was hit by it and still hasn't really recovered. My bowels just can't seem to find any sort of rhythm or pattern, no matter what laxatives or diet I am eating – eat eggs and I end up with diarrhoea, eat beans and I can end up constipated. It makes no sense at all.
In general, my body feels really run down. I have a cold sore and have had a few spots break out lately. I think I may have a urinary infection of some form. I've spent most of this week constantly needing to wee, although thankfully it hasn't felt burny/stingy, so I'm not sure. Last night, a lymph node at the back of my head (behind my right ear, up from my neck) has swelled up and it is really painful. It feels like someone has hammered something into the back of my head and that they are constantly notching up the pressure. I couldn't sleep at all with it last night. I had the same thing happen on the other side a while back and it took a few days to go down. I hope it does soon. I am not sure how much longer I can take this.
I went and saw Dr N this evening. I was hoping he could at least suggest something to fix my body, if not my mind. Sadly he didn't have much to offer either. That may be partly because I didn't know what to say to him. I didn't tell him all that I wanted or meant to. I seem to have forgotten how to talk about this stuff and I keep forgetting things I should do or say.
He asked me what had triggered my mood. I said I didn't know. Possibly the time of year, but I'm not really sure. He asked what support I was getting from the CMHT. Nothing is the answer I gave and the truthful one too. I had a phone call last week to tell me they've "closed" my case, because I no longer have a worker. They had forgotten to sign off my old CPA when my social worker C left, which was back in June, but someone had found it and said they would send it off to me so they could close my case. Dr N had received a copy too, remembering that there was an apology attached to the front. I don't know what he thought about that. He asked what other support I have. I reminded him that I am still seeing Dr M as an outpatient, but I won't see her until January now. He asked about the psychology referral. I've not heard anything. He sighed at that.
He mentioned that her last letter suggested that I drop the Reboxetine a few days a week to see if that helps the side effects. She suggested either going every other day – 6mg one day and 8mg the next or even 8mg in the week when I have to work or am at home alone and 6mg at weekends when I have more support. Dr N said he thought the latter may be worth a try, because he hopes that improving how I feel physically may ease my mental symptoms too. He doesn't think 6 or 8mg will make that much difference either way to my mood, but it might help with the tummy troubles. I am not so sure about the idea, especially in light of my dropping mood. In fact, I'd even tried a few days on a slightly higher dose – 10mg (an extra half tablet), just to see if that could kick my mood back up quickly. No such luck though. I guess it is worth a try.
I didn't know what else to say to him and in the end we just wished each other a good Christmas and I left. I walked out and finally started crying. I've needed to for days, but the tears hadn't come. I don't know what to do to stop this decline and I don't feel like I have anyone to help me. I am scared about Christmas and January and all the memories that this time of year is dragging up. This time last year I was telling myself I just have to get through Christmas. I am doing the same now. The problem is, last time I got through Christmas, only to try and kill myself when January came. I don't want that to happen again. I am not as bad as I was back then. Things have moved on a lot in the past year. I have hope that my mood can recover again, where as last year I had no hope at all, but I am starting to feel more and more helpless and I fear that I will always be waiting for the next relapse. I am terrified that every time I try to live a normal life, depression will come back and bite me. I don't want that to happen. My mood has to pick up soon. I need to keep going.
This only seems to scratch at the surface of what I am thinking right now. I am scared. I am worried about what everyone will think. I don't want to let everyone down. Everyone has been so pleased about the progress I had been making and seemed to be excited about me getting better. I had been so pleased too. I thought I was getting my life back. I am going back to work at last. I am driving again. Everything seemed to be getting back to normal. Things seemed to be going really well. Then I am hit with this slump in mood and I don't know what to do with myself. I know recovery is a difficult process and I'm always going to have set backs, but this feels different. It isn't just a bad day or two. Nasty thoughts are creeping back in. I am having to put on my happy face. Life feels like a struggle, rather than just being life. I hope it is just a blip. I really do.
I'm also scared about the diagnosis stuff being stirred up. I was recovering, medication was helping, my condition wasn't pervasive and untreatable, so I couldn't have had a Personality Disorder. If I'm getting ill again then people will probably start thinking that it was just a co-incidence and that I do have a PD after all. Maybe I am being paranoid, but I am scared about this. I was glad that I had responded to medication. I may have been treatment resistant, but at least I was treatable. Now I just feel like a failure. It will be back to the theory that I need therapy if I am ever to recover and I will be blamed for not recovering. No doubt I will never get offered therapy anyway, even if I need it, but I was hoping I didn't need it. I don't know. I don't want to think about it. Whenever I think about what went on earlier this year about my diagnosis I get panicky, anxious and upset. It seems to hit a nerve and I have to stop thinking about it.
I hate feeling like this. We will see how things go. At least I have admitted it now. I have been carrying around these thoughts like a guilty burden. I have been secretly acknowledging the depression, whilst denying it in the hope it would go away and that no one else would find out. I feel like I am letting everyone down. I wanted to have a "happy ever after" for this blog and then I'm back here again whining about depression again. That isn't what I wanted. Sorry.
Written by intothesystem
Thursday, 16th December 2010 at 10:25 pm
Posted in Into the system...
Tagged with anxiety, appetite, BDI, blogging, christmas, CMHT, concentration, constpiation, CPA, decision making, depression, depression rating scale, diagnonsense, diagnosis, diarrhoea, disappointment, discharge, Dr M, Dr N, failure, functioning, guilt, honesty, hopelessness, infection, irritable bowels, laxatives, laziness, lymph nodes, moderate depression, mood, mornings, normality, paranoia, PD, personality disorder, PHQ-9, physical health, psychology, Reboxetine, recovery, relapse, return to work, severe depression, side-effects, stress, suicide, tears, therapy, treatment resistant, tummy troubles, winter, winter blues, work


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2014 NFL franchise tag tracker
The Panthers made sure Greg Hardy wouldn't hit the open market. (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
The deadline for teams to utilize the franchise or transition tag on players with expiring contracts hit on Monday afternoon. Here's a glance at what went down:
• Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints: This is the franchise tag situation that interested NFL minds have been waiting on for some time now. The Saints' star is expected to argue that he should qualify under the tag provisions for wide receivers instead of at tight end -- the price tag for the former is set at $12.3 million; for the latter, it's a touch more than $7 million. The verdict, should this argument come to it, may be a game-changer for those players at the evolving tight end position who spend ample time off the line.
The other X-factor here is the non-exclusive tag designation given Graham. That's almost always the tag of choice (as opposed to the exclusive tag), and it leaves the door open for another team to negotiate a contract with Graham. If he then signs elsewhere, the Saints could match or receive two first-round picks in return.
MORE: NFL free agency rumors | Players who hurt FA value | FA primer: QBs, RBs
• Greg Hardy, DE, Panthers: The deadline for tagged players to replace those one-year deals with long-term contracts is July 15. Expect the Panthers to work right up until that date, if necessary, in hopes of keeping Hardy in the fold beyond 2014. Most of their desire to do so will lie in the $13.1 million that Hardy will make under the DE tag -- about half of what the Panthers had available under next season's cap headed into March.
• Brian Orakpo, LB, Redskins: Orakpo's deal may be a placeholder for a multi-year deal, too, though the Redskins' reported hesitancy to tag Orakpo may be an indication that they'd prefer to see if he can play a full 16 games at a high level before committing to him further. The $11.455 million tag price here is a hefty one, but Orakpo was the team's best defender by a wide margin in 2013.
• Nick Folk, K, Jets: Probably the safest bet here to sign an extended contract before July 15. Even if Folk and the Jets cannot agree on anything more permanent, New York should be able to fit in Folk's $3.5 million 2014 salary comfortably under the cap. Currently, the Jets have more than $25 million available.
• Alex Mack, C, Browns (transition tag): Mack received the far less-used transition tag, which saves the Browns about $1.5 million over what the franchise tag would have cost and gives them the right to match any offer he receives from another team. Unlike with the non-exclusive franchise tag, teams do not receive draft-pick compensation if they lose a player via the transition tag. Either way, it's now very unlikely Mack leaves Cleveland before the 2014 season.
• Jason Worilds, OLB, Steelers (transition tag): OK, so maybe the transition tag is not as rare as it once was ...
The cash-strapped Steelers, somewhat surprisingly, opted to designate Worilds as their transition player despite being short on cash again this offseason. The LB transition tag brings a cost of $9.754 million should no other team jump at the chance to sign the 26-year-old Worilds off an eight-sack performance in 2014. Pittsburgh also has LaMarr Woodley under contract for the time being, though he carries the prohibitive cap number of $13.6 million for next season. The team can save a huge chunk of that cash by waiting until after June 1 to cut him.
Not Tagged
• Michael Bennett, DE, Seahawks: Bennett was a critical piece in the Seahawks' Super Bowl run, but with Cliff Avril's contract escalating and players like Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman in need of extensions soon, there simply was no room to retain Bennett under that $11 million-plus price tag. He should find plenty of suitors in free agency -- more than he had last offseason when he signed a relatively cheap one-year deal in Seattle.
• Jairus Byrd, S, Bills: The Bills tagged Byrd last year, which resulted in a rather unhappy marriage throughout 2013. A second tag would have cost the Bills $8.3 million for 2014, or about what Byrd's reportedly after as a yearly average on a long-term deal. He would be the top free-agent safety to hit the market.
"We've chosen not to use the franchise tag on any of our impending unrestricted free agents," Bills GM Doug Whaley said in a statement.
• Eugene Monroe, OT, Ravens: Baltimore would love to re-sign Monroe before free agency opens on March 11, but the $11.654 million tag price for offensive tackles loomed too large even though Monroe performed well following his 2013 trade to Baltimore. Will the Ravens be able to get a deal done before Monroe can sign elsewhere? If not, they may be relegated to turning their attention back to fellow OT Michael Oher, who's also a pending unrestricted free agent.
• Vontae Davis, CB, Colts: The Colts reportedly opted not to use the tag on Davis, though Miami's agreement on a four-year deal with Brent Grimes could help Indianapolis get a deal done here anyway. Grimes received $32 million with $16 million guaranteed on that contract, which may set the bar for the CB market this offseason. Davis, 26 in May, is five years younger than Grimes, so he should be able to command a similar price.
•Alterraun Verner, CB, Titans: The cornerback franchise tag sits at $11.834 million. Tennessee already has an $8.3 million cap number for Jason McCourty sitting on the 2014 books at that position, so tacking on a massive salary for Verner was not in the cards. It does not sound as if there has been much progress made in contract talks here either, so Verner may take his skills to free agency, where he would be arguably the top cornerback talent available.
•Eric Decker, WR, Broncos: The likelihood of a tag being used here was low as the Broncos already are stockpiled with Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker at WR plus Julius Thomas (who's in line for a contract extension soon) at TE. The wide receiver tag cost is substantial at more than $12.3 million for the 2014 season.At the very least, Decker should get a chance to test the market.
• Lamarr Houston, DE and Jared Veldheer, OT, Raiders: Oakland had two candidates for a tag, yet opted to keep that option in its pocket. Veldheer stated rather clearly that he did not want to be hit with the franchise tag (though few do), so he and the Raiders reportedly have been discussing a lengthier contract. They now have until next Tuesday to hammer out something.
Houston's outlook in Oakland may be slightly less steady. If the 26-year-old edge player cannot come to terms with the Raiders, he should fare well in free agency.
Aqib Talib, CB, Patriots


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Campus sexual assault has been getting some fierce attention in the media, online and through policy lately. This fall the voices of campus organizers are making some beautiful noise, and the timing was perfect for the first National Campus Sexual Assault Summit hosted by PAVE.
The goal of this event was to "galvanize the collective national movement," and I was so happy to be able to participate with survivors, advocates and campus partners in DC. This summit brought together multiple disciplines and stakeholders from campuses across the country to discuss fixing the system. Panels and speakers were live broadcast to over 300 college campuses, and an interactive town hall and hastag #pavesummit kept the conversation going online.
Speakers for the event covered some serious ground in a few hours, and presentations were nothing short of amazing. A surprise visit from White House Advisor on Violence Against Women Lynn Rosenthal jump started the day with a discussion of legislative commitments to students including the recent Campus SaVE Act. My favorite comment of Ms. Rosenthal's was the "thank you to student activists" brought on behalf of President Obama and Vice President Biden. Talk about a shout out!
As the panels went on we heard brave, resilient and inspiring survivor voices on campus organizing. A brilliant take away from activist Laura Dunn: "Your voice is the most powerful tool." Next we heard a legal perspective on campus policy and the justice system, and it was hugely informative. This panel outlined a survivor-centered approach to the campus response, and I hope there were many campus administrators with open ears in the audience. ICYMI, in a nutshell, not allowing survivors to have any control or voice in the process is revictimizing.
The next two panels focused on underserved populations, and these speakers provided a framework for honoring the experiences of male survivors, students of color and LGBTQQA. Male Survivor spoke about supporting the unique needs of men who face challenges related to stigma and stereotypes of masculinity. Next was the discussion of inherently biased systems and marginalized voices on campuses. The speaker noted higher rates of victimization among women of color and LGBTQ individuals. The issue of the invisibility of marginalized individuals on campus is a huge barrier to safety and justice.
Next a panel provided strategies on engaging men in the movement and the role of bystanders. A closing session was delivered by Sarah Rice, a special guest and former MTV Real World participant. Sarah delivered an energizing and positive outlook for the future of campuses and recalled the silence of survivor experiences in the media which played a role in deciding to share her experience on MTV.
The day was as action-packed as it looks on paper, not to mention insightful contributions from summit host Angela Rose of PAVE and participants in the room and online. To conclude an energizing day, the discussion looked forward, and ideas on next steps and movement successes were shared. A lot of this discussion focused on campus systems and the need for synergy between the multidisciplinary parties involved in institutional response and prevention efforts. Policies, accountability and strategy were laid out on the table, but the call to action moving forward focused on raising collective voices for change. Amen!


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We are proud to offer a competitive total rewards package designed with our colleagues' health, wealth and well-being in mind. These include:
- Competitive salary and total compensation
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits
- Retirement savings plans
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Life insurance
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Paid vacation and holidays
- Tuition reimbursement plans
- Before-tax spending accounts
We also invest in our employees' wellness and quality of life by offering:
- Health club discounts
- Family resource programs
- Transportation reimbursement programs
- Telecommuting (for eligible employees)
- Legal assistance
- Continuing education programs
- Elder care
- Discounts on entertainment, cars, insurance, cell phone service, investments and much more
*Rewards and benefits may vary by country.
Learning and Development
At Mercer, we pride ourselves on encouraging our colleagues' ideas. They develop the research and provide the advice that solves our clients' biggest business issues. And they create top-tier intellectual capital that makes a difference in the world. Our people are our business — that's one of the reasons we value our colleagues' personal learning and improvement so highly. We also want colleagues to see Mercer as a place where they can develop their skills and plan their career in the long term.
For this reason, Mercer offers many opportunities to develop our colleagues' careers, including hundreds of online and in-person seminars, courses, certification programs and training sessions. In addition to our own learning curriculum, Mercer provides post-graduate training in a number of areas.
Mercer also provides tuition reimbursement and other support, such as study days, to colleagues who are completing qualifications or certifications.
Mercer offers mobility both within your career and around the world. As a global organization with offices in 40 countries, we provide opportunities to work across geographies. Regardless of where you work, you can expect to work on projects that expand across businesses and expose you to new opportunities to learn and grow your skills. We want you to work on projects that match your interests, and we encourage you to explore new avenues of professional development.
Ready to start the next phase of your career at Mercer? Apply for any of our open jobs.
You'll have access to a network of more than 6,000 Mercer colleagues around the world and be the first to know about Mercer's latest innovations, culture change initiatives, job openings and more.


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The Preseason selections were shipped away so here are the Postseason selections:
Try as we could, the great minds at MLB.com could not choose between two deserving candidates and so awarded "co-hitter" honors:
Stefan Gartrell, OF: Gartrell, who was just added to the White Sox' 40-man roster , combined to hit .281 with 23 homers and 89 RBIs between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, with 31 doubles and a .513 slugging percentage. These stats were especially heartening for the Sox since he was coming off a serious shoulder separation suffered last fall in the Arizona Fall League. The 31st-round pick in 2006 was a University of San Francisco teammate of Poreda.
Christian Marrero, 1B/OF: The older brother of Nationals prospect Chris Marrero signed as a 2005 22nd-round draft-and-follow in '06, the same year as his first-rounder brother, but Christian has kept pace with his sibling in the stats department. The left-handed hitter batted .308 with eight homers and 74 RBIs between Winston-Salem and Birmingham this season, seeing time at first base and both left and right field, while posting a .501 slugging percentage and collecting 30 doubles. He hit .323 in August.
Dan Hudson, RHP: There was no debate on this pick. In just his first full season, Hudson had arguably the best season of any starting pitcher in the Minors, rising from Class A Kannapolis all the way to Chicago with nary a bump in the road. He went 14-5, and his 2.32 ERA at four Minor League levels ranked ninth among all full-season starters, while his 166 strikeouts and 10.14 strikeouts per nine innings were among the leaders as well. Additionally, his .200 average against was second among all full-season starters. In six big league games, including a pair of starts, he posted a 3.38 ERA and limited hitters to a .225 average in 18 2/3 innings. With a fastball in the low 90s, a changeup with late sink and a solid slider, the Old Dominion product may be in the Majors for good.


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Meet the Team
Meet the team who worked together to design, build, and furnish our 2013 Showhouse from the ground up.
A project as big as this year's waterfront showhouse takes a team with creativity, experience, dedication, and huge talent. Here are the movers, shakers, and magic makers who turned our wildest dreams into a jaw-dropping coastal reality.
Community: Daniel Island
Interior Designer: Ginger Brewton, Ginger Brewton Interiors
After studying at the distinguished New York School of Interior Design in Manhattan, Ginger founded her studio in 2005. Named one of 2010's Top 20 Next Wave of Interior Designers to Watch, Ginger has been published in House Beautiful, Garden & Gun, All the Best blog, One Kings Lane, Interiors Southeast as well as numerous other publications and blogs. Ginger Brewton Interiors is a full service, high-end, residential and commercial design studio. The firm combines classic design philosophies, international style and color, and expert architectural collaboration to best implement your aesthetic choices. It is the GBI mantra to design interior solutions that fulfill your desire to live well.
Builder: Jamison Howard, Max Crosby Construction
Jamison Howard, President of Max Crosby Construction, has been with Charleston's leading custom homebuilder brand since 2000. The company's remarkable attention to detail is the hallmark of a Max Crosby custom home. Jamison and his team provide a steady, guiding hand centered on the client's interests from start to finish throughout the homebuilding process. Jamison takes great responsibility as a custom builder to construct a home that embodies each of his client's life-long ambitions and visions. Holding incredibly high standards for the Max Crosby brand, each high-end custom home is uniquely built, accompanied by impeccable customer service. Building relationships with his clients is as important as building their custom homes. Jamison considers it an honor to construct a home efficiently, and of a quality that is unmatched.
Architectural Design: Suzanne Stern, Our Town Plans
Suzanne is the president of Our Town Plans, a collection of pre-designed house plans inspired by America's rich architectural heritage. Previously, she spent 14 years as a designer at Historical Concepts, a well known traditional architecture and planning firm, and is the daughter of the award-winning designer Jim Strickland. Suzanne is now carrying on his legacy, setting a new standard for the pre-designed plan market with her unique combination of design expertise and understanding of traditional architecture, along with a commitment to quality design and affordability.
Landscape Architect: Jeff Elliott, The Daniel Island Company
Jeff Elliott is a landscape architect and Senior Project Manager for The Daniel Island Company whose work can be found throughout Daniel Island's neighborhoods, parks, golf courses, recreational amenities and open spaces. He studied at Louisiana State University's graduate school of landscape architecture and has been working in the landscape design, planning and development field for almost 20 years.
Developer: The Daniel Island Company
This award-winning community development company was formed in 1997 to execute the master plan for Daniel Island. Recognized by the Urban Land Institute with an "Award for Excellence," the company is known nationally for its smart-growth development practices. The Daniel Island Company's second community, Carnes Crossroads, is located 17 miles north of Daniel Island in the center of Charleston's growth.
Charity: National MS Society, Greater Carolinas Chapter
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS NOW—to move together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis. The Greater Carolinas Chapter serves over 14,400 individuals with MS and their families in 82 counties in North Carolina and all of South Carolina. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS through programs, services, and research funding.


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Music Therapy Danville 0-3
Music Therapy meets monthly in 3 different locations around the Bay area. Music Therapy provides physical and mental stimulation. In this environment, the children and their parents sing songs, play simple instruments or clap rhythms. Research supports connections between speech and singing, rhythm and motor behavior as well as overall ability of music to enhance mood, attention and behavior to optimize the student's ability to learn and interact.
Please note there are three classes in Danville. This timeslot, 9:00am to 10:30am, is for children ages Infant to Crawling Infant
Teacher: Nicole Patton, Board Certified Music Therapist
Location: DSCBA, 101 J Town and Country Dr, Danville
Registration is required for each class. Please register for this class by clicking the link above. If you have any questions, please contact Teresa at email@example.com.
|Jun 01, 2019 at 09:00 am
|Jun 01, 2019 at 10:30 am


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FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German carmarker Daimler raised over $2 billion from a lightning sale of shares in Airbus parent EADS on Thursday, making it the first beneficiary of a shake-up of the European aerospace company that sent EADS shares higher.
Daimler's sale of a 7.5 percent stake is the first step in a complex series of transactions designed to reduce the scope for government interference in Europe's largest aerospace group following a deal between politicians, banks and industrialists.
The deal led by France, Germany and Spain calls for governments and proxies to reduce a block of shareholdings in EADS to 30 percent from 50 percent, while removing a boardroom veto over industrial matters previously enjoyed by France.
Daimler said it had netted 1.66 billion euros ($2.2 billion) from selling a 7.5 percent stake in EADS.
EADS shares gained as much as 9 percent to 29.6 euros, recovering their value before the announcement in September of negotiations to merge with BAE Systems.
Although the $45 billion merger attempt failed, due in particular to opposition from Germany, many of the structures designed for the tie-up have been adopted, handing full day-to-day control to Chief Executive Tom Enders.
"The primary purpose of the changes to the EADS shareholder pact is a move towards normalizing the governance structure," said RBC Capital Markets analyst Rob Stallard.
EADS shares were also buoyed by its plans to buy back up to 15 percent of the stock to mop up excess shares and facilitate the exit of Daimler's fellow core industrial shareholder, French media company Lagardere.
The shake-up will see France and Germany holding stakes of 12 percent each and Spain on 4 percent. Senior partners France and Germany will have two non-civil servant representatives each on the board, but will only have the power to veto a list nominated by management from which the names will be drawn.
France had previously held a veto over appointments and other matters and sources close to the talks said Germany had hoped to duplicate these, but the powers were scrapped.
However, analysts say France and Germany will continue to exert indirect influence as major defense customers.
EADS has been eager to reduce state interference, fearing it might deter orders from other countries.
The changes are subject to a full extraordinary shareholder meeting in the first quarter, most likely early March.
In a placement that was several times oversubscribed, Daimler sold 61.1 million shares in EADS for 27.23 euros each, Wednesday's closing price and the top end of the expected range. It maintains 7.5 percent of EADS for the time being, matching a stake held by Lagardere, but both will be free to exit in 2013.
Daimler aims to focus on its core business at a time when it has become a distant third in the global luxury car market.
"We will invest the proceeds of the sale into the global growth of our divisions, our products and the extension of our technological leadership," Daimler finance chief Bodo Uebber and former EADS chairman said, confirming the company would not return the cash to shareholders.
The maker of Mercedes-Benz cars is struggling to turn around its fortunes, announcing plans to cut costs by 2 billion euros after it warned in October it would miss its earnings forecast this year and shelved its 2013 margin targets.
Daimler said it aimed to reduce its remaining 7.5 percent stake in EADS, but would not sell any more shares for a period of six months.
Additional reporting by Markus Wacket, Tim Hepher, Jean-Baptiste Vey, Cyril Altmeyer; Editing by Mark Potter


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If you've never played a deck building card game, the general goal is to accumulate cards to build yourself a larger and more powerful deck of cards, allowing you more levels of control and strategy to defeat challenges that the game throws at you and to compete against your fellow players. You start off with a few cards and through various means purchase or earn cards to build your deck based on the decisions you make. Fans of the wonderful deck building game Dominion know the drill. Cryptozoic is adding a twist to the genre with the new ability for your hero to level up after a boss is defeated, granting new powers and abilities for your deck.
One of the best parts about deck building games is how easy it is to incorporate expansion packs, new factions, and heroes. Clash of Champions looks promising enough to become its own universe, infinitely expandable for all different types of playstyles.
World of Warcraft: Clash of Champions is coming in early 2012 and will retail for $44.99. Look for it soon.


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Facebook has begun issuing a "bug bounty," or money to find flaws in the social network, and has now paid out $40,000 in the last three weeks.
The program was started July 29 to held find bugs in Facebook's system and the social network reportedly pays a minimum of $500 for each technical report -- this isn't merely just a report of a problem, but what is wrong with the code to make it that way. This "whitehat portal" will pay up to $5,000 for a "really good report," Joe Sullivan, Facebook's chief security officer wrote on the Facebook blog. One person has already received $7,000 from Facebook.
After doing a little math, and looking Facebook's whitehat page, we see that 48 security research teams have been thanked. If one received $7,000, then we divide the remaining $33,000 by 47 and get an average payment of $702.12 per team (although almost all were individuals.) While that may not be big money, it will definitely keep coders in fast food and Mountain Dew.


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A New Look for Kiplinger's Personal Finance
The new pictures of our columnists reflect the personalities of the people you enjoy reading.
Thanks to the oddities of magazine journalism, this issue is dated March even though it went to press in January. So for us, this is a new year—and a new look, as you can see by the photos in this issue. We've updated the pictures of our columnists to help convey the personalities of the people you enjoy reading—not just through their words but their body language as well. "This is a high-energy crowd, and we wanted to capture that," says art director Stacie Harrison.
The photo shoot was a major undertaking because it also included our colleagues who write for our Web site—51 people in all. (You can see their photos on Kiplinger.com, which also has a fresh new look.) We converted our main conference room into a studio, trundled in racks for clothing, and set up two backgrounds chosen by photo director Wendy Tiefenbacher and photographer Lise Metzger for their "fresh, modern feel."
Lise, who has worked with Kiplinger in the past, knew the people involved and wanted to capture their "warmth and intelligence." For instance, Andy Feinberg and Kathy Kristof write about the serious business of investing, but they do it with a smile. "Investing can be bizarre but fun," says Andy. "On many days, I tap dance to work, like Warren Buffett, one of my investment idols" (but he took the train from New York to make the shoot). Says Kathy (who flew in on a red-eye from Los Angeles), "One thing I've learned when writing about stocks is that you'd better keep your sense of humor and your sense of humility." "Ask Kim" Lankford (who only had to take a cab ride from Capitol Hill) gets more than 500 queries a month but tries to answer "as if I'm sitting down with a family member," she says.
Despite the difference in writing styles and subject matter, photographing everyone against the same background was intended to make a clear visual statement: We may say different things, but we all speak with the Kiplinger voice.
In addition to the photos, we've added a couple of new features that will appear regularly. In Game Plan, we tackle in depth an issue that's on the minds of readers—this month, how to use the new rules on health care spending accounts to your advantage. In Countdown to Retirement, we advise readers who are within five years or so of retirement on how to make the transition as smooth as possible—this month, explaining how a financial adviser can help. Look for other changes in the coming months, but all with a common theme: providing Kiplinger advice that's clear and visually appealing.
Cars, cars, cars. This is the 51st time we've produced our annual car comparisons, and this year's list totals an all-time record 1,693 vehicles, all of which are listed at kiplinger.com/links/carguide. Associate editor Jessica Anderson, who honchos our car coverage, says that many of the new entries represent hybrid versions of gas vehicles or offer new features to satisfy customers who are demanding more options. And yet there still isn't a car to satisfy every customer—including Jessica's parents, who were in the market for a hybrid station wagon with all-wheel drive. "It doesn't exist yet," says Jessica. Just wait. Maybe it will be model number 1,694 next year.


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One of the things that makes AAVSO citizen science projects unique is that the data analysis stage is also open to anyone. AAVSO members and observers aren't asked to simply to collect data for scientists to analyse, but they can do some analysis themselves. This includes steps such as identifying a project/problem/goal, collecting data, performing quality control procedures on it, analysing it and communicating results to others.
The main links in the Analyze Data sections are:
[1] http://www.aavso.org/5-star-analysis-tutorial
[2] http://www.aavso.org/time-series-tutorial
[3] http://www.aavso.org/vphot
[4] http://www.aavso.org/vstar
[5] http://www.aavso.org/education/vsa
[6] http://www.aavso.org/../../95th-spring-meeting-aavso-writing-scientific-publications-workshop
[7] http://www.aavso.org/citizen-sky-workshops#second
[8] http://www.aavso.org/apps/jaavso
[9] http://www.aavso.org/forum/4991
[10] http://www.aavso.org/zapper
[11] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/tutorial
[12] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/data
[13] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/analysis


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Laws, Regulations & Annotations
Business Taxes Law Guide – Revision 2019
Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax Law
Article 6. Interest and Penalties
Section 30282
30282. Excusable delay. (a) If the board finds that a person's failure to make a timely report or payment is due to reasonable cause and circumstances beyond the person's control, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care and in the absence of willful neglect, the person may be relieved of the penalty provided by Sections 30171, 30190, 30221, 30264, and 30281.
(b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), any person seeking to be relieved of the penalty shall file with the board a statement under penalty of perjury setting forth the facts upon which he or she bases his or her claim for relief.
(c) The board shall establish criteria that provide for efficient resolution of requests for relief pursuant to this section.
History.—Added by Stats. 1968, p. 1414, in effect November 13, 1968. Stats. 1989, Ch. 768, in effect January 1, 1990, added "30264" after "30221" in first paragraph, and added "or she" after "he" and "or her" after "him" in second paragraph. Stats. 2000, Ch. 1052 (AB 2898), in effect January 1, 2001, added subdivision letter designation (a) before first paragraph, added "30190," after "Sections 30171," in subdivision (a); added subdivision letter designation (b) before second paragraph, substituted "Except as provided in subdivision (c), any" for "Any" before "person seeking to be relieved" in the first sentence of subdivision (b); and added subdivision (c).


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VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC wrapped up training in Casa Grande, Arizona on Tuesday to conclude the first leg of their 2014 preseason.
After a week of training in Vancouver, the 'Caps left for Arizona on February 3 for a 10-day camp that included exhibition matches against North American Soccer League side Indy Eleven and Cascadia rival Seattle Sounders FC.
Vancouver opened their 2014 preseason campaign with a 3-2 win over Indy Eleven on February 5, before suffering back-to-back 2-1 defeats to Sounders FC.
The 'Caps flew back to Vancouver on Wednesday afternoon and they are off on Thursday before returning to training on Friday with a pair of sessions at the University of British Columbia – in the morning at Thunderbird Stadium and afternoon at Varsity Field.
They will also train on Saturday at Musqueam Park, before departing for Victoria later in the day. Whitecaps FC will then conclude their 2014 preseason schedule with three matches at the 2014 Rose City Invitational between February 23 and March 1.
Carl Robinson's side will have a slightly different look when they return to training this week, as Robinson and his coaching staff made a few roster decisions at the conclusion of the Casa Grande camp.
Three players who won't be continuing with the team in the preseason are goalkeeper Patrick McLain, right back Jordan Cyrus, and midfielder Michael Calderon, while striker Mackenzie Pridham (ankle) will return home to continue his rehabilitation and will re-join the team when healthy.
Whitecaps FC begin their 2014 MLS season on March 8 versus New York Red Bulls at BC Place. Season tickets start at just $349, subject to applicable fees. The 'Caps also offer a flexible range of ticket products, including half-season tickets ($244), 5-packs ($149), student season tickets ($199), and a youth soccer half-season ticket ($100). For more information on all Whitecaps FC ticket options, call 604.669.9283 ext. 2 or visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.