text:
Lisareinst needed a new other design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 47 designs submitted by 15 freelance designers.
I am working towards being a stay at home mom with the our second child on the way. I look forward to developing this business for my family.
Women 30 years and older
I am looking to replace the Fall Sale banner, with a banner that would be appropriate all year long. I do want to include something about a sale or best prices in the banner still. Also, I want it include free shipping on all orders. The background should be transparent. The banner should be given to me in standard format that I can upload to the site and be about 60K in size. Also, it is not necessary to include the "The Women's Pajamas Store" in the banner as it is already in the website twice!


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Cruise Holidays of South Metro
firstname.lastname@example.com | (952) 985-6975
Cruising for Groups
Traveling as a group is a great opportunity for families, friends or business colleagues to spend relaxed time together. However, traveling with a group can involve dealing with lots of details, to say nothing of selecting a trip that will suit everyone. Fortunately, a cruise is a perfect choice for groups that want to travel together, whether it's for a family or class reunion, a wedding party, a convention, an incentive group, a sales meeting, a fundraising group, a club you belong to – the list goes on and on. Today's ships are equipped with such a wide range of features and activities that everyone can find something to do, and yet still fit in time to be productive, if it is a business-oriented trip. Sailing to different ports of call also presents opportunities for new adventures each day. If you are interested in arranging a cruise for a group, it's important to work with a travel professional, preferably one who focuses exclusively on cruising. A Personal Cruise Expert can help you put together a completely customized Group Cruising Package. For example, it could include meeting rooms with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment; specialty dining options; priority embarkation; cocktail parties, and more. Cruise Holidays can also coordinate the air travel needs of group members, which is especially important if they live in different areas. This type of expert can also work with the cruise line to book your group's staterooms together and ensure that your group receives any special benefits that are available, such as stateroom category upgrades, special shore excursions and group photos. If budget is a concern, cruising is still a very attractive solution. Most ships offer several different types of staterooms that fit a range of budgets. In addition, cruises are virtually all-inclusive. The price includes accommodations, meals, snacks, entertainment and most of the on-board activities. When planning a group cruise, it's best to contact your travel professional at least six months in advance. Cruise Holidays will not only help you decide on the right cruise line, ship, and itinerary, but they will attend to other details, such as coordinating special requests and helping you develop a marketing plan for promoting your group to your organization or family members. They'll also accept and process all incoming registrations, process all departure documents, and can even escort your group to assist with any last-minute requests that need coordination.
An experienced travel professional is necessary to ensure a flawless group cruise experience.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Moorad -
Your definition of "virtual particle" is of course correct but your closing
statement about photons seems odd. Whether or not all pgotons are in the
process of being absorbed (as required, e.g., by the old Feynman-Wheeler
theory) is debatable. But even if that's correct, why aren't transverse
photons travelling through a vacuum "real" between emission & absorption?
Of course to detect them you have to absorb them but the same is true for
electrons &c.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alexanian, Moorad" <email@example.com>
To: "wjp" <email@example.com>; "David Clounch" <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Cc: "George Murphy" <firstname.lastname@example.com>; "Iain Strachan"
<email@example.com>; <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 7:47 AM
Subject: RE: [asa] Results of Cameron's Survey
Technically, virtual particles are particles that are not on the mass shell,
that is, E^2 is not equal to p^2+ m^2, where I have set the speed of light
in vacumm =1. E=energy, p= momentum and m=mass. Free particles are the
only particles that are on the mass shell. For instance, photons, with m=0,
are always virtual since they are always in the process of being absorbed
and so actually are never free.
From: firstname.lastname@example.com [firstname.lastname@example.com] On Behalf Of
wjp [email@example.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 1:33 AM
To: David Clounch
Cc: George Murphy; Iain Strachan; firstname.lastname@example.com
Subject: Re: [asa] Results of Cameron's Survey
Methodological Naturalism (MN) is an agnostic position.
As such, it bears some resemblance to Bohr's attitude toward
QM and the entire unobservable, abstract physics of
atomic physics.
His attitude would have been to assign reality to the
commonsensical world of our experience, but say nothing of
the reality of this unobservable world.
As such, it seems that he would have assigned no reality to
entities such as virtual particles, and who knows what else.
I presume he would have assigned reality to electrons and
protons, but perhaps have said little of their properties.
Instead, the physics of this world is more to be treated as
a formal procedure by which observables are predicted.
In some sense, it appears to be a throw back to Ptolomeic
science. Not even, so much, an instrumentalism, for that
is committed to seeing scientific theory as only a tool.
That may be saying too much for Bohr.
Bohr apparently believed that this fantastic invisible
world was beyond the ken of the human mind. We should
therefore not attempt to say much about it, for it would
generally be misleading or just plain wrong. But that
did not mean that a predictive theory could not be devised
and empirically tested.
What similarity does this bear to MN? The motivation for
MN appears to be different. As Duhem argued, the purpose
of something like MN was to prohibit science from adopting
a particular metaphysics. It was intended to be
metaphysically neutral so that all could participate.
Whether this was possible was discussed by Plantinga and
found lacking. MN was suppose to be a big tent, housing
realists and anti-realists of all stripes.
The supposed wall of separation between discovery and
theory assessment permitted the theories of science to
exist in a kind of platonic bubble, untouched by
human hands. Discovery, on the other hand, is a
dirty business for it relies upon metaphysics,
attitudes, goals, and the price of beef.
MN is adopted for the sake of the scientific community.
Whereas Bohr's view of QM was adopted for epistemological
reasons. MN, one might say, was adopted because of the limits
of human community, whereas Bohr's view (complementarity) was
adopted because of the limits of human understanding.
Is there any value in the comparison?
On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:33:09 -0500, David Clounch <email@example.com>
> George wrote:
> "but is a statement that position-momentum pairs that violate it don't
> exist. "
> George, my question is (because I don't know the rules) is this true for
> virtual particles as well?
> The reason I ask is it seems to me virtual particles exist ontologically
> but not in a way we could ever observe.
> [an aside]
> My son was telling me about muon decay and how it produces a number of
> virtual particles, and there are always a neutrino/anti-neutrino virtual
> pair produced, but these almost always destroy each other. But about
> every
> millionth time they don't and the neutrino exits. And these neutrinos are
> always left-handed. He was trying to tell me about the fact that all
> neutrinos are left handed but there is no law or rule of nature as to why
> it
> should be that way - that nobody knows why. My point is there are at
> least
> 10^6 virtual pairs for every real neutrino.
> [end aside]
> Obviously scientists believe in virtual particles. But, if we can never
> observe them, are they really there? Aren't they beyond the edge of MN?
> aren't they just something we pretend are there so we can get a logical
> reason for things we are able to see (the observed products).
> I agree with your statement as applied to real particles. Its not just
> about
> limits of knowledge, but is a real statement about existence. I'm just
> wondering if the same QM rules apply to virtual particles.
> If virtual particles are just a game and don't have ontological
> existence,
> then under the rules of MN aren't they really in the same category as
> other beyond the (playground) edge topics (like ID is alleged to be)? If
> the answer is yes, then are teachers allowed to discuss these areas where
> God plays dice?
> On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 11:10 AM, George Murphy
> <email@example.com>wrote:
>> Iain -
>> This gets into the murky area of the interface between classical chaos
>> theory & quantum mechanics, where I claim no great expertise. Since
> quantum
>> mechanics is linear there's no "quantum chaos" in a straightforward
> sense.
>> But in specifying the initial conditions more & more precisely for a
>> classical system, as you suggest below, you'll eventually get to the
> limit
>> specified by the uncertainty principle, & below that point you can't go.
>> With a strong interpretation of QM even God can't because the
> uncertainty
>> principle is not just about limits on what we can measure but is a
> statement
>> that position-momentum pairs that violate it don't exist.
>> Shalom
>> George
> http://home.roadrunner.com/~scitheologyglm<http://home.roadrunner.com/%7Escitheologyglm>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> *From:* Iain Strachan <firstname.lastname@example.com>
>> *To:* George Murphy <firstname.lastname@example.com>
>> *Cc:* email@example.com
>> *Sent:* Monday, June 29, 2009 11:13 AM
>> *Subject:* Re: [asa] Results of Cameron's Survey
>> On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 3:52 PM, George Murphy<firstname.lastname@example.com>
>> wrote:
>> > You can put me down with Terry's #4. (Or, if only the 3 answers given
>> > originally are allowed, as is usually the case with standardized
> tests,
>> I'll
>> > take #3 "under protest.")
>> >
>> > I would not absolutely rule out the idea of front-loading of design
> (#2)
>> but
>> > it seems to me that hardwiring the detailed outcome of any physical
>> process
>> > into its initial conditions billions of years in advance is just the
> sort
>> of
>> > thing that chaos theory - which is more precisely "sensitivity to
> initial
>> > conditions" - rules out for systems of any complexity (i.e.,
>> nonlinearity).
>> George:
>> Just a quick query here. Is it not the case that it's not ruled out so
>> much as non-computable
>> For example if I try to integrate the third order non-linear
> differential
>> equations for the Lorenz
> Attractor<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenz_attractor>then I experience
> that if a slight change is made to the initial values of
>> the state variables, then after a certain time, two runs that are
> otherwise
>> the same diverge and bear no resemblance to each other. But the smaller
> the
>> initial delta, the longer it will take to diverge. However, divergences
> can
>> be observed even at the machine precision level, for example if I change
>> to X0*(1+eps) where eps is the smallest constant so that in the machine
>> 1+eps > eps. (In standard double precision arithmetic eps has the
> value
>> 2.2204e-016).
>> But if one had a machine with billions of bits of precision for the
>> arithmetic, instead of 53 (double precision arithmetic has 53 bits for
> the
>> mantissa, 10 for the exponent and 1 for the sign, making 64 in total),
> then
>> it's clear that macroscopic changes in the outcome will only appear
> after an
>> immensely long time because the corresponding value of eps is so much
>> smaller.
>> So I wouldn't have said it was ruled out unless God only uses 64 bit
>> arithmetic!
>> Iain
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text:
After landing a crushing blow in one of its more intense Prep League rivalries on Saturday, the Flintridge Prep football team will take some momentum into the granddaddy of them all.
The Rebels, coming off a 54-19 home dismantling of Chadwick last week, face off with host Pasadena Poly at 2 p.m. Saturday. And, as if a game with the Rebels' most intense adversary needed any further incentive, Prep will have an opportunity to open league 2-0 with the inside track to a playoff berth going into next week's meeting with league champion Rio Hondo Prep.
"Our boys have worked hard and I think they kind of turned the corner last week in terms of understanding what it means to really put a team away," said Prep Coach Antonio Harrison, whose team improved to 3-3. "They're all pumped up still from Saturday and Poly's a big game for us."
Poly enters at 4-1, ranked eighth in the CIF Southern Section Northeast Division, but is yet to play a league game, as it is coming off a bye week.
"It's our first league game, so we're anxious to get going in league," Panthers Coach Brendan McGrail said. "We got a chance to see all the four other teams in league play last week, and certainly Flintridge Prep had a very impressive victory and they're riding a lot of momentum coming off of that."
Tops on the Panthers' list will no doubt be slowing the pace of Prep's standout senior tailback Stefan Smith, who scored four total touchdowns against Chadwick — his fourth straight week with multiple touchdowns and third straight with at least three — to bring his season total to 14.
"There's a lot to worry about," McGrail said. "I would say the running game is the place it starts with them and Stefan Smith there is very talented and coming off a four-touchdown game. Not only is he talented by himself, but they run a good scheme and he has good blocking in front."
Poly relies heavily on the run itself and has prospered behind the efforts of senior Jake Zelek and sophomore Griffin Carter. The Panthers are on the younger side with nine sophomores on varsity.
"We're going to key on everything that they do with their tendencies, we're going to make sure the boys stay home and play it safe, but play aggressive," said Harrison, whose team was defeated, 20-0, by Poly last season. "We're going to keep on our game plan of stopping the run, forcing pass and also trying to stop the pass with pressure."
The Rebels have one common opponent this season in Malibu, which lost to Poly, 22-19, on Sept. 15 before defeating Prep, 40-34, on Sept. 21. But Poly's last game was a 50-49 Oct. 5 loss to Bellarmine-Jefferson, which was clobbered by Malibu last week.
"Poly is always fundamentally sound, they always have great athletes and their coaching's stellar," Harrison said. "But the thing about Poly is no matter what's going on in their season, they get up to play us, the same way we get up to play them.
"They have a pretty young team, but they have a talented team, so I expect a pretty hard-fought battle."
St. Francis at Harvard Westlake 7 p.m. Friday: The Golden Knights will be desperate to rid themselves of the bitter memories that have accumulated over the past two weeks when Friday night football kicks off. They'll have to do so against another formidable opponent in the Wolverines, who are ranked fifth in the CIF Southern Section Western Division.
A two-game losing streak — with both coming in heartbreaking fashion — has dropped St. Francis to 3-3, 0-1 in the Mission League this year. The Knights are two turnovers away from being 5-1 after a fumble at the goalline led to a home loss to Monrovia (17-13) Sept. 28 and a late interception sealed a league-opening loss to Cathedral (42-40) last week.
While the late interception may stick out, St. Francis quarterback Jared Lebowitz had another stellar performance against Cathedral, completing 28 of 51 passes for 412 yards and five touchdowns. Tommy Scheper (10 receptions for 175 yards and a score) and Evan Crawford (six catches for 86 yards and three touchdowns) were his two favorite targets.
For the season Lebowitz is 102 for 179 with 1,530 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions for a quarterback rating of 104. Harvard-Westlake has its own standout quarterback in senior Chad Kanoff. He's completed 62 percent of his passes (109 for 175) for 1,981 yards, 26 scores and just two picks.
St. Francis overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit for a 23-20 victory over Harvard-Westlake at home last year with Knights kicker Billy McCreary converting a 37-yard field goal with two seconds left to deliver the win.
The Wolverines are 5-1, riding a five-game winning streak after dropping their season opener at Loyola, 42-27. Harvard-Westlake has scored more than 40 points in each of its wins this season, and also seems to sport a formidable defense — holding its opponents to an average of 10.40 points in those games.
St. Francis running back Daniel Kawamura (453 yards, three touchdowns on 73 carries) could be in for a big game for the Golden Knights, though, as the Wolverines have given up big games on the ground on a few occasions this year.
Loyola's Wyatt Bradford ran for 215 yards on 22 carries against Harvard-Westlake, which saw St. Paul's Kurt Scoby accumulate 337 rushing yards on 32 carries last week.
La Cañada at Monrovia 7 p.m. Friday: The Spartans got out to one of their best starts of the year last week when they scored on their first drive and forced a turnover on San Marino's opening drive.
La Cañada quarterback Robbie Fuelling, who replaced Matt Jones as the starting signal caller, hit Grant Owen with an 82-yard touchdown pass on La Cañada's first drive, and Owen halted the Titans' opening drive when he intercepted a pass.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, they couldn't maintain the momentum as the Titans' ground attack took over en route to a 42-17 victory.
Things get no easier for La Cañada this week when it travels to Monrovia to take on the Wolverines, who are ranked No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section Mid-Valley Division and will look to win their third straight division title this year.
Monrovia has won the last six Rio Hondo League titles and has the ability to attack on the ground or through the air offensively with quarterback and St. Francis transfer Blake Heyworth (70 of 135 for 1,055 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions), receiver Matt Bryant (452 yards, three scores on 26 receptions) and senior running back Ge Vontray Ainsworth (541 yards, four touchdowns on 65 carries).
Defense may be where the Wildcats (4-2, 1-0) are most intimidating. They have only allowed 20 points or more twice this year and held the Spartans to two points in a 47-2 win last year. Monrovia is coming off wins over South Pasadena (53-14) and St. Francis (17-13), while La Cañada has seen its losing streak climb to five games.


text:
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I got Mario Kart 8 DX and Splatoon 2 this week.My friend code is SW-2538-3479-0495 if anyone wants to play.
Sure, and you could see Id has spawned other landmark evolutions of the FPS genre, like Quake.
But they've also failed a few times, which is why to be honest I was surprised that Doom 2016 was as good as it was. It could have very well been another dud. Whereas with the Zelda series, the duds are rare and usually unexpected.
And hey, a bit off topic, but here's one PS4 exclusive I don't need to worry about playing!https://kotaku.com/the-secret-of-mana-remake-makes-a-great-game-worse-1823035593
Right now, I'm making my way through System Shock.
Both System Shocks are great, they're also remaking the first one in the near future !
You should also try the Bioshock games if you haven't already, very recently finished the 3rd installment (Infinite) and it left a void in my life
Star Wars: Battlefront II... and I feel guilty that I even impulse bought it on sale, then tried to return it but missed the deadline.
In the days of my childhood I used to play the original Battlefront II on my PlayStation 2 with my younger brother against AI opponents. Those were good days!
Been playing Into The Breach since yesterday. Pretty neat game from the folks who did FTL.
I was going to give Mass Effect: Andromeda a try since I love the trilogy and the price was right, but couldn't even get it to boot up! I made the refund deadline this time and feel more like I dodged a bullet than missed out.
Crash or no, that was never going to end well. I didn't play it, but I heard a lot of utterly hilarious anecdotal things about it through coverage. Even without the launch bugs, the story is just a fucking mess. Combat is apparently good, but if you can't get invested in the story, then the gravitas of missions is utterly deflated.
I'm also fielding PS3 recommendations if anyone has strong opinions on anything. I actually have a ton of second hand games for it but don't know which I should play besides RDR and Demon's Souls (I have the HD remasters of Ico/SotC in my Amazon cart, but haven't pulled the trigger... =).
I highly recommend the version of Sonic CD available on the Playstation Store. I finished it this weekend and it was a blast.
Also, a question for fans of The Witcher franchise: The Witcher 3 is supposed to be one of the best games ever, but do I need or should I complete 1 & 2 first to appreciate it? Time is of the essence as I only have a few weeks tops before my kid is born and I probably can't play Red Dead plus all The Witcher games before then!
Ah yes, the iconic PS3 title synonymous with the system: Sonic CD! I guess that says it all about the PS3.
Sonic 3 I have fond memories of though, even moreso than when you locked it on to Sonic & Knuckles (which ruined Knuckles music). Loved the save system (back when that was a big feature =) and pretty much all the levels are excellently crafted for speed and exploration, though it's relatively short, just six zones without the & Knuckles expansion, but it was quality over quantity and Sonic's last hurrah.
Time is of the essence as I only have a few weeks tops before my kid is born and I probably can't play Red Dead plus all The Witcher games before then!
While I've really had a blast with BOtW and Horizon: Zero Dawn, after the witcher 3 Ive felt empty in comparison. Enjoy the game and enjoy that baby. Life will change forever.
Hey, it's on the PS3, ain't it?
Congratulations on the kid, Griff!
I can't exactly say how good a job it does for people coming in fresh, but being as TW3 outsold the first two games by a considerable margin, I'm going guess it did fairly well on that front. *Shrugs*It certainly isn't the wall of impenetrable fog that something like Metal Gear Solid 4 was.


text:
Remembering A Life Lived
Family & Friends. Hopes & Dreams. Successes & Accomplishments. Values & Skills. The Little Stuff. The Big Events. There is so much we experience in our life. There are the big moments that shape us … graduation, a first job, falling in love and getting married, having children, watching them grow into adulthood.
When we reflect on our lives, it's these memories and milestones that may come to mind first.But a life story is more than that. The small moments and special people we meet along the way are a part of us and help shape who we are and what we value.
Although we may know about some of the big moments in the lives of our loved ones, we may not know much about the other experiences and people which helped create their life. Sitting down with a loved one to talk about their life can be rich and rewarding. Learning about those memorable events, people, places, activities, values and lessons they have learned can help bring us closer to those we care about the most.
Having the talk of a lifetime can make a difference. Finding a way to start that conversation may be difficult, yet may be just as difficult to stop.Deep down, most of us want to know we, in some way, made a difference in this world … that we mattered to someone, and that after we die, we will be fondly remembered by those who knew and cared for us.
Today, there are so many ways we can remember and honor the unique people in our lives. Having the talk of a lifetime is simply the first step.
For more information visit www.talkofalifetime.org online.
Mailing Address: 200 S. Walnut
Carmi, IL 62821
Directly order flowers, view and sign the condolences book, share memories and more to celebrate lives of those dearly missed.
Take a few moments to express your wishes now and help to ease the burden on your loved ones.
A collection of answers to questions that people often have when arranging for a funeral.


text:
CHINO HILLS – The Chino Hills Foundation board of directors voted to donate $260,000 to the furnish the new Community Center, which is under construction.
This sum is the culmination of several fundraisers.
The board voted on the donation Monday.
A status report was also given about the number of low-income children and teens participating in city recreation programs this summer with the aid of foundation scholarships.
About $13,000 has been donated to Chino Hills families.
The city's first Community Center – at 14250 Peyton Drive – is expected to open in the fall.
The 17,000-square-foot facility is about six times larger than the McCoy Equestrian Center's barn.
The project is funded by San Bernardino County Fourth District Supervisor Gary Ovitt and the County Board of Supervisors and the Chino Hills Community Facilities District.


text:
Every time a mother shares a utensil with her baby, she could be putting the baby at risk for tooth decay. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, babies are not born with the harmful bacteria that can lead to cavities; instead, they get it from their mothers. This transfer often happens when moms put baby spoons in their mouths before feeding their child or allow a baby to put its fingers in their mouth. Mothers who have a history of dental problems are most likely to pass harmful bacteria to their children because they have an increased number in their own mouths.
The AAPD suggests that dads can also pass bacteria to their children, but not at the rate that mothers do. Moms who have not had cavities since their teens or earlier are less likely to put their children at risk, but it is still important to protect babies' teeth. Studies have shown that infants who are exposed to tooth-decaying bacteria are much more likely to get cavities throughout their lifetime than those who do not get the bacteria until later in life. For more helpful tips about keeping your child's teeth healthy, schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist on your True Dental Discounts dental plan.


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This is the week for a Rocky Horror Fancy Dress Party. The film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered in London on August 14, 1975, so it will be celebrating its 35th anniversary. (It did not get to the US until 26th September the same year). The film was originally not a success at the box office until someone had the idea (as outlined in the film itself) to show it as a 'Late Night Double Feature'. Here in Britain, for many years, it was paired with Mel Brooks' 'Young Frankenstein' and played at the cinema adjacent to Baker Street tube station. So in celebration, it's just a step to the right, the right step being to come and see us here at Props n Frocks, where you don't just dream it, you be it!
We have an information page giving you all the details you need regarding Rocky Horror Costumes. If you need inspiration on costumes, show dates and even tips on what props you should really take along to join in the fun, take a look at our Rocky Horror Picture Show costumes & ideas page


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Edward Jay Epstein's new book is The Annals of Unsolved Crime, just published by Melville House. Ed is incapable of writing a dull book, and this one lacks a dull page. Michael Wolff's USA Today review is in the nature of an appreciation that I share in full. Ed now writes to invite Power Line readers to participate in a series of online programs geared to the book:
I will be giving question-and-answer sessions on six of the most intriguing cases in my book. I am using an interactive platform called "Shindig," allowing attendees to share the stage with the speaker or mingle with other participants online. The discussions will be free, but are limited to the first 800 RSVPs who sign up. Everyone signing up will receive an excerpt from the book and a "briefing" on the crime to review before the live chat. The first one is on Tuesday, April 16, on The Lincoln Assassination. Here is the link. The URL is http://www.mhpbooks.com/unsolvedcrime/.
I would be delighted if Power Line readers would participate.
Ed's subsequent sessions address mysteries of the Vatican, the Amanda Knox ordeal, the case of Alexander Litvenenko, the case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and the Lindbergh kidnapping. I have to think that all of these sessions would be of interest to Power Line readers. Please check out the programs and sign up if interested at the link.


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Date(s) - Tuesday, 14th Aug
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Greenmount Surgery
Categories No Categories
Tuesdays 10.30am – 11.30am
This walk is led near to the Kirklees trail which goes along a disused railway line. The walk often includes some marked footpaths and quiet roads. The walk is mainly on level terrain, with occasional cobbled areas and/or muddy paths if the group venture into the woods, so please wear appropriate footwear. Meeting at Greenmount Surgery Car Park.
Call 0161 253 6396 for further info.


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A major hotel chain and its subsidiaries have been sued for allegedly failing to secure the financial information of its guests which led to fraudulent charges of more than $US10 million and the theft of hundreds of thousands of credit card numbers.
The complaint centers on three data breaches in as many years. In each case, the intruders made off with financial information by breaching the company's data centre.
The Federal Trade Commission alleged that Wyndham, which operates 7200 hotels and 93,000 vacation properties worldwide, and its three subsidiaries -- Wyndham Hotel Group, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, and Wyndham Hotel Management -- "misrepresented the security measures that the company and its subsidiaries took to protect consumers' personal information and that its failure to safeguard personal information caused substantial consumer injury."
The "property management systems" of all Wyndham-branded hotels, according to the FTC, were managed by the defendants and are connected to the corporate network.
In the first breach, which occurred in April 2008, the hackers gained an initial foothold onto a Phoenix Wyndham hotel's network, the FTC said.
Then, they pivoted to one of the subsidiary's corporate networks, which granted them access to the property management servers belonging to 41 other Wyndham properties.
In total, the thieves compromised a half-million credit card accounts, shipping many of those numbers -- which were being stored in clear text -- off to a hacker-owned server in Russia.
The following year, criminals used a similar method to latch on to one of the subsidiary's networks, where they installed "memory-scraping" malware to steal another 50,000 card numbers from 39 hotels. Then, in early 2010, Wyndham announced yet another breach involving 28 hotels and 69,000 accounts.
The FTC is seeking unspecified relief for incidents which it said resulted in $10.6 million in phony card charges and other expenses.
"Consumers and businesses suffered financial injury, including, but not limited to, unreimbursed fraudulent charges, increased costs, and lost access to funds or credit," the lawsuit said. "Consumers and businesses also expended time and money resolving fraudulent charges and mitigating subsequent harm."
Michael Valentino, a Wyndham spokesman, told SCMagazine.com via a statement on Tuesday that the company has yet to learn of any fraud that resulted from the breaches. He said he was surprised to learn of the lawsuit.
"We regret the FTC's recent decision to pursue litigation, as we have fully cooperated in its investigation and believe its claims are without merit," Valentino said. "We intend to defend against the FTC's claims vigorously, and do not believe the outcome of this litigation will have a material adverse effect on our company."
For several years, the hospitality industry has proven a rich target for cyber crime.


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Back to Search results
Horse Parade Prize
Every year
Croydon had a Horse, Pony
and Donkey Parade
through the centre of town.
People who looked after
their animals properly
could win prizes.
This badge is the second prize
from the 1899 parade.
The proud owner
could fix it to their horse's bridle
or show it off at home.
What's Your Story?
If you know a story about this object
we would like to hear from you.
Ask a member of staff in the gallery
for a contact card
or contact us at:
Museum of Croydon
Croydon Clocktower
Katharine Street
Tel: 020 8253 1022
Email: email@example.com
Preventing cruelty to animals
The annual parade
was organised by the Croydon branch
of the Royal Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The RSPCA began in 1824
and it grew rapidly.
By 1900, about 7,000 people a year
were convicted for mistreating animals.
Cruelty to animals was punished,
but good care was rewarded.
Every year at the Croydon Parade
there were cash prizes
for the best kept horses.
Croydon still has an active RSPCA.
Find out more
To find out more about Croydon in the 1890s
you can visit the Research Room.
The Research Room is on the
lower ground floor of the Clocktower,
It is open Tuesday-Saturday


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About this item
Empire Bomber by House of Borders is an Art Print. This art print displays sharp, vivid images with a high degree of color accuracy. A member of the versatile family of art prints, this high-quality reproduction represents the best of both worlds: quality and affordability. Art prints are created on paper similar to that of a postcard or greeting card using a digital or offset lithography press.
Dimensions (Overall): 16 inches (H) x 12 inches (W)
Care & Cleaning: Spot or wipe clean
Artwork Material: Paper
Assembly Details: No assembly required
Orientation: Vertical
Art subject: Outer Space
Artwork medium: Mixed media, digital art
Item Number (DPCI): 074-12-4293
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Category : Chair.
Topic : Wooden rocking chair for nursery. Author : Reba Bonner.
Posted : Tue, Jan 08th 2019 13:40 PM.
Format : jpg/jpeg.
Depending on your requirements, reclining chairs are available as massage chairs, regular seats, and full-featured home theater reclining chairs. The massage type recliners can have built-in heat technology and music thats synchronized to the rythym of the massage programme. These recliners will also have several pre-configured massage settings so that you can use the one you enjoy most. The massage recliner is excellent at relieving aching and sore muscles.


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Dave Broom's The World Atlas of Whisky is a beautiful book. The photographs are stunning. I spent my first 10 minutes with it just flipping from the Japan chapter's double page photo of Fuji's purple slopes, to the standing stone perched precariously in a lush Irish landscape, to the placid waters of a lowland Scottish lake.
An encyclopedic study of the entire whisky world is an awesome task. Dave Broom is one of the two or three people equipped to write this sort of tome, but what struck me as I read it it was how he had marshaled such a huge amount of factual material and yet maintained a light lyricism in his writing. It is like bagging all the Munros wearing carpet slippers.
As a specialist writer about Japanese whisky, I recognise in myself a niggling temptation to pick at other people's work on the subject. It is extraordinarily small-minded but the dream book to review for a man such as I is one that I can praise to the hilt but can still find a tiny error in, to reassert my puny sovereignty: "Yes, I see you have done the Munros in your carpet slippers, but did you notice you left the price tag on the sole?"
I searched in vain in the Atlas for such an opening. Believe me, I read the Japan chapter from beginning to end several times, and was not only unable to find any small errors of detail, but also none of the cultural pratfalls that it is quite common to read in foreigners' writing about Japan. Broom is no stranger to the country, but in this respect his work reminds me of the late Michael Jackson's. I read Jackson's books and am amazed that a person who did not live over here could get the tone so right, avoiding all the errors of emphasis that seem to plague other writers. Broom, like Jackson, is relaxed enough in his writing not to eschew cultural commentary and references, but his research appears to be strong enough to keep his footing sure. Add to that Broom's intimidating grasp of whisky in general and you get the sort of confidence that can pen sentences like:
"If Scottish single malt is a rushing mountain burn, all the flavors jostling for position, Japanese malt is a limpid pool where all is revealed."Japan gabblers of my stripe sharpen our knives and sneers for such generalisations, but there is a beauty and lyricism in Broom's writing, and a truth in what he says, that disarms me completely. I learned something on every page of the Atlas's chapter on Japan. By way of fuller illustration, the paragraph from which the sentence above was taken is worth quoting in full:
"Japanese whisky isn't necessarily lighter, but it possesses a clarity of aroma that singles it out. Its absence of a cereal background note also differentiates it from Scotch, as does the use of the intensely aromatic Japanese oak. If Scottish single malt is a rushing mountain burn, all the flavors jostling for position, Japanese malt is a limpid pool where all is revealed."That sort of passage may look easy enough to write. It is not. It requires an absolutely secure understanding not only of one part of the whisky world, but of its entire extent. Broom has that, and, in the few areas where he is not completely sure of his ground, he has had the good sense to look to others that do. The Canadian and Central Europe sections, for instance, were written with the expert help of Davin de Kergommeaux and Bernhard Schafer, respectively, and both are really enlightening reads. I also found the "Flavor Camp" classifications and the lists at the back of the book extremely useful, allowing the reader to cross-reference, for instance, "fruity and spicy" or "smoky and peaty" whiskies from across the world.
This has been a unrelentingly glowing review, and I suppose that very positivity might provoke a suspicion in some readers' minds about its objectivity. I will admit that the whisky writers' world is small enough to make it difficult to write very negative reviews, but what I tend to do is not to review works that are not excellent. Broom's book is excellent.


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I was in a festive mood this week, so I celebrated by whipping up a batch of Green Velvet Mint cakepops, dunked in Bittersweet Dark Chocolate.
I started with Green Velvet batter....
...sort of like Red Velvet. Only it's green.
Then I added some Peppermint to the batter.
Just for a special little kick.
They were delicious!
And very green.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Erin Go Bragh!


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Starting off 2011 on a scotch roll, it seems. I received a package just before Christmas containing review samples of Jura and Dalmore scotches. I'll be reviewing the Jura samples this week, and the Dalmore next.
Jura scotch comes of course from the island of Jura located to the northeast of the island of Islay. Jura's most famous resident was probably George Orwell, who lived there near the end of his life while writing 1984. The scotch named Jura is the only whisky distilled on the island.
Jura 10-year-old
40% abv.
Color: Gold-amber.
Nose: Earthy.
Tasting notes: Very mildly smoky, very mildly honeyed. Salty. Bit of resin, like pine. Hints of dark chocolate. Salty finish.
Final word: I'm a little biased here. When I want a scotch that's well-balanced — neither smoky nor floral but a bit of both — Jura 10 is usually one of my choices. It's one of my favorite sipping malts, and one I like to recommend to people new to scotch.
Jura 16-year-old
43% abv
Color: Golden bronze
Nose: Pine, earth.
Tasting notes: A little peatier than the 10, but still not heavy peat. Less resin than the 10. Honey gives way to dark chocolate and vanilla. Same salty finish.
Final word: Definite step up from the 10, still very tasty and balanced, but smoother. I like the subtle upping of the peat flavor.
Jura Superstition
45% abv. Blend of two or more Jura whiskies–one peaty, one not.
Color: Bronze
Nose: Light peaty smoke, some sherry nuttiness.
Tasting notes: Again, light peaty smoke, heather, hazelnut, nutty cookie, like a Pecan Sandie. Long, mildly salty finish with a bit more smoke.
Final word: Lovely dram, and definitely something I'd seek out for my home bar. Since the smoke is there but mild, this might be a good whisky to introduce to someone who's never had a peaty example. At roughly US$50, not a bad bargain for the price.
Jura Prophecy
46% abv.
Color: Honey, light bronze.
Nose: Big peat. Subtle fruitiness, but I can't pin it down exactly. Nutty spices.
Tasting notes: Most complex and nuanced of the lot. Peaty smoke dominates. Something medicinal in there, but pleasantly so. Iodine? Hints of cinnamon and clove, subtle fruit (again, can't quite pin it down). Medium finish.
Final word: Oh my darling, where the hell have you been all my life? Let's listen to Tom Waits and get dirty together.


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September 2007
Maximizing enrollment (SES only)
Given infrequent attendance and attrition in some SES programs, districts should use caution in setting a target or cap on the number of students that can be served. In general, districts should avoid setting an absolute cap on the number of students who can be served by simply dividing the amount of funds available for SES by the district's maximum per-pupil SES expenditure, as this does not take into account the likelihood of some students missing SES sessions or dropping out of SES programs and, thus, funds being available to provide services to additional numbers of students. If a district wishes to use a cap, it should instead plan to set it at a level that takes into account historical attendance and attrition rates. Alternatively, some districts have initially employed a simple cap, but then work quickly through a waiting list or use unspent funds for SES programs later in the year or during the summer. Pursuing these alternatives will help a district meet its expenditure obligations under the law and also allow for as many students as possible to receive services.


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TechNavio's report, the Global Water Treatment Chemicals Market 2011-2015, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the Americas, and the EMEA and APAC regions; it also covers the Global Water Treatment Chemicals market landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.
To Read The Complete Report with TOC Kindly Visit: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/156735
The key vendors dominating this market space are Nalco Holding Co., GE Infrastructure Water and Process Technologies Inc., Ashland Inc., Kurita Water Industries Ltd., BASF SE, and Danaher Corp.
The oher vendors mentioned in the report are Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Akzo Nobel NV, Arch Chemicals Inc., Buckman Laboratories International Inc., BWA Water Additives UK Ltd., Carus Corp., ChemTech Water Technologies Ltd., Chemtrade Logistics Inc., ChemTreat Inc., Cortec Corp., Dai-Ichi Karkaria Ltd., Dow Chemical Co., Kemira Chemicals Inc., Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties LLC, and Plymouth Technology Inc.
To Browse All Reports Kindly visit: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/
Key questions answered in this report:
What will the market size be in 2015 and what will the growth rate be?
What are the key market trends?
What is driving this market?
What are the challenges to market growth?
Who are the key vendors in this market space?
What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?
You can request one free hour of analyst time when you purchase this report. Details provided within the report.
TechNavio's research portfolio in the Clean Tech series includes reports on the EV market, wind turbine market, solar panel market, smart grid market, fuel cell market, photovoltaic inverter market, lead acid battery market, microgrid market, EV battery market, EV charging market, CNG vehicle market, e waste market, smart water meter market
To Buy A Copy Of This Report Kindly visit: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/156735


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By Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press ServiceJune 7, 2007
WASHINGTON (American Forces Press Service, June 8, 2007) - America's servicemembers are the best-equipped in the world, and people could see and touch an array of all-new or improved military equipment on exhibit on Capitol Hill here June 6.
Attendees examined a revamped Land Warrior ground-Soldier system, inspected improved body armor, tasted the latest field rations and viewed a new aerial cargo delivery system along with more equipment on display at the one-day exhibit held inside the Rayburn House Office Building. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the U.S. Army's Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass., and Program Executive Office Soldier based at Fort Belvoir, Va.
The Army's Land Warrior individual combat system was a popular exhibit. Land Warrior is a prototype system that harnesses computer technology and earth-orbiting satellites to boost an infantryman's survivability on the battlefield, while providing senior leaders with real-time information about the situation on the ground, said Sgt. Philip Morici, an infantryman who demonstrates the Land Warrior system.
In development since the early 1990s, the current version of Land Warrior is "a great system, but it's obviously not the end-result of what we want," Sgt. Morici said as he hefted a specially-equipped M-4 carbine that is integrated with the Land Warrior system.
Land Warrior is now being tested by an Army unit in Iraq, the sergeant noted.
"We're slowly getting the info back and we're making the changes we need to," Sgt. Morici said.
Recent improvements to Land Warrior resulted in an 8-pound weight loss compared to the previous edition, Sgt. Morici said. Future versions of Land Warrior will likely be smaller, lighter, and be wireless and voice-activated, he predicted.
The improved armored tactical vest now being fielded provides servicemembers with the best protection available, said Francis Hayden, a Soldier survivability expert with Program Executive Office Soldier at Fort Belvoir.
The improved vest now weighs 29 pounds for a size medium, a 4-pound weight reduction, Mr. Hayden said. It features a new, tailored fit, he noted, that in tandem with expanded sizes for longer torsos, provides increased area of protection coverage.
The vest also has a weight re-distributing internal waistband that makes it more comfortable to wear. The vest still incorporates ceramic-plate inserts that will stop a variety of small-arms projectiles, Mr. Hayden noted.
"It provides full, 360-degrees protection on the torso," Mr. Hayden said of the new vest, noting it includes detachable protection for the upper arms and groin. The new vest also features a pull-release device for quick removal in case of emergencies, he noted.
"The Interceptor body armor is the best body armor, right now, that we have out on the street for our Soldiers," Mr. Hayden emphasized.
And, thanks to the new Unitized Group Ration Express, also called "Kitchen in a Carton," U.S. servicemembers deployed to austere locales will soon be able to enjoy hot meals even though there's no dining facility in sight, said Gerald Darsch, director for DoD Combat Feeding at the Natick facility.
The Kitchen in a Carton system is self-heating and features menu items such as turkey dinner with gravy, Mr. Darsch said.
"It requires no cook, no fuel, no equipment and no power," he explained, noting each self-contained system is designed to be air-dropped, weighs 40 pounds and feeds 18 servicemembers.
Kitchen in a Carton, Mr. Darsch said, is one of two newly developed military field rations. The other new field food is called the "First-Strike Ration," he said, and it's designed for troops on the move.
The all-in-one ration is designed to replace multi-component meals-ready-to-eat, Mr. Darsch said, noting they contain about 3,000 calories, enough to feed a warfighter for one day.
"Everything contained in that First-Strike Ration is designed to be consumed on the move," Mr. Darsch explained. "Even the beverages come in an ergonomically designed pouch, where you don't have to fumble with the canteen or the canteen cup." Officials hope to field this new ration soon, he said.
And, through the new Joint Precision Airdrop System, the U.S. military has developed a novel method to aerially deliver rations, fuel, ammunition and other vital supplies to troops in the field.
After exiting a cargo plane flying as high as 25,000 feet above the ground, the computer-controlled JPADS parachute system "self-maneuvers using Global Positioning System coordinates to a drop zone as small as 100 meters," Ed Doucette, Natick's director of air delivery and warfighter protection, explained. Computer-controlled twisting or warping of the system's wing-shaped parachute causes the airborne payload to turn left or right, he noted.
A 2,000-pound payload version of the JPADS system has been used in Afghanistan, Mr. Doucette said, noting another system with a 10,000-pound capacity also has been developed.
"There are further plans to deploy more of those (2,000-pound systems) over the next six months, and then rapidly field the 10,000-pound systems, as well," Mr. Doucette noted.


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European Commission
Press release
Brussels, 8 October 2013
Survey of adult skills highlights need to improve education and training
One in five adults in Europe have low literacy and numeracy skills, and even a university degree in the same subject is no guarantee of the same level of skills in different countries, according to the first comprehensive international Survey of Adult Skills published today by the OECD and European Commission. The survey assesses the literacy, numeracy and problem-solving ICT skills of adults aged 16-65 in 17 EU Member States - Belgium (Flanders), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, The Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden and the UK (England/Northern Ireland), as well as in Australia, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway and the United States. The findings underline the need to target investment at improving education and training to increase skills and employability in European countries.
The survey, also known as the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), was launched by Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and Ángel Gurría, Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
"The Survey of Adult Skills points to weaknesses in our education and training systems that must be addressed if we are to equip people with the high-level skills they need to succeed in life. It's not acceptable that that one fifth of our population has only low levels of skills. We have to fix this problem. There are no short-cuts. At EU and national level, we have to invest more efficiently in better education and better training."
This view was echoed by László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, who called on funding for education and employment reforms to be a priority. "I urge Member States to make better use of the European Social Fund to invest in skills and training, both for the young unemployed and for the lifelong learning of middle-aged and older workers," he commented.
The Survey's key findings:
Differences between Member States
The evidence from the data collected by the OECD shows significant differences between Member States. Examples are given below:
One adult in five has low literacy or numeracy skills in Ireland, France, Poland and the UK. This rises to almost one adult in three in Spain and Italy.
More than 40% of the adult population in the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden have high problem solving skills in ICT environments, while almost one in five adults have no computer experience in Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Poland and Slovakia.
Literacy scores from recent upper secondary school graduates in the Netherlands and Finland are close to or better than those of higher education graduates in Ireland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus and the UK (England/Northern Ireland).
In Belgium (Flanders), Spain, France and Finland, the level of proficiency in literacy and numeracy among 25-34 year olds is significantly better than the generation aged 55-65.
Next steps
The survey findings and their implications for education and training will be discussed with Member States to help identify actions to remedy weaknesses. The new Erasmus+ programme for education, training and youth will support projects aimed at developing and upgrading adult skills. The survey can also help Member States define priorities to finance from the 2014-2020 European Social Fund, which is a key source of investment in skills and training and can also improve access to training for vulnerable groups.
The Survey of Adult Skills directly assesses the skills of about 5 000 adults aged 16-65 in each participating country, representing the working age population. The skills tested are literacy, numeracy and problem solving in technology-rich environments. The survey also asks about the use of ICT at work and in everyday life, generic skills required at work, whether the skills and qualification match work requirements and questions about education, work and socio-economic background.
The survey was conducted in 2011/2012 in 23 countries, among them 17 EU Member States, representing more than 80% of the EU28 population.
The European Commission and the OECD have recently signed a new cooperation agreement to work closer together in three areas: skills strategies, country analyses and international surveys.
The Commission and the OECD will launch a new Education and Skills Online Assessment tool later this autumn. This will allow people to test their skills and benchmark their own abilities in an international context.
This afternoon, Andreas Schleicher, Deputy Director of the OECD's Education and Skills Directorate, and Xavier Prats Monné, Deputy Director-General for Education and Culture in the European Commission, will host a briefing for education and training stakeholders on the implications of the survey for European policy-making. The briefing will take place from 14:30-16:00 in the auditorium of the Commission's Madou building, Place Madou 1, 1210 Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode. Accredited media are welcome.
For more information
MEMO/13/860 PIAAC Survey of Adult Skills – frequently asked questions
Survey of Adult Skills on the OECD website
Implications of the Survey of Adult Skills on education and training policies in Europe – European Commission analysis – Executive Summary
European Commission: Education and training
Androulla Vassiliou's website and László Andor's website
Twitter: Androulla Vassiliou @VassiliouEU and László Andor @LaszloAndorEU
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For me, but not for thee
By Lady Liberty
Most Americans seem to have at least a limited understanding of the Bill of Rights. They may be unclear as to whether or not the Bill of Rights grants them specific rights or not (it doesn't; it acknowledges certain rights and prohibits the government from interfering with them). They may not understand even the clearest verbiage of the first ten amendments (determining all too often, for example, that "the people" in the Second Amendment refers to the National Guard, but that "the people" in all of the other amendments means "the people"). But as a whole, they "get" at least the idea of the Bill of Rights, and we might assume that any specific misunderstanding or ignorance could be addressed by education and example.
Another problem concerning the Bill of Rights is more serious. It has nothing to do with knowledge per se, but is rather the tendency of some to believe that certain of the amendments apply to them, but not to certain defined or undefined others. Rarely is this type of assumption more clear than in the case of certain religious factions, namely the fundamentalist Christian.
Citing the First Amendment, a group of Christian protesters in Pennsylvania confronted a group of homosexual activists during a gay pride celebration there. In the many accounts I've read of the incident that followed, no one from either side of the confrontation has suggested that the other group not be allowed to express its opinion in such matters. But the Christians were apparently confrontational, and some homosexuals fought back. As a result of the near-riot that ensued, a number of the Christians were charged with hate crimes (among other things).
Now I oppose the very idea of criminalizing speech as a "hate" crime. But I oppose censorship, too, and you don't see me arguing against the arrest of a man who yells "Fire!" in a crowded theatre. That's relevant here because free speech wasn't the real issue in Pennsylvania, either. The Christians, as they have repeatedly pointed out, had the right to express their opinion that homosexuality is immoral. They did not, however, have the right to deliberately -- and repeatedly -- provoke the people they were criticizing, and by most accounts that's what they did. I don't consider hate speech a crime, but what about harrassment or incitement to riot?
In the end, all of the charges against the Christians were dropped earlier this month, a decision with which I disagreed on grounds having nothing to do with the freedom of speech or worship (it's telling, by the way, that the judge who made the ruling offered an indirect comparison to the unpopular viewpoints of Nazis or the KKK). But the resolution didn't happen before various conservative web sites jumped to the defense of the Christian group, calling the prosecution of the case "Christian persecution." At the same time, I'd be willing to bet whatever you like that if a homosexual activist had jumped in front of a Christian and screamed in his face, those same web sites would be howling for blood.
Numerous Christian activists around the country who are busy trying to get creationism into biology classes often claim that the only reason creationism isn't already part of the curriculum is because of discrimination against Christians and/or the Christian viewpoint. They don't care that the Native American creation mythologies aren't taught in schools, nor are they unhappy that the Hindu version of creation isn't a subject for study. If discrimination is really the point, why don't they don't claim discrimination where Wiccan or Buddhist concepts of the origin of life or life energy are concerned?
The reality here is that religion -- any religion -- is a matter of faith, and science is a matter of fact. But they equate certain tenets of their own faith with fact, thus making the faith of others a substantially lesser thing which, in turn, makes them the ones truly guilty of discrimination! Meanwhile, these groups are costing school boards across the country more than a little taxpayer money, thanks to potential lawsuits and legal reviews of stickers and pseudo-science. If this were truly an issue of religious freedom, creationist advocates should be clamoring for other creation myths to share equal time with their own. They're not because it isn't, and most of them know it.
Some Christians have complained when Bibles have been banned from school libraries as potential violations of the separation of church and state. I agree with the Christians. The Bible is too often cited or used as rationale in too many instances for it not to be present at the least as a reference book. And merely having a book on the library shelf is neither an endorsement of religion nor an encouragement by school officials toward that religion. Unfortunately, exactly the same groups typically use the ironic opposite of their own arguments to demand that Harry Potter books be pulled from libraries because the availability of such books is something they consider a call to witchcraft (be forewarned that the cited web site has significant errors of fact as early as the first paragraph about the Harry Potter author; as an aside, also know that those who believe that Harry Potter is equivalent to witchraft are conversant with neither the Harry Potter books nor with witchcraft). To put it more simply, the First Amendment applies only to those things with which those activists agree, and those religions they think are okay.
In Virginia, there's an ongoing case of a school that buses kids off to Bible classes every week. The school and many parents say it's okay for them to do that because nobody is forced into it; some parents say that kids are coerced, if nothing else, by being ostracized or harrassed by the majority of kids who do opt for the Bible classes. Those against the program also point out that kids who elect not to participate have nothing concrete to do while their classmates are off getting religion.
The same people in Virginia who say that Bible classes are a good thing are the people in California who are seriously up in arms over classes in schools there that spent some time teaching the Koran (as it happens, not actually not as bad as it sounds when taken within the complete context of the lesson plans though still questionable in connection with the separation of church and state). While the motivation behind the California classes may or may not be suspect, I personally think that some motivation behind at least some teachings in high schools and universities is an ultra-politically correct notion that the 9/11 terrorists and men like them have a point (something which may be strictly true but with which I strenuously disagree as any kind of an excuse or rationale). But whatever the motive, how is an elective discussion of the Koran a whole lot different than a supposedly elective discussion of the Bible? The answer, of course, is that there's no difference at all except in the eye of the beholder.
Let me make it clear that I have nothing against Christianity. In fact, I have nothing against any religion as long as its practitioners don't hurt other people by stealing away their rights, property, or lives. Let me also say that some Christians aren't the only ones guilty of this particular sin. If I were writing this column in Saudi Arabia, for example (forget that I would have been arrested and executed long before now for the "blasphemous" content of some of my other columns), I'd be complaining for much the same reason about certain fundamentalist Muslim groups.
But I don't live in Saudi Arabia, and in this country it's radical Christians (to be fair, the word "radical" is perhaps an overstatement of zealousness in comparison to some radical Muslims) who are causing religious strife and trouble entirely out of proportion to their relatively small numbers. The biggest difference between the United States and many in the United Arab Emirate isn't so much religion or religious fervor as it is the fact that Americans have the right to dissent from the majority or other minorities where religion is concerned.
That right to dissent -- and to vocalize such dissent -- is inherent in the First Amendment. That means that the religious fundamentalists do have every right to speak their piece. What they do not have the right to do is to force their opinions on everyone else, or to voice their opinions exclusive to the opinions of others. Their right to worship freely does not include the right to forestall or interfere with that same freedom for others. And certainly their faith does not entitle them to force others to go along with whatever they might believe, or even to learn more about what they believe, if that education is under some form of duress.
The easiest way for anyone to understand just what is a violation of rights and what isn't is to put the shoe on the other foot. If it would be wrong to preach Islam in a public school classroom during class time, then it would be wrong to preach Christianity. If the earth didn't really begin as a giant turtle as some Native American stories suggest, then it would be wrong to demand others be taught in science classes that the planet is only 6,000 years old (actually, First Amendment aside, teaching either of those things would also be wrong simply because, well, they're both wrong). If someone finds the Bible offensive (and some people do) and so demands it not be included in library collections, wouldn't it be equally as narrow-minded to censor other books off the shelves?
On the other hand, some of the people I'm talking about are apparently so busy seeing the light of whatever revelation it is that's caught their fancy that they've essentially been blinded to the rights of the rest of us. They pass their time judging others by whatever standard it is they believe they're on earth to uphold, and demanding that others toe their chosen line. I'm pretty sure there's no constitutional amendment that addresses that problem per se, but it just so happens that there is something in the Bible that does: "Whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire." Matthew 5:22. If they won't listen to the Constitution as Americans, perhaps they'll consider the source they claim they do revere as Christians.
Lady Liberty is a graphic designer and pro-freedom activist currently residing in the Midwest. More of her writings and other political and educational information is available on her web site, Lady Liberty's Constitution Clearing House, at http://www.ladylibrty.com. E-mail Lady Liberty at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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The first attempt by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to meet its budget reconciliation target of $3 billion in spending cuts over five years had to be sent back to the drawing board.
The plan, which involved a 2.5-percent reduction in farm program payments and cuts in spending for conservation, food stamps and agricultural research, was severely criticized by numerous conservation, charity, environmental and taxpayer watchdog groups in Washington.
But the opposition that counted came from Agriculture Committee members who reportedly felt the 2.5-percent ($1.15 billion) reduction in farm program payments was more than their farmers could bear.
The 2.5-percent figure was made larger — some had expected a 1-percent cut — because of pressure from dairy-state senators to extend the Milk Income Loss Contract program, which expired Sept. 30. The budget reconciliation proposal included $998 million in new funding for MILC.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss said the opposition to the deeper cuts was one of the reasons for postponing a mark-up session on the budget reconciliation proposal that had been scheduled for Oct. 6.
"We did achieve the difficult balance for conservation and food stamp spending and among program crops; however, some committee senators said they were concerned at the cost of extending the MILC program at the expense of other commodity programs," Chambliss said in a statement.
"There is strong support for this counter-cyclical dairy program among both parties within this committee, but it does not appear there is the support that is necessary."
While the committee's work would be simplified by omitting the MILC program, senators are aware that President Bush promised dairy farmers he would fight to extend the program when he was campaigning for re-election in Minnesota last year.
Dairy state senators from both parties, meanwhile, have vowed to provide funding for the program, including Rick Santorum, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who reportedly faces a stiff re-election challenge next year.
The committee has not re-scheduled the mark-up session, which was canceled shortly before midnight on Oct. 5.
More than 150 food and nutrition groups, including the Memphis, Tenn., Food Bank sent a letter to Chambliss criticizing the plan that would reportedly have reduced spending for conservation programs by $1.05 billion, food stamps by $574 million and ag research by $227 million.
Groups such as the Environmental Working Group, a long-time nemesis for farm programs, also weighed in with its president, Ken Cook, saying the proposal would hamper the efforts of U.S. negotiators in the Doha Round of WTO talks.
"It's a slap in the face to the poorest countries in the world," said Cook. "The only thing U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman will get out of this round of negotiations is frequent flyer miles."
A minister from Hazard, Ky., wrote an op-ed article for the Christian Science Monitor, claiming that the plan would harm families "living on the edge" in rural areas while continuing to provide $11 billion a year in government payments to large-scale commercial farms nationwide.
The National Cotton Council, on the other hand, called the proposal "painful, but equitable," in a statement attributed to its chairman, Woods Eastland, a producer and cooperative official from Greenwood, Miss.
"This proposal calls on the U.S. cotton industry to make significant contributions to deficit reduction through cuts aimed at all commodities generally and cuts aimed at cotton specifically," said Eastland. "Cotton is clearly doing its part to contribute to deficit reduction in this package. These proposed cuts will be painful to the U.S. cotton industry."
The proposal apparently included a 2.5-percent reduction for direct, counter-cyclical and marketing loan payments for cotton, rice, corn, soybeans, peanuts and other program crops, including dairy payments. It would have also ended the Step 2 export subsidy program for cotton on Aug. 1 or after the end of the current marketing year for cotton.
Although the cotton industry had hoped to keep Step 2 through the end of the current farm bill, Eastland sounded supportive of the move to terminate it a year earlier than the 2007 expiration of the 2002 farm bill.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns had asked Congress to end the program immediately to comply with a ruling by a WTO dispute panel in a case brought by Brazil against the U.S. cotton program.
"Even though the U.S. cotton industry remains convinced that the WTO dispute panel's findings were flawed, the decision to terminate the Step 2 program prior to the conclusion of the current farm bill is an acknowledgement of U.S international obligations," he said.
"A decision to completely terminate a U.S. farm program in the middle of a farm bill is virtually unprecedented. The loss of the Step 2 program will reduce offtake of U.S. cotton and put additional pressure on prices received by farmers. The elimination of Step 2 and the administrative changes to the export credit programs constitute significant progress in response to the WTO decision on prohibited subsidies."
He said the reduction in benefits from the marketing loan and counter-cyclical payments combined in the Chambliss plan along with the elimination of Step 2 "address the price suppression and serious prejudice ruling in the Brazil WTO cotton case."
Eastland also expressed disappointment at the decision to delay mark-up in the Senate Agriculture Committee.
"The Senate Agriculture Committee has a difficult task before it. Cutting farm programs is never easy. The committee has managed to craft a balanced package of cuts that is relatively equitable across all commodities and all programs overseen by the committee."
The 2.5 percent reduction in payments, particularly in the face of rising fuel and fertilizer costs, "will be keenly felt," he said. "The Senate did what it could to minimize overall negative impacts from this budget-cutting exercise."
Although finding common ground is obviously proving difficult, Chambliss said the committee must still choose where the $3 billion in cuts will come from. "As a committee, we must participate with other committees that are cutting the budget, or we lose the right to choose our cuts when the Congress votes on budget reconciliation."
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LifeWay Church needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 54 designs submitted by 14 freelance designers.
LifeWay Church
LifeWay church is a network church of LifeChurch.tv - a 30,000 member global church with a huge on-line presence. We are looking to establish our own logo for LifeWay Church that, while similar to our parent church, has its own identity and edge. We are a dynamic, young, fast growing church that serves a broad range of people, but our primary focus is on the younger adults (ages 15-40). Our name is a result of two church names put together....LifeChurch (lifechurch.tv) and Gateway Church (gatewaypeople.com) = LifeWay Church. Our logo will be on our signs, banners, website, clothing, hats, pens, bumper sticker...everywhere we can put it! Please help!
Being a church, our target audience is very broad and general. We are simply looking to identify a logo that is simple to identify and that we can achieve brand name recognition around. Our primary target is young adults ages 15-40. We want the logo to be simple and easily identifiable and recognizable...simple, but with an edge. As noted above, we want it to be similar to our parent church logo and we have created a simple one thus far, but we feel that it is lacking some punch and uniqueness. Our logo will be on letterhead, website, facebook, hats, clothing, bumper stickers, banners, signs...everywhere we can put it! We favor the red and white color and would like to use the LW or LWC initials.
I will attach a logo that we are currently using along with the logo of our parent church - LifeChurch. We are looking to make our (LifeWay) current logo a bit "edgier". We like the t.v. (tube) shape background but are open to new ideas. We want red and white coloring and want to use the LW or LWC initials. Keep it simple and easily recognizable.
Under our logo - we would like to have the phrase "a part of the LifeChurch.tv Network" included. We currently have "a network church of LifeChurch.tv" - but that needs to be changed to "a part of the LifeChurch.tv Network".
We like the all caps lettering, but would be open to new ideas.
If we could incorporate a Christian cross into the logo, that would be neat but not necessary.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Greenwich holds off Wilton in OT to reach Class LL quarterfinals
Playing a never-say-die Wilton team loaded with sharpshooters, Greenwich High School knew no lead was safe during Thursday night's Class LL tournament showdown against the Warriors. It wasn't until the final few seconds of overtime that the fourth-seeded Cardinals were able to breathe easy.
No. 20 Wilton had visions of recording another overtime upset after erasing a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, but Greenwich made just enough plays during the extra session to keep its most successful season in years going.
Senior guard CJ Byrd scored 18 of his team-high 21 points after halftime and senior center Alex Wolf registered 18 points and 17 rebounds, helping lead host Greenwich to a dramatic 67-61 overtime win in the second round.
The Cardinals (22-3) advanced to host Monday's quarterfinals against fifth-seeded New Britain. The Warriors, who trailed 49-39 early in the fourth quarter were paced by junior guard Matt Shifrin's 21 points. Junior Richard Williams added 14 points, including three 3-pointers for Wilton, which received a game-tying 3-pointer from junior Scott Shouvlin (nine points) with 42 seconds left in regulation.
Senior forward Jonathan Palmer scored six points, but more importantly successfully fulfilled his defensive assignment of guarding Wilton senior guard Eric Houska, who came in averaging nearly 20 points. Palmer limited Houska to five points, all of which came on foul shots.
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"That was fun, it's what March Madness is all about," said Greenwich coach Bill Brehm, whose squad played man-to-man defense throughout. "They hit some unbelievable shots. I knew they would be tough and they had a good game plan and executed it well. To their credit, they hit as many shots as they could possibly hit in the first half."
The Warriors, who finished 0-3 against the Cardinals this season, focused their attention defensively on stopping Byrd. Wilton had several players face guard Byrd, but the Cards' leading scorer found his rhythm after halftime.
"These kids, all they do is give a lot of heart out there," Wilton coach Joel Geriak said. "They leave everything on the floor, that's the mentality they have. The reason why we are in the game against good teams like that is because our guys play so hard."
A pair of free throws by Byrd gave GHS the lead for good at 60-58 with 1:58 to go in overtime. Wolf made two clutch free throws, making it 65-61 with less than a minute to play. He put the exclamation point on the win with a dunk just as the buzzer sounded. That was the only time the Cardinals would exhale.
"Going to the quarterfinals feels amazing," Byrd said. "This is the first time for me. We just have to keep bringing it every single night."
Senior guard Tommy Povinelli scored 12 points. Michael Bingaman contributed eight for the Warriors, who also lost to GHS in the FCIAC quarterfinals.
"We were down by 10 points, but we didn't quit," Shifrin said. "This is a season we can definitely build off. We're going to keep getting better -- our stock is only rising."
Trailing 31-27 at halftime, Greenwich held Wilton to only two field goals and seven points during the third quarter. The shots which fell in the first half didn't in the third quarter for the Warriors, who saw the Cardinals seize the momentum. Povinelli's 3-pointer, Wolf's layup off a pass from Byrd and two free throws from Byrd gave the Cards a 38-33 edge. Leading 40-38 after the three quarters, Greenwich built a 49-38 fourth-quarter lead, courtesy of five straight points from Palmer and a putback from Byrd. Palmer was effective offensively during a two-minute spurt, but was outstanding defensively the entire game.
Face-guarding Houska, he made it difficult for him to get the ball.
"He's (Houska) a great player and a great shooter," Palmer said. "He's a really good player with a bright future. I just tried my best to guard him."
Points were tough to come by during the first quarter, especially for the Cards, who trailed 11-6. The Warriors played a box-and-one on Byrd, forcing the home team to make some adjustments offensively.
"There was definitely a lot more moving around for me to get open," Byrd said. "They played great defense, especially on me. I didn't want to rush anything, so I had to keep my composure and try to open up opportunities for my teammates when I did get the ball."
A 3-pointer from the top of the key by Shifrin gave the Warriors (13-10) their biggest lead at 19-11 three minutes into the second quarter. Eight points from Wolf, who used his 6-9 frame to his advantage throughout, helped the Cards close to within 31-27 at halftime.
"Our game plan was to take CJ out of the game," said Geriak, whose Warriors beat Hartford Public in double overtime in the first round, 62-61.
"Wilton is a tough team," Povinelli added. "They're a 3-point shooting team that drives and kicks really well. But in overtime, CJ took over once again."
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-625-4423
Greenwich 67, Wilton 61 (OT)
Michael Bingaman 4 0-0 8; Peter Ciaccio 1 1-2 3; Eric Houska 0 5-6 5; Matt Shifrin 8 3-3 21; Scott Shouvlin 3 0-0 9; Richard Williams 3 5-6 14; TJ Savvaides 0 1-2 1. Totals: 19 15-19 61.
Jonathan Palmer 1 4-5 6; CJ Byrd 6 9-11 21; Alex Wolf 6 6-7 18; Leonel Hyatt 1 2-4 4; Tommy Povinelli 4 1-2 12; Griffin Golden 2 2-4 6; Kyle Foote 0 0-0 0; Patrick Santini 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 24-33 67.
3-pointers: W -- Shouvlin 3, Williams 3, Shifrin 2. G -- Povinelli 3.


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|Curitiba, Brazil
|High School:
|Positivo College
University of Curitiba
Majored in Law at the University of Curitiba in Brazil.
High School
Priscila attended Positivo College in Curitiba, Brazil... Coached by Roland Santos... Represented South America in tennis tournaments since she was fifteen years old reaching the finals in 2011... Won a doubles tournament in Venezuela.
Daughter of Perito Garcia from Curitiba, Brazil... Has been ranked number 1 in sectionals... nationally was ranked 5 in the 18 and under... Ranked 1026 in singles and 1139 in doubles in the WTA... Priscila attened the Guillermo Villas Tennis Academy in Mallorca, Spain for five months... Recalls winning the Gustavo Kuerten tournament in Florianopols in singles and doubles one of the most significant moments... Favorite sports team is Brazil's Soccer Team... Favorite TV Show is Gossip Girl... Favorite Athletes are Victoria Azarenka, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer... Is able to speak English, Spanish and Portuguese... Enjoys hanging out with friends, going to the beach, and going to the movies in her spare time.


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iPod touch Defender Series Case
Give your iPod touch shelterSKU:
iPod touch
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Your device is completely covered by the Defender case keeping it as new as the day you bought it
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Three layers work together to deliver trusted OtterBox protection
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- Two-piece polycarbonate inner shell fits snugly around the device
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- Outer silicone skin wraps around the inner shell and absorbs impact from bumps and shock
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- 1-year limited warranty
- iPod touch (latest model, 6th Generation)
- iPod touch 5th Generation
- NOT COMPATIBLE with the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Generation iPod touch


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Blasphemy cases in India are mostly one way traffic ! For example, Sanal Edmaraku do you remember? He had to flee India to avoid arrest for showing scientific temper and exposing a hoax, while guys like this make complete use of "freedom of his religion" and get away with that !
There are already some Taliban style Fatwa's on him, but we all know nothing much gonna happen anyway.
There is nothing much to worry about him though, he will not be the next Malik Kafur! I know this kind, I have seen many, he's going to spend rest of his life writing heart_and_arrow signs on public toilet doors and may be some sex toons too.
But I am worried about Sanal, he represents free speech and scientific temper in India, and I am guessing blasphemy case on him will stay for next couple of decades!
Let me know your thoughts anyway.


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Excellence Headquarters Forms Joint Venture with MedSynergies
July 9, 2013
Excellence Headquarters Forms Joint Venture with MedSynergies to Provide Revenue Cycle Management, Accounting and HR systems to its Provider Groups
Excellence Headquarters™, Management Company for The CORE Institute® and other physician practices, announced it has formed a joint-venture management services organization (MSO) with MedSynergies, Inc. to deliver certain key revenue cycle business functions and under one, centralized organization across multiple markets.
Operating as Excellence Synergies™, the new entity enables Excellence Headquarters, and its contracted companies, the ability to assess and add potential candidate providers nationwide and support their performance in a way that ultimately will improve alignment in all types of practices into their network.
Excellence Headquarters modeled its managed practice management program based on firsthand experience with MedSynergies, after achieving dramatic gains and exemplary status across the five key metrics that measure practice success. Moving forward with its new Excellence Synergies™ management services organization (MSO), the Arizona-based company will provide the medical layer of practice support to its managed provider groups.
"MedSynergies has been a trusted partner to Excellence Headquarters for many years and we're excited to expand this relationship by creating our first joint venture with this partner, Excellence Synergies," said Dr. David J. Jacofsky, MD, CEO of Excellence Headquarters. "As Excellence Headquarters continues to grow nationally, this new MSO will allow us to create a model for practice efficiency allowing our partners to concentrate on what matters most - quality care for their patients."
Excellence Headquarters first selected MedSynergies to help build The CORE Institute's practice in 2007 based on its reputation as a national leader in developing and operating physician MSOs. MedSynergies has 16 years of experience working with major health systems to align their operations, increase patient market share and achieve positive financial results. Processing nearly 12 million patient visits a year, MedSynergies handles more than one billion dollars in billing and collections for its more than 8,000 providers nationwide.
"This new joint venture with Excellence Headquarters is a testament to the relationship we have built over the past six years to propel the growth of its national physician network," said J.R. Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of MedSynergies. "This partnership will not only continue to deliver positive operational results for physicians but it will also provide the stability and scale needed to expand tighter care networks necessary in today's healthcare environment."
About Excellence Headquarters
Excellence Headquarters is a physician practice management solution, providing healthcare management services including information technology, contracting and credentialing, accounting and finance, revenue cycle management, marketing and public relations, organizational development, human resources administration, compliance and liability reduction, expansion and relocation, research and intellectual property development, day-to-day practice management and EMR implementation. They provide physicians and healthcare organizations the ability to vertically integrate to maximize efficiency and profit in the changing healthcare landscape. For more information, please visit www.excellenceheadquarters.com.
About The CORE Institute
The CORE Institute®, began practicing in 2005 to deliver comprehensive orthopedic care, one patient at a time. Its fellowship-trained physicians provide specialized care in the areas of surgical, non-surgical and rehabilitative hip, knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle procedures, joint replacement, sports medicine, arthroscopy, fracture management, orthopedic traumatology, hand and wrist procedures, complex articular cartilage restoration, musculoskeletal oncology, foot and ankle reconstruction, physical medicine and rehabilitation, comprehensive spine care and pain management. Dedicated to providing technologically advanced surgical techniques and rehabilitation, The CORE Institute provides state-of-the-art research labs, surgical spine centers, less-invasive surgery, on-site imaging and physical therapy. The CORE Institute has 12 locations in Arizona and two locations Michigan. For more information, please visit www.thecoreinstitute.com.
About MedSynergies Inc.
MedSynergies partners with health care organizations and physicians to align their operations by providing revenue cycle management, practice management, consulting services, business process analysis and software integration solutions. Leveraging its knowledge and experience in hospital-physician alignment, MedSynergies improves processes, optimizes technology and builds on trusted patient relationships, enabling hospitals and physician practices to offer quality health care. Founded in 1996, MedSynergies is privately held and headquartered in Irving, Texas. MedSynergies currently partners with hospitals and health networks and serves more than 8,000 providers across the United States. For more information, please visit www.medsynergies.com.


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Restaurant Review
May Hong
Omnivore's delight
If Talin Market is the center of Albuquerque's galaxy of Vietnamese restaurants, May Hong is a far-flung planet. It's tucked into a strip mall on the southeast corner of Eubank and Montgomery, next to a tattoo parlor.
A rain forest of fake plants divides the dining room—in some places to the point that if you want your server's attention, you'll have to crane your head around the greenery. Paintings above the booths are intentionally off-centered in their frames. The dividers between the booths have built-in florescent lights that give a diluted pink glow to the dining room. The concrete floor in the hallway to the bathrooms appears to have been painted by Jackson Pollock.
May Hong packs an arsenal of soups—not just pho—into a menu that's unusually manageable menu for a Vietnamese joint. And it has its share of surprises, most of them good.
My favorite surprise was the spicy beef soup, bun bo hue. The thin broth was more unctuous than what's found in pho, with a lot more bite. In addition to evident chile heat, the soup contained the oddly astringent flavor of a Szechuan spice called "mountain pepper," as well as others I couldn't identify. The bouquet of spices flavored thin slices of raw beef and al dente vermicelli, added moments before my first slurps rang out. Pineapple pieces floated in the sweat-inducing broth, adding to its mysterious and potent mix of flavors. This combination may sound more dissonant than harmonious, but it worked. As is the case with all of May Hong's soups, the side of herbs and sprouts that accompanied the steaming bowl was generous and fresh.
The bouquet of spices flavored thin slices of raw beef and al dente vermicelli, added moments before my first slurps rang out.
The spring rolls were fresh and plump. Stir-fried ginger mussels, nicely garnished with green onions, were addictive, and a plate of steamed veggies came dressed in an interesting jalapeño soy sauce. The delicious May Hong soup was noodleless but packed with broccoli, carrots, napa cabbage, fried onion bits, barbecue pork, shrimp and sliced fish cake—as well as fake crab, which unwrapped into its component sheets as the soup was stirred.
Clay pot catfish, despite my sincere desire to love it, was unlovable. The sweet, dark, molasses-
Also disappointing was the revelation that one of the more unique recipes on May Hong's menu, vegetarian pho with a daikon-radish-based broth, has been discontinued. The broth was so delicate and fulfilling that I, an omnivore, would have slurped it without reservation.
In fact, if there's something I admire Vietnamese cuisine for, it's knowing how to appeal to omnivores. Look no further than May Hong's tofu with tomatoes, a dish that offers tofu and a choice of chicken, beef, pork or shrimp in a sweet and mildly fishy red sauce. Accordingly, vegetarians will need to conduct due diligence with the restaurant's knowledgeable and honest waitstaff. Even May Hong's goi chai salad, a mountainous masterpiece of shredded cucumber, carrot, cabbage, lettuce and onion with sprouts, peanuts and herbs, comes with a fishy dressing.
To a non-Heights dweller, it's hard to justify driving past the cluster of quality Vietnamese joints closer to home in the International District. But if find yourself in the northeast part of town, you need go no further than May Hong.
• Bun bo hue (spicy beef soup)
• Ginger mussels
• Goi chai (Vietnamese salad)
9800 Montgomery NE
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Prince range: $2.75 (spring rolls) to $10.25 (catfish clay pot)
Vibe: Neon rainforest
Booze: Beer and wine
Plastic: MasterCard and Visa