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Transcontinental dispersals by organisms usually represent improbable events that constitute a major challenge for biogeographers. By integrating molecular phylogeny, historical biogeography and palaeoecology, we test a bold hypothesis proposed by Vladimir Nabokov regarding the origin of Neotropical Polyommatus blue butterflies, and show that Beringia has served as a biological corridor for the dispersal of these insects from Asia into the New World. We present a novel method to estimate ancestral temperature tolerances using distribution range limits of extant organisms, and find that climatic conditions in Beringia acted as a decisive filter in determining which taxa crossed into the New World during five separate invasions over the past 11 Myr. Our results reveal a marked effect of the Miocene–Pleistocene global cooling, and demonstrate that palaeoclimatic conditions left a strong signal on the ecology of present-day taxa in the New World. The phylogenetic conservatism in thermal tolerances that we have identified may permit the reconstruction of the palaeoecology of ancestral organisms, especially mobile taxa that can easily escape from hostile environments rather than adapt to them.
1. Introduction
Butterflies have been avidly studied for centuries, and our knowledge of their natural history, taxonomy and distribution is arguably the best better than for any other invertebrates. However, their evolutionary relationships and biogeographic history are far from understood. This is especially true for the Polyommatini, commonly known as the 'blues', which is among the largest and most systematically challenging tribes within the family Lycaenidae (the blues, coppers and hairstreaks). Since Eliot's classification of the Lycaenidae in 1973, no comprehensive revision of this tribe has been attempted, and even Eliot admitted 'complete failure' in his efforts to subdivide it into natural groups, simply organizing it into 30 sections [1]. With more than 400 species, the cosmopolitan Polyommatus section (equivalent to 'Plebejinae' in older classifications) is the most diverse of these. These butterflies are specialists of seasonal habitats with extreme dry or cold periods, and can be found from deserts to grasslands to Alpine and Arctic tundra. While their centre of diversity is clearly in the Palaearctic, many species occur in the New World, especially in the Neotropics.
The radiation of Polyommatus blues in the New World was first appreciated by the famous writer Vladimir Nabokov when he was working as curator in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard in the early 1940s. Although sometimes described as an amateur [2,3], Nabokov was a serious taxonomist who made important contributions to the systematics of the Polyommatus section and revised many of the New World taxa, particularly in the genus Lycaeides [4–7]. In his most significant paper, published in 1945 [8], Nabokov drastically rearranged the Neotropical taxa, describing seven new genera [2,3]. Importantly, Nabokov laid out a detailed phylogeographic hypothesis for the New World Polyommatus blues [8] (figure 1a). Nabokov described how 'a modern taxonomist straddling a Wellsian time machine with the purpose of exploring the Cenozoic era' would encounter the following series of events in the evolution of these butterflies. (i) From Asian ancestors, a first colonization event of the New World across the Bering Strait, followed by dispersal southwards to South America. This first stock would produce the current Neotropical taxa, but would subsequently vanish almost completely from North America. (ii) A second crossing of the Bering Strait made by the ancestors of the Icaricia–Plebulina clade. And finally, more recently, the dispersal of (iii) Lycaeides, (iv) Agriades and (v) Vacciniina (explicitly in that order) from Asia to North America following the same route.
Several alternative hypotheses could explain the colonization of the New World by Polyommatus blues. The first Nabokov mentions but discards: transoceanic landbridges in other parts of the world. Nabokov was writing in 1945, before the concept of continental drift had reached general acceptance. Taking continental drift into account, the pattern of evolution of Polyommatus blues could conceivably be explained by the break-up of western Gondwana. This hypothesis has sometimes been proposed for the origin for the Lycaenidae [1], but requires that these butterflies evolved much earlier than commonly believed [9]. More recently, Bálint & Johnson [10], extending morphological studies to the recently discovered taxa, proposed an alternative hypothesis in which Neotropical taxa have multiple origins and are closely related to Old World taxa, some even belonging to other sections.
Here we present the first comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the Polyommatini tribe and Polyommatus section, and investigate the biogeographic history of the New World Polyommatus, taking into account phylogenetic relationships as well as inferred palaeoecology. We explicitly investigate the use of Beringia as a corridor for dispersal by using distribution ranges of current taxa to estimate ancestral temperature tolerances that would have affected the dispersal abilities of these insects over the past 11 Myr.
2. Material and methods
Methods are described in greater detail with full references in the electronic supplementary material.
(a) Taxon sampling
The phylogenetic analysis at the tribal level included 11 ingroup taxa (four from the Old World and seven from the New World), plus 39 outgroup taxa, representing a total of 28 sections. For the section-level phylogeny, we used 73 representatives of the Polyommatus section (20 Old World and 53 New World taxa) that included at least one representative for each New World genus/subgenus, and all the Old World taxa that have been hypothesized as possibly related to them. Representatives of the Everes and Leptotes sections were used as outgroups.
(b) Sequencing, alignment and phylogenetic analyses
Total genomic DNA was extracted from the specimens, and fragments from two mitochondrial markers—Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI)–(leu-tRNA)–Cytochrome Oxidase II (COII)—and six nuclear markers—Elongation Factor-1 alpha (EF-1α), 28S ribosome unit (28S), Histone H3 (H3), wingless (wg), carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2/aspartate transcarbamylase/dihydroorotase (CAD) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) [11]—were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. All sequences were submitted to GenBank under accession numbers GQ128446–GQ129111. Alignments were unambiguous for protein-coding genes. ClustalX (v. 1.83.1) [12] was used to align 28S and ITS-2, and, in the case of the latter, ambiguous regions were excluded from the analyses. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using maximum parsimony (MP; PAUP* v. 4.0b10 [13]), maximum likelihood (ML; GARLI v. 0.951 [14] and RAxML v. 2.0 [15]) and Bayesian inference (BI; MPI-enabled version of MrBayes v. 3.1.2 [16]) for each marker, each genome and for all markers combined. The program PORN* [17] was used to determine the best-fitted substitution model for each data partition in ML and BI analyses. The Akaike information criterion was used to evaluate the fit of competing models. In all cases the GTR + Γ model was selected as the most appropriate. Each BI analysis consisted of six independent 5-million-generation runs, with four chains (one cold and three hot) each. Non-parametric bootstrap values were used to estimate the support of tree branches recovered by MP and ML.
(c) Dating main phylogenetic events
The topology of the ML phylogram recovered from the combined analysis with GARLI was used to date main phylogenetic events. The likelihood ratio test found a significant deviation from substitution rate consistency (p < 0.001) across different branches on the ML topology. We used two different methods: a strict molecular clock and penalized likelihood. The software r8s [18] was used to perform the rate-smoothing procedures. For COI, a slow rate of 6.5 × 10−9, an intermediate substitution rate of 7.5 × 10−9 and a fast substitution rate of 9.5 × 10−9 substitutions site−1 yr−1 were used [19]. For COI + leu-tRNA + COII, a substitution rate of 11.5 × 10−9 substitutions site−1 yr−1 was used [20]. Throughout the paper, the mean of ages obtained using eight different combinations of methods and rates is used as the best possible age estimate.
(d) Ancestral area reconstruction
We used the software program DIVA v. 1.1 [21] and an improved version of Lagrange [22] to estimate ancestral areas and dispersals within the ingroup. We coded areas as Africa, Australia, Central America–Caribbean, East Nearctic, East Palaearctic, Northern South America, Oriental, Southern South America, West Nearctic and West Palaearctic. The biogeographic model permitted bidirectional dispersals between neighbouring regions that do not imply long transoceanic dispersals, plus north Atlantic and north Pacific transoceanic dispersals. The terminals were coded based on the genus distribution, except in the case of genera with more than one representative in the analysis, which were coded based on the species distribution range of the terminals. In the case of species with representatives in both New and Old World (Agriades glandon, Lycaeides idas and Vacciniina optilete), the taxa and distribution ranges in each part of the world were treated independently. Analyses were performed on the BI and the GARLI ML trees estimated from the combined dataset or the COI dataset, with identical results.
(e) Ancestral character state reconstruction
Hostplant family was coded as a multi-state unordered character based on published and personal observations. Mesquite v. 2.6 [23] with MP character optimization was used on both Bayesian and GARLI ML trees estimated from the 78-taxa combined dataset. Present-day mean annual temperatures of coldest and warmest locations were obtained based on a survey that covered each taxon's global distribution range and focused on their latitudinally and altitudinally most extreme localities. Temperatures were coded as ordered continuous characters based on WorldClim v. 1.4 [24], and ancestral states were reconstructed with BayesTraits beta v. 1.1 [25] on the GARLI ML phylogram estimated from the 78-taxa combined dataset. The analysis performed is a Bayesian implementation of the comparative method used by the software Continuous [26]. We first tested the two available models, covariance of the two characters, and the use of lambda, delta and kappa parameters. We used 5 million iterations, a burn-in of 5000 and a sample period of 100 in each case. The significantly best model and set of parameters was used to reconstruct the ancestral character states of the nodes that involved the crossing of Beringia from the Old to the New World, according to Lagrange ancestral area reconstruction. The results were plotted against the mean age estimation for each of these nodes. The palaeoclimatic curve at Beringia was obtained using Zachos et al.'s [27] global δ18O curve, which was smoothed using a 50-point running mean and calibrated according to the present-day mean annual temperature (−9°C, according to WorldClim data for relatively warm localities in the Beringia region), and ancestral mean annual temperatures at 9 Ma (4°C) and 14 Ma (11°C) [28].
3. Results
Since the monophyly of the Polyommatus section had not been previously tested and Bálint & Johnson's [10] hypothesis proposes that some of the Neotropical taxa belong to other sections, we first performed a tribal-level analysis including 50 taxa representing 29 of the 30 sections of Polyommatini (electronic supplementary material, table S1). Phylogenies were inferred using molecular characters from 4939 bp derived from six markers for each representative—two mitochondrial (COI–(leu-tRNA)–COII) and four nuclear markers (EF-1α, 28S, H3 and wg). Although some relationships between sections were supported only in the BI analysis, the trees obtained using different methods—BI, ML and MP—showed strong agreement in their topology (figure 2; electronic supplementary material, figure S2 and table S6). All the sections for which more than one representative had been included in the study were recovered as monophyletic with good support, including the Polyommatus section. All combined analyses recovered and supported the Everes section as sister to the Polyommatus section, and Leptotes section as sister to both. Statistics, number of best trees and scores, as well as support values for the relevant nodes obtained for each method, are described in the electronic supplementary material.
We then examined relationships within the Polyommatus section using 73 taxa representing all New World genera and subgenera, and all Old World taxa that had been hypothesized to be related to them (electronic supplementary material, table S1). The trees were inferred from 6017 bp fragments of eight markers: COI–(leu-tRNA)–COII, EF-1α, 28S, H3, wg, CAD and ITS-2. The trees generated using different methods (BI, ML and MP) shared the same basic topology (figure 3 and electronic supplementary material, table S6), and most of the relationships within the section were well resolved and supported. The Palaeotropical Chilades group (including Edales) was sister to the rest of the section. The Neotropical taxa formed a strongly supported monophyletic clade that was sister to the Holarctic taxa plus Freyeria. Systematic results are described and discussed in the electronic supplementary material.
Ancestral area reconstruction analysis using the program Lagrange [22] showed that at least five New World colonization events occurred, and that Beringia was the most likely route followed in all cases (electronic supplementary material, figure S6). The analysis using DIVA v. 1.1 [21] was compatible with this scenario, although less conclusive because it resulted in more than one equally parsimonious possibility for some nodes (electronic supplementary material, figure S5). Dating based on several published rates of evolution and methods of estimation resulted in the following mean ages for the five colonization events: 10.7 Ma for the Neotropical clade, 9.3 Ma for the Icaricia–Plebulina clade (which included the taxon saepiolus), 2.4 Ma for the Lycaeides clade, 1.1 Ma for Agriades and 1.0 Ma for Vacciniina (figures 1,3 and electronic supplementary material, table S7).
In order to test the feasibility that the colonizing ancestors could survive in Beringia at the times estimated, we reconstructed their palaeoecology. Ancestral character reconstruction based on current hostplant data unambiguously showed that Fabaceae was the most likely hostplant family for the three first colonizing ancestors, while Primulaceae and Ericaceae were the most likely hostplants for the ancestors of New World Agriades and Vacciniina, respectively (electronic supplementary material, figure S7). To study ancestral temperature tolerances, we first selected the coldest and warmest locations for each taxon in the phylogeny and used WorldClim v. 1.4 [24] to obtain the climatic data (electronic supplementary material, table S5). We then coded mean annual temperatures at coldest and warmest locations as two ordered continuous characters, and performed Markov chain Monte Carlo ancestral reconstructions using the program BayesTraits beta v. 1.1 [25]. The results showed covariation between the coldest and warmest mean temperatures tolerated by the taxa. Interestingly, the better fit of model B (directional) over model A (random walk) demonstrates directionality in the evolution of temperature tolerance. The estimated value for the scaling parameter lambda was close to 1 (0.925), which indicates that the evolution of thermal tolerances has a strong phylogenetic signal. Since estimating delta and kappa scaling parameters did not significantly affect the fit of the model to the data, the tempo of evolution (branch lengths and overall path lengths) of the tree agrees well with the thermal tolerance data. The reconstruction analysis shows that the ancestors of the more recent colonization events are more cold-adapted, and this trend is significant for the coldest temperatures tolerated (p < 0.01). The range of temperature tolerance of each New World colonizer matches the palaeoclimate in Beringia at the time of colonization (figure 1b and electronic supplementary material, table S8).
4. Discussion
Our molecular phylogeny indicates that the New World Polyommatus blues are polyphyletic, and constitute five separate invasions: (i) the origin of the Neotropical clade from Southeast Asian ancestors, which we estimate occurred around 10.7 Ma; (ii) the subsequent evolution in North America of the Icaricia–Plebulina clade (including the taxon saepiolus) around 9.3 Ma; (iii) the evolution of Lycaeides and its relatives around 2.4 Ma; (iv) the evolution of Agriades around 1.1 Ma; and finally (v) the evolution of Vacciniina around 1.0 Ma (figures 1,3 and electronic supplementary material, table S7). Our results show that Nabokov's inferences based on morphological characters (primarily of the male genitalia) were uncannily correct in delineating not only species relationships but also the historical ordering of these five key events in the evolution of New World blues.
In our tribal-level analysis, the Palaeotropical Chilades group is sister to the rest of the section Polyommatus. This supports the origin of the Polyommatus section in Southeast Asia, as reflected, too, by the great diversity of taxa in the section from this region [1]. The fact that the Neotropical taxa form a strongly supported monophyletic group that is not directly related to the Nearctic taxa refutes Bálint & Johnson's hypothesis [29] that the Neotropical taxa are polyphyletic in origin. Despite the uncertainty involved in any estimate based on a molecular clock, the estimated date of 10.7 Ma for the divergence of the Neotropical clade from Old World ancestors makes it impossible to invoke a Gondwanan origin for this group, which would have required an estimated date of divergence at least as early as 80 Ma.
Ancestral area reconstruction analyses, especially model-based ML inferences, indicate that Beringia is the most likely route followed in the five New World colonization events (electronic supplementary material, figures S5 and S6). The first involves a long journey by the ancestor of the Neotropical group. This lineage crossed Beringia around 10.7 Ma, according to our molecular clock estimates, and dispersed from the Western Nearctic to Central America, where it then radiated in all the Neotropics. No explicit trace of this history remains today, as the ancestors subsequently went extinct in North America, with the possible exception of the lineage that gave rise to Echinargus isola. Two species of this group secondarily colonized the southern Nearctic region from the south (Hemiargus hanno and Cyclargus ammon).
The other four lineages that subsequently reached the New World also followed the Beringia route, but did not extend as far south as the Neotropics, and eastwards only as far as the East Nearctic. This result agrees with the fact that the Northern Atlantic landbridge had long disappeared when the Polyommatus blues colonized the New World. However, our results demonstrate that taxa of the Polyommatus section crossed from Asia to Alaska before, but also well after, the formation of the Bering Strait [30], showing that the presence of a continuous landbridge was not a necessary requirement for the dispersal of these butterflies. A transoceanic dispersal event from Asia to the Neotropics cannot be completely ruled out for the Neotropical clade, although the likelihood of such a long-distance one-step colonization is low.
Ancestral temperature tolerance reconstruction analysis (figure 1b and electronic supplementary material, figure S8) shows that lineages involved in more recent colonization events across Beringia had ancestors that were more tolerant to the cold. Thus, the ancestors of the Neotropical stock, the least able to cope with cold conditions, were pushed southwards by decreasing temperatures and periods of glaciation during the post-Miocene [27,28,31], practically disappearing from North America. In contrast, the cold-adapted lineages could persist and even radiate in the north.
In a suggestive parallel with the Neotropical blues, some groups of extant Neotropical Fabaceae—the hostplant family of the colonizing ancestors, according to our character reconstruction analysis (electronic supplementary material, figure S7)—seem to represent Tertiary boreotropical relicts that were previously widely distributed in North America [32]. Moreover, Trifolium and Astragalus, arguably the most widely used hostplant genera by New World Polyommatus butterflies [33], also appear to have originated in Eurasia and colonized North and South America within the last 10 Myr, although in these cases the exact routes are not known [34–36]. Thus, the palaeoecology of Polyommatus blues, estimated using both hostplant and temperature requirements, further supports the area reconstruction and dating results for this clade.
The fact that the time of colonization is significantly correlated with temperature tolerances of colonizing taxa indicates that while climate change has not stopped dispersal across this route, it has strongly filtered migrants according to their thermal tolerances. Other species of butterflies could have followed this same route [37–39], as well as other animal and plant groups [40–44]. Our data indicate that Beringia served as a gateway between the Old and the New World that was regulated by climate change, both for warm-adapted organisms during the Miocene and later for cold-adapted ones, including humans, able to cross the strait. The match between coldest temperatures tolerated by the butterfly ancestors and the palaeoclimate in Beringia (figure 1) provides independent support for the Miocene–Pleistocene climate change based on phylogeny and present-day ecological requirements. These findings indicate substantial phylogenetic niche conservatism (defined as retention of ecological traits over time among related species), not only for hostplant preferences as generally accepted [45,46], but also for thermal tolerances. The strong phylogenetic signal in thermal tolerances is also indicated by the estimated value of the lambda scaling parameter (0.925), which is close to one. Nevertheless, evolution in this character exists because extant taxa do differ in their temperature ranges (electronic supplementary material, figure S8). Conservatism in the adaptation to specific climates has been documented in few instances [47–49], and is probably more marked in mobile organisms that can disperse to suitable habitats as conditions change, thus reducing selective pressure for adaptation. Evidence for conservatism in thermal tolerances is of importance because it is an intrinsic assumption underlying the application of ecological niche modelling to reconstruct ancestral geographical ranges and predict future species distributions according to climate change scenarios [50–54].
5. Conclusions
— The phylogeny of the tribe Polyommatini (Lycaenidae) is inferred for 50 taxa representing 28 of the 29 sections (sensu [1], excluding Cupidopsis) using 4939 bp from six markers (two mitochondrial, four nuclear) for each representative. The Polyommatus section is recovered as monophyletic and sister to the Everes section, with both sister to the Leptotes section.
— The phylogeny of the section Polyommatus (Lycaenidae: Polyomatini) is inferred for 73 taxa representing all New World genera and subgenera, their closest Old World relatives, and representatives of all Old World genera (sensu [29]) using 6017 bp from eight markers for each representative (two mitochondrial and six nuclear).
— Phylogenetic results support Vladimir Nabokov's [8] hypothesis that the New World Polyommatus are the product of at least five colonization events through Beringia that occurred successively from ca 11 Ma until 1 Ma. Although Beringia was still intact during the earliest of these crossings, later colonizers did not require a continuous landbridge.
— Fabaceae was the most likely hostplant family for the three first colonizing ancestors, while Primulaceae and Ericaceae were the most likely hostplant families for the ancestors of New World Agriades and Vacciniina, respectively. These hostplant groups are thought to have existed in the New World before the arrival of Polyommatus butterflies, or to have colonized concurrently with them.
— A novel method is used to estimate ancestral temperature tolerances using the limits of distribution ranges of extant organisms.
— Each of the five colonizing ancestors was thermally adapted to Beringian palaeoclimatic conditions at the time of its transcontinental dispersal, with earlier colonists being more warm-adapted than later ones in accordance with changing temperatures in Beringia. Polyommatus butterflies show substantial phylogenetic conservatism in thermal tolerances, although evolution in this trait is also observed.
— Climate fluctuations in Beringia thus acted as a filter that influenced which groups of Polyommatus butterflies could colonize the New World. These results demonstrate the importance of climate change in governing biogeographic patterns as well as the extent of Nabokov's extraordinary biological intuition.
We thank A. Becerril, J. Beck, A. J. Berry, M. F. Braby, M. A. Cornwall, A. V. Dantchenko, R. Ducarme, K. Dunn, R. Eastwood, J. Ebner, A. Heath, M. Huben, N. P. Kandul, N. G. Kondla, G. Lamas, T. B. Larsen, D. J. Lohman, V. A. Lukhtanov, J. Mathew, O. Mielke, A. A. Mignault, S. D. L. Miller, C. C. Nice, P. A. Opler, C. Peña, A. Plowes, T. Quental, S. Ramírez, A. Shapiro, C. Stefanescu, D. L. Stern, M. W. Tan, M. A. Travassos, A. Ugarte, A. D. Warren and S. E. Woodhall for providing material and field assistance. A. R. Benson, B. Boyd, V. A. Lukhtanov, R. M. Pyle, C. L. Remington, R. K. Robbins and D. Zimmer gave valuable suggestions during the course of the research and/or comments on the manuscript. A. Meade, N. Örvössy and F. Páramo helped in the ancestral temperature tolerance reconstruction analysis. Support for this research was provided by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (CGL2007-60516/BOS) and a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellowship to R.V., grants from the Baker Foundation, the Green Memorial Fund of Harvard University and the Putnam Expeditionary Fund of the Museum of Comparative Zoology to N.E.P. and R.V., and NSF DEB-0447242 to N.E.P.
- Received October 13, 2010.
- Accepted January 6, 2011.
- This Journal is © 2011 The Royal Society
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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So I was minding my own business this morning, getting ready for work...when suddenly a mouse ran across my kitchen floor!
WAAAAAAAH! I leapt up and screamed like that old lady in Tom & Jerry (even pulling all my skirts up!)
It ran off through the gap in between the cooker and the cupboard and I don't know where it went.
I talked to my landlord and they've said that they can't do much about it except for board up any holes that may in the walls (it's a maisonette in a really old block).
I've also heard that mice can't actually climb. Is this true? I live 3 floors up....so maybe it's not Jerry Mouse....but Roland Rat??
I don't want to kill it, I think it's cruel. Plus I don't really want to clean up any blood and gore.
Does anyone know a humane way I can get rid of Jerry/Roland?

subset: commoncrawl


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Rosie O'Donnell still isn't used to the reaction she's been getting on the streets of Chicago. The talk show host, who began taping "The Rosie Show" in the West Loop in October, said it's far different from the reaction she gets in Los Angeles and New York.
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O'Donnell, who appears on the cover of the latest issue of Michigan Avenue, said the welcome she received in her adopted Lakeview neighborhood was just as warm. Local merchants filled a kayak with gifts and sent it to her five-bedroom home.
And then there are the free meals around town. O'Donnell, who splits time between New York and Chicago, has dined everywhere from Naha and Paris Club to the Rain Forest Cafe and Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse and said she rarely ever sees the bill.
"My children say, 'Mommy, why is everything free?'" O'Donnell said. "I'm like 'People are just happy were doing a show here.' (The kids are) like, 'Let's live here. Let's go to the Rain Forest Cafe every day. They gave us free stuff at the gift shop.'
"As a New Yorker, who was born and raised in New York and lived in Los Angeles for 10 years, I never imagined living anywhere else. But I could totally see myself living here. It's very relaxing and family-oriented. It's unlike any place I've ever been."
Twitter @aboutluisgomez


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Famous, Rich and Hungry shows that poverty exists
Last week I appeared as an on-screen expert in the BBC series Famous, Rich and Hungry, for Sport Relief. The two-part TV series featured eight families struggling to make ends meet. They hosted four privileged celebrities who find out what life's really like on the breadline in Britain.
I was invited to take part because I campaign to stamp out child poverty here at The Children's Society. But perhaps also because I speak openly about my own background. I grew up in a very low-income home and was later an impoverished student single mum, before finding a way out (with many helping hands) a few years ago.
'Expert' or not, I'm not shocked by UK poverty.
Shocking denial of poverty
What does shock me is the widespread denial that UK poverty exists. My mind boggles every time someone questions whether people really are going without in this country. I'm constantly searching for ways to expose the quiet violence that poverty does to their lives. That's why I said yes to the TV company.
Even before the first day of filming, the series was dubbed by the media as 'Celebrity Benefits Street'. I anticipated critical comparisons with the controversial show, which was accused of being voyeuristic, objectifying and degrading.
But such comparisons miss the point. In Famous, Rich and Hungry, eight families bravely offered to share their homes and daily lives with a famous stranger, a nosey camera crew, and millions of viewers. They wanted to speak and be heard. And to their credit, four privileged celebrities were ready to admit that they just might have something to learn.
What the celebrities saw
Cheryl Fergison from EastEnders couldn't contain her tears of rage when she realised her host Paul, who lost his job following a collapsed lung, was spending up to 90% of his meagre income heating just one room through winter.
Writer Rachel Johnson couldn't understand how people in the UK could be struggling to eat properly, but after resorting to begging for 9p on a Deptford street, she changed her mind.
Dragons' Den stalwart Theo Paphitis was outraged when he saw how his hardworking hosts were caught in a vicious debt trap.
Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing found life with loving single parents who spent most days worrying about how to feed their kids both exhausting and humbling.
Four in 10 don't believe that poverty exists
But educating just four celebrities wasn't really the point either. Millions of us struggle to believe UK poverty is real. The facts are that at least 500,000 turned to food banks last year. Meanwhile more than 3 million families had to choose between heating and eating. Each month, 400,000 people are forced to take high cost payday loans to pay for basics.
Yet four in 10 members of the British public think there's very little poverty in the UK. And even those of us who don't deny it, still sometimes blame individuals, assuming they must be lazy, or guilty of some moral failure.
That's why campaigners like me spend a lot of time in news studios giving the facts and proposing solutions to politicians.
...But it is very real
Behind closed doors in homes up and down the country many people experience life as a daily struggle, because they work for poverty-level wages, have their earnings swallowed by debt, are sick, or devote their lives to caring for small children or sick relatives. Meanwhile millions of us raise an eyebrow and wonder what to believe. Can a TV series like this have all the solutions?
No, of course not. But I'm proud of what Famous, Rich and Hungry has done.
Some people might not like the format of the show, they might not like celebrities or reality TV full stop. But this is the kind of series that reaches millions of us by cutting through so much cynical chatter with the hard truth and real voices. It's not entertainment. It's real life.
I found the plight of
I found the plight of Mohammed particularly harrowing. It was so sad when his son concluded that his father was indeed, happy. Just goes to show that Mohammed was such a good father that he was able to hide all his fear from his kids so not to worry them. I wish him all the best for the future and that of his children.
Hi Abigail, Thank you for
Hi Abigail,
Thank you for sharing your comment. As with Mohammed, we see from many of the families that we work with that they do their best to hide these problems from their children. For many, it is a real struggle to provide the basics.
For example, we carried out a survey and found that more than three million families were likely to cut back on food during the winter so they could pay their energy bills.
We're currently encouraging the government to help put an end to parents having to choose between heating and eating by making sure all families with children in poverty automatically get key support that will keep their homes warm. You can help by taking action on the warm home discount:
Again, thank you for your comment.
Kind regards,
The TV show is a great idea.
The TV show is a great idea. People follow celebrities and some are even obsessed! By mixing celebrities and the reality of poverty will definitely open up the eyes of many people.
I am a full time volunteer at a children center for the disadvantage youths living in high risk urban area in Malaysia. There has been media coverage on the children but nothing like Famous, Rich, and Hungry. Thanks for the idea :)
Hi Amirul, Thanks for your
Hi Amirul,
Thanks for your comment. Please let us know when the Malaysian version of the show airs! :)
Kind regards,


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winter Dress Dress winter Casual Casual Boutique XXI XXI Boutique XXI Boutique Dress Casual winter qx4XSwpOA
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson founded the Business Roundtable in 1993 so business leaders can engage county government on issues that will enable them to prosper.
Since its inception, more than 80 percent of the recommendations from Oakland County business leaders have been implemented by the county.
Five Business Roundtable Committees are organized around specific focus areas within the county. These five Committees are dedicated to enriching the lives of county residents.
The EconomiWool Brunico Button Two Brunico Wool Suit c Development Committee makes recommendations to promote business, industry and commerce within the County. Suit Two Wool Brunico Wool Brunico Button Brunico Suit Two Wool Wool Button Brunico Committee Recommendations for 2016
Economic Development Committee Video
Details on these and other committees' recommendations can be found in the On End End Slim Linen Shirt 5ffUXwq.
The Quality of Life Committee focuses on intangible elements that make Oakland County a premier location for businesses and families. Brunico Button Brunico Wool Wool Two Suit Committee Recommendations for 2016
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Details on these and other committees' recommendations can be found in the On End End Slim Linen Shirt 5ffUXwq.
Oakland Next was created to focus on the next generation of leaders in Oakland County.
Committee Recommendations for 2016
Details on these and other committees' recommendations can be found in the Business Roundtable Annual Report.
Committee Recommendations for 2016Bayern Pre Bayern Match FC Match FC Pre Jersey Jersey R6x65F
Transportation Committee VideoDetails on these and other committees' recommendations can be found in the On End End Slim Linen Shirt 5ffUXwq.
The Workforce and Education Committee examines issues which concern current job holders, job seekers, new work force members, trainees and students.
Committee Recommendation for 2016
Examine the current talent pipeline
Enhance the talent pipeline by filling its gaps
Collaborate with educational institutions, economic and workforce development entities, employers and other relevant organizations to develop common agreements, practices and credentials so the pipeline can be easily accessed
Promote the talent pipeline through hard copy, social media and people-to-people gatherings
Workforce and Education Committee Video
The Oakland County Business Roundtable works with county government, but is not itself a part of the government system.
In 1993, L. Brooks Patterson created the Roundtable to make recommendations that would enhance Oakland County's business climate and quality of life.
The Business Roundtable provides recommendations to the county executive on business, economic development, education, land development, transportation and work force issues. The group also works to implement these recommendations by suggesting programs to improve the County's quality of life and economic vitality.
It normally works within four areas: Economic Development, Quality of Life, Transportation, and Workforce and Education. The Roundtable believes that change and improvement in these areas will have the most impact on the county's growth and stability.
Business and commerce are the foundation of a healthy economy. Oakland County's continued economic well-being and sustained quality of life depend upon a good business climate. By involving the private sector in policy and program development, the county can more effectively develop services that encourage businesses to thrive.
Oakland County residents benefit from the experience and knowledge of business leaders who volunteer on the Roundtable. Valuable and time-saving county services such as Access Oakland, the One Stop Shop Information Center and consolidated Workforce Development programs all started as recommendations from the Business Roundtable. It has also sponsored or co-sponsored a variety of educational programs within Oakland schools.
Programs and activities of the Oakland County Business Roundtable are funded by grants, donations, and corporate sponsor partnerships.
The Oakland County Business Roundtable is made up of representatives from the business, government, and education communities in the County.
Please contact the Oakland County Business Roundtable to find out about current opportunities for membership. firstname.lastname@example.com or Matt Gibb 248-975-9636
The Roundtable does not hold public meetings.
The Oakland County Business Roundtable occasionally issues statements of support for proposed or pending legislation at the state or local level. Additionally, the Roundtable has lobbied for programs, services and budget allocations to benefit the county. The Roundtable does not normally endorse candidates for office.


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Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 11th Jun 2013 08:10 UTC
Sony just won the console war for this generation. Not only is the PS4 going to be cheaper, Sony's CEO gloated on stage last night at E3 with the biggest possible grin as he detailed that all that nonsensical DRM crap that Microsoft is pulling, like blocking used games sales and stuff like that? Yeah, Sony's PS4 will have none of that. Sony even made an instructional video to explain how sharing games works.
Thread beginning with comment 564398
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To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Doesn't mean much.
by UltraZelda64 on Tue 11th Jun 2013 15:11 UTC
All this says is that Sony is not completely stupid, and sees Microsoft's policy as a potential boost for them if they hold back on doing anything similar for a generation. I fully expect, once Microsoft has taken the hit and begins recovering from their blunder, Sony will consider the waters tested and set up something similar themselves. I wouldn't trust them. Hell, with Sony known for taking away features on purchased hardware, I would not be surprised if they start toying around with this idea themselves before the next generation is even up. There really is nothing to get excited over until Sony proves themselves over time.


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Market-Driven Manufacturing at Abbott Nutrition
From packaging to new plants, boomers, kids and fitness buffs are the real managers of the company's nutritional beverage operations.
Most beverage processors do not obsess over the health and wellness of newborns in the neonatal ward or cater to aging adults looking to retain their muscle mass. But today's beverage industry has lucrative niches catering to the health and wellness demands of fitness buffs, baby boomers and children.
Not every beverage processor has the unique lineage and positioning of Abbott Laboratories, the diversified pharmaceuticals and health-care giant located outside Chicago. But make no mistake, Abbott Nutrition's business (http://abbottnutrition.com) is very much a food & beverage processor, marketing more than 50 global consumer brands spread over 4,000 SKUs sold in 130 countries. (The company also recently launched a new website: www.abbottnutrition.com/quality)
In managing 13 manufacturing facilities worldwide, Abbott Nutrition is a bottler, a canner and a blender of powder products. But a far cry from a mass-marketed soda pop, products such as Abbott's Similac brand of powdered infant formulas require plant personnel to maintain "extremely stringent quality expectations because of the pharma-influenced medical and infant nutritionals industry," says Susanne Roslon, divisional vice president of Abbott Nutrition.
The company makes significant changes in its products and, in turn, its production in ways that are directly related to what consumers say they want. In beverages and other categories, the company plans 20 new product launches by year's end. Last year, the company introduced several new products in markets around the world, including Ensure with Revigor and PediaSure SideKicks, designed for kids who are on track with growth but who can use extra nutrients to fill nutritional gaps.
To accommodate such innovation, the company spent $1 billion on capital expenditures in 2010 in areas including manufacturing upgrades and expansions, R&D, information technology and laboratory instruments. As new products come to the fore, plant processes must accommodate them.
Research-driven changes
In the adult health category, the first baby boomers are now past 65. After the age of 40, it is not uncommon for adults to lose 8 percent of their muscle mass every 10 years. To stay youthful and active, these consumers are turning to nutrition drinks such as Ensure high-protein drinks and Glucerna for diabetics and those who need to restrict glucose intake. Abbott over the past year has revamped packaging on Ensure and Glucerna with easier-to-read labels and a new, Abbott-patented easier-to-open closure that "makes it easier to open for aging customers," Roslon says.
ITW Hi-Cone supplies new packaging for Ensure; surveyed consumers called it modern and easier to carry than alternatives.
For this product, the company also changed its outer packaging for bulk six- and four-packs, from shrink film to a new packaging process from ITW Hi-Cone (www.itwhicone.com), Itasca, Ill. Through market research, Abbott found consumers preferred it over shrink film or full-wrap paperboard box options, calling it more "modern" and "easier to carry" than the alternatives.
Additionally, the Hi-Cone six-pack is a model of packaging material reduction, being made of clear, low-density polyethylene (LDPE, #4 plastic), which is photodegradable. Now, the colorful, primary bottle packaging shows through for a better billboard effect on grocery and drug-store shelves. The six-pack upgrade has also been added to Abbott's PediaSure product for kids.
Another change that affected products and therefore production lines came from the infant formula side of the business. Abbott recently replaced Similac's metal cans with a plastic one, called SimplePac. The change followed market research with more than 1,600 moms, which found that round cans were hard for moms to handle at feeding times. The rectangular design features a grip on one side, a hinged lid with a scoop holder and wide top opening.
Additionally, the scoop wasn't a good match for the package, which was changed to incorporate rounded bottom corners that now match the scoop design to allow easy removal of powder. "It truly was designed by moms, for moms," says Roslon.
Manufacturing's responsiveness
To accommodate these market-driven changes, the company has taken significant steps. For example, the national rollout of the Similac SimplePac required the installation of a new powder packaging line in Sturgis, Mich. Likewise, to produce the new reclosable plastic bottle for Ensure and Glucerna drinks, the company installed new filling and packaging lines at three facilities: Altavista, Va., Casa Grande, Ariz., and Columbus, Ohio.
Integrating such capital improvements into the company's operations entails bringing them into Abbott's program of monitoring quality, productivity and additional key performance indicators.
"Our quality and operations teams use Lean Six Sigma and Class A programs to accomplish productivity improvements," says Roslon. Several additional examples of how plants accommodate requirements of the world outside the traditional four walls of manufacturing:
- Quality and safety testing include more than 200 quality checks on 2-oz. plastic lines each eight hour shift -- in addition to raw material, analytical and microbiological testing of every batch of product.
- Equipment suppliers must meet company standards "particularly in aspects related to food safety," including details in the design and operation of fillers, cappers, sterilizers, and aseptic equipment.
- In addition to FDA Regulations for Infant Formula and Low Acid Canned Foods, the company is implementing plant-by-plant adoption of the Safe Quality Food Initiative, starting with certification at plants producing infant formula and adult nutritionals.
- The Casa Grande, Ariz., plant recently received Level III certification from Arizona's Maternal and Child Health Services earlier this year. This is the highest certification possible for products used in neonatal intensive care and continuing care units.
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Reliable Ford cars for rent in Craiova Airport- Hire one of these Fords from Suv class in Craiova Airport for the time frame that you have selected and let us know whether you'd like to pick it up at one of our offices or have it delivered at a specific location.
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You know when Boots starts giving out the £5 off No. 7 vouchers, it's a killer. The last few times I haven't paid any attention to it, but because I was in need of a cheap and cheerful boost for Spring, I traded my vouchers in for four new nail polishes!
I chose Cheeky Chops 240, Beanie 20, Tangy 220 & Stand Back 300! Random I know. All of these polishes have a cream finish….
That's the thing about the Boots No. 7 Stay Perfect Range – it's pretty nice although I wish there was a bigger selection of colours and they should bring out a greater variety of textures like other brands do, more glitters, more pearl, more variation basically.
I found the formula quite thick – I find it easier to apply thin polishes but hey ho, this does leave a nice even finish.
Cheeky Chops:
Tangy – a bright orange red:
Stand Back a bright blue:


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The 2013 Nissan Quest: A Practical Minivan for Today's Drivers
For the past several decades, the minivan has been the vehicle of choice for American families. These vehicles are known for their generous interior space, comfortable seating, and high safety ratings, which are ideal for families with two or more children. Considering the constant changes in automotive technology and market demands, the minivan has been forced to adapt. Here's a brief look at why the 2013 Nissan Quest is a practical minivan for modern families:
Comfortable Interior
The interior of the 2013 Nissan Quest offers numerous comforts and conveniences. The innovative seat frames allow the driver and passengers to ride in comfort during long road trips—the front seats even have a heated option to help keep mom and dad relaxed. The Nissan Quest can comfortably accommodate seven passengers, and the third row easily folds forward to allow more cargo space. The optional moonroof can make the interior even more comfortable with additional air and light.
Sophisticated Technology
The 2013 Nissan Quest seamlessly incorporates many of the most sophisticated automotive features. For easy access, the Nissan Quest has available one-touch sliding doors and power liftgate. Also, the 11" screen, gaming inputs, 13 speakers, and staggered seating allow the Quest to transform into a moving theater in a matter of moments. Meanwhile, the air purifier and tri-zone temperature control allow everyone to breathe comfortably and relax.
Reliable Safety Features
If you're still not sure whether you want a Nissan Quest, perhaps the safety features will seal the deal. The Quest's Advanced Airbag System automatically adjusts the inflation rate of the airbags depending on the severity of the collision. The Vehicle Dynamic Control, Traction Control, and Anti-lock Braking systems can also help keep you in control at all times.
If you have any questions about the 2013 Nissan Quest or any other new or used Nissan vehicles, call Brown's Fairfax Nissan at (571) 748-5085. We're one of the finest Nissan dealers around and a favorite among Fairfax-area residents. Visit our website to learn more about our products and services.
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High Performance and Scalable MPI Implementation on InfiniBand
Principal Investigators: D.K. Panda and P. Wyckoff
Funding Source: Sandia National Labs, CA
Duration: 5/2/2002 - 3/30/2003
Description: The recently proposed InfiniBand (IBA) standard provides many new features and mechanisms which are not available in other contemporary and popular cluster interconnect technologies such as Myrinet and Gigabit Ethernet. These new features raise interesting challenges regarding how to take advantage of them to design a high performance and scalable MPI implementation for large clusters. We are investigating aspects associated with implementing both point-to-point and collective communication primitives of the MPI standard. Specifically, we focus on the following topics: optimal usage of IBA transport services, efficient rendezvous protocol with RDMA and service level support, using atomic operations for collective communication, using multicast support for collective communication, and performance and scalability benefits of the MPI implementations on IBA compared to other networks.


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Campaign to open source Adobe Fireworks
Change color of an element in a photo or bitmap
3D Text Effect in a few simple steps.
Posted in Resources > Text Effects by Firetuts
Replicate the Siri Icon in Adobe Fireworks
Apple iCloud Logo with Brushed Metal effect
Premium Styles – Letterpress and Emboss Effect
In the next installment of premium products from Firetuts I would like to introduce our new letterpress and emboss style. Depending on the background colour of your design or background pattern these types of effects can be difficult to use. With this in mind I have created three different styles to match the type background [...]
Create complex vector shapes in Adobe Fireworks
Create complex vector shapes in Adobe Fireworks A few vistiors have asked how to create complex vector shapes in Adobe Fireworks, specifically the shapes I did for the mega pack of ribbons and badges I released last week. So the screencast is a of me taking you through the process I use to create complex [...]
Mega Pack – 200+ Web Ribbons and Badges
I've put together a huge pack of over 200 web ribbons and badges. Each element is in vector format and easily scaled and configured to the style of your own design. All ribbon elements come as grouped objects for simplicity of use and all elements are numbered in layer panels. Comes in .AI, .PSD and [...]
Specctr – Generate page specifications automatically.
Introducing Specctr the specifications extension for Fireworks Specctr is a plugin for Adobe Fireworks and Illustrator which automates spec generations for your designs. The term, "spec" is short for specifications — in the case of web design, they are instructions that specify colors, fonts, sizes, spacing and so on, just like a blueprint. Creating these [...]
Campaign to open source Adobe Fireworks
On May 6, 2013 Adobe announced that Fireworks the graphics platform will no longer be developed by the team at Adobe. This petition is to give a voice to those who want this decision to be overturned or to have the code release to open source. Please make sure you sign it. http://www.change.org/petitions/adobe-com-release-adobe-fireworks-to-open-source
Change color of an element in a photo or bitmap
With this technique you can change the colour of a particular part of a bitmap image or photo. The tutorial uses a photo as an example but remember that this technique can be used with elements of graphic design, icons or even web graphics.
Convert color photographs to black and white and sepia tone
In this tutorial, you will learn this simple and extremely helpful technique of converting color photographs to black / white and sepia tone using Adobe Fireworks.
Premium Styles – 3D Effect
After seeing how many of you downloaded the 3D text effect source file, I thought I use this opportunity to release the first of our premium products. One of the most time saving aspects of Fireworks is the ability to apply styles to objects on the canvas with one click. I have put together a [...]
Export SVG with Fireworks
Now that we can open SVG in Fireworks, I wanted to write a post to draw attention to Aaron Beall's export extension as it supports exporting vectors within fireworks to a SVG file. Export SVG with Fireworks Once you have downloaded and installed the plugin, click Command -> Export -> Export SVG to export your [...]
Open SVG in Fireworks
John Dunning has saved us all again, he has just released the first version of his SVG extension that lets us open SVG straight into Firewroks. Open SVG file in Fireworks Now complete support for SVG is a reality we can use this very flexible and lightweight image format with confidence. If you're not familiar [...]


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Students are required to complete a culminating experience during which they will integrate knowledge and apply skills learned through the undergraduate program. The requirement is fulfilled through the major program.
The Capstone is the culminating experience of the undergraduate program. Through this experience, students demonstrate achievement of program goals throughacademic work that exhibits knowledge and skills appropriate to the degree-level of the program. The nature of the Capstone Experience requirement depends on the major program. Students who doublemajor will complete multiple Capstone Experiences, as each major program defines an appropriate culminating experience. In all majors, the Capstone Experience involves completing a significant piece of work that requires the integration and application of learning from multiple courses. Students should consult with their academic advisors early in their majors to ensure that they are prepared for the work required in the capstone courses.
Emmanuel is a place where students broaden their sense of what's possible and prepare for inspiring careers in an ever-changing world. Be here.


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There were Japanese exchange students I hosted bring me a magazine and some manga from Japan. When I went to Japan, I bought a Gundam magazine for my boyfriend and some manga for myself.
Lost :'(
Had a friend bring me back some manga from his trip which ended up being Full Metal Alchemist, so got a few volumes of that. Can't read it just yet, but should make for handy practicing once I get more of the writing system under my belt.
Also brought me back a bunch of capsule toy One Piece figures so that was a bonus.
素晴らしい !!
Yes, I buy Ultrajump from amazon.co.jp and they include the added goodies. Used back editions may not but new ones do.
I read Japanese fairly well; I use it at work which really helps and I even got to work in Tokyo three years ago which was awesome. I originally wanted to learn Japanese so I could read the true story of Yukito Kishiro's Gun Dream / Battle Angel series as Viz went overboard with the translation, changing more than was necessary. Just got the 17th edition of Last Order though Kodansha publishes it now. Too bad amazon doesn't carry Evening magazine and my salesman friend now goes to China mostly which is too bad as he would pick me up the occasional copy when he was in Japan. No goodies in Evening magazine however to get back on topic...
Crazy thing is that even while in Japan it is better to buy them from amazon.co.jp than in bookstores as they usually sell out the first day of issue while amazon takes preorders.
Yes, I've bought a few, but not for the promo item. I've bought them when I know a chapter in one of the many series I'm into is in it. Then again, I know just enough Japanese to generally figure out what's going on (illustrations help out a lot! - like that one commenter stated, pictures are universal :)). I once went on a binge and bought 15 magazines because the local Japanese store discounted them to between $2.50 - $4.00 each. Couldn't pass that by .
I always buy a bunch at once, otherwise the shipping costs more than the books which is depressing...
evarnae wrote:
I've been thinking about buying a few manga magazines from Amazon Japan for the promotional items that sometimes come with them. Like the Natsume ice-cube tray in June's issue of Lala. Has anyone ordered manga magazines from Amazon Japan before? If you have, did they come with the promotional items or just the magazine itself?
Would you ever consider buying a manga magazine (in Japanese) just for the promotional item?
Yup! I get Dengeki G's Magazine and it comes with really cool stuff! It's expensive though, like, $20 bucks an issue expensive, at least by my American standards
July 4th, 1776 was the day that man kind started making better decisions.
I want
but they are all in japanese
like shounen jump
one piece 667 is very good
Few here learned Japanese to read their favorite Manga in its original form? Wow, I guess I really am weird...
i would if i could read japanese
I bought the Samurai Deeper Kyo artbook from Japan^.^
I love it!
Currently not getting enough of Gintama or Kuroko^.^
no , but my brother got me manga from Malaysia
Lightining dnt Strike The Same Place Twice!
No bc i couldnt read them
I have a BexBoy magazine from 2000 September
Someday when I learn Japanese and can afford it, I'll buy some.
I usually buy anime magazines with additional stuff that I want (like Nendroid Puchi figures, etc) from Kinokuniya here in LA. Is it cheaper to buy magazines from Amazon Japan? I just bought a bunch of Hatsune Miku Blu-Ray concert sets from Amazon Japan and I usually buy anime figures direct from Japan-based etailers these days or from Yahoo! Japan Auctions via the Shopping Mall Japan proxy service.


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New Car Review
2014 Dodge Charger: New Car Review
We really liked the 2012 Dodge Charger, which built upon the previous model's best qualities -- rear-wheel drive, full-size accommodations, high-performance optional V8s and bargain pricing -- and added world-class interiors, impressive technology, a strong V6 and improved styling. Quieter, quicker and more fuel efficient, the Charger had become worthy of its legendary name.
The 2014 Dodge Charger has not changed much from the 2012 model we liked so much. And, as the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
That said, we would fix one thing: the Charger's outdated 5-speed automatic transmission, which is the entry-level transmission for the V6 and the only one offered with the optional Hemi V8s. A component that was carried over from the previous-generation Charger, the 5-speed automatic's tall ratios and occasionally clumsy shifts make it feel like a problem that someone forgot to solve. Fortunately for V6 customers, a thoroughly modern 8-speed automatic is now available.
Otherwise, we find little to criticize in Dodge's full-size sedan. Whereas the previous Charger was more about muscle than manners, the new one is remarkably refined and tech-savvy, yet it still has that edgy performance and attitude that made the old one so endearing.
What's New for 2014?
The 2014 Dodge Charger is unchanged from the 2013 model, which itself was largely the same as the revised 2012 Charger.
What We Like
Available V8 power and all-wheel drive (AWD); nice interior; huge backseat; excellent 8.4-inch touchscreen; cool styling; unique upgrade packages
What We Don't
Outdated 5-speed automatic; styling not for everyone
How Much?
Fuel Economy
The Charger SE and SXT are powered by a 3.6-liter V6 that puts out 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Some models, including the new AWD Sport versions with the V6, produce an even 300 hp. A 5-speed automatic is standard on the SE only, while an 8-speed automatic is optional on the SE for $1,100 and comes standard on the SXT.
Fuel economy alone makes the 8-speed automatic a worthwhile upgrade, especially if you do a lot of highway driving. With the 5-speed, the Charger SE achieves 18 miles per gallon city and 27 mpg highway, while the 8-speed boasts 19 mpg city/31 mpg hwy.
The R/T uses a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that cranks out 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, while the SRT-8 is even stronger with a 6.4-liter V8 good for 470 horses and 470 lb-ft. Sadly, the aging 5-speed automatic is standard either way. Fuel economy is predictably poor: 16 mpg city/25 mpg hwy for the R/T or 14 mpg city/23 mpg hwy for the SRT-8.
Note that while rear-wheel drive is standard, a state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system can be specified on the SXT and R/T models. It yields 18 mpg city/27 mpg hwy in the V6-powered SXT or 15 mpg city/23 mpg hwy in the V8-powered R/T. That makes the Charger an appealing option for people who live in colder, wetter climates.
Standard Features & Options
For 2014, the Charger comes in four basic trim levels: the SE and SXT (powered by the 3.6-liter V6) and the R/T and SRT-8 (powered by Hemi V8s). Several interesting variations are available within the trim levels, but for simplicity's sake we'll stick to the basics here.
Charger SE models ($27,000) start with 17-in alloy wheels, keyless entry/ignition, a power driver's seat, dual-zone manual climate control, cruise control, iPod/USB connectivity (Bluetooth is optional) and a 6-speaker audio system with a 4.3-in touchscreen display.
The SXT ($30,000) is a serious upgrade, boasting fog lamps, heated front seats, a 12-way power driver's seat with adjustable lumbar, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a 6-speaker Alpine sound system and an 8.4-in touchscreen display with voice-command capability and an SD-card reader.
The R/T ($31,000) features a 370-hp Hemi V8 and standard 18-in wheels but is otherwise equipped similarly to the SXT. However, there's a $2,000 Plus suite for SXT and R/T that tacks on a 12-way power passenger seat, leather upholstery and a bunch of other goodies.
In addition to a monstrous 470-hp Hemi V8, the Charger SRT-8 ($46,500) boasts intimidating styling, 20-in wheels, supportive Nappa leather seats, a 3-mode electronically adjustable suspension and a 900-watt, 19-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system with navigation.
Representing a serious performance bargain is the Charger SRT-8 Super Bee ($43,500), which brings all the SRT-8 model's brutal athleticism while leaving a bit of its leather-lined luxury behind.
Among the Charger's notable options are a navigation system, a sunroof, adaptive cruise control and several more packages that add their own custom flavors.
The 2014 Dodge Charger comes with standard stability control, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and seven airbags (front, front-seat side, side curtain and driver's knee).
The Charger was almost perfect in government crash testing, with its 5-star overall rating marred only by a 4-star performance in the frontal-impact test. The independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated the Charger as Good -- the highest possible rating -- in every category.
Behind the Wheel
Not surprisingly, driving the V6-powered Charger is less enjoyable with the 5-speed automatic than with the 8-speed. The 5-speed unit shifts abruptly at times, and its gears are spaced too widely to take advantage of the V6's capable power band, which features most of its power at mid-to-high rpm. With the 8-speed, on the other hand, the engine is allowed to access and stay in its sweet spot far more often.
Chargers with the Hemi V8s obviously offer more low-end torque than with the V6, but the 5-speed suffers from the same widely spaced gears as with the V6, making it easy to catch the Charger R/T flat on its feet. This is less true of the SRT-8, considering its monstrous output, but both V8s deserve a better transmission regardless. Still, the V8s deliver delicious acceleration and glorious V8 soundtracks, and that kind of performance has a way of making transmission gearing seem almost irrelevant.
The Charger is smooth and quiet on the highway, but it's happy to get aggressive in corners, especially with the SRT-8 model's 2-mode adaptive suspension. We like what Dodge has done with the steering, taking it from rental-car vague in the previous Charger to almost sport-sedan precise in this one. The only real downside is the Charger's bigness, which can make spirited driving on tight roads more stressful than entertaining. Provided you've got enough open space, this car's a hoot. Driven in a more relaxed manner, however, it is quite docile.
Other Cars to Consider
Chrysler 300 -- The mechanically identical Chrysler 300 ($29,995) is the Charger's uptown sibling, so you'll pay more, but you'll arguably get more -- as the 300 is more of a true luxury car than the Charger. Incidentally, it is also available with the high-performance SRT-8 treatment.
Hyundai Genesis -- The rear-wheel-drive Hyundai Genesis ($34,200) has crept up in price (and power) over the years in V8 form, but the Genesis V6 presents a more elegant alternative to upper-end Chargers.
Kia Optima SX -- There aren't many cars at this price point with memorable styling, ample backseats and power to keep up with the Charger, but with its potent, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the Optima SX ($26,800) surely qualifies. While it doesn't have rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, it can be considered a bargain-priced Charger V6 substitute.
AutoTrader's Advice
Unless you're a die-hard muscle car fan, we recommend the V6-powered Charger SXT with the new 8-speed automatic, particularly when equipped with one of the Charger's cool styling packages. It may lack the V8's punch, but it compensates with impressive refinement, high fuel economy and lower price. Our preference may change, though, if the V8s ever get a new transmission.


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Vija Celmins
American, born Latvia
1938, Riga, Latvia
Born in Latvia, Vija Celmins fled the country with her family at the start of World War II. They lived in refugee camps until immigrating to Indianapolis in 1948. Celmins went on study painting in Indiana and at UCLA, and soon became known for realistic but uncanny paintings of household appliances as well as repainted versions of journalistic images. The latter works objectively record the mediation of real-world events by black-and-white television and photography.
Celmins's mastery of gray tones was well suited to her later depictions of expansive natural phenomena such as desert sand, ocean waves, starry skies, or spider webs. In these works she laboriously translates photographic details into paintings, drawings, and prints. Despite their realism, the images relate to all-over abstraction in the sense that they reject the pictorial conventions of depth and a single figure on a distinct background.


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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey says the Fighting Irish will stay in the Big East for the 2013-14 season before leaving for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Notre Dame announced in September it was leaving the Big East to join the ACC, with its football program remaining independent. Big East bylaws require 27 months' notice from departing members, but athletic director Jack Swarbrick indicated he would at least talk to the Big East about the possibility of leaving early.
Brey said one reason Notre Dame decided to remain in the Big East another season is it believes the seven Catholic schools that have decided to leave and form their own league will remain in the Big East next season.
Big East associate commissioner John Paquette declined comment Thursday.


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Earlier today the Bruins' Providence (AHL) farm club found out what division it was assigned to for the 2011-12 season.
This afternoon the P-Bruins learned who a couple of their more-respected veteran players are going to be.
The Bruins announced the signing of free agent Jamie Tardif to a two-year contract and Josh Hennessy to a one-year contract. Both should be solid players for the P-Bruins as well as emergency depth replacements if the parent club suffers a rash of injuries while trying to defend the Stanley Cup championship.
Tardif, 26, was the captain of the Grand Rapids Griffins the last two seasons, and this year the forward set a career high with 27 goals and 54 points. Combined with the return of Trent Whitfield, the P-Bruins will have at least two standout leaders in their dressing room.
Hennessy, a former second-round pick of San Jose, is a 25-year-old forward, and last season he played in Switzerland. He's a Brockton, Mass., native, so that should put a few more fans in the seats down at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.


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Given the following data:
Cartoon Character Year of Creation
Bugs Bunny 1938
Homer Simpson 1987
Fred Flintstone 1960
Charlie Brown 1950
Mickey Mouse 1928
Write a program to:
Define two parallel arrays, one containing the Characters? names, and one containing the year of creation.
Write code to traverse the arrays and output each name along with the year of its creation to the List Box, lstOutput. While traversing the array, determine character is the oldest.
Then output to lstOutput, the sentence:
"The oldest character in this group is ____________________. "
The blank should contain the name of the oldest character.


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ASTM Developing 3 Standards for 3 roller-compacted concrete.
Press Release Summary:
ASTM Subcommittee C09.45 is working on 3 proposed standards for roller-compacted concrete: ASTM WK33682, Test Method for Preparation, Compaction and Density Determination of Roller-Compacted Concrete Specimens by Means of the Gyratory Compactor; ASTM WK41101, Practice for Molding Roller-Compacted Concrete in Beam Molds Using a Vibrating Hammer; and ASTM WK42461, Test Method for Density (Unit Weight) and Air Content (Pressure Method) of Freshly Mixed Roller-Compacted Concrete.
Original Press Release:
ASTM Roller Compacted Concrete Subcommittee Developing Three Proposed Standards
W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.—Roller-compacted concrete is a stiff, dry concrete mix that has a low paste content and is placed and compacted using a roller, usually a 10-ton vibratory roller. In pavement construction, the process is similar to that for an asphalt pavement.
RCC mixes are used in a variety of heavy-duty applications at logging yards, loading docks, intermodal port facilities, large parking areas and dams. Subcommittee C09.45 on Roller-Compacted Concrete, part of ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates, is currently working on three proposed standards for roller-compacted concrete. All interested parties are invited to join in the ongoing development of the standards.
ASTM WK33682, Test Method for Preparation, Compaction and Density Determination of Roller-Compacted Concrete Specimens by Means of the Gyratory Compactor
According to Stacy G. Williams, Ph.D., director, Center for Training Transportation Professionals at the University of Arkansas, and a C09.45 member, notes that the Superpave gyratory compactor was developed during the 1980s as a means to provide a laboratory simulation of the compactive effort imparted by rollers on an asphalt mat.
Roller-compacted concrete is compacted using the same type of roller, so preparing RCC specimens in a laboratory can be expected to provide similar results to those experienced in the field. ASTM WK33682 is being developed to establish a protocol for preparing laboratory specimens of RCC that more adequately represent field mixes.
"The most practical application is that you can use the gyratory-compacted specimens for determining density," says Williams. "Strength and density are key performance parameters for RCC, such that increases in these properties lead to increases in performance."
ASTM WK41101, Practice for Molding Roller-Compacted Concrete in Beam Molds Using a Vibrating Hammer
Once approved, ASTM WK41101 will be used to consolidate RCC into beam molds with established flexural strengths. This is important because RCC is gaining use as a pavement for roads, shoulders and streets and all pavements need flexural strength data for design purposes.
ASTM WK42461, Test Method for Density (Unit Weight) and Air Content (Pressure Method) of Freshly Mixed Roller-Compacted Concrete
ASTM WK42461 covers the determination of density and air content of freshly mixed concrete. WK42461 will be used in the design of roller-compacted concrete mixtures and to aid in controlling the quality of those mixtures during RCC construction.
ASTM International welcomes participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.
ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions.
For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-transportation or follow us on Twitter @ASTMTransport.
ASTM Committee C09 Next Meeting: Dec. 8-11, 2013, December Committee Week, Jacksonville, Fla.
Technical Contact: Stacy G. Williams, Ph.D., P.E., Center for Training Transportation Professionals, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark., Phone: 479-575-2220; email@example.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Scott Orthey, Phone: 610-832-9730; email@example.com
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; email@example.com


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The Best Display Under Bright Light: It's Not Your iPhone
Brightness ratings and contrast ratio make for lovely tech spec reading when you're shopping for a new device. But neither tells you how usable a display will actually be in everyday ambient light situations. So DisplayMate put some of the more popular options to the test.


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Hullo. I'm designing a port scanner for a basic info security class, and one of the assignment requirements is to list the security concerns of such a program--basically, what possible risks to security this port scanner might pose. The port scanner is meant to be used by an administrator to determine what vulnerabilities exist in the network (and the program takes in input by the user to specify what exactly a vulnerability is).
As far as I can tell...the scanner should be designed in a way that a) it is accurate in its reporting of port statuses and vulnerabilities, b) the program requires installation by an administrator (so a malicious user can't use the scanner to detect vulnerabilities), c) the scanner completes its work in a reasonable amount of time without hogging resources, and d) the scanner doesn't open up any vulerabilities itself when it is executed.
These seem kind of trivial and obvious...are there any other security issues I might be missing?


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skipshot4 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 295 diseños de 74 diseñadores freelance.
We are starting a software company that will create open source software products for application developers and larger company. Our goal is to help developers spend less time and effort in order to build great systems-- we want to make them more productive by using our products.
Our culture will be heavily based on that of the open source community. We hope to build a community of users and customers who will help us improve our product as we grow.
A quick note on our company name. The word Kata is often used in Japanese martial arts to describe a model or refined form of movement.
Our target audience is software developers building application for larger companies either as employees or as contractors. The core of this audience are highly skilled lead engineers. These engineers will be building important systems on top of our products so they will be concerned about
The logo will be used on our website, our business cards, and our letterhead. The URL will be http://www.katasoft.com.
Here's what we'd like
1. Professional looking. We want businesses to be feel comfortable doing business with us and relying on our products.
2. The typeface should be easily read and bold. We want something that stands out
3. A low number of good colors because we want to easily put the logo on business cards
What we don't want
1. No logos that are too playful. (ie - No cartoons or bubble letters)
2. No clip art or stock photography
Example of a good logo: Fedex, Microsoft, Oracle, VMware
Thank you all in advance for your submissions! We look forward to seeing your great work!
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Copyright Alert System: Six Strikes and You're Annoyed
Feb 27, 2013 5:00 AM PT
The Center for Copyright Information is ready to start implementing the Copyright Alert System, it said Monday.
Under the system, content partners, such as music and movie producers, will alert participating ISPs of alleged P2P copyright infringement by their customers. The ISPs will then forward those copyright alerts to the supposed offenders.
Users may receive a maximum of six of these alerts with an increasing degree of seriousness. The first two are characterized as "educational" alerts. They will be followed by two "acknowledgement" alerts, which will require a response. If these alerts fail to garner the appropriate response from the subscriber, the ISP will send two "mitigation" alerts.
The consequences of these final alerts will differ depending on the ISP, but they range from a temporary reduction of Internet speed to redirection to a landing page that requires the account holder to review and respond to educational information, or redirection to a landing page until the account holder contacts the ISP.
A consumer can request an independent review administered by the American Arbitration Association within 14 calendar days of receiving an alert believed to be erroneous. There is a US$35 filing fee, which will be refunded if the challenge is successful.
The Softer Side of Copyright Infringement
This new system is the entertainment industry's answer to the failed strategy of suing alleged copyright content infringers for thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars -- an aggressive strategy of the early 2000s that wound up alienating so many consumers the industry shut it down.
The Six Strikes approach is widely viewed as a more balanced and fair way for the industry to address copyright infringement.
"Six Strikes both helps educate users and discourages them from engaging in illegal file-sharing," Daniel Castro, senior analyst with the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, told the E-Commerce Times.
It will probably have its greatest success with certain types of illegal file-sharing -- such as P2P file-sharing on BitTorrent -- as well as with people who engage in illegal file-sharing without realizing the impact of their actions.
"The Six Strikes effort likely won't be effective against illegal file-sharing on cyberlocker sites, such as the recently launched Mega," Castro added. "This is a growing source of digital piracy, so other countermeasures will be needed to combat this type of IP theft. It also will not stop all of the most egregious violators who engage in digital piracy as a for-profit activity."
Questions Remain
The system must be seen in action before a final verdict can be levied on how well it works or how fair it truly is.
For example, some movies and other materials are legally downloadable after certain time periods, noted Ramesh Subramanian, the Gabriel Ferrucci Professor of Computer Information Systems at Quinnipiac University.
"Maintaining such a database can be very onerous," he told the E-Commerce Times, adding "what about movies and other materials that are international in content and may not be subject to the U.S. DMCA?"
Another issue of potential concern is what sort of records the system will maintain about the alleged infringers, said Subramanian. "When would [a record] of infringement be deleted? Who is responsible for this? How transparent is the process?"
All of these questions can pose problems for Fourth Amendment rights to privacy, he added.
As it stands, the system is flawed, Subramanian pointed out. It leaves out small or local ISPs, which means that anyone who wants to defeat this rule can simply set up an account with one of those providers.
"Another problem is that the ISPs can be easily thwarted by using VPNs or Tor," he said, "which hides your IP address and other identifiers."


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interview with director Alex Roman…
Some philosophies of aesthetics enumerate seven primary art forms derived from Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's "Lectures on the Aesthetics" and the writings of film theorist Ricciotto Canudo: architecture, sculpture, painting, dance, music, poetry, and cinema.
The order is disputed, and architecture is sometimes shuffled to the third position, as it was by aspiring filmmaker Alex Roman for the title of his breathtaking work in progress, The Third & The Seventh, an artful combination of photorealistic architectural renderings and stylish CG cinematography.
In Roman's able hands, the combination is undeniably poetic. His reverence for light borders on transcendent, and his attention to detail is inspiring. We caught up with Alex for a little background information.
Justin Cone: Tell us a little about yourself. Who are you? Where are you from? What do you currently do?
Alex Roman: I was born in 1979, in Alacant (Alicante), a city in Spain. I would first like to say that my real name is Jorge Seva, but I use "Alex Roman" as an artistic alias for publishing independent work. After being trained in traditional painting at a few academies, I discovered this other world called CG. After school, I made the move to Madrid and began working at a visual effects company. That stint did not last too long due to the lack of demand for visual effects in the Spanish market at the time. It was then that I switched into the VIZ (architectural visualization) business. I have been working for several companies since. After that, I took a sabbatical year for to work on an "already-built work" visualization series, which will be stitched together into a short animated piece.
JC: Were you formally trained in architecture?
AR: Nope, never. But I was very interested in architecture since I was a child. Maybe it's not too late.
JC: Can you tell us a little about the TheThird & The Seventh film?
AR: Well, after working in VIZ for years, I realized that there was a huge aesthetic difference between most clients' commercial demands and photography of already-built structures. The lack of respect for the architecture itself in some "pure" commercial illustration was very frustrating to me. (Well, this is just my opinion, of course.) Then, I decided to start a personal journey: to experiment with a more cinematographic and/or photographic oriented point of view of some of my favorites architects' masterpieces. Hence, the "The Third & The Seventh" project…
JC: After thumbing through a book of Frank Lloyd Wright's sketches once, I chatted with an architect friend of mine about the art of architectural rendering. He told me that sometimes architects intentionally leave sketches vague or messy. It not only creates wiggle room when it comes to client negotiations, it leaves room for the imagination to paint in details. How would you respond to that idea?
AR: Well, there are of course several purposes behind computer graphics benefits. That "messy" representation style is very useful at a birth-idea/growing-process stages. Also, there are of course many architects that use CG as a sketching oriented tool… why not?
JC: Your sensitivity to light is amazing. How would you describe the interplay between light and architecture?
AR: Thanks! I think architecture is sculpting with light most of the time. There's neither volume nor colors and materials without light and shadow. Like Kahn said once: "In the old buildings, the columns were an expression of light. Light, no light, light, no light, light, you see…"
JC: The level of realism in the The Third & The Seventh is stunning. Your render times must be incredible. What software and hardware do you use? How long is an average render?
AR: I use 3DS Max and Vray for rendering, Photoshop for texture work, AfterEffects for compositing and color grading and Adobe Premiere for edit it all. My desktop PC (i7 920) it's now the only hardware i have. Every frame rendertime may vary from 20 sec to 1:30 hr (720p) It all depends on how complex the scene is. However, i invested a lot of time in scene optimization for rendering. I think it's the key for a flexible workflow.
JC: How can we see the full The Third & The Seventh film?
AR: I'm finishing the latest shots, fighting with the music—the hardest stage for me—and editing at the moment. We will see it complete around the end of the summer of 2009. I really hope so!
"THE THIRD AND THE SEVENTH" 2009 directed by Alex Roman


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A weekly look back at sports in the Lehigh Valley, in anniversaries of multiples of five years.
1986 — Speaking in Cleveland, 36-year-old Larry Holmes announces he is "out of boxing for good," six days after losing a rematch to Michael Spinks in a bid to reclaim the IBF heavyweight title he lost to Spinks in September of 1985. Holmes emphasizes his retirement is "permanent" and says he wants to help children and other boxers who have been exploited by their managers and promoters.
1956 — A crowd of 1,370 braves temperatures in the lower 40s at Breaden Field to watch the Allentown Redbirds open...