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Home >> Bathroom >> Bathroom Sinks >> Vigo Bathroom Sinks
Vigo VIG-VGT294 Rectangular Amber Sunset Glass Vessel Sink and Wall Mount Faucet Set in Chrome
Our Price: $239.90
List Price: $429.00, You Save: 44%, No Sales Tax, Except CT
Product Reviews
The Rectangular Amber Sunset Glass Vessel Sink with Chrome Wall Mount Faucet Set by Vigo is simplistic and elegant. The bathroom glass vessel bowl features a warm, wood grain look with an elegant variety of brown and amber colors and striations. Handmade with possible unique and slight color variations, so no two sinks are identical. The bathroom faucet in Chrome finish features a dual-hole wall mount installation with a single lever for water and temperature control. Vigo finishes resist corrosion and tarnishing, exceeding industry durability standards. This Vigo vessel bowl and faucet set is cUPC, NSF-61 certified by IAPMO and Limited Lifetime Warranty available. Faucet is WaterSense Certified.
(W = side to side) (D = front to back) (H = top to bottom)
Sink Overall: 22-1/4" W x 14-1/2" D x 4-1/2" H
Glass Thickness: 1/2"
Drain Opening: 1-3/4" Diameter
Handle Faceplate Diameter: 4-3/8"
Spout Faceplate Diameter: 2-3/8"
Handle Center to Spout Center Width:5-1/4''
Faucet Spout Reach: 7-1/8''
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I've designed and installed a small stove to burn wood scraps and bio-briquettes. The stove is really simple box-shaped stove as drawn here below.
However the stove does not work properly: the fire dies quickly, most probably because there is not enough draught. Opening the door a little helps creating a draft, but then smoke fills the room instead of running out through the chimney.
I would like to improve on the stove, so the fire may burn happily. I have been told the 45° elbow on the chimney reduces the air draught, but changing this now would be a bit hard.
I've thought of adding some openings:
- by perforating the bottom and adding a tray below. This would possibly create draft and allow to clean ashes more easily.
- by perforating the front wall at the bottom with some holes, adding a small grid to prevent sparks from sneaking out.
Do you think any of the two options here above would improve the stove do increase draught? Do you have another suggestion?

subset: commoncrawl


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Sunday, August 14, 2016
Top Films for this week (Early Estimates)
http://movies.pazsaz.com/wkfilms.html for all of the top films for this week.
Online at http://www.pazsaz.com/ since 1991! This site has over 7500 entertainment pages devoted to entertainment news, TV shows, movies, cartoons, music, books, comic books, cooking, theme parks and video games.


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Happy Phelpsday
by, June 30th, 2011 at 10:02 AM (2018 Views)
So, according to the celebrity/ gossip pages of the local paper, Michael Phelps is 26 today.
This got me thinking, shouldn't his birthday be some kind of national holiday for swimmers?
Think of what we could do to celebrate. Swim a bunch of laps. Eat a big breakfast. Get really high. The possibilities are endless!


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Advanis' success has been built on clients' long term trust in our knowledge and expertise, and our researchers' ability to cross-pollinate learnings from a variety of industries.
Our work encompasses clients in both private and public sectors, including work in :
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Universal Messaging with IBM WebSphere MQ
IBM Redbooks Solution Guide
Note: This is publication is now archived. For reference only.
Published 07 December 2012
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Authors: Marcela Adan
By implementing messaging technologies, businesses can use a consistent approach to connectivity, decoupling the business application from the complexity of handling failures, error recovery, transaction integrity, security, and scalability. IBM® WebSphere® MQ delivers universal messaging. As explained in this IBM Redbooks® Solution Guide, WebSphere MQ provides simple, rapid, reliable, and secure transport of messages and data offering flexible connectivity for applications, web services, and other programming environments. WebSphere MQ is the market-leading, message-oriented middleware product. It delivers a reliable, proven universal messaging backbone for almost 10,000 organizations of different sizes, spanning many industries around the world.
By implementing messaging technologies, businesses can use a consistent approach to connectivity, decoupling the business application from the complexity of handling failures, error recovery, transaction integrity, security, and scalability. IBM® WebSphere® MQ provides the universal messaging backbone for service-oriented architecture (SOA) connectivity (Figure 1). It connects virtually any commercial IT system, with support for more than 80 platforms.
Figure 1. Overview of the WebSphere MQ solution
WebSphere MQ includes a choice of APIs and supports the Java™ Message Service (JMS) API. WebSphere MQ is the market-leading messaging integration middleware product. Originally introduced in 1993 (under the IBM MQSeries® name), WebSphere MQ provides an available, reliable, scalable, secure, and high-performance transport mechanism to address businesses connectivity requirements.
Did you know?
IBM WebSphere MQ has the following credentials and industry recognition:
- It is the most widely deployed messaging backbone, with over 10,000 customers using the IBM Messaging Backbone:
- Over 90 percent of Fortune 50 companies and of Fortune 10 companies use the IBM Messaging Backbone.
- Over 80 percent of Global 25 companies and 70 percent of Global 10 companies use the IBM Messaging Backbone.
- It is entrusted with tens of billions of messages each day:
- A government client sends 675 million messages per day.
- A banking client handles over 213 million messages per day on IBM z/OS® alone.
- It is relied upon as the mission-critical backbone:
- A financial markets client handles US$1 trillion worth of traffic per day on one WebSphere MQ network.
- A banking client sends US$7 - US$35 trillion worth of traffic per day on just one WebSphere MQ-based SWIFT gateway.
Business value
Business environments are constantly changing. Applications that were written 20 years ago need to exchange data with applications that were written last week. With WebSphere MQ, businesses can respond quickly to the constantly changing environment by reducing the need to change existing applications to connect them to new ones. Businesses can use and extend the life of existing applications by enabling wider sharing of business data. They can also manage complexity through end-to-end visibility of data movement across all systems and applications.
By using WebSphere MQ, companies can create a robust IT infrastructure that supports SOAs, providing businesses with the reliability and flexibility that they require. Application developers can concentrate on solving business problems and adding value to the business, while relying on the messaging backbone that is provided by WebSphere MQ to handle the technical aspects of application connectivity and integration.
Most businesses today require services, such as managing payments or querying account information, to be made available through a range of channels. The core data can be held in a database on a mainframe, but a user of a browser requires a front-end web application server to interact with that database. As new delivery channels are created, such as smartphone applications, easy ways are needed for that new mechanism to interact. The smartphone application must communicate with the same applications and database without changes. WebSphere MQ Telemetry extends WebSphere MQ through clients by using MQ Telemetry Transport (MQTT), which is a standard lightweight connectivity protocol. It enables connected physical devices and mobile devices, which might be restricted by bandwidth and power consumption, to exchange information with WebSphere MQ.
Solution overview
WebSphere MQ has always been in the business of connecting systems and applications together, regardless of platform or environment. Now the range of environments in which WebSphere MQ can or must live has changed. Newer platforms, environments, requirements for qualities of service, and newer messaging patterns are available. Security has become more important as systems are made accessible to more users across an enterprise and beyond it. Performance and scalability requirements have increased. Regulators and auditors have imposed more controls on what can or must be done. Systems, which need access to enterprise data, have become both more powerful (faster and more processors) and much less powerful (sensors, tablets, and mobile phones). Therefore, WebSphere MQ has evolved.
WebSphere MQ includes the following features (illustrated in Figure 1) that enable business to connect all their assets in all possible ways:
- With WebSphere MQ Advanced Message Security (AMS), customers can protect the security of their messages from application to application, without needing to change the application code itself.
- IBM WebSphere MQ Telemetry is a feature of IBM WebSphere MQ that extends the universal messaging backbone with the MQTT protocol to a wide range of remote sensors, actuators, and telemetry devices. MQTT is a messaging protocol that is lightweight enough to be supported by the smallest devices, yet robust enough to ensure that important messages get to their destinations every time. With the MQTT protocol, such devices as smart energy meters, cars, trains, satellite receivers, and personal healthcare devices, can communicate with each other and with other systems or applications.
- WebSphere MQ Managed File Transfer (MQMFT) provides the ability for customers to move their business data stored in files over the WebSphere MQ infrastructure, improving the reliability, security, and management of their file transfers.
- Enterprise messaging is still the core function of WebSphere MQ. At the same time as adding new interfaces, protocols, and environments, a large amount of WebSphere MQ workload continues to run in mainframe-based data centers. Efficient use of, and integration with, the capabilities of the IBM System z® hardware and operating systems is critical. WebSphere MQ V7.1 for z/OS significantly improves the performance, capacity, and availability that can be achieved when running in a sysplex.
WebSphere MQ V7.1 has many new features. The benefits are real and customers have made this version the most accepted and fastest version-to-version migration in the product history. Many new features introduced in the new releases are the result of customer requirements. The following features have received much positive customer feedback:
- Multiple installation support
A key new feature of WebSphere MQ V7.1 is the ability to install WebSphere MQ in different locations on your system. This feature enables multiple versions to be installed at the same time, which can aid in migration, either between releases or when installing fix packs. This feature also enables support for applications that require different releases of WebSphere MQ.
- IBM z/OS shared message data sets
A new design for how large messages on shared queues are stored has improved performance, reduced processor costs, and increased the capacity of these queues. This feature is known as shared message data set. Reducing millions of instructions per second (MIPS) is a key advantage of this feature. This enhancement uses Virtual Storage Access Method (VSAM) instead of IBM DB2® binary large objects (BLOBs).
Figure 2. Basic WebSphere MQ components to connect applications
A message is a container that consists of three parts:
- MQ Message Descriptor (MQMD) identifies the message and contains additional control information. Examples of additional information are the type of message and the priority that is assigned to the message by the sending application.
- Message properties are an optional set of user-definable elements that describe the message without being part of the payload. Applications that receive messages can choose whether to inspect these properties.
- Message data contains the application data. The structure of the data is defined by the application programs that use it, and WebSphere MQ is largely unconcerned with its format or content.
Currently 12 types of objects can be configured in WebSphere MQ, in addition to many other resources (for example security access controls, or subscriptions) that are managed by WebSphere MQ. The most important objects from this set are the queue manager itself, queues, channels, and topics.
The nodes within a WebSphere MQ message queuing infrastructure are called queue managers. The queue manager is responsible for accepting and delivering messages. Multiple queue managers can run on a single physical server or on a wide network of servers across many various hardware and operating system platforms. Each queue manager provides facilities for reliable messaging.
The queue manager maintains queues of all messages that are waiting to be processed or routed. Queue managers are tolerant of failures and maintain the integrity of business-critical data that flows through the message queuing infrastructure. If a failure occurs (such as with the queue manager, machines, or power loss), the messages can be recovered.
The queue managers, within the infrastructure, are connected by logical channels over a communications network. Messages automatically flow across these channels from the initial producer of a message to the eventual use of that message, based on the configuration of the queue managers in the infrastructure. Changes can be made to the configuration of queues and channels transparently for the applications. For example, a receiving application can be moved to a new machine, and a route to that machine can be defined without needing any changes to sending applications.
Solution architecture
The architecture for a solution that is based on WebSphere MQ depends on the business requirements and applications that it supports. One flexible approach is to join many queue managers in a dynamic logical network called a queue manager cluster. A cluster allows multiple instances of the same service to be hosted through multiple queue managers. Applications that request a particular service can connect to any queue manager within the queue manager cluster. When applications make requests for the service, the queue manager to which they are connected uses a workload balancing algorithm to spread these requests across all available queue managers that host an instance of that service.
Figure 3 illustrates workload balancing in a WebSphere MQ cluster. The message sent from Application A can be processed by any instance of Application Z. The cluster chooses one of the routes based on various criteria, including knowledge of which route it previously chose and which routes are available.
Figure 3. Workload balancing in a WebSphere MQ cluster
Usage scenarios
The following scenarios show three ways in which IBM WebSphere MQ was used to solve real-world problems:
- Retail kiosk
A retailer wanted to respond rapidly to online customer needs and have a consistent view of data shown at more than 25,000 self-service kiosks. Data changes rapidly and must be distributed rapidly to these kiosks.
The network of kiosks was connected by a messaging service to the central databases, and changes are now pushed out rapidly. More than 14,000 transactions are processed each second.
- Faster bank payments
Government regulations that limit payment clearing times require faster payment processes through near-instant money transfers between banks.
A high-performance payment solution was developed by using a messaging backbone to route message traffic between systems. Many existing components of the older payment system were adapted to work with the new messaging layer, preserving investment in these programs. The government requirement can clear payments in under two hours. However, this solution is technically capable of completing its processing in seconds. It handles millions of transactions every day.
- Airport Information
At an airport, rapid changes in government regulations are coupled with increasing passenger volumes. This airport needed a flexible IT infrastructure that is populated with seamlessly integrated systems. The airport was supporting daily business operations with an inflexible heterogeneous infrastructure.
A messaging-based solution was implemented that establishes a shared integration layer and enables the seamless flow of multiple data types between the client's heterogeneous systems. For example, airport staff can now easily access important information, such as flight schedule changes from multiple systems. The airport can also flexibly integrate new systems to accommodate evolving government regulations.
IBM WebSphere MQ is at the core of the SOA Message Backbone, and any-to-any connectivity is its core value. WebSphere MQ does not require the use of any other products. However, two products are frequently used alongside WebSphere MQ:
- WebSphere Message Broker
- WebSphere Application Server
Integration with WebSphere Message Broker
Enterprise systems consist of many logical endpoints, such as off-the-shelf applications, services, packaged applications, web applications, devices, appliances, and custom built software. These endpoints use a set of inputs and outputs:
- Connection protocols such as MQ, TCP/IP, database, HTTP, files, FTP, SMTP, and POP3
- Data formats such as C or COBOL structures, XML, industry-specific (SWIFT, EDI, HL7), and user-defined formats
An enterprise service bus (ESB) can be imagined as something that runs at the center of this wide range of connections, applications, and protocols. It performs such tasks as routing and data transformation, so that any endpoint can communicate with any other endpoint. Traffic passes through an ESB, without requiring a complex and unmaintainable mesh of individual point-to-point connections.
WebSphere Message Broker is an ESB product that connects these endpoints in meaningful ways, to simplify application and device integration. This connection requires WebSphere MQ to also be installed on systems where it runs. This requirement is partly because applications that are enabled for WebSphere MQ are an important class of connectivity that it must support. The requirement is also because it uses queue manager-provided services such as transaction coordination, publish/subscribe, and the reliable storage of messages.
As an example of how WebSphere Message Broker makes integration simple, consider a typical retail enterprise. Such an enterprise has many different end points, both inside and outside the organization, with data in multiple formats and protocols, such as TLOG, files, JSON/HTTP. As new capabilities need to blend in (such as support for mobile applications and analytics), the flexibility of WebSphere Message Broker makes it simple to add these functions without disrupting existing services.
Integration with WebSphere Application Server
The WebSphere Application Server product hosts and runs applications. At its core, it is a Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) environment, which implements and supports a range of open standards. One such standard that Java EE applications often use is the Java Message Service (JMS).
WebSphere Application Server includes the runtime Java client code and the administration panels that make it easy to connect to a WebSphere MQ queue manager. This way, web applications can reliably send messages to, and get responses from, any other MQ-enabled application that might be running in the enterprise.
Supported platforms
WebSphere MQ helps to integrate virtually anything, with support for more than 80 platform configurations. For information about the supported platforms, see the System Requirements for WebSphere MQ at:
Ordering information
Table 1 shows the ordering information.
Table 1. Part numbers and feature codes
|Program name
|PID number
|Charge unit description
|WebSphere MQ for Multiplatform
|Per Processor Value Unit (PVU) for Linux on System z
|Per PVU
Related information
For more information, see the following documents:
- IBM WebSphere MQ V7.1 and V7.5 Features and Enhancements, SG24-8087
- IBM WebSphere MQ Primer, REDP0021
- WebSphere MQ product page
- IBM announcement letters and sales manuals
On this page, enter IBM WebSphere MQ for z/OS V7.1 or WebSphere MQ for Multiplatform, and click Search. On the next page, narrow your search results by information type, geography, language, or all three options.
Others who read this publication also read
Special Notices
This material has not been submitted to any formal IBM test and is published AS IS. It has not been the subject of rigorous review. IBM assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness. The use of this information or the implementation of any of these techniques is a client responsibility and depends upon the client's ability to evaluate and integrate them into the client's operational environment.
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We couldn't help but wonder…if the walls in this historic West Village townhouse could talk, what would they say?
Located at 64 Perry Street, this 1866 row house was once home to Liz Claiborne executive and Project Runway star Tim Gunn (he lived in a top-floor apartment there for 16 years). And, just a couple of doors down from this ten room townhouse is 66 Perry, which served as the facade of Carrie Bradshaw's supposed Upper East Side home on the famed series Sex and the City. According to Gunn, 64 Perry was in fact the original inspiration behind Carrie's Manhattan abode. In fact, Gunn reportedly first met Sarah Jessica Parker for the first time in the halls of No. 64 when he came home as Sex and the City was being filmed inside.
64 Perry is now on the market for $8.5 million. Since 1866 the historic home has had only two owners and so it has been able to retain an abundance of original details including the hardwood flooring, ornate moldings, six fireplaces with marble mantels and a front courtyard. There are ten total rooms spread over four floors.


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Home Entertainment, Audio, and Automation for the entire DFW Metroplex!
Smart Solutions Start Here
Stereo East Can Help Make Life at Home Easier and More Fun for the Entire Family!
People spend more of their time these days interacting with electronics and technology than doing anything else. According to USA today, the average American household spends more than 8 hours every day in front of a TV, music system, or computer. That's more time than we spend eating, sleeping, or working! The frustration associated with these technology-based activities comes when you try to figure out what your desires should cost and how difficult it will be to install and use!
Enjoy your life at home every day with help from the home technology experts at Stereo East.
At Stereo East in Frisco, Texas, our job is to help you enjoy your life at home. When you come to visit you'll find the largest home entertainment and automation showrooms in the entire Dallas/Ft. Worth area and a staff of highly competent and certified designers and technicians. Our 28 years of experience have helped thousands of satisfied clients enjoy their life at home, as well as improve efficiency and lower costs.
We will make sure you can enjoy what audio, video, home automation, and other technologies can do for you and your family. We're experts in everything related to home technology, from the simplest remote controls to complete home automation systems and structured wiring. Whether you're just beginning to explore the idea of setting up a home theater or have been displeased with the service you've received from other technology providers, Stereo East will be here for you for every moment of the process from start to finish. From complete and total lifestyle control, to high performance and high value media rooms, to whole house music or basic stereo and TV sales and installation; Stereo East is your trusted home technology advisor.
Our services include:
- Custom HD, Ultra HD and 3D Home Theater Systems
- Home Automation and Control Systems
- Lighting Control and Shades
- Security and Surveillance Products
- Performance Audio and Whole House Music
- Computer and Digital Audio with Wired and Wireless Distribution
- Theater Seating and Furniture
- And much more….
If you want complete control, incredible performance and superior value, visit Stereo East in Frisco to discuss these services and what a difference we can make in your lifestyle.
Home Theater Systems in Frisco, Texas
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a movie theater at your disposal, 24 hours a day? When you visit our Frisco home theater showroom, you'll get to see what a difference high quality home theater technology makes when watching your favorite movies and TV shows. With 3D, HD, and Ultra HD options for your home theater technology, Stereo East can show you how to get the most from your home entertainment experience. Our experts can help you decide which home theater options best fit your space, desires, and budget restrictions, and we'll make sure that everything is optimally installed in your Dallas/Ft. Worth area home. We also offer one year of white glove customer service with the purchase of any complete media room package.
Home Automation and Lifestyle Control for DFW
With the advent of tablet computers and smartphones, more and more people are looking into home automation and lifestyle control, making it possible to control virtually every aspect of your home with the push of a few buttons. We can set up your home automation and lifestyle control for your home entertainment, home lighting & shade systems, audio systems, HVAC, pool, and even security systems, making it possible for you to manage your home environment on a moment-by-moment basis without moving anything but a finger. We also provide various remote control devices, as well as setting up your system to respond to your tablet or smartphone. The future is here and it's more affordable than ever at Stereo East.
Performance Audio Solutions near Plano, Texas
Have you heard the expression, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"? At Stereo East we believe it is in the ear of the beholder. We don't think you should have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to achieve greatness with your audio system, but we do believe it is the most important part of any electronics purchase for your home. Remember, even if you are just watching TV, the audio system will make or break your overall perception of how good that experience is.
You'll feel like you're at the concert hall or experiencing movie theater surround sound with a home audio system designed and installed by the helpful crew at Stereo East. And we can make it easy to control your home audio with your computerized devices, wiring the entire home so that you can design the right audio setup for every occasion.
Setting the Right Mood with Help from Stereo East
Did you know that lighting has a strong effect on how you feel? Did you know the color red can inspire anger or that blue can help to calm you? It is also true of white light. That is why there are clear bulbs or soft white options. Lighting control can help you achieve different lighting temperatures, colors or scenes to help you feel better when you are at home. More than that, did you know that dimming a light bulb just 10% can reduce your annual lighting cost as much as 30%! We can help you and your whole family save money and feel better!
Have we piqued your interest? Contact us or come by for a demonstration of everything Stereo East has to offer. Our Frisco showroom is convenient for Prosper, Allen, Dallas, Plano, McKinney, Irving, and the rest of the DFW metroplex. Experience the best in home technology at Stereo East.


text: Arts, Culture & Media Hallelujah? Christian rock is gaining popularity in Pakistan — under the radar The World December 26, 2013 There are a number of amateur and semi-professional Christian/Gospel rock bands in Pakistan. Among them is Hallelujah, which has parlayed its mix of rock and Christian themes into a little bit of mainstream attention.


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"The helicopter is a triumph of technology, but at its heart, the real story is one of the talented, brave, and occasionally foolhardy people who developed and employed these amazing machines, and, most significantly, those who have benefited from [them]. Whether it is rescue from certain doom or gaining the edge in a political campaign, James Chiles expertly weaves the remarkable narrative of society's interaction with these underappreciated workhorses of the aerial age." —Roger Connor, Specialist, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
"Engaging…I wanted more…. [Chiles] describes the physics and machinery with such conviction that the reader is drawn ineluctably into the rest of his tale.… From the exploits of Hank 'Gunfighter' Emerson in Vietnam to those of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Karl Maier in Mogadishu, there are vignettes enough to curl your hair." —New York Post
"An engaging blend of pop science and pop culture…. Chiles explores the helicopter's role in history and culture, from its visionary beginnings … to its heroic age during the Vietnam war, to its present workaday role lifting and hauling, monitoring traffic and car chases, saving victims of flood waters and skyscraper infernos…. [A] sprightly history."—Publishers Weekly
"Lively…. Sketches of machine designs enrich the text…. Should be a required purchase for academic libraries serving engineering or aviation programs and for aeronautical corporation or aviation flight department collections."—Library Journal
"Entertaining … part history, part technical exploration, part flying lesson…. Delivers an avalanche of information with enough lucidity and enthusiasm to captivate not only aviation buffs, but general readers as well."—Kirkus Reviews
"Enthusiastic and knowledgeable, Chiles should take off with aviators."—Booklist


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I would really appreciate some suggestions on how to get an idea out across New Zealand through online channels? We're getting a little bit of traction through facebook and twitter but I feel like we need to seed it in some different groups to really get it going. The idea I'm trying to promote is Donate Your Desktop - or more specifically the competition we've just launched - but I'll leave it at that hoping that this post doesn't get deleted too!
I thought tech forums would be a good place to start because you know the users are going to be well-connected and tech-savvy - and that the prize would probably appeal to them more than most. I've posted on Biggie; just wondering if there are any other popular forums in NZ?
[Moderator edit (MF): since this thread started we confirmed the OP project so it's safe to post here: Donate your desktop]


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6th Annual Tarantino's Pizza Eating Contest is Back
Bobcat Fest is back next Friday, April 29 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Main Street in Downtown Bozeman, and with that comes the 6th Annual Tarantino's Pizza Eating Contest.
I was in this last year, and I thought I would do pretty well. I mean I think I eat fast, but I was dead wrong. I took dead last, but if you think you have what it takes then here are the rules to qualify to get into the pizza eating contest. Go to one of the Tarantino's locations before April 22, and you have to be able to eat a 18" cheese pizza by yourself in one sitting, and you are in. Simple and easy right? Well, I wish you the best of luck if you enter this contest. You can win some pretty sweet prizes.
Here's how Will predicted he'd do in last year's Bobcat Fest Pizza Eating Contest.


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A University of Toronto study suggests that women who drink more than six cups of coffee a day may benefit from as much as a 69 percent decreased risk of breast cancer. This is for a group of women who have the BRACI mutation only, those with the BRACII mutation experienced only negligible reductions in risk. The Canadian study analyzed over 1,600 women from different countries. There was still a 10 percent reduction in risk for BRACI positive women who had 1-3 cups of coffee: good news for these genetically challenged women.
I started drinking coffee for a whole other reason, but one still related to breast cancer. Growing up, I associated coffee with cigarettes and adults and never acquired a taste for it. As a good Canadian mother though, I did cart a cup with me around the arena when I took my two boys to Hockey practice. Of course, Canada is very civilized that way; you can get a cup of coffee from a joint owned by a hockey player at almost any corner (ever heard of Tim Horton's? It beats Starbucks in my book). After breast cancer treatment and because of the fatigue and inability to focus, I started having a cup of coffee daily in the afternoon to help "perk" me up. It worked! Coffee was the drug I needed to get me to the end of the day. I still don't drink it in the morning, I have plenty of energy then, but by 11:00 a.m. and later, I start sniffing it out.
Here's the good news for all of us coffee drinkers: Coffee is a stimulant and it turns out that it is a good treatment option for chemo brain. During the live webcast I participated in about chemo brain, I mentioned that I found coffee to be something that was working for me in dealing with chemo brain symptoms, especially if I had it late in the day when my concentration, energy and wits were waning. Dr. Sullivan (the medical expert researching the metabolic changes associated with chemo brain) said this made great sense as stimulants such as Ritalin for ADHD were proving to provide some success in treating chemo brain symptoms. I have been researching the Ritalin/ ADHD/Chemo brain connection and when I get something substantial I'll let you know. But for now, coffee is a good drug fix for us out of focus chemo brain survivors. Who knew?
Drink up to perk up!
Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.


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With just one week until Levi Johnston's Playgirl spread debuts, many are wondering if this is just the start of his career in entertainment. Could the father of Sarah Palin's grandson be headed towards a career in country music and possibly even movies?
He hinted as much when New York Magazine caught up with Levi at The Box nightclub in New York City on Wednesday during the inaugural Fleshbot awards – where he was honored with the Best Mainstream To Porn Crossover Award. The mag wasn't shy about asking Levi a question on many people's minds – the size question.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Latest Star Sightings
"A lot of people ask that, but you're just going to have to wait until next week when the magazine comes out," Levi told the mag when asked about the measure of his manhood. "You will have to wait and see. I'm sorry, you're going to have to."
Levi was also tight-lipped when it came to life beyond his Playgirl spread, but revealed it could involve music and movies.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Stars Go Naked For PETA
"I'd love to tell you, but it's just got to stay secret or else those deals could be off. I'm just going to say that in the next three months, you're going to be really excited about my career. I think my career is going to really take off and give me that big start," he explained. "I've had offers to do movies, but I am not going to do anything until I do a couple of classes in LA."
And the Alaska native might even take a stab at music industry.
"That will be part of it. You're good," he said when asked if music was in his future.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Young Hollywood Heartthrobs!
But what genre is Levi hoping to have success in?
"A little country," he revealed. "I've always been a fan of Kenny Chesney and all of them. They're all great and I give them all props. I've come a long way and I've worked hard for it."
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Penn State helps Philadelphia lead in energy innovation
Penn State helps Philadelphia lead in energy innovation
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia region is poised to become one of the nation's leaders in energy-efficient building stock, thanks to a partnership among city leaders, utility companies, private businesses and Penn State — to name just a few of the key players.
President Barack Obama's comments in his January State of the Union speech highlighted his administration's commitment to energy efficiency as an important strategy for the nation. But public and private stakeholders in Philadelphia had already joined together years earlier to provide leadership on the challenging issue of energy consumption.
Philadelphia's emergence as a sustainability leader began with the election of Mayor Michael A. Nutter in 2008, who pledged to make Philadelphia the "Greenest City in America." His administration created the city's first Office of Sustainability and released "Greenworks Philadelphia," the city's first sustainability plan. Greenworks contains targets and metrics in 14 major areas, including two very important energy efficiency goals: 1) to reduce the city's own energy consumption by 30 percent by 2015; and 2) to reduce energy consumption in all buildings within the city by 10 percent by 2015.
With Greenworks laying the strategic groundwork for initiatives throughout the city and region, Philadelphia was ready to compete for newly available stimulus funding from the Department of Energy. The region was successful in securing two critical investments in its energy-efficient future. The first was a $25 million pool of retrofit finance funding. This award enabled the region to accelerate retrofit activity among its commercial and residential building stock. The second major investment was a $200 million smart grid grant awarded to PECO, the region's electric utility, that financed upgrades for critical system infrastructure as well as the installation of smart meters so consumers can better understand how to manage energy use.
This successful network of partners and supporters already participating and supporting Greenworks and related projects was more than eager to be part of the region's most ambitious energy efficiency opportunity to date — the creation and successful launch of the Energy Efficient Buildings (EEB) Hub in Philadelphia.
"The creation of the EEB Hub signals Penn State and Philadelphia as leaders in what is considered to be the next big frontier in energy research and development and also in the construction industry nationally, which is looking for better ways to build energy-efficient facilities."
— Laurie Actman, EEB Hub deputy director
"The creation of the EEB Hub signals Penn State and Philadelphia as leaders in what is considered to be the next big frontier in energy research and development and also in the construction industry nationally, which is looking for better ways to build energy-efficient facilities," said Laurie Actman, EEB Hub deputy director. "The EEB Hub will be a significant source of education to help the city and nation create a more resilient and efficient building stock."
The EEB Hub, initially known as the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster, is led by Penn State. In 2010 Penn State and its partners came together to successfully compete for a $129 million federal grant that would fuel research into energy efficiency, accelerate adoption of energy-efficient building technology and foster economic development through the creation of a new sector and industry. Established at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the EEB Hub involves a substantial number of researchers from academe, two DOE laboratories, five high-profile global industry partners, and regional economic development agencies. All told, more than 90 organizations have made commitments to help achieve the goals of national energy independence and regional economic development.
"The collaboration we have fostered at the Hub among our partners and with public and private stakeholders in the region allows us to pursue inter-disciplinary strategies to accelerate the rate of retrofit in Greater Philadelphia and beyond," Actman added.
Penn State is now involved in the renovation of an existing 38,000-square-foot building and the construction of a new 25,200-square-foot building at the Navy Yard. The buildings will facilitate public education and outreach, and function as the headquarters for the EEB Hub. The total project budget for both buildings combined is $39 million, funded by the state and grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Economic Development Administration. Completion of both renovation and construction is expected by spring 2014.
Penn State's engagement at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia has been under way since 2005 as a demonstration of the Engineering Innovation Program of the University. Three other Penn State run Department of Energy Centers already operate at the Navy Yard. The 1,200-acre Navy Yard site is a city within a city with a master plan guiding its development. A central feature of the master plan is the Smart Energy Campus aimed at making the Navy Yard and the Greater Philadelphia region a global headquarters for clean energy technology and policy.


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I have a friend who was building a movie room in their house. Can you imagine this? a big screen, projector, reclining comfortable luxury seats, popcorn machines, the whole nine yards.. All in your house! I don't think I'd see my husband again unless I went in that room! What is even more amazing to me is that this is becoming quite popular among wealthy people!
I never go to movie theaters because they cost so much, maybe that is why people are doing this. Maybe it's so they can have big parties and watch the super bowl, or newly released movies with all their friends. I really don't know. I do know that when my husband was doing residential drawings at his old job, he drew up many a house with a movie theater in it! I just can't even imagine that!
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High School Boy Forced To Eat Semen Covered Oreo In Basketball Hazing Incident!
"A disgusting act of hazing within a prominent high school basketball team in Massachusetts has refocused national attention on the role coaches should play in policing their teams' behavior, even when those teams are away from the coach's direct supervision." - Yahoo News
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Top Soil
From a golfer's perspective, a properly constructed golf course green will provide a firm, uniform surface on which to putt. Getting to this point is not as easy as it appears. From a superintendent's perspective, a properly constructed golf course green will provide the above and more: will resist compaction even under frequent close mowing and foot traffic; will allow adequate water and air infiltration and percolation; will retain nutrients; and will hold moisture and make it available when the turfgrass needs it. Proper soil amendments and the right construction methods are your keys to coming through with the goods.
The primary ingredient for constructed root zones for turfgrass is sand. Sand is considered an ideal medium for bentgrass greens in terms of its physical characteristics. It is resistant to compaction, and it has a high infiltration rate and aeration porosity. However, sand does have a lower water-holding capacity and nutrient retention compared to other media. Due to these challenges, it is often a good idea to add amendments to the sand base to increase water and nutrient retention. Organic amendments such as peat increase water and nutrient retention, but peat decomposes over time, which results in lower air-filled porosity and water infiltration.
Other amendments for sand-based root zones include inorganic porous ceramics and zeolites that offer some benefits relative to organic amendments. They are less prone to compaction than organic materials and also have high cation exchange (nutrient retention) and water-holding capacities relative to sand. Additionally, because they are inorganic, they do not decompose with time.
Construction systems for root zones also influence the performance of turfgrass. An increasing number of golf courses are building greens in a California-style that reduces costs relative to United States Golf Association (USGA)-style greens by establishing a 10- to 12-inch sand layer over native soil without a gravel layer. Before construction, physical properties for the sand-based root zone must meet USGA recommendations that include saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, porosity and water-holding capacity. Over time, these physical properties typically change due to an increased thatch layer and compaction as well as decomposition of the peat. Chemical properties of the root zone (organic matter content and nutrient retention) also may change.
The University of Missouri-Columbia Turfgrass Research Center conducted a study comparing putting-green root zone amendments and greens construction systems. The researchers compared four treatments: a California profile, a USGA profile and two modified California profiles. The California profile, referred to as the California treatment, consisted of a 12-inch layer of 100 percent sand over a 5-inch layer of silt loam with a drain at the top of the silt loam layer. The USGA profile, referred to as the USGA treatment, consisted of 90 percent sand and 10 percent Dakota reed sedge peat by volume, with a 12-inch root zone mix over a 5-inch pea gravel layer (0.10 to 0.25 inch in diameter) over a drain. The sand/peat mix was blended at the supplier, Capitol Sand, Jefferson City, Mo. Researchers also studied two modified California profile green treatments, each consisting of a 10-inch root zone mix over a 7-inch layer of silt loam with a drain at the top of the silt loam layer. The first modified profile, referred to as the California-P treatment, consisted of 82 percent sand, 15 percent porous ceramic (Profile), and 3 percent humate; the second modified profile, referred to as the California-Z treatment, consisted of 85 percent sand and 15 percent zeolite (ZeoPro). These two mixes were blended at the Turf Research Center with a small cement mixer. Two sands were used for the different root zone mixes in this study: a coarse (25 percent) and medium (52 percent) sand was blended with Dakota reed sedge peat for the USGA treatment and a medium (53 percent) and fine (37 percent) sand was used in the three California-style treatments. The particle size distributions in the root zone mixes for the California and USGA systems met the criteria for these systems.
Researchers established field treatments in 4-foot × 4-foot wooden boxes equipped so that they could monitor drainage leachate. The amended and unamended root zones were installed in August and 'Penncross' creeping bentgrass was seeded Sept. 27, 1998, at 1 lb/M (M=1000 ft
The objective of the study was to compare these amendments and construction systems in terms of short- and long-term performance and resource efficiency by measuring responses such as: creeping bentgrass establishment, quality and color, root zone physical and chemical properties, and nitrogen and potassium leaching.
- Root Zone Properties
Researchers removed samples from the treatments and evaluated them in terms of saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), air-filled porosity, capillary porosity, total porosity and bulk density. Results of the physical property evaluation indicated that the construction treatments met the criteria set for California and USGA construction systems. Plots with amendments increased the capillary porosity in relation to the California treatment (100 percent sand), resulting in greater water retention. The plots with peat amendments (USGA) had the lowest saturated hydraulic conductivity values measured in laboratory tests for the root zone mixes. They found higher hydraulic conductivity values in the profile- and zeolite-amended California treatments compared to the other treatments; they attributed this to the higher total porosity of these treatments. Field water infiltration measurements were taken two to three times each year. Results of field infiltration measurements for the study indicated that all treatments experienced a decrease in the infiltration rate over time. Infiltration rates decreased over time, probably due to the increased accumulation of a thatch layer. The zeolite-amended California treatment had the highest field infiltration rates throughout the study. At the end of the experiment, infiltration rates were found to be higher in the Profile- and zeolite-amended California treatments compared to the USGA and un-amended California treatments.
The USGA and the Profile- and zeolite-amended California treatments had increased values of cation exchange capacity (nutrient retention) in the root zone compared to the un-amended California treatment. Researchers found the highest values were for the Profile-amended California treatment. The zeolite-amended California treatment contained more plant-available phosphorus and potassium compared to the other treatments, while the Profile-amended California treatment contained high amounts of available phosphorus, calcium and magnesium relative to the un-amended California and USGA treatments. Greater nutrient retention due to the additions of zeolite and Profile seemed to correlate with higher average bentgrass quality and color ratings over the three-year study. These results indicate that amending root zones with Profile or zeolite may allow for maintaining high quality bentgrass with less frequent fertilizer inputs.
- Bentgrass Performance
Conditions for the bentgrass establishment during the fall of 1998 were optimum and bentgrass germination and fill-in were excellent. The USGA and un-amended California treatments had better early establishment compared to the Profile- and zeolite-amended California treatments. No differences among treatments occurred three months after seeding.
The zeolite-amended California treatment had the highest overall quality ratings during most of the experiment. The only decrease occurred during July 2000 when irrigation water was not applied for 30 days. During this sampling period, the zeolite-amended treatment experienced a significant decrease in bentgrass quality. Researchers also measured bentgrass color throughout the experiment. The zeolite-amended California treatment had the highest color ratings during 1999 and early 2000. However, during the rainfed period of July 2000, this treatment experienced a significant decline in color. After this period, the Profile-amended California treatment was found to have the best bentgrass color for the treatments.
- Nutrient Leaching
Researchers connected drains for each plot to outlet collectors and performed periodic collection of the drainage water to evaluate the quality of the water for nitrate and potassium concentrations. They found that the USGA treatment had the highest nitrate leachate concentration for the November 1998 sampling. However, at three years after planting, the results showed that there were no significant nitrate-leaching differences among the treatments. Results from the study also demonstrated that nitrate-leaching concentrations typically increased at the first late-fall sampling following seeding, and then drastically decreased during the next year's growing season. The zeolite-amended California treatment consistently had the lowest potassium leachate concentration, probably due to its higher cation exchange capacity (nutrient retention). The USGA treatment had the highest measured losses for potassium in June and September 1999.
Overall, the zeolite-amended California treatment had the highest infiltration rates throughout the experiment. The Profile- and zeolite-amended California treatments had higher cation exchange capacities (nutrient retention) and plant nutrient levels. The Profile- and zeolite-amended California treatments produced the highest bentgrass quality and color throughout the experiment. It is speculated that inorganic amendments may be superior replacements for peat as amendments in terms of some criteria for sand-based putting greens. In comparing construction costs of the four treatments, the USGA green was considered as the standard: $14,000 per 10,000 square feet. The un-amended California treatment construction costs were $5,000 per 10,000 square feet, while the Profile- and zeolite-amended California treatment costs were $13,000 per 10,000 square feet and $18,000 per 10,000 square feet, respectively. Thus, it appears that the Profile-amended California treatment achieves good quality bentgrass for a cheaper cost compared to the zeolite-amended California treatment.
Chang-Ho Ok is a graduate student in horticulture and Steve Anderson is professor of soil science, both at the University of Missouri (Columbia, Mo.)
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I actually don't think much about how me and my family are recycling. But when I think about it now it I realize that we do recycle and sort our waste almost all the time. For an example, we always saves the glass jars that we get when we buy food in it. And when we buy our food we don't buy a plastic bag every single time we go shopping, we use cotton bags instead.
I think that Lauren's lifestyle is a good example of how it can be done in the best way. But I also think that it's a little bit too much for everyone to manage. I believe that everyone just buys recyclable products and always sorts their waste our world will become a healthier planet.


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by Paige
Pyramid Head & Claudia Wolf Costume Photo 3 of 10
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This homemade costume for couples entered our 2015 Halloween Costume Contest.
A word from Chad, the 'Pyramid Head & Claudia Wolf' costume creator:
my name is Chad, and i am wearing pyramid head this year. my wife Julie is wearing Claudia Wolf, my combatant in the movie "silent hill". Claudia Wolf is a mutation from ordinary human when... Read more »
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It all started with a simple idea — instead of just responding to reader comments about the new Ford Fusion, what if we were to surprise real Jalopnik commenters with a once-in-a-lifetime experience?
Then we threw in Top Gear USA co-host Rutledge Wood, his fellow co-host and rally champ Tanner Foust, and Tim Damon, one of the greatest car commercial directors in the world — all in the name of responding to real commenters. We call it — The Fusion Project.
In case you missed it, here are all three episodes.
Watch as we shut down two miles of California's famous Mulholland Highway so Tanner can take two commenters for the ride of their lives.
Next, see Rutledge create a giant car made out of toy blocks, and finally, in the third episode, he shows us a very unique test of the Fusion.
We did all of it in the name of responding to your comments. How cool is that?


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Whether you need help with a simple faucet repair or a full repiping of your house, we provide the same professional service.
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With the growing uncertainty over Social Security's future, America's workers are relying more than ever on their employers to ensure they'll have enough money to retire—and this growing trend toward paternalism is being embraced by mutual fund and insurance companies.
This week, both Putnam Investments and Russell Investments announced new programs designed to help companies track whether their employees' 401(k) plan choices will afford them adequate savings in retirement.
These announcements came the same week that the U.S. Senate Finance Committee held hearings on tax reform options for promoting retirement security.
Putnam on Wednesday said in a news release that it is bringing its Lifetime Income Score metrics, currently used by defined-contribution (DC) plan participants, directly to the plan sponsors so they can "help positively influence the retirement preparedness of their workers." Boston-based Putnam is a money management and mutual fund firm.
Russell on Monday said it is proposing "a new framework to help DC plan sponsors better answer the question 'Are my participants saving enough?' and in turn to take measured steps through plan design in an effort to improve participant behavior." Based in Seattle, Russell is a subsidiary of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Senators on the powerful panel wrangled Thursday with retirement experts from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the Brookings Institution and the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries over the fate of Social Security and how it can be funded in light of the nation's crushing deficit and weak economy.
While Democrats favored preserving Social Security and Republicans spoke in favor of the private sector, all agreed that DC plans have become a significant part of the American retirement system.
"The United States has the most successful private retirement system in the world, but for the amount our country spends on retirement savings, are we getting enough bang for our buck?," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the panel, in a statement. "The average Social Security beneficiary receives only slightly more than $14,000 each year. As a result, most Americans will not be able to retire on Social Security alone."
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), ranking member on the panel, said the private employer-based pension system has become the greatest wealth creator for the middle class in history, especially through 401(k) plans and IRAs.
"More money has been set aside for retirement in defined contribution plans and IRAs than in Social Security," Hatch said in a statement. "The Social Security Trust Fund holds $2.6 trillion in Treasury securities. But private, employer-based defined contribution plans hold $4.7 trillion. And IRAs hold even more: $4.9 trillion."
As DC plans' popularity grows, companies are using 401(k)s not just as an employee recruitment tool, but to help fill the growing gap between what Social Security can pay to retirees and how much they will need to spend in retirement.
In an interview with AdvisorOne, Putnam Director of DC Services Edmund Murphy (left) said his firm is finding that the more paternalistic plan sponsors want to help employees take on more responsibility for their retirement because they're not sure about the future of Social Security.
"What we would say, and I think companies will say this, is that the true measure of a 401(k) plan's success is that it helps put people in a position where they can live a dignified retirement, so when they retire from working, they don't outlive their savings. That's really the objective," Murphy said.


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Hot Dog Princess Papercraft
Take a piece of the latest movie time to the paper, published by the "Hot Dog Princess deposit! There is no competition, the princess and the princess Slime Hot Dog in the heart of a young Finnish? You can use the hot dog, that Finnish look smelled? Get it done and get your own scenarios! Just look for the king on the ice!
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2008 arrest led to Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis' Navy discharge
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In the early morning hours of August 10, 2008, Aaron Alexis -- now known as the Washington Navy Yard shooter -- was arrested for disorderly conduct in metro Atlanta. The then-Navy reservist was kicked out of a club for damaging the furnishings and left the place releasing an unrelenting string of profanities even as police officers told him to stop.
He kept cussing and he was taken in, according to a police report.
An angry overreaction, maybe, but one that his military superiors noticed.
Was this just one side of an isolated incident? Or was it a warning sign of someone suffering from trauma dating back to the 9/11 attacks? It was this confrontation along with another arrest in Texas that prompted the Navy to begin proceedings to separate him from the military.
By the time the Navy began to seek a "general discharge" for Alexis, he had eight instances of misconduct on his record, including insubordination, disorderly conduct, unauthorized absences from work, and at least one instance of drunkenness. But in the end, he left the service with an honorable discharge because he had never been convicted and there was a lack of evidence to merit a general discharge, a U.S. defense official said.
A general discharge might have hindered his ability to get work in the civilian sector.
As it tragically played out, Alexis was working as a military contractor when he opened fire Monday at the Washington Navy Yard in the District of Columbia.
Authorities have not released their thoughts on Alexis' motive in the morning shooting at the headquarters for Naval Sea Systems Command that left 12 people -- and the gunman -- dead. But a friend said Alexis was locked in a dispute over money with the company that contracted him to work for the Navy.
Investigators also learned that Alexis had recently made contact with two Veterans Affairs hospitals for apparent psychological issues, law enforcement sources told CNN on Tuesday. However, other sources said Alexis sought help from the VA for sleep-related issues.
He told Newport, Rhode Island, police last month that an individual "had sent three people to follow him and to talk, keep him awake and send vibrations into his body," according to a police report.
Authorities said earlier that they are confident that Alexis was the lone gunman, after a daylong police search for a possible second suspect.
Trauma from 9/11?
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were the catalyst that triggered Alexis to leave his home in New York City, according to a source with direct knowledge of the investigation.
He could not deal with the attack, left New York and essentially became a wanderer going from place to place -- San Diego, Texas, and overseas, the source said.
His father told Seattle police in 2004 that his son was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after taking part in 9/11 rescue efforts, according to police records.
Alexis has not been back to New York since 2010, the source said. His parents, divorced, both live in Queens, and have been interviewed by authorities.
The source with direct knowledge of the investigation said that, based on family accounts, it appears Alexis "basically snapped."
According to the source, Alexis was "having problems sleeping" and was "hearing voices." He was growing increasingly troubled and in recent months had exhibited signs of mental problems and, the source said, he tried to get help at a VA facility in Rhode Island.
Last month, Alexis told Newport, Rhode Island, police that an individual "had sent three people to follow him and to talk, keep him awake and send vibrations into his body," according to a police report.
According to that report, which is related to an investigation into a harassment complaint at a Marriott hotel in Newport, Alexis said he first heard the people "talking to him through a wall" at a Residence Inn in Middletown, Rhode Island, where he'd been staying.
He packed up and went to an unidentified hotel on a Navy base in Newport where he heard the same voices talking to him. He moved to a third hotel, the Marriott, according to the police report. There, Alexis first told authorities that the three individuals spoke to him through the floor and then the ceiling.
Alexis said the individuals were using "some sort of microwave machine" that sent "vibrations through the ceiling, penetrating his body so he cannot fall asleep." He told authorities, according to the police report, that "he does not have a history of mental illness in his family and that he never had any sort of mental episode."
Newport police said they referred the matter to the Newport naval base. That facility on Tuesday deferred comment to the FBI, which would not speak about the report.
Alexis is believed to have arrived in the Washington area last week, when he checked into a hotel, according to someone who met him at the hotel. The person, who declined to be identified, said Alexis indicated he planned to be in the area for several weeks.
At the time of the shooting, Alexis was working for The Experts, a subcontractor of HP Enterprise Services that was contracted to "refresh equipment used on the Navy Marine Corps Intranet network," according to a statement released by the company.
Alexis, who had Department of Defense security clearance, worked from September 2012 through January refreshing computer systems in Japan, said Thomas E. Hoshko, the CEO of The Experts.
His security clearance was renewed in July to carry out the same type of contract work at the Navy Yard, Hoshko said.
Alexis returned to work with The Experts that same month, he said. He worked at facilities in Rhode Island, North Carolina and Virginia for weeks at a time upgrading computer systems, Hoshko said.
No one reported having any problems with him during those assignments, the chief executive said.
Alexis began working at the Navy Yard last week, though it was unclear whether he had actually begun working or was still securing his base clearance, Hoshko said.
Alexis served as a full-time Navy reservist between 2007 and 2011, according to military records. He achieved the rank of aviation electrician's mate 3rd class, working on aircraft electrical systems, the records show.
From February 2001 until February 2003, he worked for the Borough of Manhattan Community College as a college assistant in the administrative computing office, according to spokesman Barry Rosen.
Barry Williams, who was Alexis' supervisor there, said the suspect become easily frustrated over small things and could hold a grudge, but that he never saw him get violent.
Alexis, who managed switches and networking in the office, was a better than average worker, Williams said.
While the FBI are urging anyone with information about Alexis to come forward, investigators are focusing on reported incidents, including police run-ins, that portray a man with increasingly violent tendencies.
Many surprised
There were no indications that Alexis had any ideological differences with the Navy or any disagreements with anyone at the Navy Yard, according to a U.S. law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation.
Alexis' family reeled at the news that he is believed to be the man behind the killings.
"What I do know is he wasn't that type of person," Anthony Little, who identified himself as Alexis' brother-in-law, told reporters outside his home in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. "I didn't really hear anything that would make me feel, as a newcomer to the family, that somebody should be watching him."
He said the family's initial reaction was "very distraught, very stressed out, tears."
"You know, they didn't see it coming," said Little, who is married to Alexis' sister Naomi. "Their hearts are going out more to the victims and the people that got hurt because, you know, there's more lives lost and we don't need that right now. We really don't."
Melinda Downs, a friend of Alexis', said she spoke to him a week ago and he gave no indication of what was to come.
"It is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Who was this guy?" she asked.
Downs described Alexis as intellectual.
"His mind was sound. He could hold conversations with the best of us," she said. "If he did (hear voices), he hid it very well."
She said Alexis had good relationship with his family, but a tough one with his father.
"You ask yourself, you go from denial, to reality, to fear, to blame. Is there something I could have done? ... Is there some type of behavior that I ignored or didn't see. That I could have prevented this. But there is no answers," Downs said.
Legal run-ins
Alexis appeared to have had sporadic run-ins with the law, dating back to at least 2004, when he was arrested in Seattle, accused of shooting out the tires of a man's truck in an anger-fueled "blackout," according to a Seattle Police Department report.
He told investigators he believed the man, a construction worker, was mocking him, but had no memory of shooting out the tires, the report said.
Investigators later spoke with Alexis' father, who told police that his son had anger management problems associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, which he suffered after working "as an active participant in rescue attempts" during the 9/11 attacks, the report said.
And in 2010, Alexis was arrested by Fort Worth, Texas, police but never charged over an allegation that he fired a gun through the ceiling of his apartment. According to records, he told police he accidentally fired it while cleaning it.
Good friends
His last known address was outside of Fort Worth, where he was roommates for three years with Nutpisit Suthamtewakul, who described Alexis as his best friend.
Alexis befriended Suthamtewakul four years ago after he emigrated from Thailand.
Alexis taught him about American culture, Suthamtewakul told CNN. Alexis, he said, was fluent in Thai and attended a Buddhist temple.
When Suthamtewakul opened the Happy Bowl Thai Restaurant, Alexis would occasionally help out, waiting tables, he said.
The two were roommates until five months ago, when Suthamtewakul got married and Alexis had to move out.
Toward the end, Alexis spent a lot of time holed up in his room, keeping to himself, Suthamtewakul said.
On Monday, Suthamtewakul was stunned by the news that Alexis was said to be the shooter in the rampage at the Navy Yard.
"I can't believe he did this," he said. "He never showed any sign of violence."
But there were signs that Alexis was unhappy.
He was having a hard time trying to get on his feet, said Suthamtewakul's wife, Kristi. He helped out at the restaurant but not for pay.
"He was using this as an educational experience to help learn Thai," she said. He enjoyed making deliveries to homes, where the language was spoken. He talked about moving to Thailand.
But to Suthamtewakul, Alexis seemed "frustrated with life."
She is grieving. "He was like one of our best friends, like a brother to us and always willing to go out of his way to help us out with things," she said.
He was very frustrated with the company that contracted him to work for the Navy, according to another friend.
Alexis claimed he wasn't paid properly by the company after returning from a months-long assignment to Japan last year, said Michael Ritrovato, another former roommate.
It was unclear whether the dispute was over salary or expenses. Alexis just felt the company owed him money and had not paid him, Ritrovato said.
He is in shock over his friend's actions.
"He was an easygoing guy. I don't know of any reason for this," he said.
But Ritrovato knew Alexis was fascinated by guns. "He was ... knowledgeable with military rifles and handguns. At least he led us to believe he was. But nobody ever had the idea that he would use them in a derogatory way," he said.
Two days before the shooting, Alexis spent "a couple hours" shooting at Sharpshooters Small Arms Range in Northern Virginia before paying $419 for the Remington 870 shotgun -- after being approved by the federal background check -- and a small amount of ammunition, the store's attorney, J. Michael Slocum, said.
It is not clear whether Alexis was still living in Fort Worth area at the time of the shooting.


text: On Thu, Jan 10, 2008 at 12:04:00PM -0500, Perry E. Metzger wrote: > > David Young <dyoung%pobox.com@localhost> writes: > > nfe(4), aue(4), axe(4), udav(4), url(4): do not reset all PHYs > > on a change of media > > So if I unplug a cable from a 100M network and put it into a 1G > network, it won't reset and renegotiate? (Forgive me if I don't > understand this properly.) If the operator changes the media settings, then the NIC driver will call ether_mediachange() -> mii_mediachg() -> (for each PHY) phy_service(,, MII_MEDIACHG). A PHY service routine will reset and isolate its PHY if it is no longer selected. If the PHY is selected, then the service routine will either program the media type (e.g., IFM_ETHER|IFM_100_TX), or begin auto-negotiation (IFM_AUTO). Dave -- David Young OJC Technologies dyoung%ojctech.com@localhost Urbana, IL * (217) 278-3933 ext 24


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Utah: Bucket List Dreams and Road Trip Adventures
Utah has so many wanderlust worthy locations that will absolutely take your breath away. I began my trip going through Tremento, Salt Lake City, Price and Monticello. The natural beauty of Utah sweeps across the rolling hills and sky-high mountains. The Rockies are vast and majestic. Our girls trip was in full swing, and took us through the Rocky mountains, en route to Colorado, blaring the musical, Moulin Rouge.
We went through Downtown Salt Lake and it is vibrant and bustling. You must see the stunning LDS Mormon Temple dating back to 1853! The Salt Lake Temple took 40 years to construct this massive structure. The high spheres and Gothic architecture is nothing less than awe-inspiring. Downtown Salt Lake offers great views with its phenominal skyline over the city. While the state capital of Utah is impressive, it's the countryside of Utah that is undoubtedly captivating.
Utah offers many outdoor activities and points of interest. Utah is known for its outdoor activities and gorgeous mountainous landscapes. In Utah you can visit many national monuments, forests and parks including the world-class, Zion National Park. In Utah there are a multitude of state parks, ski resorts and outdoor water adventures. You can also hike, rock climb, mountain bike and so much more.
Utah is known for their The Great Outdoors with its iconic redrock canyons, incredible jagged cliffs and picturesque snowy mountains. Utah is grand and magnificent; I am completely floored! From towering skyscrapers to towering mountains Utah has it all! The natural beauty of Utah's backcountry is utterly remarkable! Don't close your eyes in this beautiful state!
And my bucket list dreams just keep coming true!
With All My Love,
The Vintage Gypsy
"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."- Kahlil Gibran


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Well, folks, here we are. I've decided to take a quick break from my usual schedule of writing columns that are exceptionally brilliant, and highly entertaining, and sometimes even truthful, to craft a piece on car insurance. That's right: car insurance. Do you hear that? It's the sound of hundreds of readers collectively saying to themselves: "I wonder what's on Autoblog today."
But don't go away just yet, because today's column is far more exciting than a typical car insurance story. Or at least it certainly seemed that way when I came up with it in the shower this morning.
If you're still with me, our topic today is the connection between car insurance and Carfax. For those of you who aren't sure what the hell I'm talking about, Carfax is one of these companies that provides vehicle history reports when you give them a VIN number. Its primary marketing strategy is a talking fox. Car insurance, meanwhile, is the kind of insurance you get on your car. Its primary marketing strategy is that you'll be arrested if you don't have it. Are we good?
Now, regular readers will remember that I've written about Carfax before. Just a few short weeks ago, in fact, I wrote a column entitled "No, Carfax, That Car Hasn't Had Eight Different Owners," where I lambasted them for reporting that a vehicle gets a new owner approximately each time it's breathed on. Really, it was an excellent story, and I strongly suggest you read it instead of anything by, say, Travis.
But I'm not going to criticize Carfax today. Instead, I'm going to talk about how it's the greatest thing to happen to the car insurance industry since that four-week period in 2010 when Lindsay Lohan was behind bars. And the reason is: Carfax has made everyone scared of filing an insurance claim for a minor accident.
To explain what I mean, we must take a trip in time back to the 1970s. When you got in a minor accident during the 1970s, what would happen is you would get out of your car, and the other driver would get out of his car, and you'd punch each other in the face. Then you'd go about your day. It was a simpler time, the 1970s, and I think we'd all gladly return there, if not for the hairstyles.
The problem is that people became very litigious during the 1980s, which meant that if you got in one little fight over one little traffic dispute, you could find yourself getting sued for making the other driver spend the rest of his life eating soft foods through a plastic tube. And that meant people stopped punching each other after accidents. Instead, they'd call their insurance companies.
Now, this went on without issue for years, throughout the 1980s and 1990s. People would get in fender-benders, they'd call their insurance companies, they'd take their cars to body shops, and POOF! The car would be repaired, good as new, four weeks after the body shop initially said it would be done.
And then came Carfax.
Now that we live in a post-Carfax world, what happens after a minor fender-bender is this: both parties get out, they survey the damage, they check things over, and then they each agree they'll pay for the damage out-of-pocket, no matter how bad it is. "Let's just roll it back on to its wheels," you hear people say, at accident scenes. "I can climb through the broken window and drive it home!"
And why do people do this? Because we now have Carfax reports to tell us every little detail about a car's history — and that means having an accident on your Carfax report can cost you more than the accident itself.
This is especially true of high-end cars that can really lose a lot of value if they have a bad Carfax. For example: my Ferrari is worth quite a bit right now, as a low-mile, stick-shift coupe with original paint and no accident history. But if I was involved in a minor accident, and that accident showed up on the Carfax report, no one would want to buy it. Really. If I were I list it for sale, potential buyers would call and say things like: "Sir, I notice your 360 has been in an accident. Would you be willing to trade it for this decorative vase?"
Now, I'm aware that some insurance companies pay for diminished value, and that's great. But diminished value claims rarely cover the car's actual diminished value, unless you hire a lawyer, and an appraiser, and a mechanic, and by the end of it, you've paid more than your diminished value claim just to have the car assessed for diminished value.
And this is why Carfax is a great deal for the insurance companies: a Carfax accident, or the mere threat of a Carfax accident, is enough to keep people from filing small insurance claims. So instead we must pay out-of-pocket for everything while silently wishing we could go back to a simpler time, an easier time, a better time. A time when we could just punch the other driver in the face.
@DougDeMuro is the author of Plays With Cars. He owned an E63 AMG wagon and once tried to evade police at the Tail of the Dragon using a pontoon boat. (It didn't work.) He worked as a manager for Porsche Cars North America before quitting to become a writer, largely because it meant he no longer had to wear pants. Also, he wrote this entire bio himself in the third person.


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By Gloria Origgi and Ariel Colonomos
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:32
This passage of the Bible is inscribed on the marble walls of the lobby of the CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. After passing through heavy security, this is probably the first thing visitors entering the building would see. Homeland – the 2012 award-winning American TV series – Obama's favourite, we are being told – raises one important question: What is, then, the price to be paid for knowing such truth?
"I have never been so sure and so wrong". This line in the mouth of Carrie – a manic bipolar CIA officer determined to stop Nicholas Brody, a former Marine and prisoner of war, who has been released from Iraq after eight years of torture and has been "turned" by Al-Qaeda – is the quintessence of the whole series, now in its second season.
Homeland brings together two essential dimensions of truth and identity, in a breathtaking superposition of identity of the self and political identity. The two main characters – Carrie and Brody – have both multiple identities. Carrie goes through phases of mania and depression. At the peaks of her condition – when she is hyperactive or utterly dejected – she delivers essential truths about the identity of her counterpart, Brodie, and about the future of the United States.
Brodie is Carrie's enemy and her raison d'être. As such, naturally, he becomes her lover. Brodie is an equally ambiguous character. He has been turned, yet not completely: as such, he is a classic case of double allegiance. He is a congressman and yet is ready to blow himself up in a room where the top US military and the vice-president are gathered. Brodie is the reflection of the fantasies of the West, whose patriots fear being invaded from within by their natural enemies: Muslim fundamentalists. Last but not least, Brodie is also bisexual, another fear of the "enemy within", i.e. the deep drives of the unconscious we all have to deal with. Believe it or not (for anyone who has not watched the show, this might seem a bit of a stretch), Brodie has been sexually 'turned' by US number one public enemy, Abu Nazir – a fancy Bin Laden.
There is no truth without ambivalence. This is the striking message carried by Homeland. Heroes are also traitors, and masters of intelligence are also delusional. Yet, there is something special in the way in which ambivalence is staged here: the essential dramatic texture of the whole story is based on the fundamental ambivalence not only of the characters, but of the values they embody and of the emotions they solicit in us. As if the series was able to broadcast the slow but inevitable loss of the monopoly of truth – the Good Truth, the Right Truth, the one we attain through the appropriate methods – which America is facing today.
Carrie is a modern oracle. Her outstanding ability to track the truth is invaluable, and her bosses at the CIA know this very well. Yet, her methods are sometimes odd, based on intuition instead of evidence, and her style of inquiry too disrespectful of rules. She allows herself to make unauthorized moves in order to come up with results, thereby putting herself and the CIA at risk. At the same time, she is a very attractive woman, with a restless mind of rare subtlety.
Brody is the mirror image of Carrie's ambivalent truth: he has actually been turned by Abu Nazir, but now that he is back, he hesitates, goes back and forth, from the horrible tortures he underwent in Iraq, to the memories of the discovery of a new world of values with Abu Nazir, who protected him, helped him and became his lover. His being turned touches upon all the dimensions of his life: psychological, sexual, political and religious. When – at the beginning of season 2 – his wife discovers that he prays as a Muslim, she exclaims in horror: "This just can't happen!".
Brody elicits in us mixed feelings: we are horrified by the intolerant and narrow-minded reaction of his wife, who cannot acknowledge another religious credo, but are also horrified when we discover that he is actually ready to kill the vice-president. Yet, his reasons for losing faith in his country are the killing of civilians, including children – notably, of Abu Nazir's son.
Brody's truth is unstable, Carrie's truth is volatile, and the audience is trapped in their ambivalent posture, going back and forth between heroism and cowardice, between objective truth and intuition, between reasons that are too many in number, yet seem all in all plausible.
What is shocking to an audience of our generation is that, for the first time, a U.S. TV show puts on stage the duplicity of truth, as if discriminating between good and evil were a long bygone endeavour. And this state of permanent moral ambivalence permeates the psyche of the audience to the point of exhaustion: we simply cannot bear such an uncertain world. We oscillate between the two sides of the truth as the plot unfolds through a series of spectacular turns and twists that are the mirror of this feeling of instability.
Carrie and Brodie are imprisoned in their double truths and are looking for a way out. They disturb the certainties of the people around them. They also dissolve the simplistic commitment to "The Truth" and "The Good" of the other characters. Indeed, the other characters are monoliths by comparison. Thus, Carrie's mentor is a (good Jewish) father figure, Saul Berenson, who has just broken up with his wife, an Indian woman, whom we see (towards the middle of season 1) leaving her husband to return "home". There was no place to stay for her in Saul's patriotic and monastic life in Washington DC. Brodie's wife is middle-class America at its best, with all its limitations. Her truth is simple and transparent. She strives for stability and a linear career that will land her husband in the White House (and, as for herself, will ultimately allow her to host charity dinners with the wives of other DC power brokers).
The uncertainty of the global order becomes the psychical instability of its subjects, in a sort of "collective manic-depression" in which we can no longer choose the right course of action, but can only oscillate permanently between a two-sided truth. Ironically, during the Cold War, bipolarity was used to refer to the stability of the balance of power that ruled the relation between the Soviet Union and the United States. In the post-9/11 era, bipolarity is internalized in the deep instability of the self, which reflects the trouble relation between the US and its 'devils du jour', both internal and external.
Homeland reminds us that the moral and political order of our world and its cognitive/epistemic order are impossible to disentangle. The 'homeland' that we all miss today is the homeland of a simple objective truth about how things are and how they should be. A truth that used to reassure us and made our decisions and actions grounded on a firm footing. As Odysseus already knew, outside our lost homeland, there is hell, permanent doubt and, in the end, loss.
Homeland (TV Series, 2011-)
Starring Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Morena Baccarin et al.
Showtime (CBS Corporation), New York.
Gloria Origgi is a philosopher and a researcher at the Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris (Institut Nicod). She is the author of numerous articles in social epistemology and related areas; her most recent book is on the issue of trust as a philosophical problem (Qu'est-que la confiance? Vrin, Paris 2008). Ariel Colonomos is a senior research fellow at CNRS and a research professor at Sciences Po, Paris. He has previously taught at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and is the author of the forthcoming book The Gamble of War: Is It Possible to Justify Preventive War? (Palgrave-Macmillan, London 2013).
(c) 2012 The Berlin Review of Books.


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Lee George Bobb was killed in action in Germany on March 13, 1945. He was a native of Shawano, WI. Lee is my 1st cousin, once removed. Before his induction into the armed forces in February, 1944, he worked for the Four Wheel Drive Auto Co. in Clintonville, WI.
He left for Fort Sheridan, IL on June 27, 1944, then was sent to Camp Blanding, FL, and later to Fort Meade, MD. Lee went overseas with the infantry in December, 1944. He was killed shortly after his unit crossed the Rhine river in the invasion of Germany.
Lee was originally buried in the US Military Cemetery #1, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, until the war in Europe ended. He was then re-buried in the Bobb family plot in St. Rose Cemetery, Clintonville.