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Getting started with the CD-i Emulator
>> Monday, April 23, 2007
Emulating the CD-i is a complicated and difficult process. Luckily, there is only one working emulator available, which narrows things down a bit. In Retro Gamer Magazine CD-i Emulator was highlighted with a clever article about how to get the emulator working. I want to join in and show some help on emulating the CD-i. The unlimited version is available for a fee, but a limited version you can download for free to play CD-i games on your PC. Since September 2005, version 0.52 has been released to public which you can buy here. Let's have a look how to get the CD-i emulator working on your computer.
Step 1. Head over to http://www.cdiemu.org and click on the "downloads" link in the left sidebar. Click on "cdiemu-0.5.2.zip" to download CD-i Emulator version 0.5.2 (Limited edition). Yes, it's the limited version, which means it will only work for a period of time. But it's fully functional to play around with. This way you can make your decision if you want to purchase the full version, or stick with this one. Now extract all the files to a folder on your computer (I used "C:\cdiemu").
Step 2. Now we need a BIOS ROM. To answer the first question about "why this CD-i Emulator needs the internal BIOS system of an original CD-i player" in the first place, we head over to the author himself, cdifan: "It would be easier for users, of course, and in a sense more "elegant" [if the emulator wouldn't need the extra BIOS system]. There's between 300KB and 500KB of software in most CD-i players making up the CD-RTOS operating system and its drivers. Most of it is written in assembly language and thus very compact. It would need to be essentially rewritten for a ROM-less emulator and thus introduce a quite significant amount of extra work, in addition to all the work of emulating the CD-i player hardware that would still mostly need to be done. There are also compatibility and reliability issues. The software interface available to a CD-i title is large; most titles use only a small part of it, each in its own way. Debugging a CD-RTOS rewrite would thus be very costly and frustrating, each new title would probably expose new bugs. [Moreover,] using the ROMs guarantees the "real" CD-i experience. The software running inside your emulator is *completely* identical to what runs inside your player. As a fan of the platform, I find this very appealing."
Back to step 2. Legally the BIOS files can be obtained from your actual CD-i player, though various BIOS images are available if you search online, although we can't give any links due to legal reasons. If you are going down the route of downloading the BIOS directly from the CD-i player, you need a Null Modem cable. You can easily build one yourself by following the instructions on the CD-i emulator site, under CD-i Link, in "cdilink-0.5.2.zip", CD-i Link 0.5.2 executable and documentation. Ofcourse, you can also buy one online in the Black Moon CD-i Store, check the Hardware tab.
Step 3. Retrieving the BIOS using CD-i Link. Now it's time to connect your PC with the CD-i player by using the CD-i Null Modem Cable. Download the CD-i Link 0.52 from http://www.icdia.co.uk. Look for the link "PC/Windows Downloads" and head to CD-i Communication Tools. Or download it directly by clicking here. Unzip the CD-i Link to any directory. Now open the MS-DOS Command prompt and change directory to where you unzipped CD-i Link. Use the command "CD C:\cdilink" if you installed it directly on drive C:\. Execute the CD-i Link program to view all options available with the command "cdilink.exe".
Use the command "cdilink -roms" to start the upload. You will need to reboot the CD-i player to begin this process. When cdilink says "Waiting for stub", turn on your player. The program should recognize your player and start downloading the information, which it will write to a text file in the current directory. CD-i Link uses a 'stub' protocol which in some cases you need to use an actual CD-i disc containing the CDi_stub to initiate this program. The CD-i Stub Disc is available from the ICDIA as an ISO (download here). The process of uploading the CD-i ROM/BIOS can take up to several minutes to get the 512kb file so please be patient; the CD-i Link program will inform you when the procedure has finished. cdifan about the need of cdi_stub: "Most Philips CD-i players support a subset of the "stub" protocol called the download subset, consisting of just the messages needed to download data and/or programs into the player and execute programs or continue the player startup process. This subset can be used to download one of the full "stub" programs. For CD-i players without a download subset implementation an actual CD-i stub disc has to be used. A disc image of such a disc can be found in the Downloads section; it should work on any CD-i player with a serial port."
Step 4. See the results. When cdilink has finished the uploading process you should be left with the 512 kb ROM/BIOS file, named "cdixxx.rom" where the "xxx" stands for your CD-i player type. If you also have the Digital Video Cartridge" installed you'll notice cdilink has also downloaded a 256 kb file identified as "gmpega2.rom" or a similar name. You can ignore this file for now. As of today, the CD-i emulator does not support the Digital Video Cartridge, although it does support the 1 MB extra memory of it. (like used in The Apprentice). If you've installed the CD-i Emulator in the C:\cdiemu\ directory simply move the ROM/BIOS files into the rom folder (C:\cdiemu\rom\). The CD-i Emulator program should recognize the file automatically.
Please Note: If you didn't get passed Step 3: I suppose the CD-i Null Modem Cable is attached to Port 2 of the CD-i player and the Serial connection on your PC. However, the CD-i players from series 4xx and 5xx (450, 550, ...) lack the second controller port, requiring a CD-i splitter. Another issue is the phasing-out of the serial connection on PC's. Luckily you can buy a "USB to RS232" cable so you can use the USB port for this.
Step 5. Getting the CD-i Games. The CD-i Emulator does not support CD drive emulation. You need ISO files of the games you want to play. Most games can be extracted using programs like CDRWIN. However, some games are written in the so-called CD-i Ready format. Most programs can't handle this filesystem, which means you can't create an ISO of these titles. Fortunately CloneCD is capable of reading the "pregap mode 2 data" that is typical for CD-i Ready discs. However, you need a CD-ROM player which is capable of reading the disc in the first place. If CloneCD doesn't work, you should try a different CD-ROM player! In CloneCD, select the option for copying a "Game CD" and tick the boxes to "Read SubChannel Data" from both data and audio tracks. Then start the process to create an ISO. Check this link to see which titles are in CD-i Ready format.
Step 6. Getting started with CD-i Emulator. If you've installed the BIOS ROM in the rom folder of CD-i Emulator and you have ripped an ISO of your game of choice, you are ready to go. Execute the "wcdiemu" file to load the CD-i Emulator. Under "File", you can open the game ISO. Then click on the "Emulate" tab to start emulating. To optimize your experience, you might adjust the PAL to NTSC switch for superior screen size or faster emulation (Check "Options"). Have fun!
Thanks to: Black Moon Project, ICDIA, Retro Gamer, CD-i Emulator Home


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North American Climate Extremes Monitoring
Extreme weather and climate events—such as drought, heavy rain, and heat waves—are a natural part of the Earth's climate system. Nonetheless, extreme weather and climate events can have significant impacts on our lives and on the environment. In a non-changing climate, society and the environment are more likely to be resilient to weather and climate extremes as they acclimate to the historical range of extremes. However, as the climate changes these extremes may occur outside the historical range, resulting in societal and environmental vulnerabilities.
Certain weather and climate extremes are expected to become more frequent during the 21st century. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC, 2007), "confidence has increased that some weather events and extremes will become more frequent, more widespread or more intense during the 21st century". Thus monitoring and analyzing climate extremes is an important component of assessing the climate system and has received a great deal of attention, especially because the impacts of climate-related changes can vary among regions.
Changes in extremes across North America have already been observed in recent decades. According to the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP, 2008), "most of North America has been experiencing more unusually hot days and nights, fewer unusually cold days and nights and fewer frost days. Heavy downpours have become more frequent and intense. Droughts are becoming more severe in some regions". The North American Climate Extremes Monitoring (NACEM) product was developed to provide an accessible analysis tool that will help improve the understanding of observed changes in extreme climate conditions by providing users the ability to examine trends and occurrences of certain types of extreme or threshold events at the station-by-station level.
The NACEM currently provides data and analysis for eight indices that have been defined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Climatology/CLIVAR Expert Team on Climate Change Detection Monitoring and Indices (ETCCDMI). Additional indices will be added to the NACEM at a later time. The NACEM computes each available index at the station-level and provides corresponding anomalies, data permitting, with respect to the 1961–90 long-term average. An interactive map allows users to select a month, season, or specific year (from 1955 to present) to view a snapshot of values for a specific index across North America. There is also an option to view time series graphics for a station of interest by simply selecting the station.

subset: commoncrawl


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Meet your guide in central Dublin in early morning to start your trek to Northern Ireland where we will take you to some of the most spectacular places in all of Ireland.
The first stop, the Dark Hedges, will be a 10-15-minute stop. The Dark Hedges, made famous as a filming location of the hit fantasy series Game of Thrones, were planted 270 years ago by the Stuart family as a driveway to their mansion Gracehill Manor. It is now the most photographed natural phenomenon in Northern Ireland.
Next, you will make a quick 5-minute photo stop at arguably some of the most picturesque ruins in all of Ireland, Dunluce Castle. This is the type of location that makes even a picture taken on your smartphone look like a pictures taken by a professional.
Then you'll get to experience the beautiful location of Giant's Causeway for at least 1.5 hours. This must-see World Heritage Site is Northern Ireland's most popular visitor attraction, and for good reason. Magnificent seascape and of course the awe-inspiring hexagonal/polygonal stone columns that form the legendary causeway itself, some of which reach 40 feet (12 meters) into the air. The Giant's Causeway was declared a World Heritage Site in 1986. Here you can have a sit down lunch if you prefer. The extra lunch stop time is added into the Causeway stop.
The brave will have the opportunity to cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (free to cross if open). Carrick-a-Rede is an abandoned fishing island located just a few miles from the Giant's Causeway. This 90-ft deep, 60-ft (27m, 18m) wide chasm is traversed by a traditionally built rope bridge which rewards the daring visitor with arguably the best views in the country. Spend approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes there.
You then get back on the coastal route and go through beautiful coastal towns like Ballycastle and Cushendun where you will enjoy fantastic view of islands just of the coast like Sheep Island, Rathlin Island or maybe even a glimpse of Scotland.
After that, you will stop for 20 minutes at the closest point between Ireland and Scotland, Cushendun, which is also the last stop before returning to Belfast. The guide will tell you the story of the statue of Johann the Goat.
On the way back to Belfast you will experience a unique part of the tour where we will be going across the Glens of Antrim with amazing panoramic views, instead of driving around them.Once in Belfast you will spend approximately 45 minutes there enjoying some of the sights this unique city has to offer.Belfast has a very compact city center as a legacy of the Troubles, also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflic.
What do I need to prepare?
Using the restrooms before joining the tour is recommended. The first stop of the day would be around 2 hours away. During the day, there will be rest stops along the way. The closest bathroom facilities to our pick up would be the ones inside Rotunda Hospital
Bringing a packed lunch is recommended as we do not stop anywhere for lunch. However, we have a rest stop in the morning at a service station where you can buy packed sandwiches and snacks as well.
Northern Ireland's currency is Pound Sterling but most places accept card payment. Except for food/ drinks and souvenirs, there is no additional costs for the day.
A printed copy of the ticket is not necessary. You can show it on your phone.
Comfortable shoes and warm rain-proof clothing recommended.


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If things had turned out differently, Carmen Electra could have been the woman carrying Simon Cowell's firstborn child. Instead, the X Factor judge impregnated Manhattan socialite Lauren Silverman, who is in the midst of divorcing his close friend, real estate mogul Andrew Silverman. At the Do Something Awards in Hollywood on Wednesday, July 31, Electra — who briefly romanced Cowell in late 2012 — reacted to her former love's baby news.
"I'm so happy for him," the actress and singer, 41, told Us Weekly. "I'm very proud of him and so happy." Though Cowell once admitted to Ryan Seacrest that he and Electra were "dating," the former Baywatch babe insisted that they merely had "a very flirtatious friendship."
Electra admitted that she was surprised to hear Cowell has a little one on the way, though she believes he'll make an excellent father. "What I witnessed working with him on Britain's Got Talent and coming to see him during X Factor is that the people he truly believes in, he stands up for them and supports them," she explained. "I obviously think that his child will be very well taken care of and very, very loved."
"I'm going to call him like as soon as I get in the car after the event," the star told Us. "I want to know if it's a boy or a girl! It's awesome. I'm super happy for him. He's lovely."
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on Youtube!


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Tidal Bladed training course
A three to five day (optional) course designed for new or potential users who wish to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the design tool for tidal current turbines. It includes hands-on guided use of the software which is complemented by tutorials on key topics of tidal turbine technology. By the end of the course, participants will understand the basic principles of a tidal turbine, be able to build a complete tidal turbine model, perform load calculations and have an understanding of the use of site specific environmental data for load calculations.
Additional information
Harnessing engineering models developed over the last 27 years, Tidal Bladed utilises common functionality with the industry leading wind turbine design tool Bladed, whilst introducing essential subsea science.
Although Tidal Bladed is the first software of its kind, the heritage of Bladed provides users with a robust commercial design package with high quality modelling capabilities enabling technology developments to be accelerated with confidence.
Tidal Bladed is already used by most major tidal turbine device developers and continues to improve and develop with this growing sector.
Course outline:Day 1
- Tidal turbine fundamentals
- Introduction to Tidal Bladed
- Building a turbine model (workshop)
- Tidal turbine hydrodynamics
- Steady state calculations (workshop)
- Tidal turbine forces and dynamics
- Dynamic calculations (workshop)
- Performing load calculations (workshop)
- Defining a tidal turbine load case description
- Handling environmental data in load calculations
- Post-processing of Tidal Bladed output
- Tidal support tools
- Tidal Bladed review and introduction to TidalFarmer
Who should attend?
Tidal turbine and component manufacturers, certification agencies, design consultancies and research organisations. It is assumed that attendees have an engineering background, but no specific knowledge of tidal device development is required.


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NoSQL is still not well understood, as a term or a database market category, by enterprise IT decision makers. However, one NoSQL vendor, 10gen, creators of open source MongoDB, appears to be growing into enterprise accounts and distancing themselves from competitors. If you're considering, or curious about, NoSQL databases, spend some time looking at MongoDB.
Understanding not only SQL, aka NoSQL
While the term NoSQL suggests a product category that is anti-SQL or anti-relational databases, the term has evolved to mean "not only SQL".
According to Nosql-database.org, there are over 122 NoSQL database products to date. These products differ from traditional relational databases as they don't rely on a relational model, are often schema free and support eventually consistent, not ACID, transactions.
While companies needing to manage terabytes of data across commodity servers, such as Facebook, FourSquare or Shutterfly have been early adopters of NoSQL databases, traditional enterprises such as Disney and Intuit are joining the NoSQL customer list.
Max Schireson, president of 10Gen, asserts that relational databases are here to stay and have an important role to play in tomorrow's enterprise.
Schireson sees NoSQL and relational databases both being used within a given enterprise, albeit for different applications.
If this positioning sounds familiar, recall that MySQL attempted to paint a picture of co-habitation with enterprise database vendors.
If an application is processing sales orders and needs absolute guaranteed transactions, a relational database supporting ACID transactions is a must. If an application is processing millions of events, such as click streams, in order to better optimize an online sales catalog, and losing a few of those events is less critical than being able to scale the application and data across commodity servers, then a NoSQL database could be a perfect fit.
MongoDB distances itself from NoSQL alternatives
While NoSQL databases such as Cassandra, originally developed and used by Facebook, or CouchDB get a lot of media attention, MongoDB appears to be the product to catch in this hot market.
Worldwide Google searches for various NoSQL product names shows the marked increase in MongoDB and Mongo searches since January 2011. Google searches for MongoDB and Mongo exceeded searches for CouchDB, Couchbase, Membase, Cassandra, and HBase combined.
According to Indeed.com, jobs seeking MongoDB or Mongo skills have outpaced other leading NoSQL products. MongoDB and Mongo now represent the most sought after NoSQL skills amongst companies hiring on Indeed.com.
Recently announced platform as a service offerings from Red Hat and VMware featured MongoDB at the data services layer of their respective offerings.
Schireson shared some stats on 10Gen's commercial business growth into the enterprise with MongoDB.
Six months ago the majority of 10Gen customers were startups; today the majority are traditional enterprise customers. In fact, 10Gen counts five Fortune 100 companies amongst its over 200 paying customers.
With over 100,000 downloads per month and developer attendance to MongoDB conferences increasing 400 percent to nearly 2,000 across San Francisco, New York and Beijing, MongoDB traction continues to increase.
Schireson explained that many enterprises have developers interested in MongoDB, as the above download and conference attendance data backs up. However, enterprises are waiting for their peers to go first into the world of NoSQL.
Schireson revealed that securing Disney as a public MongoDB reference has led to increased enterprise interest in 10gen from MongoDB users.
MSQL poster child Craigslist adopts MongoDB
Another recent coup for 10Gen was winning Craigslist as a customer of MongoDB.
Craigslist's Jeremy Zawodny, author of the popular High Performance MySQL book, recently spoke about Craigslist adopting MongoDB to handle Craigslist's multi-billion document deployment. Zawodny explains Craigslist's evolution from being a MySQL everywhere shop to selecting the appropriate database technology based on varying data and performance needs.
When Zawodny, a MySQL performance guru, gets behind MongoDB, it's time for enterprises interested in NoSQL to consider MongoDB.
Follow me on Twitter at SavioRodrigues. I should state: "The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies, or opinions."


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Picture: Barbara Walters New York City Ballet 2012 Fall Gala - Outside Arrivals New York, USA - 20.09.12
Veteran U.S. broadcaster Barbara Walters remains hospitalised in Washington, D.C. with a low fever after taking a tumble over the weekend (19Jan13).
The 83 year old, who was in town covering U.S. President Barack Obama's inauguration celebrations, fell and cut her forehead while visiting the British Ambassador's residence on Saturday (19Jan13).
She was noticeably absent from her hosting gig on chat show The View on Tuesday (22Jan13), prompting her co-presenter, actress Whoopi Goldberg, to read aloud a statement from Walters, which read: "First and foremost, all the people who have called, written and been concerned about me, I'm most appreciative. I'm running a low-grade fever and the doctors are keeping me in the hospital until my temperature is normal. I'm pleased that it is going in the right direction and I will be home soon."
Sister Act star Goldberg also revealed her pal's injuries were significant enough to warrant stitches.
She added, "Barbara went to Washington to cover the inauguration. She missed a step and had a fall, which cut her upper temple. The doctors stitched her up and she is doing fine, but they want her to take it easy."


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Luke Chrisco, the man who admitted to climbing into the tank of a portable toilet at a Boulder yoga festival in 2011 to spy on women for his own sexual gratification, was sentenced Friday to three years in prison.
Chrisco, 32, originally from Grand Junction, has been in police custody since June 2011. He is being credited for 796 days of time served and may be released from prison in months, at which point he will begin a 10-year probation period and undergo mental health and intensive supervised sexual offender treatment.
Chrisco pleaded guilty in July to two counts of burglary and one count of unlawful sexual contact after prosecutors dropped six other burglary charges and a misdemeanor count of criminal invasion. In addition to his actions at the Hanuman Festival, Chrisco admitted to creating peepholes to spy on women in numerous public bathrooms around Boulder, including on the University of Colorado and Naropa University campuses.
Deputy District Attorney Catrina Weigel asked that he be sentenced to eight years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, citing a pre-sentence report that indicated he was at extremely high risk to re-offend. She pointed out statements that Chrisco made to police shortly after his arrest in which he claimed to have peeped on women across the U.S. and in several European countries.
"He is 32 years old, by his own choice he has very limited job stability, he leads a nomadic lifestyle where he travels around Europe, travels around the United States where it is then easier for him to be in this nomadic situation where he can commit these offenses," Weigel said. "He is a danger. He is a risk."
Weigel read from a written statement prepared by the woman who noticed movement in the tank of the portable toilet at the yoga festival shortly before Chrisco emerged, covered in feces, and fled the scene.
"Basically after this violation I went into shock. I consulted a therapist immediately because I felt so freaked out, nervous and jumpy," Weigel read. "I felt like I was sexually invaded or assaulted having this guy be so close to my private parts."
Matt Connell, the fourth attorney to represent Chrisco in the two years since his arrest, countered that the pre-sentence report recommended a community corrections sentence for Chrisco. He said his client has recently been taking medication for his long list of mental health issues, which at the time of his arrest included delusional behavior and hallucinations, and he is unlikely to receive the proper treatment in prison.
"The acts that he committed were gross. They were disgusting. They were repulsive. I understand that, but he was in a delusional state of mind. He was psychotic. He was hallucinating," Connell said. "He's sick in a sad and pathetic way and he needs help, and that can best be delivered through probation."
Chrisco spoke at the hearing.
"I realize there is still something inside me that I have to change," he said in a quiet voice. "I'm very sorry to the court for all I have done."
Judge D.D. Mallard said while his mental health was a mitigating factor, his high risk to re-offend was an aggravating one.
Connell indicated that Chrisco may seek a transfer to Oklahoma once he is released from prison to stay with his mother while serving his probation.
Contact Camera Staff Writer Joe Rubino at 303-473-1328, email@example.com or twitter.com/JoeCarmenRubino.


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Assessment |
Biopsychology |
Comparative |
Cognitive |
Developmental |
Language |
Individual differences |
Personality |
Philosophy |
Social |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |
Social psychology: Altruism · Attribution · Attitudes · Conformity · Discrimination · Groups · Interpersonal relations · Obedience · Prejudice · Norms · Perception · Index · Outline
Family life has its own rhythm and while this model has its roots in the idea of a nuclear family, the developmental challenges are shared in families with different structures. This model is based on that of Betty Carter & Monica Goldrick (1999) and Carr (2006)
The major stages of family lifeEdit
Stage 1: Family of origin experiences
- During this phase the main tasks are:
- Maintaining relationships with parents, siblings and peers
- Completing education
- Developing the foundations of a model of family life
Stage 2: Leaving home
- During this phase the main tasks are:
- Differentiation of self from family of origin and parents and developing adult to adult relationships with parents
- Developing intimate peer relationships.
- Beginning work, developing work identity and financial independence.
Stage 3: Premarriage stage
- During this phase the main tasks are:
- Selecting partners
- Developing a relationship
- Deciding to establish own home with someone.
Stage 4: Childless couple stage
- During this phase the main tasks are:
- Developing a way to live together both practically and emotionally
- Adjusting relationships with families of origin and peers to include partner
Stage 5: Family with young children
- During this phase the main tasks are:
- Realigning family system to make space for children
- Adopting and developing parenting roles
- Realigning relationships with families of origin to include parenting and grandparenting roles
- Facilitating children to develop peer relationships
Stage 6. Family with adolescents
- During this phase the main tasks are:
- Adjusting parent-child relationships to allow adolescents more autonomy
- Adjusting family relationships to focus on midlife relationship and career issues
- Taking on responsibility of caring for families of origin
Stage 7: Launching children
- During this phase the main tasks are:
- Resolving midlife issues
- Negotiating adult to adult relationships with children
- Adjusting to living as a couple again
- Adjusting to including in-laws and grandchildren within the family circle
- Dealing with disabilities and death in the family of origin
Stage 8: Later family life
- During this phase the main tasks are:
- Coping with physiological decline in self and others
- Adjusting to children taking a more central role in family maintenance
- Valuing the wisdom and experience of the elderly
- Dealing with loss of spouse and peers
- Preparation for death, life review, reminiscence and integration
See alsoEdit
References & BibliographyEdit
Key textsEdit
- Carr, A. (2006) The Handbook of Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology. Routledge. ISBN 1583918302
- Carter, B. & Goldrick, M. (1999). The Expanded Family Lifecycle. Individual Family and Social Perspectives (Third edition). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Additional materialEdit
External linksEdit
- http://web.archive.org/web/20110812183848/http://www.cappe.org/ed_mod/ii.%20FAMILY%20LIFE%20CYCLE%20THEORY[1].pdf chapter from "Theories of human development"


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Bladder Cancer: Side Effects of Radiation
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"
My father is 76 yrs old and has bladder cancer. The family is concerned about the side effects of radiation therapy. I know the radiation may give him diarrhea & tiredness, but is urethral stricture & bowel adhesions a common side effect? Are there any other side effects we should be aware of while trying to make a decision about treatment?
Thank you!
Richard Whittington, MD, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, responds:
Urethral strictures and bowel adhesions are both exuberant forms of scarring, and radiation does not necessarily cause a lot of this scarring, but rather potentiates it. In other words, radiation can make pre-existent scarring worse and can make subsequent injuries more prone to scar tissue than they would otherwise have developed. Urethral strictures are fortunately rare, occurring only 2-3% of the time, but they occur more frequently in men with a history of transurethral resection of the prostate, or men with prostatitis. It also can occur if a man passes a kidney stone later on, as this will scratch the wall of the urethra. It may even occur rarely from bruising from a cystoscopy (but you still need to have follow-up cystoscopies!) As for bowel adhesions, this also relates to prior bowel problems, including infections like diverticulitis, appendicitis (with rupture), and strangulated hernias. Otherwise, this is also rare, occurring about 2% of the time. Again, the radiation will make any future bowel surgery more difficult, and even if there are no adhesions now, there will most likely be some after surgery.
Other side effects are more frequent and are caused by scar tissue. Depending on how extensive the tumor is, when a man is treated with radiation and cisplatin, the tumor "falls off" and leaves an open bruise on the bladder wall that will heal slowly with time. This means 3-4 months of worsening urinary frequency, urgency, and nocturia. As the scarring occurs, the scar will contract. We see this with any scar. After the scab falls off, the scar is lumpy and red. A month later it is flat and pink. Six months after that, it pulls in on itself and turns white. As the scar contracts, the bladder wall gets stiffer and the bladder may get smaller, causing permanent frequency, urgency, and nocturia that varies in severity. There is also the risk of an ulcer in the front wall of the rectum that can cause pressure, (giving a sensation like you need to have a bowel movement), bleeding and pain. This occurs in 3 to 5% of men. It is treated with a cortisone enema and will heal over 6 to 9 months.
Your father is probably getting cisplatin (chemotherapy)and radiation. The response rate is 50 to 70% with the combination, but only 20% with radiation alone. See the Oncolink Rx information on Cisplatin for more information on its side effects.
Also, please note that I am not ignoring the women when I keep referring to men. Women rarely have urethral strictures for two main reasons: one, they do not have prostates, so they don't get prostatitis, and two, the female urethra is shorter and has a wider caliber. Also, rectal pain and inflammation is much less frequent in women because the uterus pushes the rectum away from the bladder, shielding it from the radiation.


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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news ... ion-jones/
Finding the Fits: Falcons look fierce with ex-LSU standout Deion Jones
'Run and hit' linebacker with incredible speed is well-suited to Dan Quinn's scheme
by Rob Rang The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com Monday, Jun 06, 2016 • 5 min read
(This is part of a series -- Finding the Fits -- in which NFLDraftScout.com will review the more intriguing picks made during the 2016 NFL Draft. The goal is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.)
Atlanta's best fit: LB Deion Jones, LSU, No. 52 overall
After a swift drop from the 2013 conference championship game to barely escaping the NFC East cellar over his final two years in town, the Atlanta Falcons replaced head coach Mike Smith with former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, hoping for an immediate resurgence.
The transformation did not come as quickly as hoped with Quinn at the helm. Though the offense responded with a healthy Julio Jones and emergence of running back Devonta Freeman, the Falcons' defense took yet another step back, allowing an NFL-worst 20 rushing touchdowns in 2015. Despite drafting flashy edge rusher Vic Beasley in the first round a year ago, Atlanta sacked opposing quarterbacks just 19 times in 2015, also dead last in the league.
Another year with Quinn -- a former defensive line coach -- working with Beasley, Grady Jarrett and former top-40 picks Marcus Spears, Adrian Clayborn and Ra'Shede Hageman should have the Falcons defensive line improving. The bigger area of concern for the Falcons was the lack of speed and explosiveness in the back seven, something that Jones and "surprising" first-round safety Keanu Neal should correct.
Lacking elite size and playing behind an assembly line of NFL linebackers at LSU, Jones only emerged as a full-time starter as a senior. It didn't take him long to go from a question mark to an exclamation point for the Tigers, however, earning defensive MVP honors after leading the team with 100 tackles, including 13.5 for loss, five sacks and two interceptions.
The Falcons see Deion Jones as a three-down linebacker. USATSI
The 6-foot-1, 222-pound Jones followed up his splashy senior season by turning heads at the combine, checking in with a swift 4.59-second time in the 40-yard dash. He really left scouts wowed a few weeks later at LSU's Pro Day, wowing with an eye-popping 4.38 seconds in the pre-draft's most popular event, as well as registering a 35.5-inch vertical jump and an impressive 18 repetitions of 225 pounds in the bench press, quickly establishing himself as one of the hottest names in the class as the draft approached.
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His former head coach, Les Miles, certainly recognized what an elite athlete Jones is, offering strong praise after the LSU Pro Day.
"Not a lot of linebackers in history will run like that," Miles said. "That guy may be the fastest linebacker that I personally have been around that had any size to him at all. He's absolutely the first. That fits into the NFL game as a guy that can move and make plays and has ball skills. He's going to fit right into the NFL game."
Jones may be an easy fit in the NFL. He's an especially clean fit in Quinn's scheme at weakside linebacker -- a position where the coach has generally prioritized speed over size. Jones is not just a plug-and-play option on the outside, by the way. An alert and instinctive defender, Jones possesses the awareness to slide inside to middle linebacker during passing downs, as well.
"For Deion Jones, first off, the run-and-hit factor is totally alive," Quinn said after his club made Jones its second of just six picks this year. "He's an all-downs linebacker for us. Match-up, running backs, tight ends. Now, the three-deep (zone) that we play, the ability to close and tackle in space is critical to playing inside 'backer in this spot."
"When you're playing at linebacker and you're playing in this much three-deep (zone) and you're playing in space, you'd better have the ability to close and get there with some nasty demeanor, and he certainly fits that."
It is perhaps fitting that Jones replaced Kwon Alexander at LSU. Alexander, a 2015 fourth-round pick and rookie standout for the division rival Buccaneers in 2015, recorded 93 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions a year ago.
Don't be surprised if Jones posts similar numbers for Quinn and the Falcons in 2016.
Other thoughts on the Falcons' 2016 draft class:
The selection of Neal in the first round will be panned by some but adding an intimidating hitter to pair with silky smooth corners Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford was arguably Atlanta's top priority after the Falcons released former Pro Bowler William Moore in February. Quinn, of course, watched the huge impact that All-Pro strong safety Kam Chancellor made in Seattle and knows Neal better than most after helping recruit him to Gainesville while he served as defensive coordinator there.
The six-foot, 211-pound Neal is not as big as Chancellor (6-3, 225) but offers similar closing speed and apparent disdain for human safety, ranking as arguably the most explosive hitter in the 2016 draft. Like Chancellor, Neal is effective in coverage because of his instincts and knack for making big plays in big moments. He "only" recorded four interceptions at Florida but was drafted by Atlanta more to operate as a fourth linebacker against the run-heavy attacks in the NFC South, especially division champion Carolina.
Besides straight-line speed and explosive hitting ability, Jones and Neal share terrific anticipation of where the football is going, despite their relatively limited action on the field. Fourth-round pick De'Vondre Campbell, on the other hand, remains relatively raw in this regard -- but what an athlete. The 6-4, 232-pound Campbell was clocked at 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash and this speed translates onto the field well, where the former Gophers' standout routinely tracked down running backs and pass-catchers down from behind. Campbell, a JUCO transfer, is not likely to provide the immediate impact potential that Jones offers but he should instantly upgrade Atlanta's special teams coverage units and is an ideal developmental prospect in Bradley's fast-flowing scheme.
Atlanta's 2016 draft class:
1st Round, No. 17 overall: S Keanu Neal, Florida
2ndRound, No. 52 overall: LB Deion Jones, LSU
3rd Round, No. 81 overall: TE Austin Hooper, Stanford
4th Round, No. 115 overall: LB De'Vondre Campbell, Minnesota
6th Round, No. 195 overall: OG Wes Schweitzer, San Jose State
7th Round, No. 238 overall: WR Devin Fuller, UCLA
Key Undrafted Free Agents Signed:
DT Cory Johnson, Kentucky
CB David Mims II, Texas State
TE/WR Joshua Perkins, Washington
Falcons 2016 CBS Sports Draft Review
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When I first took the Samsung Galaxy Note II out of its orange-and-white AT&T box, my first reaction was, "You gotta be kidding." I remembered how big the original Galaxy Note was, and this baby is even bigger. At first glance, it seems so big as to be outlandish as a smartphone.
After all, one of the reasons that I decided to stick with an Apple iPhone for last year's upgrade was that the other contender – a Samsung Galaxy S III – felt too clunky in my hands. The Galaxy Note II is like an S III on steroids, almost a parody of a smartphone.
But . . .
I first started testing the Galaxy Note II back in November, and one of the reasons I haven't yet reviewed it is that it has been growing steadily on me. Just as I'd sit down to write about the device, something in the back of my mind would tell me to wait.
Now, I'm glad I did. I've come to really like this device. In fact, if I was picking out a new smartphone today, the Galaxy Note II would, at the very least, replace the S III as my favorite Android smartphone. It might even usurp the iPhone – I like it that much. (Of course, I won't be buying another smartphone for almost two years – who knows what the Galaxy Note IV will look like by then?)
Those who've read my reviews of recent Android smartphones know I've complained about their size. I like working with a phone one-handed, and I found that very difficult to do with the HTC One and the Galaxy S III. It would stand to reason that I'd feel the same way about the Galaxy Note, which is almost six inches tall and more than three inches wide.
But here's the thing: The Galaxy Note II is in its own class in terms of size. Once a phone gets to be this large, using it with one hand is not really an option (at least, with my medium-sized hands). I'm resigned to working with it using two hands. I've made peace with it, and I like the device a lot more as a result.
It helps that this is probably the fastest smartphone I've tried. It's got a 1.6-GHz quad-core processor, two gigabytes of RAM and comes with 16 GB of internal storage. It's also got a microSD slot, allowing you add another 64 GB.
The AMOLED display is a whopping 5.5 inches diagonally, with a resolution of 1,280-by-720. That's actually a slightly lower resolution than the original Galaxy Note, which had 1,280-by-800 pixels. The display is exceptionally bright and text is sharp, thanks to a pixel density of 267 ppi. The size of the display lends itself to watching video, navigating with maps and working with high-resolution photographs. It's easily my favorite display on any Android phone.
Like the Galaxy S III, the case is mostly made of a plastic material, but for some reason it feels less cheap on this device. That may have to do with the fact that its oversized battery gives it some heft. (It's not as heavy as the bulky Nokia Lumia 920, though.) The Galaxy Note II's curved back feels good in your hand.
Uh, better make that hands, plural. I tried in vain early on to use this device in my usual one-handed fashion, but it was hopeless. I got comfortable with two-handed navigation, and then discovered the ability to set up the keyboards and other screen components for one-handed operation. If you're right-handed, you can have the keyboard dock to the right side of the screen, making it easier to type with one thumb. Even this seemed awkward though, and I wound up sticking with a two-handed approach.
There's no getting around one thing, though – you'll look like a real dork holding this thing up to your head during a phone call. Plan to spend some quality time with your favorite Bluetooth earpiece.
The Galaxy Note II, like its predecessor, comes with a stylus and a set of pen-based applications. A cool trick: When you pull the stylus out of the right-bottom of the case, a launcher called the Page Buddy automatically opens a folder with stylus apps, then closes when you put the stylus back.
The Note II has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera; the front camera is 1.9 megapixels. The rear camera is capable of full-HD 1080p video. This is the same camera set as on the Galaxy S III, with the same excellent image quality.
The AT&T version supports both HSPA+ and LTE data connections, and pairing this fast hardware with the speed of LTE makes using the Net and connected apps a real joy. The best example is Netflix, which can deliver high-quality video to the big, bright screen even when not connected to Wi-Fi. Of course, there's the thorny issue of AT&T's data caps (or throttling on grandfathered unlimited accounts). But if you've got the bandwidth to spare, the combination is excellent.
With all this power and the big screen, you'd think battery life would be wanting. But the Galaxy Note II's power cell's size provides plenty of juice. With average use, I typically went at least two days between charges, and sometimes well into a third day. Watching a 45-minute episode of "Sons of Anarchy" on Netflix typically only ate about 10 percent of the available battery life.
It comes with Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, and supposedly will be upgraded to 4.2. An interim upgrade 4.1.2, which adds features such as dual-window multitasking, is reportedly in the wings.
It also supports Near Field Communications, which lets the phone communicate with other devices, and other phones, wirelessly. It's primary use has been in payment systems, though you can also use it to exchange documents and contact information with other NFC-capable phones.
The Galaxy Note II is, as you'd expect, not an inexpensive phone. It sells for $300 with a 2-year contract at AT&T, However, that's the same price as a 32-GB iPhone 5 – and the Galaxy Note II's storage can be expanded. In that context, it has value.
I'd recommend the Galaxy Note II to anyone looking for a fast, state-of-the-art Android smartphone and who craves lots of screen real estate and long battery life. If you're put off by the overall size, try to spend as much as you can handling it and using it. The Galaxy Note II is worth it.


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SAN JOSE — An attempt by an armed citizen to snag a man believed responsible for multiple vehicle break-ins at a large apartment complex went awry Monday when the suspected thief was shot and killed, police said.
According to information released Wednesday, police believe Luis Ricardo Hernandez, 26, fatally shot Christopher Soriano, 36, in the parking garage of the Sunny Breeze Apartments on Lewis Road during a confrontation around 9:40 a.m. Both men are San Jose residents, but police did not specify if Hernandez lived or worked at the apartment complex.
"The preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspect shot the victim during an altercation," states the news release. "The shooting occurred as the suspect was attempting to detain the victim on suspicion of burglarizing vehicles in the neighborhood."
Witnesses at the complex reported hearing an argument, a single shot and screams. Emergency crews attempted to revive Soriano, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
San Jose police Officer Albert Morales said they encourage residents to be watchful, but to get authorities involved rather than attempt to catch suspected criminals themselves.
"Allow us to have the opportunity to go out and take care of it," he said. "There have been many times when we have arrived on scene and been successful apprehending numerous burglary suspects, while still inside the home or just afterward."
He added that citizens shouldn't resort to a potentially lethal confrontation "unless, of course, your life is in danger and you are acting in self-defense, then you have to do what you have to do."
Morales said police will be reviewing records to see if the area had an abundance of reported auto break-ins, but that information was not available Wednesday night.
According to court records, Soriano has a lengthy criminal history in Santa Clara County, with nearly two dozen cases covering theft-related and weapons offenses and domestic violence. At the time of his death, there was a bench warrant for his arrest.
Records for Hernandez were not available Wednesday. He declined a request for an interview at Santa Clara County Jail, where he is being held without bail. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday.
Soriano's death was the 46th homicide of 2012 in San Jose, the last of a year that saw the highest number since 53 were recorded in 1991.
Contact Robert Salonga at 408-920-5002. Contact Eric Kurhi at 408-920-5852.


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Director Spike Lee has taken aim at Quentin Tarantino's new film "Django Unchained", insisting the slave drama is "disrespectful" to African American history.
The movie, which stars Kerry Washington, Jamie Foxx and Samuel L. Jackson, follows the fortunes of a freed servant trying to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner, played by Leonardo DiCaprio.
The project has received rave reviews, but Lee won't be watching it because he's convinced it's one movie African Americans should avoid.
He told Vibe magazine, "I can't speak on it 'cause I'm not gonna see it. All I'm going to say is that it's disrespectful to my ancestors."
The filmmaker also took to his Twitter account over the weekend to blast the modern spaghetti western, writing, "American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone (director) Spaghetti Western. It Was A Holocaust. My Ancestors Are Slaves. Stolen From Africa. I Will Honor Them."
This isn't the first time Lee has taken offense to Tarantino's work – he also spoke out against his 1997 movie Jackie Brown.
He told reporters, "I have a definite problem with Quentin Tarantino's excessive use of the n-word. And let the record state that I never said that he cannot use that word – I've used that word in many of my films – but I think something is wrong with him."


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Silver is an element commonly found in jewelry. Most jewelry made from silver contain sterling alloy, which is a mixture of silver combined with other types of metals to make the material more durable. If you own expensive silver jewelry, then you will need to meticulously care for the pieces to keep it shining and in good condition.
When the jewelry is not in use, be sure to keep them in an anti-tarnish cloth or bag. This is a napped cloth flannel that absorbs chemicals and gasses in the air that can cause silver tarnishing. Do not wash or get the cloth wet as this will cause it to lose its effectiveness.
Read More
How to Care for your Sterling Silver Jewelry
Posted in Care Instructions By Joel


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By Misha Hussain
DAKAR, Feb 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When Haoua Mahamat boarded a military plane to Chad on Wednesday with three of her 10 children, fleeing attacks by Christian militia on Muslims in Central African Republic, little did she know it was the last flight to safety.
The next day, the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), which financed the repatriations, stopped its flights due to a lack of funding. It has received just a fifth of the $17.5 million it requested from donors a month ago.
Chad also halted evacuations due to mechanical problems with its military plane. About 2,000 people are stranded at Bangui airport, the IOM said, most of them of Chadian origins, like Haoua's family.
"Two of my daughters and one granddaughter remain at the airport waiting to be brought home," said the 50-year-old who lived in the Miskine district of north Bangui. "My five other children have disappeared."
Haoua is one of over a million people forced to flee their homes after French and African Union peacekeepers failed to stop months of religious violence in Central African Republic, once a model of coexistence between Christians and Muslims.
The former French colony was plunged into chaos when Muslim Seleka rebels, many of them from Chad and Sudan, seized power in March. They terrorised the majority Christian population for months, raping, looting and killing at will.
Despite being Muslim, Haoua's husband was killed and she was shot in the leg trying to prevent Seleka fighters from seizing her daughter. Since September, a Christian militia, known as 'anti balaka' or 'anti machete' in the local Sango language, has attacked Muslims they accuse of abetting Seleka.
More than 2,000 people have been killed since December in what Antonio Guterres, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, described as a wave of 'ethnic-religious cleansing'.
With Seleka now withdrawing after its leader Michel Djotodia was forced to resign last month, tens of thousands of Muslims are fleeing northwards from 'anti-balaka' attacks.
Thomas Gurtner, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Chad, said over 60,000 people had arrived since December - a number expected to reach 150,000 in weeks, straining U.N. resources.
"Around 60 percent have come from Bangui while others in the north fled spontaneously as anti-Muslim militia closed in on their villages," Gurtner told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Haoua's parents were nomads who left Chad 50 years ago for greener pastures south of the border. Born in Central African Republic, like many other second- and third-generation Chadians, Bangui became her home and Chad is an unfamiliar place.
Gurtner said the IOM was struggling with Chadians like her returning to stressed Sahel areas and looking for scarce jobs in the capital N'Djamena. The landlocked desert nation houses half the 1.6 million displaced people in the Sahel and is battling some of the worst malnutrition in the region.
"There is huge unemployment in Chad itself. We need to find better ways to integrate these young people because they cannot just be sent out into the countryside," said Gurtner.
Haoua knows life will be hard with no job or land. Her husband's family in Am-Timan in southeast Chad have all but forgotten her. "I prefer to suffer in Chad than to be killed by anti-balakas. I'm not going back," she said.
On the packed two-hour flight that took her to safety, there were no seats and it was difficult to breathe. Many fainted but Haoua held on tight and thought of the children she left behind.
About 133 children have been killed or maimed in the last two months, including intentional beheading or mutilation, according to the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Convoys of trucks packed with people and their belongings, and escorted by the Chadian military, are the only option but the journey is fraught with danger. This week, 21 Muslims were killed when their lorry broke down. (Editing by Daniel Flynn and Janet Lawrence)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Fact PS4 is so much better than the Xbox one!! Why?
Looks Better and has a built in PSU
Performs Better Has a better GPU
Hardware is Better Processor is more powerful
The controller is made of higher quality materials
Does not need to have a brick connected to the wall as a power source
And we have
Uncharted 4
The Last Of Us
Little Big Planet
Drive Club
God Of War
The Playroom
There are lots more but need i say anymore?


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On Friday, April 3rd, Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO), along with 30 of his House colleagues, sent a letter to the House Interior and the Environment Appropriations Subcommittee urging them to provide adequate funding for the Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS). Specifically, the letter requests that $800,000 be appropriated for HALS under the National Park Service's (NPS) fiscal year 2010 budget.
ASLA embarked on a major advocacy effort to urge Members of Congress to support HALS by signing onto the letter. ASLA advocates used the Advocacy Network to send 496 messages urging their legislators to sign onto the HALS letter. ASLA advocates had a strong showing in Northern California, Washington State, North Carolina, Georgia, and Massachusetts.
Many past supporters of HALS continued their support this year, including representatives Allyson Schwartz (PA), Earl Blumenauer (OR), Jim McDermott (WA) and Chairmen Barney Frank (MA) Henry Waxman (CA), and Howard Berman (CA). New supporters of HALS are representatives William Delahunt (MA), Paul Tonko (NY), Lois Capps (CA), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA), Mary Jo Kilroy (OH), Michael Capuano (MA), Dan Maffei (NY), and Brad Miller (NC), and Chris Van Hollen (MD).
The requested $800,000 for HALS would help NPS secure core staff, including landscape architects, historians, and geographic information systems (GIS) specialists, as well as allow the program to provide technical assistance and small seed grants to local groups. With this support, citizens nationwide can initiate and complete HALS projects and help document nationally significant landscapes.
Kevin FryDirector, PR and Communications firstname.lastname@example.com JR Taylor PR Coordinator email@example.com


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Guidance Department
The Guidance Department is right at the heart of the College in A House, and has a suite of rooms for research and interviews.
It is stocked with plentiful resources, both paper and IT, and boasts its own coffee bar.
Eleven members of staff, led by Guy Nobes, advise pupils about Upper School subject choices, work experience, higher education applications, possible gap year projects and future careers.
Marlborough College aims to provide pupils with a framework for making proper decisions about their future development. The components are:
- realistic analysis of academic interests, strengths and weaknesses, and life skills acquired;
- accurate awareness of the nature of particular areas of study and work, and of the range of choice available;
- access to information on courses, institutions and careers, and the qualifications required to enter them;
- access to guidance which is supportive and impartial, and helps the individual to become aware of the options open to him or her, and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of particular choices.
Each of the last three years involves making significant choices, and the following programme aims to enable pupils to come to well informed decisions:
In the (I)GCSE year all pupils in the school (and also new Lower Sixth recruits) take 'Preview', a computerised interests questionnaire, and 'The Cambridge Profile', a series of ability tests , which enable guidance to be given by tutors, HMs and Department Heads when selecting Upper School subjects. In the Lent Term over a dozen youthful OMs are invited to run a Careers Speed-Dating afternoon which delivers brief insights into a wide range of professions, and work experience when exams have finished in the summer is something that is encouraged.
In the Lower Sixth 'Centigrade', another interests questionnaire, is administered, generating a report outlining appropriate higher education courses. Great care is taken to ensure that all possible courses are considered, and every pupil has an individual consultation with one of the Guidance Department which results in a report that includes the pupil's own 5 Point Action Plan which is sent to parents, HMs and tutors for their information. Beginning in the Lent term, a series of sessions on university application and writing personal statements complements the Careers Fair when over a dozen senior professionals run an afternoon of seminars for the pupils. The end of the summer term sees a University and Gap Year Fair and pupils are urged to attend a couple of open days at universities that promise exciting courses.
At the start of the Upper Sixth every pupil completes a UCAS application form. It is stressed throughout that good qualifications are the passport to the most popular courses at university, and over 80% of Marlburians achieve grades that enable them to take up their first choice university. More than three quarters of pupils will take a gap year before beginning higher education, and those planning worthwhile projects can apply for a number of scholarships worth up to £2,000.
For those considering applications abroad, from the end of the Hundred year onwards two members of staff brief, advise and help organise the different application procedures. The College has a good number of opportunities for pupils to meet visiting representatives, and every year an SAT course is run for those in the Lower Sixth.
Events and opportunities are advertised weekly in the Guidance Bulletin which is sent to all pupils, parents and Common Room.
Sixth Form Guidance Programme
OM University Destinations
OM University Courses
Guidance Contacts
Mr EG Nobes
Head of Guidance
Mrs AT Woodford
Oxbridge Coordinator
Miss AC Langdale
Head of International Guidance
International University Destinations
Miss AC Langdale
Head of International Guidance


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Work is hard to find in Koibortopara, the remote village in northern Bangladesh where Kallani and her family struggled for years to survive.
Market Access
We're helping people around the world access markets.
Whether you go to work and earn a salary or you're an entrepreneur running your own business, you work in a market to earn a living – and you rely on the market to access the goods and services you need to support your family and enjoy your life.
Poor people around the world are no different. There are hundreds of millions of poor women smallholder farmers who struggle everyday to put food on the table. CARE has been working in these communities for decades and understands that it is not only training and capacity building that they need – and it's also not just handouts and charity.
The rural poor need access to the agricultural inputs and services they need to increase their harvests. They need access to buyers to sell their crops at fair prices. And they need access to products, services like healthcare and education, and household goods to provide their families with the lives they deserve.
CARE is leading a movement to better respond to these needs. We're helping not only to build the skills of poor farmers but creating more inclusive markets and strengthening the links between poor people and the businesses they need in order to improve their lives and escape poverty.
LS: Markets Box 1
We went to Bangladesh to learn from our successes
LS: Markets Box 3
From dairy farmer to businesswoman
LS: Markets Box 5
See how we're "Cracking the Nut."
Our Programs
Watch Our Video
See how CARE's Pathways program is changing women's lives in Malawi.
Watch Our Video
Meet Kallani Rani who transformed herself from a distressed housewife to a successful businesswoman in Bangladesh.
Latest story post
Food aid reform could allow lifesaving assistance to reach up to 4 million more people each year without costing taxpayers a penny more.


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Creating and managing user accounts on a Linux system is just as easy as on any other operating system. However, users new to Linux might not know the different account types on a Linux system.
And that is what this tutorial is all about. Very briefly, with screen shots to clarify, but detailed enough for a new user to get the whole picture, it describes the different user account types on a desktop using the GNOME 3 desktop environment, Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu-based distributions.
Like every task on a Linux system, creating and managing users can be done from the command line, or from a graphical interface. Because this tutorial is intended for new users, every task will be illustrated using the graphical interface.
On any GNOME 3 or Ubuntu desktop, the graphical application for creating and managing user accounts, is simply called User Accounts. You will find it in System Settings, the hub for most graphical management applications on such systems. This screen shot, from the lower section of System Settings, shows the utility in the bottom right corner.
And this is what the interface looks like. On a new system, only one user account is listed. That should be the one created during installation. In a distribution that does not make use of the traditional root account system, that user has root account privileges. That means that the user can perform any administrative task on the system. And you will find it listed as an Administrator account.
An Administrator account is one of two user account types on a GNOME 3 or Ubuntu desktop, and you can create more than one Administrator account, all in the Administrators group. The other account type, is called the Standard account. A user logged in using a Standard account cannot perform system-wide administrative tasks unless the user has access to an Administrator account password. And that is the difference between an Administrator and a Standard account. You may create any number of each account type.
By default, the User Accounts tool is locked. To create a new account, it has to be unlocked, and you do that by clicking on the key icon on the upper right corner of the tool. You will be prompted to authenticate.
After authentication, this window will open. By default, the system will want to create the account as a Standard account. You can change it to an Administrator account by selecting that option from the "Account Type" dropdown menu. Complete the other account credentials, and click Create.
A newly created account does not have a password, and will be disabled. To specify a password, click on Account disabled.
From the Action dropdown menu of the window that opens, you may elect to set a password, or set the account to log in without a password (not recommended).
If you opt to specify a password. you also have the option to select from a set of random or system-generated passwords.
After the password has been set, the account is now usable. You may logout and log back in with it. You may also configure the account for automatic login, which would log you into the system without requesting authentication from you. While that is not recommended, there are situations when it could be useful.
On the login screen, the new account will be listed with other existing accounts on the system.
You typically create a Standard account for a user you do not want to grant administrative privileges. Though a Standard account user can see any tool on the system, if the tool requires authentication as an Administrator, then that user cannot use the tool unless you have given (s)he an Administrator account password.
If there are more than one Administrator accounts on the system, they will be shown in a dropdown menu.
A Standard account user attempting to authenticate with a non-Administrator password, will see this message.
And if the same user attempts to authenticate at the command line for a task that requires admin rights, (s)he will see this message.
That is about all you need to know about the different user account types on a GNOME 3 and Ubuntu desktop. Note that aside from the Administrator and Standard user accounts, Ubuntu also has the Guest Session. This is not a real user account, just a temporary session that allows a user who does not have an account to use the system. Any data generated while using the system with the Guest Session is lost after the session ends.


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Cheques not to be scrapped after all, banks say
The banking industry will not scrap the use of cheques after all, it has been announced.
The Payments Council, a banking industry body, had been planning to replace them by 2018.
However, after widespread criticism from MPs and charities, it has now decided they will be kept "as long as customers need them".
The Payments Council admitted it had been forced to change its mind by the weight of public opinion.
Richard North, the chairman of the Payments Council, said: "It's in the DNA of the Payments Council to consult and listen to all those people who actually make payments and use cheques."
"Listening to over 600 stakeholder groups, working with the banks and following our appearance before the Treasury Select Committee, we have concluded we should reassure customers that the cheque is staying."
Strong defence
The decision was described by the Nationwide building society as a victory for the consumer and a common sense approach.
"Scrapping cheques would have had serious ramifications, not only for the elderly and most vulnerable in society, but also for small businesses and charities that rely on this payment method," the society said.
The industry's search for a "paper-based" alternative to cheques, announced only last year as a way of accommodating critics, has also been cancelled.
"All work to prepare for closing cheque clearing in 2018 has stopped," the Payments Council said.
"Because the cheque is continuing, there is no need for a new type of paper-initiated payment," it added.
Criticism of the industry plan reached a peak this year, with a hostile reception for the idea given by the Parliamentary Treasury Committee of MPs in April, and severe criticism from Mark Hoban, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in June.
He said there was no "credible and coherent case" for the abolition of cheques before an alternative had been fully tested.
Last year 1.1bn cheques were used, but this represented a 40% decline over the past five years and a 70% fall over the past 20 years.
Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Treasury Committee, welcomed the Payments Council's decision.
"At last the Payments Council is concentrating on the right thing: making the existing cheque system faster and cheaper to operate. This will benefit both banks and customers," he said.
Michelle Mitchell, charity director at Age UK, said: "We are delighted that the Payments Council has listened to the many people who said how difficult the loss of cheques would be for them."


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Date: 01/09/2013
Company: NewLeaf Symbiotics
St. Louis, MO – January 9, 2013. NewLeaf Symbiotics, Inc. today announced the completion of a $7.0 million round of financing. Investors in the syndicate include RockPort Capital, Open Prairie Ventures, Pangaea Ventures, and several individuals.
NewLeaf Symbiotics is an agricultural biotech firm that is commercializing a family of beneficial bacteria known as PPFMs (Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs). PPFMs are ubiquitous in nature and have been shown to improve plant health, promote early growth, and increase crop yield. Tom Laurita, NewLeaf Symbiotics' CEO, commented on the investment partners, "We have assembled a terrific syndicate that will definitely be helpful to the company as we move through the next stage of development."
Kevin Kopczynski, Partner at RockPort Capital said, "We are extremely excited about the potential of NewLeaf and have partnered with a very strong and experienced management team to bring the benefits of this patented technology to market."
Keith Gillard, General Partner at Pangaea Ventures commented, "Pangaea's interest in agricultural biologicals as advanced materials has been strongly reinforced by all the recent excitement in biocontrols acquisitions.
NewLeaf, with its strong IP and world-class team, is perfectly positioned for a huge win in this space."
Jason Wrone, Partner at Open Prairie Ventures, said, "With our dedicated focus on agriculture technologies we track many opportunities across this sector. We believe that the scientific advances reported by NewLeaf Symbiotics make this the most compelling opportunity in the burgeoning biocontrols market today."
With this round of financing completed, NewLeaf is well positioned to further its field trials across a number of key market segments, advance product formulation efforts, and to expand its growing portfolio of intellectual property.
Please visit: www.newleafsym.com
About NewLeaf Symbiotics:
NewLeaf Symbiotics is a development stage company based in the Bio-Research & Development Growth (BRDG) Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO. Formerly known as TrophoMax LLC, NewLeaf is commercializing Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFMs) for broad applications to the agriculture and horticulture industries. PPFMs are microorganisms that supply several essential nutrients that all plants need to grow. When PPFMs are applied to plants in a prescribed manner, the plants have been shown to grow faster and stronger, and to generate higher yields. Utilizing symbiotic microorganisms such as PPFMs to enhance plant growth and health can reduce the need for synthetic chemicals and other treatments, resulting in more profitable and sustainable farming. www.newleafsym.com
About RockPort Capital:
RockPort Capital is a multi-stage venture capital firm that invests in the areas of alternative and traditional energy, mobility, and sustainability. For more than a decade RockPort has partnered with entrepreneurs to foster growth and create value in a broad range of industrial and consumer facing companies whose technologies and products provide innovative solutions to significant worldwide markets. RockPort has a collaborative approach to investing, deep domain expertise, and insights into all aspects of energy and cleantech. With offices in Boston and Menlo Park, RockPort is globally recognized as being among the largest and most established energy-focused venture capital firms.
About Open Prairie Ventures:
Open Prairie Ventures is one of the nation's premier ag-tech early and growth stage venture capital firms. Its Midwest-based management team draws on generations of agribusiness experience to identify and support promising technology companies solving the world's most challenging agricultural issues. Founded in 1999, Open Prairie has successfully harvested companies from start-up to IPO and leveraged its vast network of relationships with strategics to optimize returns for its investors. Current investments include Vestaron, a developer of proprietary, environmentally-conscious agriculture insecticide products based on polypeptides found in spider venom; and its most recent investment, NewLeaf Symbiotics, an agricultural biotech firm that is commercializing a family of beneficial bacteria shown to improve plant health, promote early growth, and increase crop yield.
About Pangaea Ventures:
Pangaea Ventures invests in early stage cleantech companies with compelling advanced material technologies. Established in 2001, Pangaea Ventures is now investing out of its third fund. Pangaea's central investment thesis is that breakthroughs in advanced materials are critical for the continued growth of cleantech, and will be the primary drivers of value for venture-backed exits in the space. Pangaea and its portfolio companies benefit from the involvement of world-leading strategic Limited Partners across North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. www.pangaeaventures.com


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A bill crafted to make sure tuition waivers and exemptions for public universities share the same requirements on making satisfactory academic progress passed the Senate unanimously, but only after three amendments carved out exceptions.
Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, authored Senate Bill 1210 at the request of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Dominic Chavez, spokesperson for the board, said that although students receiving other forms of financial aid are required to maintain at least a fair GPA and not take an excessive number of credits outside their degree program, most tuition waivers and exemptions didn't have similar standards.
"In a lot of cases, they have to earn a 2.5 GPA and complete a certain number of courses they attempt. It's not asking them to be an honor roll student," Chavez said. "The institutions are, basically, eating the cost of tuition and fees for these students. It makes sense you don't want to continue paying for extra courses way beyond what's needed for a degree."
The board reports that in fiscal year 2012, public universities lost $177.6 million in tuition and fees because about 88,000 waivers or exemptions were granted to students. The fiscal note for SB 1210 estimates about $15.0 million could be recovered in fiscal year 2015.
It also estimates that up to 15 percent of current recipients would lose their waivers or exemptions. While some would remain enrolled, the legislative budget board estimates the state would save at least $1.3 million annually because of students who would leave college after losing a waiver.
Three amendments introduced and passed on the Senate floor yesterday scaled back the uniform scope of the bill, by maintaining exemptions for some veterans and former foster children.
Zaffirini did not try to block the amendments, but said the concerns raised in them were already covered by a provision granting universities authority to review contributing hardship factors and allow exemptions based on an individual student's unique circumstances.
The measure now moves to the House for consideration.


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Nearly 2,400 wines traveled to West Lafayette for one of the nation's largest wine competitions, the Indy International Wine Competition, August 1-3, 2012 at Purdue University.
Wines from 41 states and 14 countries as far away as France, Australia, Chile and Germany were judged on appearance, aroma, taste, and aftertaste by 50 international judges.
For the first time, an Indiana winery won Wine of the Year, besting 2400 other wines to be named the best wine of the entire competition. River City Winery, New Albany, IN won Wine of the Year for their 2011 Vignoles! White Wine of the Year honors went to Tabor Hill Winery of Michigan for their 2011 Gewürztraminer. Chateau Ste. Michelle of Woodinville, Washington won Red Wine of the Year for their 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. Rosé Wine of the Year was awarded to 21 Brix Winery of Portland, New York for their 2011 Ellatawba Rosé.
The Sparkling Wine of the Year was awarded to Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards of Sonoma, California for their Carneros Cuvee and Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery of BC, Canada took the Dessert Wine of the Year honors for their 2011 Signature Ice Wine.
Galena Cellars of Galena, Illinois won Fruit Wine of the Year for their Cracklin Apple. The last two categories, Honey Wine of the Year and Honey Wine Blend of the Year were awarded to White Winter Winery of Iron River, Wisconsin and Wyldewood Cellars, respectively.
E&J Gallo Winery of Modesto, California was awarded the Winery of the Year Trophy, sponsored by the Leisure Family. The trophy honors the Best International Brand of the entire competition.
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery won the Winemaker of the Year Trophy, honoring the winery that wins the most gold medals by brand at the competition.
The Indy International Wine Competition began in 1973 as an Indiana-only event. The competition began admitting entries from across the world in 1992 under Dr. Richard Vine. Professor of Enology Christian Butzke and the Purdue Wine Grape Team took over the leadership of the competition in 2006.
"The INDY's 50 international judges recognized some of the world's newest, trend-setting wines as Wines of the Year of the Indy International Wine Competition," said Professor Butzke. "The nearly 2,400 wines entered in the 2012 INDY provide a fascinating perspective of things to come for American wine consumers."
Indiana was well represented in the competition, with Hoosier wineries winning 363 total medals. That includes 22 double gold, 26 gold, 110 silver, and 76 bronze medals.
"For an Indiana winery to win Wine of the Year is very exciting for the Indiana wine industry," said Jeanette Merritt, Marketing Director for the Indiana Wine Grape Council. "Indiana wines are outstanding and River City not only showed that, but all of our wineries proved that in the amount of medals they won this year!"
Oliver Winery of Bloomington won the Indiana Winery of the Year, the Governor's Cup, recognizing the winningest Indiana winery. Indiana Wine of the Year was awarded to Wildcat Creek Winery, Lafayette, for their Chambourcin
The Indy International has a special award division for Indiana grown wines. A wine must be composed of more than 85% Indiana grown fruit to be eligible. Wildcat Creek Winery, Lafayette, won Indiana-Made Traminette of the Year, honoring Indiana's Signature Wine and Grape. They also won Indiana-Grown American Wine of the Year for their Steuben. Brown County Winery of Nashville won the Indiana-Grown Fruit Wine of the Year for their 2011 Hard Cider. River City Winery of New Albany won the French-American Wine category for their 2011 Vignoles. Huber Orchard, Winery & Vineyards of Starlight won the Indiana-grown Vinifera Wine of the Year for their 2010 Heritage.
|Here I am in my fancy jacket-observing the judges to learn how they detect differences in the grape varietal, clarity, taste, aroma, aftertaste and overall taste. There is no swallowing here. That was something new to see.
The Indy International is held at Purdue University and run by the Indiana Wine Grape Council. For a list of all medal-winning wines, log onto www.indyinternational.org.
Information provided by Jeanette Merritt of the Indiana Wine and Grape Council


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People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. ~ Anonymous The above quote probably doesn't reflect the title in the right manner, yet it offers food for thought! People worldwide look forward to…
Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, In the lane, snow is glistening A beautiful sight, We're happy tonight, Walking in a winter wonderland. Im so excited for the holidays that I've been singing all the time, loudly, very loudly, and I dont have a great voice but who cares? Its the holidays!!!It is with so much joy I share with you today a delightful gingerbread cookie recipe. Not only …
Spiced Whipped Coconut Cream Recipe
I just love December and I'm thrilled it's here. Let's make time for the things that really matter to us this month, and as much as we can let go of that which does not bring us joy. Life is meant to be fully lived and celebrated. Take care of you and your happiness, and…
Peppermint Bark Recipe
This peppermint bark is a staple at Christmas. It's super easy to make and if you're looking for an inexpensive but pretty gift, you can wrap up the bark and give it away as a gift. Think school teachers, holiday parties. Everyone loves chocolate bark! Ingredients (2) 10 oz bags premium dark chocolate chips (2) 10 oz bags premium white chocolate chips 4 or 5 crushed peppermint candy canes Directions
Six Tips to Stop the Xmas Insanity and Give without Going Broke
"We commercialize everything. Look at Christmas. Christmas is Jesus' birthday. Now I don't know Jesus, but from what I've read Jesus was the least materialistic person to ever roam the earth. And we turned his birthday into the most materialistic day of the year. Matter of fact, we have the Jesus Birthday season; it's a…
DIY Santa Hat Wine Bottle Cozies
Ho ho ho! Planning to bring a bottle of wine to your next holiday party as a hostess gift? Add a special touch with these Santa Claus-inspired wine bottle toppers! They're fun, festive and so easy to make – love! Supplies 8 1/2 by 11″ sheet of red felt Hot glue gun Scissors 6 cotton balls or length of faux fur Here's how to make these sweet Santa covers:
Message Stuffed (Thankful) Crescent Rolls
What's the best part of the holidays? Having your babies help you in the kitchen! My two-year-old wanted to help me cook and I couldn't find anything for her to do that didn't involve a hot pan, a burning oven, or a sharp knife! I took out the crescent rolls so she could play with the dough and that's when this fun idea came into my head. These little crescent roll messages are so fun and the perfect project for any little one. (Note: I used regular store bought crescent rolls for this.) Directions
How to Make Wrapping Paper Christmas Tree Decorations
Want to give your home a festive touch? Christmas decorations can be super expensive so I came up with the idea of making all my decorations with wrapping paper this year. Different papers, different decorations. Make your own with just a few simple supplies! So cute! Supplies
Holiday Gift Guide 2018 For Babies, Kids and Teens
It's the time of year that your kids are hopefully being nice in anticipation of holiday gifts! And if they aren't then it's a good time to hold it over their heads! We've gathered super cool products for teens, tweens, kids and babies that we think they'll love! Gamers of all ages can play in…
Christmas Winter Wonderland Decorating Ideas
Want to create a Christmas winter wonderland in your own home, office cubicle or anywhere that you feel needs a touch of festive fun?It's always a great way to decorate for a holiday party or event! A Christmas winter wonderland typically has snowflakes and icicles (although not the kind made from frozen water) along with color schemes in blue and silver or red and green. Here's a few ideas for winter wonderland decorations that will hopefully inspire and excite you:


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Every 4th Monday of each month!
The new regular meeting for all kinds of needle work at the Open Design City. Come along to work on your knitting or sewing project, or get to learn knitting, sewing or other related techniques!
If you have a special request to learn something or want to teach something to us let us know in the comments on this page and we will be prepared!
Two sewing machines, some material, (knitting)needles and yarn are available for trying out stuff. You are also welcome to bring your own materials even if you don't know how to use them yet!
PS: The electronics-hacking meeting "baustelmontag" is running parallel at the same time and place - so if you are woking on a textile+electronics project (e.g. wearable electronics) MeshUpMonday is the place to be for you!
Image via flickr


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The Complete Organic Pregnancy
What you need to know—from the nail polish you wear to the bed you sleep in to the water you drink
While being pregnant is thrilling, the responsibility of a growing baby can provoke anxiety about what is and isn't safe. In The Complete Organic Pregnancy, Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu address how you can minimize your exposure to the invisible toxins that surround us—in everything from food, cleaning products, and cosmetics to furniture, rugs, air, and water. Step by step, they tell you where dangerous chemicals are lurking, why it's so important to avoid them when pregnant, and what you can do before, during, and after your pregnancy to protect your child.
In this exhaustively researched book, the authors (calmly) talk parents-to-be through everything from the safest laundry detergent to which crib mattresses contain toxic flame retardants. You'll find out how to choose the right face cream, plastic water bottles, household cleaners, types of fish, and much more—all with an eye toward keeping you and your baby safe and healthy.
The Complete Organic Pregnancy also features a collection of personal diaries from well-known writers and organophiles, including Barbara Kingsolver and Marion Nestle, as well as recipes from organic chefs. Required reading for anyone heading into this exciting stage of life, The Complete Organic Pregnancy is your chance to make a difference for your children, even before they're born.
Purchase: Amazon B&N Borders IndieBound
"I only wish this book had existed when our son was born. Now that it does exist, it is, already, indespensable." –Michael Pollan, author of The Ominvore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food
"Easy to use, a pleasure to read, The Complete Organic Pregnancy is an esseintial guide for mothers who want to bring their babies into the most wholesome world they can provide." –Lisa Sanders, M.D., New York Times Magazine "Diagnosis" columnist and author of Every Patient Tells a Story
Selected Resources From The Complete Organic Pregnancy
Healthy Child Healthy World
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
USDA National Organic Program
Sustainable Cotton Project
Green Depot
Q Collection
Dax Stores


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Here's a toast to brunch season
If there is a "brunch season," it's late autumn, when it's too chilly/bleak/damp for yard work, a bike ride or a picnic, and not cold or snowy enough to put winter sports on the weekend agenda. Instead, it's time to join with friends, sip an Irish coffee and dig into some serious grub.
Although eggs Benedict may claim pride of place as the classic brunch dish in restaurants, home cooks --- at least the ones who don't want to be poaching eggs and plating food at the last minute --- can embrace the strata, a casserole of eggs, bread, milk, cheese and sometimes meat or vegetables that can be assembled a day ahead and baked while the coffee is brewing.
Bagels and cream cheese are also a lifesaver.
Then along comes a strata made with bagels and cream cheese --- New York Breakfast Casserole --- that combines both options in one hearty dish. This is the kind of recipe that many of us look at and say, "Why didn't I think of that?"
Just be glad that Deb Perelman, author of the Smitten Kitchen blog and "The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook" (Knopf, 2012), did. Her book is full of "aha!" moments: Aha! Buttered Popcorn Cookies! Aha! Blue Cheese Gougeres! Aha! Cider Caramels! New York Breakfast Casserole? Double aha!
It's easy to be smitten with Perelman and her down-to-earth but enthusiastic approach to food, her lively writing, her tiny New York kitchen and her unfussy photographs (which she takes herself). But the proof is in the recipes, and a dip into the book gives proof aplenty.
Your brunch menu can revolve around this casserole, with easy Brownie Roll-Out Cookies for dessert. Add a spinach salad and Irish coffee, and toast the start of "brunch season."
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
1 1/2 pounds plain or seeded bagels, cut into 1-inch cubes (8 cups)
8 ounces cream cheese, cut into irregular small bits
1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced into quarter moons 1 1/2 cups (1 pint) grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half if on the large side
8 large eggs
2 1/3 cups milk or half-and-half
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Capers, for serving
Lox or crisply cooked bacon, for serving
The day before serving the casserole, spread a third of the bagel cubes in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch pan. Dot with a third of the cream cheese, and mix in the red onion and tomatoes. Make 2 more layers with the bagel cubes and cream cheese. Whisk eggs with milk, salt and pepper. Pour eggs over the bagels. Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove casserole from the fridge, uncover and bake on a tray or cookie sheet in the middle of the oven until casserole has puffed, turned golden brown and cooked through. (A knife inserted into the center of the casserole and rotated slightly should not release any liquid.) This will take 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Let it rest 10 minutes before serving.
Serve in big scoops with a sprinkle of capers and a side of lox or bacon.
Recipe from "The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook" by Deb Perelman (Knopf, 2012).
Yield: 65 (1 1/2- to 1 3/4-inch) cookies
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Up to 2 days before serving: Whisk together flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder in a bowl and set aside. Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients. Scrape the dough together to form a large ball, wrap in plastic and chill up to 2 days. (If you are pressed for time, 1 hour will do.)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line several cookie sheets with baking parchment.
Roll out the dough on a floured work surface to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes, brushing extra flour off the top. (It disappears once baked, so don't overly fret if the cookies go into the oven looking white.) Bake 11 minutes, or until the edges are firm and the centers are slightly soft and puffed.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Recipe from "The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook" by Deb Perelman (Knopf, 2012).
(c) COPYRIGHT 2012 MARIALISA CALTA


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Students receive K-State semester honors
Kansas State University recognized more than 3,500, including many from Marion County, for honors for the fall semester. To receive semester honors, a student must complete at least 12 hours with a 3.75 or higher grade point average.
Semester honors
Florence: Jaclyn Deforest.
Goessel: Hannah Franzen.
Hillsboro: Candace Jost, Bailey Kaufman, Aaron Klassen, and Taylor Nikkel.
Lehigh: Neal Kaiser.
Lincolnville: Carrie Carlson and Taylor Harms.
Marion: Jacob Ehrlich, Samuel Ehrlich, Louis Holt, Evan Just, Tristen Snelling, Derek Stuchlik, Eric Vogel, and Julia Zeiner.
Peabody: Brandee Burnett, Broderick Kyle, and Shelby Unruh.
Ramona: Sheila Makovec.
Tampa: Matthew Klenda and Nathan Unruh.


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Christina Applegate's fiance has become the target of a vicious Twitter.com troll who is threatening him.
Musician Martyn LeNoble has been subjected to menacing tweets from an anonymous account, prompting officials at the Los Angeles Police Department to launch an investigation.
Cops served a search warrant on Twitter HQ in San Francisco, six days after the messages emerged on September 20. The profile has since been deleted, according to TMZ.com.
The hate-filled tweets read, "You stole (Christina) away from me. If not for you she would be mine… I will not accept this. I am going to kill you!!!!!!!!!… I'm going to bust your head in for taking her away from me!!! Be afraid, be very afraid!! You think this is a joke? I want to see how funny you think I am when I blow your f— head off!!!"