text:
MIDLAND CITY, Ala. — The grandmother of a 5-year-old held hostage for a week in an underground bunker says the boy is OK physically, but she fears the ordeal could stay with him the rest of his life.
Betty Jean Ransbottom told the Associated Press on Tuesday that she had never endured anything so horrible while waiting to find out if her grandson was safe.
Ransbottom says the boy seemed fine in the hospital on Monday after his rescue, but the family isn't sure yet how he is doing mentally.
She says an FBI agent stayed with the family the entire time the boy was being held hostage. Ransbottom says authorities have not given them much information because of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities were painstakingly checking for bombs on the abductor's property Tuesday, a day after a police raid left the man dead.
The FBI and other law enforcement officials left plenty of questions open about how they made the call to rush in and what happened inside the closet-sized hideout on the rural property, where the boy had been held by Jimmy Lee Dykes. But relatives said there was no question about the relief they feel.
"If I could, I would do cartwheels all the way down the road," the boy's great-aunt, Debra Cook, told ABC's Good Morning America on Tuesday — a day before the boy's 6th birthday. "We'd all been walking around in a fog."
She said the boy was happy and playing with his old toys, including a dinosaur. "He was having the biggest time," Cook said.
School officials said at a news conference Tuesday that they planned to have a party to celebrate the boy's birthday, which is Wednesday, though they had not yet set a date for the party. The celebration, likely at the high school football field, would also honor the memory of Charles Albert Poland Jr., the bus driver credited as a hero for his actions to keep nearly two dozen other children on the bus safe when Dykes boarded to abduct the boy.
Principal Phillip Parker said his colleagues were eagerly awaiting the boy's return, though he did not know when that would be.
"We'd love to have him back tomorrow," he said.
Parker stands at the entrance to the school every day as the children arrive, and described the boy as a friendly, energetic child who comes up, shakes his hand and then continues on into the school as if he's in a hurry.
After FBI agents determined that talks with an increasingly agitated Dykes were breaking down, they stormed the shelter Monday afternoon and freed the kindergartner. The 65-year-old armed captor was killed by law enforcement agents, an official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the investigation into the case that had captured national attention.
Dale County Coroner Woodrow Hilboldt said Tuesday that officials had not yet removed Dykes' body from the underground shelter. Hilboldt said he does not know how Dykes died because he has not yet examined the body. Hilboldt said the body will be taken to Montgomery for an autopsy, though he did not know exactly when that may happen.
Meanwhile, federal authorities were tight-lipped about specifics of how they ended the standoff.
Neighbors said they heard a bang and gunshots, but the FBI wouldn't confirm that. Authorities also kept under wraps exactly how they were able to monitor Dykes and the boy in such a confined space.
"We have a big crime scene behind us to process," said FBI agent Steve Richardson of the agency's office in Mobile. "I can't talk about sources, techniques or methods that we used. But I can tell you the success story is (the boy) is safe."
Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson said Dykes was armed when officers entered the bunker. He added the boy was threatened, but declined to elaborate.
"That's why we went inside — to save the child," he said.
It was not immediately clear how authorities determined the man had a gun.
The boy was reunited with his mother and taken to a hospital to be checked out. Officials have said he has Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Richardson said he saw the child at the hospital, and the boy was laughing, joking, eating and "doing the things you'd expect a normal 5- or 6-year-old to do."
The rescue capped a hostage drama that disrupted the lives of many in a tranquil town of 2,400 people set amid peanut farms and cotton fields some 100 miles southeast of the state capital of Montgomery.
It's a small, close-knit community that has long relied on a strong Christian faith, a policy of "love thy neighbor" and the power of group prayer.
The child's plight prompted nightly candlelight vigils. Fliers appealing for his safe release were posted around town, and ribbons were placed on a chain-link fence at the school where the kindergartner was enrolled.
While a town anxiously waited for days, authorities had been speaking with Dykes though a plastic pipe that led into the bunker. The shelter was about 4 feet underground, with about 50 square feet of floor space, built like the tornado shelters frequently found in the South.
Authorities sent food, medicine and other items into the bunker, which apparently had running water, heat and cable television but no toilet.
The standoff unfolded just a few hundred yards from U.S. 231, a busy four-lane highway where both sides of the road were lined with law enforcement vehicles from local, state and federal authorities.
When it was over, one acquaintance, Roger Arnold, commented: "He always said he'd never be taken alive. I knew he'd never come out of there."
On Tuesday, FBI bomb technicians were to continue scouring the property for any explosive devices as officials prepared to collect evidence and more thoroughly study the site, said FBI special agent Jason Pack.
Authorities have not said whether they had determined the property had been rigged with any explosives.
Asked about local disclosures that Dykes had been killed by law enforcement officers, Pack responded in an email early Tuesday: "The facts surrounding the incident will be established by a shooting review team" from Washington in coming days.
At the request of law enforcement authorities, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta had approved the provision of certain equipment that could be employed to assist in the hostage situation, according to a U.S. official who requested anonymity to discuss a pending law enforcement matter. It is not clear whether the equipment was actually used.
Neighbors described Dykes as a nuisance who once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm.
Government records and interviews with neighbors indicate that Dykes joined the Navy in Midland City and served on active duty from 1964 to 1969. His record shows several awards, including the Vietnam Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. During his service, Dykes was trained in aviation maintenance.
He had some scrapes with the law in Florida, including a 1995 arrest for improper exhibition of a weapon. The misdemeanor was dismissed. He also was arrested for marijuana possession in 2000.
He returned to Alabama about two years ago, moving onto the rural tract about 100 yards from his nearest neighbors.
Ronda Wilbur, a neighbor of Dykes who said the man beat her dog to death last year with a pipe, expressed relief like other neighbors who described the suspect as volatile and threatening.
"The nightmare is over," Wilbur said.
Associated Press writers Tamara Lush in Midland City and Lolita Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.


text:
Today we're pleased to announce the Rackspace MySQL Cloud Database Private Beta for US customers by invitation only.
Overview & Features
Historically, customers running relational databases in the cloud have suffered from poor and inconsistent performance as a result of the limitations inherited from the underlying hardware virtualization platform. These constraints are common across most infrastructure providers, including Rackspace.
For example, with virtualized disks, there is extra overhead for each operation against the database. While there have been advances to alleviate some of these constraints, this overhead continues to limit the performance of I/O intensive applications running in the cloud. Other providers have dealt with this limitation by creating custom database storage engines that operate directly in memory. This approach has great benefits in terms of availability and scalability, but often sacrifices referential integrity or compatibility with your existing applications.
Rackspace has taken a fundamentally different approach to solving this problem by eliminating the overhead of traditional virtualization platforms and utilizing a container-based solution to provide a high performance MySQL relational database service. This solution provides resource isolation and allows you to quickly and easily automate complex database administration tasks.
Designed specifically for databases, our offering leverages dedicated SAN storage with built-in data replication that gives you high-speed access and redundancy for your data.
Currently, the Rackspace MySQL Cloud Database API operations for the Private Beta include:
• List, add, and remove database instances
• List, add, and remove databases
• List, add, and remove database users
• Enable root user access
However, we are not stopping there. We are hard at work on a robust set of additional features such as instance and storage scaling, configuration management, backups/restores, and much more.
We are also thrilled to be able to say that we are developing this offering in the open! Rackspace believes this is the first and only OpenStack affiliated cloud database solution built on top of OpenStack's Nova code base. Click here to see our latest OpenStack video with an update from Mark Interrante, VP of Product at Rackspace, and Troy Toman, Director of Engineering for Cloud Compute. Check out http://www.openstack.org and https://launchpad.net/reddwarf to learn more about these open source initiatives.
Are You Interested In Participating?
As we work through the beta development phase of this project, we're looking for customers to evaluate and test this service. The ideal candidate will have Cloud Servers currently running transaction heavy applications with MySQL databases in their configuration and be familiar with the Rackspace RESTful web service APIs.
If you would like to apply for free access to the Rackspace Cloud Database API Private Beta program, please take a moment and fill out a brief survey and tell us why you think you would be a good candidate for the beta. Selected participants will start receiving invitations for the Private Beta over the next couple weeks.
We are truly excited to work with our customers to finalize this new offering and your participation and feedback will be crucial to making this product a success.
Be sure to subscribe to our blog for future product announcements.
APRIL 16 UPDATE: Rackspace Cloud Databases is now available through our Early Access Program. For more details, click here: http://www.rackspace.com/cloud/cloud_hosting_products/databases/
Daniel Morris is the Sr. Product Manager for Platform at Rackspace.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
59 After Irenaeus, book v. ch. xxx. [vol. i. p. 559, this series], many of the ancients express this opinion. See too Bellarmine, De Pontifice Roni., iii. 12.
60 diaboloj.
61 Gen. xlix. 16.
62 fwnhn ocuthtoj. There is another reading, spoudhn = haste.
63 xremetismou. [Conf. p. 207, supra.]
64 Jer. viii. 16.
65 Deut. xxxiii. 22.
66 Or, the theologian. The Apocalypse (xi. 3) mentions only two witnesses, who are understood by the ancients in general as Enoch and Elias. The author of the Chronicon Paschale, p. 21, on Enoch, says: "This is he who, along with Elias, is to withstand Antichrist in the last days, and to confute his deceit, according to the tradition of the Church." This addition as to the return of John the Evangelist is somewhat more uncommon. And yet Ephriem of Antioch, in Photius, cod. ccxxix., states that this too is supported by ancient, ecclesiastical tradition, Christ's saying in John xxi. 22 being understood to that effect. See also Hippolytus, De Antichristo, ch. l. p. 213, supra.-Migne. [Enoch and Elias are not dead. But see Heb. ix. 27.]
67 Dan. ix. 27. ( Note our author's adoption of the plan of a year for a day, Ezek. iv. 6. See Pusey, Daniel, p. 165.]
68 Rev. xi. 3.
69 Rev. xi. 6; [ 1 Kings xvii. 1; Ecclus. xlviii. 3].
70 para tou diabolou, [That is, by the devil.]
71 anafanen. But Cod. B reads anafuen.
72 anomiaj. Cod. B gives apwleiaj, perdition: and for mellei = is to, it reads qelei = wishes. [ 2 Thess. ii. 3, 4-8.]
73 God. B gives aeiparqenou, ever-virgin.
74 en planh. Cod, B reads akribwj, exactly. Many of tbe ancients hold that AntiChrist will be a demon in human figure. See Augustine, Sulpicius Severus, in Dialogue II., and Philippus Dioptra, iii. 11, etc.
75 fantastikhn thj sarkoj autou ousian.
76 Organ, organon.
77 Cod. B reads thn qeotokon egnwmen sarkikwj kai aplanwj, instead of the text, sarkoforon aplanwj, etc. [ Conf. vol. iii. p. 523.]
78 Ex. xxxiv. 19; Num. viii. 16; Luke ii. 23.
79 ou mhn oudamwj.
80 Matt. xxiv. 24.
81 Eph. iv. 26.
82 Dan. ix. 27, [The anomia which more and more prevail. in our age in all nations, makes all this very significant to us, of "the last days."]
83 Rev. xiii. 18.
84 en th grafh.
85 arnoumai. But these letters of the word arnoumai in their numerical value will not give the number 666 unless it is written arnoume. See Haymo on the Apocalypse, book iv.
86 The text is in confusion: epeidh kaiprwhn dia twn uphretwn autou o antidikoj exqroj h goun twn eidwlolatrwn, toij martusi tou Xristou proetrepon oi anomoi, etc.
87 antidikoj. In B, planoj = deceiver.
88 B reads ton kosmon, the world.
89 B reads odunhj, pain.
90 [Note this. The faithful are to have the Holy Scriptures in their hand. But this has been condemned by repeated bulls and anathemas of Roman pontiffs: e.g.,by Clement XI., A.D. 1713:and no Bible in the vulgar tongue ever appeared in Rome till A.D. 1870, on the overthrow of the papal kingdom.]
91 [Deut. xxviii. 66, 677.]
92 [The reference is to Mal. i. II, and incenseis expounded spiritually by the Ante-Nicene Fathers generally See Irenaeus, vol. i. p. 574, Tertullian, iii. p. 346 and passim.]
93 [Isa. i. 8.]
94 [The public reading of Scripture-lessons is implied, Acts xv. 21. See Hooker, Eccl. Pol., book v. cap. xix.]
95 paqwn. B reads pagidwn, snares.
96 R reads daimonwn, demons.
97 epifaneia.
98 Matt. xxiv. 27, 28.
99 See Jo. Voss, These Theolog., p. 228. [And compare, concerning Constantine's vision, Robertson and his notes, Hist., vol. i. p. 186, and newman's characteristic argument in his Essay on Miracles, prefixed to the third volume of his Fleury, pp. 133-143.]
100 Dan. xii. 2.
101 Isa. xxvi. 19.
102 polloi, (or the received oi nekroi.
103 John v, 25.


text:
- salmonella
- Introduction
- Author
- Repository
- Tools
- Modules
- salmonella
- report
- report->list
- log!
- make-salmonella
- (salmonella 'init-repo!)
- (salmonella 'clear-repo!)
- (salmonella 'fetch <egg>)
- (salmonella 'install <egg>)
- (salmonella 'test <egg>)
- (salmonella 'check-version <egg>)
- (salmonella 'env-info)
- (salmonella 'meta-data <egg>)
- (salmonella 'check-dependencies <egg> <meta data>)
- (salmonella 'check-category <egg> <meta data>)
- (salmonella 'check-license <egg> <meta data>)
- (salmonella 'check-author <egg> <meta data>)
- (salmonella 'check-doc <egg>)
- salmonella-log-parser
- Reading
- fetch action
- install action
- check-version action
- test action
- meta-data action
- check-doc action
- start & end actions
- Statistics
- Miscelaneous
- salmonella
- Environment variables
- Caveats
- License
- Version history
Salmonella is a set of tools to test CHICKEN eggs. Here's a brief summary of features:
- very light on dependencies (none at the moment)
- parallelizable (salmonella-epidemy)
- can be run with or without Internet access
Note: starting on version 2.0, salmonella is a rewrite of the salmonella 1.x series, which was available since CHICKEN 2.x. The documentation for the 1.x series is still available at http://wiki.call-cc.org/egg/salmonella-1.x.
salmonella is hosted on github: https://github.com/mario-goulart/salmonella
This egg provides some command line tools. The next sections describe each of them.
This is the core tool for testing eggs. salmonella can perform the following tests:
- installation of eggs
- dependencies verification
- .meta file consistency check
- egg tests execution
- general egg consistency (i.e., can be used as an egg lint to avoid common mistakes when publishing a new egg or a new egg version)
salmonella generates a sexpr-based log file as output. That file can be used by tools like salmonella-html-report to generate a pretty output in HTML.
When executing, salmonella prints some basic information on the standard output. Detailed information can be viewed with the aforementioned salmonella-html-report or with salmonella-log-viewer, a tool which is provided by this egg. salmonella-log-viewer parses the log file generated by salmonella and formats the data on the standard output.
Command line options
Here's the output of salmonella -h with an explanation for each command line option:
salmonella [ -h | --help ] salmonella <options> eggs
<options>: --log-file=<logfile> The name for the log file to be generated by salmonella (default=salmonella.log).
--chicken-installation-prefix=<prefix dir> If you want to test eggs using a chicken installed on a certain directory, you can use this option (it should point to the same directory as given to `PREFIX' when installing CHICKEN). If omitted, salmonella uses CHICKEN tools from the current runtime's installation prefix.
--chicken-install-args=<install args> This option can be used customize chicken-install's arguments. You can use <repo> to indicate where you want the actual repository directory to be replaced by salmonella.
--eggs-source-dir=<eggs dir> By default, salmonella fetches eggs from the egg server. If you have a local copy of eggs code, you can use this option to point to the directory where they are located.
--eggs-doc-dir=<doc dir> By default, salmonella checks if documentation for eggs exist by accessing the CHICKEN wiki. If you have a local copy of the wiki documentation for eggs, you can use this option to point to the directory where they can be found.
--keep-repo For each egg that salmonella tests, it sets the egg installation repository empty and removes it at the end of its execution. This option makes salmonella keep the egg installation repository after testing each egg and after finishing its execution. This option can save a lot of time when testing several eggs, at the cost of potentially making salmonella unable to catch dependencies problems.
--skip-eggs=<comma-separated list of eggs to skip> A comma-separated list of eggs to be skipped.
--repo-dir=<path to repo dir to be used> Alternative location for the egg installation directory used by salmonella. By default, salmonella generates a `salmonella-tmp-xxxxx' directory in the current directory. This option can be useful when used with `--keep-repo' to reuse egg installation repositories for several salmonella executions.
--verbosity=<number> A number to indicate salmonella's verbosity level. 0 means practically silent. 1 is mostly silent and 2 (default) prints some useful information while salmonella is running.
Some quick tips by example
Simplest case: testing eggs using the remote egg server and the chicken tools (chicken-install and csi) in the system PATH
$ salmonella big-chicken slice
You can test all the available eggs using one of the following approaches:
1. If you have CHICKEN >= 4.7.2:
$ salmonella `chicken-install -list`
2. If you don't have CHICKEN >= 4.7.2:
$ salmonella `wget http://code.call-cc.org/cgi-bin/henrietta.cgi?list=1 -q -O -`
If you don't want to test some specific eggs, you can skip them:
$ salmonella --skip-eggs=macosx,hfs+ `chicken-install -list`
You can tell salmonella to use a specific CHICKEN version:
$ salmonella --chicken-installation-prefix=/usr/local/chicken-4.7.3 big-chicken slice
Not cleaning the egg installation repository after installing each egg may significantly speed up the salmonella execution time (the default behavior is to set the egg installation repository empty after testing each egg):
$ salmonella --keep-repo big-chicken slice
warning: if you use --keep-repo, salmonella will not be able to catch dependencies problems.
If you want to reuse the same egg installation repository for multiple salmonella runs, you can provide a specific directory:
$ salmonella --repo-dir=my-repo --keep-repo big-chicken slice
By default, salmonella generates a log file named salmonella.log in the current directory. You can change that by using the --log-file command line option:
$ salmonella --log-file=my-log-file.log big-chicken slice
Using salmonella as an egg lint tool
Suppose you are working on a new egg and you want to check if it is working ok before releasing it (or a new version). You can use salmonella to check it:
$ cd my-egg # where your egg code is stored $ salmonella
This tool can be used to turn salmonella log files into something readable on the standard output.
Just provide a salmonella log file as argument to salmonella-log-viewer:
$ salmonella-log-viewer salmonella.log
Alternatively, you can use salmonella-html-report for a prettier and more complete format.
Note: this tool is currently not supported on Windows systems.
salmonella-epidemy can be used to run multiple salmonella instances in parallel. It can be handy when you have a multi-core machine and you want to make use of all cores, for example. The command line options are basically the same as for salmonella, plus a --instances=<number> to indicate how many salmonella instances you want to run in parallel.
This tool can significantly speed up salmonella execution times on multi-core machines.
Usage example:
$ salmonella-epidemy --instances=2 big-chicken slice spiffy amb
This tool simply puts more than one salmonella log into a single one, so it can be used by tools like salmonella-log-viewer and salmonella-html-report.
Usage example:
$ salmonella-log-merger --log-file=full.log file1.log file2.log
Log file format
The command line tool writes a log file which contains records in the following format:
(<egg> <action> <status> <message> <duration>)
Can be either a symbol that indicates the egg-name or #f to indicate the start and end actions (logged when salmonella is started and when it finishes testing, respectively).
A symbol to indicate the action that was executed. Can be one of the following values:
- start: starting salmonella
- fetch: fetching egg
- install: installing egg
- skip: skipping egg
- test: testing egg
- end: salmonella has finished
A numeric value indicating the exit status of the executed action. When the action is test and status is -1, it means that the egg has no tests.
The output generated by the commands executed to perform <action>. A string.
The time (in seconds) that was taken to execute <action>.
For the start and end actions, the value is the seconds since epoch, so the total salmonella execution time can be determined by subtracting the start time from the end time.
Salmonella provides two modules:
- salmonella
- the core salmonella functionality and basic data strucuture for logs (report records)
- salmonella-log-parser
- provides procedures to access log files and compute simple statistics regarding log file data.
- report egg action status message durationrecord
- make-reportprocedure
- report?procedure
- report-eggprocedure
- report-actionprocedure
- report-statusprocedure
- report-messageprocedure
- report-durationprocedure
- report-egg-set!procedure
- report-action-set!procedure
- report-status-set!procedure
- report-message-set!procedure
- report-duration-set!procedure
report objects. Each log file registry is represented by a report object (serialized as a list).
- report->list reportprocedure
Convert a report object to a list.
- log! report log-fileprocedure
Print the report representation to log-file.
- make-salmonella tmp-dir #!key chicken-installation-prefix chicken-install-args eggs-source-dir eggs-doc-dir this-egg?procedure
The salmonella maker. Returns a procedure that receives symbols (methods) to indicate the actions to be performed. The available methods are (example considering a salmonella object returned by make-salmonella):
(salmonella 'init-repo!)
(salmonella 'clear-repo!)
(salmonella 'fetch <egg>)
(salmonella 'install <egg>)
(salmonella 'test <egg>)
(salmonella 'check-version <egg>)
(salmonella 'env-info)
(salmonella 'meta-data <egg>)
(salmonella 'check-dependencies <egg> <meta data>)
(salmonella 'check-category <egg> <meta data>)
(salmonella 'check-license <egg> <meta data>)
(salmonella 'check-author <egg> <meta data>)
(salmonella 'check-doc <egg>)
- read-log-file filenameprocedure
Reads the log file filename and returns a list of report records.
fetch action
- fetch-status egg logprocedure
- fetch-message egg logprocedure
- fetch-duration egg logprocedure
install action
- install-status egg logprocedure
- install-message egg logprocedure
- install-duration egg logprocedure
check-version action
- check-version-status egg logprocedure
- check-version-message egg logprocedure
- egg-version egg logprocedure
- check-version-ok? egg logprocedure
test action
- test-status egg logprocedure
- test-message egg logprocedure
- test-duration egg logprocedure
- has-test? egg logprocedure
meta-data action
- meta-data egg logprocedure
- egg-dependencies egg logprocedure
check-doc action
- doc-exists? egg logprocedure
start & end actions
- start-time logprocedure
- end-time logprocedure
- total-time logprocedure
- salmonella-info logprocedure
- count-install-ok logprocedure
- count-install-fail logprocedure
- count-test-ok logprocedure
- count-test-fail logprocedure
- count-no-test logprocedure
- count-documented logprocedure
- count-undocumented logprocedure
- prettify-time timeprocedure
- sort-eggs eggsprocedure
- log-eggs logprocedure
- log-skipped-eggs logprocedure
Environment variables
When running, salmonella sets the SALMONELLA_RUNNING environment variable. If you need to check if your tests code is being run by salmonella, this variable can be used.
Testing executable files installed by eggs
Salmonella sets a private repository to install and test eggs, so when extensions install programs, they get installed into <salmonella-repo-dir>/bin, not into $CHICKEN_PREFIX/bin.
So, how to invoke (from tests/run.scm, for example) a binary executable file your egg installs? You have the following options:
- you can build up the absolute pathname for the executable, like (make-pathname (program-path) "the-executable"). That is not going to work with salmonella, since the executable file will get installed into <salmonella-repo-dir>/bin, not $CHICKEN_PREFIX/bin. Since program-path points to $CHICKEN_PREFIX/bin (or, when $CHICKEN_PREFIX is not set, it falls back to C_INSTALL_BIN_HOME, which is set during CHICKEN's build time), salmonella won't find it, as salmonella didn't install it there. Salmonella may find it, in case you have that egg installed, but in this case you'll be testing a different program.
- you can rely on the executable being found in your system's PATH variable. Salmonella actually prepends <salmonella-repo-dir>/bin to your system's PATH variable when running, so, if you call the executable file installed by your egg with with (system "the-executable"), for example, salmonella will run the right file. On the other hand, you if run chicken-install with the -test option, and the CHICKEN tools are not in the system's PATH (e.g. /some/dir/not/in/PATH/chicken-install -test), the executable installed by your egg will not be found.
So far the only "portable" solution is a combination of both options, which happens to be a bit ugly. Salmonella sets the SALMONELLA_RUNNING environment variable when it runs, so your test script may check that variable and assume your test executable will be found in PATH if it is set. If SALMONELLA_RUNNING is not set, just build up the absolute path to your executable using (program-path). Here's an example:
(use setup-api) (define executable (make-pathname (if (get-environment-variable "SALMONELLA_RUNNING") #f ;; salmonella adds its REPO_PREFIX/bin to PATH (program-path)) "executable-filename"))
salmonella-epidemy on Windows
salmonella-epidemy is currently not supported on Windows systems.
Version history
Version 2.7
- Command line tools handle --version (suggested by Michael Stapelberg)
- salmonella: prepend <repo dir>/bin and <chicken-installation-prefix>/bin to PATH
- salmonella: fix scrutinizer warnings
- salmonella: set CHICKEN_C_INCLUDE_PATH
- salmonella: print/log environment variables set when running
- salmonella-epidemy: delete repo-dir, unless --keep-repo is provided
- salmonella-epidemy: write per-instance temporary directories in repo-dir
- salmonella-epidemy: show when instances are finished
- salmonella-epidemy: fix verbosity handling
- salmonella-epidemy: properly escape special shell characters in --chicken-install-args
- salmonella-epidemy: remove --eggs-source-dir support due to concurrency issues
- salmonella-epidemy: unless --salmonella-prefix is provided, salmonella-epidemy calls salmonella from the same prefix
- salmonella-epidemy: add -h|--help command line options
- salmonella-epidemy: correctly handle --skip-eggs
Version 2.6
- Handle broken .meta files
- Handle version specification in test-depends (thanks to Peter Bex for pointing that out)
- Fixed filenames for chicken and csi on mingw (.exe extension). Thanks to Dan Leslie for pointing that out.
- The --this-egg command line option has been deprecated
Version 2.5
- Log check-version actions even when fetching eggs from remote servers (i.e., no --eggs-source-dir), so version numbers can get logged
Version 2.4
- "Fixed" hack to remove -test from chicken-install arguments when installing eggs
Version 2.3
- Bug fix: reference to unbound variable eggs (thanks to Shawn Rutledge for noticing that)
Version 2.2
- Only create the temporary repo dir when it is necessary (i.e., not for handling --help or when there's nothing to do)
Version 2.1
- Hours, minutes and seconds formatted with exact numbers (prettify-time)
Version 2.0
- Rewrite of the 1.x version


text:
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text:
The lost plague – London graveyards suggest that Black Death strain may be extinct
The road of East Smithfield runs through east London and carries a deep legacy of death. Two cemeteries, established in the area in the 14th century, contain hundreds of bodies, piled five deep. These remains belong to people killed by the Black Death, an epidemic that claimed up to 100 million lives. It was one of the biggest disasters in human history and seven centuries on, its victims are still telling its story.
In the latest chapter, Verena Schuenemann from the University of Tubingen and Kirsten Bos from McMaster University have reconstructed parts of the genome of the Black Death plague bacterium, and found features that are unlike any seen today. In line with another study from last year, Schuenemann and Bos's work suggests that the great butcher of medieval Europe may no longer exist.
Of course, plague is still around, caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis. The Black Death is generally assumed to be an intense pandemic of the same disease. It's the second of a trilogy that began with the Plague of Justinian in AD 541 and that continues with modern plague, which infects some 2,000 people a year. But some scientists and historians saw features in the Black Death that separates it from other plague pandemics – it spread too quickly, killed too often, recurred too slowly, appeared in different seasons, caused symptoms in different parts of the body, and so on.
These differences have fuelled many alternative theories for the Black Death, which push Y.pestis out of the picture. Was it caused by an Ebola-like virus? An outbreak of anthrax? Some as-yet-unidentified infection that has since gone extinct? In 2000, Didier Raoult tried to solve the debate by sequencing DNA from the teeth of three Black Death victims, exhumed from a French grave. He found Y.pestis DNA. "We believe that we can end the controversy," he wrote. "Medieval Black Death was plague."
Raoult was half-wrong. The controversy did not end. Some people argued that it's not clear if the remains came from Black Death victims at all. Meanwhile, Alan Cooper analysed teeth from 66 skeletons taken from so-called "plague pits", including the one in East Smithfield. He found no trace of Y.pestis. Other teams did their own analyses, and things went back and forth with a panto-like tempo. Oh yes, Y.pestis was there. Oh no it wasn't. Oh yes it was.
Schuenemann and Bos's study is the latest volley. It not only confirms the idea that the Black Death was plague, but it might explain why that particular pandemic was so different to the others – it was Y.pestis, but not as we know it.
They extracted DNA taken from 99 bones and teeth, previously exhumed from East Smithfield, and found Y.pestis in 20 of them. They're sure that the sequences haven't come from modern contaminants. Aside from the usual precautions, they also did all of her work at a facility that had never touched a Y.pestis sample, they had the results independently confirmed in a different lab, and they found traces of DNA damage that are characteristic of ancient sequences. They also failed to find any Y.pestis DNA in samples treated in exactly the same way, taken from a medieval cemetery that preceded the Black Death. Finally, it's clear that the people exhumed from East Smithfield did indeed die from the Black Death – it's one of the few places around the world that has been "definitively and uniquely" linked to that pandemic.
Many of the Y.pestis sequences came from a plasmid – a ring of DNA that sits apart from the bacterium's main genome. This one, known as pPCP1, is responsible for many of the features that set Y.pestis apart from its close relatives and contains many of the genes that allow it to grow in human hosts, and spread to new ones. However, pPCP1 wasn't responsible for the unique nature of the Black Death – the Smithfield sequences were no different to those of modern strains.
However, Schuenemann and Bos also sequenced fragments of the bacterium's main genome, and these contained two mutations that aren't found in any known Y.pestis sequences, modern or ancient. This alone suggests that these sequences couldn't have come from modern bacteria.
It's unlikely that these two mutations were specifically responsible for the unusual nature of the medieval plague pandemic. After all, neither of them would have led to any changes in the bacterium's proteins. However, they do suggest that the ancient strain was something different to those we study today, and perhaps one that is no longer around.
"There is really no way to know anything about the biology of the pathogen, until the entire genome is sequenced," says Hendrik Poinar, who led the study. Doing that is difficult because the bacterium's DNA has been so heavily fragmented over time. However, his team is on the case. Perhaps the victims of this lost plague will eventually tell us about the genetic changes that made it such a potent killer.
That knowledge could be very important. Plague has a habit of rebounding through the centuries and the World Health Organisation classifies is as a "re-emerging" disease. "We need to know what changes in the ancient one might have accounted for its tremendous virulence," says Poinar. "Than perhaps we can be better prepared should it ever re-emerge in its past form."
Reference: Schuenemann, Bos, deWitte, Schmedes, Jamieson, Mittnik, Forrest, Coombes, Wood, Earn, White, Krause & Poinar. 2011. Targeted enrichment of ancient pathogens yielding the pPCP1 plasmid of Yersinia pestis from victims of the Black Death. PNAS http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1105107108
Comments (17)
Is there any risk that by exhuming these bodies that a dormant strain is reintroduced into the world?
Great, informative piece. You could teach one thing or two about journalism to mainstream TV journalists. The Channel 4 coverage of this story was appalling!
@ Kasem: Slim to none, that would be like dinosaurs coming back to life (An exaggeration, but same idea). DNA breaks down pretty easily once an organism dies. The sequences separate, pieces get lost and the fragments become useless. Other bacteria could theoretically absorb the broken fragments of DNA, but that's pretty unlikely, and much less likely to result in anything worth worrying about.
Thanks for telling this story the way it really unfolded, without hyperbole. The stories I've seen about it leave out salient adjectives or toss in modifiers that belie the facts, making it sound, for example, as though Yersinia pestis of any kind is now extinct, etc.
I'm a bit surprised by the amount of attention that this study has received. This is a technical piece of work first and foremost. The real achievement is that the scientists managed to completely reconstruct an ancient plasmid is, but this is hardly talked about in most press coverage (I'm glad you mention it Ed).
The "Black death is extinct"-angle is based on two synonymous mutations that were found on the Yersinia chromosome, indicating that this medieval killer was a strain of its own. This is hardly surprising, and not something new either. Other unique strains of Yersinia pestis have previously been identified on the basis of SNPs, with more interesting conclusions tied to them (a dual introduction of plague bacteria): http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1001134
"Furthermore, on the basis of 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms plus the absence of a deletion in glpD gene, our aDNA results identified two previously unknown but related clades of Y. pestis associated with distinct medieval mass graves. These findings suggest that plague was imported to Europe on two or more occasions, each following a distinct route."
@1 Kasem,
I too used to worry about these ancient killers reappearing. However there is a key fact rarely mentioned when this topic comes up.
The Black Death was a feature of the 1300's, long before the germ theory of disease, antiseptics, vaccines and so forth. It disappeared as mysteriously (to the poor citizens of medieval Europe) as it appeared. Most of the efforts of people at the time were ineffective, with a partial exception for shunning and isolation.
Now we are much better equipped to deal with such diseases. Even better, the public health lessons have been learned. For the majority of the population, they do not live in conditions that are hospitable to plague. The role of fleas and rats as plague vectors is understood so we target those both directly and indirectly.
Summing up, even if the bubonic plague were to reappear in it's ancient, lethal form, it would have a terrible time trying to gain a foothold in the population. We know it too well and have numerous effective interventions.
Fun fact: did you know that certain small mammals in North America carry plague? And sometimes they manage to infect people too. It's rare and quite treatable.
Is that picture from a Grateful Dead concert…?
jeez, the way some of neighbors live, they could bring back the plague!
Sorry I'm so late to the party, but I was wondering if the strain of Y pestis that they found could be linked to specific features of plague infection? I know that traditional plague the way we think of it is spread by flea bites, but there are also strains of plague which kill much faster and are spread in the air (via coughing, etc). This was called "pneumatic" plague and is thought to be much faster spreading and far deadlier than the kind spread in what we usually think of as the traditional manner. Do we now think that the plague from the 13th century was maybe pneumatic, or had pneumatic features (usually I think pneumatic didn't have the buboes associated with bubonic plague), rather than being strictly bubonic? I don't know a lot about this, just wanted to ask.
Could it be that the lower fatality rate today is a result of the fact that the ancesters of those of us living now were the offspring of those people who were exposed to the plague and survived it?
Another great, fascinating article. I passed it on to a friend who is teaching a European history course this semester and was covering the black plague last week. She enjoyed it enough to consider using it as a source in future semesters, although she did raise a point about the numbers of people killed by the Black Plague. I thought I would share her response:
"…Thank you so much for passing on this article to me. I am constantly amazed at how our knowledge of the past is in such a state of flux; history, as I constantly remind my students, is truly a never-ending argument.
I do wonder, however, at the claim at the start of the article which asserts that the Black Death killed approximately 100 million people. At the height of the High Middle Ages, the population of Europe was only around 75-100 million, and it had certainly fallen by the time of the Black Death's first onslaught in 1349 due to wasting famine in the early decades of the 14th century. I generally stick to the consensus historical view that approximately 20 million died in the first 3-year outbreak. Perhaps the writers meant that upwards of 100 million people have died over the centuries due to the plague?"
So I am wondering about the 100 million death figure (or to be fair, what you refer to as up to 100 million); did it refer to the Black Plague specifically, or a larger cumulative figure?
By the way, I have used a variety of your posts as a resource in classes over the years, and have shared them with colleagues in Biology. I thought you might find it gratifying that psychologists, biologists, and now historians in one location are engaged in conversations connected to your work.
A friend of mine from Arizona caught the plague. The local doctors figured out what she had quickly and cured her. She wasn't especially impressed by the disease, which she told me was no worse than a bad case of the flu; but it's true she had been treated promptly with antibiotics.
@Scicurious: just a tiny but significant correction: it's "pneumonic…" not "pneumatic…" plague (although I admit your error made me smile)! The latter refers to air-operated machines! The former to airborne and lung-infecting forms of diseases, such as plague and anthrax…and is, indeed, related to the word root of "pneumonia".
Also…(sorry to have omitted this in my earlier post)…I don't think that pneumonic plague is necessarily a different "strain" of the bacterium than that causing the other forms of the disease, but, like the parallel with anthrax, a different phase of the "natural history" of the disease as it affects an individual, which may or may not arise in the course of a particular individual's infection. When it does, of course, its route of transmission increases its virulence substantially. Perhaps someone more familiar with plague etiology can enlighten us on this point. Thanks.
Wow. loved reading this. just finished The Plague by Camus. totally chilling to read this right after.
I also enjoyed reading The Plague a few years ago – devastating emotionally – Ben – loved your correction – made me smile too! I could have easily made the same error! I know the Hanta virus is also active in the US…


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LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — Heading into its contest against Hart at home on Friday night, the St. Francis High basketball team had only lost one game this season.
That loss?
A three-point defeat to Hart just six days prior.
Well, the Golden Knights now have two losses.
St. Francis came up short in another thriller to Hart, losing, 67-62.
Down 18 with just under four minutes remaining in the game, the Golden Knights rallied to within 65-62 in the waning seconds before coming up short.
"For one, we were knocking down our shots," said St. Francis' Noah Willerford of his team's rally. "We bared down on defense. We just pushed it and it worked in our favor."
Willerford finished with 23 points, but the big buckets came down the stretch. The junior scored eight points in the final 71 seconds, including a pair of three-pointers.
Kyle Leufroy hit a three with 11 seconds left to put the Golden Knights to within 65-62, but that's as close as the rally got.
"Obviously, when you have nothing left to lose, you sometimes fight with a reckless abandon that we need them to come out on the floor with," said St. Francis Coach Ray O'Brien. "I tell you one thing, our kids are never going to quit."
The game was ugly early on. With St. Francis (7-2) up, 6-5, Hart went on a 15-2 run to close out the first quarter. The Indians took a 39-14 advantage into halftime after the Golden Knights managed only six points in the second period.
St. Francis had difficulties dealing with Hart's press.
"Hart gambles on a press, and they do a good job of it, and we weren't as good breaking it," O'Brien said. "We never got anything going against their press."
The Golden Knights cut the 25-point deficit down to 41-26 midway through the third quarter, but Hart regrouped. It looked as though the rout was on when the Indians held a 61-43 advantage with just under four minutes remaining in the game, before the Golden Knights' manic rally.
Leufroy finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists. Evan Crawford added eight points, nine rebounds and six assists in the losing effort.
Lewis Stallworth led Hart (10-0) with 24 points and six rebounds. Myles Franklin added 13 points.
"We just wanted to play with better effort," said Hart Coach Tom Kelly. "We played an unbelievable first half, and then we stopped playing."


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The Crucible – Drama Review
American Dream
The Crucible Drama Review – American Dream
"The American Dream is the largely unacknowledged screen in front of which all American writing plays itself out," Arthur Miller has said.
"Whoever is writing in the United States is using the American Dream as an ironical pole of his story.
People elsewhere tend to accept, to a far greater degree anyway, that the conditions of life are hostile to man's pretensions." In Miller's more than thirty plays, which have won him a Pulitzer Prize and multiple Tony Awards, he puts in question "death and betrayal and injustice and how we are to account for this little life of ours."
Political and Moral Convictions
The Crucible Drama Review – Political and Moral Convictions
For nearly six decades, Miller has been creating characters that wrestle with power conflicts, personal and social responsibility, the repercussions of past actions, and the twin poles of guilt and hope. In his writing and in his role in public life, Miller articulates his profound political and moral convictions.
He once said he thought theater could "change the world." The Crucible, which premiered in 1953, is a fictionalization of the Salem witch-hunts of 1692, but it also deals in an allegorical manner with the House Un-American Activities Committee.
In a note to the play, Miller writes, "A political policy is equated with moral right, and opposition to it with diabolical malevolence."
Dealing as it did with highly charged current events, the play received unfavorable reviews and Miller was cold-shouldered by many colleagues. When the political situation shifted, Death of a Salesman went on to become Miller's most celebrated and most produced play, which he directed at the People's Art Theatre in Beijing in 1983.
Modern Tragedian
The Crucible Drama Review – Modern Tragedian
A modern tragedian, Miller says he looks to the Greeks for inspiration, particularly Sophocles.
"I think the tragic feeling is evoked in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need be, to secure one thing-his sense of personal dignity," Miller writes.
"From Orestes to Hamlet, Medea to Macbeth, the underlying struggle is that of the individual attempting to gain his 'rightful' position in his society."
Miller considers the common man "as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were." Death of a Salesman, which opened in 1949, tells the story of Willy Loman, an aging salesman who makes his way "on a smile and a shoeshine."
iller lifts Willy's illusions and failures, his anguish and his family relationships, to the scale of a tragic hero. The fear of being displaced or having our image of what and who we are destroyed is best known to the common man, Miller believes.
"It is time that we, who are without kings, took up this bright thread of our history and followed it to the only place it can possibly lead in our time-the heart and spirit of the average man."
Pulitzer Prize
The Crucible Drama Review – Pulitzer Prize
Arthur Asher Miller, the son of a women's clothing company owner, was born in 1915 in New York City. His father lost his business in the Depression and the family was forced to move to a smaller home in Brooklyn. After graduating from high school, Miller worked jobs ranging from radio singer to truck driver to clerk in an automobile-parts warehouse.
Miller began writing plays as a student at the University of Michigan, joining the Federal Theater Project in New York City after he received his degree. His first Broadway play, The Man Who Had All the Luck, opened in 1944 and his next play, All My Sons, received the Drama Critics' Circle Award. His 1949 Death of a Salesman won the Pulitzer Prize.
In 1956 and 1957, Miller was subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Committee and was convicted of contempt of Congress for his refusal to identify writers believed to hold Communist sympathies.
The following year, the United States Court of Appeals overturned the conviction. In 1959 the National Institute of Arts and Letters awarded him the Gold Medal for Drama. Miller has been married three times: to Mary Grace Slattery in 1940, Marilyn Monroe in 1956, and photographer Inge Morath in 1962, with whom he lives in Connecticut.
He and Inge have a daughter, Rebecca. Among his works are A View from the Bridge, The Misfits, After the Fall, Incident at Vichy, The Price, The American Clock, Broken Glass, Mr. Peters' Connections, and Timebends, his autobiography.
Miller's writing has earned him a lifetime of honors, including the Pulitzer Prize, seven Tony Awards, two Drama Critics Circle Awards, an Obie, an Olivier, the John F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Dorothy and Lillian Gish prize. He holds honorary doctorate degrees from Oxford University and Harvard University.
All My Sons
The Crucible Drama Review – All My Sons
Throughout his life and work, Miller has remained socially engaged and has written with conscience, clarity, and compassion.
As Chris Keller says to his mother in All My Sons, "Once and for all you must know that there's a universe of people outside, and you're responsible to it."
Miller's work is infused with his sense of responsibility to humanity and to his audience.
"The playwright is nothing without his audience," he writes. "He is one of the audience who happens to know how to speak."


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Hues of a post-racial election
Americans don't vote based on race.
Many would like to believe that.
Story Continued Below
That wasn't the case when I first worked in local politics 25 years ago. The minority candidates would huddle to choose one from their ranks to get elected. They believed voters would elect only one new minority candidate, not several.
Two decades later, Barack Obama becomes president with support from a breadth of communities. Had the U.S. become post-racial? Obama couldn't win with just support of African Americans (13 percent of the population).
This year, the debate of a post-racial election continues. And the concept typically framed in a black-white context appears to have a halo.
One set of candidates has seen steady growth in cities and states across the country where few share their ethnic background: Asian-Americans.
Democrat Tammy Duckworth, who is Thai, is running for Congress in a district outside Chicago with 5.7 percent Asian Americans.
The Republican governors of Louisiana (Bobby Jindal) and South Carolina (Nikki Haley), both of Indian descent, won in traditionally red, southern states that are less than two percent Asian American.
In fact, this year's data shows a paradox. Where Asian-American populations are higher, it was slightly less likely Asian-American candidate won the primary. The average Asian-American population where the Asian-American challenger won was 6.2 percent (not including Hawaii), and where they lost was 6.4 percent.
Also worth considering, fundraising. Despite being relatively new to politics, Asian-Americans raise more money than their competitors, an indication of broader appeal in most cases: so far this cycle by $100k on average ($788k versus $686k).
Gloria Chen from the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, which tracks and trains Asian-American politicians, explains: "Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are making history not as ethnic candidates, but as truly American candidates with the purpose of strengthening our entire nation."
The crossover vote fuels this trend. Former White House aide to George H.W. Bush, Joe Watkins, says voting for ethnic candidates changed: "The crossover vote is when one groups votes for another in an untraditional way. We're seeing Asian-American candidates get elected this way across the country."
This election, the number of Asian-Americans running for Congress reached a new record, 36, more than tripling 2010's record of 10. And not in "easy" races per se: 10 were in competitive swing districts not solidly blue or red.


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The name Hazel has become synonymous with a live-in maid who is more to her "family" than a housekeeper. This lovable character was created by Ted Key in 1943 and began appearing in the Saturday Evening Post. Before long, it had become the most successful magazine cartoon of that time, with more than 29 million faithful readers. Adding to "Hazel's" popularity was her international audience as well as a live-action TV series starring Shirley Booth as Hazel. After the Saturday Evening Post folded in 1969, the panel was immediately picked up for daily syndication by King Features.
As the Baxters' feisty live-in maid, Hazel's job may be serving the family, but what she dishes up best are quick-witted barbs, especially at the expense of the Baxters' guests! But her work is never done as she keeps the household shipshape, watching over the adults, two kids, pets and usually a houseful of the family's friends.
George and Dorothy Baxter
They may own the house, but even they know it is Hazel who runs it! Like their kids, they only have to catch one of her withering looks to know who's the boss.
The Kids
The Baxters' son, Harold, and their adopted daughter, Katie, are the most popular kids on the block, thanks in large part to Hazel's knack for keeping them and their little friends amused.
Smiley, the kids' spoiled-rotten St. Bernard.
Mostly is resident feline and queen of all she surveys.


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Castle Scoop: Who's Playing Rick's Father?
Jan 22, 2013 9:00 AM EST
Castle fans may want to clear their schedules on Monday, Feb. 25. That's the day viewers will finally meet Rick Castle's father! Winter TV: Get the scoop on your favorite returning shows Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor James Brolin has been tapp… Read more


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text: Petunia's Flower Litter was whelped on May 4th, 2016. Duke (formerly Prince Haus) has been adopted by Brooke and David and lives with his litter mate, Daisy (Princess Poppy) Sadie Pasque, (formerly The Pasque Flower) has been adoped by the Miller Family and their three other Olde English Bulldogges. Plum's family has renamed her, Remy, and lives with the Sims family and their pets, Snoop Dog (bred by Ed Pelto) and Scrappy in St. Paul, MN. Howie has been adopted by Melissa, Jason and Tyler and is living with his brother, Herman. Petunia's Flower Puppies are all living in Saint Paul or near by. Champ Bluni, (formerly, Phlox) and Perriwinkle are buried with their relatives in Nowthen, MN. The Starship broadcasts on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month from 1-3 PM, Central Time. Please stop by to visit. We would love to see you. Our channel photo was sent in by Char Carr from Pittsburg, PA and features our Starship Mouse, Nancy, looking out from our Starship window.


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annaburne needed a new banner ad design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 38 designs submitted by 13 freelance designers.
We are a new company about to launch a new website.
Wording and idea for layout is in the attached banner.jpg. We want to turn this draft into a professional design for display at the top of our home page. It needs to match with the colour scheme shown in the attached file homepage.jpg.
Also, we need a second version with the words "captions" and "captioning" replaced by "subtitles" and "subtitling".
Graphic size should be 620x284 pixels.


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Leopard is a classic bear .Was made from viscose Germane .Eyes is from glass. This bear was stuffed with sawdust,wood wool and mineral granules. 5 cotters.. Looking for a good family.
Please keep your new Bear from water, steamy bathrooms, moisture, etc. to avoid deforming the silk pieces from their intended shape and texture.
All of my designs are one of kind. From my heart to your hand.
Bear will come to you with a passport in the original box.
All my bears are available for layaway.).
Payment 100% Paypal Payments
*Layaway - now 50 % and 50 % during one mounth. Please let me khow)
*Reserve - only during 12 hours!
We support all major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover via PayPal. At the checkout page, you may choose to pay with credit card or PayPal. PayPal would also accept all major credit cards.
Please note that if you do not have a PayPal account, please select the "Pay with a debit or credit card" option and they will just ask for your credit card information. PayPal will NOT ask you to create an account for the payment.
After you click the "Buy now" button, you would be securely transferred to PayPal. PayPal offer added protection for both you the customer and the artist.
All packages are sent via international registered airmail from Kiev, Ukraine.
It includes tracking number (it will be sent in e-mail notification). Each package has delivery confirmation.
Terms of shipping:
- USA: 2-3 weeks
- Canada: 2 weeks
- Australia: 2-3 weeks (sometimes longer, depending on work of Australian custom)
- Europe: 1-2 weeks
- Rest of World: 2-3 weeks
Transit time may vary depending on your location and customs processing.
I do not accept returns.


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5:30 am
Super Why! "Naila and the Magic Map" Pig and his friends are playing when they find what looks like an Egyptian treasure map. But they can't make out the symbols! To search for some answers, the super readers soar into the book Naila and the Magic Map and explore the world of ancient Egypt. Will they be able to help Naila unravel the mysterious code that will unlock where the treasure lies? Educational Objectives: To learn about Egypt. D
6:00 am
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood "Daniel's Sleepover/Backyard Camping" Daniel's Sleepover - Daniel and his parents go to Prince Wednesday's castle for a family sleepover. When Daniel and Prince Wednesday go through their bedtime routines together, Daniel realizes how different it is sleeping at Prince Wednesday's castle. As bedtime nears, Daniel and Prince Wednesday notice some things that are just a little bit scary. D
6:30 am
WordWorld "There's An Ant In Every Giant/Chef Sheep" There's an Ant in Every Giant - When Ant grows tired of being the smallest WordFriend in Word World, he adds a G-I to his tiny frame and changes from ANT to GIANT. However, he soon realizes that he can be Word World's biggest hero when he's just tiny Ant. Chef Sheep - When Pig gets a bowl stuck on his face, Sheep must take over his cooking show. D
7:00 am
Sesame Street "Rocco's Playdate" Elmo and Zoe have an arts and crafts play date, but Rocco, Zoe's pet rock, is upset that he doesn't have his own play date. Elmo volunteers to find a friend who is round for Rocco and brings in a balloon. But Rocco wants a friend with a face and hair. D
8:00 am
Curious George "Where's The Firedog?/Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye" Where's the Firedog? - George's canine friend Blaze keeps running away from the firehouse. When Blaze winds up in the animal shelter, George and his firefighter friend Sam learn how to keep her safe by putting a tag on her collar, walking her on a leash, and making sure she's never lonely. Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye - Toots the blues-singing germ is back and the Man with the Yellow Hat has a cold. D
8:30 am
Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! "Bounce/Timmy Tippy Toe" Bounce - Nick and Sally are wondering why their ball is so bouncy. Fish tells them it's because it's made from rubber, and rubber comes from trees. Cat doesn't believe him so it's time to ask the expert, Dr. Twiggles! It turns out Fish is right! And Dr. Twiggles shows them all just how rubber is made, and all the wonderful things rubber can make! Timmy Tippy Toe - Nick and Sally are playing on a climbing frame but just can't manage to get to the top. D
9:00 am
Super Why! "Webby In Bathland" Red is practicing her soccer moves and kicking up dirt, when Grandma tells her it's time for lunch. Red gives her hands a quick rinse and gets ready to chow down, but Grandma says her hands aren't clean. The super readers zoom into the story Webby in Bathland and help a brave little penguin save his beloved town from the evil Squirmy Germies who are fighting down and dirty! Red finds out it takes more than water to wash away germs Educational Objectives: To learn about good hygiene. D
9:30 am
Dinosaur Train "Dome-Headed Dinosaur/Treasure Hunt" The Pteranodon kids and their dome-headed friend Spikey Stygimoloch meet a brother and sister, Patrick and Pamela Pachycephalosaurus, two dinosaurs with enormous dome heads. Spikey bonds with the Pachycephalosaurus. Patrick and Pamela are athletes who invite our kids, Mom, and Spikey along to watch them use their impressive dome heads to play a volleyball type sport called, Dome Ball. D
10:00 am
The Electric Company "A Fistful of Confetti" It's Neighborhood Record Day, and everyone in town is trying to break silly records. Francine and Jessica are both trying to break the same record - filming the most broken records on record day. When Francine tries to get in Jessica's way by giving her fake tips, The Electric Company works together to lead Jessica to victory. D
10:30 am
Sid The Science Kid: The Movie Sid and Gabriela are thrilled to win a contest to be the first kids to explore the brand new Super Ultimate Science Museum! However, while they're on their tour, Bobbybot, the state of the art robotic tourguide of the future malfunctions and it's up to Sid and Gabriela, along with the other winners YangYang and NiuNiu from China, to fix Bobbybot and save the museum!. D
12:00 pm
Outdoor Idaho "Birders, Banders & Binoculars" They can be fierce predators and some of the gentlest of creatures. Some are rare, others are quite common; but they all have the power to bewitch and bedazzle. Birds live in a world that for us is the stuff of dreams and wonder. We take to the field to celebrate birds and the people who study, care for, and watch them.G
12:30 pm
Pati's Mexican Table "Naturally Vegetarian Mexican" Forget soy and tofu; these are authentic Mexican recipes where produce, fruits and vegetables are naturally the stars. Zucchini Soup with Tortilla Crisps; Cactus Paddle Tostadas; Fluffy Plantain and Pecan Bread. D
1:00 pm
Katie Brown Workshop "Kids and Fruit" Get the kids busy and interested in fun and healthy fruit dip sticks, lemon sorbet wedges and orange cake, and with projects like an orange bird feeder and fruit creatures. D
1:30 pm
Paint This With Jerry Yarnell "High and Mighty, Part 2" Jerry continues with the beautiful scene of high mountains. Learn how to develop the main mountain feature by using a technique of different shapes and leaving pockets of negative space. Finishes this segment illustrating the process of beginning development of the foreground. D
2:00 pm
Essential Pepin "Good Catch!" Grilled Swordfish With Spicy Yogurt Sauce; Baked Mackerel With Potatoes And Onions; Seafood With "Handkerchiefs"; Poached Trout In Vegetable Broth. D
2:30 pm
On Story "Based on a True Story" The challenges of making true life stories compelling on the screen are discussed by THE FIGHTER's Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Scott Silver, Academy Award-nominated scribe Nicholas Kazan (REVERSAL OF FORTUNE, AT CLOSE RANGE), Pamela Gray (CONVICTION), Academy Award-winner Ron Howard and the team behind APOLLO 13. D
3:00 pm
Dialogue "Thomas Cahill: Conversations from the Sun Valley Writers' Conference" Host Marcia Franklin talks with the former director of religious publishing at Doubleday. He has authored four books of a seven-volume series entitled The Hinges of History, which recount turning points in Western civilization.G
3:30 pm
MotorWeek "Chevrolet Camaro1le" Road Test: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE. Road Test: 2013 BMW Alpina B7. Goss' Garage: Tire Problems. D
4:00 pm
America's Test Kitchen from Cook's Illustrated "Spicy Fall Sweets" Test cook Julia Collin Davison shows host Christopher Kimball how to make the best Pumpkin Bread. Then, tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Chris to a tasting of molasses. Next, science expert Guy Crosby explains the science of baking soda. D
4:30 pm
Crafting at the Spotted Canary "Things That Say, Thank You" Life moves so quickly, we forget to slow down and say, "Thank you" - sometimes we send a quick "thanks" with a text or email, but a genuine symbol of appreciation is a handmade gift. Your friends will appreciate that you took time to craft something special - make a mason jar full of cookie ingredients, decorate an everyday item to create a functional book mark, or make a set of earrings with a special tag - and say a special, "thank you" to your friends. D
5:00 pm
Globe Trekker "Madrid City Guide" Adela explores Madrid and takes excursions to see nearby sights.G
6:00 pm
The Artist Toolbox "Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky" "Life as a dancer: when we fall, we fall hard.we become adults at ten years old." In this episode, follow a quarter century of the discipline, romance and artistry of the beautiful and sexy American Ballet principals Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky, perhaps ballet's greatest couple ever. D
6:30 pm
Sun Studio Sessions "Chris Milam" Chris Milam is a Memphis based singer-songwriter who was the first runner-up in the Resorts Tunica "Sing" competition. In this episode, Chris performs several songs and talks about the influences that shape his musical style. D
7:00 pm
Austin City Limits "Bonnie Raitt/Mavis Staples" The two women showcase classic R&B, blues and pop. Raitt presents songs from her latest album Slipstream, while Staples performs songs from You Are Not Alone and Staple Singers classics.G
8:00 pm
Live From Lincoln Center "Kristin Chenoweth: The Dames of Broadway? All of 'em!" Part of Lincoln Center's 2013 American Songbook series, the Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actress and singer salutes the great roles for leading ladies and sidekick scene stealers. She sings songs from an array of Broadway composers and lyricists.G
9:00 pm
Elvis: Return to Tupelo Elvis Presley may be the King of Rock 'N' Roll, but to truly understand the man behind that persona requires a visit to his humble origins. ELVIS: RETURN TO TUPELO documents his difficult childhood in the rural town of Tupelo, Miss., his early musical influences and his rise to fame in the 1950s. D
10:00 pm
The Artist Toolbox "Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky" "Life as a dancer: when we fall, we fall hard.we become adults at ten years old." In this episode, follow a quarter century of the discipline, romance and artistry of the beautiful and sexy American Ballet principals Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky, perhaps ballet's greatest couple ever. D
10:30 pm
Sun Studio Sessions "Chris Milam" Chris Milam is a Memphis based singer-songwriter who was the first runner-up in the Resorts Tunica "Sing" competition. In this episode, Chris performs several songs and talks about the influences that shape his musical style. D
11:00 pm
Austin City Limits "Bonnie Raitt/Mavis Staples" The two women showcase classic R&B, blues and pop. Raitt presents songs from her latest album Slipstream, while Staples performs songs from You Are Not Alone and Staple Singers classics.G


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Combat Fishing Midwest Rivertown > Bigmouth Buffalo fish > Bigmouth Buffalo fish Keychains
Bigmouth Buffalo fish sucker mississippi river
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Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM: another good wide-angle Sigma lensFriday March 30 2012
The Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM, which came out in March 2009, completes Sigma's Pro (EX) line.
This very-wide-angle lens, compatible with APS-C cameras, offers a constant aperture at f/3.5 across the entirety of its focal lengths. And with its HSM (hypersonic motor), it also offers fast focusing.
We've already analyzed the Canon version as part of this review, available here: Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM Canon review. On paper, this Sigma 10-20 mm f/3.5 is perfect for your indoor shots in which you have limited space to back up, or for capturing wide-open scenery during your vacation.
DxOMark results
Sigma 10-20 mm f3.5 mounted on a Nikon D7000
With an overall DxOMark score of 14, we can say that Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM Nikon will let you shoot indoors even under relatively low-light conditions. The same Sigma 10-20 mm f/3.5 Canon lens achieves a 12 on the DxOMark scale, thus the two lenses are very close in terms of optical quality.
What is truly remarkable is the consistency of the results: you get the same quality over the entire focal range.
The good points of the Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM:
- Its constant aperture.
- Maximum aperture is acceptable for a zoom (3.5 T-stop).
- The resolution is satisfactory for this type of lens.
- An average of 12µm for chromatic aberration is likewise satisfactory for this type of lens.
- Its price.
The weak point of Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM:
- Vignetting is a bit too strong at full aperture (greater than 1 EV in the corners).
Points to remember:
- At f/3.5, the resolution is a bit weak, but then improves, attaining its optimum results around f/5.6.
- Its good result for distortion is very surprising for a wide-angle zoom. One might have expected a lower score, but here the Sigma does well and its distortion is on average only 0.4% over the entire zoom range.
- Control of vignetting is so-so, with a loss of 1.2 EV. From f/5.6 onwards, the vignetting is negligeable and should pose no problems.
- As for chromatic aberrations, a score of 12µm is decent. The Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM is composed of low-dispersion glass elements that provide a reasonable correction for this problem.
Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM vs Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED vs Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
The Sigma's results are identical to and sometimes even slightly better than those of the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED and the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM.
Overall, this wide-angle zoom has a very good quality-to-price ratio. With its brightness and consistent quality all across the zoom range, this is a great choice for those looking for an ideal APS-C wide-angle lens.
Further readings for the Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM: another good wide-angle Sigma lens
To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.
Announced at PMA 2009, the Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM Canon wide-angle zoom lens features a constant f/3.5 maximum aperture (EX) and is equipped with a hypersonic motor (HSM).


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Will Ride for Cheese
Never have we met a cheese we didn't like. Round up the crew. Grab the gear. We've got an absolutely un-brie-lievable 92km daytrip or overnight cycling experience featuring plenty of the 24 stops along the Oxford County Cheese Trail!
2019 Ontario By Bike Rides
Find out more about our Ontario By Bike Ride destinations and schedule for 2019! New destinations and old classics all with the same great value! These small group weekend tours are self-guided, fully supported and always sell out!
Just Bring Your Bike and Ride!
Cycle Tourism Conference 2019
Learn more about and view the presentations from our recent Cycle Tourism Conference held on March 1, 2019.
Celebrate by Bike
Choose to explore Ontario on one of these 15 world class, legacy cycling itineraries! Read More...
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Industry Brochure 2016
Find out more about the benefits of becoming a certified bicycle-friendly business!
Download PDF brochure HERE
CAPRICORN MOTEL ROYALE0 reviews
108 Ivy Lea Road, Ivy Lea Village, Lansdowne, Canada, K0E 1L0
Quiet Clean, Comfortable Motel with 14 Rooms located in the quiet village of Ivy Lea. On a dead-end laneway right on the water. A place to relax & plan your next day's ride along the St. Lawrence Waterway. Walk to the 1000 Islands Tour Boat Dock & take a ...


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Hoteles en Hyderabad
It's famous for its grand Muslim history, as the home of biryani and as one of the pre-eminent IT cities of the world. Its HITEC City makes it – along with Bangalore – the IT heart of India. It also has a strong pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry presence. These hi-tech industries have attracted some excellent universities and research institutions. It is also home to the Telugu film industry.
While predominantly Hindu today, Muslims still form a sizable minority of Hyderabad's population. It was in the 16th century that Islam first came to Hyderabad and in 1687 the Mughals took power, which they retained to a certain extent until Indian Independence. In the 18th century, Hyderabad was the centre of Islamic India and the arts and education flourished.
Western Hyderabad, or Cyberabad, is the home of HITEC City. Central Hyderabad is where you'll find the upmarket residential areas, shops and restaurants. This modern sector of the city with posh bars and fancy cars is a world away from the old Muslim quarter in the south, with its Islamic architecture and bazaars and the muezzin's call to prayer reverberating as you shop.
The contrast makes Hyderabad a captivating place to visit.
When to go:
The best time to visit Hyderabad is from October to February. It can become very hot from March till June.
- The Charminar is the must-see tourist attraction in Hyderabad. It was built in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah to commemorate the founding of the city.
- Laad Bazaar in the Old City has everything you could ever want to buy, from silk to bangles and local handicrafts.
- Mecca Masjid is one of the world's largest mosques and the oldest in Hyderabad. Built between 1614 and 1687 it contains some bricks made from the soil of Mecca. It is famous for its impressive granite colonnades.
- Eat as much biryani, kebab and haleem as you can. Hyderabad is known as one of the food capitals of India and is home to these famous dishes.
- Set aside a couple of house to wander through the Golconda Fort, which was the home of the Qutb Shai kingdom.
- Walk through the gardens of the Royal Tombs of the Qutb Shahi Kings and admire the domed beauty of the mausoleums.
- Take a boat trip on the Hussain Sagar Lake and see the 17m high statue of Buddha at its centre.
- Go to Secunderabad, Hyderabad's twin city. It lies to the north-east of Hussain Sagar Lake and has nice parks, open spaces and some excellent restaurants.
- Do the tour Ramaji Film City tour, which includes a song and dance and a lavish lunch.
- Chowmahalla Palace is a mixture of Persian, Indo-Saracenic, Rajasthani and European architecture and is a sight to behold.


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Adult Mask Harness
Pediatric Mask Harness
Child Mask Harness
Mask Harness of black conductive neoprene rubber. Large holes permit ventilation, but will not slip over small heads. Pressure is equally distributed over a large area. Latex Free. Available in Adult, Child and Infant sizes.
*Please select the quantity for each item you wish to order and click the 'Add To Cart' button below.
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Updated Jan 09, 2013 by Xiandi
Comment #1 Wednesday, January 9, 2013 10:36 AM
Great work, nice and dark but easy on the eyes.
Comment #2 Wednesday, January 9, 2013 10:46 AM
Sign of a true Xiandi skin! She's a dark lady....hehe!!
Comment #5 Wednesday, January 9, 2013 2:35 PM
Cyndie, this is awesome. I am wondering where you always take an inspiration. From my perspective, this skin is absolutely terrific. Could you lend me just a bit of your talent, please? A must have for sure
Comment #6 Wednesday, January 9, 2013 2:46 PM
Sweet Cyndie , gonna have to get this when i get back on my PC!!!
Great job!!
Comment #8 Wednesday, January 9, 2013 5:54 PM
Thanks guys!
Comment #12 Thursday, January 10, 2013 9:09 AM
I know that feeling too. Right now I am outta any imagination. But that is thanks to having a new kiddo home. We have just arrived from the hospital. I wish I could skin but family always comes first and I will give them all my love. Then we´ll see
Comment #14 Friday, January 11, 2013 10:25 AM
Love this skin. Is there anyway to get the Window Title to show up though? It appears to be missing.
EDIT: Well I found out how to turn on the window titles, however I can't get the UIS2 titles to work (look neat on the bottom bar) and have a strange blur when setting the Active transparency to 100 in the per pixel frames. Lastly, I can't figure out how to disable the left side buttons in the title bar so I've set their command to blank. I hate accidentally clicking them.
Comment #15 Friday, January 11, 2013 7:42 PM
mbazdell, the windows title is not missing...I removed it, that was by design, but I see you figured out how to put it back in. For the UIS2 frames, you'll need Skinstudio, go to Edit Titlebars & Windowframes/Edit UIS2 Frames/Caption, then click on the Extra Settings tab. Disable the second option and you will have that text back.
Comment #17 Thursday, January 17, 2013 10:03 PM
Wheee... love the skin, up to your usual standards.. but the name, for th life of me I can't help thinking Immodium..
Well Done Cyndie!
Comment #18 Thursday, January 24, 2013 9:57 AM
Beautiful wb! You've really developed a style that is unique in your skinning.
Comment #19 Saturday, January 26, 2013 6:35 PM
I love the extra titlebar buttons!! Thanks Cyn!!
Comment #20 Saturday, January 26, 2013 6:39 PM
Thank you Po! It's good to see you around again
Thanks Jimmy!
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Saturday, January 9, 2010
Happy 101 Award
Thanks to Dr. Bill for awarding me with the Happy 101 Award! (Note, Dr. Bill has a great website dealing with ancestor stories . . . one of my favorite topics!)
The responsibilities that go with this award are as follows. I am first to list 10 things that make me happy (not in any particular order) . . . I have elected to separate them into categories as that makes them easier for me to keep focused:
1) I am happy that I met my husband when I did (saving me from a particularly unhealthy relationship) over 33 years ago and that he has been my greatest advocate, supporter, mentor, caregiver, companion, and lover for all that time; when I don't believe in myself, he does; when I am ill, he is my nurse; when I want advice (and even sometimes when I don't), he is happy to give it (and then some); when I worry, he is there to listen. I have been blessed, and continue to be so, with this life partner and eternal companion.
2) I am happy that this man I married came equipped with a ready family, all willing to embrace me. While my children are all my steps, they have all embraced me as their mother and have provided me with endless joy (worry, heartache, etc.). And they have provided me with 24 amazing grandchildren and 7 (soon to be 8) incredible great-grandchildren (and I'm not even 59 years old). They bless my life every day (now, I could use a few more with an interest in genealogy . . .). And, yes, I can name them all (but couldn't identify birthdays & anniversaries without peeking). FYI, this ready-made family also includes the in-laws: sister, niece, nephew, mother (now passed), cousins, and all their descedants. Family reunions are a hoot!
3) I am happy that I have had forebears that have provided me (through my genetics) with certain talents and abilities: music, logic, faith, perseverance, organization (even if it drives my husband nuts), and a love & appreciation for my heritage. The immigrant ancestors who came to America have provided me a life in this unique country - one of the greatest gifts of all. Their willingness to sacrifice everything for the greater good is one that I cannot fathom (being leery of abandoning all I know for the unknown, what must it have been like for them?). This happiness includes my parents, who have gone on to the next life, whose sacrifices for their children were uncountable (and probably unknowable). They were amazing people - my father was very logical and a musical and mathematical genius; my mother was a creative, fun-loving, social go-getter. So different from each other, their unique approaches to life combined to make me who I am.
4) I am happy that I have my 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. cousins in my life, for they enrich me; and that my brother, 6 years my senior, is still in my life and constantly connected to me. It was he who introduced me to folk music when I was about 8 years old. When we were young, he was my teacher and my protector; now he is my friend and my link to our mutual past & ancestors - we are the last of our line through our great-grandparents on the Wilcox side. His interests are so far different from mine that I am amazed we came from the same stock, yet he has taken those same talents and abilities from our line to form his love of life and dedication to his relationships. Every time we get together, we spend time in laughter and sharing . . . I am enriched for those moments & grateful for every one of them.
5) I am happy that my circle of friends is one that includes people who have been assets to my life. Everyone I have known has, in one way or another, affected me (most for the better, even those who have had a negative impact, for they have taught me things I should not do). Many friends I have met through our mutual love of certain things - genealogy, music, a television show - and many I have met because of circumstances - Church, our past (school, neighborhood, job, etc.), geographic closeness - and some of those elements overlap. Those relationships, each unique, enrich me. I cannot list them here as I will surely omit someone, but whether they are still living or they are already gone from this life, my friends have been one of the most treasured elements in my world.
6) I am happy I was raised in a family with the backgrounds of so many different faiths that I was put in a position to know what I felt in my heart and recognize what was right for me when my husband introduced me to the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I am happy that I live in a country that affords me the freedom to let me choose what is right for me, in the religious arena. Their teachings rang true and were precisely what I already believed. My membership in the Mormon Church has led to everything else in my life - having to speak in front of the congregation led me to learn better how to do that (my lengthy association with Toastmistress Clubs - now called PowerTalk - while no longer part of my life, led me to taking a major in Speech Communication and then going from there (see Career). The dedication of the LDS people to researching their ancestry provided me with what is now "who I am" (see Career). And my connection to my Lord and Savior is something that gives me constant peace, even in the midst of turmoil. There is more to life than we know of on this earth. I have always believed that religion must make a person's life worthwhile or it is not the right faith for the individual . . . I continue to believe that and, for me, the LDS Church makes my life worthwhile.
7) I am happy I attended New Trier Township High School East, in Winnetka, Illinois. While I was miserable in high school, I got the training I needed for later years. Dropping out of college in 1969 was also a positive thing for me as I was not yet ready to get from that experience what I would eventually need. My husband's support, my experience in Toastmistress, and a part-time accounting job all combined to have me in the right place and time (including the right frame of mind) to return to college 10 years after leaving and then, 9 years later, to earn a BA degree (1988) and 2 years after that, a masters (1990), both in Speech Communication. I learned, from my teachers, to love teaching (see Career) and that was a reward even greater than the hard-earned degrees.
8) I am happy that circumstances combined to put me in a position to further my education by getting the one degree I truly wanted from the age of about 15: folklore. Getting my doctorate in folklore took me over 8 years, and I am proud and excited to have reached that goal (2008). I am happy that the program was as grueling as it was for that gave me the needed education to prepare me for my career alteration. It was worth every minute. And my husband's encouragement was invaluable.
9) I am happy that I have had the careers that prepared me for the one I have now: professional genealogist. I began in an office services position (with no advanced education to speak of), then went on to work for 7+ years at the Auto Club of Southern Calif. in various positions. That prepared me for working with the public and they sponsored the first Toastmistress Club I joined. It was a fabulous place to work with great people who became a second family to me since I had moved to Calif. (in 1973), away from my family in Illinois. I had some part time jobs then, while I attended school, and my work at the Orange Co. Probation Dept. was an excellent preparation for my next steps in life; I learned many work and life skills with supportive coworkers. I was a freelance square dance caller for parties, which taught me stage presence; also taught guitar (most of my life) and did some performing so those endeavors helped me earn money while I worked on my education. While I pursued by MA degree I entered the teaching profession and stayed there for 13 years. What a rewarding experience. I love teaching (hate grading & doing administrative paperwork). But it prepared me for teaching genealogy. In fact, everything in my life has led me to my genealogy career as a presenter and entertainer.
What it all leads up to . . .
10) I am happy that so many people in my life have encouraged me in my pursuit of studying and teaching family history with a slightly different approach - using music (which, I believe, was inherited from both sides of my family). Folk music and folklore have been assets to my life as a genealogist and have led to many wonderful associations. What a blessing it has all been (and continues to be). As my dear friend Diane Wright observed: everything in my life has brought me to where I am today - Church, careers, education, relationships - and I believe I have achieved what Joseph Campbell refers to as "Bliss."
Thanks, Dr. Bill, for getting me to think about all this.
The next step of the Happy 101 Award is this: I am to choose 10 other bloggers to pass this award to, yes 10 (here's where it sort of resembles a bloggy chain letter . . . I do not expect anyone receiving this award to feel compelled to continue the chain . . . most know how I feel about such "obligational" pass-it-along things . . . but I want you to know that I appreciate your blogs as they add to my feelings of happiness . . . do with this as you choose).
For this I will choose:
1) Dear Myrtle (she's my cousin through John Conrad Weiser . . . finding that link between us has made me happy, as does her enthusiasm about genealogy and life)
2) Genea-Musings (my friend, advocate, colleague, and promoter, Randy Seaver . . . I'm always happy with his kind remarks about my programs as well as his enthusiasm about family history)
3) Pitterle Postings (my daughter's blog - if you want to be uplifted, this is it!)
4) GeneaBloggers (I wonder how many times my friend Thomas MacEntee will be getting this award - his encouragement and willingness to help me learn has been the source of much happiness . . . I get a smile just looking at his photo! What an asset he has been to genealogy bloggers everywhere)
5) StefStyle: A Creative Blog (one of my closest & long-time friends, Stefanie Eskander, touches all emotions through her graphic art and photographic abilities as well as her music - spending an afternoon making music with her always makes me happy, and now I can do it in a virtual world with her blog as inspiration!)
6) RootsMagic (friend and software genius, Bruce Buzbee, makes keeping genealogy organized and as easy as it can be . . . and that makes me happy)
7) The Graveyard Rabbit Travels Wright (dear friend & fellow graveyard enthusiast Diane Wright shares her enthusiasm over the resting places of ancestors . . . we can be happy in cemeteries!)
8) It's Good to be Alive (former mentor and motivational speaker Jack Rushton tells of all the reasons for happiness in the face of adversity; what an example of family love and dedication to religious principles!)
9) Gena's Genealogy (friend & colleague Gena Ortega gives genealogy tips and encouragement to help people find their ancestors . . . an upbeat presenter, just talking to Gena can improve my mood!)
10)Family History Expos Blog (Holly Hansen, CEO & creator of this unique company and host of genealogy seminar/conferences has promoted my work - and that of countless others - helping me and encouraging me to expand my message of connecting genealogy & ancestral music . . . I am happy for this association and the amazing work she does)
So there you have it (and choosing 10 was very difficult as so many others are deserving and worthy of this award . . . I have attempted to select a few here that others may be unaware of but also some whose blogs are instrumental in my genealogical endeavors . . . I wish the "rules" let me add a bunch more).
2 comments:
Thanks so much Jean for the Happy 101 Award - I've read your list of what makes you happy and it only reinforces my opinion of you - a great person to know and work with!ReplyDelete
Thank you for this amazing honor, and I will do my best to pass it on... it may take me a few days to get my thoughts (and favorite blogs) together, but I aim to 'spread the happiness!' And, of course, the feeling is mutual!ReplyDelete
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Street AIR Vest
‒ With integrated, independent airbag system
‒ Protects your shoulders, collarbone, ribcage and back
‒ Only in combination with compatible API-prepared BMW motorcycle jackets (e.g. GS Dry API or StreetGuard AIR)
‒ Vest and jacket can be combined using zips and press studs
‒ Electronics (incl. master switch) incorporated into back
‒ Three sensors monitor your situation and inflate the airbag where necessary
‒ Suitable for rider and passenger
‒ Fully waterproof and ready for any weather
‒ Detachable kidney belt
‒ Outer: 82 % polyester, 14 % polypropylene, 4 % Spandex
‒ Available in a range of ergonomic sizes
COLOUR - Black
- Protective clothing


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Lovey Dovey Diamond Simulant Bracelet
- Made with finest grade Cubic Zirconia - Mimicking to real diamonds!
- Length: 17 cm / 19cm
- Width: 0.67cm
- Nickel free
- 18k white gold plated
- Perfect for daily wear
- 100% quality assurance and satisfaction guaranteed!
- Comes with Vivere Rosse Luxury Jewelry Box with Ribbon
This item is sold by Vivere Rosse and fulfilled by our delivery providers.
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Not 100% satisfied with your item? We offer 30 days free returns, no questions asked.
Pack your item (with its original packaging and tags intact) together with the returns slip (Seller only) into your ZALORA delivery package. Then simply nearest PosLaju or CollectCo centre (Malaysia) or arrange pick up with Abasjaya (Brunei).
For more information, check out our FAQ.
Find out if Cash on Delivery is available for your location HERE.
This item is sold and fulfilled directly by merchant OR This item is sold by merchant and fulfilled by ZALORA.
- *In order to qualify for FREE SHIPPING above RM75, you must have all items sold and fulfilled by ZALORA to be above RM75 in your cart.
- *Items sold and fulfilled by other MERCHANTS / Items sold by MERCHANT and fulfilled by ZALORA do not contribute to the FREE SHIPPING cart threshold.
Estimated delivery time: 5 working days(6 days for East Malaysia).
Your order will arrive between Monday - Friday.
For more information, check out our FAQ on deliveries.


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LAKE COUNTY — Lake County Winegrape Commission President Debra Sommerfield and board member Jonathan Walters will pour a selection of Lake County wines during the 19th annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium"s Regional Wine Tasting.
The event will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento.
"The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium wine tasting event is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the products from our premier winegrape growing region," Sommerfield said. "Last year"s symposium attracted more than 12,000 people, according to the event organizers. We are hoping to impress a large number of attendees with Lake County"s wines."
Sommerfield said she and Walters are looking forward to sharing information about the area"s award-winning vintages and talking to current and prospective winery customers while they pour a selection of the county"s wines.
The Regional Wine Tasting is one of many presentations planned for the symposium, which is scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday in Sacramento. The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium is jointly organized by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and the California Association of Winegrape Growers.
For information about the Lake County Winegrape Commission, visit the website at www.lakecountywinegrape.org or call the commission office at 279-2633.