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Market News
|September 19, 2013
Elon Musk's Hyperloop Will Work
When Elon Musk unveiled the Hyperloop back in August, his critics were quick to scoff at his proposal for a new, superfast mode of transporation. A number of people derided Musk's white paper as cartoonish and vague. Musk vowed to prove the naysayers wrong by building an actual physical prototype, but that's not expected to arrive for years.
Meanwhile, some evidence has just appeared that shows Musk may indeed be onto something. Ansys (ANSS), a maker of very high-end simulation software used to design planes, trains, automobiles and all manner of other things, has fed the Hyperloop specifications into a computer and come away impressed. "I don't immediately see any red flags," says Sandeep Sovani, the director of land transporation strategy at Ansys. "I think it is quite viable."
Musk's design called for an elevated tube to be built between two cities. Pods would be shot back and forth inside the tube at speeds reaching up to 800 miles per hour. Air bearings placed near the underside of the pods would create a cushion to reduce friction, and the pods would be accelerated by pulses from electric motors. To cut down on resistance, Musk proposed having vacuums at the front of the pods that would suck in air, while also having the tube in a low pressure state. The end result? A 30-minute ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Ansys studied Musk's lengthy Hyperloop white paper. The company used the artists' renderings in the document to create a virtual mockup of a pod and the tube that could be fed into simulation software. It then decided to study what the air pressure might look like on the pod and inside the tube and set a computer to work for a few hours to perform the neccessary calculations.
While Sovani found the overall design to be feasible, he does think the Hyperloop will need some tweaks. For one, instead of having the pods taper at the end, he thinks the pods should be cylindrical with a large jet engine-type contraption at the front to suck in the air. While a soup can-shaped pod might not look as cool, it would allow a more even distribution of air pressure across the outside of the pod and allow it to suck in more air. "In our opinion, it has to be very very symmetrical," says Sovani.
Sovani also suggests that the air bearings do a better job of spreading air across the body of the pods and that there should even be bearings on the top of the vehicle. The Ansys simulation showed very uneven stress markings alongside the body of the pod. "We see a lot of shear stress areas," Sovani says. "In something like an aircraft, the patterns would be very uniform." Bearings on the top of the pod would help the device stay balanced during slight changes in air pressure.
Musk's SpaceX uses the Ansys software, so Musk is familiar with this type of simulation technology. So, too, are thousands of companies that use software these days to design products from the ground up virtually before building physical protoypes.
Sovani plans to keep tweaking the design of the Hyperloop pods in the software and eventually to send Musk some suggestions.


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We've had a lot of fun tasting chocolate here on Travel Diversions with Doreen, and enjoying the cultural and culinary adventures of the world. But this week, with the onset of September and a new season upon us, I'm feeling a bit more reflective and am asking you to dip back into your memory banks and share 2 things with us:
1) What is YOUR most memorable travel moment and …
2) What valuable lesson did you learn from it?
I'll start the ball rolling. My most memorable travel moment was back in 1996, during our week-long visit to the Greek island of Santorini. We'd taken a marathon 12-hour tour around the island on a particular day and ended up arriving by small boat to the island of Thirasia. Up above on the cliffs, we spotted the village of Manolas, and were told that there were only 2 ways to reach it. Walk up, or take a mule. We chose the mules.
Now, let me explain that there are/were no groomed trails to get you up to the top of the hill. And no guard rails to ensure you didn't fall the considerable distance down the cliff to the sea. But there I was, purse in my lap and camera hanging from my shoulder (this was during the days of the much larger and heavier old DLS film cameras), and trying to hold onto the mule as we swayed side to side, slowly climbing the rocky cliff to the village at the top, where we were told we would be treated to amazing views and a nice lunch.
On arrival, Reg and I got comfortable and sat ourselves down for lunch and a couple of well-deserved beers in the late afternoon heat of the sun. We were truly exhausted, but over the course of an hour, were invigorated by the stunning vistas which provided amazing photographic opportunities, the terrific food and the refreshing libations. But suddenly, we noticed the trail of mules making their ways down the cliff without any passengers! I ran screaming after them, only to be told by their keeper that the mules quit at 4 pm each day (they must have been unionized!) and we would have to walk back down to the boat. Thank goodness my knees were in much better shape back in 1996. I know some of my fellow travellers suffered considerably from that unexpected experience.
Lesson learned: NEVER take anything for granted when you are travelling. You may be told that the mules will take you up to the village, but be sure to find out how you will get down. And be sure you can deal with the challenge. Never assume that the conditions are good, or doable for your abilities. Make sure you confirm that BEFORE embarking on any side excursion, and if there is a language barrier (as there often is in travel), do not let yourself be rushed into making a decision that could have very serious repercussions.
On the other hand, sometimes we have amazing travel experiences by stretching ourselves and doing things we likely otherwise would not have done and that is great. I've done many of those myself, including parasailing, swimming with sharks and stingrays, a shopping diversion in Jamaica that literally caused us to miss the departure of our cruise ship, and many, many other priceless moments. If you'd like to read the complete story of our Greek adventure, you'll find it here.
And then please share with us your most memorable travel moment, and the valuable travel lesson learned. I'm really looking forward to hearing your stories. The next new post will be uploaded here during the week of September 26th. Stay tuned to see what diversion we'll take next!

subset: commoncrawl


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Somali youth feel hopeful, despite challenges
Ali became an orphan a few years ago when his parents died in an explosion. As the eldest of three children, Ali, 21, set off in search of work and landed a job at a security checkpoint in order to earn enough money to feed himself and his two younger siblings. While wielding a gun, his daily job was to tax vehicles passing through the checkpoint.
- Over 70 percent of Somalia's population is under the age of thirty (Somalia Human Development Report).
- The unemployment rate for youth aged 14 to 29 is 67 percent—one of the highest rates in the world.
- Since 2011, 1,650 young Somalis were given an opportunity for rehabilitation and personal development through educational activities, economic integration, and leadership training.
- The program is funded by the Government of Japan, which contributed US$12 million.
Disillusioned by this life, Ali turned to drugs and soon forgot his childhood dreams of becoming a football star. "My dream was to become a soccer star like Ronaldo, but I didn't have the opportunity to pursue it," said Ali. He lost track of his dreams, until he was approached by a group of women who changed his life.
The Women Civilian Protection Unit (WCPU)- part of the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Community Security project - has helped young people like Ali turn their lives around. A community-based group of women, the WCPU works with the Youth for Change (Y4C) programme - a joint initiative between UNDP, UNICEF and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) - to help young Somalis affiliated with armed groups renounce violence by sensitizing them on the adverse impact of conflict and violence on their country.
Launched in 2011, the programme provides young people with an opportunity for rehabilitation and personal development through educational activities, social rehabilitation, economic integration, and leadership training. The programme is funded by the Government of Japan, which contributed US$12 million.
Ali has since graduated from the Y4C programme, where he and more than 1,650 peers learned about peace-building and governance, and took classes in art, drama and the Quran in addition to playing sports. They were also equipped with vocational skills, and Ali learned the skills he needs to become a mechanic, which will provide him with a steady income.
The largest draw of the programme for Ali was an opportunity to play football again. "I found my old passion again: football! I ran miles to get myself into shape because before I was always smoking. I stopped all this and focused on becoming the greatest football player of Mogadishu," beamed Ali.
A football tournament was held in May, the first competition of its kind in 20 years given Somalia's highly insecure environment. The highlight of the tournament was a football match between the police and participants from the Y4C programme, which was organised by local non-governmental organizations and Y4C partners, with the overall aim being to build a better relationship between the police and youth formerly involved in crime or risky behavior.
On the big day, Ali was impressed with the police officers. "They were good players. And when I fell on the ground, one of them pulled me up. I was shocked. We won the match with my goal. I have not felt this good in years."


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I consider myself an old soul.
I can go somewhere – anywhere – and within minutes, I fit right in. I know where I'm at, and where to go.
I also fit in with people older than me.
I always have.
And always will.
People who don't see the benefit and value of hanging out with older people are missing out.
I was getting a haircut on Monday, and in the chair next to me was this very cool older guy with a long Arkansas drawl.
"Think I'm going to go visit Europe again," he said. "See what's changed."
The first time he saw Europe, it was with the U.S. Rangers, part of the third wave on Normandy, France during a little skirmish called D-Day.
"He's a hero," my barber leans in and whispers in my ear. "Held off an entire company of Germans single-handed, saved his whole unit."
And handed me a copy of the story that ran in Stars and Stripes in July of 1944.
The guy picked up the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR, a real piece of killing hardware) of a fallen buddy and killed 13 advancing Germans with it. He kept firing, even after being hit with grenade fragments.
"Shrapnel's still in me," he said. "Never did get it all out."
Thursday, I got up early to meet an old outdoor writer for help with a story I'm working on about turkey hunting.
He had his posse with him, older guys who talked about this, that and the other thing. It was a hoot.
And I just melted into the conversation.
Mostly, I listened.
I watched.
And I consider myself lucky to be an old soul – one who recognizes the benefit of listening to one's elders.
Elder statemen
1 comments:
- Anonymous said...
I've always been the same way. It always amazes me the stuff you can learn if you just shut up and listen.


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DAY 1, Thursday - Depart for Hungary
Depart for Hungary.
DAY 2, Friday - Arrive in Budapest
Arrive in Budapest. The remainder of the day is at leisure to discover Buda and Pest in this elegant city with its wealth of historic monuments linked by eight graceful bridges. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Drink and orientation meeting with your local host at the hotel at approximately 6pm, followed by a briefing about the journey. We recommend that you select flights which arrive in your destination no later than 4pm on Day 2 or earlier, if possible.
DAY 3, Saturday - Budapest City Tour
Your morning tour begins on the Pest side of the city; view the Parliament, City Park and Heroes Square. Cross to Buda to see the Royal Palace, Matthias Church and the graceful medieval architecture along the cobbled streets. Explore the city's wonderful shops and cafes this afternoon on your own. Tonight, an optional dinner and show in Budapest. Travel to the outskirts of Budapest for a traditional Hungarian Dinner in a scenic forested location. While dining, you'll be entertained by colorfully dressed dancers performing a variety of spirited folk dances accompanied by a group playing live music. (Breakfast)
Optional: Dinner & Show in Budapest (PM)
DAY 4, Sunday - Holloko City Tour & Cruise Embarkation
Travel to the charming village of Holloko (meaning raven-stone) hidden in the Cserhát hills in northeastern Hungary. Take a walking tour of the historic village, a fine example of a preserved traditional settlement and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experience the typical rural life of the Palóc people and see craftsmen at work. Spend free time in the village and perhaps try some Palóc dishes for lunch before heading back to Budapest. This afternoon, transfer to the port to embark your cruise. Tonight, meet your Cruise Director and enjoy a gala welcome dinner as it sets the mood for your delightful river cruise. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 5, Monday - Full Day in Budapest
Today, enjoy the delights of Budapest independently. Immerse yourself in the heritage of the "City of Baths" and visit a traditional Turkish bath house with its thermal pools and spas or, stroll along the Danube Promenade, a walkway along the Danube that goes from the Elisabeth Bridge to Chain Bridge, offering stunning views of the capital. Another option is to head to Margaret Island, a quite getaway within the city, that serves as a recreational park, located in the middle of the Danube River. Perhaps, join the optional half day Taste of Budapest. Explore the local food scene, at the Hold Street Market Hall, while getting introduced to the history of Hungarian cuisine. Taste local cheeses from family farms around Budapest and salami delicacies, along with Hungarian meats and sausages served with fresh bread and mustard. End the tour with a sweet Budapest pastry - local strudel and a cup of coffee. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Optional: Half Day Taste of Budapest (AM)
DAY 6, Tuesday - Bratislava City Tour
This morning, enjoy the tranquil scenery as you sail along the scenic Danube. In the late afternoon, arrive in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, a mix of modern and Baroque architecture. This capital city is among the youngest in Europe, yet retains a rich history dating back more than 2000 years. Walk along the cobblestone lanes of the historic town center; view St. Martin's Cathedral, coronation site of the kings of Hungary, the 13th century Old Town Hall and the Franciscan church. Time to explore this colorful city on your own before returning to the ship for dinner. This evening, the ship will set sail to Vienna. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 7, Wednesday - Vienna City Tour
Your morning tour of romantic Vienna introduces you to this Imperial city with its legendary opulence and elegance. Drive along the famed Ringstrasse, Vienna's main boulevard lined with magnificent Baroque palaces, parks and monuments. View the lavish Hofburg Palace, and the impressive Vienna Opera House. Continue to majestic St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Parliament building. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, or, join the optional tour to the magnificent Schonbrunn Palace, once summer residence of the Hapsburgs. Visit the gorgeous baroque apartments and stroll through the world-famous manicured gardens. Tonight, perhaps take the opportunity to attend an evening of Viennese culture in the "City of Music" at an optional concert performance of the classical masterpieces of Mozart and Strauss, two of Vienna's most famous citizens. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Optional: Schonbrunn Palace Tour (PM)
Optional: Classical Viennese Concert (PM)
DAY 8, Thursday - Melk Abbey
This morning, arrive in the village of Durnstein, one of the prettiest towns on the Danube. Free time to stroll this quintessential village in the heart of the Wachau wine district. Walk along medieval cobblestone streets revealing 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. Continue cruising late this morning and relax on board as the boat cruises through the scenic Wachau Valley, with lovely storybook views of vineyards, castles, hilltop ruins and monasteries. Later, disembark in Melk for a guided tour of the historic Benedictine Abbey, considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Europe. View the Abbot's chambers, the Kaiser's walk, and the lavish library. The ship will set sail as you dine on board this evening. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 9, Friday - Full Day in Linz
Early this morning cruise into Linz. Founded by the Romans, Linz has cultivated a strong artistic tradition, especially in the field of music. Today is free to explore the city independently, taking in such sites as St. Mary's Cathedral and Linz Castle, or just relaxing at a café sampling the famous Linzer torte which was named after this quaint city. Alternatively, join the optional full day tour to beautiful Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and setting for the Sound of Music. The walking tour will include some of Salzburg's most historic sites including the Mirabell Palace, the Abbey, Salzburg Cathedral, and St. Peter's Cemetery. After lunch at a local restaurant, there will be time to discover Salzburg on your own before returning to the ship. In the early evening, all passengers will rejoin the ship and set sail for Passau. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Optional: Full Day Tour of Salzburg
DAY 10, Saturday - Full Day in Passau
Dock this morning in 2500-year old Passau, known for its pastel patrician houses, cafés, cobblestone lanes and riverfront promenade. Passau is a town with a mix of Roman, Italian Baroque and Gothic architecture. Tonight, enjoy a lavish Captain's Dinner on board. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 11, Sunday - Depart Germany
Your vacation ends after breakfast. The Munich airport is approximately a 2 hour drive from the port. Disembarkation will end at 9:30 AM. (Breakfast)
River Cruise Features & Amenities
The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the trip origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package at the price quoted.
Copyright © 2020 by Vacations To Go. All rights reserved. CST 2072920-50


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Conservation and Environment in Costa Rica: Monthly Updates
Conservation in Costa Rica - Monthly - Update January - February 2015
With the beginning of the year came new goals and opportunities for the Costa Rica team. We continued with the hard work of saving the scarlet macaws, we started compiling a guide to the different butterfly species that have been found in the park over the last years and we also started with environmental education in schools.
Scarlet Macaw Nest Site Protection
Around 1,000 scarlet macaws live in Costa Rica. Although there are already protected areas dedicated to the protection of this species, the number still decreases. The most serious threat to the scarlet macaw is poaching – because of poverty (and greed) farmers are forced to steal to save money for their family. Athough this trade is illegal, there are still people who want to buy the birds and as such, the macaws remain at risk.
For this reason, we have had this project running for three years in an effort to save this beautiful species and their habitat. This is the "Return of the Macaw Project". The scarlet macaw (Ara macao) is a large bird of bright colours and can grow to about 79 inches, weighing about 900 grams. Most of their feathers are red, except for the wings, which are blue and yellow. The scarlet macaw has no feathers around the eyes and is characterised by its long blue tail. There is no visible difference between the sexes, although juvenile birds have black eyes, while the older birds' eyes are yellow. The scarlet macaw's beak is hooked and very sharp, which allows it to open the hard seeds that it feeds on.
We had a successful start to the year when we found a couple in the same nest. Last year when we climbed this tree, we found four eggs. Unfortunately, these eggs did not hatch. This could be for many reasons, one of which is climate change. We will now start new research in the macaw nests using a "datalogger" to record the temperature and the humidity. Every macaw nest will have a device that tells us the conditions of the nest, so that we can compare it with the success of the hatch.
Community Works
We started this year with an ambitious project – to plant more than 4000 trees around the National Park. We will do this together with the people who are in charge of the "water services" for every village. They take the water from the river source, so it is in this river source that we will plant the trees using only native species, such as:
- Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa)
- Guanacaste (Enterolobium ciclocarpum)
- Espavel (Anacardium excelcium)
We have also been in several meetings with the people of the village and we have visited the places where we will be planting the trees. We have a big job ahead but we are excited to be a part of the conservation of the water source around the village.
Butterfly Project
We have once again started the butterfly project in the Barra Honda National Park. One of the changes has been the sampling site. Last year we worked in different transects, using two methodologies. One of them was the use of the hand traps, and the other using aerial traps tied in trees.
We are now doing the butterfly project on the trails using hand traps, and in the sampling areas we are using the aerial traps.
Environmental Education
Education is the best way to make a change in the world and this is why we have started environmental education this year. We are currently working in five different schools teaching the children about different conservation topics. We cover subjects such as: biodiversity, flora and fauna, forest fires, conservation and protection and ecosystems.
Until next time,
Anthony Ruiz
Conservation Manager, Costa Rica


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COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates and Guidance
The County is taking a number of actions to keep residents safe and minimize the spread of COVID-19. Find status information for County operations and services.
Landmarks Preservation Commission
Duties of the Commission
Established as a part of the County government in 1976, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approves the inclusion of historic properties along with their Historic Environmental Settings (HES) on the Preliminary Landmarks List and the formation of County historic districts. The LPC also approves exterior alterations affecting any structures on the Preliminary or Final Baltimore County Landmarks List and all developments including exterior alterations, within County historic districts. Learn more about Baltimore County, Maryland and National Historic Properties and Districts.
Appointment of Commission Members
The LPC consists of 15 volunteer members, each of whom, as required by the County Code, "shall possess demonstrated interest, knowledge or training in historic preservation, history, architecture, conservation or related disciplines." Each member of the County Council appoints an LPC member from the respective council district, and the County Executive appoints the remaining eight members. LPC members serve a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms. They may continue to serve after their term expires until their successors are appointed.
Commission Meetings
Meetings of the LPC are generally held on the second Thursday of the month excluding August and December. A tentative agenda is available a week before the meeting.
Rules of Procedure
The Commission operates under the authority, standards, and requirements of Title 7 of Article 32 in Baltimore County law, and uses, for guidance in its decision-making, the Rules of Procedure, Historic Guidelines and Regulations and Resolutions as follows:
- Rules of Procedure (PDF)
- Historic Guidelines and Regulations (PDF)
- Resolution for Recognition and Protection of Sites Related to Slavery (PDF)
- Resolution Adopting Procedures for Delineating Historic Environmental Settings (PDF)
- Resolution Endorsing Protection of the North Point Battlefield (PDF)
- Resolution Establishing Procedures and Principles on Requests for Postponement of Items (PDF)
- Resolution Establishing Procedures for the Receipt and Scheduling of Landmark List Nominations (PDF)
- Resolution Adopting Procedures for Implementing Approval of County Tax Credit Applications (PDF)
The Landmarks Preservation Commission has further agreed to operate by procedures as follows:
- Notice of Procedures for Testifying before the Landmarks Preservation Commission (PDF)
- Consent Agenda Notice (PDF)
Staff Contact: Contact Historic Preservation by calling 410-887-3495 or emailing firstname.lastname@example.com.
Department of Planning
Clean Green Baltimore County provides residents and businesses with the latest news and information on county initiatives, services and resources that support sustainable living.


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As early as the second century BC, the Romans are thought to have recognized a contract of sale—likely the first civilization to have done so. In both his paper and at the workshop, Professor Gordley focused on two mysteries that surround this great achievement: how did they do it, and why did they stop at sales? The first has puzzled historians for years: what is the link between the previous legal devices that existed prior to the recognition of a sales contract and the contract of sale as it was first formulated by the Romans? Some historians have posited a transitional stage in which partial performances were enforced, while others have suggested that early Romans accomplished sales through conditional one-way binding promises (known as stipulationes). Professor Gordley, however, thinks differently: instead of "inventing" the contract of sale, Roman jurists simply adopted and incorporated practices already in place into the law.More.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Gordley on Roman Sales Contracts
Over at the University of Chicago Law Faculty Blog is an account by the student blogger Rohit Nafday of the presentation to Chicago's Public Law and Legal Theory Workshop on The Origins of Sale: Some Lessons from the Romans by James Gordley, Tulane University. According to Mr. Nafday,
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|Institution Type:
|Campus Setting:
|Southwest Small city
|Highest Degree Offered:
|Associate's degree
|Level of Institution:
|At least 2 but less than 4 years
It is a small school so I can get more attention when it comes to learning. The college professors are very nice, concerning, and flexible. The advisers are also very…
Victoria College is a smaller community college that offers an array of courses, many of them transferable to Texas universities. As with any school, some teachers are good while some…
I love The Victoria College, it offers a wide range of degrees to choose from, the campus is great, and the professors are awesome. The Victoria College is an amazing…
victoria college is clean and safe. victoria college has great teachers. victoria college is affordable…
They offer free tutoring. The teachers are friendly and genuinely interested in students success. Small campus easy to get around. …
This is my hometown which is a part of the reason I decided to start off at this college, but the lack of events and entertainment are why I find it hard to live here. Although it makes for great reason to stay in the books since there's little to do here. This is a classified city with very much town mentality, but they're trying to grow. The college is inviting though and employees are very helpful!Read More
I have visited the Victoria College a couple of times and everyone that I talked to were all friendly and helpful. I talked to the counselors the most and they were all nice and ready to help me chose the classes for the semester that I will be attending. So I am most certain that attending Victoria College will have great professors and I will learn a lot.Read More


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An online petition calling for better laws to protect children from sex offenders named for an 8-year-old Jacksonville victim is gaining signatures.
"Cherish's Law" would carry the name of the girl abducted from a Walmart, raped and murdered in June. Donald Smith, the man charged in her murder, has a long criminal history of sexual abuse toward young children, WJXT-TV reports.
Late Monday afternoon, the petition calling for stricter laws on repeat sexual offenders has more than 1,600 signatures. By 9:30 p.m., there were nearly 2,000 -- the goal set for the petition drive.
"We can't let our children become victims. The petition is out there. Sign it online," said organizer Sara Magill. "Shy does the court system keep letting them go through again and again and again? I don't get it. I think there's people with lesser charges who stay in jail for a long time and this is so serious."
In two days, criminal justice experts and members of the public will meet here at City Hall for a legislative town meeting to help answer that very question. The meeting will be hosted by Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Nassau County, who says the statistics are shocking.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, more than 15,000 sex offenders are currently incarcerated in Florida. The Florida Department of Corrections also provides probation and parole services for more than 7,000 offenders. Thousands of those cases involved victims younger than 12.
Adkins says one of the things lawmakers will consider is the issue of parole once sex offenders are released from jail.
"We're going to look specifically as to what is involved in community supervision; who's conducting the supervision," said Adkins. "Are they actually trying to understand what these individuals are thinking to determine if they are a public safety risk? Or are they simply, making contact and checking off their list?"
Mark Lunsford, whose daughter Jessica was kidnapped and killed by a sex offender back in 2005, said that current laws are good ones, they just need to be better enforced. A law named after his daughter requires lifetime monitoring of sex offenders.
"We can advocate for what is created," Lunsford said of the current petition drive. "We can advocate for that and keep up with it, and find out if it's working."
To read and sign the petition, visit thepetitionsite.com.


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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) 49ers running back Brandon Jacobs is becoming even more frustrated with his limited role for San Francisco.
Jacobs on Saturday said via Instagram that he is ``on this team rotting away'' while referring to his first season with the Niners as his ``worst'' yet during an eight-year career that included seven with the New York Giants.
In recent days, he posted a series of photos of himself playing for the Giants - and even a picture of his two Super Bowl championship rings, side by side.
``I am on this team rotting away so why would I wanna put any pics up of anything that say niners,'' Jacobs said. ``This is by far the worst year I ever had, I'll tell you like I told plenty others.''
The 30-year-old Jacobs has five carries for 7 yards while being active for only two games with the NFC West-leading Niners (9-3-1), who beat the Miami Dolphins 27-13 on Sunday.
Jacobs - inactive again with rookie LaMichael James active for the first time - has repeatedly referred any questions about his playing time to head coach Jim Harbaugh.
On Twitter later, Jacobs said: ``I don't understand why people are angry at me because I wanna do what I am paid to do, I am a competitive person, I think people should be mad if I didn't wanna play. ... As for all of my Instagram photos I don't have any niner pics, if you'll find me some pics I'll put them up.''
Jacobs, hampered by a knee injury earlier this season, spends approximately 20 minutes before games punching the goal-post padding. He has said it is his way of dealing with the situation.
When asked after Sunday's game about Jacobs' comments, Harbaugh only said, ``I have no comment for that.''
Last month, Jacobs posted advice on Twitter with a reference to never working ``in a place where you hate your boss so much, you should always be happy at work'' with a hash tag of ``YouLiveAndYouLearn.''
His post came the same day Harbaugh was hospitalized for a minor procedure for an irregular heartbeat.
Jacobs then said people shouldn't ``assume'' his remarks were football-related, then followed up with more tweets - including one reading ``football is not my life, people'' and another saying, ``Have you ever been in a spot and you wonder why are you there.''
Later, he posted that his tweets referred to his brother's boss, who makes ``him feel like he is the best thing since slice bread but when the budget is shot he is the first one get laid off, same with two other people I know.''
The 30-year-old Jacobs ran for 571 yards and seven touchdowns last season as a backup to Ahmad Bradshaw. He is the fourth-leading rusher in franchise history with 4,849 yards, but saw his role diminish with the emergence of Bradshaw and became increasingly disgruntled.
Now, he plays behind Frank Gore, Anthony Dixon and James.
Online:http://pro32.ap.org/poll andhttp://twitter.com/AP-NFL


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Baseball Business on the Big Screen: A Review of "Moneyball"
Peter Brand: It's only been a few days. You have to give yourself some time to get over it.
Billy Beane: I don't get over these things. Ever.
After nearly beating the god-like New York Yankees in the 2001 American League Division Series, all hope seems to be lost for Oakland Athletics' General Manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt). He loses three of his key players to free agency – Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, and Jason Isringhausen – and is forced to rebuild the A's.
Beane travels to Cleveland to discuss potential trades with the Indians' General Manager when he discovers Peter Brand (Jonah Hill). Brand is a player analyst whose opinion is valued by the Cleveland brass. Beane recognizes that and instead of gaining a player, buys Brand from the Indians and hires him as the assistant GM.
Together Beane and Brand use a philosophy no other team had ever utilized: signing players who are not necessarily power hitters, players who hit for average or players who rack up a great number of RBIs, but possess the ability to get on base.
They sign players who are on the downside of their careers, like David Justice, Jeremy Giambi, and Scott Hatteberg. Each of these players lack many of the tools needed to play the game, but have one thing in common: high on-base percentages.
Beane's logic is simple: it doesn't matter how you get on base. If you get on base, you'll score runs. The strategy doesn't sit too well with manager Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and the two clash, disagreeing about necessary decisions such as who is in the lineup.
Although Oakland started the '02 season slow, they eventually won 20 games in a row, setting an American League record for most consecutive wins in a single season.
The A's overcome the odds and make the postseason, but get bumped in the first round for the second year in a row, this time by the Minnesota Twins. In the midst of the early playoff exit, the Red Sox recognize what Beane did in terms of building his team. Boston owner John Henry offers Beane a contract to be the highest paid General Manager in baseball history, which he declines.
Instead of going to the Red Sox, Beane opts to remain with the A's, only for the Red Sox to win the World Series two years after he turned them down – winning it all by using the philosophy Beane instituted in Oakland.
There are a few unique baseball movies out there, but "Moneyball" just might be the most unique. Based on a true story, it isn't a coming of age flick like "The Sandlot" or a one last chance tale like "The Rookie."
"Moneyball" is a movie that presents and exposes the business side of the game of baseball – a side of the game that isn't always transparent to the average fan.
Right from the start of the movie you are taken into the corporate side of baseball when Beane goes to Cleveland to try and make immediate off-season moves. It really shows you how fast things happen when a baseball team's season ends. Most people might get the impression that once the season is over the next time the team is worrying about anything is Spring Training.
That notion is quickly proved wrong right at the start of the movie.
Beane's assistant Brand is based off Paul DePodesta, a savvy baseball expert who studied the game in and out and served as a catalyst in terms of changing the team. He enforced and supported building the A's team by way of sabermetrics, which is defined as a system of analyzing baseball players by empirical evidence and specific in-game activity.
Bill James, a baseball writer and statistician, was "the man behind the curtain" so-to-speak, as he devised this crazy concept of sabermetrics. In fact, James wrote the book from which the movie is adapted. His ideas were was embraced by the Oakland General Manager. Beane knew exactly what he was hoping to accomplish and it shows throughout the movie.
One of the best and most relatable scenes in the movie to me was the scene that portrayed Brand breaking some potentially unsettling news to Carlos Pena. Beane had told his assistant that he might have to tell players they are cut or traded, as it comes with the job; a classic case of a boss making his employee do some not-so-fun work.
Ultimately Brand had to inform Pena that he had been traded to the Detroit Tigers.
Right as that scene concluded, I immediately thought of my internship with the Hudson Valley Renegades, a Single-A team affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. I interned for them over the summer of 2010 and at times they would ask the interns to do some bizarre things.
One night the Renegades were playing the Jamestown Jammers, whose parent club is the Miami Marlins. One of the Jammers had been cut that day, but was still at the Stadium. He needed to be driven to the airport and they selected an intern (it wasn't me) to give him a ride.
I saw a little bit of a parallel between the scene in the movie and the instance from my internship.
Something else I found interesting was the scene portraying the acquisition of reliever Ricardo Rincon. At the beginning of the movie when Beane is in Cleveland, he inquires about Rincon and expresses a sheer amount of interest in him. At the trade deadline the Indians are out of the playoff running. With the A's still in contention and in need of a reliever, Beane gives the Tribe a call.
Cleveland refused to budge on a swap for Rincon citing interest from other teams, so Beane takes matters into his own hands. He orchestrates a ploy with some of the other General Managers and in the end lands the deal and acquires Rincon.
If I could take one still frame from the entire movie, it would be Brand's reaction after he and Beane pulled off the trade. He looked like a little kid at Christmas, getting exactly what his heart desired.
What I also liked was how they threw in the little back story about Beane's career as a player. He was drafted by the New York Mets out of high school, and instead of going to Stanford to play baseball on a full-ride scholarship he chose to sign with the Mets.
And it didn't go well for Beane. At all.
His career was a flop and it kind of goes back to the idea of whether it's smart to play in college or go right to the pros upon getting drafted. I've always had more respect for the ones that play in college. I feel you have a better chance at maturing as a player and as a person.
It certainly worked out for someone like Tino Martinez, who was drafted out of high school by the Red Sox, yet turned them down to play for the University of Tampa. He was drafted again by Seattle and eventually had a wonderful career.
At any rate, there are a few things I noticed while watching "Moneyball" that I was sort of able to nitpick at; things that didn't make the movie any less enjoyable, but once I noticed them I picked them out.
For one, in the Ricardo Rincon trade scene, Brand is wearing an all-green Oakland A's hat. The all-green hats, complete with black underneath the bill, weren't introduced until 2007 when New Era released the polyester headwear to reduce sun glare. Up until then, grey was the color underneath the bill of the hat.
I only knew that because when the polyester caps were released (it should come as no shock) I purchased a Yankee hat.
In addition to the hat anachronism, the scene which portrays Beane at Fenway speaking to Henry caught my eye. Boston's 2004 and 2007 championship banners are visible. The movie is taking place at the conclusion on the 2002 season, so the flags representing Boston's titles shouldn't be there.
At first I thought I had spotted another mistake, but as it turns out the director (Bennett Miller) got it right.
The scene in which the A's were gunning for their 20th consecutive win, they are shown playing the Kansas City Royals at home. They show Mike Sweeney hit a towering drive to left field, homering to put the Royals within one run; KC eventually tying the game before the A's picked up the 12-11 win on the power of a walk-off, solo home run off the bat of Hatteberg.
When Sweeney played, he wore a "C" on his jersey, denoting his status at team captain. In the movie Sweeney's "C" was absent from the breast of his jersey, but it should have been. Upon research, he wasn't named captain of the Royals until 2003.
I thought I had caught Miller on a mistake, but in the end he got me.
Overall I found "Moneyball" to be a riveting and informative movie. I wish I had seen it sooner than I had, but when it was in theaters last summer most of my friends went and saw it with their girlfriends. Naturally when I wanted to see it and asked my friends to go to the movies, I only heard the words,
"I already saw it with my girlfriend. It was really good, you should go see it."
Yes, I should have gone to see it when it was in theaters. But I wasn't going to the movies by myself.
Where's the fun in that?


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Cleber Ouverney
Duncan Hall, Room 439
Telephone: (408) 924-4806
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Curriculum Vitae [pdf]
Dr. Ouverney's Research Lab
- Post-doct, 2005 - Stanford University School of Medicine
and The Forsyth/Harvard University Dental School
- Ph.D., 1999 - University of Southern California
- M.S., 1993 - California State University, East Bay
- B.S., 1990 - Occidental College
Courses Taught
Research Interests
The focus of the research in my laboratory is to better characterize the diversity of bacteria in natural microbial communities by type and function. Over 99% of environmental microbes are believed to be uncultivable, hence we rely primarily on culture-independent molecular methods to gather information on the composition and role of mixed microbial communities. Some uncultivable bacteria found in environmental samples are also present in humans, and some of those bacteria have been recently associated with human diseases. Our research attempts to discover the natural source of human-associated uncultivable bacteria and to compare the function of those bacteria in their natural environment as well as in the human body. To study function of microbes, we combine in situ hybridization with micro-autoradiography (STARFISH) to determine the types of nutrients a particular bacterium is able to take up without the need of cultivation. Such method may aid in determining more appropriate cultivation media for isolating yet uncultivable bacteria
Selected Publications
Dinis J.M., D.E. Barton, J. Ghadiri, D. Surendar, K. Reddy, F. Velasquez, C.L. Chaffee, M.S. Lee, H. Gavrilova, H. Ozuna, S.A. Smits, and C.C. Ouverney. 2011. In Search of an Uncultured Human- Associated TM7 Bacterium in the Environment. PLoS ONE 6(6): e21280. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021280.
Smits S.A. and C.C. Ouverney. 2010. Phylometrics: a pipeline for inferring phylogenetic trees from a sequence relationship network perspective. BMC Bioinformatics, 11(Suppl 6):S18. doi:10.1186/1471-2105-11-S6-S18.
Smits S.A. and C.C. Ouverney. 2010. jsPhyloSVG: A Javascript Library for Visualizing Interactive and Vector-Based Phylogenetic Trees on the Web. PLoS ONE 5(8): e12267. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012267
Marcy, Y., C. Ouverney. E.M. Bik, T. Lösekann, N. Ivanova, H.G. Martin, E. Szeto, D. Platt, P. Hugenholtz, D.A. Relman, S.R. Quake. 2007. Dissecting biological "dark matter" with single-cell genetic analysis of rare uncultivated TM7 microbes from the human mouth. PNAS 104(29): 11889-94.
Jones, B. W., A. Maruyama, C. C. Ouverney, and M. K. Nishiguchi. 2007. Spatial and Temporal Distribution of the Vibrionaceae in Coastal Waters of Hawaii, Australia and France. Microbial Ecology, 54: pp
Ouverney, C. C., G. C. Armitage, and D. A. Relman. 2004. Use of Cloned Artificial Targets for FISH (catFISH) for the optimization of oligonucleotide probe hybridization conditions with 16S rRNA clones for in situ quantification of uncultivated prokayotic cells. In G. A. Kowalchuk, F. J. de Bruijn, I. M. Head, A. D. L Akkermans, and J. D. van Elsas, editors. Molecular Microbial Ecology Manual, 2nd edition. Chapter 3.12: 727-742-169. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
Ouverney C. C. and J. A. Fuhrman. 2004. Correlating single-cell count with function in mixed natural microbial communities through STARFISH. In G. A. Kowalchuk, F. J. de Bruijn, I. M. Head, A. D. L. Akkermans, and J. D. van Elsas, editors. Molecular Microbial Ecology Manual, 2nd edition. Chapter 8.08: 1689-1710. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
Lepp, P. W., M. M. Brinig, C. C. Ouverney, K. Palm, G. C. Armitage, and D. A. Relman. 2004. Methanogenic Archaea and human periodontal disease. PNAS, 101(16): 6176-6181.
Ouverney, C. C., G. C. Armitage, and D. A. Relman. 2003. Single-cell enumeration of an uncultivated TM7 subgroup in the human subgingival crevice. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 69 (10): 6294-6298.
Maywald, M., A. Herbay, D. N. Fredricks, C. C. Ouverney, J. C. Kosek, and, D. A. Relman. 2003. Cultivation of Tropheryma whipplei from Cerebrospinal Fluid. J. of Infectious Disease, 188: 801-888.
Brinig, M. M, P. W. Lepp, C. C. Ouverney, G. C. Armitage and D. A. Relman. 2003. Prevalence of Bacteria of Division TM7 in human subgingival plaque and their association with disease. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 69(3):1687-1694
Ouverney, C. C. and J. A. Fuhrman. 2000. Marine planktonic Archaea take up amino acids. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 66 (11): 4829-4833
Ouverney, C. C. and J. A. Fuhrman. 1999. Combined microautoradiography-16S rRNA probe technique for the determination of radioisotope uptake by specific microbial cell types in situ. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 65 (4):1746-1752.
Ouverney. C. C. 1999. Dissecting the Marine bacterioplankton "black box" by type and function through FISH and STARFISH, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Southern California.
Fuhrman, J. A. and C. C. Ouverney. 1998. Marine microbial diversity studied via 16S rRNA sequences: coastal cloning results and counting of native archaea with fluorescent single cell probes. Aquatic Ecology. 32: 3-5
Ouverney, C. C. and J. A. Fuhrman. 1997. Increase in fluorescence intensity of 16S rRNA in situ hybridization in natural samples treated with chloramphenicol. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 63(7): 2735-2740.
Kitting, C. L., C. C. Ouverney, and F. Canabal II. 1993. Small fishes concentrated during the first five years outside an experimental wastewater marsh in San Francisco Bay. Selected proceedings of a Society of Wetland Scientists, Western Chapter. U.C. Davis, CA, March 25-27.
Ouverney, C. C. 1993. Ecology of an Experimental Wastewater Marsh Outflow in South San Francisco Bay. Master's Thesis. California State University, Hayward. 86pp.


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Vt. National Guard unit to receive award for Afghanistan service
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) � About 600 members of the Vermont Army National Guard will be honored Sunday for their bravery while fighting insurgents in Afghanistan in 2010.
The 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry (Mountain) is being recognized for extraordinary heroism in Paktya province in eastern Afghanistan.
The guard unit is receiving the Valorous Unit Award, the second-highest unit award given by the Army, below only the Presidential Unit Citation.
The ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. at the Shapiro Field House, Norwich University.
The Burlington Free Press reports (http://bfpne.ws/1bUwe2f) Sunday's ceremony also will honor combat medic Sgt. Michael Mulcahy, who will receive the Bronze Star Medal for Valor for his service while stationed at Combat Outpost Herrera.
The infantry units were made up mostly of Vermonters but included soldiers from New Hampshire and Maine.
Information from: The Burlington Free Press, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com


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Lisa Kudrow will host the 15th annual Webby Awards.
Kudrow will oversee the June 13 ceremony at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. One of her duties is to ensure that award winners stick to Webby protocol by limiting their acceptance speeches to just five words.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Life After 'Friends'
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Kudrow is also a winner herself. Recipients were earlier announced by the Webbys, which honor Internet achievement.
She won the Webby for best individual performance in an online video for her performance in her series "Web Therapy." The show also won the award for best long-form comedy for the second year in a row.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Lovely Ladies Of Primetime Television
Kudrow, whose credits include "Friends" and "The Comeback," is prepping "Web Therapy" for a TV adaptation, to debut on Showtime in July.
Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Women are often the best students at university, yet are under-represented in practice, say former AJ Women in Architecture Award winners Walters and Cohen
The architects, of Walters & Cohen, say the high rate of attrition of women architects is a key issue for the profession, and that the AJ Women in Architecture awards can help raise awareness of the problem.
'There is much talk about the high rate of attrition in the industry,' Walters and Cohen said.
'Women are often the best students in schools of architecture and are massively under-represented in the profession; anything that encourages women to stay in the profession after qualifying should be supported and encouraged.
'The Women in Architecture Awards can help to raise awareness of this key issue facing our profession.'
Cindy Walters and Michál Cohen jointly won the inaugural Woman Architect of the Year award in 2012.
'Winning the award was a huge honour; the exposure and recognition has been very good for our practice,' they said. 'We were surprised and delighted to win.'
The Women in Architecture awards, sponsored by Roca, are now in their second year.
Barbara Weiss, of Barbara Weiss Architects, said: 'The awards have done a lot this year to highlight the work of a large number of very talented and competent women architects, largely unknown to the general public or even within the profession.
'It is very important that this awareness should be built on, year on year.'
The deadline for entries to this year's Women In Architecture Awards is 11 January.
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Walters and Cohen: attrition of women is a key issue facing profession
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To book your place on your chosen Baby Massage course just fill the form below and complete your payment.
(re-enter your email address)
(mobile number if possible)
If you have a PlayLab voucher code, enter it here and your discount will be automatically applied...!
Here are our terms of service. They don't take too long to read, we promise! But it's worthwhile checking them out as it will help make your ClapHandies' experience all the better.
If you have any queries please contact Aisling or Liza at email@example.com
We don't expect you to stay at home for every runny nose. But we do ask you to stay away from PlayLabs if you have any of these conditions: vomiting bug, diarrhoea, chickenpox, impetigo, hand, foot and mouth disease, conjunctivitis or other similar contagious conditions. Please wait until your doctor has given the all-clear before returning to PlayLabs. In the instance of vomiting and diarrhoea your child must be clear of all symptoms for at least 48 hours before attending PlayLabs.
You can make up a missed class by coming to one of our other venues at any time during your term (space permitting). Or you can bring a friend to your class at any time during your term. You can even donate your missed classes to a friend, please see How to book a make-up class.
We really try not to cancel classes, but from time to time we may not have enough people for your class to start or to finish a term. If this is the case with your class firstly, we will be very very sad, then we will let you know as soon as we can, bearing in mind we may not be able to make this decision until the day before your term is due to start. We will offer you a full refund or a pro-rata refund if one or more classes have already run.
Sometimes we may need to merge the Toddler & Wobbler classes due to low numbers in one or both classes. If you feel the merged class does not suit, or the time change does not suit, we will offer you a full refund or a pro-rata refund if one or more classes have already run.
From time to time we may need to postpone your class, due to venue availability or a leader's (or their children's) illness. We will always endeavour to get a replacement leader but sometimes we may not be able to. In this case we will let you know as soon as possible via text, then by email and then by phone. (Please bear in mind this can be very last-minute). We will schedule the class for the following week and the term will run a week longer.
Refunds will not be offered for classes that have to be postponed unless the postposed classes are unable to be rescheduled then the pro-rata refunds will be arranged.
ClapHandies does not have to refund lessons missed because of local adverse weather when the venue and environs are safe and accessible and lessons are held. We regret we are unable to offer automatic refunding or rescheduling of lessons due to adverse conditions which may prevent you from attending a scheduled class.
We are happy to refund you in full if you cancel up to three weeks before a term starts.
We are happy to give a 50% refund if you cancel up to one week before term starts. Unless we are able to fill your place then we will give you a full refund.
There are no refunds if you cancel less than one week before the term begins.
We recognise that sometimes little ones let their excitement get the better of them. However, rough or disruptive behaviour towards participants and leaders is not allowed. We expect adults to remove children from the play activity until they are able to rejoin calmly.
Safety is our top priority. If a rough physical incident occurs, such as hitting, pulling hair, biting etc, during the PlayLab, we will ask the parents involved to remove the child from the play space to discuss the behaviour with the child.
The following week we will ask the adult to keep a very close eye on the child to ensure it doesn't happen again. However, if the disruptive behaviour is repeated we will ask that the child take a break from the PlayLabs and perhaps returns in a later term.
If we ask a client to stop coming to the classes we will offer a refund for the remaining classes in the term.
ClapHandies may, at its discretion, refuse to allow a client into its classes if it is felt that the client's behaviour is unreasonable.
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We ask that all adults be careful about making sure doors are safely shut, bags are out of reach and buggies parked safely out of the way.
Parental supervision is a must during the PlayLabs. Children should not be left unsupervised at any time. ClapHandies is not a preschool service, falling under the Preschool Services Regulations 2006. Children remain in the care of their parents at all times when attending PlayLabs.
Younger siblings not participating in the class attend for free (ie babies on laps), siblings participating pay a reduced price of 50% (ie 7 week term of €50).
Please note the 2 child packages are based on one adult attending with two children ie siblings. Each family must buy a separate package.
Thanks for reading. We hope that you and your little one get as much fun out of PlayLabs as we do.


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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNci98G25iM&feature=relatedEar worm
Quote from: Miss Creant on August 23, 2010, 01:19:06 PMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNci98G25iM&feature=relatedEar wormCareful Miss C, I may see your Pinky and Perky and raise you Alvin and the Chipmunks
For Pastishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfMmPpNhOVM
When I have finally stopped pissing myself over the Muppets I will retaliate.
Looking at Bohemian Rhapsody again I can see BM, Growler, Nick, Pastis and possibly Mort and Snoop
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Native Plants
Welcome to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's collection of 70,018 plant images.
This site is not designed for commercial use
or publication. All images are copyrighted and are the property
of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the photographers. Back to Image Gallery
About the Image Gallery Contribute Images Image Use Policy Image Request Form How to Link to the Images
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Maianthemum canadense
Maianthemum canadense Desf.
Canada Mayflower, False Lily-of-the-valley
Liliaceae (Lily Family)
USDA Symbol: MACA4
Image InformationPhotographer: Makin, Julie
City: Niagara Falls
State: On
Location Notes: Niagara Parks Botanical Garden -- Natural Garden
Accession date: 2012-07-23
Filename: J_M_IMG0506.JPG
Slide Index: Maianthemum_canadense_P5217677.jpg
Restrictions: Unrestricted
Collection: Wildflower Center Digital Library
Original Format: Digital
Orientation: Portrait
Shot: Opening flowers.
Date Taken: 2012-05-21
NPIN Image Id: 32930
Image VerificationThis image has been verified.
By: JAM
Date: 2012-06-12
From the Image Gallery
Additional resourcesUSDA: Find Maianthemum canadense images in USDA Plants
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63:20 minutes (14.5 MB)
Seems like our colleagues at Seedlings, Bob Sprankle, Cheryl Oakes, and Alice Barr are right in declaring this the year of Student Voice, which they did in their wonderful conversation with Adora Svitak (2010-10-07 Seedlings Show # 94).
At Teachers Teaching Teachers we seem to be handing the microphones over to students more and more as well.
On this episode we are joined by students Martha (12th grade), Maci (6th), Michael (12th), Christian (12th) and Erin (college) in a rich, real discussion about out-of-school creativity!
Maci made this painting and published a poem called "Refreshing Day " on Voices on the Gulf.
Click Read more to see a copy of the chat that was happening during the webcast.


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Quč opinen els usuaris - Escriviu una ressenya
LibraryThing ReviewRevisió d'Usuari - isisingonthecake - LibraryThing
My mother asked me what I thought of it, and mentioned that she thought it sounded kind of "steamy" from the GoodReads summary, so this started out as a comment on her comment and then turned into a ... Llegeix la ressenya completa
LibraryThing ReviewRevisió d'Usuari - pnorman4345 - LibraryThing
A couple meet, she is married with children , he is a poor naive medical student. They fall in love and run away. She is an artist. He wants to keep their love pure, above middle class conventions ... Llegeix la ressenya completa
Altres edicions - Mostra-ho tot
Frases i termes més freqüents
aint already began believe beneath black wind blinked boat breath Buckner Cajan cant carrying ceased Charlotte cigarette coat cold cried damned dark deputy doctor dollars door drink eyes face feet flat glare going gunwales hand hard Harry head hear heard hell hip boots hold instant knew levee light Listen live looked McCord move neath never niggers night nurses oleander once Orleans outrage paddle palm pantomime pilot house pirogue pistol plump convict quietly realised returned Rittenmeyer seemed sitting skiff sleep smell smoke snow sound squatted stared steadily steamboat stood stopped stove talking tall convict tell thinking thought told took train trees truck trying turned Twelve Chairs vanished Vicksburg violently voice wait waked walk Warden watched wife Wilbourne wild Wild Palms wind window woman wont


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American society has reached a point in our history in which government has lost common sense.
A 400-lb. morbidly obese death-row inmate in Ohio is deemed too fat to be executed.
Ronald Post (Good grief, is he wearing lipstick?)
Cora Van Olson reports for Crime Library that 53-year-old Ronald Post, sentenced to death for killing Helen Vantz by gunshot in 1983, is scheduled to be executed January 16, 2013.
But in a court filing, Ohio State medical center anesthesiologist Sergio Bergese said Post is "too fat" to receive lethal injection in his veins. The killer is so obese, he does not have accessible veins in his arms, hands or legs for the insertion of an IV to administer the lethal dosage. Post also has scars on his left and right forearms from a suicide attempt that make his veins inaccessible for an IV, Bergese added.
Post says his depression and scar tissue would also make it difficult for his executioners to administer a lethal injection. He now wants a federal judge to stop his execution on the grounds his weight could cause him to suffer severe pain during the procedure.
Post's attorney argues that, "given his unique physical and medical condition there is a substantial risk that any attempt to execute him will result in serious physical and psychological pain to him, as well as an execution involving a torturous and lingering death."
Post had received the death penalty in 1985 for murdering 53-year-old Helen Vantz on Dec. 15, 1983. Vantz was the desk clerk at the Slumber Inn hotel in Elyria, Ohio. Post shot Vantz twice in the back of the head and stole various items, including a bank deposit bag of money and the victim's purse.
Bill Vantz, the son of Helen, calls Post's arguments "laughable".
In 2009, after two hours and 18 punctures, Romell Broom was allowed to have his execution postponed. Broom is currently incarcerated in Ohio's Chillicothe Correctional Institution.
In 1994 Washington State death row inmate Mitchell Rupe convinced a court that at over 400 pounds, he was too heavy to be executed by hanging, the only method of execution available in that state at the time, saying that the noose would wind up decapitating him. The courts eventually allowed Rupe to live out his life behind prison walls where he died in 2006.
H/t Daily Mail.


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|43 going on 23
Friday, July 27, 2012
How Hot am I?
Posted by Karen Falcon at 8:09 PM 1 comment:
Labels: auto, girl power, how-to, tutorial
|43 going on 23
Hello, my name is Karen and I am a Las Vegas taxi driver. Originally from San Jose, California, I moved to Las Vegas in 2010. I have three cats, two dogs and a talking parrot.
I created this FalconSays blog in 2007 when my daughter and myself, our two horses, many cats and parrot lived in Oregon. I have let this blog gather dust over the years but recently I have been playing around with snapchat and instagram and now I'm excited to revive my blog.
Although I never grew up aspiring to be a cabbie, it's not a bad gig. Everyday is different. I am not tied to a desk. It is very exciting driving around Las Vegas at night. I love the people and sharing taxi stories. I think I have to say, my favorite part about my job is the comradery among taxi drivers. I have made many close friends, even among competitor taxi companies. I guess we all understand it is a unique and sometimes dangerous profession, we respect and care for each other in a way I never experienced in other fields of work.
Las Vegas gets, on average, 45 million visitors a year. Without you, I wouldn't be a taxi driver, thank you. . . . Keep being goofy in my cab; you're great material!


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Trinitas Cellars Blog
Wine Pick of the Week: 2013 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Join us for a Vineyard Tour!
The grapes are growing and we are starting to see signs of veraison in our Estate Vineyard at the South end of Napa. Veraison is the process of the grapes ripening as we can see from the grapes turning color. As we would expect, here at the South end of the Valley, we are just slightly behind the rest of the Valley due to our cooler climate and our morning fog.
If you would like to learn more about what goes on in the vineyard, how we take care of our grapes, how we measure the sugar content of our grapes to know when to harvest and other fun facts about vineyards, join us for our vineyard tour and tasting!
While you are touring the vineyard and learning about our grapes and how soil, climate and care affect our wines, you will have the opportunity to taste our wines and maybe even spot a vineyard bunny or two.
Our vineyard tour is offered Thursday - Sunday at 10 am. Reservations are required and the price is $20 per person and includes the tour and tasting during the tour. Wine club members receive 2 complimentary tickets at this price. Meet at the entrance to the Estate Cave tasting room.
Reserve your spot here! See you in the vineyard!
Recognize anybody in this Auction Napa Valley picture?
Hey everyone,
Check out this great little blurb and picture from last weekend's Auction Napa Valley.
Recognize anyone?
That's right, winemaker, Kevin Mills and Proprietor, Garrett Busch pouring our 2012 Martin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon barrel at Barrel Auction! Looking good guys!
Auction Napa Valley 2014 Begins!
I'm always excited about Auction...it is one of the best weekends of the year when all the vintners come together to showcase our great Valley, great wines, and our big hearts. This year is particularly exciting to me because I missed half of last year's Auction to attend a good friend's wedding. This year at the Barrel Auction, Trinitas Cellars is excited to be featuring a brand new single vineyard Cab that we are going insane over! And on top of it all, my fiancee, Betsy and I get married just one week after Auction! Here is a picture of Betsy and I kicking off the celebration at the Vintner's Auction Preparty luncheon:
Last year was a record year and blew the previous record away which is just proof of how incredibly our neighbors and supporters are and we are hoping to top that and the excitement to do so is electric! Happy Auction and we hope you can come to Auction next year and many years to come!!!!
VinItaly Recap: Two Families, One Passion
April was a big month for Trinitas. We made our first ever appearance at VinItaly in Verona. This was such a unique opportunity for us to get in front of the world and show off our wines as well as a chance for us to spend more time with our dear friends, the Fumanellis.
The Fumanelli family has been involved in wine for centuries! Since 1470, the Fumanelli family has been growing grapes on their property and also been involved in making amazing wines, true to the Valpolicella Classico region. Keeping it in the family, Federico Fumanelli, Armando's oldest son, is getting even more involved in the family wine business and wine sales, similar to my own parents recruiting me to help run the family business in 2010.
While visiting the Fumanellis, Betsy and I got to do a vertical tasting of five different Amarone wines from barrel, starting with the recently barreled 2013 vintage and working back five years to the 2009 vintage with the guidance of the Fumanelli winemakers, Flavio and his son, Damiano.
We really enjoyed visiting Italy, but what was particularly unique and inspiring about this trip was working with Federico and Damiano. Even though we come from different sides of the world, we had a lot in common as the next generation of wine in our families. The three of us are all working to continue our families' legacies in the wine industry and continue to grow our global reach and share our love of wine.
Pick of the week: 2011 Chardonnay
As some of you have heard from our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feeds, the vineyards here in Southern Napa have bud break which excited us all as the weather warms up! The one and only appellation that Napa shares with our neigboring valley friends is the Cameros, a rich clay and sand influenced soil that makes for an incredible home to Burgunduan style grapes such as Pinot noir, Pinot munier and of course Chardonnay.
California Chardonnay has evolved over the last decade from overlooked and under appreciated to cult following. It is for this very reason Trinitas has grown the Chardonnay program to touch many palates.
We have recently celebrated various past vintages of Chardonnay with the opening of our newest Trinitas adventure - The Trinitas Library. Tasting multiple back to back vintages has shown us two things:
1- that barrel aged Chardonnays can age and show gloriously a few years after release
2- our Chardonnay story is a huge testament to our loyal fans the Wine Society
As we enjoy the first day of Spring, I can't wait to pop open a bottle of 2011 Carneros Chardonnay. Brimming with caramel green apples, vanilla and spice and everything nice this wine brings one to believe that the magic of new beginnings is possible as it is encapsulated so well in this bottle. Here is to a new season - new beginnings with old friends enjoy the 2011 Chardonnay
Updates from Melbourne, Florida
Well, I'm on the road again... this time in Florida! At least it's a lot warmer than the week I spent in Michigan last week! I'm with our great Florida distributor, Unfiltered Unfined Wines and yesterday we stopped by a great little place, Petty's Meat Market in Melbourne, Florida. I met with Hunter and we tasted through some of our Trinitas favorites. Petty's has a wide variety of Trinitas wines on its shelf, including our Proprietor's Reserve Chardonnay and Mysterium, as well as some new additions to the shelf with our Apprentice Chardonnay, Old Vine Zinfandel, Meritage and Moscato! To anyone in the Melbourne, Florida area, this is definitely the place to go to please any palate. Thank you Hunter and Petty's for having me and I hope that we can return the favor and host you in Napa soon!
Petty's Meat Market - Babcock Location - 1616 South Babcock Street, Melbourne, Florida - (321) 725-0400
Pick of the Week: 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape growers and winemakers in Napa Valley are a lot like 7 year old kids at Christmas Time – kids write to Santa Claus asking for all their wishes to come true. We in the wine business cast our wishes to the Wine Gods as our growing season evolves. We wish for warm, not hot, days; cool, not cold, nights; breezes in the summer, but not the spring; low rainfall, but not TOO low; etc. etc. etc. Normally in the Napa Valley we are blessed with most of our wishes. And, now and then, we get everything we wished for – the 7 year old kid version of the pony on the front lawn on Christmas morning. 2007 was just such a year. We were blessed with perfect growing conditions and our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from that year is our shining example. Big, yet smooth, with mouth filling fruitiness and soft, subtle tannins. Great with a big juicy steak or a dark chocolat tort. It is about to enter the endangered species list here at Trinitas, so come and either get it or regret it!
Pick of the Week: 2010 El Dorado Zinfandel
Zinfandel. A grape of many styles, intriguing history and tons of versatility. I chose the El Dorado Zinfandel as my wine of the week, not just because I hail from the El Dorado/Amador areas, but because it has all three of my red wine "R"'s = rich, robust, and refined. Full bodied with juicy raspberry, black cherry and red currant with nuances of tobacco leaf and a hint of black pepper, it could be paired with sirloin steak, tomato based pasta dishes or even josh rogan. This is my wine when I need a hearty wine with hearty food!
For more on the 2010 El Dorado Zin, visit our online Wine Shop, or stop by the tasting room for a glass!
We are serving Amarone?!
I can't believe that no one told me about this!
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 The Trinitas Library


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After rushing to get ready this morning and receiving some unwelcome surprises (hello, allergies, I missed you this winter too!), we all finally made it to the first session this morning. And it's basically just been a whirlwind since then, going between sessions, practicing our pitches, and then finally: THE PITCH SLAM. (You have to read that in a really deep, dramatic movie-announcer voice.)
The Slam is basically the most nerve-wracking thing on the planet. This was my third year doing it, and I still had a mini panic attack before speaking to each of the eleven agents I got to. It was also totally fun though, because I pitched in a completely different way this year than I have in the past, and it made it a lot more free flow and fun (instead of having a really set query letter-style pitch that I just read to the agents, I gave them my elevator pitch from memory and then just winged it from there). Plus: I had the opportunity during the Pitch Slam to meet one of my writing friends in person, the super cool Joan (who has great boots, by the way). Read her blog here.
We ran into each other on accident, as I was leaving one agent's table and cutting between another agent's line and her table, and Joan happened to be in that line. She recognized me, we freaked out, and it was awesome. 🙂
(Sorry if this post at all seems like it's kind of all over the place. I'm only half-aware of what I'm doing right now, because I'm still coming off my adrenaline high from the Pitch Slam, and I've gotta leave for the next session in a minute.)
So anyway: the Pitch Slam. I got to talk to eleven agents (which is a really high number for WDC–most people only get to talk to three or five–but my mom's awesome and acts as a placeholder for me in the lines so I get to talk to more). Of those eleven agents, I got requests from ALL ELEVEN. And I am now about to go pass out from happiness and nerves and excitement and AHHHHH. 😀
… Off to the next session, now. Talk to you soon!


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Congratulations to Stephanie Berry for winning this giveaway!
We are such huge fans of Little Vida, a children's luxury brand that represents the best designers and eco-conscious lines out there. We've been fighting over the awesome care package they sent, filled with cashmere and suede, everything immaculately made and you can really feel the quality that Little Vida is known for.
Little Vida wants you to experience the luxe treatment as well and they are generously offering Small Fry readers 15% off (use the code FRY at checkout!) and since they started their two-day flash sale today, you're in store for a lot of saving! Even better, one lucky reader will win a $75 gift card to put towards anything in the shop! Here's some of our favorites from Little Vida:
Smoking Blazer / Edith Dress / Pumpkin Sweater / Wrigley Trousers / Stella McCartney brief / Citrine Necklace / Rosette Bolero / Pepe Ankle Strap / Reversible Bloomer / Caramel Baby Mitts
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Note: To get these babes to sit still to capture the beauty of these Little Vida pieces, they had a ball playing with the Olliblocks from Caravan Shoppe. We love their kid's line of downloads, perfect to print on your own and assemble as a family for play and party time! Get 20% off with the code itsaparty.


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Harrison twins make their college choice
- The twins rank among the nation's best recruits in 2013
- The commitments add to another strong Kentucky class
- Maryland and SMU were the other finalists for the twins
After months of speculation and scrutiny, Aaron and Andrew Harrison, two of the nation's best high school basketball players, said in a nationally televised announcement Thursday that they will play college basketball at Kentucky.
The verbal commitment carries more weight than other highly anticipated announcements by elite prospects because the Harrison twins represent what national recruiting analysts say is the sport's best package deal in recent memory.
Even if they play just one year before declaring for the NBA draft, they could form college basketball's best backcourt and make their team instant national title contenders in the 2013-14 season.
Maryland, SMU and Kentucky were the finalists for the brothers who play high school basketball at Fort Bend Travis High in Richmond, Texas, outside of Houston.
"I really want to thank Maryland and SMU for recruiting us that hard," Aaron Harrison said.
College coaches cannot comment on unsigned prospects. The Harrisons and other prospects can sign binding national letters of intent Nov. 14.
Kentucky had hoped the twins could be the cornerstones of a recruiting class that fans felt could ultimately exceed any class coach John Calipari has assembled in his career, which would be quite a feat for a man widely considered the game's best modern-day recruiter.
"Coach Calipari presented a challenge for us ... he would push us every day," Andrew Harrison said. "We just want to be better players."
Andrew Wiggins, the top player in the Class of 2014 who might reclassify to play college basketball next season, is scheduled to attend Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena on Oct. 12.
Touted power forward Julius Randle, who visited Kentucky on Sept. 15, has the Wildcats on his final list of six schools. And James Young, a five-star small forward, already has had an in-home visit with Calipari.
The strength and depth of the class, if they commit to Kentucky, could potentially rival that of Michigan's Fab Five in the early 1990s.
The announcement was met with strong reaction from some students on the Maryland campus: groans, doors slamming, cursing and chairs being overturned in a lounge at Ellicott Hall, a dormitory.
Said junior Brooks Rogers, 19: "It's a shame they didn't come to Maryland because with them we know our championship dreams would've come true. I still wish them the best of luck at Kentucky."
Added freshman Derek Leone, 18: "They would have been a valuable asset."
Maryland had several factors in its favor in the final weeks of the courtship:
-- The Harrisons' father, Aaron Harrison Sr., maintains great respect for Maryland coach Mark Turgeon, whom the dad calls the "most upright citizen I have met in basketball." The respect stems in large part from how Harrison Sr. saw Turgeon, then coach at Texas A&M, handle the 2010 death of Aggies recruit Tobi Oyedeji with grace and class.
-- Harrison Sr. also had a strong rapport with Maryland assistant Bino Ranson; both hail from the same Baltimore neighborhood.
-- Current Maryland big man Shaquille Cleare played on the same AAU team as the Harrisons in the Houston area.
-- Maryland is sponsored by Under Armour, the apparel company that also sponsors the AAU team for which Harrison Sr. coaches and his sons play.
Turgeon and Ranson visited the Houston area Wednesday to make closing arguments and attempt to land commitments that would immediately propel the Maryland program back to national relevance. Harrison Sr. said Wednesday that he enjoyed a "very good" lunch with Turgeon and Ranson while his sons were in school."
Maryland is coming on very strong in the end," Harrison Sr. said Wednesday.
Contributing: Daniel Weintraub in College Park, Md.


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In a study published in Nature Genetics, scientists from the RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies in Japan, in collaboration with the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, the University of Copenhagen and the Joint Genome Institute (Walnut Creek, California) have discovered that "jumping DNA" known as retrotransposons—viral elements incorporated into the human genome—may play a key role in the maintenance of pluripotency, the ability of stem cells to differentiate into many different types of body cells.
This story is part of a fundamental rethinking taking place in genomic science. In 2009, members of the FANTOM Consortium project reported that an important fraction of mammalian transcriptomes—meaning the RNA transcribed from the genome—consists of transcripts derived from retrotransposon elements, vestiges of ancient retroviruses from the same family as HIV that have in the past been considered to only parasite the genome. However, the biological function of these "jumping DNA"–associated RNA transcripts remained unknown.
In the current study on embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells using four high-throughput methods including cap analysis gene expression (CAGE), the researchers found that thousands of transcripts in stem cells that have not yet been annotated are transcribed from retrotransposons, presumably to elicit nuclear functions. These transcripts were found to be expressed in stem cells, but not differentiated cells. Importantly, the work showed that several of these transcripts are involved in the maintenance of pluripotency, since degrading several of them using RNA interference caused iPS cells to lose their pluripotency and differentiate.
These transcripts appear to have been recruited, surprisingly both in the human and mouse genome, where they are used to maintain the pluripotency of stem cells. Somehow, organisms including humans appear to have recruited viral elements into their genome in a way that helps to maintain the pluripotency of stem cells that allow them to regenerate. Why this is so remains a mystery for future investigation.
Although the results of the study cannot be put directly into application in regenerative medicine, knowing that retrotransposon elements are essential in the transcriptional control of iPS and ES cells is an essential clue for solving the puzzle of how to create better types of cells in future regenerative medicine studies.
"Our work has just begun to unravel the scale of unexpected functions carried out by retrotransposons and their derived transcripts in stem cell biology. We were extremely surprised to learn from our data that what was once considered genetic 'junk', namely ancient retroviruses that were thought to just parasite the genome, are in reality symbiotic elements that work closely with other genes to maintain iPS and ES cells in their undifferentiated state. This is quite different from the image given by textbooks that these genomic elements are junk," explains Dr. Piero Carninci, senior investigator of the study.


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The Good Samaritan of Biblical lore was different than you and me: He was able to help without the fear of being sued.
Disturbing footage of an unattended Chinese girl being run over twice and ignored by 18 witnesses has shed unflattering light on China's civil society. Two-year-old Xiao Yueyue (which translates as Little Joy in Chinese), daughter of two migrant worker parents, died on Oct. 21 in a Guangdong hospital, eight days after the horrific incident.
Disapproving fingers are being pointed in various directions: from the disintegration of society's morality to the government's neglect of protecting civil liberties. Yueyue's unexpected death has revived a fierce international debate over Good Samaritan laws.
If you missed the final "Seinfeld" episode, Good Samaritan laws protect people who assist victims of injury or crime. "They are intended to reduce bystanders' hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death," as Wikipedia puts it.
Prior to the broadcasting of Yueyue's tragedy, several sensational lawsuits had embittered the public toward performing heroic deeds for strangers. Specifically, in 2007 an elderly woman sued a young man by the name of Peng Yu for escorting her to the hospital after she had fallen and broken her leg. Mr. Peng was ordered to pay the damages to the elder woman under the judge's logic that the man wouldn't have helped her unless he was guilty of injuring her in the first place. Some litigators suggest that lawsuits of this nature create legal disparity between the affluent and the less privileged. Perhaps had the woman not belonged to the poorer class, in need of money, no such lawsuit would have been filed.
A recent China Daily poll reveals that approximately 87 percent of Chinese citizens are unlikely to aid an elderly person who has fallen in the street because they want to avoid being blamed for the accident. "The public's lack of a sense of trust has been made obvious by recent media stories that have looked at the hesitation people feel before they come to someone else's aid," Xie Jing, a communications professor at Fudan University, told the newspaper.
While Good Samaritan Laws in the United States are not federally imposed, the largest jurisdictions in the United States – New York, California, and Texas – have statutes that shield voluntary assistants from liability in the case of an accident. Yet "Good Samaritans" in California and Vermont may be prosecuted if they don't act in the medical interest of the victim. In 2007 a woman who pulled a friend out of a wrecked car, leaving the friend paralyzed, was liable to civil damages in California because "the perceived danger of remaining in the wrecked car was not "medical," the court ruled."
One explanation for not imposing more collective responsibility on individuals: separation of morals and law.
"Our common law has always refused to transmute moral duties into legal duties," Virginia Law Professor Charles O. Gregory noted to Time Magazine in 1965, when the killing of a woman within earshot of dozens of her neighbors prompted a national debate about civic duty. Today, every state has some form of Good Samaritan law protecting people from liability for trying to save a life, according to HeartSafe America.
In Canada, too, each province has its own set of laws concerning Good Samaritan acts. Quebec's Charter of Rights gives citizens a "duty to rescue:" individuals must assist anyone in jeopardy, unless there is reasonable evidence that it would cause danger to himself or a third party. Abstaining from helping someone is not considered a criminal offense, since it comes from the provincial level. Yet the majority of provinces have adopted a version of the Good Samaritan Law, most of which provide some form of protection for voluntary passers-by from liability for the victim's damages, unless it can be proven that the damages were caused by the gross negligence of the person.
In France, witnesses to a person in distress can be arrested for not intervening. A Frenchman who fails to help another when he can do so without risk is liable for up to five years in prison and fined several thousands in Euros. The French logic follows that a witness is a participant in the crime if he/she does nothing to prevent it.
In spite of the outrage bubbling in China over society's apparent moral decline, the majority of the population is reluctant to follow in France's footsteps. According to one online poll, 77.7 percent of Chinese respondents disagree with the idea of establishing a "duty to rescue" law. Most claim they don't want moral acts to be legally enforced. With restrictions on individual freedom already so tightly monitored, the Chinese appear weary to have one more government mandate imposed.
It took the death of a two-year-old girl to bring greater awareness to what it means to do the right thing. Perhaps what is most disturbing about Yueyue's death is the realization that an underlying current of fear has become inherently attached to what should be a visceral reaction of compassion. Had the Samaritan described by Luke in the New Testament been bound by today's laws, perhaps he would not have been so good.
• This article first appeared on Global Envision, a blog published by Mercy Corps.
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