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Princeton's campus, when studied carefully, reveals the meticulous and expert care that the landscaping receives. Indeed, the mature plantings are the product of creative minds, past and present, and countless hours of labor.
Nowhere is this more evident than the presence of climbing ivy and espalier — anchored shrubs or trees — on many University buildings, such as the commemorative ivy planted by each graduating class at Nassau Hall. This video offers a brief visual stroll through campus with an eye for the poetic beauty that ivy and espalier provide to all who view them.
Not only are these elements now an iconic fixture of the Princeton campus, they are evidence of the legacy and vision of Beatrix Jones Farrand, official University consulting landscape architect from 1915 to 1934. The campus continues to grow and display modern touches in both architecture and landscaping, and both ivy-covered edifices and carefully manicured espalier faithfully remain.


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A dark roux is essential to a good southern gumbo, but it's time consuming, you can get burned easily, or worse, burn the roux and have to start over. This easy oven method really simplifies roux making and you can make it ahead and store it!
How to Make an Easy Dark Oven Roux
See that chocolately brown jar of lovely goodness? This, my friends, is pure gold to a southern cook! What is it you say? It is a deep, dark red Cajun roux, and one that is most appropriate for gumbos or meaty stews. It's a roux that is time consuming to achieve on the stove top, taking a great deal of patience, and a lot of attention to get to the right color without burning it or yourself.
A roux is nothing more than flour that has been browned in some form of fat, usually oil, but sometimes butter. Most cooks have used some form of roux in order to create sauces and gravies - generally a basic white sauce known as bechamel. This type of roux is cooked off only long enough to cook the raw flour, generally about 5 minutes or so, and though there is little to no color, it carries a strong thickening power to the dish.
A darker colored roux, however, acts not only as a thickener, but also adds additional flavor and imparts a deeper, richer color to the dishes where it is used as a base. It's a classic ingredient in many Cajun style dishes. And, when you need a dark roux and don't want to fool with all that cookin' and stirrin' and cookin' and stirring' and popping oil that, if you're like me, gives you roux blisters all across your knuckles, did you realize it's so easy to cook it in the oven? Course this works great for any color roux in between too, you'll just need to watch the color and stop it where you want it, but when you want a dark roux, the oven just makes it a breeze. And the best part is that you can make it ahead of time and store it till ya need it!
Remember though that the longer the roux cooks, it also loses some of its thickening power, so you have to factor that into the recipe that you are using it for. That's one reason you often see file powder (ground sassafras leaves) or okra (and sometimes even both) used in gumbos that use a darker colored roux.
To make an oven roux you'll start it first on the stovetop. Now, you can follow these same steps essentially if you want to do the roux fully on top of the stove. You'll just simply need to stand there and keep stirring, constantly, until it reaches the desired color. Rather than using the wire whisk here however, switch to a spoon since you'll literally be in the roux the entire time. The process needs to go low and slow so that you don't burn it, so it can take upwards of 45 minutes to more than an hour to get a deep, rich roux without burning it.
Either way though, oven or stovetop, you'll start them on the stove. Heat the oil in a cast iron skillet or pot over medium high heat. Sprinkle a little flour in the hot oil to test it. If the flour begins to bubble, the oil is ready. Begin adding all of the flour a little at a time, whisking it in until all of the flour is fully incorporated.
Carefully transfer the pot or skillet to the oven and bake it to the desired color. It's as simple as that! Now, you'll be checking the roux about every 20 minutes so that you can whisk it, but it sure beats standing over a hot stove for sure. This roux pictured below is a light roux. It's achieved a peanut butter color in about 20 minutes time and would be appropriate for stews and even crawfish.
After 40 minutes in the oven, the roux has darkened to a medium color that is typically used as a base in another dish. This color works well with many types of seafood stews and dishes.
After an hour in the oven the roux has darkened just slightly more to the darker side of medium and is beginning to pick up a reddish tinge to it. It is still at the stage of a medium color and can be utilized the same as the lighter medium color above.
This darker color below was achieved at about a total of 1-1/2 hours in the oven. This color roux is best for meatier dishes and both seafood and chicken gumbos.
If you are not immediately using this roux, once you remove it from the oven and set it aside to cool, you'll need to keep stirring it occasionally since cast iron will retain heat for awhile and keep cooking the roux. If the roux is the color you want when you remove it, and you do not want it to darken further, you'll need to very carefully transfer it to a new pot or container for it to cool so that it does not darken further. I left this in the skillet and as you can see the color is just a bit deeper and richer, exactly what I wanted to achieve.
Check These Recipes Out Too Y'all!Recipe: Easy Dark Oven Roux
©From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish
Prep time: 10 min |Cook time: 2 hours | Yield: Depends
- Equal amounts each of of canola or vegetable oil and all purpose flour
- Cast iron pot or skillet
Preheat the oven to 350 to 375 degrees. I find my oven needs to be just slightly under 375 degrees. Start the roux on the stovetop to get it going, preferably in a cast iron pot, by heating the oil to medium high, then reduce to medium and gradually whisk in the flour a little at a time until fully incorporated. Carefully transfer the pot into the hot oven and cook for 1-1/2 to 2 hours, stirring about every 20 minutes, until the roux turns a deep, dark, chocolate brown.
Once roux is ready, place the pot over medium heat and add the vegetables, proceeding with the rest of the recipe as directed, or if you aren't using it right away, remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely. Continue stirring occasionally since the cast iron will retain the heat for a while.
To Store: Keep cooled roux in a glass container or mason jar in the fridge till needed. Some say you can keep roux indefinitely, but I'd say try to use it refrigerated within 4 to 6 months, frozen not longer than 8 or 9 months, for best quality. Freeze the cold roux in ice cube trays until solid, then pop out and bag for anytime you need a few tablespoons of roux. Let thaw first, or if using from refrigerated, always bring to room temperature before using.
Bring refrigerated stored roux up to room temperature before using.
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How to jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 iPhone, iPad untethered via greenpois0n [Mac users only]
Greenpois0n RC5 now allows you to jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 untethered on most devices including iPhone 4 and iPad. The best part? You won't need any SHSH blobs saved. redsn0w beta required you to have 4.2b3 blobs saved (and it was pretty unstable). Hopefully greenpois0n is going to be a much smoother experience for you guys. Hit the jump for a walkthrough on how to jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 with greenpois0n and for the answers to some commonly asked questions.
What devices will greenpois0n RC5 jailbreak?
- iPhone 4/3GS
- iPad
- iPod Touch 2G/3G/4G
- AppleTV second generation
You'll need to be running iOS 4.2.1 in order for this version of greenpois0n to work (4.1.1 for AppleTV second generation users).
Should I do a full stock restore first?
In short, most likely. If you're already stock and haven't been jailbroken, you're fine. Still back up your phone first in case anything goes wrong.
If you are currently jailbroken on 4.1, yes. Do a full stock restore to 4.2.1 and restore as a new iPhone. After jailbreaking, I still don't recommend restoring from a backup. Old jailbreak pieces can come with your backup and cause issues for you. Just my personal recommendation.
If you are currently tethered on 4.2.1 via redsn0w, you should be able to just run greepois0n right over your current jailbreak to untether. Some of the devs are saying if you have issues installing Cydia via greenpois0n after running it, simply run redsn0w again and let it re-install Cydia. Basically, as long as you aren't running a Monte version jailbreak on 4.2.1, you should be able to run greenpois0n to untether.
Will this jailbreak iOS 4.3 beta?
No. You'll have to wait a bit longer on a tested jailbreak for 4.3.
Jailbreaking iOS 4.2.1 via Greenpois0n
- Download greenpois0n onto your Mac. (Some users have been reporting the servers being down. If you can't get it to download right away, just be patient. Their servers are probably just lagging from all the traffic. There are a few mirrors out there so be sure to check the comments for the latest updates on those.
- Plug your iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, or AppleTV in via USB (make sure the power is off) and follow the on-screen instructions to enter DFU mode.
- Greenpois0n will recognize when your phone is properly in DFU mode and start to do its thing. After it's done, you'll see a Loader icon on your homescreen. Tap it and install Cydia. (Note: This only differs for AppleTV jailbreakers. You'll be done but need to continue accessing and installing apps via Terminal and SSH.)
- You're done! Restore all your stuff (if you choose to or were stock before) and enjoy being jailbroken!
Note: Some users in the comments have been reporting sometimes the initializing error is a result of not holding the home button long enough when entering DFU mode. Even when the text is not greyed out anymore, continue holding the home button if you're getting the Initializing error even after trying Greenpois0n RC5 version 2.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
If you guys have already used this version of greenpois0n, let us know how it's going in the comments! Have other questions? Check our our Jailbreak Starters Guide and jailbreak forums!
iMore senior editor from 2011 to 2015.


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This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Scott Simon.
Danny DeVito, a short, funny guy with a long and winding career in movies, TV, on-stage and online, from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" off-Broadway and onscreen, to the TV shows "Taxi" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and online films. His latest project transports him to the land of Truffula trees and singing fish.
SIMON: That's from the new 3-D movie adaptation of Dr. Seuss's book, "The Lorax." Danny DeVito is The Lorax, the one who speaks for the trees. He joins us from our studios in New York.
Thanks so much for being with us.
: Yes, it's great to be with you, Scott.
SIMON: And how did you meet this book, "The Lorax?"
: Well, I have three children. And as anyone who has children knows, Dr. Seuss is a big favorite. All of his books were present in our house and that's how I met The Lorax.
SIMON: We'll, set up the story a bit for people who may not have read it to young children or heard it since they were a kid. The film takes place in the town of Thneedville.
: That's right. It is a beautiful, beautiful - very reminiscent of the Happy Valley - beautiful trees. And The Lorax, who is the guardian of the forest, ran across, in the days of old, a fellow who was a really nice guy, the Once-ler. But he was a - and very enterprising. And he saw the colors of the trees and thought this is the most magnificent thing he's ever seen in his life.
And he had an idea for a product, which is a Thneed, which is a kind of a sweatery kind of thing that people can put around their heads or around their arms, or whatever. So he set off to start manufacturing these Thneeds. The thing that he missed, the Once-ler, was the fact that if you take from the Earth you have to give back. Because in Dr. Seuss' story, the Once-ler cut down the very last tree and there was nothing left.
It really speaks to people in a kind of a gentle way, saying look at what's around you. And you know if you take, and take, and take, you must give back.
SIMON: So how do you do a voice in a cartoon?
: You have the script and I just put everything I can into it in various ways. Like, we I might say: Did you chop down that tree? Or I can be startled and say: Did you chop down that tree? The whole team of making "The Lorax," they pick what they like and they put it together. And most of the choices of the readings and of the energy coincide with what they want in the script.
SIMON: May I ask you some biographical questions?
: Sure.
SIMON: Wait, let me take that again. They ask you some biographical questions?
: Very nice.
SIMON: And let me try again. Biographical questions?
: Why not?
SIMON: All right. You started out to be a makeup artist?
: My sister, Angie, got a beauty parlor in Asbury Park. And she said, Well, why don't you become a makeup artist? I said makeup artist? I don't know. What the hell? And I says OK. So she said I'll send you to school in New York. It was the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. And they said no, we can't take you as a makeup artist, but if you want to learn the makeup course you have to take the acting course.
I told her. And she says, Well, enroll. You go at night. You drive up from Asbury. You go to New York. I said OK. And I took one acting styles class, they called it. It was like a magical moment and I kept going. And I did take the makeup classes and I kept working in the beauty parlor doing all the six-haired old ladies. You know, making them blue and sending them out there on their way. It was get them in and get them out. You know, wrap their head in toilet paper, and let them go see if they could keep it that way for a week.
: You know, this is a long story, man.
: Anyway, the bottom-line, I transferred over to a day student. I auditioned. They took me and I got bit by the acting bug big time. And I was in the early '60s.
SIMON: Something I have to share with you while we have the chance. You know, we drew up some biographical information on you, press clippings and everything.
SIMON: There's an official bio of you that says: Danny DeVito was born in New Jersey in 1944. Big break when he starred in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." He rose to fame in the sitcom "Taxi," for which he won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy. He later starred in "My Cousin Vinny."
: Uh-uh.
SIMON: I know.
: Oh, that's - OK, this is like really cool. That's like Joe Pesci, obviously. The thing is that there was a period of time. It was right after "Twins" with Arnold when I did that. And then there was "My Cousin Vinny." Joe Pesci used to come up to me and say to me and say to me, you know, he goes like this he talks. He goes, Danny, if one person comes up to me and tells me I was good in "Twins," I'm going to kick their (bleep).
SIMON: I know. It's like really weird, right. Like sometimes that happens. But I guess the bio should be changed.
I'm glad we could clear that up, OK? A lot of people were confused. Danny DeVito is starring - he is the voice of and starring in "The Lorax." Mr. DeVito, thanks so much for being with us.
: Thank you. It's a pleasure being here. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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How to export pictures and video using the PlayMemories Home software
Follow the steps below to export media files to the camera using the PlayMemories Home software:
- Open the PlayMemories Home Software.
- Connect the camera or media device to the computer.
- In the PMH window, click Export.
- Select the destination.
- Drag and drop the selected picture to the right.
- Click Next after dragging the selected picture.
- You can add more pictures by dragging them to the right.
- You can change the size of the photos being exported by clicking Settings, putting a check in the box next to Change image size of photos and then clicking OK.
- Click the Export button.
- Do not disconnect the camera or remove the memory card during the export process.
- The name of exported files will be changed to be compatible with the recording system of the connected camera or memory card.
- At the Exporting completed dialog box, click the OK button.


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The ACLS course is designed for healthcare providers who act in participation or directing the resuscitation of patients, in or outside of the hospital setting. ACLS stresses the importance of basic life support (CPR) for patient survival as well as advanced interventions, multiple-provider scenarios, and communication to use during resuscitation. This course is prepared for people who have passed the ACLS exam before and is shorter than the full ACLS Certification course.
Complete the form below and click the Reset Password button. If we find your password, we'll send password reset instructions to the e-mail address we have on record for you.


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Brachionus Video No. 7T1/DSL/Cable Stream These rotifers have a transparent turtle-like shell called a lorica and are found in a variety of habitats, freshwater and marine. Several species are cultured to provide food for fish larvae in aquaculture. Like most rotifers, Brachionus rotifers have pedal glands and extrude a small amount of sticky cement to anchor themselves temporarily on substrate. They also anchor, then spin out a length of filament at the end of which they stay with corona extended to feed. Questions or comments? Send us an email.© 1995-2022 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, software, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
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Asked to define folk music in an April 2003 interview Gene Shay[?], co-founder and host of the Philadelphia Folk Festival, offers:
Over time, the meaning of the term folk music has become confused by misconception and misuse. The jazz performer Louis Armstrong is famously credited with saying, "All music is folk music, leastwise I ain't never heard a horse sing". The misconceptions of the general public have arisen primarily from the inaccurate portrayal of folk music within the world of commercial music.
As a result, the uninformed man in the street might say it means either traditional music or popularizations of traditional music, or works which have some stylistic similarities to traditional music; and those who market music make little distinction between these three possibilities, thus the consumer who opines a preference for folk music may be referring to any mixture of things.
The English term folk, which gained usage in the 18th century to refer to peasants or non-literate peoples, derives from the German term Volk (meaning nation). In truth, the term 'folk music' should cover only that music which arises from the speech and circumstances of the common peoples of a culture. It matters not whether that culture is 18th century rural Suffolk or 21st century inner-city Manchester; the material which can truly be identified as folk music (and especially folk song, because language is more important than musicality in expressing the condition of life) must be that music and song which is created by the common people in the process of expressing themselves.
Music which was created in this way before the rise of mass communications and mass media, is now termed "traditional music," i.e., the traditional music of particular ethnic groups learned by ear, that is, as part of an oral tradition, and played on acoustic instruments[?] or sung with unaccompanied voice. In those days (bygone, in most of the Western world, as we shall see), the motivating forces behind the creation of folk music were those of communication, teaching and entertainment. These needs of the community were met from within the community, through the medium of folk song in particular.
Late in the Victorian era, there arose the phenomenon of Music Hall. For the first time, the common people of the Western world were offered music as a commodity which they could purchase. This occurred during the latter part of the Industrial Revolution, at a time of great change in lifestyle for the great body of the people. The forces of commercialism[?] made sure that the people were persuaded of the need to buy this commodity; and between these commercial pressures, and the migration of the old agrarian communities to become the new industrial ones, the process of folk creation became lost to the people.
Several succeeding generations of us became enticed with ever more accessible and desirable forms of the commodity of music. Gramophone records became LPs and then CD; Music Hall gave way to radio which became supplanted by TV; films were overtaken by videos and then by DVD. The marketplace kept expanding and it generated an industry dedicated to the creation of a musical product by a paid elite of performers. This is the diametric opposite of 'folk creation', because its motivating force is individual or corporate profit rather than communal need, and also because instead of reflecting the lives of the people, commercial music tends to shape those lives.
Some communities in the Western world didn't entirely lose their folk music, or lost it much later on. For instance, it is generally believed that Ireland retains a living folk tradition to this day. But some interested people - mainly academics researching in the area of traditional music - started to take note of what was being lost, and there grew various efforts aimed at preserving the music of the people. One such effort was the collection by Francis James Child in the late 19th century of the texts to over three hundred ballads in the English and Scots traditions. Contemporaneously came the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould, and later and more significantly Cecil Sharp[?] who worked in the early 20th century to preserve a great body of English rural folk song, music and dance, under the aegis of what became and remains the English Folk Dance and Song Society[?] (EFDSS).
In America, the Library of Congress had during the 1930s and 1940s been working through the offices of musicologist Alan Lomax and others to capture as much field material as possible. In 1950 Alan Lomax came to Britain], where at a Working Men's Club in the remote Northumberland mining village of Tow Law he met two other seminal figures; A.L.'Bert' Lloyd[?] and Ewan MacColl, who were performing folk music to the locals there. Lloyd was an amazing little man, a colourful figure who had travelled the world and worked at such varied occupations as sheep-shearer in Australia and shanty-man on a whaling ship. MacColl, born in Salford of Scottish parents, was a brilliant playwright and songwriter who had been strongly politicised by his earlier life, and who was already responsible for creating material - such as 'The Manchester Rambler' - which now is rightly viewed as folk song. MacColl - whose daughter Kirsty was later to become a well-known pop singer - had also learned a large body of Scottish traditional songs from his mother.
The meeting of MacColl and Lloyd with Lomax, is credited with being the point at which the British folk revival[?] began. The two colleagues went back to London where they formed the Ballads and Blues Club[?] which eventually became renamed the Singers' Club[?] and was the first of what became known as folk clubs[?] - it was also the longest-running of them all. And as the 1950s progressed into the 1960s, the folk revival movement built up in both Britain and America (it wasn't a 'revival' in Ireland, because Irish folk music never died).
In the United States, in the 1930s and 1940s, travelling performers such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie had both collected folk music and also composed their own songs. This vein of music became popular in the United States during the 1950s, through singers like the Weavers[?] (Seeger's group) and the Kingston Trio[?], who tried to reproduce and honor the work that had been collected in preceding decades.
Some of this music in the 1960s had references to timely political struggles. It seemed natural for such singers as Joan Baez, Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan to follow in Guthrie's footsteps and to begin writing "protest music" while white support for the civil rights movement also grew. Some began to write songs about current situations, using the instrumentations and stanza forms they took from the tradition.
In Ireland, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem[?] (although the members were all Irish born, the group became famous while based in New York's Greenwich Village, it must be noted), The Dubliners[?], Clannad, Planxty[?], The Chieftains[?], The Pogues and a variety of other folk bands have done much over recent years to revitalise and repopularise Irish traditional music. These bands were rooted, to a greater or lesser extent, in a living tradition of Irish music, and they benefitted from collection efforts on the part of the likes of Seamus Ennis[?] and Peter Kennedy[?], among others.
When rock and roll stars and singer-songwriters began to sing traditional songs and play traditional tunes, this music, and the leading characteristics of the performance genre in which the music was made, were changed. For example, bass guitar and drum kit were often added to express and satisfy popular tastes; traditional melody and song were placed into arrangements that scarcely resembled their original sources.
As less traditional forms of folk music gained popularity, there grew to be a tension between so-called "purists" or "traditionalists" and the innovators. For example, traditionalists were indignant when Bob Dylan began to use an electric guitar. His electrified performance at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival[?] was to prove to be an early focal point for this controversy.
Sometimes, however, the exponents of amplified music were bands such as Fairport Convention, Pentangle[?] and Steeleye Span who saw the electrification of traditional musical forms as a means whereby to reach a far wider audience, and their efforts have been largely recognised for what they were by even some of the most die-hard of purists.
Other examples of this transformation have occurred with bluegrass (a development of American old time music[?]), which is often referred to as a kind of folk music, as well as with the use of traditional music in country music (itself a development of both bluegrass and old time music). In recent times, bluegrass has been revitalised by its central role in the Coen brothers' cult movie, O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
Since the 1970s a genre of "contemporary folk", fuelled by new singer-songwriters, have continued to make the coffee-house circuit and keep the tradition of accoustic music alive in the United States. Such artists include Steve Goodman, John Prine[?], Cheryl Wheeler[?], Bill Morrisey[?], and Christine Lavin. Lavin in particular has become prominent as a leading promoter of this musical genre in recent years. Some, such as Lavin and Wheeler, inject a great deal of humor in their songs and performances, although much of their music is also deeply personal and sometimes satirical.
Traditional folk music forms also merged with rock and roll to form the hybrid generally known as folk rock which evolved through performers such as The Byrds, Simon and Garfunkel, The Mamas and the Papas, and many others. More recently the same spirit has been embraced and expanded on by performers such as Ani Difranco. At the same time, a line of singers from Baez to Phil Ochs have continued to use traditional forms for original material.
In addition to the direct descendants of traditional folk music, many have identified the street evolution and the overtly political lyrics of rap music as being strongly in the folk tradition.
Folk music is still extremely popular among some audiences today, with folk music clubs meeting to share traditional-style songs, and there are major folk music festivals in many countries, eg the Port Fairy Folk Festival[?] is a major annual event in Australia attracting top international folk performers as well as many local artists.
A similar stylistic shift, without using the "folk music" name, has occurred with the phenomenon of Celtic music, which in many cases is based on an amalgamation of Irish traditional music, Scottish traditional music[?], and other traditional musics associated with lands in which Celtic languages are or were spoken (regardless of any significant research showing that the musics have any genuine genetic relationship; so Breton music[?] and Galician music[?] are often included in the genre).
Folk music has frequently been the target of satire and parody. Exponents in this field range from the worst excesses of e.g.Rambling Syd Rumpo and Bill Oddie to the deft and subtle artistry of Sid Kipper[?], Eric Idle and Tom Lehrer. It should be noted that even "serious" folk musicians are not averse to poking fun at the form from time to time, for example Martin Carthy's devastating rendition of the "All the Hard Cheese of Old England", to the tune of "All the Hard Times of Old England", Robb Johnson[?]'s "Lack of Jolly Ploughboy" (in which he 'apologises' for including 'politics' in his material) and more recently "I'm Sending an E-mail to Santa" by the Yorkshire based harmony group Artisan[?] and the 2003 film A Mighty Wind[?].
Styles of folk music by nationality:
See also:
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text:
Coming Clean
It's time to come clean on something.
(Deep breath)
I hate this team.
I hate watching the games in agony, waiting for the bullpen take over for a starter fully aware that the implosion is coming.
I hate watching the offense score a bundle of runs for a Reyes start like clockwork in vain, only to be silenced for a CP Lee start when only one run is needed.
I hate the feeling that all of the levers are being pulled to put a different, better team on the field and still seeing the same tired names being trotted out there in the lineup.
I hate the feeling that everything could have gone against the team this season has, and that a good portion of it is the fault of the team.
I hate watching them take issue with a perceived slight by another team a full three days after said slight and only when their closer came into a game that they were losing, taking their frustration out on an opponent only so they don't start turning on themselves or Wedge, assuming he's around for the team to turn on.
More than anything, I just hate the losing and the feeling that the winning streak or winning stretch that is necessary to put this team into the AL Central isn't going to come around because the problems.
I hate it all and the trouble is that with each passing game, the sense that this "tinkering" to find a solution is actually doing more damage than anything for the team. Say what you will about how it doesn't matter what reliever enters a game because the song remains the same, but consider for a moment that there have been three combinations of the starting lineup that have been together for more than two games – one for six games, one for three games, and one other starting lineup for two games.
We're not talking batting orders here, where players may move around the different spots in the batting order; we're talking about nine players playing the same position on a team. I'm all for versatility and at one time was fully behind the thought that finding the right mix was still possible by utilizing the versatility of certain players on the team; but at this point, the Indians are just picking names out of a hat…and I don't mean in terms of who's batting where. The team is playing guys at the wrong positions and the net result has been chaos.
Want a crazy idea in an attempt to get some stability to the team?
How about some stability in the lineup?
How about saying, "These are the nine most talented position players on the team, and they're going to play the positions that suit them the best every day"?
How about filling out the lineup card in permanent marker one of these nights and letting it ride for a while to end this chicanery that has ensued in the determination of who plays where and when?
I'm all for making a change to this team to get it jump-started…but not the drastic change that you're thinking of – how about making a change of setting a group of regulars from the players on the roster and…I don't know, play them for consecutive days.
You know what…make it two weeks and see what happens.
Throw this out there and see what sticks:
C – Shoppach
1B – Martinez
2B – DeRosa
SS – Cabrera
3B – Peralta
RF – Choo
CF – Sizemore
LF – LaPorta
DH – Garko
There…there's your lineup for the next two weeks, come hell or high water.
Put them in the batting order however you want, but play them at those positions nearly everyday with Martinez catching Carmona being the only exception to this combination of players. If you want to move Valbuena or Carroll in there for a sporadic start so DeRosa can move to 3B, LF, or RF to give one of those guys a day off, fine. If Hafner returns before those two weeks are up, he takes over the DH spot being spelled occasionally by Garko, who is relegated to the bench otherwise.
Otherwise, go with this lineup for two weeks…after two weeks, see where we stand.
I'm not saying that The Atomic Wedgie should pull a Norman Dale and play short-handed, telling us in some grand statement that he's fed up with some of the guys in the clubhouse to the point that "his team is on the field" down a player; rather, I'm saying that there is talent in this lineup, but it's being grossly underutilized as Wedge as tried too many combinations of players, many of them in positions that are foreign to them or players that simply don't merit an everyday look in MLB at this point in their careers.
Looking at the bench players in this arrangement, can anyone make a compelling argument that any of these guys should be playing even close to everyday ahead of one of the names listed above?
Dellucci – Age 35 – career 98 OPS+
Carroll – Age 35 – career 82 OPS+
Francisco – Age 27 – career 99 OPS+
Valbuena – Age 23 – career 63 OPS+
Valbuena? Maybe at some point in the future…but right now, if he's not playing everyday, why not just send him to AAA to get everyday AB to be ready to play 2B every day, allowing Barfield can become the designated pinch-runner on a team of base cloggers while not worrying about him not having to bring his bat or his glove for road trips.
We don't need to "find" AB for the rest of these guys, including Garko if Hafner comes back. They can fill in to give regulars a day off now and again, but this constant motion around the diamond and in and out of the lineup is making me nauseous with seasickness and the playing of these guys out of position further exacerbates the problems on this team.
At this point in the season, the Indians are fighting for what's left of 2009 (if it's even salvageable) and it looks like they're going to need all the offensive firepower they can muster to overcome the holes in their rotation and the gas cans that trot in from the bullpen. If that's the case, let's go with the best players available to fill the lineup…every single day…at their best position.
Maybe employing such a novel concept will restore my faith and, perhaps, my love for this team – because right now, I have neither.


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Ok, so the analogy breaks down somewhat.
Horribly, hilariously unique.
In fact, just for reference I had to go hunt down a photo of a real one:
Now, Wreckerators, sometimes your snowflake will end up looking like a drunkenly assembled dream catcher. When this happens, DON'T PANIC. Just write us a clue before setting it out for sale.
Nicole M., E.S., Kit, & Katherine C., you know what they say: there's no business like snow business.
- Related Wreckage: Yes, Let's!
Today's charity, Child's Play, provides children's hospitals with toys and games in several different countries. Imagine being a kid stuck in a hospital at this time of year, and you can see why this is such a great idea. Some of the toys are given to the children to keep. Others, like game console systems, stay with the hospital for all the kids to use.
Child's Play prefers donations via Paypal (woohoo!) but you can also give via our First Giving Fundraising page.
Want to go the extra mile? Child's Play has links to participating hospitals' Amazon wish lists, so you can buy a toy for one near you and have it shipped directly to them. Check their map to find a hospital near you.


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Mold After Super Storm Sandy
NEW YORK (AP) — Esther Tauscher stood outside her Staten Island home, leafing through boxes of family photos that had been steeped in storm water. She paused to point out life events — her honeymoon, holding her baby boy in a hospital bed.
The photos are just about all she has left. Behind her, the home where she and her family lived for 14 years was being dismantled by a masked volunteer crew that tossed out her possessions and ripped out floorboards and walls.
It was Tauscher's only option. Her house and nearly everything in it was consumed by mold.
"If the water didn't get it, the mold got it," she said.
Three months after Superstorm Sandy, mold lurks in once-waterlogged buildings, hiding below subflooring, under foundations, and in door and window frames. Sometimes it mottles walls in plain sight. And it can make dwellers sick, another blow to people still recovering from the October storm that sent the Atlantic surging into homes in New Jersey and New York.
Mold is flourishing in homes that never completely dried out, where the owners may have waited to make repairs or could not access the house for weeks because of safety concerns. Other flooded homes remain vacant and unheated.
But even some who quickly chucked saturated belongings, ripped out soggy wallboards and carpets and scrubbed walls with cleaners and bleach are still finding mold, because the home didn't fully dry, treatment did not work or unscrupulous contractors didn't actually kill it.
"Mold needs two things. It needs food and it needs moisture," said Paul Lioy, a professor of environmental medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, N.J. "So if you have places that aren't completely dried out, you're going to have conditions that are ripe for mold growth."
Mold can spur coughing, wheezing and other reactions in people who are allergic or sensitive to it or have asthma, and can cause infections in people with chronic lung conditions.
In 2004, the Institute of Medicine found "sufficient evidence" of a link between damp, moldy indoor environments and upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing and wheezing in healthy people, and asthma symptoms in asthmatics.
If mold is treated safely, there should be few long-term health effects, said Dr. Kevin Chatham-Stephens, a pediatrician and environmental health fellow at Mount Sinai Medical Center. But doing it yourself could make things worse. Chatham-Stephens said bleach and other chemicals used to clean mold can also cause respiratory irritation.
Mold remediation can cost as much as $15,000 and require people to leave their homes for days. It is not directly covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or New York City's Rapid Repair program, which provides emergency repairs to residents affected by the storm.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday announced a $15 million public-private partnership to remove mold in about 2,000 city homes. The money was raised privately, and the program will be run by a community development nonprofit. It will find homeowners through referrals, with the neediest families receiving priority. The city is also holding training sessions on how to deal with mold in the home.
The program was launched by the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, the Red Cross and the Robin Hood Foundation.
Joseph McKellar, executive director of Queens Congregations United for Action, said that the city's program is "a good first step," but that 2,000 homes is "really only a start."
McKellar and other labor, faith and community leaders formed "Back Home, Back to Work," an organization that wants to use union members to clean out mold-infested homes in New York. The group is calling for part of the $50.5 billion emergency aid package passed by Congress to be used for mold remediation. Sen. Charles Schumer said he would like to see federal money allocated to fight mold.
New Jersey is looking at opportunities for a similar program, said Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health. The state is waiting to see if grants from the aid package can be used to help residents fight mold.
The Robin Hood Foundation also made grants to programs in New Jersey that provide free mold remediation to Sandy victims.
Lioy worries the mold problem will only get worse in the spring and summer, when consistently warm temperatures will allow mold to flourish. Even warm days like Wednesday and Thursday, when temperatures reached into the 50s and 60s, can accelerate mold growth.
Richard Schielke scrubbed the salt and mud off his hardwood floors after the storm but discovered weeks later that mold lurked under the floor. He hired a crew from Flag Enterprises, a Lindenhurst, N.Y., restoration services company. Workers scoured his moldy floor and walls and set up large air filters that hummed throughout his home.
"There was no playbook saying, 'If this happens, this is what you should do,'" Schielke, of Massapequa, N.Y., said.
Alyssa Durnien, of Keansburg, N.J., came back to her damaged house about 15 days after the storm and sprayed a mildew product on the wood and underbelly of her home, which had mold damage.
Months later, the mold is back. Durnien set up dehumidifiers throughout the house and plans to hire a professional.
"I can tell you," she said, "there's still mold there."
Associated Press writers Frank Eltman in Massapequa, N.Y., and David B. Caruso in New York contributed to this report.
Categorised in: Water Damage Restoration


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Hey Hey everyone!
Tomorrow is my birthday and im getting a new pc being right now i am limited to my macbook... my last desktop was subject to lightning...
my last desktop was an amd 64 3800. 1gb ram
before that an amd xp 3000.. before that xp 2000.. before that P3 slot 1 500mhz...
So its been a while since I have really kept up with Intel.. I am more of an AMD guy..
I am aware that the Intel Core 2 Duo is better than the AMD X2 currently.. but what I am not sure of is how much better??
If I go core 2 duo il be getting the e6320.. i believe that is a 2.2ghz..
if I go AMD X2 il be getting the 6000+..3ghz.. and its roughly 50-75$ cheaper.
Now... I want everyones opinions... what do you think is better and why?
The main aspects I am concerned about is Gaming and multitasking.
As long as my CPU can play games from a year or 2 ago, and perform multiple tasks at one time without slowing down extremely I will be happy
So... that is my question
personally I am leaning towards the AMD... that 50-75$ will fill my gas tank and I love my AMD, but before I decide I would like some more input


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Ceramics, glass, and jewelry workshops offered on Saturdays in August
It's never too late to learn a new craft. Here is your opportunity to discover a hobby, brush up on a technique or master a skill at Artpark's new adult art workshops.
Registration is now under way for three art workshops offered in August at Artpark. Adult art workshops will include a two-part ceramics workshop, a glass-fusion workshop and a workshop focused on metal clay jewelry.
Artpark 2012 Adult Art Workshop Schedule
•Ceramics (two-part workshop): Part one is Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Part two is Aug. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon. The fee is $75. Description: This two-part ceramic class will demonstrate hand-building as well as throwing techniques, along with electric and raku kiln firings.
•Fused Glass: Aug. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $65. Description: Bruce Verbeck, an experienced Western New York glass artist, will guide the class through the technique of fusing glass in a kiln, as well as discussing types of glass, glass cutting and more to create a one-of-a-kind fused glass artwork.
•Metal Clay Jewelry: Aug. 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $65. Description: Dawn DiGesare, a metal clay artist and fine art jeweler, will teach the basic fundamentals of working with silver precious metal clay, cleaning, firing and finishing a unique piece of jewelry.
Persons at all levels of expertise may register, but must be at least 18 years old. Enrollment is limited, as one-on-one instruction is emphasized. Full payment is due upon registration.
Lewiston residents receive 10 percent off on workshop fees. Registration forms are available online at www.artpark.net. For more information, call the Artpark Box Office at 716-754-4375.


text:
Jackson Trial Day Three
The doctor convicted of involuntarily killing Michael Jackson appeared to be on trial again Wednesday as a lawyer for Jackson's mother tried to show the physician's desperate financial situation drove him to extremes in his treatment of the superstar.
Attorney Brian Panish, questioning a police detective, hammered away at the depths of debt that enveloped Conrad Murray when he agreed to give Jackson what he wanted — infusions of the powerful anesthetic propofol to make him sleep.
The pop star offered Murray $150,000 a month to travel with him on his ill-fated "This Is It" concert tour. AEG Live LLC, the concert promoter, reluctantly agreed, according to testimony in the doctor's criminal case by AEG executives.
Panish used the testimony of police detective Orlando Martinez to suggest that if AEG had investigated Murray's background, it would have found a man so encumbered by debt that he was not trustworthy.
The testimony came during the trial of the negligence lawsuit filed by Katherine Jackson claiming AEG didn't properly investigate the doctor who gave her son a lethal dose of propofol. The company denies wrongdoing.
Murray is not a party to the high-stakes court contest. He is serving a four-year prison term for involuntary manslaughter.
AEG attorneys said they intend to call him as a witness. He remains in jail and is appealing his conviction.
A coroner ruled that the 50-year-old star died of the overdose of propofol in his bed on June 25, 2009, while under Murray's care. The drug was not intended for home use.
Martinez, who was lead investigator on Jackson's death, said he discovered that Murray faced student loans, home loans, child support obligations and credit card payments that were in arrears in 2009. Panish said the debts totaled nearly $1 million.
Martinez said he found that Murray had eight children by seven different women and was supposed to be supporting all of them. He said the doctor was about to lose his home and his office in Las Vegas. Without his big payday from Jackson and AEG, he would have been in financial ruin, Martinez said, suggesting this caused him to disregard his medical oath.
Martinez testified he found most of the debts against Murray in public records that would have been readily available to AEG.
AEG denies it hired Murray, and it is likely to blame Jackson for insisting on having Murray as his doctor because of his dependence on propofol.
Millions and possibly billions of dollars are at stake in the trial, which may last 90 court days.


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Check-in time is from 14:00, and check-out time is until 12:00 at Shijia Hotel Hangjinqi.
No, The hotel has no pool and fitness room. See details about other facilities on this page.
No, there is not a restaurant in the hotel.
Yes, please request it when you check in the hotel.
Yes, please contact us after submitting a reservation.
No, the hotel does not accept credit card payment.


text: WAVELAND _ Applications are being accepted for a shipfitting course this summer semester at Pearl River Community College"s Hancock Center. Class meets from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Hancock Center, 954 Highway 90 in Waveland. The class will run from May 14 through July 16. The 350-hour course lays the groundwork for entering the shipbuilding/repair industry as an entry-level shipfitter. Candidates must provide drug-screening documentation and meet required WorkKeys levels. For more information and to receive an application, contact the PRCC Workforce Education office at 601-403-1241.


text: creepy is an application that allows you to gather geolocation related information about users from social networking platforms and image hosting services. The information is presented in a map inside the application where all the retrieved data is shown accompanied with relevant information (i.e. what was posted from that specific location) to provide context to the presentation.


text:
Welcome! Thank you for your interest in New York State's Minority and Women's Business Enterprise (MWBE) Certification Program. MWBE certification is administered by Empire State Development's Division of Minority and Women's Business Development (DMWBD). The mission of DMWBD is to promote equality of economic opportunities for MWBEs and to eliminate barriers to their participation in State contracts.
How MWBE Certification benefits your firm:
For additional information on NYS MWBE Certification requirements, and for assistance, click here.
If you require technical assistance while completing the application, please use our online support form.
To continue, please select an option below:
Option 1 |
Option 2 |
New Certification |
Recertification or
Your firm is not currently certified with New York State and will submit a New or Fast Track application | Your firm is currently certified and you would like to update your profile or submit a recertification application. |
» Create Account |
If you know your username and password for this system: » Login If you need to lookup your account: » Lookup Account |
After logging in to your account, click the Apply for Certification link on the right side of the page or select View > My Certifications from the left menu.


text:
It's a commonplace to state that while other sciences (like biology) may always need the newest books, we mathematicians also use to use older books. While this is a qualitative remark, I would like to get a quantitative result. So what are some "old" books that are still used?
Coming from (algebraic) topology, the first things which come to my mind are the works by Milnor. Frequently used (also as a topic for seminars) are his Characteristic Classes (1974, but based on lectures from 1957), his Morse Theory (1963) and other books and articles by him from the mid sixties.
An older book, which is sometimes used, is Steenrod's The Topology of Fibre Bundles from 1951, but this feels a bit dated already. Books older than that in topology are usually only read for historical reasons.
As I have only very limited experience in other fields (except, perhaps, in algebraic geometry), my question is:
What are the oldest books regularly used in your field (and which don't feel "outdated")?


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Thank-you for your interest in WPBakery Page Builder,
Michael M
Release Notes – Past versions changelogs.
20.04.2020 - ver 6.2.0 - Update: Performance improvements for the editor - Update: Filter for ajax grid rendering added - Update: Filters for post_custom_css and shortcodes_custom_css added - Update: NL translation added for the plugin - Update: BR translation added for the plugin - Update: Standards and code styles updated - Update: Classic and Gutenberg editor toggle updated - Update: Portrait video support added - Compatibility: Rank Math SEO compatibility improved - Fix: Ajax add to cart works properly - Fix: Plugin update works properly with multi-language version - Fix: Sorted_list attribute works properly - Fix: Shop Manager role works properly with the plugin - Fix: Post id works properly in the preview mode - Fix: Loading configuration works properly - Fix: Order by post works properly - Fix: oEmbed works properly in text blocks - Fix: addShortcodesCustomCss works properly 13.12.2019 - ver 6.1.0 - Added: Catalan, Ukrainian, Hungarian translations - Update: WordPress 5.3 Compatibility - Update: FontAwesome update to 5.10.2 - Update: loop attribute not found rows and order by relevance - Update: PrettyPhoto https support - Fix: RTL controls on backend - Fix: RTL column reverse - Fix: Disabled post revisions design options - Fix: Save row/section as template - Fix: HoverBox improvements - Remove: IE9 support 17.07.2019 - ver 6.0.5 - Fix: LESS vendor folder available - Fix: All Media in Text Block works properly 15.07.2019 - ver 6.0.4 - Fix: Element API works properly for 3rd party elements - Fix: Post grid filter displayed properly - Fix: Custom CSS editor does not remove "" - Fix: Directory name typo for Instagram filter files corrected - Fix: Templates import API does work correctly - Fix: Row design options settings for elements in templates works properly - Fix: WooCommerce cart element works properly - Fix: Option "Save as a template" for a row is available - Fix: Elements edit form displayed correctly - Fix: Warning message for PHP function `htmlspecialchars` - Fix: Custom post types taxonomies work in Post Grid element - Fix: Revolution Slider output content properly 31.05.2019 – ver 6.0.3 - Update: Init action priority is changed from 9 to 11 - Update: Allow return in shortcode templates - Update: Coding standards improvements - Fix: Param Group clone - Fix: Checkbox value display in edit form - Fix: Loop attribute tax_query render - Fix: Attach image typo - Fix: Removed notice when shortcode template file missing - Fix: Map meta cap warning on custom post types 17.05.2019 – ver 6.0.2 - Fix: Container elements controls in Backend Editor - Fix: Tour element class error 15.05.2019 - ver 6.0.1 - Fix: Container elements controls in Backend Editor - Fix: Tour element class error - Update: Compliance with coding standards - Update: jQuery Waypoints update to the latest version - Update: Fallback for previews added - Fix: Pageable container autoplay - Fix: Hover box does not flip on iOS devices - Fix: Responsive media queries work properly - Fix: WooCommerce products pages in preview mode - Fix: Data source for Post Grid works with correct taxonomies - Fix: Design options for elements work in preview mode - Fix: The Editor got broken after adding many images - Fix: The posts source got broken in Post Grid after importing data 13.02.2019 - ver 5.7 - Update: Compatibility with PHP 7.3 - Fix: WooCommerce corrected editable role - Fix: Page preview styles independent from view page 27.11.2018 - ver 5.6 - Update: Compatibility with WordPress 5.0 11.10.2018 - ver 5.5.5 - Fix: SSL issues for fonts - Fix: Gutenberg improvements 08.09.2018 - ver 5.5.4 - Fix: Link selector works properly in Backend editor 07.09.2018 - ver 5.5.3 - Added: RTL control toggle added for columns - Fix: Accordion control styles display properly in Role Manager settings - Fix: Plugin update notice works properly - Fix: RTL works properly with full screen rows - Fix: Single Image elements are counted into Yoast SEO sitemap - Fix: Post grid id applied properly to reduce number of records in wp_postmeta - Fix: Exception works properly in Post Grid - Fix: SSL timeout on activation - Fix: Link selector works properly in Frontend and Backend editors - Fix: Simplified controls in Design Options save border color - Fix: Empty space in class name removed for inner column - Fix: Post grid display proper number of posts specified


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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — From the moment parking meter mechanic James Bagarozzo began his scheme to steal from the machines, his life became overrun with quarters. He stashed them in his pockets, in a sack in his truck, in closets at his house.
Over more than eight years, he brought home $210,000 worth of quarters — 10,500 pounds of them — which he dutifully rolled and packed in $500 boxes to be exchanged for cash at banks on his lunch hour.
On Friday, a judge imposed a 2 1/2-year sentence on Bagarozzo, who blamed a gambling addiction and an illness he believed would kill him before he built a nest egg for his family.
"With all its problems, the last thing the city of Buffalo needs is employees who don't do what they're paid to do," U.S. District Judge Richard Arcara said as he rejected a defense plea for home confinement or community service.
From 2003 through 2011, the meter mechanic spent the first half of every workday stealing from 70 to 75 meters, prosecutors said. Rather than fix machines, he broke them so that quarters would collect on top where he could grab them with his hands instead of dropping into the collection canister.
Bagarozzo, speaking purposely but with little emotion, apologized during a brief statement to the court and said he accepted responsibility.
"I have hit rock bottom and I have had to come up with my family and friends," the 58-year-old said.
A former co-worker, Lawrence Charles, followed Bagarozzo's lead, stealing $15,000 in quarters over about five years, prosecutors said. He was expected to get 6 months to a year in prison. His sentencing also was supposed to be Friday, but it was postponed until Aug. 29.
The employees came under scrutiny in 2011 after Parking Commissioner Kevin Helfer noticed the city's new computerized pay stations were bringing in far more money than the old quarter-fed parking meters.
"What may have begun as a theft of nickels and dimes, in the end was the equivalent of a major bank heist," U.S. Attorney William Hochul said.
Since the arrests, the city's annual parking meter revenue has increased by more than $500,000, Helfer said.
Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda said the investigation is not over.
"We are looking at other people," he said.
At the time of his arrest, investigators found $40,000 in cash in the ceiling of Bagarozzo's bedroom, $4,100 in a dresser and $3,000 worth of quarters in closets in bags and boxes around the house.
Prosecutors said the money allowed Bagarozzo to send his daughters to college and pay off his mortgage, but defense attorney James Harrington said virtually everything was lost at casinos.
"It was rooted really in this spiraling addiction that he had," said Harrington, who gave Arcara 138 letters of support from Bagarozzo's friends and family.
In court papers, Harrington wrote that Bagarozzo's stealing began in 2003 following a serious episode of Crohn's disease that left him believing he did not have long to live.
"He said he was worried about his wife and two teenage daughters and that they would have little if he died," the lawyer wrote.
Bagarozzo, who will be allowed to surrender voluntarily, declined to speak with reporters as he left the court surrounded by family.


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At Clerksroom Direct, you have access to over 1,000 expert barristers nationwide. Specialising in a variety of law areas, our barristers have in-depth knowledge of the different courts, judges and tribunals they appear before.
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Honest, professional advice
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Cutting out third parties means it is often quicker to communicate directly with a barrister. You can contact your barrister by phone, email, Skype or another agreed method.
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Jake is responsible for the finance and bookkeeping for all public access matters at Clerksroom Direct. On a personal note, Jake joined the Clerskroom Direct team after graduating with a first-class Economics degree from Cardiff. Jake enjoys anything on a social level and is an avid Arsenal fan.
A barrister can provide expert legal opinion and advice, draft legal documents, attend court as your advocate and represent you at a mediation or arbitration. Barristers are experts in the law and provide a high level of skill when advocacy is required to present your case to a Court or Tribunal. Most barristers do not conduct litigation but, if required, we are able to provide some who are now approved to do so by the Bar Standards Board. We can advise who is best placed to help you once we have reviewed your enquiry.
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Barristers are remarkably cost-effective due to their low overheads. Our barristers mainly work from home which helps to reduce costs further. Many people who have instructed barristers directly have commented favourably regarding the cost of doing so. There is no duplication of work, therefore costs are not duplicated. Barristers' fees are often up to 42% cheaper than solicitors' fees.
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Clerksroom Direct offers the opportunity to create a free account, log in and browse the profiles of over 1000 Public Access accredited barristers located in England and Wales. We offer full national coverage for all civil courts in England and Wales. You search profiles and review the information provided, preselect up to three barristers and then either invite the barristers to provide a fee quote for your enquiry or suggest a fee and see if the barrister is willing to do it for the fee you propose. Barristers will contact you through the portal to say they either accept, reject or wish to quote a different fee. You remain in total control of the service via your login. Once you accept a quote, payment is made via our online card payment system and the barrister is then committed to the fee and timescale you have agreed. If you have any questions, please do let us know. Once agreed between you and the barrister, the barrister will issue a client care letter setting out the fees, timescale and terms on which the service is offered. Once accepted by you, prepayment is requested using our secure online payment portal. As soon as the barrister has agreed the terms with you and payment has been made, the barrister will undertake the work requested.
You deal directly with the barrister and you will be able to discuss the matter by phone, email, Skype or any other agreed method. Dealing directly with a barrister tends to be much quicker than going through a solicitor as the only parties involved are you and your barrister. A normal turnaround time for legal advice is seven days but it can be far quicker if needed.
Barristers are legal experts who normally specialise in a limited range of areas of law. Using an expert means you have the right answer quickly.
The rules governing the instruction of barristers changed in 2004 to allow members of the public to instruct directly. Most barristers do not want to deal with clients directly, preferring the traditional route of working with solicitors. This has meant that little advertising has been undertaken to market the service directly to private or business clients which has resulted in limited media publicity. We continue to work with approximately 20,000 solicitors in England and Wales but we also welcome the opportunities provided by the Public Access rules.
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As a three-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year, Lorenzo Romar has excelled at making in-game adjustments. From the Huskies sideline, he exploits better than most an opponent's weaknesses by helping his teams react quickly.
No wonder the same strategy succeeded Sunday in the Legends Game at the inaugural UW Men's Basketball Alumni Event. The 54-year-old still looked like the NBA shooting guard he once was, and explained another part of why he is the longest tenured coach in the conference.
In front of a sweaty sellout crowd at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, Romar won MVP honors at an event he created. And not just figuratively.
Three months after a mediocre season in Montlake, he re-energized the Huskies fan base by inviting back the players who once starred in Seattle's basketball-crazed market.
No other conclusion seemed plausible hours after the arena PA announcer urged seated fans to squish closer together to make more room when Hec Ed already felt like a pressure cooker.
The heat during the Legends Game wore on Husky stars from the 70s, 80s and 90s, but Romar kept fresh. He knocked down three first-half treys, prompting Chester Dorsey (UW 1974-1977) to lock onto him defensively.
Adjustment time.
Romar began distributing in the second half, coming off the bench and finding shooters camped on the three-point line. He threw a one-handed, no-look pass he surely never taught his players in practice.
His step-back jumper inside the final two minutes clinched the win in a scrimmage where the final score meant little. Still, it looked as if he'd been saving the burst for weeks. Perhaps he wanted video to show future players the effort he demands as a head coach.
He certainly showed the nearly 10,000 in attendance that the four-hour production meant a lot to him. He wouldn't allow it to devolve into the type of soulless all-star exhibition that most basketball purists would forgo for a dirt bath.
"Unbelievable," he said of the support. "There is no way in the world I would have envisioned the (fans) being here like this."
Lost amid the excitement accompanying the return to the 206 of Brandon Roy, Isaiah Thomas, Nate Robinson, Terrence Ross, and Hans Gasser . . . er, Spencer Hawes, was the potential for the Legends and Alumni games to boost Romar's influence in the Northwest. Producing nine NBA players in 11 seasons, after all, is no small feat.
"This can do a lot for recruiting," Justin Dentmon said after scoring 11 points in 16 minutes in the alumni game.
Bringing back former stars to play in front of a packed arena when the atmosphere feels more like early March than late June was important, too.
To make the game, Quincy Pondexter took a 6 a.m. flight from Singapore via Tokyo. Matthew Bryan-Amaning came from London. Bobby Jones flew in a few days after his season with an Italian pro team came to an end.
The cheering during pre-game introductions sounded as if it was meant for a late-season tilt with UCLA.
"These people don't come out to see some scrubs," Romar said. "The way these guys handled their business while they were student-athletes here, the way they carried themselves, is the reason people are here."
It was also why at least three touted basketball recruits were reportedly in-house to see Thomas score 24 points and take MVP in the Alumni Game. Dentmon won the 3-point shootout and Darnell Gant captured the dunk competition. Ross highlighted the latter with a memorable tomahawk jam.
The NCAA forbids Romar from speaking to the media about specific recruits before they sign a letter-of-intent, but he had no problem broadly addressing what the event could do for his program.
"Maybe they can see the type of support we have here for our student-athletes," he said.
As long as the NBA continues to institute a "one-year-and-done" rule for college basketball, Romar will pursue new means to land another Ross. Or Robinson. Or Hawes.
Romar proved it's not impossible to do it with class.
"Watching our guys have fun together and the camaraderie between all of them . . . This was one of the reasons we wanted to do this," he said.
And a boost in recruiting? That probably played a role, too.


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This is a picture captured while we were dancing to Prima Princessa Presents:
The Nutcracker (review and more dancing-fool photos here).
You'll also love this week's lovely "Holiday Traditions" pictures over at Natural Parents Network, based off this month's Carnival of Natural Parenting: Let's Talk Tradition!
at my super-cool collection of Wordless Wednesday linkies,
and let me know if you have one to add.
You can also link up a thumbnail from your post below!


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The weekends on All Things Considered seriesMovies I've Seen a Million Times features filmmakers, actors, writers and directors talking about the movies that they never get tired of watching.
For actor Donald Faison, whose credits includeClueless, Remember the Titans, the TV shows Scrubs and The Exes, the movie he could watch a million times isStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back . "I want to say I saw it at the movie theaters 30 times," Faison says.
Interview Highlights
On when he first saw Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
"I saw The Empire Strikes Back the week that it came out. My father was a huge Star Wars fan. So when it came out, my dad took me, we watched it one time, and he was like, 'You want to see it again?' And I was like, 'Yeah.' And he said, 'All right, act like we lost something.' And so we started looking around our seats like we lost something. The usher left, and then they started letting in people again and we sat right back down in our seats and watched The Empire Strikes Back for the second time that day."
On why he loves the way that Han Solo interacts with Princess Leia
"You know, as a kid, I thought that was so pimp of Han Solo, to read the situation. And I was like, 'If I could read women like Han Solo reads women, I'll be all right.' I failed miserably, by the way."
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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DETROIT (AP) -- Cameras that check around the car for pedestrians. Radar that stops you from drifting out of your lane. An engine able to turn off automatically at traffic lights to conserve fuel.
Technology that saves lives — and fuel — is getting better and cheaper. That means it's no longer confined to luxury brands like Mercedes and Volvo. It's showing up in mainstream vehicles like the Nissan Rogue and Ford Fusion.
"What we see today as slightly elitist technology is changing very, very fast," said Steven Lunn, chief operating officer for TRW Automotive, which supplies electronics and other parts to carmakers.
TRW says its newest radar is a quarter of the price of the model it sold 10 years ago. Its cameras are smaller and cheaper, too, making it easier to put multiple ones on each car.
High-tech options can still cost a few thousand dollars more, but those costs will come down as technology improves and automakers add them to more and more vehicles.
Here are some up-and-coming features that drivers can expect on their next cars:
— Collision warning with automatic braking:
New cars have radar and camera systems that warn you, with beeping sounds, of a possible front-end crash. Some even stop the vehicle, or at least slow it enough to make a crash less severe. More sophisticated systems apply the brakes if a car veers off the road and heads toward a moving or fixed object. The systems are the outgrowth of adaptive cruise control, which came out 15 years ago and helps keep cars a safe distance from vehicles in front of them.
Mercedes, Honda, Toyota, Infiniti, Volvo and other brands offer automatic braking to avoid a collision; more automakers will follow soon. The systems seem to be working. David Zuby, the chief research officer at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said collision warning systems alone reduced crashes by 7 percent in a study of insurance claims for several thousand Mercedes vehicles with the technologies. Adding automatic braking doubled that benefit.
— Advanced cameras:
Automotive cameras are showing up on more cars ahead of a government requirement to install backup cameras, which is expected by 2015. But with cameras getting smaller and cheaper, automakers aren't just putting them on the back of the car anymore. Honda has side cameras that come on automatically when a turn signal is employed, so drivers can spot obstacles while turning. Nissan's around-view monitor blends images from four cameras tucked in the mirrors and elsewhere around the car into a composite, bird's-eye view to help the driver back out of a parking spot. The system is available on a high-end Rogue, which costs $6,000 more than the base model. Volvo and Subaru have front-mounted cameras that can apply brakes to avoid hitting pedestrians.
According to Mobileye, an Israeli maker of automotive cameras, car companies are adding cameras that can read wrong-way road signs, detect large animals such as deer, and even note the colors of traffic lights. All that technology is coming by 2015. The next wave? Nissan and TRW are working on a system to automatically steer the car away from an obstacle. Expect that by 2016.
— Lane Centering:
A camera can follow the road and gently nudge a car — using the brakes — to stay in the center of a lane. These systems — dubbed Lane Keep Assist — are available on most Mercedes-Benz vehicles as well as the Ford Fusion, Ford Explorer, Toyota Prius, Lexus GS and Lincoln MKZ. They aren't cheap. A combined lane-keeping and lane-centering system is a $1,200 option on the Fusion SE. Prius owners must spend $4,320 to get the system, packaged with cruise control and an entertainment system. Lane-centering is an outgrowth of lane-keeping systems, which first appeared on commercial trucks a decade ago. Those systems — now offered by Honda, Buick, Cadillac, Nissan and other brands — sound a beep or vibrate the driver's seat if a camera senses that a car is swerving out of its lane.
— Adaptive headlights:
Headlights don't have to be round any more to accommodate bulbs, so designers have more flexibility on where to put lights. And LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are letting automakers cram more brightness into smaller spaces. Audi, Mercedes, Acura, Mazda and others have so-called adaptive headlights that swivel in the direction the car is going to help drivers see around corners as they turn. And many cars now have high-beam lights that sense oncoming traffic and dim automatically. The Ford Fusion and other mainstream cars have them, and drivers can buy after-market kits to add automatic high beams to cars without them.
— Stop-start:
By 2025, new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. will have to average 54.5 miles per gallon of gasoline, up from the current 30.8 mpg. One feature will almost be a must-have: A "stop-start" device that shuts off the engine at a stop light and automatically turns it on when the driver releases the brake.
Alex Molinaroli, a vice president with Johnson Controls Inc., which makes batteries that power the systems, estimates they raise gas mileage by a minimum of 5 percent.
Stop-start first surfaced in Europe, where gas prices are far higher. Now, nearly all gas-electric hybrid vehicles have it, as do some cars and trucks with conventional engines. The BMW 3-Series has a simple system, helping the four-cylinder version with an automatic transmission get 28 mpg in combined city and highway driving. A high-mileage version of Chrysler's Ram pickup also has it, boosting combined mileage by 1 mpg to 21.
Currently, 5 percent of new U.S. cars have the systems as standard or optional equipment, up from just 0.5 percent two years ago, according to the Edmunds.com automotive website. Johnson Controls predicts that to rise to 40 to 45 percent by 2016.
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