text:
WEX Inc. CEO: 'Workers Will Leave Because of their Boss'
How do executives stay organized? What are their management strategies? And what do they do for fun? Executive Suite seeks answers to the behind-the-scenes questions.
Mike Dubyak
Age: 62
CEO of WEX Inc.
CEO since 1998
WSJ: Employee turnover was high when you took over. How have you slowed it down?
Dubyak: When I took over in 1998, we did a company survey, and it was not very positive. More than 40% of employees said they planned to leave in less than a year. It smacked me right in the face. Here we were, building partnerships externally, but we weren't succeeding internally. Now, the annual attrition rate, including voluntary and involuntary, is 10% to 12%. We've stemmed it by being more realistic, by putting the right processes in place, and by making sure people know it's a two-way street.
WSJ: How do you get people to stay?
Dubyak: When we do our survey every year, we ask employees about their managers: Does your manager gives you the tools to succeed? Are you getting regular feedback? Is it an open, transparent environment? Do you have a voice? If a manager is low in these categories, their supervisor puts them in a training program and ties their rewards for the next year to that. No matter how good a company is, people will leave because of their boss.
WSJ: How do you get weaker managers to change their ways?
Dubyak: You have to make some changes. Sometimes that's hard. I have to tell some of my senior people, 'You're great, but you can't manage more than five people. You can't manage a 30-person department.' Some people have a better knack at delegating successfully, and some are better rolling their sleeves up and being a worker along with everyone else. Some people are perfectionists and have a hard time letting go. Some people can learn it, some people can't. It's just the makeup of the person.
WSJ: Tell me about your biggest management mistake.
Dubyak: Back in 1999 and 2000, after I had taken over as CEO, we tried to jam two major client projects in three months. We were doomed to have issues; it was asking too much of people. It was clear after awhile we should have delayed the second project by a few months. We had too much on our plate. Now, they're both happy long-term customers of ours, so we fixed it.
WSJ: Did you have to learn how to delegate yourself?
Dubyak: Absolutely. I'm a perfectionist. I realized I had to find a better way to manage people, and give people a chance to fail and learn from their successes and failures. I had 10 people, then 20 people, then 50 people, and I had to say I can't do it myself. In the 1980s and 1990s, I was probably working 85 hours a week. I'd get up early Saturday morning to work, go skiing, then come back. I'd be working in the car. There's a point when you realize you can't do everything yourself.
WSJ: How much personal time do you have and how do you spend it?
Dubyak: I try to protect my weekends. That comes down to having good people drive the business so I'm not sucked into fire drills. I really like to connect with nature. I do a lot of biking, hiking, kayaking and walking. I've gone down the Colorado River in wooden boats for six days; I've hiked six days and 45 miles to Machu Picchu; I'm going to Patagonia in February. My wife goes on all these trips with me. A healthy lifestyle is important to me. If you're out in nature, it's easier to be grounded and connected to others.
WSJ: What's your morning routine?
Dubyak: I get up at 5 a.m. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is read two to three newspapers online and go through my agenda for the day and my emails. Then I sit there and meditate for 20 minutes. It keeps me focused on the big picture, not sweating the small stuff. Then I do a half-hour workout in the gym in my basement. If it's nice, I'll bike outside for 45 to 60 minutes. I eat a healthy breakfast and I'm off to work.
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- October Shows Announced
SOiL join Puddle of Mudd, Saliva and Tantric on The Resurrection Tour
SOiL Headline UK Amplified Fest July 6th 2018
October and November 2016 Dates announced
Extensive UK dates - Tickets on sale NOW
Check out the new lyric video for Way Gone, created by Kevin Desjardin
SOiL 2015 new USA dates
Change to the line up for the UK tour dates
The Defiled will be joining us on the tour
2 new US dates announced
check out the tour page
SOiL and Tantric in September for a few USA shows!
SOiL UK & European Tour Dates With American Head Charge & Hed PE Announced
Born To Ride Tour 2014
Here are the request lines for some of the radio stations that are spinning "the hate song"...get your requests in....
KQRC- Kansas City 913 or 816-576-7989
WBYR Ft Wayne 260-484-2327
KILO Colorado Spgs 719-633-5456
WJJO Madison 608-321-0941
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WIIL- Chicago 800-223-9510
WRZK- Johnson City 423-578-7625
KHTQ- Spokane 509-744-0945-
KFRQ- McAllen 888-335-9494
WYBB Charleston 843-225-7625
Australia Soundwave 2014
Also new date at Knickerbockers announced with Fear Factory
November 22nd ..check out tour page for details
More SOiL dates announced with support from All That Remains
For all the latest tour dates, check out the tour pages
SOiL kick off the UK leg of their European tour with Skindred and Viza supporting in January.
See the shows page for the full list of UK tour dates and venues.
"Amalgamation" lyric video from AFM Records
The great people at AFM-Records GmbH have put together this lyric video for "Amalgamation" from our upcoming new album "WHOLE" out August 16 in UK and Europe. August 20 in USA/Canada. Check it out....And see if you can pick out all the SOiL and Drowning Pool songs Ryan weaves into the lyrics!!
SOiL Need You
Please call 99X- KTUXin Shreveport (318) 688-1130 and request SHINE ON.
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subset: commoncrawl


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1f8b, resolution 1.80Å
CheckConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
2,3-didehydro-2-deoxy-N:-acetylneuraminic acid (DANA) is a transition state analog inhibitor of influenza virus neuraminidase (NA). Replacement of the hydroxyl at the C9 position in DANA and 4-amino-DANA with an amine group, with the intention of taking advantage of an increased electrostatic interaction with a conserved acidic group in the active site to improve inhibitor binding, significantly reduces the inhibitor activity of both compounds. The three-dimensional X-ray structure of the complexes of these ligands and NA was obtained to 1.4 A resolution and showed that both ligands bind isosterically to DANA. Analysis of the geometry of the ammonium at the C4 position indicates that Glu119 may be neutral when these ligands bind. A computational analysis of the binding energies indicates that the substitution is successful in increasing the energy of interaction; however, the gains that are made are not sufficient to overcome the energy that is required to desolvate that part of the ligand that comes in contact with the protein.
Analysis of inhibitor binding in influenza virus neuraminidase.,Smith BJ, Colman PM, Von Itzstein M, Danylec B, Varghese JN Protein Sci. 2001 Apr;10(4):689-96. PMID:11274459[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Categories: Exo-alpha-sialidase | I75a5 | Colman, P M | Danylec, B | Itzstein, M Von | Smith, B J | Varghese, J N | Dana | Glycosylated protein | Hydrolase | Hydrolase-hydrolase inhibitor complex | Influenza protein | Neuraminidase


text:
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Goa to Mumbai Kailbharav Goa Travels Bus Tickets Booking
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please let us know and we will try to add it to our list.
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About Goa
Just imagine a vacation with inexorable splatters of waves, clean and tranquil air with sand under the feet, wide assortment of food that never fails to satisfy your taste buds and a party which never gets over, the City of Goa welcomes you to the smallest state of India. It has an influence of the Portuguese culture left over by their 500 year rule on this city. Well, apart from the beautiful culture, this city is famous for the vast stretches of sandy beaches, blue water and grassy mountain ranges that are mesmerizing in Goa. Goa, the party hub of India is an easily accessible destination with flights available from all cities across the country.Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC), a Govt. of Goa road transport undertaking, is responsible for providing intercity and interstate bus services. KTC operates its services from main bus stations of almost every city and town of Goa. The tickets for these buses are offered at reasonable prices and can be purchased in the bus itself. KTC offers mini/midi bus services to the commercial towns such as Panjim, Margao, Mapusa, Ponda, and Curchorem. The ticket charges for these places are affordable. For example, a journey to Margao from Panjim would cost around INR22 while a trip to Curchorem from Margao would be only INR11. KTC literally covers the lengths and breadths of the state. Apart from KTC, road transport corporations of states like Maharashtra and Karnataka also run their buses to from Goa. KTC provides bus services to cities falling in other states as well. It covers Hubli, Hospet, Gadag towns in Karnataka and Sawantwadi, Kolhapur, and Pandharpur in Maharashtra. The tickets for traveling to other states can be booked online by visiting www.makemytrip.com. KTC plies deluxe, luxury, semi-luxury, and ordinary buses to suit the budget of different travelers. However, some private operators such as Neeta Tours and Travels, Sea Bird, Metrolines, Fernandes Tours and Travels, and Taj Tours and Travels also offer bus services in Goa. The private operators offer comfortable journey with the help of their line of cozy buses. Private operators also offer an option of online ticket booking through www.makemytrip.com. The private bus operators offer extremely good services at prices that are certainly above than those of Government operated bus operators. But the comfort and relaxation that a passenger gets in these buses is unmatchable. Then, there are Volvo bus services that are available in Goa. These services are available at scheduled time and it is advisable to book tickets in advance as mostly all the Volvo buses are packed at most of the times. It is really surprising that so many bus services are available in a small state like Goa. But the fact that Goa is a tourist place ceases to surprise people. So, if you are planning to visit Goa, do not forget to book your tickets in advance through www.makemytrip.com. The website also provides vast travel related information about Goa.
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You can check all our offerings for your travel to Mumbai.
Things To Know About Goa
This city's tranquil way of life cuddles every tourist who comes into its lap. Honeymooners come here to soak in the togetherness and the natural ambience of this environment. The clean air for a calm evening, fun along the sea coast, tasty cuisines and cocktails makes for an unimaginable and triumphant outing. This city is a blend of broad range of religious places which are the integral part of history and culture of this place.A much-frequented tourist destination, Goa itself is surrounded by many attractive sightseeing possibilities. Well-connected, Goa offers visitors efficient bus services and excellent connectivity with trains. The varied nearby places include: Hampi (312 km), Jog Falls (250 km), Gokarna (125 km), Karwar (105 km), Udupi (321 km), Sindhudurg (59 km), and Mahabaleshwar (411 km). All these places are well connected to Goa, and customers also have the added advantage of enquiring about bus tickets (sleeper, AC bus, etc.,) and rail tickets, as well as purchasing them through online bus bookings and Indian Railways reservations system. Distance of Major Citiy From Goa Goa Bangalore : 576 Kilometers, Goa Pune : 459 Kilometers , Goa Mumbai:607 Kilometers, Goa Hyderabad: 656 Kilometers, Goa Mangalore: 360 Kilometers
Goa to Mumbai Kailbharav Goa Travels bus ticket booking online - Get Rs 120 OFF on all Kailbharav Goa Travels Bus tickets reservation from Goa to Mumbai. Find Kailbharav Goa Travels Bus Schedule, Routes and Fares.


text:
rushy needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 54 designs submitted by 25 freelance designers.
We are looking for a new, modern and professional, high quality logo that well resembles our upmarket and luxury furniture store located in London UK.
The House of Furniture
A Century of Designer Furniture
Desired Color Scheme:
None specified.
Desired Style:
Please refer to brief above.
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Must be print-ready! 2 colours if possible but not neccessary
Company Summary:
We manufacture and distribute high-end, luxury modern, contemporary furniture. Our specialist store is based in the centre of London, and we cater for prestige and VIP clients.
Logo Style Required:
We are looking for something that sends the right message of luxury and quality, really high end stuff, to our market.
If we could capture the image that this logo should get across in words, these would be the words we would use to describe ourselves:
REALLY high quality, REALLY expensive, VIP clients, traditional furniture manufacturers for centuries, well respected name and international reputation.
We do not have any colour preferences but ALWAYS keep in mind the things noted above when designing this logo.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Toronto , Canada
LinuxCon is the only event where developers, sys admins, architects and all levels of technical talent gather together under one roof for education, collaboration and problem solving to further the Linux Platform. As a member of the Linux Foundation, SanDisk is committed to Open Source and open standards through Open Source based innovation and collaboration. Visit us at the show to talk with our experts and learn more about our open source contributions and engagement.
Tuesday, Aug 23 10:45 am
BlueStore - A New Storage Engine for Ceph
Monday, Aug 22 3:00 pm
Trends in Corporate Engagement with Open Source


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The Carroll County Bus Garage would like to thank all the businesses that donated to National Bus Safety Week.
We would also like to thank everyone out there for helping us to get our students to and from school safely. Without everyone's help this would not be possible.
Nadena MaHoney, transportation director
Carroll County School District
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Yamaha Silent Instruments - Quietly Making Your Mark
Yamaha Silent Instruments - Quietly Making Your Mark
Unless you live on a croft in the Hebrides you've almost certainly had to contend with unwanted noise from your surroundings. Whether it's noisy neighbours or the council deciding to do road works at 8am we've all had to contend with unwanted disturbances.
Fortunately the Noise Abatement Society (NAS) is working to improved things and have introduced the Quiet Mark, an international mark of approval given to technology designed to be quiet and so help improve our quality of life.
Naturally musicians can often be guilty of intruding with noise. Practicing at home or looking for that perfect take recording a solo over and over again we might not even notice that we're getting carried away. So Yamaha have sought to help with their fantastic silent range of instruments. Bass, brass, strings, drums, guitar and piano have all been given the silent treatment.
Not just a nice consideration for your family, housemates and neighbours the Silent Instruments have uncompromising sound quality and professional features. The Silent concept is no novelty and can carry all the usual advantages of instruments that deliver sound via DI rather than acoustically.
- No need to worry about acoustics, if you're going to a recording where you're not sure the acoustics are up to snuff then the Silent series can offer a great sounding alternative.
- Live sound consistency, don't worry about the sound man and simply turn up with your own sound good to go.
- Forget about spill, if you're in a confined space for recording or playing live you can be sure that you'll find your place in the mix without worrying about spill problems.
A lovely demonstration of all these benefits came together at the Ideal Home Exhibition in Earls Court this year with a band demonstration of the Piano, Bass, Guitar and Drums. Great musicians playing wonderful music without disturbance, unwanted interference or any difficulty hearing one another.
First up we take a little look at probably the most tricky instrument to practice at home, the drums.
Electronic drum kits might not be especially new but Yamaha are always at the cutting edge, developing new technologies to improve feel, sound quality and reduce unwanted noise. No one wants to get interrupted by an irate family member because they're going all Levee Breaks like Bonzo, do they? The new Silent Kick Unit in the DTX400K can minimise this problem and let you keep on rocking in the free world, day and night.
Now for another solution to bedroom rockers and their occasional noise pollution.
Take inspiration with you wherever you go, the Silent Guitar is ready for practice, play and performance. With Headphone Out, Line Out, Aux In and effects built in you can get the sound you want, going where you need and play along with mp3/CD players.
Which model you choose will depend on the feel you're after, stately classical, contemporary acoustic/electric or a unique hybrid for classical sound with faster and harder playing style.
Yamaha SLG110S Silent Guitar
Perfect if you're more used to electric body shapes.
Yamaha SLG110N
If you want a classical sound but would like to move around the neck faster and more aggressively.
Yamaha SLG130N
Really lush in look and feel. For players used to classical playing style but with the unique silent guitar sound and effects.
Here's where things get really clever, specially designed brass mute pickups from Yamaha. Combined with the ST-9 Personal Studio it's all you need to practice at a reasonable home volume.
|Brass Mute Pickup
|French Horn
|Complete the Silent Brass pickup system with the Personal Studio.
Arguably the most technically impressive is the Yamaha Silent Piano. Taking over 100 years of piano making expertise and marrying it with the latest technology, moving things into the future.With the provided Yamaha headphones on listening to immaculate piano tones with realistic ambience applied and feeling the natural hammer action of a real piano it can be easy to forget that you're even in silent mode. You can also "convert" a humble upright into a grand piano by engaging silent mode and using audio outputs, true piano feel and tone.
It's certainly made a big impression on Jamie Cullum.
The ideal tool for the gigging Violinist, get a huge range of sounds from one instrument. Go from classical to jazz to cajun by adjusting the settings on your SV series violin. That's before you even get to the possibilities of using guitar effects like in the video below.


text: vir litterarum wrote:You are right that some of the best translations of classical literature have been done by one person, but people do not view these as divinely inspired, so individual interpretation is more acceptable within them. In addition, most of the translations of which you speak are not dynamic equivalence translations, with which it is much more difficult to stay true to the original text. One man setting out to produce a literally equivalent translation of something is much more logical and feasible than one man setting out to translate something dynamically. If committees are requisite for anything, they are requisite for dynamic translations.


text:
The A-Bomb off our coastAssociated Press
February 14, 2013
BRUNSWICK, Georgia - On a winter night nearly 55 years ago, the pilot of a B-47 bomber carrying a nuclear bomb collided with a F-86 fighter jet at 36,000 feet during a training exercise.
The accident tore a wing from the fighter jet, forcing the pilot and a crew member to safely eject. The bomber sustained damage to one of its engines, making it uncertain if it could safely land at Hunter Air Force Base, west of Savannah.
The pilot was instructed to jettison the nuclear bomb before attempting to land, so he dropped the weapon into the shallow waters off the Georgia coast, near Tybee Island, on Feb. 5, 1958.
Despite a search that lasted more than a month, the bomb, 11 feet long and 3 feet in diameter and weighing more than 7,000 pounds, was never recovered. The Air Force determined it was "irretrievably lost."
In 1998, retired Air Force Col. Derek Duke helped renew interest in finding the bomb. He helped form a salvage company to mount another search in 2004, but he never found the weapon.
"It was determined since we could not find it, it would still be considered irretrievably lost," he said Tuesday.
But Duke, who lives in Statesboro, about 75 miles from where the bomb was ditched, is convinced that if the federal government conducted another search, using the newest technology, the bomb would be found. And he believes it is simply a matter of convincing the right government officials that finding the weapon is long overdue.
"If it would have been dropped in the Potomac River, it would have been found a long time ago," he said. "There's a lot of weapons-grade nuclear material (in the bomb). When this was lost, all the nuclear material was written off the books."
At the time of the accident, Duke said it was standard practice for nuclear weapons to be carried during Air Force training exercises.
"Our bomber force was the first line of defense in a nuclear war," he said. "It was the politics, the atmosphere at the time."
Duke says he still gets calls and emails asking about the bomb at least once a month, so he knows it's still a concern.
"It's a question about what risk is there," he said. "I have to be careful, because I don't want to alarm the public."
But according to Jerry Brandon, a former staff member at Sandia National Laboratories, an engineering and science laboratory in New Mexico under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy, the public should not be concerned about the bomb exploding.
"The worst thing that would happen is, it would leak plutonium," he said.
Brandon, who has a post-doctorate degree in physics, worked at the lab from 1972 through 1979, trying to find uses for radioactive material left over from making nuclear bombs.
He says it would "be a good idea to find it," because of the radioactive material. But Brandon, who lives in St. Marys, doubts if the radioactive material will ever be found if the corrosive salt water has dissolved the metal exterior of the bomb.
Clark Alexander, professor of geology at Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, a University System of Georgia research institute on Skidaway, says it is likely the bomb is buried 20 to 30 feet deep in sediment.
Despite the radioactive material and an estimated 400 pounds of TNT in the bomb that is becoming more unstable as time passes, Alexander says the best course of action is to leave the weapon where it lays. He has no concerns about adverse impacts to the environment.
If the bomb is buried deep in sand, Alexander says it is likely the bomb casing has already corroded and has leaked nuclear material. It is also likely a nuclear leak won't be noticed because of strong tides flushing the material to sea.
"If it's in the sediment, it's relatively well-flushed," he said. "It would have no effect, whatsoever."
Duke concedes it is possible the bomb will never be found unless a targeted new search is conducted or a powerful hurricane uncovers it from its resting place. But it's not impossible.
"They find things all the time from World War II in Europe," he said. "It's literally anyone's guess where it is. It touches a lot of history."


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|January 31, 2013, 07:15 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: July 10, 2008
Location: Live Free or Die state
Posts: 259
DHS Video - How to Die With As Little Trouble As Possible
Has anyone seen this? It is a Homeland Security video that answers two essential questions - how to be well trained unarmed victim, and where your tax dollars go after the Gov't takes them.
Question 2 is really pretty rhetorical, and always has been. But the first - as i watched this video, i kept shouting at my computer "Draw Your Gun!" Of course, we all go into Victim Zones from time to time, and i do it every day as a regular civilian employee of a Federal agency (I'm the Director of a regional office of HUD). We go to Parent/Teacher conferences at the schools, you pick up a package at the post office.
The one GOOD piece of advice dealt with situational awareness - it said to HAVE A PLAN for any place you go. What do you think? Share your plans for the places you go, especially the Victim Zones you are forced to navigate.
"To my mind it is wholly irresponsible to go into the world incapable of preventing violence, injury, crime, and death. How feeble is the mindset to accept defenselessness... How pathetic." - - Ted Nugent
"Cogito, Ergo Armitum Sum" - (I Think, Therefore I Am Armed)- - anon.
|January 31, 2013, 07:24 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: May 24, 2011
Posts: 990
Just hope you don't have those safety scissors in your desk drawer
M&P- the other dark meat
|January 31, 2013, 07:48 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: October 31, 2000
Location: Texican!
Posts: 4,453
You would think these DHS 'experts' would game the techniques.
Have paintball guns and the defender has rubber scissors.
Say in the DHS offices. Randomly over a week or two stage an attack and see what works and what doesn't.
I say this cause the idea of scissors against guns was tried in WW2. Only the Japanese had swords and the GI's M1 Garands.
And we know how well that worked out.
"To you who call yourselves 'men of peace,' I say, you are not safe without men of action by your side" Thucydides
|February 2, 2013, 08:45 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: September 27, 2010
Posts: 682
If it makes you feel better they even make my agency go through all the same active shooter stuff... and all of us carry guns.
|February 2, 2013, 08:15 PM
Join Date: November 17, 2000
Posts: 19,595
We had an active shooter video - it has to be institutionally PC and avoid discussing firearms based defense.
It is basically very good advice on alertness, hiding, running, etc. It mentions that you have to fight but the fight scenarios are carefully chosen to be close quarter tackling of the shooter.
Most scenarios also assume that you hear the people dying elsewhere and then can do the above.
It specifically avoids the large lecture room attacks that happen at school shootings.
It is quietly assumed that if you are in the first targeted large room you will die with little chance of effective self-defense.
The reasons against armed self-defense are:
1. General antipathy to guns for political reasons and the belief that by some that they personally are victims - unable to act.
2. Allowing guns might lead to an innocent getting shot. Of course this is bad, but the institutional core reason is that they fear liability if they allow guns.
One person told me that they didn't want to get caught in a crossfire but then they are only in the FIRE from the killer with no chance of being saved.
3. The police might shoot the good guy - but if that happens after 30 are saved that is terrible but a rationally good outcome. It also implies that they are not confident they could act effectively in target recognition. Also, they fear liability in shooting a good guy. Total liability is the god of institutional decision making.
The attitude of the self-defense deniers is to become smug and look at the SD advocates as some kind of gun frenzied nutso.
NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens
|February 2, 2013, 08:40 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: May 25, 2011
Posts: 1,755
FEMA Course
The school I go to recently put the above free active shooter "course" up on the website.
Some highlights:
|February 2, 2013, 11:04 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: October 31, 2000
Location: Texican!
Posts: 4,453
Actually there will be sufficient time for law enforcement to take control of the situation.
After the shooter runs out of ammo or gets bored and off's himself.
Builds confidence, right?
"To you who call yourselves 'men of peace,' I say, you are not safe without men of action by your side" Thucydides
|February 3, 2013, 12:28 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: January 27, 2008
Posts: 1,871
That was a pretty vague overview, and only got into specifics about cell phones and how not to get shot by the police. Pretty bad failure of a training video, if you ask me!
The "Run, Hide, Fight" video is a much better one, for people who do not have an effective method of defense.
I also feel it is a mistake to deny decent people access to firearms, if they so choose.
|February 5, 2013, 12:06 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: September 24, 2009
Location: NJ/NY
Posts: 152
School Lockdown drills
Interesting the first defense (and natural response I think) is to get away, yet in all the schools I've worked in the first directive is to hide and stay silent. Many of my coworkers get all worked up on this esp in the special needs class I most often work. These kids have a hard time being silent, standing still etc. Bottom line I say to them do the best you can to follow the drill and admins guidelines but in the 1 in 1 million chance it were ever real. The teacher is in charge in the classroom and they decide what best to do to keep their kids safe.
|February 5, 2013, 04:44 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: October 10, 2009
Location: SW VA
Posts: 491
The scary bit is the point man on the response team. Watch the video at about 1:23 into it - the team is coming through the door. Look at the point man's grip on the pistol - two thumbs across the back of the slide. Clearly DHS didn't even use someone who has ever fired a pistol - one shot and done.
"I'm your huckleberry."
|February 5, 2013, 05:10 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: July 9, 2004
Posts: 5,162
A wise man once said "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees".
These days you may live on your knees or die on your knees, and even at that...you still don't get a choice.
Dang, I'm getting cynical in my old age.
Last edited by orionengnr; February 5, 2013 at 09:30 PM.
|February 6, 2013, 08:13 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: March 4, 2008
Location: Down East Maine
Posts: 431
When the university where I was employed as adjunct faculty discussed active shooter preparation after the VA Tech shootings, one of the full-time faculty brought up the issue of legal carry as a means of countering an active shooter.
(This is a gun-friendly state with a shall issue law).
She was informed that a faculty member who was discovered to be carrying a concealed firearm would be subject to immediate dismissal.
When I learned of this I agreed completely with this policy. I terminated myself immediately.
The United States Marine Corps: Providing the enemies of America the opportunity to die for their countries since 1775. Semper fi.
|February 7, 2013, 12:50 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: January 27, 2013
Posts: 988
It baffles me that people would rather be helpless victims than have some sort of method for effective self defense. To a certain degree, I understand the liability aspect of not allowing concealed carry within places like this, but how often do you hear about police stations, a place where nearly everyone in the facility is known to be armed, getting shot up? I am a Marine, and I hate that I am not allowed to carry on base, open or concealed. Instances like Ft.Hood, mentioned in the video, would not have happened so severely if people in the building had been armed.
|February 7, 2013, 10:36 AM
Join Date: November 17, 2000
Posts: 19,595
Sorry to say - that if you search you can find police stations and courts being shot up. It's not a telling argument against the suicidal run from someone who wants to kill and then die.
Search on it. Tyler court house for instance. There are others.
Look at this guy - http://abcnews.go.com/US/christopher...ry?id=18427632
The reason for the gun, primarily, is to reduce the impact of the incident as the shooter can be engaged more quickly.
NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens
Last edited by Glenn E. Meyer; February 7, 2013 at 05:16 PM.
|February 14, 2013, 08:52 PM
Junior member
Join Date: May 1, 2010
Posts: 5,797
LaSorsa.com ASIS....
I would check out the group; ASIS, www.asisonline.org .
I read over www.Lasorsa.com too. School/campus security & workplace/mall homeland security issues will get a lot more ink in the next few years.
A lot of rip-off artists & nutcases will pop up teaching classes or going on media outlets too.
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Athletics lose Sizemore for season
Anaheim, CA – Oakland Athletics infielder Scott Sizemore tore his left ACL and will miss the remainder of the season, the team announced on Wednesday.
Sizemore had torn the same ligament in spring training last year and missed the remainder of the season.
He suffered the injury after chasing a pop up on Tuesday night and limped off the field. It was originally ruled a sprain and Sizemore was placed on the 15- day disabled list, but an MRI on Wednesday showed a tear.
Over two games this season, Sizemore went just 1-for-6 with a double.
To fill the roster spot, Oakland called up utility player Andy Parrino from Triple-A Sacramento.


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Gabe thought that he was done with Roland Emmerich, but apparently not...
According to the Mayan calendar the world will come to an end on December 21st, 2012 (or the 23rd, whatever), and everyone's favourite German blockbuster world ending director and 'writer' Roland Emmerich is taking advantage. In true '70s disaster fashion he brings along an all-star cast, including John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Morgan Lily, Liam James, John Billingsley, Thomas McCarthy, Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson. There's a plot in there, something about these people trying to survive massive freakin' earthquakes, but mostly we're talking about thing blowing up.
Here's the thing about me and Roland Emmerich – I usually enjoy his dumbass films upon an initial viewing, but slowly learn to hate them upon second viewings and recollection. He simultaneously produces the best and worst cinematic junk food, full of empty calories, but just tangy enough to make that first bite worth the effort. Still, there was something about this director not giving up his world crushing ways that made me embarrassingly interested in seeing 2012, I just didn't want to admit it to anyone. I didn't want to spend any money on it in theaters, and certainly had no 'blind buy' plans for this Blu-ray release. I didn't even want to put it on my Netflix queue, because then the Netflix people would know I wanted to see it. I have movies on my Netflix queue with titles like Strip Nude For Your Killer, The Killer Nun, Bloody Pit of Horror, and S.S. Experiment Camp, by the way. Luckily a review copy came in the mail a few days ago, and I was presented with the perfect opportunity to at least pretend it was a chore.
2009 was an epic year for epically bad epic movies, and (depending on one's opinion of Avatar, which I still haven't decided if I liked beyond its visuals) 2012 is more or less the apex of the collection, expressing its stupidity in a similar knowing fashion to the surprisingly entertaining G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, rather than the spiteful stupidity of Transformers 2 (a movie I swear gave me the finger for two hours and 40 minutes), or the accidental stupidity of Wolverine and Terminator Salvation. Emmerich's script makes a shocking amount of sense at its base (I'd expect the world's governments to secretively go to private investors to save a piece of humanity), but its lack of scientific coherency, emphasis on large scale special effects over plotting or characters, and dependence on coincidence is patently ridiculous. Unlike so many of 2009's epically bad epic movies there was never any question that 2012 was going to be anything less than an unabashedly dumb movie, and it delivers on every single one of its promises.
But 2012 isn't just a disaster film, it's every disaster film (note: I didn't read any reviews of the film to keep myself spoiler free, but I'm positive some other, better critic had to have used this line before me). Emmerich appears to be going out of his way to render all past disaster films moot by referencing them, then entirely out-exploding them. You can almost see the director dancing like a prize boxer and shouting 'Is that all you've got?' while tweaking his CG enhanced nipples.
Remember Earthquake, the movie where those buildings fell down, and the asphalt was torn in twain? Screw that, 2012 shoves the whole of L.A. into the goddamn Pacific ocean. Remember those big volcanoes in Dante's Peak and Volcano? Those were anthills compared to the triple mushroom cloud boom of a volcano the size of Yellowstone National Park. Remember The Poseidon Adventure (all three versions), where that ocean liner was flipped by a big wave? Weak sauce, 2012 demolishes an ocean liner, then buries the entire world in big waves. Some will assume Danny Glover plays the US President here in reference to Barack Obama (the commentary track even states as such directly), but everyone that watches blockbuster movies knows that black President equals the end of the world in unintended movie vernacular. Emmerich even goes so far as to include his own films in his visual quotations, which must also make 2012 the most meta disaster flick ever. More over, 2012 is the disaster film to end all disaster films. Every apocalyptic theme is included short of biological and extra-terrestrial attack is explored, and there's nothing left to destroy, short of actually blowing the entire planet to dust.
2012 does run out of steam a bit by the time the third act rolls around and the waves take over for the explosions, but it's the most consistently entertaining of Emmerich's disaster flicks. Independence Day, Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow are all about one third to one half good mass destruction movies, but fall into repetitive relative boredom when the characters are left to deal with the consequences of the big bangs, especially on second viewings. In this case there's nothing humanity can do to stop the end of the world, so there's no real lull in the action. More surprising is that the bulk of the drama actually hits on a larger than life, but relatively realistic level. There's a lot of sentiment, as is both the director's M.O., and the definitive M.O. of most disaster films, but there's only a small subsection of eye-rolling moments. Emmerich's comedy plays out a little better too, and his actors, for the most part, really step up to fill out their thinly drawn, cliché-ridden characters, who react in much more natural ways than most of the writer/director's protagonists. Unlike the tepid Day After Tomorrow, the 2012 script fills out the genre requirements in that classic Earthquake manner. A few cast members feel extraneous (especially minus the alternate ending), and it's easy to lose track of some of the minor characters, but for the most part this feels like a real, old-fashion ensemble. I'm especially impressed by Oliver Platt, who plays the film's proper villain (aside from the world itself) as a real person, not a monster.
Beyond all the stuff blowing up and sinking, I should point out that Emmerich and his editors produce one genuinely brilliant scene where a woman chops a chicken's head off for emphasis. There's a moment where the chicken really appears to understand its conundrum, and is relieved when it appears it won't be killed, without a single digital effect or augmentation.
2012 is a pleasant surprise as a film, but this Blu-ray release is a bit of disappointment in terms of video quality. The 1080p, 2.40:1 transfer is usually sharp, detailed, colourful and consistent, but it has some major problems with digital blurring during the more intimate, non-special effects heavy sequences. I have a real distaste for digital blurring or 'smoothing', and have taken the proper steps to avoid it in setting up my set, which makes an excess stand out quite a bit. I'm not sure what cameras were used for the film (imdb.com points towards a mix of elements), but the look is cheap. These bits, which are unfortunately the norm, stand in total opposition to the big special effects scenes, where the digital environments look positively perfect. There's so much extreme detail to enjoy during the severe demolition that a second viewing with the pause button employed is almost required. Emmerich's earlier films tend to utilize one or two defining hues ( Godzilla was very green, Day After Tomorrow and Independence Day were very blue), but 2012 is more defined by deep black shadows than colours. The hues are hyperactively bright and full, but there are many to choose from. Some of the darker and bluer scenes are perhaps a little too dark, and the soft white highlights tend to be a little too saturated, but these are likely choices made in post. Despite all the strange blurring the more stagnant elements are pretty sharply separated, especially the contrasting warm and cool elements, which feature little to no edge enhancement. It's a mixed bag, but the money shots come out correctly.
2012 is fit with a Jesus Christ, tie down the valuables DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The early acts feature some of the mix's more creative moments, including some abstract rear channel noises that are slowly revealed to be an approaching helicopter, or a bunch of zippy, swooshing effects that represent establishing wide shots. These bigger moments are the exception to a relatively mundane rule. The sound design is obviously more impressive during the really explosive moments, and audiophiles have their pick of epic destruction sequences to show off their systems to guests. I pick the L.A. plane escape myself. The scene starts slowly, then explodes into impossible rumbles. The channels boom with both big crumbling building and streets, and tiny textural details like car alarms and shattering glass, which fill out most of the directional requirements. The Yellowstone volcano scene is even louder (it definitely features more fiery explosions), but the fine details are lost in the heavy bass, so the experience isn't quite as lovely. The same applies to the giant wave scenes. The mix will win no awards for subtly or details, but it certainly does the job. The music, by Harald Kloser and Thomas Wander, fulfills the bulk of its disaster movie requirements, without drawing too much attention to specific themes. There's nothing memorable about the music, but it's set well on the mix against the really loud moments, and don't overwhelm the emotional moments.
There is a two disc release of 2012 available, but I'm reviewing the single disc version for this review. The extras start with a commentary from writer/director Roland Emmerich and co-writer/co-composer Harald Kloser. This ESL track is pretty lethargic, but the giggles and German accents go a long way in maintaining listenability. The most interesting thing about the exercise is the lack of owning up to what I called 'homage' in my review. The commentators mention the basic structure of the story in terms of the classic '70s norm (and point out their North by Northwest and Jaws call outs), but rarely acknowledge the bits they've clearly ripped from other films. Also amusing are moments where Emmerich bemoans the deletion of even more over-the-top mass destruction, which was deemed too silly by test audiences. The commentary is augmented by MovieIQ PiP extras.
The only other extra, besides some Sony trailers, is an alternate ending (3:40, HD), which features mostly finished special effects. Unlike so many alternate endings, this one is actually reasonably substantial. No spoilers here.
This might be the most unfortunate home video release date of all time. There's no way Sony could've known that Haiti would be hit with a devastating earthquake in January, or that Chile would be hit by the fifth biggest quake in 100 years days before the release, but the only thing worse would be a special edition re-release of Executive Decision on Tuesday, September 11th. Bummer is the word that comes to mind. Unfortunate release dates aside, I'm going to have to go on record as a fan of 2012, much to my surprise. Apparently I'm not quite as opposed to stupidity as I want to think I am. The only other film of 2009 that delivered more on its trailer's and director's promise was Sam Raimi's Drag Me To Hell. If you enjoy this brand of junk food you're in for a treat. This single disc Blu-ray is missing many of the two-disc set's extras, and features a hit and miss high definition transfer, but the money shots look great and the DTS-HD track is exactly as bombastic as it should be.
Reviewer Note: These images are not representative of the Blu-ray release.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Marcus1138 Contributor Join Date: June 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 910
I'm with you Gabe. This stuff was fun (for the most part).
liono86 Member Join Date: June 2006 Location: United States Posts: 258
I agree as well. Dumb fun. The acting was believable and the CGI amazing as well as non-stop action sequences. And, really, isn't that all you'd expect for a film like this? I'm going to eventually get the 2 disc blu ray, but, will wait for when it's a good sale. For now, though, will watch it again through netflix.
B B Member Join Date: February 2005 Location: United States Posts: 419
This was a solid disaster film, by no means a masterpiece, but it has it's moments.
moviewizguy Member Join Date: February 2006 Location: United States Posts: 224
One of the most entertaining movies of last year. I loved every moment of it. The special effects were so jaw-droppingly, amazingly brilliant that I'm awe-struck that it didn't get nominated for and Oscar for Best Visual Effects. 9/10
Matt Contributor Join Date: October 2004 Location: United States Posts: 2,113
I swear I could feel my IQ dropping by a few points while watching this the other night, but I can't fault the movie for being the big, dumb movie I knew it would be. Definitely better than The Day After Tomorrow though.
cinemaniac26 Member Join Date: September 2007 Location: United States Posts: 132
Matt wrote: I swear I could feel my IQ dropping by a few points while watching this the other night, but I can't fault the movie for being the big, dumb movie I knew it would be. Definitely better than The Day After Tomorrow though.
I know what you mean. It didn't notice that when I saw it at the theatre, but when I bought, I noticed ALOT of completely idiotic stuff.
Still, it remains my favorite guilty pleasure of 2009.
I know what you mean. It didn't notice that when I saw it at the theatre, but when I bought, I noticed ALOT of completely idiotic stuff.
Still, it remains my favorite guilty pleasure of 2009.
Lincoln6Echo Member Join Date: August 2004 Location: United States Posts: 1,125
I was wanting to grab this movie up quick and convenient like at Wal-Mart trying to get a lower than Amazon price, and neither of the two SuperCenters in my area have the damn thing in BD.
DavidBjerre Member Join Date: April 2009 Location: Denmark Posts: 10
This was shot primarily on the Genesis camera. And you're right Gabe, all the "small scale" scenes look cheap. They basically look like they were shot on video. Mike Seymour carefully explains why this is so on episode 91 of the VFX Show podcast. Worth a listen.
Gabe Powers Editor Join Date: September 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4,721
Thanks David, I'm trying to learn more about the different HD cameras out there for review purposes, but I'm only really using imdb as reference and trying to compare to other films. It seems to me those RED cameras are the best of the bunch.
Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13
Disc Details
Release Date: 2nd March 2010
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 2.40:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English and French, Dolby Surround Audio Description Track
Subtitles: English SDH, French
Extras: Director and Co-Writer Commentary, MovieIQ PiP, Alternative Ending, Trailers
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Roland Emmerich
Cast: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Morgan Lily, Liam James, John Billingsley, Thomas McCarthy, Danny Glover, Woody Harrelson
Genre: Action and Adventure
Length: 158 minutes
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Nice cheap metal bar stool with excellent value! I bought several of these in different designs as Christmas gifts and they were very well received! They thought it cost way more than they actually did. My best friend's birthday is coming up, so of course I was browsing shopping website for her gift. After seeing these cheap metal bar stool, I knew that I had found the perfect gift. is great quality. Great buys!
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Shopping for back to school or during this holiday season? These fraud protection tips are for you and everyone!
I soooo love the cheap metal bar stool! Aside from it is my favorite color, the size is perfect. The delivery period is awesome too! I'll definitely shop again with online shop. Quality seems good. You won't regret it I LOVE THIS ! It is super cute and stylish and functional. I gave it five stars because I love the style and the look, I really hope the company can redesign with more substantial material. If not someone will beat them to it I am sure. Style is great.
I love love love this product. This is a wonderful cheap metal bar stool. True to size, comfortable, Very pleased. I got this for my 25 year old daughter for work. She loves it! She ordered two more in different colors. Well packaged, nice quality. Love it! A high quality . I'm going to order another one (or two, or three) and it would be a lovely gift.
Nice with excellent value! I bought several of these in different designs as Christmas gifts and they were very well received! They thought it cost way more than they actually did. This was my first purchase. When I saw it online it really sparked an interest. When I received it I was so thrilled at the beauty of it. So simple yet very personal. I am quite impressed with it. It could have been done better to fit the elegance of the cheap metal bar stool.
$255.96 $189.99 $48.99 $151.99 $179.98


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Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Cartoon Network Fancy Anvil Awards
5 comments:
- Christopher said...
Man, they got away with just about anything then - case in point with Muriel and Miss Bellum having a girly giggle about their men...!
I've always admired these stints even when they were at their cheapest, although if they had enough budget to produce better animation than rely on looped/lifted cycles these would have been even better. I remember they did a series based on "I'm a Celebrity", which had bit of a cop out ending - Brak winning the show then him waking up in the Space Ghost Studio to learn it was all a dream.
And yeah, whose bright idea WAS it to combine the Flintstones with their Kiddiefied counterparts!?
- October 2, 2008 at 8:09 AM
Wow, I remember this! It's hard to believe Cartoon Network used to be like this!
Also, wasn't this shown on the same night of the real Academy Awards?
- October 2, 2008 at 1:12 PM
- the margaret said...
So were the winners never reviled?
- October 6, 2008 at 1:43 AM
- classicparamountcartoons said...
In response to "the margaret"'s comment:
The winners were were revealed by showing the entire cartoons. They were edited out for YouTube viewing, or something.
I remember this special VERY well...
I even got through the busy phone vote lines I beleive in just one try.
And in repsonse to an "anymonus" comment: Yes, it was shown during the Academy Awards.
I was a big Cartoon Network watcher from late toddler days to 4th/5th grade, that's a fact you didn't know. And I bet you didn't know I watched more Looney Tunes than Popeye (I watched a little more Popeye when more B&W and color cartoons from "Her Honor The Mare" Popeye were shown on the 2004Popeye show. That was the only Paramount cartoons I saw on regular TV)
- October 13, 2008 at 1:19 PM
- John Pannozzi said...
Cartoon Network's in a tough time now, but I believe this Cartoonstitute program will give the network much needed shot in the arm:
- October 21, 2008 at 2:42 PM


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How should we direct your call?


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As we wrap up our Big Read on Edgar Allan Poe here is a quiz from the Christian Science Monitor to see how much you learned about Poe: How Well Do You Know One of Literatures Spookiest Authors?
As Big Read is meant to be a fun project, the quiz is optional. We would be interested to know what you learned about Poe through this project, so please leave a comment telling us what you learned this month.
The Big Read: NH Reads Edgar Allan Poe
Being held at locations throughout New Hampshire during the fall of 2012, The Big Read: NH Reads Edgar Allan Poe is a project of the Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Rescheduled Rescheduled Event
New Hampshire Institute of Art just announced:
We are very sad to report we are once again postponing our POE + CO event due to weather.
Please DO come visit the Vault Gallery to view the "Grip the Raven"
show featuring Illustration student artwork.
Stay tuned for more news of our next Creative Writing event,
at NOON on Friday, November 16.
In the meantime, NEVER say NEVERMORE!!!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Rescheduled Events
Because of last week's storm, several Big Read events could not go on as planned. Here are a couple that have been rescheduled for this week.
Poe Live(s)
A dramatic reading of various works by Poe, performed and written by members of the Rivier University Community. Additionally, short exerpts of student work written in the style of Poe will be read.
Event Location: Rivier University, Regina Library, Nashua, NH 03060
NEW Date: Tue, Nov. 6, 2012,
Time: 7:00pm
Poe & Co.
Creative Writing students at New Hampshire Institute of Art will submit Poe-related (macabre) short stories or poems that will be selected by faculty to be read/performed at Teti Library, Fuller Hall. Additional readers will read excerpts from Poe, and there will be a special reading from faculty member Tim Horvath.
Event Location: NH Institute of Art, Manchester, NH 03101
NEW Date: Wed., Nov. 7, 2012
Time: 6:30pm
Time: 6:30pm
Friday, November 2, 2012
Poems: The Bells
HEAR the sledges with the bells —
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells —
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.
Hear the mellow wedding-bells
Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!
Through the balmy air of night
How they ring out their delight! —
From the molten-golden notes,
And all in tune,
What a liquid ditty floats
To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats
On the moon!
Oh, from out the sounding cells,
What a gush of euphony voluminously wells!
How it swells!
How it dwells
On the Future! — how it tells
Of the rapture that impels
To the swinging and the ringing
Of the bells, bells, bells —
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells —
To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!
Hear the loud alarum bells —
Brazen bells!
What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!
In the startled ear of night
How they scream out their affright!
Too much horrified to speak,
They can only shriek, shriek,
Out of tune,
In a clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire,
In a mad expostulation with the deaf and frantic fire,
Leaping higher, higher, higher,
With a desperate desire,
And a resolute endeavor
Now — now to sit, or never,
By the side of the pale-faced moon.
Oh, the bells, bells, bells!
What a tale their terror tells
Of Despair! [column 2:]
How they clang, and clash, and roar!
What a horror they outpour
On the bosom of the palpitating air!
Yet the ear, it fully knows,
By the twanging
And the clanging,
How the danger ebbs and flows;
Yet [[Yes]], the ear distinctly tells,
In the jangling
And the wrangling,
How the danger sinks and swells,
By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells —
Of the bells —
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells —
In the clamour and the clangour of the bells!
Hear the tolling of the bells —
Iron bells!
What a world of solemn thought their monody compels!
In the silence of the night,
How we shiver with affright
At the melancholy menace of their tone!
For every sound that floats
From the rust within their throats
Is a groan.
And the people — ah, the people —
They that dwell up in the steeple,
All alone,
And who, tolling, tolling, tolling,
In that muffled monotone,
Feel a glory in so rolling
On the human heart a stone —
They are neither man nor woman —
They are neither brute nor human —
They are Ghouls: —
And their king it is who tolls: —
And he rolls, rolls, rolls, rolls,
A pæan from the bells!
And his merry bosom swells
With the pæan of the bells!
And he dances, and he yells;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the pæan of the bells —
Of the bells: —
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the throbbing of the bells —
Of the bells, bells, bells —
To the sobbing of the bells: —
Keeping time, time, time,
As he knells, knells, knells,
In a happy Runic rhyme,
To the rolling of the bells —
Of the bells, bells, bells: —
To the tolling of the bells —
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells —
To the moaning and the groaning of the bells.
This version of the poem appeared in the November 1849 issue of Sartain's Union Magazine.
Posted by MaryR at 3:30 PM No comments:
Labels: poems
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Events: November 5
Teen Book Group (Gr. 7 and up)
Graphic Classics: Edgar Allan Poe & Selections from Poe's Short Stories/Poems. Teens will discuss a selection of Poe's short stories/poems and their use in the new format of the graphic novel. Teens will be asked to come to the meeting with artwork or a poem reflecting their reading of Poe.
Event Location:
Barrington Public Library, Barrington, NH 03825
Date: Mon, Nov 5, 2012, Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
KCL Book Club
Love to read? Get excited about books? Or,wish you loved to read and get excited about books? Either way the Kingston Community Library Book Club is the place for you- we will share your love of books or get you excited about books! Fun, laid, back, no pressure. And we have food!! GPS users, enter
56 Church Street, Kingston to find us. Please note start time is 6:45 p.m.
Event Location:
Kingston Community Library, Kingston, NH 03848
Date: Mon, Nov 5, 2012, Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pmNovember 5, 2012 is the final day of our Big Read NH. We hope you have enjoyed all our events!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tales: The Pit and the Pendulum
(originally published 1842-1843 in The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present)
A man being tortured by the Spanish Inquisition narrates his experience from his agonizingly sensitive and increasingly horrified point of view. Will he be able to endure the torture until the end—or will he be compelled to jump into the Pit, and bring about his death himself?
Summary written by Taylor Colegrove, May 2011. Title links to the full text of the story.
Posted by MaryR at 10:43 AM No comments:
Labels: tales
Events: November 2
Regular monthly book discussion featuring Poe this month to coincide with Big Read.
Event Location:
Peterborough Town Library, Peterborough, NH 03458
Date: Fri, Nov 2, 2012, Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe
A series of Poe's works adapted for the stage and preformed by students in the Salem High School Drama club. The production will include the following Poe works: The Raven, Fall of House of Usher, Pit and Pendulum, Tell-tale Heart, Cask of Amontilado. The Cask was adapted for the stage by student Kyle Hamlin.
Event Location:
Salem High School, Salem, NH 03079
Date: Fri, Nov 2, 2012 – Sat, Nov 3, 2012, Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pmFor a list of all the upcoming events visit our events listing.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Tales: Mesmeric Revelation
(originally published August 1844 in Columbia Magazine)
A dying man is put under hypnosis in a last attempt to glean insights of the afterlife and to remove his skepticism about the immortality of his soul. The result is a difficult and metaphysical, but beautifully written, interview between the man and his hypnotizer, and a revelation which may not reside exactly where you would expect.
Summary written by Taylor Colegrove, May 2011. Title links to the full text of the story.
Posted by MaryR at 9:56 AM No comments:
Labels: tales
Partner: Pease Public Library
Pease Public Library, originally constructed in 1990-91 with funds donated by Charlotte Pease, was expanded and renovated in 2011. It provides recreational and informational material to patrons of all ages and backgrounds. The library is partnering with Plymouth Public Library and the Young Ladies Library Association for this year's Big Read.
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What was it about the lead article that first grabbed our attention? The author? The topic?
Maybe. Then again, perhaps it was the startling pronouncements by the anti-creationist philosopher of science, Michael Ruse, that evolution has functioned as something akin to a secular religion. Yea, that must be it.
Anyone familiar with the Humanist Manifesto should not be surprised that evolution can function like a secular religion. When evolution is used in the sense of an all-encompassing, mechanistic, materlialistic account of origins, it certainly does function as a secular creation myth and the basis of atheology and Darwinian fundamentalism. Please open your books to Agenesis 1:1 and read along with me:
Long, long ago in a forest far, far away, lived a population of light- and dark- colored moths. Without any help from God, natural selection transformed them into a population of dark- and light- colored moths. Therefore, the Cosmos is all there is, or ever was, or ever will be, we really, really hope, forever and ever. Amen.
You may be seated. The offering will now be taken, followed by the sacrifice of Michael Ruse.
The star witness at the Arkansas trial has come a long way in 12 years. During the pregnant pause following the Ruse Revelations in Boston, there were undoubtedly those in the audience thinking to themselves, "I don't think we're in Arkansas anymore, Toto." Indeed, we're not. Although, we are not in Las Vegas, either, I will see Ruse's revelation and raise him one.
As a former supporter of the Balanced Treatment Act, I hereby join him by no longer advocating the idea that a balanced teaching of creation and evolution should be mandated in the public schools. In brief my reasons are as follows:
1) Students are ultimately misled into thinking that the primary reason scientists reject creation is on empirical rather than methodological or philosophical grounds. Special creation events themselves are not subject to the scientific method and are therefore rejected a priori by most scientists. Data is not nearly as relevant as research grants are. Scientists must have research programs which study natural rather than supernatural phenomena.
2) If a gradual evolutionary process exists, it would constitute a far greater miracle of creation than fiat or special creation. Something miraculous would have to preserve those useless transitional stages from being eliminated by natural selection. Complex systems with interdependent components are not built naturally on a step-by-step basis, particularly in the competitive environment of natural selection.
3) The study of ultimate origins is metaphysical in nature. The origin of natural processes cannot be explained on the basis of natural processes, and supernatural processes are beyond the scope of the natural sciences.
4) Although the study of the ultimate origins of matter, energy, space, time and information lies beyond the realm of the empirical sciences, the subjects of evolution and stasis are both subject to empirical investigation. Specifically:
a) Natural processes may exist which account for the transformation of one major body plan into another (despite the lack of empirical evidence for major transitional series).
b) Natural processes may be insufficient to account for major evolutionary change; or
c) Natural processes may exist which prevent major evolutionary change from occurring and which account for the natural phenomena of stasis.
If a scientist acknowledges that each of these statements may be true, he/she passes the agnostic test of science. If a scientist insists that purely mechanistic, materialistic (non-theistic) processes must account for the origin and transformation of the major body plans, one can be sure that evolution is functioning as a secular religion. From the standpoint of science, the "scientific agnostic" (i.e., the one who has serious doubts about the omnipotence of time, chance and materialistic processes and who truly acknowledges the possibility of all three propositions) is the one who enters science most objectively. May our objectivity be multiplied.
The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) should be applauded for its role in bringing Michael Ruse to Boston and bringing his new perspectives to light. It is certainly the case that secular religion has a much more profound potential for distorting science and science education than any theistic religion ever had, due to the fact that its belief system--philosophical naturalism--is so easily confused with the methodological naturalism of science. Wolves in theistic clothing are much easier to detect than those in naturalistic garb. The NCSE should be happy to see secular religion exposed for what it actually is. All scientists should welcome the exposure of influences which distort our understanding of the universe--even if those influences are secular or based on naturalism.
If the NCSE has no other reason to celebrate this year, allow me to provide them with one. I agree with them that neither "intelligent design" nor "sudden appearance" qualify as something which is currently considered to be subject to the scientific method. Call William Thwaites as well. Tell him the party is just starting. I agree with him that "abrupt or sudden appearance" does not qualify as anything more than a description of the geological data; it is not a substitute theory or explanation of origins. While it is true that none other than Stephen Jay Gould described the key features of the fossil record as "sudden appearance" and "stasis" and acknowledged the record to be in fundamental disagreement with Darwinain gradualism, "sudden appearance" represents one-time historical singularities--hardly something that one can develop patterns from or scientific explanations for.
While it is also true that this virtually eliminates the origin of the major body plans and the higher taxa origins from the realm of empirical sciences, we must remember that the purpose of science is to explain the regular patterns which we observe in nature. To borrow another of Gould's phrases, "Stasis is data." Fossil after repeatable fossil demonstrates that natural processes exist which act to preserve the original body plans intact and prevent their gradual transformation into something substantially different. Natural processes exist which account for the phenomenon of stasis, both at a micro and macro level. Although the thought is anathema to most scientists, natural processes do not necessarily exist which can account for the origin of life or the origin of the higher taxa.
The study of stasis should be seen not as something which totally refutes evolution on the grand scale, but rather something which can be studied as a complement to evolution (even though evolutionary processes may not be able to overcome the mechanisms which account for stability). Certainly, the study of stasis would add to rather than detract from the need for additional research. Gould himself states that:
...we must understand that nothing happens most of the time--and we don't because our stories don't admit this theme--if we hope to grasp the dynamics of evolutinary change. (This sentence may sound contradictory, but it isn't. To know the reasons for infrequent change, one must understand the ordinary rules of stability.) The Burgess Shale teaches us that, for the history of basic anatomical designs, almost everything happened in the geological moment just before, and almost nothing in more than 500 million years since (Gould, S. J., "A Web of Tales," Natural History, October, 1988).
It should be emphasized that the ordinary rules of stasis and stability have been virtually ignored in science and science education. It is understandable why those who have subscribed to orthodox neo-Darwinian gradualism might wish to avoid the subject. What baffles me is why creationists haven't taken up the study of higher taxon-level stasis and the stability of the major body plans. Why have they left the task to Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldredge all these years? (NOTE: Both Gould and Eldredge undoubtedly believe that mechanisms exist which could ultimately overcome the ordinary rules of stability). Why haven't the creationists been publishing books on "sudden appearance" rather than researching stasis all these years? Surely it isn't because they were afraid that after Professor Thwaites made his sudden appearance he would just stand there in static suspension for millions of years, is it? They should have been exposing students and educators to the natural phenomenon of stasis, which accounts for the key features of the fossil record rather than particular models of special creation which scientists cannot study and which many creationists cannot agree on. (Have I offended everyone yet?)
We must remember that, for the most part, Darwinian theory attempts to explain the major transitional fossils paleontologists don't have rather than the prevasive patterns of the fossil data they do. It is certainly not a theory which attempts to explain the pervasive patterns of natural history--the lack of transitional forms and the dominant pattern of geological succession which indicates a systematically reverse order of appearance (top to bottom, with disparity preceeding diversity) contrary to Darwinian predictions.
The next generation of students should be told why most scientists have rejected the notion of "intelligent design" or even the inference of creation despite the "sudden appearance" of all of the major body plans. They need to understand that any means of intelligent design cannot be studied by the scientific method, however logical the inference of intelligent design may be. Most scientists have assumed that an intelligent designer played no role in the history of the cosmos simply because the cretaion process itself cannot be couched in purely mechanistic and materialistic terms. One wonders about the intelligence behind such assumptions.
Although intelligent design should never be discounted by the academic community as an historical possibility, students must understand the religious, philosophical and methodological reasons why most scientists have rejected it a priori as an explanation of origins. They need to understand that most scientists are heavily biased in favor of naturalistic explanations, even in the areas of origins which are not observable or repeatable. Even the poorest of naturalistic explanations have been preferred by the modern scientific community over any inference of guided or deterministic evolution, let alone intelligent design or creation. We must keep in mind that many scientists still believe Darwinian theory despite the fact that it does not explain the observable, repeatable facts of natural history (i.e., the natural phenomenon of stasis). It is still the best naturalistic explanation for the innumerable transitional forms that paleontologists don't have.
If students were taught the distinction between methodological naturalism and philosophical naturalism and that natural processes may exist which prevent major evolutionary change from occurring, many of the philosophical biases in science could be removed and distortions resulting from metaphysical naturalism could be corrected. If students were exposed to the problems with our current theories, they would also be more prepared to solve them and improve upon our knowledge and description of nature. Exposing them to those natural processes which account for stasis would certainly give them a more complete education in science, along with tools to discern the difference between metaphysical assumptions and empirical data.
Alas, there is reason for hope. The concept of stability has been identified within the most recent California State Science Framework as one of the major themes of the natural sciences. Does natural selection account for stasis and the stability of the higher taxa by preventing major evolutionary change from occurring on a gradual, step-by-step basis through the elimination of useless transitional and incipient stages? Does speculation prevent major evolutionary change from occurring via saltation due to genetic correlation mechanisms? Will this commentator ever find work again? Tune in next issue. Same Batt time. Same Batt channel.
In his book Darwin on Trial, Phillip Johnson makes it clear that the "evolution" he criticizes is not geological succession, geographical distribution, shifts in gene frequencies or even the mechanism of natural selection per se. Johnson's primary focus is a critique of the secular religion of evolution (philosophical or metaphysical naturalism) and the adequacy of the mechanism behind its "creation myth." Johnson takes aim at the religious claim of Darwinists who claim that God played no active role whatsoever in the history of life on earth. The July 1992 issue of Scientific American featured a rather lengthy and acerbic critique of Johnson's book by Stephen Jay Gould entitled "Impeaching a Self-Appointed Judge." Johnson was subsequently denied space to reply, but that space is provided to Professor Johnson in this issue.
Johnson hits the nail on the head when he argues that, absent a credible mechanism, fully naturalistic evolution lacks credibility. But it is a nail that has been struck before. Patricia Horan, in the foreward to the 1979 Avenel edition of The Origin of Species, writes:
When The Origin of Species was written, the theory of evolution in biology was already an old, even a discredited one... Why then is Darwin's work the revolutionary one? Because of the vast amounts of evidence patiently sifted. And because he found a plausible mechansim to explain how species can change: by means of natural selection.
Charles Darwin placed more emphasis on the mechanism than he did the patiently sifted evidence, which he acknowledged could lead to directly opposite conclusions. The question of mechanism--the question of how--is the all-important one.
In considering the Origin of Species, it is quite conceivable that a naturalist, reflecting on the mutual affinities of organic beings, on their embryological relations, their geographical distirbution, geological succession, and such other facts, might come to the conclusion that each species had not been independently created, but had descended, like varieties, from other species. Nevertheless, such a conclusion, even if well-founded, would be unsatisfactory until it could be shown how the innumerable species inhabiting this world have been modified, so as to acquire that perfection of structure and coadaptation which most justly excites our admiration (Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, reprint of the 1859 edition, Avenel Books, New York, 1979, p.66).
Johnson's question, "How do Darwinists know that the blind watchmaker created animal phyla, for example, since the process can't be demonstrated and all the historical evidence is missing?" is the most important question Darwinists need to answer, since it is obviously the most important claim to their theory.
The most objective appraisal of this claim can be made by approaching the question systematically from the top down. At issue is not whether shifts in gene frequencies can take place or subpopulations of species can ultimately lose their ability to interbreed and technically form new species. At issue is not the question of the diversity of species, but rather the disparity fo the higher taxa. By asking for historical evidence of the transitional series leading to the origin of new phyla (which by any current evolutionary scenario must have existed in great abundance) one is establishing an empirical test favorable to evolutionary theory. Since the greatest number of transitional forms ought to exist in the fossil record, connecting species classified in different phyla back to their common ancestor, one would expect the question of the phyla origin to be among the easiest for the Darwinist to answer. Ironically, it is not.
The vast majority of the animal phyla have their abrupt appearance in the Cambrian explosion, a window of time currently dated to be only 16 million years in duration. According to paleontologist James Valentine, no new phyla have arisen since the Cambrian explosion. Compounding the conundrum is the fact that species diversity within each phylum is extremely low upon first appearance, indicating that each new body plan had not had a very long tenure on earth. The phyla were simply not the result of accumulating lower level diversity.
The fact that geological succession appears systematically backwards from the primary predictions of Darwinian theory and that the disparity of the higher taxa precedes the diversity of species rather than increasing Darwinian diversity accumulating to produce the origin of the higher taxa has to be (next to the problem of an adequate mechanism) one of the most profound problems facing Darwinian theory today.
In this light it is surprising that Johnson seems to view systematics as supportive of Darwinism. He writes:
No doubt the pattern of relationships among plants and animals invites and inference that there was some process of development from a common source.
While it is true that such an inference exists at lower taxonomic levels (e.g., development of the several generations of Darwin's finches from a common ancestor), the inference breaks down when it is logically carried to the question of the phyla origin. The tremendous morphological distances between the phyla throughout time, the lack of transitional forms and the reverse pattern of geological succession hardly invites an inference of development from a common source.
The fundamental Darwinian prediction of systematic relationships is that the increasing morphological distances generated upon the origin of new species should lead first to new genera and families and ultimately to new orders, classes and phyla. The question is how this prediction can possibly be reconciled with the data of natural history which reveals that the disparity of the higher taxa precedes the diversity of the lower taxa and that the phyla stop appearing first, followed by classes, and then orders. In short, the most significant claim of Darwinian theory--that the accumulation of lower taxon level change ultimately generates new phyla--is not only unsupported by geological succession, it is in essentially reverse order to the most important of Darwinian predictions.
The data of natural history suggests the need to develop a theory of macrostasis which explains why one body plan does not gradually transform into a substantially different body plan despite the abundant environmental change which must have occurred over the past 500 million years since the Cambrian explosion.
As I have already trumpeted stasis sufficiently in this column (although perhaps in the wrong key and to a different beat than most drummers), I will close with a quote from Gould's book review which seems to invite the next critic of Darwinism to step up to the plate:
...Johnson's major premise--the inherent Godlessness of Darwinism-- could be wrong, and he might still have a good argument for the major thrust of his text: the attempt to show that Darwinism is a dogma, unsupported by substantial and meaningful evidence, and propped up by false logic.
Gould believes that Johnson has fouled out on a third strike bunt attempt. Johnson believes that he has just squeezed home the winning run. You make the call.
Mark Hartwig and Stephen Meyer follow Johnson in the lineup. Their article entitled "A Note to Teachers" is a reprint of the appendix to the Second Edition of Of Pandas and People by noted authors Percival Davis and Dean Kenyon.
Of Pandas and People is without a doubt the best textbook supplement on the market dealing with the subject of origins and evolution. In addition to its objective treatment of Darwinian theory, it also exposes students to some of the major weaknesses in our current understanding of origins. Admitting that the subject of origins is controversial, Hartwig and Meyer note that controversy has its benefits and offer teachers a number of convincing justifications for teaching alternatives to Darwinian theory:
Controversy is not all bad. For it gives teachers the opportunity to engage their students at a deeper level. Instead of filling young minds with discrete facts and vocabulary lists, teachers can show their students the rough-and-tumble of genuine scientific debate.
(Davis' and Kenyon's) presentation of a non-Darwinian perspective, in addition to the standard view, is intended to stimulate discussion and encourage students to evaluate the explanatory power of different theories--which, after all, is what science is all about.
As students learn to weigh and sort competing views and become active participants in the clash of ideas, you may be surprised at the level of motivation and achievement displayed by the students.
Despite their jabs at textbooks that fill young minds with discrete facts and vocabulary lists, one of the strengths of Pandas and People is the carefully articulated definitions of the term "evolution" and the use of the term "fact."
Hartwig and Meyer point out that one of the most important (and certainly most controversial) meanings of evolution is a "cause or mechanism of biological change (which) is purposeless, non-intelligent, and completely naturalistic." The very essence of Darwinism is this naturalistic mechanism and the extrapolation of minor changes (which undoubtedly do have purposeless, non-intelligent, and naturalistic elements) to account for the origin of complex biological systems and major new body plans. The authors are lucid in their reasons for rejecting this Darwinian extrapolation on empirical grounds and persuasive in their arguments for the erroneous philosophical arguments behind the rejection of "intelligent design."
Evolutionists have been successful in the past by convincing educators that naturalistic evolution must be taught as the only scientific theory of origins because the only alternative is creation or "intelligent design," something which they argue can be invoked to explain virtually anything. Hartwig and Meyer tackle this objection with admirable art and wisdom. The authors could have stooped to noting that the God of Chance can also be called upon to create any genetic change or erode away any transitional series which must have adorned the earth in the distant and unobservable past, but they left that to me.
Undoubtedly there will still be those who object to any discussion of intelligent design. Typically, they will argue that naturalistic evolution is the only possible explanation of origins and therefore the only one which should be taught in the public schools. Although intelligent design is not only a logical but a probable explanation for the origin of matter and energy, time, space and most biological information, arguments will continue that creation or design is non-natural and should therefor not be discussed. Philosophical objections to design will continue.
Teachers, please take note. Pandas provides you with more than sufficient information to evaluate Darwinism on its own merits, even without any reference to design. However, if you desire a supplement to Pandas which avoids the ultimate and controversial question of origins and focuses instead on the purely naturalistic and materialistic mechanisms which prevent major evolutionary change from occurring, order a copy of On the Origin of Stasis by Means of Natural Processes. This publication is hot off the press and is available exclusively through Access Research Network.
As erudite as the arguments are for creation or design, as long as science is defined as "what scientists do" and as long as there are those within the scientific community who insist on using the prestige of science to further their own secular agenda and world view, those claiming that naturalistic explanations of origins are inadequate should continue to expect a rough-and-tumble debate on their hands. As long as scientists fail to recognize the difference between the "inductive sciences" and the "historical sciences," there will be those who will insist that the game always be played on natural turf.
I wonder who will pinch hit for me in the next issue. Who knows? The "natural anthem" is about to begin. Sit back and enjoy the game. As long as the playing field is natural, though, I'm betting on stasis.
Copyright © 1997 Art Battson. All rights
reserved. International copyright secured.
File Date: 6.3.97


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U.S. first lady Michelle Obama has announced a nationwide initiative to fight childhood obesity, calling it "one of the most serious threats" to the future of America's children.
Mrs. Obama said the campaign, nicknamed "Let's Move," aims to solve the problem within one generation, so that children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight. She said officials are working with food companies and doctors to provide clearer food labels and other tools that parents need to make healthy choices for their children.
The plan also includes programs and legislation to put healthier food in schools, ensure better access to affordable healthy food in communities, and find new ways for children to be physically active.
Earlier in the day, President Barack Obama signed a memorandum to establish a government task force on childhood obesity.
The task force is made up of Cabinet members and other top officials. Over 90 days, they will review policies on child nutrition and physical activity, and will devise a national plan of action.
President Obama said the project has "enormous promise" in improving children's health. He praised the first lady for taking on what he called "one of the most urgent health issues" facing the United States.
The White House says nearly one-third of children in the U.S. are overweight or obese. It says that rate has tripled in adolescents and more than doubled in younger children since 1980.
Mrs. Obama said the administration is proposing several major investments, including $10 billion over 10 years to fund legislation that sets nutrition standards for food in schools, and $400 million a year to bring grocery stores to under-served areas. She also announced the creation of a new, independent foundation - the Partnership for a Healthier America - to coordinate and monitor progress across the government and private sectors.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


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7 U.S. Code § 1625 - Transfer and consolidation of functions, powers, bureaus, etc.
In order to facilitate administration and to increase the effectiveness of the marketing research, service, and regulatory work of the Department of Agriculture to the fullest extent practicable, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, to transfer, group, coordinate, and consolidate the functions, powers, duties, and authorities of each and every agency, division, bureau, service, section, or other administrative unit in the Department of Agriculture primarily concerned with research, service, or regulatory activities in connection with the marketing, transportation, storage, processing, distribution of, or service or regulatory activities in connection with, the utilization of, agricultural products, into a single administrative agency. In making such changes as may be necessary to carry out effectively the purposes of this chapter, the records, property, personnel, and funds of such agencies, divisions, bureaus, services, sections, or other administrative units in the Department of Agriculture affected are authorized to be transferred to and used by such administrative agency to which the transfer may be made, but such unexpended balances of appropriations so transferred shall be used only for the purposes for which such appropriations were made.
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Monday, November 01, 2010
Flash and the City 2!
See you at FATC2011!
Posted by Duane Nickull at 11:16 am
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NEW YORK (AP) - December 13, 2012 --New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission has approved a plan that will let riders use their smartphones to "e-hail" yellow cabs.
Under the plan approved Thursday, downloaded apps will link customers with drivers starting Feb. 15.
Commissioner David Yassky says the city will lay down some ground rules to accommodate people raising their arm to stop a cab the old-fashioned way.
But the commissioner says that as long as the technology exists, it should be available to customers and drivers.
Until now, the city has banned yellow taxis from prearranging rides.


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DailyDirt: Missions To Mars
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
- Landing equipment on Mars that weighs anywhere near 40-80 tons (on Earth) is just out of the question using current technology. The Mars Science Laboratory weighs about a ton and it's about as big as we can go right now... and we'll see how it does later this year. [url]
- SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk wants to send people to Mars in 10-20 years. It would be interesting if a private company lands on another planet before any nation does. [url]
- Studying 12 generations of worms on the International Space Station could help us better understand how humans will survive indefinitely long trips in space. So Caenorhabditis elegans could be the first animals sent to another planet, instead of dogs or chimps. [url]
- To discover more links on space exploration, check out what's floating around in StumbleUpon universe. [url]