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Day 2 Rookie Camp Wrap
WILMINGTON, Mass. — On Friday after the first day of rookie camp, Bruins assistant general manager Jim Benning didn't shy away from the fact that 2011 second-round pick Alexander Khokhlachev showed up to July's development camp in less than desired condition.
The Russian winger today, after the second day of camp at Ristuccia Arena, echoed those sentiments and talked about how he got into better condition over the last couple months since he was last seen in a Bruins sweater.
"Yeah, for sure when I come to the first camp I was not really in good shape," he said after two hours of intense drills. "But the coaches and the trainers told me what I need to do so I just worked out and practiced in the summer, and just come in ready for this camp."
"Basically," he continued, "just more workouts and practice and eat all the right food."
You can read more about Khokhlachev in my story in tomorrow's Boston Herald.
•For tomorrow's Herald I also spoke with forward Carter Camper, who didn't attend development camp because of offseason hip surgery. He played through the pain all season last year with Miami University and then still played three games for the Bruins' Providence (AHL) farm club before shutting it down.
"I got through that. I was able to play all season and just kind of thinking about it I thought it would be a good experience just to go out there and get my feet wet," said Camper. "At that point, I'd played through it for seven months or something, so it was just another three games. I just had to do it, I guess."
I'll post a link to my Herald story tomorrow, which will include Camper's thoughts on playing in Boston after a couple Boston schools ruined his championship dreams in college.
•Defenseman Zach McKelvie has been a great story so far this camp, and well he should be. He hasn't played competitive hockey over the last two years while fulfilling his commitment to the Army after a sold four-season career at West Point. He tried to skate as often as he could while stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. So far, he hasn't shown much rust.
"He's a great skater. So he hasn't played competitive hockey in a couple years from college, but because he's such a great skater he moves well out there," said Benning. "And he's a competitive kid. His timing will be off a little bit to start, but once he gets his timing, I think he'll turn out to be a good player for us."
I'll have a story on McKelvie both in the Boston Herald and NHL.com coming up Sunday. We also talked about September 11 and what McKelvie did while at Fort Benning. I'll post the links when those story post.


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InFocus plans to launch a 55-inch touchscreen all-in-one PC running Windows 8. The large-format display solution is aimed at the education and healthcare markets as well as other digital signage solutions, according to the company.
The BigTouch, pictured here, is the second all-in-one PC developed by InFocus. In late 2011, the company released Mondopad, which runs Windows 7. Here's a closer look at what might be the largest all-in-one running Windows 8 on the market.

subset: commoncrawl


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After the U.S. Census released its data for 2012 U.S. income and poverty, The Economist called the numbers "both grim and unsurprising."
The rich were getting richer, the poor poorer and the unemployment numbers were stagnant.
Even though the country had added 2 million jobs, many states, especially in the South, continued to suffer. Mississippi's median household income, which is the amount of money earned by the household that falls exactly in the middle of the pack of all the other households, was nearly half that of the richest.
Childhood poverty is a big problem for states that are among the poorest. Many have a child poverty rate around 25 percent.
Even more grim is that in 2012, 46.5 million U.S. citizens lived below the poverty line, slightly more than in 2011. That's 15 percent of the country.
Click ahead to see which 10 states are the poorest, by median household income.
—By Tony Pierce, Special to CNBC.com
Posted 27 Sept 2013


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Chinese Officials Descend on Microsoft Offices
Visits Included Officials From State Administration of Industry & Commerce; Purpose Unclear
China is investigating Microsoft Corp., the company said on Monday, in the latest challenge in what has proved to be a difficult market for the software giant.
The Redmond, Wash., company said it was working with officials. "We aim to build products that deliver the features, security and reliability customers expect," Microsoft said. "We will actively cooperate with the government department's investigation and answer related questions."...


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NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) today announced the first $1 million research grants given to lupus investigators by a private research organization. The LRI Distinguished Innovator Initiative was created to address the current lack of treatments in development that could arrest or reverse the disease. The first privately funded awards of this scale in lupus, it challenges the international scientific community to pursue highly promising new ideas on the fundamental causes of lupus that can lead to a cure.
The two Distinguished Innovator recipients, Drs. Ann Marshak-Rothstein at University of Massachusetts Medical School and Greg Barton at University of California, Berkeley, independently zeroed in on one family of proteins called Toll-like receptors as key triggers of the body's devastating autoimmune attack on itself that characterizes lupus. Because TLR proteins are essential in fighting any infection, how the body loses control over their activity is a fundamental question in immunology. Finding the causes of lupus, the prototype for autoimmune disease research, could have broad implications across a wide range of illnesses affecting millions.
Which Toll-like receptor is responsible?
Dr. Marshak-Rothstein's research group was the first to propose that the TLRs could have a primary role in lupus by turning on the immune system to attack the body. Recent animal studies found that one TLR, TLR7, has a harmful role, while another, TLR9, has the opposite effect helping to protect against lupus.
Building on that work, Dr. Marshak-Rothstein is developing a highly innovative experimental approach to pinpoint which specific TLR is mainly to blame for causing lupus in humans. This experimental approach also promises to reveal new targets for therapies that could prevent or arrest lupus.
Dr. Marshak-Rothstein noted, "Support from the LRI will enable us to extend our analysis of the cell components recognized by TLRs in mice to TLR activation in human cell populations, and allow us to identify those patients most likely to respond to therapies directed at blocking specific TLRs."
Why Don't TLR's Harm Healthy People?
Also focusing on TLRs as prime suspects, Dr. Barton seeks to solve why TLRs cause a problem in people with lupus but not in healthy people. His work will determine if the reason the lupus immune system begins to attack its own DNA might lie with proteins inside immune cells whose job is to control TLR activity. Dr. Barton anticipates proving that lupus patients have defects in these control proteins that allow TLRs to mistakenly switch into action.
Dr. Barton's study seeks to pinpoint the earliest errors made by the lupus immune system and suggest new treatments to correct them. His investigations also have broad implications for autoimmune disease, infectious disease and beyond. The new knowledge generated by his work could even inform vaccine design against infectious diseases or cancer.
"In the last few years, we have started to learn how the immune system regulates TLRs," said Dr. Barton. "The next challenge, and the focus of our work, is to determine whether differences in these processes can explain why certain people develop lupus while others do not."
Stellar First Year for New Distinguished Innovator Award Initiative
The LRI received applications for the first privately funded $1 million grants from many of the world's most renowned scientists as well as rising young investigators with great promise for contributing their talent to uncovering the causes of lupus. Rigorous peer-review was conducted by a team of LRI's scientific advisors and 12 of the world's leading lupus experts.
"We were enormously impressed by the quality of the submissions and the two from Drs. Barton and Marshak-Rothstein stood out as offering the best possibilities for key insights," noted world-leading immunologist Dr. William Paul, LRI Scientific Advisory Board Chairman and National Academy of Sciences member. "With these Distinguished Innovator awards and existing annual Novel Research Grants, the LRI continues to pursue a strategy of funding the most innovative and novel research that has had unprecedented success in driving new answers in a complex disease state. Their work over the past decade has provided the basis for this transformative research initiative to look for the fundamental causes of lupus that can drive to a cure and the means to prevent lupus."
About Lupus
A complex autoimmune disease, lupus affects over 1.5-million Americans, primarily women.
About the Lupus Research Institute
The Lupus Research Institute (LRI), the world's leading private supporter of innovative research, pioneers discovery and champions scientific creativity to find solutions to lupus.
CONTACT: Margy Meislin, firstname.lastname@example.com, 212-685-4118Source:Lupus Research Institute


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"Our class cannot handle a double digital as it needs two strikes. Work out a solution that will handle options with multiple parameters".
In one of the earlier posts of the forum, mj mentioned that the "short solution" to this problem is to use an array instead of a double to pass an arbitrary number of parameter. I assume this applies to the PayoffFactory::CreatePayoff(ID,double) and PayoffHelper<T>::Create(double) methods, along with the CreatePayOffFunction function pointer type definition.
However, using an array instead of a double means that an additional constructor, taking an array of doubles as argument, needs to be implemented for each of the classes of the PayOff inheritance hierarchy that have been developed so far in the book. This in order to be compatible with this new representation.
And there are a few of them: call, put, double digital, forward...
Above the fact that we clearly violate the open-closed principle, the solution appears far from short in the end. Is it the right approach, or is there a more elegant way of proceeding with mj's suggestion?
Maybe there is simply something that I've missed.
Thanks for you help in advance.


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Re: The Quotable Thanissaro
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 9:26 am
With metta / dhammapal.Thanissaro Bhikkhu wrote:Every time you take a choice - at home, at work, at play - you are exercising your power in the on-going fashioning of the world. At the same time, this principle allows you to measure yourself in terms that are entirely under your control: your intentional actions in the present moment. In other words, they don't force you to measure yourself in terms of your looks, strength, brains, financial prowess, or any other criteria that depend less on your present karma than they do on karma from the past. Also, they don't play on feelings of guilt or force you to bemoan your past lapses. Instead, they focus your attention on the ever-present possibility of living up to your standards in the here and now.
From: The Healing Power of the Precepts by Thanissaro Bhikkhu


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Gonzalez carries Dodgers in sweep over Pirates
Los Angeles, CA – Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with four RBI and the Dodgers finished off a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 6-2 victory on Sunday.
Justin Sellers added a solo home run and Matt Kemp contributed a sacrifice fly for Los Angeles, which saw starter Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-1) pick the first win of his career.
The South Korean native struck out six and surrendered just two runs on three hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings of work.
The Pirates, who were shutout in the first two games of the set, managed only four hits. In his season debut, Jeff Locke (0-1) was tagged for four runs on eight hits over six frames.
"We've got work to do on offense," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "We've got to find a way to connect the dots for our offensive game better than we did here."
Andrew McCutchen hit Pittsburgh's first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first inning.
The Pirates had two hits in the opening frame, but had just two more the rest of the way.
Gonzalez's two-run single quickly knotted the score at 2-2 in the bottom half of the first. Matt Kemp doubled the at-bat prior and scored on the play, then put the Dodgers in front in the third when his sacrifice fly plated Carl Crawford.
Crawford doubled before scoring the go-ahead run and he got on base again in the fifth with a lead off single. Later in the inning, he came around to score on Gonzalez's base hit to left to put the Dodgers ahead 4-2.
Sellers opened with the seventh frame with a solo shot, and after Nick Punto and Kemp walked, Gonzalez delivered his fourth RBI on a single to right field to account for the final margin.
"He's one of the best first baseman in baseball," said Kemp of Gonzalez. "We're happy to have him on the team, a gold-glove first baseman that can hit really well."
Game Notes
The Dodgers have won 13 of the last 14 games against the Pirates ... Los Angeles was 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position ... The Pirates will head to Arizona for a three-game set starting Monday, while the Dodgers will travel to San Diego.


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An ancient saying tells us, "Where there's life, there's hope." The truth of that statement was demonstrated powerfully by an experience that two of our medical advisors at Priests for Life recently related to us.
Dr. Matthew Harrison had a visit from a 20-year old woman named Ashley. She was seven weeks pregnant, but she feared for the life of her baby – not because there was anything wrong with the pregnancy, but because, two days earlier, she had taken RU-486 at an abortion mill. Now, she had changed her mind about having the abortion and wanted to see if the baby could be saved!
The RU-486 process requires taking the drug itself (called mifiprex) at the abortion mill, and then taking a second drug (called cytotec or misoprostol) three days later on one's own. Ashley had taken the mifiprex, but had not yet taken the cytotec. Now in a small percentage of cases, the RU-486 will not kill the baby by itself. It's normal function, however, is to starve the unborn child by interfering with the working of progesterone. The RU-486 goes to the cells that receive the progesterone and block them, so that the real progesterone cannot do its work. This would be analogous to putting a counterfeit key into a keyhole so that it fits but cannot turn the lock to open the door. Meanwhile, the real key cannot go in. The cytotec, then, will induce contractions so that a dead baby is delivered.
Dr. Harrison had not faced such a situation before. Ashley told him that her boyfriend had pushed for the abortion. But after she took the RU-486, Ashley thought to herself, "O My God, what have I done?" She told her mother what had happened, and her mom called a local pregnancy center. The center then referred her to Dr. Harrison.
The doctor excused himself, went into another room, and prayed. He consulted a number of medical resources, and decided to give Ashley a progesterone treatment. With an extra dose of progesterone, he thought, maybe the effects of the counterfeit progesterone could be overcome. It was worth a try. This was not, however, without its risks, about which he clearly informed Ashley. He told her, first of all, that this effort might not work, and her baby might die anyway. He also told her that this effort might prolong the death process, or might bring additional complications to her or her child, or might even kill her. Ashley was courageous, and signed the consent form saying, "Whatever happens is in God's hands – I just pray that my baby will be OK."
She took the shot, and she began bleeding that weekend. But then the bleeding stopped, and with continued progesterone treatment by Dr. Harrison, the pregnancy continued normally. Dr. Daniel L. Holland, who is Dr. Harrison's partner, delivered a healthy baby girl named Kaylie – a survivor of an attempted RU-486 abortion!
It's easy to think it's "too late!" But where there's life, there's hope!


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Rubber (UK - BD RB)
Why does our Marcus love a movie about a killer tyre so much? No reason...
A rubber tyre wakes up in the middle of a desert. It rolls for a while enjoying the scenery and rolling around crushing a plastic bottle and a scorpion. However when it happens upon a glass bottle it can't crush it uses its psychokinetic abilities to destroy the glass bottle and then anything else it can't run over. And why? No reason.
From the moment I saw the trailer for Rubber I had to see it. Something about the absurdity of a rubber tyre on the rampage did it for me. I needed to see this movie. And when I did, I loved it. From the opening introduction from Lieutenant Chad (Stephen Spinella) explaining how movies and indeed life has so many things happen for "no reason" and how this movie is to celebrate the no reasons, I was hooked. Even the added weirdness of the crowd of spectators watching the movie unfold through binoculars didn't faze me, this is exactly my sort of weird and with the answer to any questions the movie throws at you being "no reason" Rubber was off and running and director Quentin Dupieux had my attention.
I know it's stupid and it may be my fondness for stuff like Herbie or even Mr Wilson in Castaway but I like the character Dupieux gets out of this simple rubber tyre. I like the simple nature of why it gets so pissed off with the world around it. I like seeing the faceless, worn out old tyre get angry, or watch the TV, or follow a girl around. It puts a grin on my face and with a very short run time of eighty-two minutes the weirdness never outstays its welcome, especially considering how much more weirdness goes along with the tyre.
Every scene with Lieutenant Chad is a joy. His explanation of this all being a movie to a group of cops was fantastic. His performance is so much fun and he really reminded me of someone Quentin Tarantino would utilise well. On top of that you have the unfolding insanity with the spectators watching from afar via binoculars, commenting on what we too are seeing and going through a whole series of odd situations that adds even more to the overall oddness that is Rubber.
Of course this isn't going to be for everyone. Odd stuff like this never is. In fact for those of you out there who have seen it and enjoyed it, you'll know how hard it is to even get past two or three sentences when trying to describe the movie to someone before you sound like you're losing your mind. When I was talking to a friend about Rubber just after I saw it, he couldn't work out how I thought a movie that I described as " Independence Day mixed with Black Hawk Down" ( Battle: L.A. – I'd seen it the same weekend) was super dull but a movie about a killer tyre was "frickin' awesome!!".
Rubber is an acquired taste but if you go in with an open mind and the willingness to write off all the absurd events to happening for "no reason" there's plenty to enjoy here.
Shot digitally, Rubber has a bright clean look to the image but it lacks the real colourful glow HD can provide. The details can sometimes appear a little soft in places but there are a handful of scenes that show off a little more. The close ups on the viewer in the wheelchair capture every grain of his beard and some of the close shots of the sandy backdrop can look fantastic, especially when captured in the right light.
Rubber generally looks good throughout but on closer inspection it's got its issues. Some edges are a little jagged, softness is iffier the more you look for it and depending on the light source, scenes can differ quite a bit. That said it's a very small movie about a killer tyre and when compared to a lot of other independent movies Rubber looks bloody great with its simple set up.
The DTS-HD 5.1 track does a lot to make Rubber feel bigger than it is. The sound effect for the angry tyre's powers kicking off really fills out the speakers and some of the music adds to that too.
Dialogue is strong and quite central and a lot of the time it's all that there is to listen to (besides the roll of the tyre). It's a simple track but it does what it needs to well enough and there's no obvious issues with it at all.
The Interviews with Quentin Dupieux (08:33 HD), Stephen Spinella (04:06 HD), Jack Plotnick (06:42 HD) and Roxane Mesquida (03:28 HD) are fairly flimsy and Dupieux's is about as odd as the film itself. Interviews conducted by a blow up doll and with Dupieux's answers played in reverse (and in French) are quirky fun but not really all that informative.
The 'Teaser Test' (00:47 HD) is a number of shots of the tyre rolling (an element of the film I found consistently intriguing because the illusion is a solid one in the final product).
Lastly there's the fantastic trailer (01:29 HD) which just made me want to watch the movie again.
I love Rubber loads. It's is so deliciously off track I couldn't help but adore it. I love every element of the insane eighty-two minutes and I'm intrigued to see where Quentin Dupieux goes next.
It's certainly not a movie for everyone, in fact I doubt many will have the patience but for those of you who want something weird in your life, something odd and spectacular and full of moments to put a grin on your face, Rubber really is the place to come and remember you don't have to have a reason to like it, just be ready to sound like a maniac when you try to explain to other people why you do.
* Note: The images below are taken from the Blu-ray release and resized for the page. Full-resolution captures are available by clicking individual images, but due to .jpg compression they are not necessarily representative of the quality of the transfer.
Review by Marcus Doidge
hogaburger Contributor Join Date: April 2007 Location: United States Posts: 1,153
This one is still playing at a theater 10 minutes away from me once a day. I really should go check it out. The US trailer had me in stitches.
Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over
Disc Details
Release Date: 11th April 2011
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 1.78:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English, LPCM Stereo 2.0 English
Subtitles: English
Extras: Interviews, Test Footage, Trailer
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Quentin Dupieux
Cast: A Tyre, Stephen Spinella, Roxane Mesquida
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Romance and Thriller
Length: 82 minutes
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When the HADB database is created, specify the number, and size of each data device. These devices must have room for all the user data to be stored. In addition, allocate extra space to account for internal overhead as discussed in the following section.
If the database runs out of device space, the HADB returns error codes 4593 or 4592 to the Enterprise Server.
See Sun Java System Application Server Error Message Reference for more information on these error messages.
HADB also writes these error messages to history files. In this case, HADB blocks any client requests to insert, or update data. However, it will accept delete operations.
HADB stores session states as binary data. It serializes the session state and stores it as a BLOB (binary large object). It splits each BLOB into chunks of approximately 7KB each and stores each chunk as a database row (context row is synonymous with tuple, or record) in pages of 16KB.
There is some small memory overhead for each row (approximately 30 bytes). With the most compact allocation of rows (BLOB chunks), two rows are stored in a page. Internal fragmentation can result in each page containing only one row. On average, 50% of each page contains user data.
For availability in case of node failure, HADB always replicates user data. An HADB node stores its own data, plus a copy of the data from its mirror node. Hence, all data is stored twice. Since 50% of the space on a node is user data (on average), and each node is mirrored, the data devices must have space for at least four times the volume of the user data.
In the case of data refragmentation, HADB keeps both the old and the new versions of a table while the refragmentation operation is running. All application requests are performed on the old table while the new table is being created. Assuming that the database is primarily used for one huge table containing BLOB data for session states, this means the device space requirement must be multiplied by another factor of two. Consequently, if you add nodes to a running database, and want to refragment the data to use all nodes, you must have eight times the volume of user data available.
Additionally, you must also account for the device space that HADB reserves for its internal use (four times that of the LogBufferSize). HADB uses this disk space for temporary storage of the log buffer during high load conditions.


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Dallas scores four in the third, surges past Kings
Dallas, TX – Ray Whitney scored twice in a big third period that led the Dallas Stars to a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
Vernon Fiddler also had two goals and added an assist, while Alex Goligoski scored once for the Stars, who struck four times in the final frame en route to their third straight victory.
Dallas starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury after allowing one goal on eight shots. Richard Bachman stopped all 22 shots in relief.
"Solid. Real solid," said Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan on the play of Bachman. "You could see his rebound control and his confidence. He's out in his crease. He hasn't played for a while, so it's a good one for him."
It was a big two points for Dallas, as the team now has 41 on the season and sits two back of Detroit for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Drew Doughty had the lone goal of the game for the Kings, who have dropped their past two. Jonathan Quick allowed all five goals on 31 shots in the loss.
"We turned the puck over pretty regularly tonight," said Kings coach Darryl Sutter. "Eventually they got us."
The Kings sit in fourth place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of San Jose.
The score was tied at 1-1 after two periods, but Dallas took the lead just 52 seconds into the third after Alex Chiasson fed the puck from the left circle to the slot, where Whitney wristed it over the glove of Quick.
A little over seven minutes later, the Stars made it a 3-1 contest after a bad clear was picked up at the right point and Stephane Robidas' slap shot was tipped in by Fiddler.
Loui Eriksson set up Whitney with a turnaround pass from the right side for an easy goal with 8:54 to play, and Fiddler put the exclamation point on the win three-plus minutes later with his third of the year.
Doughty got the Kings' only goal of the game just 1:13 in on the power play, but Dallas countered 10 minutes later with Goligoski's second of the season.
Game Notes
The team announced after the game that Lehtonen will be re-evaluated on Wednesday ... Los Angeles went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Dallas was 0-for-4 ... Dallas plays in Nashville on Friday ... Los Angeles hosts Colorado on Thursday ... The Stars have taken three of four from the Kings this season and the teams will meet one more time, on April 21 in Los Angeles.


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Mozilla, the company behind Firefox, has announced that a version of their web browser is now available for download and features optimization for Windows 8 tablets. It is important to note that the download is a preview and may contain bugs alongside its enhancements. This is after we learned that the company would be delaying the release until 2014.
The new preview is codenamed "Aurora" and supports Firefox Sync along with "Windows 8 touch and swipe gestures, snapped and full views, and Windows Share integration". The browser continues to use the Gecko engine to render webpages when browsing. The Gecko engine has support for WebGL, asm.js, hardware accelerated HTML5 multimedia and more.
If you want to test out the browser, download it here from Mozilla's website. Next, make sure to set Firefox Aurora as your default browser and pin it to your Start screen.
Have fun testing out Firefox for Windows 8 and if you find any bugs, you can submit them to Mozilla by clicking here.


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Status Report of U.S. Government Gold Reserve
Report as of: May 31, 2017
Book Value: The Department of the Treasury records U.S. Government owned gold reserve at the values stated in 31 USC § 5116-5117 (statutory rate) which is $42.2222 per Fine Troy Ounce of gold. The market value of the gold reserves based on the London Gold Fixing as of September 30, 2016 was $345.8 billion.
Deep Storage: That portion of the U.S.Government-owned gold bullion reserve which the Mint secures in sealed vaults that are examined annually by the Treasury Department's Office of the Inspector General and consists primarily of gold bars.
Working Stock: That portion of the U.S. Government gold reserve which the Mint uses as the raw material for minting congressionally authorized coins and consists of bars, blanks, unsold coins and condemned coins.
The gold reserve held by the Department of the Treasury is partially offset by a liability for gold certificates issued to the Federal Reserve Banks at the statutory rate, which Treasury may redeem at any time.


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March 17, 2016 to February 17, 2017 – chennai tamilnadu Local Packers And Movers Chennai promise for the simple change not including you in any procedure aside from allowing authorizations for the same. Yes, in today's era Packers And Movers ramanathapur… Organized by shikha varma | Type: packers, movers, household, shifting
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It is possible that the main title of the report Leprosy is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease of humans caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. For many years, it was considered a mysterious disorder associated with some type of curse, and persons with the disease were isolated and ostracized. Today, there is effective treatment and the disease can be cured. There is no longer any justification for isolating persons with leprosy.
The disease can affect the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes and some of the nerves that are located outside the central nervous system (peripheral nerves). These are primarily the nerves of the hands, feet, and eyes, and some of the nerves in the skin. In severe, untreated cases, loss of sensation, muscle paralysis of hands and feet, disfigurement, and blindness may occur.
Leprosy has traditionally been classified into two major types, tuberculoid and lepromatous. Patients with tuberculoid leprosy have limited disease and relatively few bacteria in the skin and nerves, while lepromatous patients have widespread disease and large numbers of bacteria. Tuberculoid leprosy is characterized by a few flat or slightly raised skin lesions of various sizes that are typically pale or slightly red, dry, hairless, and numb to touch (anesthetic). Lepromatous leprosy is at the other end of the spectrum, with a much more generalized disease, diffuse involvement of the skin, thickening of many peripheral nerves, and at times involvement of other organs, such as eyes, nose, testicles, and bone. There are also intermediate subtypes between these two extremes that are commonly known as borderline leprosy. The intermediate subtypes are borderline tuberculoid, midborderline, and borderline lepromatous leprosy. Borderline leprosy and the subtypes are characterized by more extensive disease than polar tuberculoid, with more numerous skin lesions and more nerve involvement, but not as widespread disease as in lepromatous leprosy. Indeterminate leprosy refers to a very early form of leprosy that consists of a single skin lesion with slightly diminished sensation to touch. It will usually progress to one of the major types of leprosy.
In 1982, the World Health Organization proposed a simplified classification that has only two classifications, Paucibacillary (PB) and Multibacillary (MB), leprosy. This classification is now used worldwide for treatment purposes. The older and somewhat more complex classification is still used in some programs, especially for clinical research studies. The Paucibacillary classification encompasses indeterminate, tuberculoid and borderline tuberculoid leprosy. The Multibacillary classification includes midborderline, borderline lepromatous and lepromatous leprosy.
American Leprosy Missions
1 ALM Way
Greenville, SC 29601
Tel: (864)271-7040
Fax: (864)271-7062
Tel: (800)543-3135
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.leprosy.org
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel: (404)639-3534
Tel: (800)232-4636
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/
National Hansen's Disease Programs
1770 Physicians Park Dr
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Tel: (800)642-2477
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.hrsa.gov/hansens/
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Office of Communications and Government Relations
6610 Rockledge Drive, MSC 6612
Bethesda, MD 20892-6612
Tel: (301)496-5717
Fax: (301)402-3573
Tel: (866)284-4107
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
Leonard Wood Memorial American Leprosy Foundation deleted
120 Broadus Avenue
Greenville, SC 29601
Fax: 8642411755
Tel: 8772411736
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.leonardwoodmemorial.org/index.html
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
Email: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
University of Chicago
5841 South Maryland Ave, MC 2030
Chicago, IL 60637
Tel: (773)702-5659
Fax: (773)702-5577
Internet: http://millercenter.uchicago.edu
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Last Updated: 4/8/2009
Copyright 1986, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2007, 2009 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.


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Departmental Website
Student will complete a course on careers in Kinesiology and a course on structural kinesiology, the study of muscles and movement. Teacher certification students will complete both lecture and activity classes to provide them with knowledge and experience in physical education for all grade levels. An interest in sports, coaching, and fitness would be important for students in this major. The Kinesiology and Sports Studies Department has outstanding faculty who have real-world experience and stay current and active in their field. The faculty involve students in research activities and have a genuine interest in the students success.
Hours Required
Graduate Degree Opportunities After Graduation
Pedagogy, Sport Administration, Exercise Science
Course Catalog Listing
Typical Starting Positions
Physical Education Teacher, Coach


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An aerial shot of Worthy View at Glastonbury 2013, Philip Waite Photography
Following its successful debut in in 2013, Glastonbury Festival's official campsite – Worthy View – will return for the 2014 festival to offer a variety of accommodation options, including British-made traditional scout tents, bell tents, tipi tents and small yurts.
The Worthy View campsite looks out over the Festival site and is a great spot for people to wander down into the Festival, and then retreat back up to a quieter campsite, with their tents ready and waiting for them. Worthy View offers its own facilities including toilets and showers, plus catering. Guests at Worthy View are also able to park their cars in the Worthy View carpark, which is adjacent to the accommodation.
Worthy View accommodation will go on sale at 12 noon on Monday, 4th November from See Tickets. For more information about the new campsite – including prices, how to book and details of our new accommodation options for 2014 – check out the Worthy View Page.
Please note that as a consequence of repeated problems with off-site camping facilities at Glastonbury not run by the Festival and out of our control, we no longer give out any information about unofficial off-site accommodation providers and would encourage Festival-goers to use only the official accommodation we provide. We are therefore NOT responsible for third party sites, so please be very cautious before parting with money to these unknown, unofficial campsite providers.


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I'm bringing you a simple recipe for croutons that are made by pan-frying little pieces of pizza dough and tossing them in Parmesan cheese. While the method is simple the outcome is not. I taste tested
one three before adding them to my salad and was quite tempted to eat them all straight away – one right after the other. The heck with the salad! These are extremely addicting! Make extra!
The recipe comes from one of the newer shows on Food Network called Five Ingredient Fix. As soon as I saw what the host, Clarie Robinson was up to I knew these were in my very near future. Cheesy little bites of lightly fried dough? Who can resist? And why would you want to? Claire served hers in a salad dressed lightly with lemon and olive oil that she calls Caesar salad. Where she is limited to five ingredients I am not. I served mine with my Mock Caesar Salad; a knock-off of the traditional dressing using mayo in place of egg and Worcestershire or fish sauce in place of anchovies.
I didn't give set amounts because you can really make as little or as many as you'd like. This is more of a method than a recipe. I broke off a small piece of dough while making pizza and saved it to make these another night. I do suggest that you have the salad ready before frying up the croutons. They are best served warm. And if the salad isn't ready when the croutons are there may not be any croutons left! I'm pretty sure these would be good with any type of salad or dressing. They also make a great appetizer or snack. And are very versatile. I will be playing around with seasonings and different cheese(s).
These really add a little something extra to an everyday salad. I loved them warm with the contrast of the cold salad. They truly are little puffy bites of heaven that melt-in-your mouth. Salty, crusty and totally delicious. Make some today.
Pizza Dough Croutons
(adapted from Food Network)
Pizza Dough
Fresh Parmesan, grated*
Vegetable/Canola oil
3 or 4 garlic cloves, whole,peeled
1. Cut the pizza dough into little rectangles or roll into balls. They will puff up bigger as they cook so cut them a little smaller than you want them to be. Add the Parmesan cheese to a medium size bowl.
2. In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet add about 1/4-inch of oil. Heat on medium-low heat, add garlic cloves and saute.
3. Test oil by frying one piece of dough – the oil should get bubbly around the dough. If not turn heat up to medium. Fry the dough turning until all sides are browned. Drain on paper towels and then add to bowl with Parmesan while still warm. Serve with your favorite salad.
*I used a 1/4 cup for 15 croutons.
Mock Caesar Salad Dressing
(by Reeni)
1 tablespoon Mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed Lemon juice
2 teaspoons Worcestershire or Fish Sauce
2 Garlic cloves, finely minced
1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
1/2 cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for shaving/sprinkling over top
Sea/Kosher salt and fresh Pepper
Pizza Dough Croutons
By Hand:
1. In a small mixing bowl whisk together the Mayonnaise, Lemon Juice, Worcestershire, Garlic, and Mustard until well combined.
2. Stream in the oil while whisking and continue whisking for a minute or two.
3. Stir in Parmesan. Taste and adjust to suit your own taste by adding more Garlic, Lemon Juice, Worcestershire, or Mayonnaise for a creamier finish. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Toss with Romaine hearts, additional Parmesan, Croutons, and slices of Parmesan Chicken.
In a Food Processor:
1. To the bowl of a food processor add the Mayonnaise, Lemon Juice, Worcestershire, Garlic, and Mustard. Pulse until well creamy and well combined.
2. Stream in the oil while pulsing. Pulse until well emulsified.
3. Taste and adjust to your own tastes by adding more Garlic, Lemon Juice, Worcestershire or Mayonnaise for a creamier finish.
4. Stir in Parmesan cheese, taste and season with salt and pepper.
5. Toss with Romaine hearts, additional Parmesan, croutons, and slices of Parmesan Chicken.
I'm taking your side dishes for the Showdown! Add your links to the bottom of the post HERE.
Do you love burgers? Join us and rate Katie Lee's Award Winning Logan County 'Grilled Cheese' Burger. Find out the details/ get the recipe and add your link to the bottom of the post HERE.
I also want to tell you about a new site to visit called Foodierama.
I'm linking this to Chaya of My Sweet and Savory for her Meatless Monday round-up.
foodie_views_link_url = 'BLOG_POST_URL';


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
"Dancing with the Stars" will be the first primetime show to integrate Facebook's new social media tools on network television during the season premiere tonight
ABC and Facebook are partnering to bring real-time social conversations to the television screen, as ABC will be the first entertainment network to integrate Facebook's newest tools for broadcast partners on primetime television with the season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" tonight at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Facebook will bring the conversations already taking place about "Dancing with the Stars" online to the TV screen by enabling the audience to see how many people on Facebook are talking about the contestants, where the couples are generating the most buzz, whether the pairing are more popular among males or females, and where the teams' fans live. Real-time conversations about the show from Facebook users will be displayed during the broadcast.
"Being the first entertainment partner to leverage this new technology exhibits our commitment to producing the best live experience possible," said Marla Provencio, EVP and chief marketing officer for ABC Entertainment Group. "We are always looking for ways to innovate and engage our loyal fan base, and feel 'Dancing with the Stars' in particular is the perfect fit to kick off this new initiative."
Added Nick Grudin, director of partnerships at Facebook, "Debuting with 'Dancing with the Stars' as our first entertainment partner is a natural fit. From cheering for their favorite contestants to debating judging decisions, the show drives passionate conversation from viewers. Now the TV audience will get a real-time snapshot of the social discourse across the nation."
The new season of "Dancing with the Stars" will feature celebrities Elizabeth Berkley, Corbin Bleu, Brant Daugherty, Bill Engvall, Valerie Harper, Keyshawn Johnson, Christina Milian, Bill Nye, Jack Osbourne, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Leah Remini and Amber Riley.


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A paparazzo has filed a police report against Demi Moore after she allegedly lashed out at the snapper following a trip to a nail salon in Los Angeles on Friday.
The angry star reportedly lost her temper with the photographer when approached for a picture and is said to have shouted obscenities at him before reportedly lunging at his camera.
The snapper later said, "Demi was crazy; she was totally losing it. I was just standing on the sidewalk, trying to get a few shots of her and she was going completely mad. She tried to jump on me and swipe my camera."
Now the unidentified photographer has filed a battery report over the incident, according to TMZ.com.
Moore had not commented on the allegations as WENN went to press.


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The micro-compact home is a 2.65m² aluminium cubic pod, which is influenced by traditional Japanese tea-house architecture. It has been designed for short-stay smart living and is suitable for a variety of locations, providing sophisticated compact accommodation for business or leisure use. The slick aluminium cuboid pod integrates sound, flat-screen, communication and energy systems and requires no furniture.
A case study 'village' of seven m-chs sponsored by 02, has been inhabited by six students who moved into the village in November, alongside their British professor, Richard Horden.
The prototype will be showcased at this year's Grand Designs Live exhibition, at ExCel in Docklands, 2-4 June, then in Berkley Square, W1, a stones throw from Horden Cherry Lee's studio from 6-10 June 2006.
The m-ch is available to purchase in Europe with a retail guide price of £50,000.
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Senior Interior Designer - London
Revit Architectural Technologists
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Download How to Draw A Moonbot Instructions
Select a video by clicking button, then press play.
A true luminary and creative spirit, William Joyce has put his personal stamp on all types of children's media. He wrote his first book in the fourth grade, and has since produced many award-winning, best-selling classics that are loved by both children and adults. His picture books include George Shrinks, Santa Calls, Dinosaur Bob and his Adventures with the Family Lazardo, The Leaf Men and The Brave Good Bugs, A Day with Wilbur Robinson, Bently & Egg, and the Rolie Polie Olie series, which has grown into a popular animated children's program, earning Joyce three Emmy awards.
Hailed by Newsweek as one of the top 100 people to watch in the new millennium, William Joyce's distinct and striking drawings and imaginative story telling depict a world full of whimsy, fun, and adventure. He has lent his creative expertise to the
feature film world by creating conceptual characters for such films as Toy Story and A Bug's Life. Joyce's second television
series, George Shrinks, aired daily on PBS stations across the country. He was also the producer and production designer for
the critically acclaimed animated feature film Robots and was the executive producer of the Disney Feature Animation film Meet
the Robinsons, which is based on his picture book, A Day with Wilbur Robinson.
Joyce is currently co-directing the DreamWorks Animation release of Rise of the Guardiansin theaters November 21, 2012inspired by his new book series The Guardians of Childhood.
He is also the writer, producer and production designer on the Fox Studios feature film, The Leaf Men, based on his book
Leaf Men and The Brave Good Bugs.
In addition to being a recognized figure in the world of children/s literature and animated films, Joyce's illustrations
have appeared numerous times on the cover of The New Yorker and his paintings are displayed at museums and art galleries
across the nation. And, he has entered the world of interactive digital media with the app The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr.
Morris Lessmore, which is also an award-winning short film.
William Joyce lives in Shreveport, Louisiana, with his lovely wife, Elizabeth, and their family. The Man in the Moon, the first picture book in the Guardians of Childhood series, marks his return to the world of children's books. The Guardians also appear in the following books in the bestselling series from Atheneum Books for Young Readers: Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core!, The Tooth Fairy: The Guardians Book 3 and the forthcoming picture book The Sandman: The Story of Sanderson ManSnoozie.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers Illustrations Copyright William Joyce 2011. Rise of the GuardiansTM & Copyright 2011 DreamWorks Animation, L.L.C. "Sand Man" and "Pitch" character designs used with permission. All rights reserved.


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It is possible that the main title of the report Pityriasis Rosea is not the name you expected.
Pityriasis rosea is a relatively mild skin disorder characterized by a salmon or pink colored, scaly rash. Pityriasis rosea most often affects children and young adults. In many individuals with pityriasis rosea, the characteristic rash develops after vague, nonspecific symptoms that resemble those associated with an upper respiratory infection. The rash is usually located on the back, chest and stomach and resolves on its own within one to three months. Certain treatments may reduce the duration of the rash. Researchers believe that pityriasis rosea is caused by an infectious pathogen, but they have been unable to isolate and identify such a pathogen.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel: (404)639-3534
Tel: (800)232-4636
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/
NIH/NationaI Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Information Clearinghouse
One AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
Tel: (301)495-4484
Fax: (301)718-6366
Tel: (877)226-4267
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.niams.nih.gov/
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Office of Communications and Government Relations
6610 Rockledge Drive, MSC 6612
Bethesda, MD 20892-6612
Tel: (301)496-5717
Fax: (301)402-3573
Tel: (866)284-4107
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email email@example.com
Last Updated: 10/30/2009
Copyright 2009 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.


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The Chicago-Kent Journal of International & Comparative Law will be holding an informational meeting on Tuesday September 13, 2011 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in room 370. An additional meeting for students who cannot attend the day division meeting will be held on the same day from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in room 590. We will be discussing what involvement in the journal entails, as well as details of the editing test. 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are eligible to join the journal. Refreshments will be served!
If you cannot attend either of the meetings but are interested in taking the editing test, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com (with "JICL editing test" in the subject line) by Monday September 13, 2011.
.: Main Chicago-Kent event calendar
.: Academic calendar
.: CLE calendar
.: Alumni event calendar
.: Admissions calendar


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The Real Effects of Corporate Political Contributions
Corporate political donations have a long tradition in this country, but no one has ever examined the correlation between the practice and what insights it offers about the donating companies.
Corporate political donations have a long tradition in this country. Companies typically donate with the hope (and perhaps) expectation that their largesse will pay off in some form.
Thanks to the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that lifted restrictions on the dollar amounts that businesses can donate, the issue has achieved hot potato status of late. But no one has ever examined the correlation between the practice and what insights it offers about the donating companies. Until now.
Carlson School Professors Rajesh Aggarwal and Tracy Wang recently reviewed the effects of corporate political donations. Using data from 1991 to 2004, they looked at 1,381 companies that donated money to political campaigns.
The results were eye-opening. "We examined the relationship between yearly campaign contributions (from corporate treasury, previously known as soft-money donation) and subsequent shareholder returns and found a significantly negative association between the two," says Wang. "In terms of magnitude, every $10,000 of soft-money campaign contribution is associated with a decrease of 7 basis points in shareholders' risk-adjusted returns."
The researchers offer several reasons for those less-than-stellar results. One factor: Companies that donate directly from corporate funds are often large, slowly growing operations that have free cash flow, but which also place relatively little emphasis on R&D and investment spending. Heavy political contributors also tend to make more--and worse--acquisitions than their counterparts that don't donate.
Finally, if shareholders aren't benefitting, who is? Corporate managers. As the study notes, the "results support the view that lack of transparency allows donations to function as a form of private benefits for managers."
"Shareholders need to demand more information about corporate political donations, especially after the Citizens United ruling" says Wang, referring to the 2010 Supreme Court decision that lifted limits on political giving by corporations and unions. "Managers now have lots of discretion in using corporate resources for political activities."
"Corporate Political Contributions: Investment or Agency?"
R. Aggarwal, et al, Business and Politics, Volume 14, Issue 1 (2011)


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Seasoned pro Allan Sindelar shares his approach to designing high-performance off-grid systems: what works, what doesn't, and how to select a top-notch installer.
Just a few years ago, most solar installers specialized in off-grid systems, for homes beyond the utility lines. Now, most new solar companies only do grid-tied systems because the largest customer growth has been with residences and businesses with access to the electric grid.
But the two system types are very different, and the skills needed to design, install, and support the two are likewise distinct. Off-grid knowledge is gained through lengthy experience, and many newer solar companies (and those serving only urban markets) simply don't offer off-grid services. If you're considering an off-grid RE system, here's what you need to know to successfully hire a pro.
Working with an off-grid installer is akin to entering a long-term relationship, and it does not end with the installation. Depending on your technical skills, you may need your installer to guide you through the system's long-term care, and you may need to call on your installer when problems arise. You will want to feel confident that your installer will support you and your system for years to come.
A good designer-installer will generally start with an initial conversation, either in person or by telephone. Answers to these questions are important to the design process:
Besides providing a good initial profile of what you are seeking, and at what level of technical detail your designer should address your questions, a seasoned off-grid installer often hears more "between the lines" than is verbalized. They can often sense (and answer) the questions you don't yet know to ask, and may even nudge you to revisit the idea of grid connection, if they feel you don't have a realistic picture of the responsibilities involved in maintaining an off-grid system. Don't be offended—you would save money and effort by discovering this early in the process. (Note: While there are no monthly electric bills, off-grid living is seldom cheaper than utility power, as amortized battery replacement costs often match utility charges.)
Depending on the property's location, an installer may also assess your reasons for wanting to live off the grid, and how feasible that might be for you. If you have not yet settled on a property, they may advise you of some things to consider when looking for your site, such as a building site with unfettered solar access (see "Shopping for Off-Grid Property," previous page).
Most installers do not charge for an initial consultation, which usually lasts about an hour. Think of it as a "mutual employment interview"—at its conclusion, you and your installer will have a pretty good sense of your compatibility, and will decide together whether to move on to the next steps in the design process.
A load analysis is the next essential step in the off-grid design process, providing the hard data necessary to build a system that will efficiently meet your energy demands.
You must provide your designer with a comprehensive list of everything you expect to power in your off-grid home—that means every light, appliance, and mechanical component, big and small. The expected power consumption of these loads and hours of use are summed and averaged to estimate daily energy consumption. This becomes the basis for the system size and design. (For more information, see "Getting Started with RE: Professional Load Analysis and Site Survey" in HP120.)
Most PV system installers or dealers use spreadsheets or fill-in-the-blank forms to walk clients through the process. Besides paper calculations, consider purchasing an inexpensive watt meter that measures power use and energy consumption.
For system designers, a load analysis serves four purposes:
For the client, a fifth benefit arises that is the most important of all—a valuable self-education process. Most of us who live with utility power take energy availability for granted. We use it as needed and pay the bill each month, and we have had little reason to assess our energy use. Doing a load analysis can be an eye-opening activity, since some folks are quantifying their energy use for the first time and may need to reevaluate whether their energy habits are compatible with off-grid living. Additionally, even if the client decides to stay on the grid, they are now armed with information on how to reduce monthly energy bills, which with minimal or no investment can save on future energy bills and reduce the home's environmental footprint.
Load analysis is a rigorous and time-consuming process, but necessary. By establishing clear expectations of your solar electricity demands, you are far more likely to be satisfied with the final product and can better understand your system's limitations.
Good wind and hydro sites are rare—for most folks, their off-grid resource defaults to the sun. (To simplify the discussion, that's what we'll focus on, although some off-grid folks will implement hybrid systems to meet their energy needs.) Off-grid PV systems can cost as little as $3,000 or more than $100,000. Big or small, the design and education processes are generally the same.
Most clients initiate the budget conversation by asking for ballpark figures. They'll ask what they think is a seemingly straightforward question, like "How much would it cost to power a 2,000-square-foot home?" What they don't realize is that the size of the home is nearly irrelevant to the question being asked. Two homes of the same size can have electrical needs that differ by a factor of five or more, since a home's energy use is largely dependent on how the occupants use it.
An off-grid system's cost can vary greatly depending on the loads, lifestyle, and budget of the customer, and what renewable resources are available. A typical modern, full-featured, code-compliant off-grid solar-electric system for a customer who has properly reduced loads has at least a 1 to 1.5 kW PV array and a battery with three days of storage capacity. A system that size can cost between $15,000 and $25,000, including all components, design, labor, and support. It usually excludes appliances and a backup generator, carpentry, excavation, and concrete work, as these are usually best done by you or by another tradesperson at lower cost. Generally, wiring only includes connection to the home's breaker panel—PV installers usually don't install conventional household wiring.
If the budget exceeds your out-of-pocket expectations, your installer may be able to advise you of financing resources that others have used successfully (see "How to Finance Your Renewable Energy Home" in HP103). Federal tax credits of 30% for residential solar and 30% for efficiency upgrades apply equally to grid-tied and off-grid systems. While some incentives apply only to homes with utility power, many states offer incentives and tax credits, and few distinguish between the two system types (see www.dsireusa.org). A good installer will explain available incentives and guide you through the application process, as well as pull permits and secure inspections.
Once your installer has a general idea of your loads, lifestyle, and budget, a site visit is next. Survey tools are used to determine one or more possible sites for your RE system. The installer will also measure conduit and wire runs, select a location for equipment and batteries, look for potential pitfalls to avoid, locate your water well, plan for a backup generator, and formulate a general plan for the installation.
Next, the installer will design the power system. Most will already have a good idea of what components will be used in your system—the bulk of the design process involves performing sizing calculations, resolving specific issues, and working through the various design subtleties. Your designer will let you know if your budget isn't adequate to cover the system you'll need to meet your loads. Once such issues are resolved, your installer will prepare a proposal for you. It will likely include component descriptions, an estimate of expected performance, inclusions and exclusions, estimated price, and terms of payment. Knowing your desired budget range will help your installer keep the proposal in line with what you can afford.
Because of the legwork involved and the custom nature of off-grid system design, most installers won't provide "free estimates"—after all, you are purchasing their knowledge and experience, as much as the equipment. You may expect the design process to make up 2 to 5% of the overall system cost—that's $400 to $1,000 on a $20,000 system. Some will credit part or all of this fee if you buy the system.
Many experienced installers will refuse to install equipment purchased elsewhere, such as from an Internet retailer. Why? The installer would lose control over design and equipment specifics, yet still be responsible for the system's care. Plus, warranty issues might have no clear resolution: Was a component failure the result of a defect, poor system design, or an incorrect installation practice? Also, the profit on hardware will have been given to a third party who has little incentive to support the end user.
A good installer will stay in touch as the installation days approach. Questions will arise, changes may be necessary, and the starting date may move up or back. Your installer may encourage you to be present and available during installation, to deal with questions that you can best answer. You may be asked to help out from time to time, if only for simple tasks. If you lend a hand it becomes "your" system with your time invested, and as you watch it come together it becomes less forbidding and mysterious.
Once installation is complete, the system is methodically powered up. Next come programming the inverter, charge controller, and system monitor, and the myriad details to complete the job. Your installer should include a high-quality shunt-based system monitor, preferably located in a commonly used location in your home, rather than out with the power equipment. If this is your first off-grid experience, your installer may initially teach you just the basic use of your monitor so that you can live within your energy budget. In a month or so, once the system is more familiar, a good installer will return to present additional maintenance guidance. You should expect a full owner's manual with all component manuals, design records and notes, maintenance procedures, warranties, and copies of any inspection reports or permits, but this may not be ready until after the system is operational.
Expect some support as you become familiar with your system's capacities and limitations. You will likely have questions and may encounter problems—this is normal, and you'll need your installer's assistance. Better installers warrant their work and support manufacturers' warranties as well.
A system that's done well will give you the tools to live well, with minimal dependence on fossil fuels. You will have gained an appreciation of how to use electricity wisely, and how to match your living habits with the natural rhythms of weather and season—a wonderful way to live.
Allan Sindelar installed his first off-grid PV system in 1988, founded Positive Energy Inc. of Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1997, and has lived off-grid since 1999. He is a licensed commercial electrician and a NABCEP-certified PV installer.
Suggested Reading:
"Starting Smart: Calculating Your Energy Appetite," by Scott Russell, HP102
"Toast, Pancakes, and Waffles: Planning Wisely for Off-Grid Living," by Allan Sindelar, HP133


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My son is 12 1/2 months old and started solids at 6 months. But now that he's a year old, he totally refuses baby (jar, or pureed) foods, and is very slowly getting into "regular" food. We're trying but he's moving slow on that. He goes to daycare three days a week and they have an easier time getting him to eat table food than I do (and it's a little easier for my husband, too). Oh, and at 12 months he started getting those yucky colds going around his daycare. So he's sick, not eating as much, and nursing, it seems more than usual. I thought by now we could start weaning off the night feeds (because this mama is tired) but I don't feel right about putting him through that, espcially when he's sick.
The good news: my supply is great. I pump 3 times a day. We haven't added any cow's or other kind of any other type of milk, and I'm barely getting him started on juice. What do I need to do? Should I be concerned about his slow progress on eating? Should I wait to wean off the night feedings? When do I get to sleep more than 3 hours? He's growing and developing just fine, the doc isn't concerned (he even started walking this week), so I do feel a little like I'm making a mountain out of a molehill... maybe I just want to hear that it's going to be OK.


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Twins settle for split as May takes loss vs. Tigers
MINNEAPOLIS -- It's been baby steps for Twins rookie right-hander Trevor May.
The highly regarded prospect has been incrementally better in his three starts since being called up from Triple-A Rochester, but the results still haven't quite been there.View Full Game Coverage
MINNEAPOLIS -- It's been baby steps for Twins rookie right-hander Trevor May.
The highly regarded prospect has been incrementally better in his three starts since being called up from Triple-A Rochester, but the results still haven't quite been there.View Full Game Coverage
With May on the mound, the Twins couldn't pull off a sweep in their split doubleheader against the Tigers on Saturday night, as he couldn't protect a two-run lead in his third career start in an 8-6 loss in Game 2 at Target Field.
May, who had walked 13 batters in nine innings heading into the start, didn't walk any this time, but surrendered five runs on 11 hits over a career-high 5 1/3 innings to fall to 0-3 with an 8.79 ERA. He said he needs to fine-tune his fastball command, but his curveball was better this time out.
"It was slightly better than last time," May said. "I felt comfortable throwing the ball over the plate, and not giving up any free passes was definitely a plus. But at this point, it's making adjustments and making pitches to get guys out, and I don't think I did that very well."
The Twins combined to score 32 runs in the first two games of the series, including their 12-4 win in Game 1 on Saturday, but came up short against right-hander Justin Verlander despite scoring four times against him in his 5 2/3 innings of work.
"We put a few runs on him and battled him pretty good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "But he's tough."
Trevor Plouffe led the offense for the Twins with three hits, including a pair of doubles against Verlander. He now has 36 doubles on the season, which ranks as the fourth-highest mark in a season by a Twins third baseman in club history.
"This is a lineup that's really locked in right now," Verlander said. "They hit some good pitches. That's what happens what you face a hot lineup."
The Tigers opened the scoring in the second with an RBI single from Bryan Holaday, but May was able to pitch himself out of a jam with runners on second and third that inning.
The Twins tied it in the bottom half of the frame, with Plouffe doubling with two outs and scoring on a single from Kurt Suzuki, who snapped an 0-for-18 skid. Minnesota had a chance for a big inning after Kennys Vargas opened with a single, but he was doubled off first on a line drive hit to second by Oswaldo Arcia.
The Tigers scored again in the third on an RBI single from J.D. Martinez with two outs after an overturned call at third base involving Torii Hunter went Detroit's way to keep the inning alive.
"We had to go out there and come with a little more fight," Hunter said. "We lost the last two, and we lost big."
But Minnesota took a two-run lead with a three-run third inning against Verlander. Joe Mauer brought home a run with a double to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Verlander struck out Vargas and Arcia, but Plouffe came through with a two-run double.
Detroit made it a one-run game in the fifth on a run-scoring double play hit into by Miguel Cabrera. May got through the inning and was in line for his first career win, but he came back out for the sixth and struggled.
May gave up a go-ahead two-run single to Eugenio Suarez, who broke his bat on the play, and was removed for reliever Jared Burton.
"The kid jammed the guy up the middle, and he blooped it," Gardenhire said. "And that's the way it goes."
Burton was able to escape without any further damage, but he surrendered a two-run single to Nick Castellanos with two outs in the seventh to give the Tigers two insurance runs.
"Usually Burton puts the hitter away," Gardenhire said. "He made a decent pitch on it, and [Castellanos] hit it down the line."
The Twins scored in the seventh against reliever Blaine Hardy on an RBI groundout from Vargas, but the Tigers got the run back in the eighth on an RBI single from Cabrera off reliever Samuel Deduno.
Brian Dozier's one-out RBI double off Joe Nathan in the ninth gave the Twins two at-bats with the tying run at the plate, but Nathan retired Mauer and Vargas without further damage for his 27th save.
"Six runs should be enough," May said. "From here, it's about stringing those zeros together and getting some 'Ws' in the win column."
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger.


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Obama to visit victims of Colorado movie theater shooting
Obama to visit victims of Colorado movie theater shooting
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will fly to Colorado on Sunday to visit with victims and families from the Aurora movie theater shooting, the White House announced, as he and Mitt Romney dialed back their campaigning in the shocked aftermath of the massacre.
White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer disclosed plans for the visit Saturday night. Aides said Obama's stop would also include meetings with state and local officials.
Friday's deadly rampage briefly silenced the acrimonious presidential contest, with both campaigns cutting short schedules and pulling advertising in Colorado out of respect for the dead and injured.
But for Obama, the pause was to be short-lived. After his Colorado visit, he was to fly Reno, Nev., for a Monday speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, followed by a series of campaign fundraisers in California, Oregon and Washington state. Romney is also expected to speak to the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Tuesday.
Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio and Internet address that he hopes everyone takes time this weekend "for prayer and reflection — for the victims of this terrible tragedy, for the people who knew them and loved them, for those who are still struggling to recover."
The president said Americans should also think about "all the victims of the less publicized acts of violence that plague our communities on a daily basis. Let us keep all these Americans in our prayers."
The White House said Obama received updates Saturday from John Brennan, his homeland security adviser, on the investigation into the shooting and the attempts by authorities to gain access to the suspect's apparently booby-trapped apartment.
Obama and Romney used campaign appearances on Friday to focus attention on the need for national unity in the aftermath of the shooting in Aurora, which killed 12 people and wounded dozens of others. Their campaign teams rescheduled Sunday show appearances by top aides and surrogates, essentially providing a break in what has been an increasingly testy campaign.
The rampage injected a new tone into the campaign after Obama and Romney had clashed repeatedly over the economy, Medicare and tax returns.
Obama was set to start his second day of events in Florida when the shooting occurred, prompting his team to address the violence at a previously scheduled rally in Fort Myers, Fla., and scrapping an event in suburban Orlando. Obama told supporters in Fort Myers that the shooting served as a "reminder that life is very fragile."
"Our time here is limited and it is precious. And what matters at the end of the day is not the small things, it's not the trivial things," he said. "Ultimately, it's how we choose to treat one another and how we love one another."
Romney echoed Obama's call for unity, saying at a previously scheduled event in Bow, N.H., that he joined with the president and first lady in offering condolences for those "whose lives were shattered in a few moments, a few moments of evil in Colorado."
"The answer is that we can come together. We will show our fellow citizens the good heart of the America we know and love," Romney said.
Other prominent lawmakers called the shooting a time for unity. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in the Republican address Saturday that lawmakers joined Obama in offering condolences and prayers to the loved ones of those who were killed and wounded.
"I know that when confronted with evil we cannot comprehend, Americans pull together and embrace our national family more tightly," Boehner said.
Yet, beyond the calls for a higher purpose, the shooting could raise the profile of gun rights in the presidential campaign, an issue which has played a minor role so far.
As a senator Obama voted to leave gun makers and dealers open to civil lawsuits, and as an Illinois state lawmaker he supported a ban on all forms of semiautomatic weapons and tighter state restrictions generally on firearms.
Following the killing of six people and wounding of then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz., in 2011, Obama called for a series of steps to "keep those irresponsible, law-breaking few from getting their hands on a gun in the first place."
Among those steps was a better federal background check system. The administration said Friday that it has indeed improved the amount and quality of information poured into that system, allowing background checks to be more thorough.
But the administration has offered no detailed, public explanation of how it is following up on all of Obama's previous promises, and it had no comment about any need for new legislation.
"The president believes that we need to take common-sense measures that protect Second Amendment rights of Americans, while ensuring that those who should not have guns under existing law do not get them," said White House press secretary Jay Carney.
Romney backed some gun control measures when he was governor of Massachusetts. When he challenged Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in 1994 he declared, "I don't line up with the NRA." In April, Romney told the National Rifle Association he was a guardian of the Second Amendment.
Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said the Republican candidate believes that the "best way to prevent gun violence is to vigorously enforce our laws."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in a radio interview, urged the president and his challenger to address gun violence forcefully.
"You know, soothing words are nice," Bloomberg said, "but maybe it's time that the two people who want to be president of the United States stand up and tell us what they are going to do about it, because this is obviously a problem across the country."
Associated Press writer Mark S. Smith contributed to this report.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
The post Obama to visit victims of Colorado movie theater shooting appeared first on theGrio.


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New Day on Mill celebrated its fifth year of giving hope to the homeless May 15.
Karl Allen with Black River Rescue and his assistant Ann Marie Holland made presentations about bloodhounds at both the Camden and Elgin branches of the Kershaw County Library. The pair taught both children and adults how to respond if they find themselves lost in the woods, as well as clarified many misconceptions about the breed. Allen, a former deputy with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, specializes in training and handling bloodhounds for search and rescue. During one demonstration, children had the opportunity to hide in the woods behind the library only to be found by the bloodhound. Black River ...
Tuesday night, the Kershaw County School Board of Trustees was all set to craft a "worst case scenario budget" for the 2011-12 fiscal year at Superintendent Dr. Frank Morgan's recommendation.
The residents at Springdale Health Care celebrated in style the week of May 8-14. Administrators and staff saluted residents during National Nursing Home Week with a special performance from the Lugoff-Elgin High School band, as well as a visit from Camden Mayor Jeffrey Graham. Graham cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony, marking the beginning of a week filled with fun and games, including sack races, egg walks, tug of war and a water balloon toss. Following along with a Mardi Gras theme, all the residents' halls were decorated as various parts of New Orleans, like Merle's Way, Eve ...
After a bit of number crunching, Lugoff Fire District (LFD) commissioners think they've found a way to save three firefighters' jobs, pay for rising fuel costs and replace a fire truck.
Big hats, colorful jewelry and bright smiles filled Pat Clithero's home on Lytttleton Street Friday evening.
The Camden branch of the Kershaw County Library offered a class to Central Carolina students on how to use the library's resources. Above, Clemi Winestock's College Skills 103 class gets a tour of the library by Cris Wilson, reference and adult service librarian. Students learned about SC Lends and how to locate books for research.
The heat wave that hit Camden last Tuesday morning didn't stop many community members from coming out to support Food for the Soul during its dedication ceremony.
The Kershaw County Planning Commission presented a list of top priority projects -- including a broken Kershaw County Courthouse elevator -- during Kershaw County Council's work session Thursday evening. The goal of the document, officials said, is to give council a comprehensive look at the needs the county faces.
From Pine Grove to Bethune, Kershaw County was hit hard by wind, rain and hail Saturday night by three separate storms, according to Gene Faulkenberry, Kershaw County disaster preparedness director.
In early March, United Way of Kershaw County honored its volunteers, staff and contributors with an annual awards banquet.
Jayne Bowers, left, of Camden had an article published in the April 2011 edition of Guideposts, a national magazine focused on true stories of hope and inspiration. Bowers said she has always enjoyed to write and recently began focusing on articles rather than books.
Want to get a taste of farm life?
The "Cue," as Charlotte Thompson locals call it, has been a community staple since 1958.
Elgin Mayor Brad Hanley and Elgin Town Council members Melissa Emmons and Norman "Bubba" Ernst were sworn into office during a ceremony March 1 at Blaney Baptist Church in Elgin.
Page 4 of 7
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Power Up: 10 Bedside Lamps with Built-In Power Outlets
You want to know one of my favorite parts of staying in a hotel? Getting to use a bedside table lamp with a power outlet built in. It's the perfect spot to leave your phone/alarm clock/livesaver to charge for the night. You can bring the comforts of a resort stay to your own bedroom each night with one of these 10 outlet-fitted table lamps.
Thankfully, the extra utilitity doesn't necessarily have to come at the cost of style. We searched for 10 suitable-for-home outlet equipped lamps; these pieces look anything but industrial.
1) Espresso Hourglass Table Lamp $199.91
2) White Fabric Outlet Lamp $147.60
3) Pacific Coast Swing-Arm Table Lamp $125.97
4) Lite Source Lamp With Data Ports & Outlets $152.37
5) Brushed Steel & Black Lamp with Outlets $126.32
6) Cal Lighting Metal Night Stand Lamp with Outlet $94
7) Cal Lighting Dark Wood Night Stand Lamp $116
8) Cal Lighting Rio Metal Nightstand Lamp $126
9) Cal Lighting Rio Metal Desk Lamp $152
10) Fangio Brushed Steel Lamp $149.99
If you have any other reccomendations for outlet-equipped nightstand or desk lamps, leave us a link in the comments!
(Images: As credited above)


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If you've ever gone strolling through downtown Hood River the first Friday of the month, you may have seen bands of local folks strummin' on the strings.
Or if you've happened by the Elliot Glacier Public House in Parkdale the second Sunday of every month, you've likely heard them pickin' a tune or three.
Perhaps you've rolled past the River City Saloon on a Tuesday or Thursday evening for open mic. If any of these gatherings strike a chord with you, you've probably caught a glimpse of the growing list of talented bluegrass musicians who call the Gorge home.
"The bottom line for most of us is playing music with each other," said Chuck Haynie, a banjo player in local bands Crazy Heart and Pacific Crest. "Bluegrass music offers a direct tickle on the brain that just needs to be shared."
Haynie and Crazy Heart band members Lorri Kuatt, Susan Crowley, Pam McNamara, Emily Krager and Donna Reuter have been playing together for a year-and-a-half, and formed the band around a common love for mountain music.
Kuatt and McNamara started playing together in late 2000, and met up with the remaining band members at the monthly jam sessions at Elliot Glacier. Since then, the fun has just continued to multiply.
"We try to play whenever we can," said Haynie, who also plays with Tim McLaughlin and Mike Robarge in Pacific Crest. "We (Crazy Heart) all come from different musical backgrounds and it's been fun to watch the band develop."
Haynie is a veteran on the bluegrass music scene, playing his first banjo licks in the late 1960s in Bethesda, Md., during one of the most influential bluegrass epochs in United States history.
McNamara, a guitarist, shares Haynie's rich musical background, tracing her roots back to childhood in West Virginia — one of the country's true bluegrass meccas.
Kuatt, a native of Hood River, has been playing fiddle for 10 years and picked up the mandolin about two years ago. She also plays in another recently formed band, the Red-Haired Boys, along with Paul Blackburn and Rod Krehbiel.
Krager, a resident of White Salmon, has been playing bass for 10 years, while Crowley is the band's relative newcomer with just under two years' guitar-playing experience.
Like Crowley, Reuter is also somewhat new to bluegrass music, but by no means is she new to playing the fiddle.
"I never really learned bluegrass fiddling until recently," said the 1998 Oregon Adult Fiddle Champion, 1976 Washington Junior Fiddle Champ, and perennial contestant at the National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest in Weiser, Idaho. "Part of the reason I got involved is that there's such a growing community of musicians here. This music is so much more fun when it's shared," she said.
That aspect of sharing seems to be the biggest draw for bluegrass musicians everywhere, whether in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Hills of Old Kentucky or at the base of Mt. Hood.
Providing much of the "bass" around Mt. Hood is Wild River bassist and vocalist Kathy Sneider.
"I'm always looking for a good song," said the former percussionist and current owner of IKOTE. "Since I've been playing music a lot lately, it has become an avenue for performing. The most fun of all is being able to project the feeling of a song to people."
Sneider and fellow Wild River band members Glen Holmberg, Kent Olson, Jim Drake and Susie Sinclair have been playing together for three years, and like Crazy Heart and the Red-Haired Boys, are consistently a part of the First Friday lineup.
The downtown music and art celebration is set to kick off another evening of outdoor entertainment this Friday, and continues to enjoy more and more success with every month that passes.
"Some people are starting to feel overwhelmed because it's getting so big," said First Friday organizer Blue Ackerman, who coordinated the event along with Joanie Thomson and Larry West in 2001 to give the local art community a larger voice.
"We wanted to help bring the locals back downtown, and thought that if we could get people from Portland to come here for the weekend, it would help
reenergize downtown," she said.
And, according to Sneider and other local artists, First Friday has already accomplished its goal in less than one year's time.
"I think it's a great opportunity for downtown merchants to open their doors to the community," she said. "It helps promote the local artists while giving us an avenue to perform for people who may not otherwise hear our music. Best of all, it just has a nice neighborhood feel."
Sneider and Wild River will perform at Sage's Cafe this Friday from 5-8 p.m. Crazy Heart will play outside Big Winds, while the Red-Haired Boys will play outside Hood River Nutrition with special guest Paul Lestock, who owns Arrow Guitars and Mandolins in Mosier.
Other local bands that can be regularly seen and heard around the Gorge include Spring Creek, Swing Crew, Gipsy Ale, Cascade Trio and No Depression.
While not all fall into the traditional bluegrass genre, each band is contributing to a burgeoning local music scene — one that has people talking from The Dalles to Portland and all stops in between.
"For such a small area, we have a really diverse range of music," Sneider said. "Some of it has been growing on the heels of O'Brother (Where Art Thou), but the commonality that I see is that it's all fun, good-time music."
Each of these local bands makes occasional appearances at local bars such as the River City Saloon, Horsefeathers Brewery and Full Sail, as well as at parties, fundraisers, weddings and local music festivals.
One such festival that is already drawing quite a clamor is the Mt. Hood Bluegrass Festival, which will make its return to the Hood River County Fairgrounds in Odell Aug. 16-18.
Already slated to perform are top Northwest bluegrass acts such as the Knott Brothers, Lonesome Ridge, Jackstraw, Great Northern Planes, Frontline and Crazy Heart. Nationally renowned singer/songwriter Laurie Lewis will also appear this year.
Preceding the Mt. Hood festival will be the Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival, July 25-28 in Stevenson, Wash., which will be highlighted by performances from Sam Hill, Rural Delivery and others.
But while the local bluegrass music scene continues to evolve, many of the musicians still travel far and wide to jam at festivals such as Wintergrass (Feb. 21-24 in Tacoma, Wash.), the Darrington Bluegrass Festival (July 19-21 in north-central Washington), the Northwest String Summit (June 28-30 in North Plains, Ore.), and the National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest (June 15-22 in Weiser, Idaho).
To prepare for these larger gatherings, musicians continue to hone their skills at monthly jam sessions held at the Ramsay Grange in Dufur (first Sunday of the month), Chenowith Grange in The Dalles (third Sunday), and every Monday evening at the Public Utilities District building in Carson, Wash.
"I think the growth of the local scene has a lot to do with the individuals," Haynie said. "People from all over the country have wound up here and just like sharing music with one another.
"Guys like Charlie Johnson (White Salmon) and Kent Olson have played with everyone, and I just feel fortunate to have been connected with them," he said.
And on that note, it's becoming obvious that most everyone in the Gorge-area music scene is feeling just as lucky.
For more information about First Friday, contact Joanie Thomson, Hood River Downtown Business Association Coordinator, at 541-308-6738. For an updated lineup for the Mt. Hood Bluegrass Festival, click on:
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Builders' Show Rebuilds Itself
Housing might be bouncing back, but the International Builders' Show still has some rebuilding to do.
Some 50,000 builders, suppliers and other attendees are expected to head to Las Vegas this week, flat from last year and a dramatic fall from the 100,000 who flooded the industry's main trade show at the 2007 peak, said Mark Pursell, a senior vice president with the National Association of Home Builders, the trade group organizing the annual confab. (The current attendance count could change due to last-minute registrations.)
"We went through a major depression in the housing industry and it's a long climb back," he says. "We fully recognize that."
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George Washington Gale Ferris, an American engineer and inventor, invented the Ferris wheel for the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. The first Ferris wheel, built specifically for the fair, was 250 feet in diameter and could carry 40 passengers in 36 coaches.
See a picture of the first Ferris wheel and related questions in Primary Sources, "World's Fair Photograph."
In America's History in the Making, unit 16, "A Growing Global Power," David Cope, former social studies teacher and adviser for World's Fair documentaries, says the Columbian Exposition in Chicago provided America the opportunity to show the world its industrial might.
Students practice trigonometry by developing functions to describe the height of a Ferris wheel rider. Watch this lesson unfold in Teaching Math: A Video Library, 9-12, program 7, "Ferris Wheel."


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Mets' Santana to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery
Flushing, NY – New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana will once again go under the knife in order to repair a torn anterior capsule in his pitching shoulder.
The season-ending procedure will be Santana's second in less than three years, and with his six-year, $137.5 million contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, his career with New York may be official over.
Dealing with shoulder weakness most of spring training, the two-time Cy Young Award winner will undergo surgery on Tuesday, and if he never pitches for the Mets again, he will have compiled a 46-34 record with a 3.18 ERA over 109 starts since arriving in Flushing prior to the 2008 season.
Santana missed the entire 2011 season after originally tearing his pitching shoulder in September of the 2010 campaign, but returned to start Opening Day of 2012. Two months later, he became the first pitcher in Mets history to throw a no-hitter, but needed a career-high 134 pitches to do so.
The 34-year-old then struggled over his next 10 starts and was then shut down for good in mid-August due to ankle, back and shoulder problems.
Over the course of his 12-year-career, the native of Venezuela has amassed a 139-78 record with a 3.20 ERA and 1,988 strikeouts.