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- AltCar Auto Show
- Beijing Auto Show
- CES Auto Show
- Chicago Auto Show
- DC Auto Show
- Detroit Auto Show
- Frankfurt Auto Show
- Geneva Auto Show
- LA Auto Show
- NAIAS Auto Show
- New York Auto Show
- Paris Auto Show
- Philadelphia Auto Show
- SEMA Auto Show
- San Diego Auto Show
- Shanghai Auto Show
- St. Louis Auto Show
- Tokyo Auto Show
Auto Show: 2013 La Auto Show
Nissan Juke NISMO RS: LA Auto Show
What Is It?
The 2014 Nissan Juke NISMO RS is a sporty version of the Nissan Juke compact crossover. Yes, there's already a Juke NISMO out there; it debuted for the 2014 model year. But the Juke NISMO RS improves performance even further for drivers who want to combine an exciting driving experience with the Juke's unusual styling.
Under the hood, there's a tuned version of the 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that powers the standard Juke. It's good for 215 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque if you go with the standard 6-speed manual or 211 hp and 181 lb-ft with the optional CVT automatic. That's a big increase over the standard Juke's 188 hp, and even a bump over the NISMO Juke's 197 hp.
But the Juke NISMO RS is about more than power. There's a more aerodynamic front fascia, body-colored wheel arches, LED daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels and a lot of red trim inside and out. The Juke NISMO RS also adds an Alcantara steering wheel, Recaro bucket seats upholstered with leather and suede and a larger exhaust to improve the crossover's sound.
How Much?
Given that the current Juke NISMO starts around $24,000 with shipping, we'd expect the RS model to come in slightly higher.
When Can You Get It?
Early 2014
Add It to Your Shopping List Because...
The Nissan Juke is already a fun compact crossover, and with the new NISMO RS model available this year, it just became even more exciting. If you're looking for a compact crossover with a distinctive look and performance to match, the Juke NISMO RS is your car. And we suspect you'll love the leather and Alcantara interior, which looks like it comes straight out of a sports car.
Other Cars to Consider
Ford Focus ST-- The Focus ST may not offer the Juke NISMO RS model's high seating position and crossover capability, but the formula is largely the same: It's a fun-loving hatchback with a turbocharged engine, quick acceleration and a sporty interior.
Kia Sportage -- The Sportage is one of the few compact SUVs that can match and exceed the Juke's performance, thanks to a 256-hp 4-cylinder in the SX model. However, the Sportage SX's base price of nearly $28,000 exceeds the Juke's.
Volkswagen GTI-- Like the Focus ST, the GTI can't touch the Juke NISMO RS model's crossover capabilities. But if you're buying this car for performance -- and we suspect you are -- the GTI deserves a look.
Used Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 -- If you want a performance SUV, why not go for the ultimate? Jeep's Grand Cherokee SRT-8 may be a gas guzzler, but it'll have you on the edge of your seat. Look for a used one if you want to keep the cost similar to that of a Juke NISMO RS.


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- The Fed remains the test case for whether any central bank can 'normalise' rates. We expect it to try, but fail - whoever's US President. Even the volatility that could accompany a Trump-led paradigm shift (our risk case) does not point to an aggressive Fed.
- We set out the Presidential candidates' main macro differences. Clinton's proposals are stimulatory, but closer to the status quo. Trump's likely, more front-ended fiscal splurge would be muted by the threat of protectionism, & the possible hit to US asset prices.
- Raising the $18.1trn debt ceiling will be the first test of the new administration. Not dealing with it effectively offers an additional route to the recession already implied by the Treasury curve.
- While Congress would oppose Trump's aggressive anti-trade proposals, the risk is he could impose tariffs unilaterally. His immigration plans might spur wage growth, but the inflation that protectionism spawns could be the 'wrong sort' (cost push).
- In which case, a new global risk emerges. Without care, an unhelpful jigsaw piece from the 1930s that was largely absent in 2008 - retaliatory trade barriers - might yet crash into place...
Assessing the unintended consequences of central bank policy
Tension breaker: how the risk plot could turn in Q4

subset: commoncrawl


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Promote and perform early spaying and neutering
Reducing the number of euthanasias starts with reducing the number of accidental pregnancies.
Oct 01, 2007
Janet M. Scarlett, DVM, who heads the Maddie's Shelter Medicine program at Cornell University, agrees that early spaying and neutering is one place veterinarians can make a large impact on the problem. She notes that veterinarians have traditionally been taught to do the surgeries at about 6 months of age, but a decade ago researchers began challenging the idea.
One randomized study published in 1997 reported that gonadectomy in both kittens and puppies in three periods —1 to 12 weeks, 12 to 23 weeks, and more than 24 weeks—resulted in no differences among the three groups in the incidence of major complications.1 The traditional age group did have more minor complications. The study was initiated in response to an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) House of Delegates resolution in 1993, asking the organization to support the concept of early spaying and neutering. In fact, both the AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) support spaying or neutering starting at 8 weeks of age (see "AVMA and AAHA statements on early spaying and neutering").


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Automotive and Motorsports Coverage With a New England Accent
Past Stories
About Us
Twisted Thoughts - They Are The Champions
By Mike Twist - Editor, TachNeedle.com
17 Oct, 2018
BMW Rolls Out the X7 - A Third Row SUV
BMW launches the first-ever BMW X7, the pinnacle of BMW's X Sport Activity Vehicle lineup. The BMW X7 builds on the class leading comfort, handling, safety and technology of all the previous BMW X Sport Activity Vehicle model lines that have been produced at Plant Spartanburg since 1999. The 2019 BMW X7 offers standard three row seating for 7 with optional Second-row Captain's Chairs offering a more exclusive seating arrangement for 6. Standard two-axle air suspension, 21-inch alloy wheels and
Hyundai Starts N Performance Brand With Veloster N
Hyundai has introduced its high-performance Veloster N model to an exclusive U.S. media group at a driving event at Thunderhill Raceway in Northern California. Hyundai had first introduced Veloster N to media as the first of its U.S. N models at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. Veloster N represents Hyundai's highest performance vehicle ever for the U.S. market. Hyundai's first U.S. market N model leverages the outstanding, new-for-2019 Veloster platform, showcasing an even higher level of
Keith Rocco Celebrates 2018 Thompson Track Title
For the seventh time in his Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park career, Keith Rocco is celebrating a championship in the Sunoco Modified division. The Berlin, Connecticut, driver captured the 2018 championship by 18 points over Todd Owen on the strength of four feature wins in seven championship events. Rocco finished inside the top five in all but one race, the finale, where he was caught up in a wreck that actually happened under caution in the midst of the Sunoco World Series 30-lap


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NOTE: The following review and the accompanying screenshots DO contain spoilers. Proceed with caution!
The cause of some controversy upon its theatrical release based on the intensity and severity of the violence that was so prevalent throughout the movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning did prove to be reasonably popular at the box office despite the highly touted cuts required from the MPAA for the film to earn an R rating rather than a dreaded NC-17. New Line has now reinserted that grisly footage and put it back into the movie with this un-rated DVD release (those who want the R-rated cut can rest easy, as that version is available as well - albeit as a seperate release).
When the movie begins, a woman gives birth to a deformed baby inside a derelict slaughterhouse somewhere deep in the heart of Texas. The freakish infant is left in a dumpster to die when a woman finds him and takes him home to raise him as her own. Fast forward a few years into the future and the little boy has grown up to be Tommy Hewitt (Andrew Bryniarski, reprising his role from the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to which this film serves as a prequel), a hulking and somewhat retarded man who spends his days working at what one can only assume is the same slaughterhouse where he was born. When that place is condemned by the government and shut down, Tommy refuses to leave until his employer insists he split which lands the poor sap on his deathbed. On the way out, Tommy grabs a chainsaw.
Meanwhile, two brothers named Dean (Taylor Handley) and Eric (Matt Bomer) are traveling across the state in their jeep with their two hot girlfriends, Bailey (Diora Baird) and Chrissie (Jordana Brewster). The reason for their journey? Dean has been drafted and is supposed to ship off to Viet Nam and while Eric has finished his tour of duty, he doesn't want his little brother going alone so he's re-enlisting. Understandably, they want to spend their last few days with their lady friends. Unfortunately they run afoul of some biker trash along the way and after they collide with a cow, it looks like one of the biker's is going to rob them – until Sheriff Hoyt (R. Lee Ermey) shows up, that is. He promptly blows the biker's head off and takes three of our four heroes back to his house where Tommy and the rest of his family are going to have them for dinner, literally. Only Chrissie remains free of the Hewitt family's clutches, but let's face it, things don't look good for anybody involved.
While this film succeeds on a few levels, sadly it fails on too many others. What the movie gets right is that it really does contain a mean streak in it a mile wide. This works in its favor in that it portrays the Hewitt family as truly savage and completely deplorable. As such, we should be really scared of them and we should feel for the victims – unfortunately, that's one of the movie's biggest weak spots. The four leads are completely cardboard. There's no real depth to them and although there are a few scenes where we learn a little bit about their lives and ambitions (we know that Eric and Chrissie want to have kids and live in California when he gets back) it's too little too late and it isn't enough to make these four teenagers stand out from those featured in whatever generic slasher film you'd care to name. The performances aren't bad, as we are able to understand how they feel and why they're scared (it's obvious – there's a maniacal family trying to eat them) but without investing any of ourselves into their plight, it's really all for naught.
The movie also misses some really interesting opportunities to expand a bit on the series' mythology and to branch out a little bit from the genre clichés that it otherwise clings so strongly too. First off is Tommy 'Leatherface' Hewitt himself. While Bryniarski is certainly a foreboding presence, he's not given anything to do aside from chasing and slashing. We see his birth and there are a couple of hints dropped about his childhood (at one point Ermey refers to the victims he that wants him to kill as the kids who picked on him) but that's it – there's nothing here of substance and Leatherface is really little more than a generic killing machine. We see him make his famous 'dead skin mask' for the first time, or at least we assume it's the first time, but we never learn if there's a specific reason for his decision to do this or if it is supposed to represent anything. Adding to this are a few head scratching logic gaps that occur in the last half of the movie. If Eric is a seasoned combat veteran, a Marine as he states, shouldn't he stand a better chance of surviving than the others? And what about the bikers? There's very little done with them and only one member of the group that we see goes after the Hewitts. Where's the rest of his gang when he needs them? All of this, coupled with a ridiculously predictable 'shock' ending adds up to what is essentially a very by-the-numbers horror film that should have and could have been so much better if just a bit more effort had been put into the story. A few scenes make it look like the filmmakers are trying to add some social commentary with the references to the war (and a crazed speech that Ermey gives about how far you have to go to survive) not but it's never fleshed out enough to have much impact.
What the movie does have going for it is the inimitable screen presence of R. Lee Ermey in one of the lead roles (in fact he gets considerably more screen time than Leatherface himself). As the Sheriff, Ermey is fantastic. He chews the scenery like a power mower, spouting off creative profanity left, right and center. He's vicious, he's mean, and more than a few times he's pretty funny as well. On top of that is the gore and violence. For a major studio production, this film, particularly in the un-rated cut provided on this DVD, is astonishingly gruesome even by horror movie standards. While recent hits like Hostel, Wolf Creek and The Hills Have Eyes remake (all of which have had un-rated DVD releases) have definitely upped the ante in terms of on screen violence, this movie tops them by quite a margin. Chainsaws tear through flesh, faces are peeled off of their skulls, teeth and mouths are smashed against the ground, and people are generally just hacked, smashed and shot up throughout the last half of the film. Even for seasoned horror movie fans, the film is quite surprising in how far it goes in this department and it is nice to see the filmmaker's at least trying to make a horror movie that appeals to horror movie fans and not so much to the mainstream audiences who will no doubt feel alienated by the severity of this picture. Obviously there are a lot worse movies out there in terms of what is shown on screen, but there aren't very many major studio pictures that push the envelope like this movie does. The film also features a nice tribute to Hooper's original movie by way of a darkly comic dinner scene and some ending narration from John Larroquette.
NOTES ABOUT THE UNRATED CUT: Seeing as this DVD only contains the un-rated cut of the movie, the R-rated version was not available to compare which makes determining just what was cut from that version and what was reinserted in this version quite difficult. The running time, from the beginning of the New Line logo through the end of the credits of the DVD is 1:35:47, roughly five minutes longer than the running time attributed to the theatrical cut on the IMDB (if that's correct). Note that the back of the packaging for this release states that the movie runs 89 minutes, though that is not the case. In the commentary track the filmmakers do note that the scene in which Ermey takes the three teens back to the house is notably longer, and it's safe to say that a certain chainsaw death scene at about 1:27 definitely runs longer here. Most of the kill scenes do seem to have been extended a bit. The kill scene at 1:08 has also been significantly restored according to the commentary where they talk about how the bits with the meat flying had to be removed as well as how trims had to be made to the face-skinning scene. The leg amputation scene at around 1:14 has also been extended a bit and while it isn't confirmed in the commentary there is second brief shot of chainsaw penetration in the finale that takes place in the car that was likely sliced from the R cut. Here are a few specific screen caps from the DVD to elaborate a bit on that...
The 1.85.1 anamorphic widescreen transfer provided for this release is pretty solid in pretty much every way possible. Much of the film has been color tinted and as such a lot of the movie looks quite grim but this was obviously done on purpose and this transfer does a good job of replicating that. Color reproduction is where it should be in that much of the picture is a little on the dark side but fine detail looks quite good thanks to solid black levels and proper contrast. Flesh tones look lifelike and there's nothing to complain about in terms of print damage or heavy grain to obscure any of the finer points of the picture. Edge enhancement never gets out of control and while there is some mild aliasing in a few spots, there isn't much else to complain about.
New Line has also done an exceptional job on the audio portion of this release, providing both a Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Sound mix and a DTS 6.1 ES Discrete Surround Sound mix. While the DTS mix trumps the Dolby Digital track thanks to the stronger bass and extra channel activity, the 5.1 track is no slouch. Both options, which are available in English only, are very aggressive without being too over the top. Dialogue is crystal clear and the more intense scenes in the film really come to life thanks to plenty of directional effects and well-timed sonic mayhem. The soundtrack, made up of both period rock songs and an original score, sounds great and adds some welcome atmosphere to a few core scenes without burying the performers or the sound effects. Optional subtitles are provided for the feature only in English and Spanish and an English language closed captioning option is also available. An English language Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Surround track isn't advertised on the packaging but it is included (though it's not nearly as much fun as the 5.1 or 6.1 tracks are).
First up, for the supplements, is a commentary track from director Jonathon Liebesman who is joined by two of the film's producers, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller. This is a fairly engaging discussion that doesn't suffer from too much dead air space – all three participants stay pretty much on track throughout. Surprisingly, the two producers dominate the track, rather than the director and it's obvious from this discussion that they had a bit of influence on the final product. Regardless, Liebesman does manage to explain his side of things when talking about how he wanted to keep things intense and nasty. The three discuss some of the trims that the MPAA required to get the film its R-Rating (which have been reinserted here) along with casting, location shooting and some of the effects work. Nothing here is going to change your opinion of the movie, but if you want a fairly in-depth account of the production's history, it certainly fits the bill even if they do spend a fair bit of time talking about how 'Leatherface is born now, and he's unstoppable.'
From there we find a forty-six minute long documentary on the making of the movie entitled Down To The Bone wherein we're treated to interviews with pretty much all of the cast members and some of the crew and producers as well. This documentary is divided up into five parts: Origin Of Evil, Invitation To A Slaughter, Lone Star Rendezvous, Carnage Unleashed and The Chopping Block. They cover how Sheldon Turner came on board to write the movie and how they wanted to tie the back-story of the family into the 2003 remake. They cover casting decisions, stating that they wanted sympathetic performers and we're treated to a decent selection of behind the scenes footage here. Everyone seems pretty pleased to have had the chance to work with Ermey, and some of the actors talk about how performing with Leatherface in certain scenes was pretty nerve racking. Bryniarski talks about getting into character and what he tried to bring to the role. There are some interesting production sketches in here, and they do an interesting job of pointing out some of the details you may or may not notice about the basement of the house and the slaughterhouse used in the film. It's interesting to hear from Ermey about the scene where he's bashed into the pavement and how he refers to himself as a man with a sixty-year old body and an eighteen-year-old mind. Of course, the effects are covered in a fair bit of detail, which is always interesting, but the most interesting part of this documentary is the Chopping Block segment where the two editors talk about what they did and didn't want to show the audience and how they tried to use the score and sound effects to enhance certain scenes.
Up next is a selection of deleted and extended scenes (roughly thirteen minutes worth in total) that are available to watch individually or by way of a handy 'play all' option. Liebesman, Form and Fuller are also on hand for an optional commentary track, which explains the context of these scenes and why they were taken out of the finished product. Most of the material here is fairly inconsequential – an extended version of the pool scene, bits and pieces of uninteresting character development – but there is a nice bit that expands on Ermey's character just a little bit as well as three alternate endings. Without wanting to spoil these, let it suffice to say that none of these endings alter anything – one adds some police reports to the finale that expands on the narration which tells how the Hewitt family went on to kill more people, while the other two are simply slightly different takes on the ending used in the movie.
Rounding out the extra features are the film's theatrical trailer, trailers for other New Line DVD and theatrical releases, animated menus, and chapter stops. The keepcase fits inside a perforated slipcase that features alternate cover art on the front and the back. Some DVD-Rom supplemental material is also included on the disc by way of some InterActual content.
Even with the added gory bits provided by this un-rated edition's release, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning still isn't all that interesting. Sure, it's violent and sadistic and R. Lee Ermey is always entertaining but for the most part, this is a predictable slasher film and very little more. New Line has done a nice job on the disc and established fans of the film will appreciate their efforts, everyone else is advised to rent this one first as it won't likely have much replay value.
Ian lives in NYC with his wife where he writes for DVD Talk, runs Rock! Shock! Pop!. He likes NYC a lot, even if it is expensive and loud.


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Download Validity Fingerprint Sensor Driver
You can start downloading the Validity Fingerprint Sensor Driver ver. 22.214.171.124 Rev.A for HP ProBook 450 G1 series Laptop. To start download file, click green «download» button on page below. We advise you to use a variety of download managers like «FlashGet» or «Download Master». Also, you can go back to the list of drivers and choose a different driver for HP ProBook 450 G1 series Laptop.
- Drivers
- Laptops
- ProBook 450 G1 series
- This File
To start the download, select one of the servers and click "download"
Version, Date:
22.214.171.124 Rev.A, 20.06.2014
Operation Systems:
Windows 8.1 x64, Windows 8.1 x32, Windows 8 x64, Windows 8 x32, Windows 7 x64, Windows 7 x32, Windows Vista x64, Windows Vista x32
This package contains the driver that enables the Validity Fingerprint Sensor in supported notebook models that are running a supported operating system. The fingerprint sensor scans fingerprints for use with biometric security applications.
Requires HP ProtectTools Security Manager to enable the user interface for fingerprint registration.
- Fixes an issue where the driver does not install properly when INF files are used.
Other drivers:


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The most dangerous place on the road for a person on a bike? The intersection.
Almost all street intersections in California pose as a safety threat to people on bikes. The longer it takes for a person on a bike to pass through an intersection, the greater likelihood that they'll get hit by an oncoming vehicle.
Assemblymembers Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) and Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) introduced AB 1103 to allow people on bikes to treat stop signs as yield signs whenever it is safe to do so. Modeled after the "Idaho Stop" law of 1982, AB 1103 has the potential to reduce car-on-bike collisions, eliminate unnecessary enforcement, and allow people on bikes to keep their momentum moving forward. When people on bikes cross more safely at intersections and traffic flows more smoothly, it is a win-win for everyone.
Legislation Update: The authors of our common sense bill to require bicycle riders to yield and stop if necessary at stop sign-controlled intersections have pulled their bill from consideration for now. Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and Carl Obernolte (R-Barstow) said that opposition from the California chapters of the American Automobile Association and the Police Chiefs Association, among others, could not be overcome.
This bill would have made California third among U.S. states, behind Idaho and Delaware, to recognize that people on bikes have different vulnerabilities and capabilities when they approach an intersection and deserve different treatment than people in cars. It would have legalized a common practice and made riding a bike safer and more convenient, and it would have reduced unfair and capricious enforcement.
The arguments against the bill made no logical sense but were powerful nevertheless. When this bill comes back we'll be better equipped to address the arguments with equally powerful appeals.
In the meantime we're building momentum and support for stop-as-yield legislation in our state, and we need to hear from you.
Add your name below in support of the California "Stop As Yield" policy and make biking safer and more accessible for all.
This common-sense policy change has grown in popularity around our state because of the work of advocates like Walt Seifert; his wheels-to-the-road passion for advocacy continues to advance our list of supporting organizations.
Supporters of Stop-As-Yield Reform Legislation in California:
California Delivery Association
Public Health Advocates
Two Rivers Cider
Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
Yolo Solano Air Quality Management District
Coalition for Clean Air
Bicycle Commuter Coalition Inland Empire
Bike Davis
Bike Bakersfield
Bike Santa Cruz County
California Bicycle Coalition
Chico Velo
Inland Empire Bicycle Alliance
Motherlode Bicycle Coalition
Sacramento Trailnet
San Diego County Bicycle Coalition
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
Sylvia Bingham Fund
Walk Bike Mendocino
Pedali Alpini
Davis Bike Club
Desert Bicycle Club
Different Spokes of Southern California
Fresno Cycling Club
High Desert Cycling
Lompoc Valley Bicycle Club
Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club
Imperial Valley Velo Club
Recumbent Riders of Sacramento
San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club
San Jose Bicycle Club
Santa Rosa Cycling Club
Shasta Wheelmen
Solano Cycling Club
Fo Sho Inc. (Carmichael, East Sac, Elk Grove, and Greenhaven bike shops and Folsom Cyclery)
City Bicycle Works-Sacramento
Rex Cycles-Sacramento


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|AutoCAD students, Rosa Saucedo, Ryan Vallee and Garth Faries, work on a class assignment.
"In today's knowledge-based economy, continuous learning is not an option, but a necessity," said Robin Garrett, dean of Continuing Education at LSC-Kingwood. "CE responds to community needs by opening its doors to all who are motivated to learn and enrich their lives."
LSC-Kingwood's technology courses satisfy both the curious and the professional. The non-credit training classes vary from introductory concepts to highly technical, industry recognized certifications. Examples of the technology professional development courses include the AutoCAD Series, which has proven very popular among the drafting professionals. The courses are highly sought after and reasonably priced. A+ Certification training prepares individuals for a career in the information technology industry. The online classes offer a wide-range of non-credit computer classes.
"LSC-Kingwood provides opportunities to change lives, improve skills, and develop talents leading to better jobs and a stronger community. All classes are offered in a variety of formats," Garrett said.
Lone Star College System (LSCS) has a variety of options for lifelong learners. Students who want to test drive credit classes are considered non-degree or continuing education students. Application or transcripts are not required to take individual courses through continuing education and no grade or credit is received. They only need to meet the pre-requisites of the course. Upon completion, a satisfactory or unsatisfactory grade is given and credits will only count toward a degree program if they are admitted to one in the future. However, to ensure these credits fulfill a prospective program's requirements, consult with that program ahead of time.
One of the benefits to students is that a program/course can be attempted without penalty. Try a course through CE like interior design or criminal justice. If students don't like it, it won't affect their GPA or number of credit hours. If at a later date, students decide that it will fit into their degree plan – they are able to obtain the credit (no grade) by completing a form and submitting it to the college's advising department.
CE offers over hundreds of technology courses and is committed to serving the needs of today's learner, bringing college and community together to provide quality, practical educational services, to help fulfill career and personal aspirations. LSC-Kingwood delivers an array of innovative classes in a variety of formats, from online – learn at your own pace – to semester-long credit linked courses.
For students seeking personal growth, consider courses in Google Sketchup, digital photography, Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop to name a few. Join continuing education for fun, or to learn a valuable new skill. To find the individual computer classes offered at LSC-Kingwood, visit website at http://www.lonestar.edu/continuing-ed.htm or call 281-312-1660 or 281-312-1661.
Register now for credit classes online through myLoneStar. Classes are offered days, evenings, or weekends in traditional, Internet, video, TV and independent study formats. For more information on how to register online, visit www.lonestar.edu/registration.
For general information about Lone Star College-Kingwood, call 281.312.1600 or visit http://lonestar.edu/kingwood.htm.
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit www.lonestar.edu.


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Fact: the American maternal death rate is rising. Steeply. And although American women may be waiting longer to bear children, and more moms-to-be suffer from obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, blaming these moms for our birthing system's failures – an easy explanation even spokespeople from the CDC have leaned toward at times – is off the mark. In fact, many of the complications that occur most often in new moms during, or shortly after, hospital deliveries occur in women whose pregnancies were categorized as low-risk. Thus, some hospitals are beginning to look within, so to speak, for explanations as to why the nation that spends more than any other on prenatal care and delivery now ranks so unfavorably, when compared with other developed nations, on the maternal mortality score.
What are these hospitals seeing when they 'look within'? High (steeply rising) c-section, and other intervention rates, are of course a part of the picture, but so are inconsistent emergency preparedness procedures. Interestingly, and encouragingly, some hospitals have been able to improve their own mortality statistics by training their delivery teams using life-like (military-style) drills, and by streamlining their emergency procedures. Dr. Peter Johnson, a surgeon at Aurora West Allis Medical Center, near Milwaukee, recently described his team's management of a case in which a mother began hemorrhaging after her baby was delivered (she ended up needing a massive blood transfusion and an emergency hysterectomy) as significantly improved with this kind of training in place. Instead of running around trying to locate equipment and personnel, "there was a real sense of calm, rather than all this chaos," he says. "Having these [new] protocols in place makes things function seamlessly, and that will save lives."
Just as 'looking within' is improving birth practices within the American medical system, looking 'without' could likewise initiate some positive self-reflection and life-saving change. Specifically, I think, looking at systems that are working could provide insights into the aspects of our system that are broken – why reinvent the wheel when successful models exist, right? And who better to note the differences between our birthing system and another than American moms living (and having babies) overseas?
This Japan Times article, directed at foreign, expecting moms living in Japan, fascinated me for this very reason. While the piece doesn't specifically address the problems within the American hospital birthing system, it does provide some inside perspective into what giving birth in Japan is like, and what options are available to moms-to-be living there. Why does this matter? Because Japan boasts some of the best infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. And while some similarities exist between hospital birth there, and here in the States, there are also major differences. Namely, "natural" birth practices are not considered alternative, or even – for the majority of the population – separate from mainstream hospital birth protocol.
In the States, women often must choose between extremes: a natural, midwife-assisted birth at home – which can provide the kind of close, gentle, mama and baby-friendly birth experience many women desire, but includes at least a perceived element of risk in the event of a major emergency – and a hospital birth – which may feel (or be, if a woman has existing complications) safer, but may or may not involve unwanted interventions, their side effects, and less-than-stellar post-delivery circumstances, which can affect mother and baby health, breastfeeding success, and more. In Japan, moms have additional options: "broadly speaking, these options can be divided into three main categories: the OB-GYN department of a large hospital (which may be private or public), a smaller specialized maternity clinic, or a birthing center with midwives."
Even in the first category, however, midwives "run the show," as one British mom, who's given birth to three babies in a Japanese hospital, put it. She labored for 70 hours with her first child, and the hospital's midwives supported her throughout; "I really don't have the words for how moved I was by their dedication," she says. Personal, midwife-directed care is not something most women associate with hospital birth, at least not in America. In Japan, for the most part, it's standard operating procedure. Another mom, an American, chose her hospital in Japan for its commitment to baby-friendly breastfeeding support policies according to guidelines from the WHO and UNICEF.
While hospital midwives and baby-friendly breastfeeding policies do exist in the United States, they're not yet the norm. Neither is gourmet French food during one's hospital stay after delivery, something foreigners have been pleasantly surprised by in Japan. And although hospital food, obviously, is not crucial to maternal health and has no bearing on emergencies, I think this point is significant in that it reflects the difference between the systems' approaches to maternal care. I've written before about my post-delivery experience at a leading hospital in New York City, during which I did not feel well cared-for, was not provided with adequate breastfeeding support, and, for what it's worth, was not fed well. I remember a friend, while visiting me there one afternoon, asked, incredulously, when a lone baked potato landed on my bed-side tray, "Is that your dinner?" (I didn't touch it.) On the upside, I lost all of my baby weight pretty much by the time I arrived home. On the down side, I felt, while I was in the hospital, like I was in prison. It was not the positive start I would have wished for, for myself – or anyone else – after delivering a baby.
Like the American hospital system, however, Japan's varies from hospital to hospital, and although midwife, mommy and baby-friendly protocol is pretty widespread, some moms cited in the Japan Times article toured hospitals where their questions and birth plans were met with indifference, or outright hostility. One doctor said, point-blank, that every woman giving birth in his hospital received an episiotomy. Another mom recalled being told she would only be able to keep her baby with her throughout her hospital stay if she happened to score one of a limited number of private rooms there. And many foreign mothers are dismayed to discover a pervasive lack of pain relief options, even in the best Japanese hospitals. (One told the Times' author that the hospital's childbirth education classes were quite helpful in that respect, though.) The moral of the story is the same as it is here: moms in Japan must do their research and find a doctor and hospital that feels right to them. The difference is that in Japan, moms have more, and better, options, both within hospitals and without, and finding the right match isn't as much of a mystery or gamble as it is here in the States. And, maternal and infant mortality rates coming out of Japan prove the system, overall, is working. (As far as birth outside of hospitals goes, birthing centers in Japan are described in the article as "serene", and with very capable midwives – one American mom's breech baby was delivered vaginally in one of these centers, without problems.)
Lastly, the article's author tempers foreigners' expectations with this, lest we get too excited and expatriate in the name of procreation: "Unlike in some countries, prenatal care and childbirth are not free in Japan, but government allowances have become more generous over the last few years… Regardless of where the baby is born, or whether the facility is public or private, the government pays a standard reimbursement of ¥420,000 to mothers enrolled in the country's national health insurance scheme. This amount is actually very close to the average cost for a normal delivery." Women can also file for reimbursement for expenses like private rooms, or non-standard procedures they may have needed during delivery. If you're British or Australian, this all might sound unduly complicated, and give you pause before you run out to apply for your Visa. But if you're American, and thus unfamiliar with national health insurance programs that add up, essentially, to free prenatal care and childbirth, it sounds pretty darn good. (I would have had to pay $5,000, per night, for a private room in NYC, without the prospect of a reimbursement, so, yeah… pretty darn good.)
What do you think of the differences between the Japanese hospital delivery system and the American system? (Or, if you live in another country, how do these systems compare with your own?) Have you ever given birth overseas? Would you want to give birth in a Japanese hospital? Would you feel safer doing so, considering the statistics? If you could change one thing about hospital birth in America, what would it be?


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I'd be interested on some more details about this, if you still remember it Could you modulate the speed at which that rocket moved ? Did you need to spend some time setting up the computer so that it recognizes your brain waves ? What kind of stuff did you have to think about in order to make the rocket move ?
I'll try to describe it the best I can. It is difficult to explain because it is very subjective I think.
You how know when you want to hear something better you 'shift your focus' to your ears and how you can do this with other parts of your body. (There's a well known meditation technique where you do this with your whole body starting from your feet.)
I focused on a part of my brain like this, at first the rocket did nothing but when I repeated this the rocket did start to react. It did this very quickly, well under a minute. It did not react smoothly however but after a while (maybe a minute) it reacted very well.
I remember testing if focusing on other parts of my brain gave effect, which was a negative.
EDIT: By thinking/focussing 'louder' I could make the rocket increase it's speed.
The fact that I did this by focusing on a part of the brain was just my way of doing things. I just thought that I needed to create some electrical charge at a place of my brain where there where many electrodes. The operator told me to 'just move it up'.
My interpretation is that it doesn't move because you are thinking "please move up", but that you are just pressing buttons with you head. The computer is just looking for peaks in the brainwave signal, maybe it can read frustration or accomplishment so it can know if it did the right thing.
Sorry this is all I can remember though... Recently they where testing me for a rare form of epilepsy. I got many electrodes glued to my head going to an amplifier and then via a LPT-connector to a recording box.
Next time I have to wear this at home, and I will hook myself up to my computer. I'll do some experiments and post the results.
Edited 2011-10-11 17:31 UTC
Perhaps this game was based on the detection of meditative brain states through beta waves, like this toy ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHA4j66MCa0
Edited 2011-10-11 19:03 UTC


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Nightmare Castle (US - DVD R1)
Gabe is spooked and chilled by Gothic photography and Barbara Steele...
A sadistic yet brilliant scientist named Dr. Stephen Arrowsmith (Paul Muller) catches his wife Muriel (Barbara Steele) in bed with another man. Arrowsmith tortures and murders the pair, then removes their hearts. Arrowsmith was, in the end, relatively disinterested in his wife as a person, but was looking forward to inheriting her fortune, and is bummed when he discovers she drew up a new will giving her fortune to her institutionalized sister Jenny. Not too easily deterred Arrowsmith marries Jenny instead. Soon however, Jenny starts experiencing nightmares and hauntings, seemingly straight from the ghost of her dead sister.
Try though I might, it's just not possible to keep up with everything in the realms of classic European horror cinema. Nightmare Castle fell through my usually tightly held cracks (ha) due to rampant unavailability, and my idiotically confusing it with Antonio Margheriti's Castle of Blood, which also starred Barbara Steele, and went by too many names to keep track of (including The Castle of Terror). Released several times on DVD in various cut forms, and under various titles like The Faceless Monster (spoiler alert) and Night of the Doomed, Nightmare Castle remains a Italian horror favourite due largely to its lack of copyright protection.
Nightmare Castle features all the melodramatic plotting, stilted dialogue and scenery chewing fans have come to expect from Gothic inspired '50s and '60s horror, but mostly runs on a Mario Bava and James Whale inspired visual elegance. It never touches the tangible black and white bliss of Black Sunday or Bride of Frankenstein, but director Mario Caiano (an Italian du jour type director that worked in Hercules rip-offs and Spaghetti Westerns around the same time) manages some rich nightmare beauty. The film is pretty damn violent for the time, though not by modern standards. The ideas behind the violence are much more perverse and alarming than what actually makes it on screen, but I still give Bava and Hammer the edge in the on-screen ick department. Though I suppose elements of the film's climax revels in more overtly sexual acts of violence than anything else I can recall from the era, so perhaps that counts for something.
Presented in its original and gorgeous 1.85:1 framed black and whiteness, Nightmare Castle has been lovingly restored by the fine folks at Severin, but is not without its minor faults. The image is slightly warmed rather than a true black and white, but this is a minor quibble when the depths of the highly gothic blacks are taken into account. The contrast of the overall print is even, and sharp enough to both perpetuate the deep blacks, and allow for relatively fine details. There's no mistaking these detail levels with a high definition transfer, but there's only a general lack of crispness in the presentation, not a definitive lack of detail. The print is relatively clean given the film's age and legacy, with fine grain peppered throughout, and a few minor cases of briefly popping print damage artefacts. The most pronounced problem with the entire transfer is the occasional dancing blocks on harsh white edges.
Severin has included only the film's English dub, which is fine considering most of the major players were pretty obviously speaking English on set. The lip-sync is hit and miss, but not disturbingly so, and the dialogue melds better into the relatively silent track more naturally than other such tracks. The track is Mono and flat, as flat as much older film (1965 wasn't that long ago), and features some tinny and unrealistic sound effects, but Severin has done what they can with the material. The track is lacking warmth and depth, but doesn't feature any major distortion, save some fuzzy musical cues, and a few crackly screams. One of the film's most enduring aspects is its minimal score, which was crafted by the one and only Ennio Morricone, who'd recycle many of the best ideas into his latter horror and thriller scores, including his work with Dario Argento.
'Barbara Steele—In Conversation' is, as the title suggests, an interview with the headline star of Nightmare Castle. Babs gives us a brief description of her career genesis set to some great photos of her in the era. She's a great speaker, and tells an interesting story. And the pictures remind us how sexy she was (though why would anyone ever want her to dye her beautiful black locks blonde is way beyond my comprehension). Steele's one of those icons that genuinely remembers her B-movie career, and can speak about it with a sense of class. Usually horror icons can only achieve one or the other.
'Black, White and Red' is an interview with director Mario Caiano, who waxes about his career, his tastes, and his ambitions, but mostly about Nightmare Castle specifically. Steele and the other actors are covered in relative detail, as is Morricone, and the crew, some of which went on to major Hollywood success. Caiano speaks in Italian with English subtitles, and his orange cat makes a few appearances looking to play. The extras are completed with the US and UK trailers.
Nightmare Castle is a bit overlong, and I personally wouldn't consider it in the same class as the best Gothic horror films, but it's better than many of the later Hammer films, and a large section of Paul Naschy's output, and a must see for Barbara Steele's fans. I don't have firsthand knowledge concerning the disc's improvements over previous releases, but assume the box art isn't lying considering the overall clean look, and clearly longer runtime.
Review by Gabriel Powers
David Blackwell Senior Member Join Date: February 2004 Location: United States Posts: 2,831
Thanks for the review, Gabe. i'm way behind on my EuroHorror. I need to check out more EuroHorror stuff.
Ben Dover Member Join Date: February 2005 Location: Afghanistan Posts: 103
proving once again, there is no such thing as "too much Barbara Steele"-the original goth girl
This product has not been rated
Disc Details
Release Date: 19th May 2009
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Single side, single layer
RCE: No
Video: NTSC
Aspect: 1.66:1
Anamorphic: Yes
Colour: Yes
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
Extras: Barbara Steele in Conversation, Black, White and Red, Trailers
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Mario Caiano
Cast: Barbara Steele, Paul Muller, Helga Liné, Lawrence Clift
Genre: Horror
Length: 104 minutes
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Application download here (Just in case the author of the article is told to remove the link: http://www.mobilepoint.us/2013/01/kuaiy ... r-how.html)New China-based program Kuaiyong allows users to download and install Apple apps for FREE on their iPhone and iPad without jailbreaking.
Tested this application out.
All you need to do once you have downloaded applications using this Windows application, is you hook your iPhone or iPad up to the computer and press the install application button (not in English, its located on the far right of the download bar).
The article provides a decent run through.
Edit: Should be in: "Tech News".


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Falcons, Cavs meet in big NSC showdown
WALKERTON — Coming off back-to-back losses against Knox and Jimtown, the Culver Cavaliers (5-2, 3-2 NSC) jump out of the frying pan and into the fire this week with a game at Northern State Conference foe John Glenn (6-1, 4-1 NSC).
In fact, Culver head coach Andy Thomas sees some parallels between the Jimmies and the Falcons, who were handed their only loss this season by Jimtown.
"We've got to match their speed and intensity," said Thomas. "They're another team that plays fast, and they fly around on both sides of the ball, and we have to come out and do the same thing from the opening kick-off.


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"The golden state warriors have one or more players with an unplayable injury in one of the first 8 rotation spots of their global gameplan. Please resolve this issue before continuing"
****. My guy is 30 something years old. Several championships in. Couple MVPs in. Already enough recognitions to retire in the Hall of Fame. And now its all for nothing. Absolutely nothing I can do. Can't even retire because the game loads into that message. No games, no mypark, no retiring. All for nothing.
Ignore the crazy sound. That was my chair not my PS4.


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Gov. Rick Scott, who made a career out of negotiating hospital mergers, is now applying his negotiating skills to a deal with the Seminole Tribe that could singlehandedly dictate the future of gaming in Florida.
The legal agreement, known as a compact, could open the door to swanky resort casinos in Miami Dade and Broward, or force them to remain off limits indefinitely. It could allow for dog racing to be replaced by arcade-style games, or close loopholes in state gambling law. It could allow for lower tax rates at the state's horse and dog tracks and jai alai frontons, or force them to remain at a competitive disadvantage with the tribe.
Or it could do nothing, leaving in place the status quo.
Like any good negotiator, Scott is keeping his cards close to the vest and neither he nor the tribe is talking.
Records show the governor's general counsel, Pete Antonacci, hired two Minnesota law firms in December that specialize in tribal law to "provide advice and assistance on tribal-state compact negotiations." Antonacci, traveled to Fort Lauderdale recently, to meet with the tribe's top lawyers.
And the most potent sign that the governor is talking: his office asked legislators to stop discussions of its gambling bills to avoid losing his leverage in the deal. That prompted House Speaker Will Weatherford last week to officially declare "lights are out" on gambling legislation for the session.
"The compact truly has become the cornerstone of gaming policy in the state of Florida,'' said Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, who helped negotiate the current compact but has not been invited to be part of this year's discussion. More here.


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Corner makeover: Death of the sports bar?
Can a sports bar be a restaurant? Don't blaring big-screen TVs, shouting fans, smoky poolrooms, and $5 pitchers go against the rules– and pleasures– of fine (or even decent) dining?
The newest generation of Corner restaurateurs seems to agree about this unappetizing mixing of genres. Or at least they understand that satisfying thirsty sports fans doesn't necessarily involve letting potential diners starve in the bleachers.
Leading the pack is Michael's Bistro and Tap House, the brainchild of 33 year-old UVA grad Michael Crafaik. For the past four or five years– ever since chef Chuck Adcock joined the team– this intimate, lively café and bar, which specializes in microbrews and inventive affordable cuisine, has had a corner on The Corner's lunch and dinner market.
Following in this new tradition are the new owners of The Virginian and The Greenskeeper.
Twenty-four-year-old "Com" School grad Andy McClure and his brothers Pat and Sam bought the historic Virginian a year and a half ago from George and Teresa Groome. Since then, they've transformed it into a busy, bright, broad-appeal restaurant with a full lunch and dinner menu.
"We had less to work with, more to prove," a confident Andy tells us. Business must be good. The McClure brothers are already planning a second, American-style restaurant at the fringe of downtown.
Just next door, another family has been tackling an even bigger challenge.
If you paid a visit to The Greenskeeper Sportsbar and Restaurant last fall, you probably didn't even notice that it had new owners. But Jim Galloway and his family– wife Jan, son Ben (24), and daughter Casey (22)– bought the business from the Groomes last September, just as the football season was picking up speed.
"You can't change the game in the fourth quarter," explains Jim, who attended UVA back in the '60s.
Which is why the ambitious team decided to wait until January to transform this sports bar into ja-b'er wok-'e - a family-run, family-friendly restaurant, take-out deli, live performance venue (music, comedy, poetry), and, yes, bar. After a sneak preview for a few friends, the eat-and-drinkery debuts in full-force on Friday, January 17.
Young, eager and full of ideas, general manager Ben is the creative force in the family and, like Andy McClure, a restaurateur in the making. A Lewis Carroll fan and former Lit major at Arizona, it was his idea to name the place after the greatest nonsense poem in English. (By some fortunate coincidence, Brillig Books is just around the corner.)
"I wanted a name that was fun and that really raised people's curiosity," he tells us. We'd be curious to find out how many UVA students even know that Jabberwocky is a poem, but that's probably a question for Jay Leno to ask.
But enough about the name. Let's talk food. We didn't see the menu (it was only 99 percent done), but we're told that the emphasis will be on diverse sandwiches, sliders (mini-hamburgers in the White Castle tradition), salads, and soups– your standard lunch fare, but with a creative twist: designer breads and Boar's Head meats and cheeses.
Apparently, the menu wasn't the only thing in need of a makeover. The new owners ripped out two TVs (alas, two remain), swapped an old pool table for a couple of comfy couches (à la Espresso Royale), re-did the bathrooms (thank you!). They also capped the bar with shiny copper, built a large corner stage, and installed new mahogany-stained booths and bar stools. Art will soon adorn the muted, freshly painted walls, perhaps the clearest sign that the Galloways intend to keep the sports on the side– except, perhaps, on game days.
Will they succeed? "All sports bars are destined to fail as restaurants," challenges Andy McClure next door. This is the kind of sporting event we like to watch. The more winners, the better.


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Why Judges Should Let Personal Experience Count
Two legal swan songs recently crash-landed on my desk, each a study in the judicial mind. The first was Justice John Paul Stevens's remarkable 90-page dissent in Citizens United v. FEC—the blockbuster Supreme Court decision dismantling nearly a century's worth of regulation on corporate election activity. The second was The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law, the new memoir by Albie Sachs, who helped transform South Africa into a constitutional democracy after apartheid and became a justice on that country's Constitutional Court, a position from which he retired last fall.
At first blush the two texts could not be more different. Stevens's dissent—from which he read doggedly for 20 long minutes in open court—is characteristically plain-spoken and direct. Having hired only one clerk for next term and telegraphed that he may not linger for much longer on the court, Stevens lets his anger show, excoriating the conservative majority for playing fast and loose with foundational principles of constitutional interpretation.
Blasting his colleagues for changing long-settled law on a dime, Stevens writes that if the principle of stare decisis means anything at all, "it must at least demand a significant justification, beyond the preferences of five Justices, for overturning settled doctrine." Sachs, on the other hand, offers emotion of a more personal sort: "I suspect that if diligent researchers one day went through the scraps of paper on which I have jotted down occasional ideas, they would find many of them with the ink smudged by water-drops."
But there are points of connection between these two swan songs. Stevens, who will be 90 in April, is reticent about the role of personal experience on judging. But in a glancing reference to his own Navy service during World War II, he points out that the majority's claim that government cannot legally distinguish between corporate and individual speakers "would have accorded the propaganda broadcasts to our troops by 'Tokyo Rose' during World War II the same protection as speech by Allied commanders." Sachs, 75, is far more open about the impact of his experiences on his jurisprudence. He cheerfully wonders about the influence of "terrorism and torture" on his legal thinking (he lost his arm to a car bomb when he was working to overthrow apartheid). Sachs exposes the ways in which his jurisprudence is informed by his childhood religious experiences as well as his (not infrequent) bathtub epiphanies.
Stevens's dissent is an elegy for a judicial machinery in which he has participated for decades yet no longer quite recognizes. Sachs, on the other hand, describes the process of interpreting a brand-new South African Constitution as a struggle to balance judicial experience, respect for human dignity, and regard for proportionality. Stevens casts his eyes sadly back over decades of smashed precedent. Sachs looks forward to a South African Constitutional Court doing justice for all "without fear, favor or prejudice."
It is impossible to imagine a justice of the United States Supreme Court sitting down to pen a memoir like Sachs's. It would mean acknowledging that judges are not made of microchips, and that doing justice means more than just calling balls and strikes (in the favored formulation of our day). If an American judge described, as Sachs does, a party to an appeal "lying on the bare field at night staring up at the stars as the rainclouds gathered and asking: why are we born to live like this, why must my children grow up without a home?" we would urge swift impeachment accompanied by pharmacological intervention.
That's why it's worth stealing a moment to heed Sachs's warning that jurists not imitate the "artificial sound of a computer that has been programmed to produce inexorable outcomes." It's just an illusion, he says. Judges are people too. He reminds his readers that "if law is a machine, we are the ghosts that inhabit it and give it life." Judges, he writes, "are shaped not only by our learning but by our varied engagements with life, by experiences both inside and outside the law."
Sachs's thoughts on what it means to be human are doubly poignant next to Stevens's admonition that whatever corporations may be, human beings they are not: "Corporations have no consciences, no beliefs, no feelings, no thoughts, no desires ... they are not themselves members of 'We the People' by whom and for whom our constitution was established." Side by side Sachs and Stevens reveal that this is an odd constitutional moment indeed in America, in which corporations are treated like living persons by judges who aspire to be machines.


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Disneyland Park
All Ages
Dark, Loud
Accessibility and Other Information - Opens Dialog
Stage Shows, Indoor
Tropical birds, tiki gods and colorful flowers come to life in a swinging 15-minute South Seas musical celebration.
Sing along with a lively menagerie of exotic birds, flowers and tikis in this jubilant Disney classic. A feast for your eyes and ears, this theater-in-the-round attraction invites all to experience the exotic beauty and magic of the Pacific Islands.
Inside the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room
Breeze into what looks to be a ceremonial house located in the heart of Polynesia and take a seat around a lush floral fountain. Nearby, hanging warrior shields, ancient statues and woven bamboo fixtures echo a mysterious story of ancient traditions.
As the lights dim, 4 colorful macaws quickly spring to life and begin to sing a series of jubilant island songs. Before long, the chorus of crooning birds is joined by an enchanting cast of over 225 choreographed Audio-Animatronics performers, including bobbing parrots, giggling cockatoos, crooning orchids, drumming tiki statues and chanting wooden masks.
Sing along and clap to their rousing original songs, which seamlessly mix traditional South Seas rhythms with classic Disney wit—and enjoy the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology, created especially for this classic attraction.
Sing Like a Bird
Join a lively troupe of tropical characters as they sing a cheery medley of songs, including such classics as:
The magic begins before you even enter Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. As you wait for the doors to open, carved totem poles representing the island gods suddenly spring to life and introduce themselves.
You can also take the opportunity to purchase a treat from the Tiki Juice Bar. Taste a Pineapple DOLE WHIP®—a classic treat treasured by both Guests and tiki birds.
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room—which debuted in 1963—is the first Audio-Animatronics show. Walt Disney's fascination with translating his love of film animation into the real world led to the groundbreaking new technology, which enabled the synchronization of movement, audio and visual effects of a multitude of animated figures at one time. This technology helped pave the way for other classic attractions, including "it's a small world," "Pirates of the Caribbean," and the "Haunted Mansion."
Walt originally envisioned the Enchanted Tiki Room as a dinner show. However, he knew the attraction would be so popular that he changed the format to accommodate more Guests before it opened.
Today in the Tiki Room
While the current show maintains the intent of Walt Disney and his pioneering team of Imagineers, it's also been enhanced with modern technology: a state-of-the-art show-control system, re-mastered audio and a more versatile and energy-efficient lighting system.


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Down There?
edited July 2011 in Animal Tracks
I never really see anybody talk about Avey Tare's album "Down There". So i'm just curious, what do you think of it?
It's awesome! I guess it usually gets overshadowed by Panda's solo stuff, which is generally seen as better, butI think Down There is an awesome album!
i certainly enjoy it / connect with it more than tom boy (look at yr!) ... esp. when you think of it as music as therapy / the album avey made to get through some hard emotional things... in that sense it is more comparable to young prayer... i think down there is really great as an album experience... while certain songs are quite groovy it is the overall feel and how it all gels together as one beast! it wasn't meant to blow one away... and some of the sounds / idears / production is just amazing...
I've been listening to Down There a lot lately. When Tomboy came out, there were some songs that I really liked, and some songs that just weren't my thing. But, with Down There, I [i]like[/i] all of the songs, but there are only maybe two that I'd say I [i]really[/i] liked. That being said, I can usually find at least one song out of an album that I just don't care for, even if I love the rest. There are actually not too many full length albums out there that I can listen to EVERY song from, and Down There's definitely one of them! Even if it's not the strongest of his work, I still think the album's great, and definitely worth a listen!
I havent really given it the same time as i have with panda bear's solos, but from what i have heard so far i like lucky 1 and 3 umbrellas. What usually happens is the amount that i like an album increases with the amount of time i listen to it, it seems to grow on me.
I agree with everyone here. And does anyone else think Laughing Herioglyphic is a cool ass song?
I think it's a pretty good album, except for two things: Glass Bottom Boat is kind if filler-ish, and Lucky 1 should've had another verse like the one at the beginning after the "were you crying" part.
Down There has the incredible ability to grow on you... and not stop. When it first came out, I was all meh, but now I love it. The songs almost song different every time you listen to them.
It's too painful for me to listen to lately (like, since it came out and I listened to it one million times). And in relation to another thread ("Is this a weird thought?") it's a winter album for me.
In relation to seasons or environment, I see Down There as kind of a humid swamp in the summer
Funny, I actually see it as more of a spring album. Avey said Down There was like a sort of therapy album for him, and represents him having been in a dark place emotionally. To me, it seems like, though the album definitely represents the hard times he's been going through, there's still a glimmer of hope in it, which seems to me like spring finally coming after a long winter.
I'd also like to add that I agree with Blinkitty-Blink. Laughing Hieroglyphic is an incredible song. ^^
I think that Down There is a summer album, but not a bright summer, like a summer night. But dark and humid and hot.
Like a swamp?
Down There is pretty amazing, i love all the sounds the lyrics are sung amazingly and the lyrics themselves bring strong emotions to the front of my mind whenever i listen. because of this its not really an album i could sit there and just relax to. i have to really want to listen to it and i thought it could've used some more melody and glass bottom boat could've been a crazy instrumental if he had built it up more and added to it. all that being said i would really like to see more songs on the albums. i mean this was only a 9 song album and 9 songs isn't really a full length album to me. i just think that 11, 12, 13, even 10 if all the songs are really amazing, would make a more complete album. but maybe thats being greedy or expecting too much.
Really well said, Derek! I think for me, I listen to it often [i]because[/i] it's not an album I can relax to.. To be honest, I like it because it makes me a bit uncomfortable! And of course, the more tracks per album, the better! ^^
"Cemeteries" sounds like something beyond despondency to me, even though it doesn't make a big show about it. Great album, I listen to it all the time. As for it being good as a relaxing to, I agree that it's not. Nevertheless, most of the time, when I listen to music, I pay close attention to what I'm hearing. It's not a conscious thing, but I just don't listen to music as background music. I'm mentioning that because what was being said about it being relaxing or not didn't quite make sense to me at first. I connected it with the ways I've observed other people listening to music as opposed to how I listen to it -- seems like some people listen to music as background and others can't not listen intently. Maybe I'm wrong about that. What do I know, after all?
i never really use music as background noise, if thats all its good for its probably not that good in the first place down there just floods me with too many memories if i listen to it all at once so i try to stick to one or two songs if i feel like listening to them. i'm drunk
i'm baked listening to Person Pitch haha
[quote]Glass Bottom Boat is kind if filler-ish, and Lucky 1 should've had another verse like the one at the beginning after the "were you crying" part.[/quote] aww i like glash bottom boat as a sort of lemming! but i agree about lucky one! ... i always wish it'd come back from crying for just a bit... so it kind of ends the whole album on a "not-quite-right" feeling... but isn't that how things are! in LIFE!
[quote="derekcollectbone"]i never really use music as background noise, if thats all its good for its probably not that good in the first place down there just floods me with too many memories if i listen to it all at once so i try to stick to one or two songs if i feel like listening to them. i'm drunk[/quote] I miss you!
[quote="derekcollectbone"]i never really use music as background noise, if thats all its good for its probably not that good in the first place[/quote] Well, that makes sense. This girl who was at a party with me the other day told me she like AC a lot (which is cool -- I don't generally run into fans in person), but she then proceeded to tell me that the reason she loved music so much is because it's the background to her day. Bummed out, I was.
Yeah there are people who listen to music as background noise and then there are people who really listen to music intently for the lyrics and different sounds and thats really fun to do with AC!
[quote="Dave"]the reason she loved music so much is because it's the background to her day.[/quote] Incredible music is supposed to be so much more than background noise... o:
that really stinks Dave i haven't met anyone where i live that even knows about animal collective and if i met someone like that it'd be pretty depressing. so many of their songs have happy sounds mixed with haunting lyrics and if you're not really listening you'd miss the point. last and certainly not least I miss you too wini
I'm at art school for a month and people keep playing music all backgroundy and it's good usually but it bothers me more than people playing really bad music.
Here are my background music bands: Audiobody Matmos Pantha Du Prince Ratatat I hope you all approve.
[quote="winilula"]I hope you all approve.[/quote]  Nope, try again later.  I'd rather have tv than music as background noise, for the most part.
there's some instrumental type stuff i could imagine as background music... where it's kind of ambient / drone / noize or whatever... when it is hypnotik and well... not much is damn going on... classical music too which i rarely glisten to is nice to just kind of have some music but nice and mellow usually in the car!
Ok, ok, when I mean 'background music' I mean music that I use to occupy the right part of my brain while the left part washes dishes. And it's all instrumental stuff and I have heard it so many times that is more like my pulse. I hate hearing people and I hate laugh tracks even more so never have tv on in the background.
and we seem to have reverted to our former state of accidentally hijacking threads and creating a really cool subtopic.
haha ya you guys did.
tv is so good! so good


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My name is Mark Schneider. I grew up in Compton, California, lived in LA and on its west side where I met my bookselling mentor, the inestimable Paul Encimer. In 1971, I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to join a community called the Land. There we lived on 750 acres without bosses or bureaucrats, temporarily autonomous. Here's a picture of the two-story tower I built. I couldn't find a reliable source of ivory so i built it out of wood. That's Winnie (the goat) admiring it along with you.
Here's a picture of me outside Nora Barnacle's childhood home in Galway during a recent trip to Ireland. They've taken down the historic plaque I'm pointing to and closed up the museum. Is nothing sacred? The story of my Irish trip can be found here .
Since 1997, I've been selling books over the internet and by occasional mail-order catalogue. If you'd like to be on my email or snail mail list let me know. I'm planning to expand into a shop one of these days, but in the meantime my stock lives with me here in this charming country cottage high above Palo Alto, California, in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains.
I have a general used stock with special interests in left-wing politics (particularly anarchism), earth-based goddess religion, and satyagraha (nonviolence). Most of the books I have on these subjects are not yet online. If you don't see what you're looking for, don't hesitate to ask.
Most of my books are hardcover or trade paperback. My highest grade is `Fine' in a scale that runs, `Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor.' Needless to say, anything less than `Very Good" needs to be a book of particular interest to me, either because it fetches a nice price or because I like the book.
From Wikipedia
As a British-educated lawyer, Gandhi first employed his ideas of peaceful civil disobedience in the Indian community's struggle for civil rights in South Africa. Upon his return to India, he organized poor farmers and labourers to protest against oppressive taxation and widespread discrimination. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for the alleviation of poverty, for the liberation of women, for brotherhood amongst differing religions and ethnicities, for an end to untouchability and caste discrimination, and for the economic self-sufficiency of the nation, but above all for Swaraj the independence of India from foreign domination. Gandhi famously led Indians in the disobedience of the salt tax on the 400 kilometre (248 miles) Dandi Salt March in 1930, and in an open call for the British to Quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many years on numerous occasions in both South Africa and India.
Throughout his life, Gandhi remained committed to non-violence and truth even in the most extreme situations. A student of Hindu philosophy, he lived simply, organizing an ashram that was self-sufficient in its needs. Making his own clothes the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl woven with a charkha, he lived on a simple vegetarian diet. He used rigorous fasts, for long periods, for both self-purification and protest. Gandhi's life and teachings inspired Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Biko and Aung San Suu Kyi and through them the American civil rights movement and the freedom struggles in South Africa and Myanmar respectively.
"Funston's example has bred many imitators, and many ghastly additions to our history: the torturing of Filipinos by the awful 'water- cure,' for instance, to make them confess -- what? Truth? Or lies? How can one know which it is they are telling? For under unendurable pain a man confesses anything that is required of him, true or false, and his evidence is worthless. Yet upon such evidence American officers have actually -- but you know about those atrocities which the War Office has been hiding a year or two...."


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September 19, 2018
Wednesday, 9 am-noon
Audience: Groups, Adults, High School Students, Middle School Students, Families, Seniors, Educators, Volunteers, Elementary School Students
Location: Presidio of San Francisco
Event Type: Volunteer
Help enhance rare native plant habitat and create important wildlife corridors in the Presidio of San Francisco. Volunteers participate in environmental healing by removing invasive plants and revegetating with natives. Come learn about local plants and animals and be a habitat hero!
Volunteer programs take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 am-noon and Sundays, 10 am-1 pm.
Individuals and Families
Registration required for participation, but individuals are welcome to register up to the day before the event.
Check the Presidio Park Stewards volunteer page for program updates and cancellations.
Groups of five or more may require special arrangements and must be confirmed in advance. Fill out the Group Project Request Form or visit our Groups volunteer page to learn more.
Age, Skills, What to Bring:
- Volunteers ages 10 and up are welcome. Read our Youth Policy Guidelines (PDF) for youth under the age of 15.
- Bring your completed Volunteer Agreement Form (PDF). Volunteers under the age of 18 must have the parent/guardian approval section signed.
- We'll be working rain or shine. Wear clothes that can get dirty. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. Bring layers for changing weather and rain gear if necessary.
- Bring a personal water bottle and sunscreen.
- No experience necessary. Training and tools will be provided. Fulfills community service requirements.
Meeting Location
Meet at the Presidio Transit Center at 8:50 am on Wednesdays and Saturdays and 9:50 am on Sundays (click on map above). Volunteers will be transported to the work site.
Contact Information
For general questions regarding volunteer programs, contact us at (415) 561-3044 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
You can also view the Volunteer FAQ page for more information.
The Golden Gate National Parks Volunteer Program is a cooperative parkwide effort of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service, and the Presidio Trust.


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Personalized Ceramic Snack Bowl - Home Theatre Personalized Ceramic BowlGet your favorite snacks ready using this Personalized Ceramic Snack Bowl. This Home Theatre Ceramic Bowl is perfect for snacking on chips, pretzels and popcorn as you watch a great flick with family and friends.
Your Personalized Home Theatre Ceramic Bowl measures 5 1/2" H x 10 1/2 in Diameter". Hand wash only. Includes FREE Personalization. Personalize with any name.


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DSTV replacement
As I'm staring at the black hole (South Africa), I can't stop wondering how the oppressed people of this great nation feel about continuously being screwed over. The majority of the population have subscribed to an overpriced television service called DSTV. The prices of this "service" are just plain ridiculous and offer little to nothing, other than a repeat of a repeat. But what are the alternatives? Most individuals would say that there isn't an alternative. And here's where they are WRONG!
Price list of DSTV
The black hole has internet through out most of the country, although also overpriced and falling into the category of being one of the most expensive in the world, yet the majority of its people have internet access. This is all you need to replace DSTV, let me explain:
With a 2Mbps uncapped ADSL line or a similar internet solution, you can watch the latest movies, soap series, documentaries or cartoons for the children without having to wait for it to air and at it would cost one R220,00 at the most (excluding your internet service).
One would need to purchase a little device called Apple TV. The price of this device is around R1400. The device has a lot more than just allowing you to watch internet television. For more details on the device you can click here.
Apple TV
What do you need?
Let me break down what one would need to view internet television in the dark hole:
- Electricity, preferably from a generator as Eskom leaves the entire country in darkness
- At least a 2Mbps internet service with either wifi or Lan Cable
- Apple TV device
- An USA iStore account (must be US in order to enjoy Internet TV to the most)
- A DNS server that "places" your device in the United States
- A subscription to either Hulu Plus or Netflix
The Cost:
The cost in the list below does not take into account the price of the Internet Service Provider nor the Apple TV device
- A few litres of Petrol for your generator at around R13.85 per litre
- USA iStore account is for free and can be topped up with vouchers which can be purchased over the internet (details in the article below)
- The DNS server would cost $4,99 (a little over R50,00)
- Hulu Plus or Netflix costs $7.99 per month (a little over R85,00)
- Total cost: R135,00 per month (based upon one subscription, either Hulu or Netflix)
Getting started:
Start by downloading iTunes. This only has to be done by individuals that do not own an iPad,iPhone or MAC. Once downloaded read this article which helps you setting up an American iStore account.
Next up you will need a DNS server (this server virtually places the apple device in the USA). The DNS server is needed to change your Internet location. Without this you will not be able to view any of the American Internet TV content. For the DNS server I would recommend Unotelly. Unotelly has 2 servers in the dark hole, one in the violent city of Johannesburg and the other server is placed in the homosexual city of Cape Town. Unotelly has a free trial period of around a week.
Unotelly server locations
Now that you have the DNS server it is time to set up your Apple TV. It is important to watch the tutorial in this short movie in order for your Apple TV to work correctly.
Now that your device is setup you can start your free trial with either Hulu Plus or Netflix.
Netflix/Hulu Plus service providers
The Unotelly DNS server, Hulu Plus and Netflix all have a free trial period. To see and experience all what Apple TV has to offer in the black hole, use the free trial period before committing yourself or before buying US iStore vouchers.
Buying iStore vouchers:
There are several ways of purchasing iStore vouchers over the internet. All of them will obviously make some amount of money out of these vouchers. Some of these providers are: iTunes Giftcards and iTunes Vouchers. I personally would buy them over eBay as this works out cheaper. When purchasing through eBay make sure that you buy from a reputable seller. The chap I buy from has a great rating ganq2000.
For a complete guide of Apple TV channels, click here.
And with this my dear oppressed friends from the dark hole, you can safely give DSTV the boot and save quite a bit of money.
Happy viewing,


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Ubiquinol: The Active CoQ10
By Holly Lucille, ND, RN
Coenzyme Q10 has gained enormous attention in recent years, and with good reason —it's the Energizer Bunny of the cellular world. This essential quinine molecule is found in the mitochondria of every single cell in the body, where it plays a key role in energy production. CoQ10 not only assists in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but also scavenges free radicals.1 To carry out these critical tasks, mitochondrial CoQ10 continuously cycles from ubiquinone, its ATP production state, to ubiquinol, its reduced active state.2
More than 4,000 published studies suggest that high CoQ10 levels are essential for optimal health — and this is especially true for the heart and brain. Since both of these organs require huge amounts of energy, supplementation can often help support their high biologic activity.2-3 Research shows that CoQ10 supplementation can improve energy production and extend cell life by enhancing cellular mitochondrial levels of CoQ10. In turn, this supports not only the heart and brain, but also periodontal, skin, reproductive, and immune health.4-9 However, before you advise patients to add CoQ10 to their daily routine, be aware that there's a catch to taking this multitalented nutrient in supplemental form.
Creating ATP inside the mitochondria is quite complicated and involves a series of biochemical reactions. Since the body cannot store ATP, this multi-step process — known as the electron transport chain — ensures that this critical energy source is continually replaced.1,10 Here's how it works: Ubiquinone contributes to ATP production by passing electrons from one enzyme complex to another, much like a bucket brigade.3 During this process, ubiquinone is converted to its reduced active state, ubiquinol.
Surprisingly, our mitochondria are the most important cellular source of free radicals.11 While most of the oxygen radicals generated by the mitochondria stay with its membrane folds, about 2 percent "escape" and create toxins that can threaten the health and survival of the entire cell.11-13 Ubiquinol is able to neutralize these free radicals, both within the mitochondria and the cell membrane itself.14
Free radicals are harmful to all cells, but especially to cells with high biologic activity such as those in the heart and brain. Fortunately the highest concentration of CoQ10, and subsequently ubiquinol, is naturally found in the cells that make up the cardiovascular and nervous systems — sites where free radicals can inflict significant damage.2-3, 14-15
The Need to Supplement
Unfortunately, the body's ability to complete the conversion from ubiquinone to ubiquinol wanes as we age. Since this may contribute to premature aging, supplementation may be warranted. During a recent experiment, results of which appeared in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, and which used an animal model of aging, researchers found that mice given ubiquinol experienced significantly healthier aging than those taking a standard CoQ10 supplement.16
Certain conditions, including type 2 diabetes, congestive heart failure and hepatitis, have also been linked to lower serum levels of ubiquinol, as has the use of some cholesterol-lowering medications. What's more, it's estimated that 30-50 percent of people have a genetic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) known as NAD(P)H:quinone oxicloreductase (NQO1). Individuals with this SNP have a reduced ability to convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol efficiently.17 Taken together, these factors clearly suggest that taking supplemental ubiquinol can benefit a large population of individuals.
Achieving optimal blood levels of CoQ10 can be challenging, however, since the nutrient is notoriously difficult to absorb.19 Taking supplemental ubiquinol not only solves this dilemma, but also does so using smaller doses. This was clearly shown in a group of congestive heart failure patients struggling to achieve adequate plasma CoQ10 levels with supplemental CoQ10, despite dosages of up to 900 mg/day.
During the study, conducted at the East Texas Medical Center and Trinity Mother Francis Hospital, all of the patients were switched from a standard CoQ10 supplement to an average daily dose of 580 mg of supplemental ubiquinol. Mean plasma CoQ10 levels increased from 1.6 microg/ml to 6.5 microg/ml. Mean ejection fraction also improved: from 22 percent to 39 percent. According to the researchers, ubiquinol dramatically improved absorption and plasma CoQ10 levels in patients with severe CHF. This, in turn, resulted in clinical improvement as well as improvement in the measurement of left ventricular function.20
The safety and bioavailability of ubiquinol have also been studied extensively over the past decade. Acute toxicity and safety studies, including genotoxicity, AMES, chromosome, and micronucleus testing, have confirmed its safety. During one placebo-controlled four-week study involving 15 healthy volunteers, daily doses of 150 mg and 300 mg were found to be safe and well-tolerated. A parallel study of 80 volunteers noted significant absorption of ubiquinol that resulted in dose-dependent, non-linear increases in serum concentrations over the course of four weeks.21
So, how much is enough? For patients over age 40 or anyone with chronic conditions linked to low CoQ10 levels, supplementing with 30-100 mg of ubiquinol daily is an exceptionally safe and effective way to raise serum levels. The generally recommend dose for those taking a statin drug or for patients with cardiovascular or neurological concerns is 100-200 mg daily, taken in divided doses.2-3 Because ubiquinol is fat-soluble, supplements should be taken with a meal containing some fat.
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CARSON, Calif. – As a child, Kofi Opare and his family crisscrossed the globe in search of a home and now the defender is hoping to find one in Southern California with the LA Galaxy.
Born in Ghana, Opare moved to South Africa as a child due to his mother's work as a physician. His mother's work would eventually take their family to the United States (New Jersey) and then across the border into Canada (Niagara Falls, Ontario) before he settled at University of Michigan.
The 22-year-old's journey brought him to Southern California in January with Opare being selected by the Galaxy with the 24th overall selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.
However, that Opare would become a professional soccer player is in large part due to his family's travels. During his time in South Africa, Opare grew up idolizing cricketers like Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar rather than the professional soccer players. But once he arrived in the United States, he quickly needed to change gears.
"Cricket was my first love. I did watch soccer and play it with my school team, but I didn't take it as seriously as I took cricket," said Opare, who was an accomplished batsman. "It wasn't until I moved to the U.S. that I started focusing on soccer and playing it more. I loved it."
While his childhood may not have been an orthodox one, the rookie believes that it helped him grow as a person.
"Being around different countries helped shape my perspectives of different cultures and different religions," said Opare. "I also believe that it helped me understand the different struggles that people have been going through in all parts of the world and how we can all relate."
Once Opare arrived in Ann Arbor, Mich., he immediately found a regular place in the Wolverines starting lineup and he held that spot for all four of his seasons with the maize and blue. During his time with Michigan, the highly touted prospect made a total of 76 appearances, tallying six goals and adding two assists while developing into a dangerous offensive target in the air on set pieces.
In his final season, the coach that recruited him from high school, Steve Burns, resigned from his post with former New England Revolution defender Chaka Daley taking over the reins. Although the defender dealt with a series of injuries in his only season under Daley's stewardship, the 22-year-old made quite the impression.
"He's a great person and an outstanding young man. I've got a lot of time for Kofi because I think that he's a great human being," said Daley. "He has his work cut out for him [with the Galaxy], but it's a great environment for him to challenge himself."
Opare is in for a challenge as he looks to lock down a roster spot in an already deep core of central defenders with the Galaxy that includes U.S. internationals Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza as well as 2012 rookie sensation Tommy Meyer and Brazilian veteran Leonardo. Few expect the rookie to start in his first season, but he is excited for the chance to learn from LA's talented center backs—especially Gonzalez.
"With Omar Gonzalez, he's one of the most experienced players on the team and he plays for national team. He definitely has the experience and can guide me or help me with being a pro on and off the field," said Opare. "Not only with him, but also there are guys like A.J. and Tommy are guys that I can look up to."
But the rookie admits that he's not just with the Galaxy to learn, he believes that he has the abilities to make an impact.
"As a center back, I'm a good header of the ball, I love to tackle and get stuck in and I love to throw my body weight around, but I'm also not a defender who will use that as a first resort," said Opare. "I try to use my ability to read the game and have that solve problems as opposed to being reactionary. I try to be cerebral as a center back and I try to keep the game as simple as possible."
Now that his journey has led him to The Home Depot Center, Opare is focusing on his new career with the Galaxy.
"I'm just happy to be a part of the LA Galaxy," said Opare. "Now I just want to contribute any way that I can to this organization."
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at email@example.com


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I have talked in the past about foods that are good for you such as fruits, vegetables, beans, oats, and others – all foods that do taste good, especially if you know how to prepare them or what to add them to, but still a hassle to prepare and eat for some. But today I am going to talk about another food that is good for you that we ALL love and will be happy to add to our diets – Chocolate!
Now, I must disclose that the health benefits I will be telling you about come from dark chocolate only. Milk chocolate contains very little benefits and white chocolate, which is not really even chocolate at all, contains no benefits. I personally really like dark chocolate and was delighted to learn that eating a few oz – a square or two – a day, is great for your health. If you really do prefer milk or white chocolate – don't worry, you don't have to give it up, just be sure to eat it in moderation.
Dark chocolate contains many antioxidants, even more than you would find in fruit, – which we all know are great for the body because they help reduce the risk of cancer and help to prevent some of the signs of aging on your skin. The antioxidants are known as flavonoids which provide great benefits to the heart, lowering blood pressure and your LDL cholesterol levels, and helping to prevent heart disease. Dark chocolate also contains serotonin which helps to boost your mood.
So, choose a good quality dark chocolate containing at least 65% dark cocoa solids and savor a small piece each day. Unfortunately you should not eat any more than that because chocolate is still quite high in calories and contains a lot of sugar. You know you want to help your body and skin look its best – so go pick some up now.