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text:
A German model used a stolen photo of Cindy Crawford's young daughter in a twisted bid to extort $500,000 from the legendary model and her nightclub impresario husband, authorities said.
The picture of then-seven-year-old Kaia showed her gagged and bound to a chair, but was really an innocent snap taken by her nanny as they played cops and robbers. Edis Kayalar, who stole the photo last year when he was dating the nanny, painted the photo as provocative and threatened to sell it to tabloids, according to an FBI affidavit.
Kayalar, 26, was recently deported to Germany and believed to be in Stuttgart, authorities said. If convicted of one count of extortion, he could face up to two years in prison.
U.S. & World
Kayalar initially contacted Crawford and husband Rande Gerber in July and set up a meeting at a Venice, Calif., bar, where he handed the photo over for $1,000. He had initially told the couple he was broke and just wanted a reward for turning in the photo, according to the affidavit.
But two days later, he told the pair he had a copy and wanted $500,000 for it, the affidavit said. The couple went to the police, and Kayalar was arrested and eventually deported in September. Crawford and Gerber thought the caper was over until Nov. 1, when Kayalar e-mailed them from his native Germany, demanding $100,000, authorities said.
Crawford's daughter told her parents the picture was taken as part of a "cops and robbers" game, according to the case affidavit.
). The nanny, who was not named, has not been charged and no longer works for the couple, said she had taken the photo as a prank and was going to post it and a note on the front door of the family's house, according to the affidavit. She never went through with the joke.
Kayalar said he "was not trying to destroy a little girl's life, but the release of the photograph was not going to be something positive for the victims' image," according to court documents.
Kayalar allegedly gave Gerber a German bank account number and routing information and saying the money should be wired within three days or the photo would be made public.
The last contact was an e-mail sent Tuesday to Kayalar at the direction of the FBI that indicated the payment would be made later this week. No money has since been paid to Kayalar. Kayalar is believed to be in Germany, but had not been arrested as of last night.
Crawford's spokeswoman Annett Wolf issued a statement saying, "Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford intend to pursue any and all available legal action against anyone who aids the perpetrator in the distribution or sale of the photograph of their daughter."
Crawford, who divorced actor Richard Gere in 1995, married Gerber in 1998. They have two children.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Charles Nutter
JRuby Architect, Engine Yard, Inc
Charles Oliver Nutter has been programming most of his life, as a Java
developer for the past decade and as a JRuby developer for over four
years. He co-leads the JRuby project, an effort to bring the beauty of
Ruby and the power of the JVM together. Charles believes in open
source and open standards and hopes his efforts on JRuby and other
languages will ensure the JVM remains the preferred open-source
managed runtime for many years to come. Charles blogs at blog.headius.com and tweets as headius on Twitter.
Location: Portland Ballroom Level: Novice


text:
It Came upon the Midnight Clear
31243, Hymns, It Came upon the Midnight Clear, no. 207
1. It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to men
From heav'n's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
2. Still thru the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heav'nly music floats
O'er all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hov'ring wing,
And ever o'er its babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
3. For lo! the days are hast'ning on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heav'n and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Text: Edmund H. Sears, 1810-1876
Music: Richard S. Willis, 1819-1900


text:
Click this messge to hide it.
Love Seat 448 - Angled Tray, 2 Footstools
This spacious love seat features a traditional design and sturdy construction with chunky timber arms and legs, slatted seats and backs and solid timber framing. It consists of two armchairs connected by a detachable angled tray table. Each chair comes with a footstool so you can relax in comfort and style. The ergonomic design with a high back will help with your posture and provides greater comfort. This furniture is delivered and fully assembled on site on the same day. Waterproof cushions are available as an option in a choice of colours.
- Free same day assembly
- All timber used in the construction of this furniture originates from sustainable forests in Northern Europe
- Scandinavian redwood
- Immersion treatment in oil-based wood preservative as standard
- 2 armchairs with slatted seats and backs
- Detachable angled tray table
- Comfortable high back ergonomic design
- Sturdy seat framing
- 2 traditional angled footstools
- Galvanized fixings
- Smooth planed finish
- Overall width approximately 6' (1800mm)
- Overall depth approximately 3' (900mm)
- Chair width 2'3" (680mm)
- Chair depth 2'5" (740mm)
- Chair height 3'3" (980mm)
- Angled tray overall width 2'2" (660mm)
- Angled tray depth 1'4" (400mm)
- Footstool width 1'7" (470mm)
- Footstool depth 1'7" (480mm)
- Footstool height 11" (290mm)
FREE SAME DAY ASSEMBLY - THE BENEFITS: Our free in house installation service is not just convenient, it is also your assurance of better quality furniture. This is because any item which includes free installation is invariably better made using quality components. Over time regular feedback from fitters ensures that design faults and weaknesses have been rectified. Same day installation is convenient for you and cost effective because it saves travelling costs. The fitters will deliver your product and then install it, all at the same time. There is also no waste to dispose of. The furniture will be ready for use once the installers have left site.
PINE: All pine is carefully selected timber from responsibly managed sources in northern Europe. The pine is seasoned and kiln dried to achieve the correct moisture content before it is machined.
- Available as a package deal consisting of two seat cushions, two lower back cushions and a furniture cover
- Waterproof cushions in a choice of colours
- Additional footstool
- Additional oil-based wood preservative
CUSHIONS: Our cushions feature water resistant polyester fabrics. Cushions with a zip on one side are removable and machine washable at low temperatures. Cushions without a zip can be easily washed by hand in a bowl of soapy water. Occasional cleaning is required if cushions are stored outside for long periods. Your cushions should be stored in a dry environment during the winter to ensure that they remain in good condition.
PRESERVATIVE: This product is already coated in an oil based wood preservative. Further coats can be added when required to protect against inclement weather.
EXTRA COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION: This item is currently available within the estimated delivery times below, with no delays. Our delivery times are slower than normal due to unprecedented demand.
- Delivery is normally between 1 and 3 weeks after order.
- Our garden furniture prices include all delivery charges - unlike others we do not add delivery charges during the checkout process.
- All garden furniture prices include VAT.
ORDER ONLINE: You can pay with a debit or credit card. We also accept password protected online payments using Verified by VISA or Mastercard SecureCode.
METHODS OF PAYMENT: We accept most major credit cards and debit cards including VISA, MasterCard, VISA Delta, VISA Debit, MasterCard Debit, Electron, Solo, Switch, Maestro and UK Maestro. We also accept secure online payments using Verified by VISA or MasterCard SecureCode. We do not accept American Express or Diners Club cards at present.
SCHOOLS, COUNCILS AND BUSINESSES: We supply many schools, local councils and businesses both large and small. The prices and terms are the same so you can order online if you wish. If you want to pay by BACS transfer or company cheque please email us.
- All prices include FREE INSTALLATION by specialist trained staff.
- Your garden furniture will be delivered and installed on the same day by prior appointment with you.


text:
Brando by Nicholas Reddyhoff
Fine Art Print signed Limited Edition (Editions 2 – 5)
£125 – £450
(plus p&p)
Brando is part of the collection, Icons & Faded Glory which features beautiful and mesmerising portraits of Kirk Douglas and the late Natalie Wood, Steve McQueen and Marilyn Monroe, among others. He said: "I have tried to capture these incredibly well-known people in less than obvious poses "For example, the image of Marilyn Monroe really shows the haunted look she had in her eyes later in her life. "We always think of her as voluptuous and cheeky, but here she looks thin and almost haunted." Just as he did with his 2015 collection, Nick has presented his subjects in a quirky and intelligent new light, admitting to a fascination with fading beauty. He said: "I think beauty fades more rapidly the more beautiful you are, but all of these characters had a presence and a quality that was undefinable but always seductive. "Take Steve McQueen for example, he was just the coolest man that ever lived."
All the artworks are Signed Limited Edition Giclee Fine Art Print. Printed on 320gsm, fine art, rag cotton paper of 'Archival Museum Quality', light-fast & acid free using light-fast pigment inks.
Available Sizes:
1120 mm x 810 mm £450.00
775 mm x 600mm £325.00
508 mm x 407 mm £125.00
Frame not included
All art prints are printed to order. Prints are delivered rolled and packaged in a hardwearing cardboard tube.
For further information on delivery time see delivery and postage.
Delivery & Postage


text:
I'm a level 6 Shin'hare Cleric, and I am really struggling with this one. I can (normally) get through the first 3 fights pretty easy, but once I get to the King, I just can not seem to break through. I and on my 3rd run so far and I've lost 10 times in a row, even with some of the Stronger cards like [Walking Hive] and [Adaptatron]. I am assuming I just do not have the right Cards.
The most obvious Answer for more, is to grind to level 7, where I could start using Diamond Cards, but I wanted to see if there was a easier option first.


text:
It is official, New.FamilySearch.org is Read Only. Here is the proof:
It is time now to see how those who have yet to switch over to FamilySearch.org Family Tree react to this development. The Mesa FamilySearch Library is closed over the holiday for a while and I don't have any classes. So it might be a while before I get any feedback.


text:
Attendance on campus is strictly limited to permitted workers and exempt students; face masks must be worn at all times. If unwell, get tested and do not come to campus.View our latest COVID-19 updates.
Imagine a research community using knowledge to serve and transform society. Visit our future students page and discover how to be part of our ambition.
Are you a current student looking for a travel grant? Maybe you need a study space. We'll give you all the support you need. You can just focus on having an impact.
Industry links are a win-win, especially for graduates. Visit industry and alumni to see how we connect with the best, and how you can connect with your classmates.
At least two actively engaged supervisors will guide and inspire your research. Find out more about our experts, from supervisors to examiners.
Check out our handbook page for all the rules and regulations related to Research Master's and Doctoral Degrees.
Contact us with any questions about our graduate research programs. You can also submit a question or look up our FAQs.
You are here:
Please provide as much information as possible about your feedback.


text:
Digital marketing budgets are growing (but are marketers battle-weary?)
Though digital marketing budgets are growing in 2016, there are signs of frustration among marketers when it comes to winning boardroom and organisational battles.
Our seventh annual Marketing Budgets Report 2016, sponsored by Oracle Marketing Cloud, was published this week.
The survey of almost 500 company and agency marketers reveals some important trends…


text:
- Description
These are Open boxed / Returned units that are professionally refurbished. Cosmetically they may bear marks / scratches / small dents, that would not hinder functionality. They may be in replacement packaging might have non-original accessories. Non-essential accessories (Manuals) may be missing.
6 Months
Automatic Wireless Backup: One Click Setup. Then you're all set.
With AirPort Time Capsule, you get a super-fast Wi-Fi base station and an easy-to-use backup device all in one. And backing up your data couldn't be simpler. Just set it up once and AirPort Time Capsule does the rest. It works with Time Machine in OS X to back up your Mac automatically and wirelessly, so you never have to worry about losing anything important again. Every photo. Every file. Every song. Even your apps and OS X settings are saved. AirPort Time Capsule stores it all -- up to 2TB or 3TB of data.
We've built a faster time machine.
AirPort Time Capsule is designed to partner seamlessly with Time Machine in OS X Leopard or later to protect your data. They work together smartly so that after the initial backup, only the files you've changed are backed up -- automatically, wirelessly, and in the background. Since Time Machine continuously makes a copy of everything on your Mac -- and saves multiple versions -- you can easily access and restore previous versions of a single file, a folder, or even your entire Mac. And with an all-new design and ultra-fast 802.11ac Wi-Fi, backing up to AirPort Time Capsule is up to 50 per cent faster than before.2
A backup plan for your Mac. Actually, all your Macs.
Have multiple Mac computers in your home or office? AirPort Time Capsule can back up and store files for each Mac on your wireless network. No longer do you have to attach an external drive to each Mac every time you want to back up. AirPort Time Capsule spares you the work. Your computers are always backed up -- automatically and wirelessly.
Up to 3x Wi-Fi base station. The next generation of wireless has arrived
802.11ac. The new definition of fast.
More than just a wireless hard drive, AirPort Time Capsule is also a fully featured Wi-Fi base station with the latest three-stream 802.11ac technology. Now you can reach data rates of up to 1.3 Gbps3 -- triple the previous 802.11n standard. Which means up to three times faster Wi-Fi.4 You also get double the channel bandwidth, with 80MHz-wide channels providing more room for more data to flow faster than ever. And if you have 802.11a/b/g/n devices, AirPort Time Capsule maximises that connection as well. What you do with all that extra speed is up to you.
Simultaneous dual-band support.
AirPort Time Capsule features simultaneous dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi. That means it transmits at both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies at the same time. So no matter which band your wireless devices use, they'll automatically connect to the best available band for the fastest possible performance.
Beamforming puts the focus on your device.
With 802.11ac technology comes the intelligent, powerful beamforming antenna array. Most base station antennas emit an equal and constant Wi-Fi signal in all directions. But the beamforming antenna array is smarter -- it knows where an 802.11ac device is on the network. Then AirPort Time Capsule targets its signal to that device. So your Wi-Fi signal is stronger, clearer and faster.
Designed with performance in mind. Speeded up, Slimmed down
For the all-new design of AirPort Time Capsule, we took an approach that centred on performance. We made it taller and put the antennas at the top, creating a higher platform for dispersing the signal. We also increased the number of antennas. There are now six of them -- three for the 2.4GHz band and three for the 5GHz band. Together with 802.11ac wireless technology, they let you connect faster, farther, and with more power than ever before. The bar for Wi-Fi base stations has been raised. In every way.
Smaller footprint. More desk space.
The new vertical design not only improves Wi-Fi performance, it also saves you valuable desk space. At less than 10 centimetres square, the footprint of AirPort Time Capsule is 75 per cent smaller than its predecessor. And to keep everything tidy, even the power supply is built in. Which means AirPort Time Capsule takes up no more space than it should.
Easy Setup
With AirPort Time Capsule, getting your new Wi-Fi network up and running takes less time -- and less effort -- than making a cup of tea. That's because a setup assistant is built into iOS and into AirPort Utility for OS X. As soon as you plug in your AirPort Time Capsule and connect it to your DSL or cable modem, you can follow the simple instructions on your Mac or iOS device. There are no complicated steps to follow and no obscure terminology to learn. The setup assistant does all the work, so you don't have to.
Manage your Wi-Fi network from your iOS device or Mac.
Once your network is set up, AirPort Utility for iOS and OS X lets you manage and monitor it from your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or Mac. Your AirPort Time Capsule -- along with other AirPort base stations you have connected -- appears graphically onscreen, so you can see your settings at a glance, make changes, apply updates and more.
Printer and hard drive sharing. Your wireless control tower
Share another hard drive. Securely. In addition to the 2TB or 3TB of storage in AirPort Time Capsule, you can turn any external USB hard drive into another secure drive to share across your Wi-Fi network and access securely over the Internet. All the documents, videos, photos and other files instantly become available to anyone on the network, for Mac and PC users alike.
Print without wires. The USB 2 port in AirPort Time Capsule is also great for sharing a printer across your wireless network. Just plug it in and everyone on your network can take advantage of one centrally available printer. Wirelessly, of course.
Compatibility and security
o Get online safely and securely. AirPort Time Capsule includes a built-in firewall that creates a barrier between your network and the Internet, protecting your data from malicious attacks. When you set up AirPort Time Capsule, the firewall is automatically turned on, so you don't have to do a thing. Except enjoy the web with peace of mind.
o Put out the Wi-Fi welcome mat for guests. With the guest networking feature, you can set up a separate Wi-Fi network just for guests. Use a different password or no password at all. A guest network allows access only to the Internet, so your primary network -- including any external hard drive, printer or other LAN-attached device -- remains secure.
o Connect to Wi-Fi from any device. Mac. PC. iPhone. iPad. Apple TV. Really, any Wi-Fi-enabled device you have will work with AirPort Time Capsule. That's because it's compatible with devices using the 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n and 802.11ac specifications.
o Go the wired route if you want. AirPort Time Capsule includes three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports for fast wired connectivity with a desktop computer, network drive, DVR or other device.
- Specification
- Delivery
Delivery information
To cater the needs of all customers, we offer two delivery options at checkout so you can choose one which best suits your requirements.
Free UK Delivery
In this option we will deliver your product free of charge but it will take 3 to 5 working days for the product to be delivered.
Next Working Day Delivery
If you want your desired product to be delivered next working day you will have to place your order before 3pm. The delivery charge is £6.95 at the time of placing order. This option does not include delivery on Saturday or Sunday.
- Reviews


text:
We recently closed a question on our site as "not constructive". However, IMO it could have also been closed as "too localized", and someone posted a comment to that effect. After the close, the OP left the following comment:
the FAQ did not say a question must be helpful to future visitors.
I read over our FAQ, as well as the SO FAQ, and did not find any mention of "too localized" in either FAQ. I can see how this would be confusing and frustrating for new users.
My Suggestion
I suggest a description of the five standard close reasons be added to the FAQs of all SE sites. I can edit our FAQ to include this information, but since these five reasons apply to all SE sites, I think it should be consistent through out the entire network.
If this is not implemented, at the very least I think a link to this question should be included in all FAQs network-wide.
I found this other related question, but the accepted answer is outdated and no longer applies. In fact, the link in the accepted answer is a dead link.


text:
Not available in Store. Only at
The design also is available on T-Shirt, Hoodie, Mugs, Hats and Sweatshirt.
- 8 oz 50/50 cotton/poly
- Air jet yarn creates a smooth, low-pill surface
- Double needle stitching; Pouch pocket; Unisex sizing
- Decoration type: Digital Print or Screen Print (based on design & quantity)
- Made by Gildan


text:
I was looking to change default period on TS as a data source. Then I thought that maybe time source could be customizable so there are more irregular time period' options. If that kind of customization isn't possible could we have 16h period, please?
By the way I remember asking Apprentice about adding 12h time period some time ago. I don't know if he did, but typing H12 in data source window worked, so that's nice. It doesn't work with some other irregular periods though, e.g. 45m, 16h...
Kind regards


text:
The Next Generation Customer Communication Platform
In the not-too-distant future, we will begin seeing unified customer support platforms that allow companies and their customers to communicate seamlessly via the Web, telephone, and wireless devices. In this article, we will learn how two evolutionary trends are creating a new generation of unified customer communication platforms.
The lines between a phone customer and a Web customer are going to blur. Whether a customer is using a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) telephone, a Voice over IP ( VoIP) telephone, or a VoIP connection on their computer, may not make much of a difference in the future, because all connections will be initiated over the Internet and voice calls will travel over a VoIP connection, accessing the same customer database as all other customer channels. This unification will enable companies to provide higher quality customer support through a single platform.
IP will replace the Public Switched Telephone Network
The widespread adoption of the Internet has spurred companies like AT&T and Qwest to invest huge sums of money into upgrading their networks with high-capacity fiber. Since the demand for this new capacity has fallen well below expectations, telecommunications providers are looking for new ways to generate revenue with their IP networks. Carriers and managed service providers have been bulking up their Voice over IP (VoIP) capabilities over the past couple years. A survey of VoIP equipment vendors conducted by Miercom reveled that an estimated eight percent of telephone calls currently placed over IP networks will increase to 30 percent within 5 years. WorldCom is one carrier that is moving forward with VoIP service, which will enable its IP Communication customers to plug a Pingtel or Cisco IP phone directly in their LAN.
VoIP has been gaining popularity for a number of reasons. First, with VoIP, telephones and computers use the same connection and network infrastructure. This simplifies the cost and complexity of running two separate wires for the network and telephones. Secondly, a converged voice/data network simplifies management of network resources. Third, using VoIP to contact remote offices instead of regular long-distance service can reduce costs by eliminating per-minute fees.
Even though the value-proposition for VoIP is strong, especially for companies that are upgrading their network or moving into a new office, the quality of VoIP falls short of most users' expectations. Vendors are working to solve this problem. In the short term, companies are using VoIP for inter-company long-distance calls and for customer support calls that originate from the Web.
In the longer term, as carriers begin to offer VoIP service, the need for separate phone and data lines may become unnecessary. With VoIP, carriers can carry voice and data traffic over a single line. Telephone numbers can be terminated at the carrier and routed directly to your IP phones. New phone numbers can be provisioned without having to wire new lines to a phone block. The challenge for the carriers will be creating an appropriate pricing model that doesn't cannibalize their existing revenue streams.
Running voice and data traffic on an all IP network means that customers can interact with customer support applications and be transferred to an IVR or customer support representative (CSR) anytime, anywhere; whether they're at a computer using a Web browser or on a cell phone using a WAP browser. With technologies like VoIP and SIP, the transition between data and voice interactions will be commonplace and seamless.
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This article was originally published on September 28, 2002
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Office of the Bursar
The Office of the Bursar can assist with any questions regarding tuition and fees, payment plans, financial clearance and student health insurance.
Our department is responsible for the following:
- Billing tuition and fees
- Collecting payments
- Counseling students and parents on payment options
- Processing refunds
The Office of the Bursar has adopted Self-Service: View Account and Make a payment, which is more efficient and environmentally friendly. Tuition bills will be generated electronically. You can view your tuition, classes and financial aid at any time via Self-Service on mySXU.
Important New Information
Using the new Self-Service: Make a Payment and View Account feature, you will see:
- Real-time information
- Easy-to-read account information
- On-demand printer-friendly PDF statements
- Pending/posted financial aid
- Billing history
Cash, money order and check will be accepted in the office of the Bursar. MasterCard, Discover and American Express payments will only be accepted online through Self-Service.


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Think about it. We're now five seasons into The Mentalist and we still don't know all that much about Simon Baker's title character — the sad, tormented, ultra-private Patrick Jane. What happened to him right after the murder of his wife and daughter by the mad slasher Red John? Is it true he was in a mental hospital under suicide watch? And, if so, how did he ever get his act together to join the major crimes unit at the CBI? To celebrate the 100th episode of the CBS series, creator-exec producer Bruno Heller is flashing back — eight years to be exact — to cough up a few answers. Prepare for a very different Patrick Jane.
"We started out the series in the past, showing how Jane's scheming and manipulation as a fake psychic led directly to the loss of his family, then we jumped ahead to find him on the job with the CBI — now we'll reveal what happened in the year in between," says Heller. "This Jane is fresh out of the insane asylum. He's shucked off his straitjacket and comes directly to the CBI offices to find out what the hell is going on in the search for Red John."
Baker and costar Robin Tunney, who plays CBI senior special agent Teresa Lisbon, are shooting that very scene on the Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank. Jane, dark circles under his eyes and a rumpled, crumpled mess, has shown up unannounced at CBI and asks Lisbon for details on the investigation. She is understandably evasive and more than a little concerned about Jane's mental state. She gently tells him to beat it but, before long, her maternal instincts kick in.
"Jane is very much the rescue dog — homeless, shattered, looking for a place to be and perfectly willing to tag along," says Baker during a break in filming. "For the first time, the audience will see him not in control of what he's doing. The last thing he wants to do is go back to being a con man because that's what got him in all this trouble to begin with."
Truth be told, Baker was leery of this time-travel stuff. "When I first saw the story outline, I was concerned it could be hokey and that we might f--- it up," the actor says. "This is tricky business. We need to forget about the relationships we've established over all these years and reset the series completely. We have to show how Jane got in the door at CBI in a believable way — not easy since he annoys everyone so much."
This back-in-time device also threw Tunney. "It's a very clever notion but also kind of scary," she says. "How as actors do you try to come off eight years younger? Simon and I were like, 'Uh, could someone hit the Benjamin button?' Inevitably, you just throw your hands up and hope the audience is with you and believing you." Tunney did ask permission to wear lots of padding: "I wanted Lisbon to be really heavy — like a Shallow Hal thing — and just not comment on it. It would have been hilarious, but they wouldn't go for it."
There was serious talk of giving the extra poundage to Owain Yeoman's character, Agent Rigsby, however. "I weighed quite a bit more when we started the series," says Yeoman, who has since taken up a vegetarian lifestyle. "They wanted to go back to that, but in addition to a fat suit, they wanted a beard and glasses. I said, 'What is this — Rigsby meets Santa?'" Nixing that idea but still needing something to suggest a time jump, Yeoman tried an artificial goatee "but wound up looking like Ming the Merciless." He settled for growing his own.
The CBI offices also underwent a retro-makeover with touches both major (the place looks pretty dumpy) and minor (Arnold Schwarzenegger's photo is back on the wall, since he was governor). Gregory Itzin makes a return appearance as CBI boss Virgil Minelli, who retired in Season 2. And while there are early hints of the fan-fave bromance that will develop between Rigsby and Agent Cho (Tim Kang), don't go looking for Agent Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti). She hadn't yet joined the CBI team. In fact, Jane gets punched in the nose by her hot-headed predecessor, Agent Hannigan (Gary Basaraba), which creates the job opening Van Pelt will eventually fill.
It's that same punch — and the possibility of a lawsuit — that helps secure Jane's position as a criminal profiler at CBI. "He realizes this is a place where he can stay on top of the Red John case and it brings back his confidence," says Baker. "By the end of the episode, you start to see the Jane we all know. The guy is back on his horse!"
The Mentalist airs Sunday at 10/9c on CBS.
Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!


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IMAGE GALLERY: Marshall's Women's Basketball Topples Big M
Friday, February 17, 2012 - 23:11 by Chris Spencer, HNN Photographer
Memphis was 19-5 and second at 9-2 in Conference USA. Marshall was 13-11 and 4-7 in Conference USA for ninth place.
Close to everything was going right for Marshall in the second period. Marshall came back strong to tie the game at 30-30 with 17:42 left. Then Marshall continued with strong defense and offense to take a 23 point lead of 59-36 with 8:22 left. That was an incredible Herd run of 31 points while holding a strong Memphis team to only 6 points. All that happened in just 11 minutes and 38 seconds.
Memphis tried to over come the 23 point lead, but it was to late. With some fouling and some offense Memphis was able to cut the Marshall lead down to 11 as the time ran out with Marshall winning 65-54.
Coach Royce Chadwick was so excited about the win he brought the whole team in to the press conference instead of the usual two or three players. A group of girls that was in attendance was also at the press conference. "I knew we were capable of playing this way all season. Tonight we got it going. This was a total team effort from top to bottom," Chadwick said.
Every Marshall player did get some playing time. Thirty six points came from the bench. Rashedah Henriques led Marshall scorers with 11 points.
With the Memphis win a new confidence for Marshall was evident this night. Afterwards an autograph session ensued with Marshall basktball players signing autographs on backs of shirts and getting their photos taken with their fans.


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Arch/Larch 2310 is the introductory design studio in the KSA curriculum. Projects are varied across the semester in an effort to expose the tools and tactics of design at both the 2D and 3D levels. Drawing, modeling and thinking are developed through a series of exercises that incorporate analysis, composition, formal development, volume-making, and conceptual development. The studio culminates in the development and design of a recreational Bath House complex and landscape on a prototypical site.
Student(s): Michael Schwartz
Instructor(s): Ben Wilke
Course: ARCH/LARCH 2310: Introduction to Design
Term: Autumn 2013


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Having harvested a few eggplants, fresh from my kitchen garden, I was thinking of ways to use it without drowning it in spices of any kind. Eggplant & Zucchini Panini is what I grilled that day!
Eggplant, Onion & Zucchini Panini (Grilled Veg Panini)
2 eggplants, thick sliced
2 Zucchini, thick sliced
1 onion, thick sliced
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
8 bread slices, I use my favorite Jewish Rye Bread from the local bakery
1/2 cup pesto (you can use any kind, store bought is fine too, I used walnut-coriander pesto)
salt & pepper
thick sliced Mozzarella cheese
Olive oil for grilling the veg
Butter/Oil for grilling the Panini
1. Grill the vegetables till done.
This step can be done in an oven by layering the vegetables in a single layer on a baking sheet, drizzled with olive oil & chopped garlic at 400C OR
directly on the grill, use your preferred method of roasting the vegetables.
2. Now, it is time to get the Panini assembly line ready. Line up 4 slices of bread on your work area and slather pesto on them. Arrange roasted vegetables on top. Sprinkle salt & pepper. Arrange mozzarella slices and cover with the remaining slices of bread and grill till done. Use butter on the outside of bread for a great flavor.
The grill marks make for a pretty presentation. This can be done quickly in a Panini maker, but not having one does not stop you from making a Panini anytime. Just press down the bread with a heavy saucepan and you have yourself an make-do arrangement.
3. Enjoy the grilled veg panini with chips and a chilled smoothie ;) As you can see, this is more of a method rather than a recipe, lots of variations are possible here. Can be made without pesto, just slather some butter and lots of salt & pepper. Use whatever vegetables you have at hand.
This gorgeous panini with fresh eggplant from my beautiful garden makes it's way to GYO - 2008 guest hosted by Bee.
This fits right in with AWED-Italian hosted by DK.
I also want to send this to dear Sig for her MM-Grill it.
How can I resist sending this to Sia for WBB-Summer Feast.
that's it I guess ;)


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There is a popular saying which goes like 'Man proposes, God disposes'. The life of the celebrated and renowned poet of Sikkim, Late Agam Singh Tamang "APATAN" bears an ample testimony to the saying as we find that the poet would have become a pilot had fortune not played its role over his fate. Very few of us can believe that even a poet can think of becoming a pilot. It is the irony of the life of the famous poet. In his earlier days of life, he dreamt of becoming an air pilot. His days at the St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling added more vigour to his dream when he came across many young English and Indian pilots. He was all set to go for finding his destination but his grandfather; a Mukhtiyar of Namchi did not want him to go to the utterly risky enterprise. Agam was brought back to Sikkim forcibly and was home locked. Thus, the desire and expectation of a young enthusiastic fellow were made the subjects of sacrifice by the so called care and conservative nature of a sophisticated family. Nevertheless, he joined Namchi Primary School as a teacher and subsequently became a poet of grandeur in Sikkimese context.
Late Agam Singh Tamang "APATAN" with his wife.
The facts presented above about Late Agam Singh Tamang "APATAN" have been substantiated after an interview with his younger sister, Mrs. Rup Maya Tamang who stays presently in Namchi.


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In 1859, a devastating earthquake ripped through what is now central Azerbaijan, destroying the capital city of Shemakha. Damage from the quake was so extensive that the capital was subsequently relocated to Baku, a coastal city on the Caspian Sea. Since then, Baku has grown into a thriving metropolis, fueled by vast offshore oil reserves. Rapid development of the city's housing, infrastructure and foreign trade has made Azerbaijan one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
But new research shows that the region may be ripe for another devastating earthquake of a magnitude similar to the one that leveled the country's previous capital in 1859. Scientists at MIT and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences analyzed more than 10 years' worth of GPS data from Baku and surrounding regions, discovering a large buildup of tension in the land. This geological deformation could lead to an earthquake, threatening Baku's population, petroleum reserves and the health of the Caspian Sea.
"It doesn't take a gigantic earthquake," says Robert Reilinger, principal research scientist in MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). "It just takes bad luck. And this is an area where they can't afford it. It's an extremely vulnerable area in terms of the density of the people, the density of oil infrastructure, and the potential environmental impact regionally, not just in Azerbaijan."
Reilinger and his colleagues have published their findings in the Journal of Natural Hazards.
A shaky history
Azerbaijan has had a tumultuous geologic history. The country's earthquakes have mainly struck along the Caucasus Mountains, which extend from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. Over millions of years, the mountain range rose up from the collision of two tectonic plates: the southern Arabian plate and the northern Eurasian plate. As each massive plate pushes against the other, tension builds, occasionally releasing in the form of earthquakes along the boundary of the plates.
Michael Floyd, a postdoc in EAPS and the paper's co-author, likens the continental collision to a car crash. "If you have two cars coming together, you end up getting this crumple zone where things get distorted and damaged," Floyd says. "The backs of the cars stay intact, but the hoods are completely busted. And that's what the mountains are here."
Finding a fault
Reilinger and Floyd set out to determine the tectonic strain near Baku using data obtained from a system of GPS monitoring stations throughout the area. Each station, equipped with an antenna and solar panels, records its position every 30 seconds relative to other monitoring stations. The researchers compiled measurements from multiple stations over the last 10 years, averaging a daily position measurement for each station during that time.
After crunching the data, the researchers generated a velocity map that illustrates how the region's geography has shifted over time. The team found that the region south of Baku is pushing steadily northward against the Eurasian plate. From their measurements, the researchers calculated that this tectonic convergence is occurring at a rate of 12 millimeters per year near Baku — twice the rate at which the convergence is occurring further west along the Caucasus in central Azerbaijan and Georgia, where a powerful earthquake occurred in 1991.
Floyd says the numbers indicate a significant geologic deformation, or strain, near Baku — raising the question of how this strain is being accommodated. If faults or fractures in the Earth are stressed, they may break, causing an earthquake in Baku that may ripple into the Caspian Sea.
The group suspects there are two major fault systems in the region with the potential to snap under the tectonic strain. But Floyd says there are currently not enough monitoring stations in the area to know "what faults may be active and are the most dangerous and likely to rupture."
Eric Sandvol, an assistant professor of geological sciences at the University of Missouri at Columbia, says the tectonic strain revealed by the group will likely continue to push up the mountains in Azerbaijan, with potential side effects. "There will continue to be earthquakes in this region," says Sandvol, who was not involved in this research. "The maximum size and location is difficult to say, but clearly, hazard mitigation is definitely needed in this important oil-producing country."
Reilinger and Floyd are appealing to officials in Azerbaijan to set up additional GPS stations to record seismic activity and surface motions around Baku and in the Caspian Sea. For example, Reilinger says scientists, with support from the government, may erect stations on small islands or abandoned oil platforms. More data, he says, may help planners steel the city against an impending earthquake — perhaps through better building codes and innovations in oil pipeline design.
However, he admits that more data doesn't always guarantee a conclusive outcome, as evidenced by recent events.
"Look at Japan, for instance," Reilinger says. "It has one of the longest histories of earthquake records on the planet, maybe a couple thousand years. Using that record, they didn't expect a magnitude 9 earthquake off of the Tohoku region. And yet we got one. So it's a tricky business — the Earth is a fickle homeland for us."
This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation.
June 15, 2012
Look at Japan, for instance," Reilinger says. "It has one of the longest histories of earthquake records on the planet, maybe a couple thousand years. Using that record, they didn't expect a magnitude 9 earthquake off of the Tohoku region. And yet we got one. So it's a tricky business — the Earth is a fickle homeland for us."


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Earlier this week Mike Vogt and I presented an introduction to design patterns. While I think that all developers should understand design patterns I don't believe you can be a good architect unless you a firm grasp of patterns at at the application, system and enterprise levels.
We had some fun with the subject by alternating between .NET and Java examples. I think if we had hidden certain parts of the IDE we could have challenged the attendees to tell us which example was in C# and which was in Java.
At next month's CITAG meeting Shankar Ramachandran will be covering NoSQL. Be sure to join us
Here are links to the slides and the .NET code.
Design patterns are an important part of understanding the best practices of software development. Head First Design Patterns is another great book in the Head First series which takes a more story based teaching approach.
As you get past the format of the book there are specific things that I like about the subject matter coverage. Rather than just laying out the name, problem and solution for each of the original patterns, they compare and contrast them. In some cases they even pull in patterns outside of the Gang of Four list such as dependency injection.
The only reservations I have about Head First Design Patterns is that some of the patterns, the strategy pattern for example, are kind of glossed over. You get a basic idea, but not the depth that I would like.
For those of you that spend all of your time in the .NET world you will have to convert the examples from Java, but this is rather trivial. The syntax just isn't that different.
Overall this is a great book for introducing developers to the subject of patterns and how they are used.
Tim is a Solutions Architect for PSC Group, LLC. He has been an IT consultant since 1999 specializing in Microsoft technologies. Along with running the Chicago Information Technology Architects Group and speaking on Microsoft and architecture topics he was also contributing author on "The Definitive Guide to the Microsoft Enterprise Library".


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Optometrists, Ophthalmologists Fight Over Eye Care Rights
Optometrists battle ophthalmologists as line blurs between levels of care
"Even though I love my optometrist, I would never, ever let him do surgery," says Denishia Martin Hostetler, an Angie's List member in Bowling Green, Ky., where lawmakers this year gave optometrists the right to perform some surgical procedures and expand scope of practice in other ways. "I would want a full-fledged MD, with lots of experience and credentials."
But Tom Wiesle, a member in Plano, Texas, expresses a less popular opinion in saying he'd feel comfortable going to his optometrist for laser surgery - if only his state allowed it. "I totally trust him," Wiesle says. "He's just so knowledgeable."
From California to Maine and 16 states in between, optometrists have been pushing to broaden services, exacerbating a turf war with ophthalmologists who provide the full spectrum of eye care. By being allowed to do more, optometrists insist they can help patients save money and benefit through improved continuity of care and fewer referrals to ophthalmologists, who are more expensive. "We're not holding ourselves up to be ophthalmologists," says Bill Reynolds, an optometrist in Richmond, Ky., and legislative chair for the Kentucky Optometric Association. But training and expertise have evolved, he argues, and practice needs to catch up.
Ophthalmologists fire back that optometrists - who attend a four-year post-graduate optometry program but lack their eight years of medical school, internship and residency training - are sidestepping critical experience and education. "They want to practice medicine without going to medical school," says Dr. Daniel Briceland, a highly rated ophthalmologist in Sun City, Ariz., and secretary for state affairs with the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "This is how people get hurt."
Intense optometrist lobbying over the last three years has produced mixed results. In eight states, they won approval to prescribe more drugs, administer additional types of injections like local anesthesia and - in the case of Kentucky - perform laser surgery. They failed to prevail in seven others, with lawmakers withdrawing proposals, killing bills on adjournment or stripping scope-of-practice provisions. Texas, South Carolina and Nebraska were still considering legislation at press time.
In West Virginia, the debate grew especially contentious as eye doctors on both sides of the issue testified at the state capitol in Charleston, with ophthalmologists sporting "Surgery by Surgeons" stickers and optometrists wearing "I Support Optometric Physicians" badges. West Virginia legislator Don Perdue thinks optometrists and ophthalmologists are sincerely concerned about what's best for patients, but add that both have professional clout and financial interests at stake as well - "money being of primary interest." Where scope of practice overlap, Perdue contends, they're vying for the same patients.
As chair for the state's House of Delegates Health and Human Resources Committee, Perdue became intimately acquainted with the two groups during a marathon negotiating session last year. "We spent those 16 hours locked in my office literally trying to keep people from clawing each others' eyeballs out," says Perdue, who ultimately voted with the majority to allow optometrists to prescribe more medications and administer some injections after laser surgery was taken off the table.
California legislators also rejected laser surgery but agreed to reduce training requirements for treating glaucoma, saying optometrists graduating after 2008 receive sufficient preparation in school. However, medical groups have sued to prohibit the new regulations from taking effect, saying optometrist education doesn't go far enough. "[The regulations] don't protect patients," says Dr. Craig H. Kliger, an ophthalmologist and executive vice president of the California Academy of Eye Physicians & Surgeons.
Related stories:
Who do you trust for your eye care?
Optometrists win rights to broaden services
4 tips on looking for eye care
Optometrists' move to deliver more of the care traditionally provided by ophthalmologists has helped to blur the line between the two professions. According to a recent online poll of Angie's List members, 93 percent claim to know the difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists, but 25 percent went on to incorrectly describe an optometrist as a medical doctor. "I thought they had to go to medical school," Hostetler says. "But they're referred to as doctors nonetheless. That's kind of a misnomer." Chuckling, she adds: "I have three master's degrees and I don't get to be a 'doctor.'"
Like Hostetler, most poll respondents have reservations about seeing an optometrist for anything but basic eye care. Just 8 percent would turn to one for help with glaucoma - which optometrists are permitted to treat in every state but Massachusetts. When it comes to injections and laser surgery, only 2 and 4 percent, respectively, say they would trust an optometrist.
Oklahoma became the first state to allow optometrists to perform some laser surgeries in 1998. That's also when lawmakers explicitly upheld their right to administer injections, remove eyelid lesions and prescribe an expanded list of medications. "The procedures we're doing are not technically involved," says David Cockrell, an optometrist in Stillwater and spokesman for the American Optometric Association. "We've never had a single case of a patient being harmed reported to the [state optometry] board. That's a pretty startling statistic."
It's also a misleading one, says ophthalmologist Dr. David Parke II, former head of the highly rated Dean McGee Eye Institute, based in Oklahoma City. "We had several patients come in with horrible complications from totally unnecessary surgical procedures," says Parke, now the executive vice president and CEO of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Pam Odum of Owasso, Okla., outside Tulsa, says she never would have gone to an optometrist for laser surgery had she known he was not a medical doctor. "I was almost blinded," says Odum, who sued Jan Jay Rigney for negligence and says his incompetence in performing a procedure to correct astigmatism and the homemade eye solution he gave her caused temporary blindness and permanent blind spots. "To this day, I have limited vision," Odum says. Rigney, who settled the case with Odum for an undisclosed sum, declined to comment.
Cockrell says if malpractice were a big issue, insurance rates for optometrists would have shot up in Oklahoma. Parke argues the reason they haven't is because optometrists are mostly still prescribing just glasses and contacts, which carry little risk. The potential danger to patients is very real, he adds.
Out of some 25 highly rated Oklahoma optometrists surveyed by Angie's List Magazine, only three say they perform PRK or another type of laser surgery. Although it's been more than a decade since the new law went into effect, most continue to refer patients to ophthalmologists at surgery centers who perform a high volume of procedures, including Lasik, which optometrists aren't permitted to handle.
Tami Ross, a highly rated optometrist in Oklahoma City, says she's certified to perform laser surgery but the investment in equipment isn't practical. "The lasers are pretty expensive," she says, estimating that PRK equipment costs as much as $500,000. "Unless you can pay for them doing [procedures on] a lot of folks, it's not worth having them."
However, Ross adds that many more optometrists in rural areas are performing surgery and she expects to see an increase in cities, too, because laser training's become the norm in optometry schools. "It's part of their curriculum now, so you're going to see more and more of that done than in the past," she says. "The new [optometrists] are taught it from day one."
Optometrists in neighboring Texas are among those seeking approval to perform laser surgery. If successful, optometrist Jeff Thomas says he might expand his services to include corrective surgery for certain cataract patients. The highly rated Dallas area optometrist - and Wiesle's provider - agrees with his peers that broadening care can reduce the need for referrals, save money and better serve patients. "That's the bottom line," he adds.
A household survey conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality says patients spend about $50 on an eye exam out of pocket, whether they see an optometrist or ophthalmologist. But the total spent by all parties, including insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, is $132 for ophthalmologists compared to $94 for optometrists, says Jeff Rice, CEO and founder of Healthcare Blue Book, which analyzed more than 15,000 patient records. Similarly, he says, opening a blocked tear duct costs the system $169 for an optometrist versus $232 for an ophthalmologist.
"On average, it looks like ophthalmology gets paid about 40 percent more than optometry for the exact same services," Rice says. "I think it costs more because of the higher level of training and some of the additional overhead of a medical practice." Ophthalmologists also earn more than twice what optometrists make - $305,724 compared to $126,319, according to CareerBuilder.com.
In Texas, Thomas says he was taught how to use lasers and treat glaucoma when he went to the University of Houston College of Optometry in the 1990s, years before the state allowed optometrists to prescribe glaucoma medications. "They definitely train beyond the current scope of practice," he says.
Due to legal restrictions, students at the school gain experience by performing laser surgery on animals, primarily rabbits, says Earl Smith, the school's current dean. "About a quarter of our class rotate through Oklahoma and get experience on humans," Smith says, adding that others only operate on people after they graduate.
All 19 accredited optometry schools nationwide teach courses on lasers, according to Smith, also the president of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, a nonprofit representing the interests of optometric education. However, Smith didn't have precise details about hands-on training. "Every school strives to make sure their graduates are eligible for licensure in every state," he says, meaning they learn skills to match scope of practice and beyond.
However, Briceland says post-optometry school education can amount to weekend courses at the Holiday Inn to learn surgery. "There's no standard of education," he says. While ophthalmologists may also learn new laser techniques at short seminars, Briceland says ophthalmologists already have a broad base of experience. For example, they perform many different surgeries, from Lasik to cataract surgery, on human patients during medical school, internships, residencies and up to two years of optional fellowship training. "How can you claim four years of post-college education is the same as 8 to 10?" Briceland asks. "You can't."
Educational differences didn't stop Kentucky optometrists, who successfully pushed to become the second state nationwide to allow them to perform some laser surgeries. A strong bipartisan majority passed the bill in February and Gov. Steve Beshear signed it into law the same month. "This new law will mean more Kentuckians can get the eye care they need," Beshear said, pledging that optometrists who expand scope of practice will undergo extensive training. In addition to surgery, the Kentucky law gives optometrists the ability to administer injections like local anesthesia, prescribe more drugs and grants the state optometry board broad authority to further expand scope of practice, save for prohibited procedures like PRK and Lasik.
Critics say nearly $400,000 in campaign contributions was responsible for the legislation's swift approval. "The optometrists had an excellent lobby," says state Rep. Susan Westrom, one of only a few legislators who voted against the law. She contends it was rushed through: "I don't think we can trust the outcome because we didn't have all the information."
Though Westrom goes to an optometrist and considers their role integral to eye care, she sees no reason for the broad expansion of practice. Woodford Van Meter, a highly rated ophthalmologist in Lexington, Ky., and president of the Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, agrees with her. "There's never been a consumer group, an advocacy group or a patient group that's said this is a good idea," he says.
But Reynolds believes expanded services are a logical step in the evolution of primary eye care. "I think that if consumer groups were properly educated on it, if they could look at the educational background of optometry [and] at the history of safety of optometrists, they would be in favor of these procedures," he says.


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Disney Musical Snowglobe With Lights And Swirling Snow
Features 13 classic Disney characters expertly handcrafted and hand-painted. Plays 8 holiday melodies, lights up. Snow swirls at the flip of a switch.
Measures 6-3/4" H x 7-3/4" W x 7-1/4" D
- Price:
- s&s◇
From Mickey and Minnie to Winnie the Pooh, Walt Disney's time-honored characters have always captured the true meaning of holiday enchantment. Express the magic of Christmas and Disney in an old-fashioned Disney Christmas snowglobe, a special holiday collectible from The Bradford Exchange.
Fully dimensional handcrafted sculpture showcases 13 hand-painted classic Disney characters - all from 1966 or earlier - in snow-blanketed holiday scenes. At the flip of a switch, one of 8 timeless holiday melodies plays, including "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls", while a warm glow radiates from the Christmas tree, lanterns and castle. For added magic, a special snow-blowing mechanism swirls snow continuously around the water-filled globe containing Tinker Bell and the Disney castle! High demand is expected, so don't delay. Order now!
A fine collectible, not intended for children.
- Have an enchanting old-fashioned Christmas with this magical Disney Christmas snowglobe, a special presentation available from The Bradford Exchange
- Features 13 fully sculptural and hand-painted classic Disney characters - all from 1966 or earlier - including Mickey and Minnie, Winnie the Pooh, Tinker Bell and more
- Lights up! Lanterns, tree and castle illuminate casting a warm glow on snow-blanketed holiday Disney scenes
- A special snow-blowing mechanism swirls snow continuously around Tinker Bell and the Disney castle inside the water-filled globe and the flick of a switch
- Music! Plays 8 timeless holiday melodies, including "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls"
- Volume control and 3-way switch allows you to customize your display; 1-hour timer saves energy by automatically shutting off lights, music and snow-blowing mechanism
- Handsomely displayed on a mahogany-finished base with golden title plaque
- Uses 2 "AA" batteries (not included)
- Edition limited to 120 casting days, so order now
- Hand-numbered Certificate authenticating your collectible is an original from The Bradford Exchange
- Measures 6-3/4" H x 7-3/4" W x 7-1/4" D; 17.1 cm H x 19.7 cm W x 18.4 cm D
- Buy This Item Now:
- Disney Musical Snowglobe With Lights And Swirling Snow
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Bears: A Year in the Life
A & C Black, 2008 - Bears - 176 pages
In this book Matthias Breiter takes us on a fascinating journey through an entire year in the life of North America's great bears - the black bear, the brown bear and the polar bear.
Beginning in February when the bears first wake from hibernation and give birth, we watch these magnificent animals hunt, feed, play, mate and breed until the return of winter, when the need to hibernate begins the cycle again.
Bears are, by nature, solitary creatures and prone to fight only if threatened. They have no significant natural enemies. But human beings have reduced a once great population to a small remnant.
Bearsis packed with facts and details gained over a lifetime of study and photography by its internationally renowned author.
From inside the book
3 pages matching Kermode bear in this book
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It's that time of year again! MileHiCon 46 is just around the corner, taking place from October 24th through the 26th, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center, 7800 E. Tufts Ave., Denver, CO 80237. Here's my panel schedule:
Saturday, October 25, 2014, 4 pm
Poetry Fantastique — Mesa Verde A
I will be moderating the poetry panel this year, as David Lee Summers won't be able to make it to the convention. I will do my best, and with a panel including Laura Deal, Gail Barton, and the energetic Dr. Rob S. Rice, it should be an easy job.
Sunday, October 26, 2014, 11:00 am
Dark Net/Net Neutrality — Wind River A
This is a tech panel about current Internet privacy trends moderated by Arlen Feldman, with panelists Margaret Alia Denny, Deena Larsen, Marc MacYoung, and yours truly.
Sunday, October 26, 2014, 4:00 pm
Privacy, Facebook, and Other Social Media — Wind River B
In a similar vein, this is another tech panel focusing on privacy rights in relation to Facebook and other social media platforms. Arlen Feldman is again the moderator (sorry, Arlen, you only get one link), with panelists John Barnes, Kronda Seibert, the mysterious T. Simpson, and myself.
I hope to see some of you there!


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Graduation Disparities Loom Large for Students With Special Needs
The wide graduation-rate gaps in many states between students with disabilities and those in regular education raise the stakes for next year's first-ever federal evaluation of how well states are serving their special education students.
The most recent U.S. Department of Education data, for 2011-12, shows a four-year graduation-rate gap that ranges from a high of 43 percentage points in Mississippi to a low of 3 percentage points in Montana.
By 2015, the Education Department aims to take a closer look at graduation-rate disparities when it evaluates states on their special education performance. And that eventually could affect what states can do with their federal aid for special education.
"We know there are students with disabilities who can be achieving much more," said Melody Musgrove, the director of the federal office of special education programs.
Nationally, the largest proportion of students with disabilities, about 41 percent, is classified as having "specific learning disabilities," which would include dyslexia or auditory processing disorders. The second-largest group, at 18.5 percent, has speech and language impairments. Most students in these categories are expected, with appropriate supports, to achieve at grade-level standards.
The graduation gaps reported for the 2011-12 school year are based on what's known as the "4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate," which is a standard metric the Education Department now requires states to calculate.
In many states, there are large gaps between students with disabilities and those in regular education on the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for the class of 2011-12. By 2015, the U.S. Department of Education will use these statistics, among others, to evaluate how well states are teaching special education students.
The rate divides the number of diploma-earners by the number of students who started 9th grade four years earlier. The cohort is adjusted by adding any students who transfer in over the four-year time span, and subtracting any students who subsequently transfer out, emigrate to another country, or die. The 2011-12 data represent the second year the Education Department has collected this information.
Change in Works
The office of special education programs, which is charged with evaluating states on their adherence to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, plans by next year to take into account graduation rates, dropout rates, and other so-called "performance" indicators as it shifts from a focus on compliance to what it calls "results-driven accountability."
States that fall short of meeting federal requirements in this area—a standard still under development—would risk having some of their federal funds reallocated to problem areas, or even withheld. The office of special education programs, or OSEP, is also shifting to providing targeted assistance based on a state's specific needs, Ms. Musgrove said.
Since the reauthorization of the IDEA in 2004, states have been required to collect a variety of special education indicators and submit that data to the Education Department. But instead of being measured on indicators related to student results, they were evaluated on factors such as how quickly they scheduled individualized education program meetings, or whether high school-aged students had postsecondary goals written into their IEPs. By next year, states will be asked to create "systemic improvement plans" that comprehensively address how they will improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
Looking more closely at the performance of students with disabilities will be a different way of measuring success, Ms. Musgrove said. "What OSEP focuses on is what the states will focus on. That's what gets better," she said.
Though the four-year adjusted cohort rate offers a standard method of calculating who is earning a diploma, the numbers still hide a great deal of variability.
For example, states can determine what academic standards must be met for a regular diploma for a student with a disability, though certificates of completion do not count.
It is also at a state's discretion to determine just who is a student with a disability for the purposes of the cohort.
Factors Vary
Candace Cortiella, the author of a May 2013 paper titled "Diplomas at Risk," found during her research into the same graduation-rate statistics that states can define "student with a disability" as students who were IDEA-eligible at the time of graduation, or students who received special education at any time in their high school career, or some other way. She said she hopes that a new focus on student performance will move the needle on a persistent problem.
"This is what we get when we don't have any accountability for outcomes and when we continue to just focus on if you just get your IEPs done," she said. "I hold out great hope for the shift in emphasis, and we'll see."
State special education directors offered different explanations for what was behind their graduation gaps, whether they were wide or narrow.
Patrice Guilfoyle, the director of communications for the Mississippi Department of Education, said that the state's new accountability system in its No Child Left Behind Act waiver application will help it focus more on graduation rates for students with disabilities.
"That's one of those priority issues for our new state superintendent—making sure we can close those gaps," said Ms. Guilfoyle, referring to Carey M. Wright, who was appointed to the position in September.
Georgia's graduation-rate gap, like that of many states in the South, was on the higher side compared with other states in the nation. The 2011-12 data show that 35 percent of students with disabilities graduated in four years, compared with 70 percent of all students.
Deborah Gay, the director of special education for Georgia, said the state made policy changes last year that may help some students with disabilities earn their diplomas in four years. Students with documented math disabilities, for example, can take an alternate math sequence and earn a standard diploma. That route may not offer the required classes for college entry, so that choice has to be made carefully, she said.
However, that change may open the doors to diplomas for more students, she believes. "The math core sequences are one of the major stumbling blocks for kids," she said.
Georgia is also digging deeper into its achievement gaps to find out which students are struggling the most. The U.S. Department of Education does not require such information to be reported, but Georgia knows that it has particular challenges related to reading and math for students who have mild intellectual disabilities, she said.
"What we're trying to do is get schools to ... really do targeted special assistance," Ms. Gay said.
Fresh Focus
Marva Cleven, the special education director for Nevada, said the federal Education Department's new focus on performance will "give us an opportunity to look at what we're doing with a different lens." The states' graduation rate for all students in 2011-12 was 63 percent; its four-year graduation rate for students with disabilities was 24 percent.
"I definitely think it's going to be positive," she said. "I think we have focused way too much on compliance in the past, and outcomes are really important. Our students have to have our good outcomes in order to be successful."
On the other end of the spectrum, Kansas was one of just a few states that had an achievement gap lower than 10 percentage points. Eighty-five percent of all students graduated in 2011-12 with a diploma after four years, compared with 77 percent for students with disabilities.
Colleen Riley, the special education director for Kansas, said one factor was a "robust" co-teaching program in the state that aims to keep students with disabilities in regular classrooms with appropriate supports. Instead of bringing general education and special education teachers together for one-time training, they're offered continuous coaching, she said. The quality of instruction "contributes to keeping kids in school and keeping them on track for graduation."
Alabama had a wide achievement gap—in 2011-12, 75 percent of all students graduated in four years, compared with 54 percent of students with disabilities. But its gap is notable for how quickly it has closed; in 2010-11, the first year this graduation rate was collected, 72 percent of all students graduated with a standard diploma in four years, compared with 30 percent of students with disabilities. The achievement gap shrank from 42 percentage points to 21 percentage points over that two-year period.
Michael Sibley, the director of communications for the Alabama Department of Education, did not point to any one factor that explains the drop. "It could be a 'rising tides floats all boats' scenario," he said. The state also has created a cadre of about 350 academic coaches in high schools around the state to reach out to students who are at risk of dropping out.
Vol. 33, Issue 19, Pages 1, 8Published in Print: January 29, 2014, as Graduation Disparities Loom Large
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text: In business since 1922, Andis has always delivered the highest of quality horse clippers and clipper care products. Andis clippers and trimmers are available in various sizes, and Dover has all the body clipping accessories and clipper cleaners to accompany them. Replacement clipper blades are readily available for a variety of Andis clipper models to keep your horse looking its best.


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Last night I was looking in the mirror. It had been a few days since I shaved, and I noticed a number of gray hairs in my goatee. Of course my brain did what it always does when when I'm about to get some sleep- it chases down tangents armed with silly questions.
What is the average age a guy (or a girl, for that matter) goes gray? That precise time in Joe Average's life when the hair goes from salt-and-pepper to white and black mixed in equal parts. Of course I'm probably not Joe Average (somebody has to be, theoretically), but I'd nice to have a ballpark figure. And then there's the why. Why does hair go gray? Are the resources assigned to mass producing hair color downsized or put to new tasks, say, growing ear hair?
And so the internal dialog went until I decided to write a post on this. But before I got to it I saw that a group of cancer researchers had answered the why question in this article the day before. I think I'll take this as sign that my delusions of grandeur are not completely delusions. (It's either that or be mad a cancer researchers for stealing my thunder.)
The simple answer from the article is: "…the loss of hair color to the gradual dying off of adult stem cells, called melanocytes, that provide a reservoir for the renewal of pigment-manufacturing cells."
Ok, that answers the why, but not the when. Googling "when does hair turn gray" returns mostly results for "why does hair turn gray." Apparently my question isn't a very popular one. I did however come across the statistic that 50% of Caucasians are 50% gray by age 50 on several web pages. What an unusual statistic. It cleverly says nothing at all but does so in a very quotable way. Ah statistics… I guess that was really all I was looking for anyway.
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Sleek and contemporary with touches of baroque, black is definately back. Softer and more sophisticated, today's black has hints of aubergine, olive and chocolate hues. In direct contrast from the past's trendy white spaces, bold black makes a strong dramatic statement and offers extravagance and theatrics for a devine spa experience.
Today's black is all about high constrast and lots of darkness. Interesting lighting is the single most important detail for creating an alluring and comfortable spa environment when designing with black.
Soothing and tranquil, charcoal and ebony create the framework for a renewed water experience. The Bathhouse is one of my favorate spa escapes!
This is definately NOT your basic black! Award wining Globe Salon in Las Vegas does black right.
A beautiful chandelier, pendant, or wall sconce adds opulence to a dark space. The new Caviar Cluster chandelier is the perfect compliment.
For classic, refined style look to the Pinstripe Collection.
Modern lines are paired with organic iron flowers in the Stella wall sconce.


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Refine your search
Deborah Sullivan
Elmstead Market,
A fantastic space for holding meetings and conferences with a breakout are overlooking the serene Water Garden.
The delegate rate can be tailored to meet your requirements from s simple sandwich lunch through to a full buffet or evening drinks and canapes.
Opening details
The room can be booked at any time 7 days a week – we are closed between Christmas and the New Year other than that the site is open and available for bookings.
There is a daily delegate rate depending on the conference requirements
By Road:
The Gardens are situated 6 miles east of Colchester and a quarter mile east of Elmstead Market on the A133.
- Baby changing facilities
- Coach parties accepted
- Credit cards accepted (no fee)
- Disabled toilets
- Facilities for groups
- Gift shop
- On-site catering
- On-site light refreshments
- Picnic site
- Public toilets
- Regional Tourist Board Member
- Welcome Host
- Accepts groups
- Dogs not accepted (except guidedogs)
- Guided tours for individuals
- Guided tours for groups
- Smoking not allowed
- Wedding receptions
Self-Assessed Accessibility Details
- Designated parking for guests with disabilities
- Within 50 metres approx. of entrance
- The surface of the car park and pathway leading to entrance:
- is gravel
- Drop-off point for guests outside entrance
- The route from the parking area to the entrance:
- Is flat (i.e. without steps)
Public Areas
- Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift:
- From the entrance to reception / ticket area
- To a specially adapted public toilet suitable for wheelchair users
- To the gift shop
- Contrast markings on clear surfaces such as glass doors
- Baby changing facilities
- Seating available for visitors with limited mobility
- Effective lighting for visually impaired visitors
- Routes/pathways suitable for wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility
- Audible alarm system
- Ramp to entrance
- Handrail by ramp
- Entrance is well lit
- Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift to cafeteria
- Restaurant / cafe provide meals for visitors with special dietary requirements:
- Sugar free (diabetic)
- Gluten free (coeliacs)
- Lactose free (dairy free)
- Nut free
- Organic
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- Seating suitable for wheelchair users, ie moveable and good height for person sitting in a wheelchair
- High chairs for children
- Children's menu


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DISCLAIMER: This is very limited in telling us much about how 2012 will play out for a large number of reasons.
1) There are still a lot of roster changes coming. This may give us some sense of how the offseason has impacted teams to this point and it also shows us how things might look if nothing changed from now until April. Which won't happen.
2) It's too early to construct meaningful rosters for a lot of teams, so these projections will favor the teams that have essentially completed their 2012 rosters.
3) In addition to that, projection systems are inherently limited. They are designed to estimate a player's true talent based on what they've done so far and also by factoring in things like age and how similar players have performed in the past. They will generally be in the ballpark for the general population of MLB players, but they can miss significantly on individual players which can obviously affect certain teams more heavily than others.
TEAM W L RS RA Div WC PL Tigers 89 73 780 703 54.3% 4.7% 59.0% Indians 87 75 751 696 40.8% 5.9% 46.6% White Sox 77 85 723 795 3.3% 1.5% 4.8% Royals 73 89 684 760 1.6% 0.2% 1.8% Twins 66 96 698 829 0.0% – –
Last year's 'Extremely Early CAIRO Projected Standings' projected 84 wins and 78 losses for the Sox. The Sox finished with 79 wins and 83 losses.


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An association of professionals who work at hundreds of elderly-care facilities in the United States is calling on the homes to reconsider their policies — or, in most cases, lack of policies — on geriatric sex.
AMDA, formerly known as the American Medical Directors Association, said it took the action after articles published by Bloomberg News exposed the under-examined issues and consequences of sex between the demented at U.S. facilities.
Some nursing home companies are already reviewing their policies in light of the stories. Hebrew Health Care, a nonprofit operator of a variety of elderly care services in West Hartford, Conn., started developing a policy and training in September, said Pamela Atwood, its director of dementia care services.
"What our organization would love to see is assuming that intimacy and sexuality is normal, because it is," Atwood said. "We"re looking at taking care of the baby boomers. These folks burned their bras and developed the pill. Do we really think they"re not going to be sexual?"
Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are widely unprepared to deal with sex among expanding populations of residents with dementia, partly because administrators, staff and families are reluctant to discuss or even acknowledge elderly sexuality, AMDA concluded after a survey of physicians and other medical professionals who work with elderly care facilities across the U.S.
As the baby boom generation ages, "there is a growing need for change in policies and institutional practices focused on intimacy and sexual behavior," Columbia, Md.-based AMDA said. "While the mandate is clearly recognized, silence and invisibility regarding this issue seem the prevailing paradigm."
The recent AMDA survey and interviews with caregivers suggest the issue is a low priority for most facilities. Only 13 percent of survey respondents said they work with facilities that provide staff training on sexual behavior, which the AMDA said means employees are "significantly undertrained." Fewer than one in four respondents said their facilities have policies addressing the problem, according to the survey. Almost half of the respondents didn"t know whether their facilities have policies.
"Sex and death, no one wants to discuss them," said one health care professional commenting anonymously in the survey. "We need to talk about them."
AMDA represents 5,500 physicians, nurse practitioners and other professionals who provide medical care to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices and other elderly care institutions. Each of the nation"s 16,000 licensed nursing homes is required by law to have a medical director.
The organization commissioned the survey of 121 senior and 54 younger members in response to the Bloomberg News stories, published in July. Many of those who were surveyed work at multiple facilities, with all states represented. At AMDA"s request, Bloomberg News made suggestions for the survey that were reflected in three of the 14 questions.
The first of the Bloomberg News stories concerned a 78- year-old divorced man with dementia who was found having sex with an 87-year-old married woman with dementia at an Iowa nursing home. The home"s administrator decided the encounter was consensual. State regulators disagreed and cited the home for not reporting the episode. The administrator and nursing director were fired, and the male resident was forced to move to another facility almost two hours away.
The second story focused on the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, N.Y., a nursing home that has had a policy on sexuality since 1995. The home isn"t related to Hebrew Health Care in West Hartford.
Based on the survey"s results, AMDA is urging elderly care facilities to consider installing formal training programs and policies.
"Certainly as dementias increase, I would encourage all nursing homes to at least begin the conversation," AMDA Executive Director Christopher Laxton said in an interview. "It doesn"t help to hide your head in the sand."
More than 40 million people are 65 and over in the U.S., according to the Census Bureau. As the baby boomers, those born from 1946 to 1964, move into that population, that number is expected to reach 56 million by 2020. More than 5 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer"s, the most common form of dementia, the Alzheimer"s Association says. The association expects those 65 and over with Alzheimer"s to number 7.1 million by 2025.
People are sexually active well into their 70s and 80s, research has found. For those with dementia, intimacy and sex can be a healthy comfort as they lose comprehension of family and friends. Federal and state laws require care facilities to respect residents" rights to privacy, including that for kissing, fondling, intercourse and other sexual activity.
In interviews, doctors and other caregivers relate myriad situations requiring difficult decisions by facility staff and families: people with dementia who have forgotten who their spouses are and seek intimacy with others; a husband who demands sex from his demented wife, despite her resistance; a demented woman who has passionate sex with her husband, then attacks him for having an affair.
Juniper Communities of Bloomfield, N.J., operates 18 nursing, assisted living and memory care facilities in four states. Juniper founder and Chief Executive Officer Lynne Katzmann said she"s analyzing policies from other homes and plans to develop a proposal that can be presented to focus groups at Juniper properties.
"It may not be the easiest thing for us to address, but we"ll try," she said.
Katzmann and others said installing policies is fraught with regulatory and legal risk, partly because there are no widely accepted means of determining demented residents" capacity to consent. Many states require elderly care facilities to report potentially harmful sexual incidents and — as happened in the Iowa case — can penalize those who fail to do so by fining them or threatening to cut off Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements.
"When it gets to dementia, there are so many pieces of the puzzle, people are terrified," said Teepa Snow, a dementia care specialist in North Carolina who works with dementia education and care providers. "No matter what you do, somebody"s going to see you as wrong."
Many facilities are stretched financially because of cuts in government aid, leaving scant time for training.
"I talked to an administrator who said it was fine for me to come in and talk about sex policy, but I"d have to train people in a half-hour between shifts," said Melanie Davis, a sexuality education consultant in Somerville, N.J.
Douglas Wornell, a Tacoma, Wash., geriatric psychiatrist who works with 23 facilities, said state regulators also could benefit from training.
"I"m not so sure it"s just a problem with the facilities," said Wornell, whose book, "Sexuality and Dementia," will be published in December.
Seventy-one percent of those polled by AMDA said training materials would be a big help, in part to teach staff to separate their personal religious, ethnic and other biases from their responses to sexual encounters.
Properly trained staff will adapt, said Gayle Appel Doll, director of the Center on Aging at Kansas State University. After developing training programs for Kansas facilities, "we were just amazed" at the response, Doll said. Staffers who previously had walked in on residents having sex started knocking and waiting before entering a room, she said. Staff also supplied "Do Not Disturb" signs and arranged mattresses on floors to help residents cuddle.
"The big picture is that society doesn"t see the sexual needs of the elderly as being worth their time," said Patricia Bach, a neuropsychologist in Roseville, who helped assemble the AMDA survey. "Why is it OK for Hugh Hefner to have babes crawling all over him at the Playboy mansion? If you were 87 in a care facility behaving like that, nobody would be saying, "That"s nice.""
Thomas Lehner, a physician and medical director whose practice works with more than 60 long-term care facilities in Ohio, said, "We have to remember that these are human beings that have the same emotional needs we all have. We have to figure out how to meet them in the right settings, with dignity and respect to all the parties involved."


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David Letterman is picking on rival Jay Leno, but the joke may be on him.
The Hollywood Reporter posted that NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" came out of the summer with its worst ratings for the season, but still managed to keep ahead of CBS' "Late Night with David Letterman."
The numbers came out just after Letterman cracked jokes about Leno all week. Last night he mocked the rivalry between Leno and Conan O'brien as well as Leno's extravagant car collection.
The latest news from around North Texas.
"Leno has more cars than Hertz," he said. "A regular guy with 600 cars—explain that!." Leno's ratings were also 12 per cent higher than when Conan O'Brien held the same time slot in summer of 2009.
Over the summer Leno averaged 3.8 million viewers and 1.0 rating for viewers ages 18-49 – a record low for the funnyman. Still, it was enough to surpass both Letterman's audience numbers and ratings by 22%.
And again, two days ago in light of the Leno's 17th anniversary at NBC, Letterman stuck in his best Leno impression.
Despite the dismal ratings, NBC affiliate managers remained optimistic that this fall's upcoming prime time lineup will kick up late-night ratings.
"There's been a lot of NBC stations that have suffered significant declines in late prime, and that's not going to happen with this lineup based on the estimates buyers are getting," Eric Lassberg, president of the NBC affiliate in Austin told The Hollywood Reporter. "All evidence points to our ratings going up [at 10 p.m.]"
Selected Reading: The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, New York Post