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The mortgage crisis that devastated the economy has received endless attention, but it's not just homeowners who have suffered badly in this economy.
As of 2012, renters made up 35 percent of American households. Their numbers are growing, reversing a decades-long uptick in homeownership.
And in the past 50 years, the percentage of income they're spending on the rent has increased dramatically. A quarter of renters are spending more than half their income on rent.
Ymelda Alvarez, her husband and their two daughters live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment just east of downtown Los Angeles in a neighborhood called Boyle Heights. It's not a fancy or trendy area; it's a poor part of town with a lot of crime, and most of the schools are struggling.
Their apartment consists of a front living room converted to a bedroom, a small kitchen and a little room in the back with bunk beds for the kids. Other amenities include sagging ceilings, leaky faucets, doors that don't lock and pests like cockroaches and rats.
For this they pay $1,000 a month.
But it's currently their only option. Antonio, her husband, can't land a full-time job and only makes about $1,200 a month from stringing together part-time work at a school nearby.
"That would only be enough for the rent and some bills," Ymelda Alvarez says. She says they spend so much on rent, they have to cut back in other areas.
"I always think about the rent first, then about food. If it is not enough, we have to cut back on food," she says.
'We Have To Embrace Development'
Across Los Angeles, others like the Alvarez family are struggling. The city is now home to the highest proportion of renters of any major American city. A lot of people want to live there; it's almost always sunny, after all, and the beach is right there.
On a more somber note, in the past eight years, 143,000 new renters have entered the Los Angeles market — many of them displaced by the foreclosure crisis. But the construction of new apartments hasn't kept up with the increase in renters: There aren't enough places for them to live.
A big part of the problem, developers say, is that L.A. is a particularly difficult city to build in. The apartments that do get built tend to be pricey; meanwhile, the city faces a shortage of funds for affordable housing.
Beverly Kenworth, the head of the California Apartment Association, says it's fundamentally an issue of supply and demand.
"If we really want to address this housing crisis — because it is a crisis — we have to really be much more forward-thinking," she says. "We have to embrace development; we have to embrace the growth that's happening."
Kenworthy says developers have to navigate a city zoning code that is almost 70 years old. All but the biggest, best-funded builders have simply given up — including members of her organization.
"Some of them build, and some of them look to build here in L.A.," she says. "I have others who simply won't do it anymore because it's just too hard and too uncertain, and it's too costly."
Developer Carl Lambert says there's a phrase used in the industry to describe the agony of getting a project approved: "brain damage."
He says before he could break ground on a recent building, he needed 33 separate sign-offs. It's not uncommon for it to take three years from when he buys a piece of land to when he can start construction.
"Now I've experienced all this wonderful pain over the years and I am now open, and do you think I'm going to want to go out and give everybody deals, or give them a $600 a month apartment with an ocean view?" he asks. "No, it's going to be fair market value."
And therein lies the problem. Apartments are being built in L.A. — at levels not seen since before the recession — but most are top-of-the-line.
Funding Cuts Hamper Affordable Housing Efforts
When it comes to affordable housing, there's a shortfall of almost half a million units in L.A. County, and it's only getting worse.
That's because there is half a billion dollars less available in state and federal funding for affordable housing in the county than there was before the recession.
"We focus on creating jobs here in Los Angeles for people who live outside the city, and we don't focus on building housing for people so that they can live near where they work," says L.A. City Councilman Gil Cedillo.
In April, Cedillo led a "Renter's Day" to highlight the problem of affordability. There was a modestly attended rally, but as for action? That will have to wait.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced an $8.2 billion plan to build and maintain 200,000 affordable housing units over the next decade.
"I really admire what those people do in New York because they really move aggressively on these problems," Cedillo says. But in L.A., a city that's trying to balance its budget, the money simply isn't available. "We don't have those types of resources to commit to housing," he says.
Cedillo has been lobbying for a state bill that would raise $500 million a year for affordable housing by charging a fee on real estate transactions, but the measure seems unlikely to pass.
That means that now, for the first time in three decades, there are virtually no state funds available for affordable housing in California.
Bad Everywhere
Los Angeles is one of the most expensive rental markets in the country, but the problem isn't just in California. Across the country, rental prices have risen as wages have stagnated.
Chris Herbert is the director of research at Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies. Just last December they released a report on rental housing in the country. He says the situation is bad everywhere, and it's just a question of how bad.
"About 50 percent of renters are paying more than 30 percent of their income for monthly housing costs," Herbert says. "At last count, more than a quarter of households were spending more than 50 percent of their income for housing."
Herbert says 30 percent is the standard amount people should pay for housing out of their budget to still have enough left for life's necessities. So if you're spending significantly more than that, like the Alvarez family, the odds of having enough for other basic needs, like food, health care and any sort of retirement savings, are severely diminished.
"The trade-offs people are making are not trade-offs between going to the movies or going out to eat, but basically ... nutrition, basic health care and saving for their future," he says. "Those are really important trade-offs people are making in trying to find affordable housing."
As bad as things are, it looks like they'll be getting worse. The Harvard study projects that 4 to 5 million more people will start renting over the next decade.
Ben Bergman is a business reporter for Southern California Public Radio.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Martin Keller
This is a web version of a review of Peter Gotzsche's book. It appeared in the April 2014 Healthwatch Newsletter. Read the whole newsletter. It has lots of good stuff. Their newsletters are here. Healthwatch has been exposing quackery since 1989. Their very first newsletter is still relevant.
Most new drugs and vaccines are developed by the pharmaceutical industry. The industry has produced huge benefits for mankind. But since the Thatcherite era it has come to be dominated by marketing people who appear to lack any conscience. That's what gave rise to the Alltrials movement. It was founded in January 2013 with the aim of ensuring that all past and present clinical trials are registered before they start and that and their results are published The industry has been dragged, kicking and screaming, towards a new era of transparency, with two of the worst offenders, GSK and Roche, now promising to release all data. Let's hope this is the beginning of real open science. |
This version is not quite identical with the published version in which several changes were enforced by Healthwatch's legal adviser. They weren't very big changes, but here is the original.
Deadly Medicines and Organised Crime
By Peter Gøtzsche, reviewed by David Colquhoun
Published by Radcliffe Publishing Ltd on 1 August 2013. RRP £24.99 (320 pages, paperback)
As someone who has spent a lifetime teaching pharmacology, this book is a bitter pill to swallow. It makes Goldacre's Bad Pharma seem quite mild.
In fairness, the bits of pharmacology that I've taught concern mostly drugs that do work quite well. Things like neuromuscular blocking agents, local anaesthetics, general anaesthetics, anticoagulants, cardiac glycosides and thyroid drugs all do pretty much what is says on the label.
Peter Gøtzsche is nothing if not evidence man. He directs the Nordic Cochrane group, and he talks straight. His book is about drugs that don't work as advertised. There is no doubt whatsoever that the pharmaceutical industry has behaved very badly indeed in the last couple of decades. You don't have to take my word for it, nor Peter Gotzche's, nor Ben Goldacre's. They have told us about it themselves. Not voluntarily of course, but in internal emails that have been revealed during court proceedings, and from whistleblowers.
Peter Rost was vice president marketing for the huge pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, until he was fired after the company failed to listen to his complaints about illegal marketing of human growth hormone as an anti-ageing drug. After this he said:
"It is scary how many similarities there are between this industry and the mob. The mob makes obscene amounts of money, as does this industry. The side effects of organized crime are killings and deaths, and the side effects are the same in this industry. The mob bribes politicians and others, and so does the drug industry … "
The pharmaceutical industry is the biggest defrauder of the US federal government under the False Claims Act. Roche led a cartel that, according to the US Justice Department's antitrust division, was the most pervasive and harmful criminal antitrust conspiracy ever uncovered. Multibillion dollar fines have been levied on all of the big companies (almost all in the USA, other countries have been supine), though the company's profits are so huge they are regarded as marketing expenses.
It's estimated that adverse effects of drugs kill more people than anything but cancer and heart disease, roughly half as many as cigarettes. This horrifying statistic is announced at the beginning of the book, though you have to wait until Chapter 21 to find the data. I'd have liked to see a more critical discussion of the problems of causality in deciding why someone died, which are just as big as those in deciding why somebody recovered. Nevertheless, nobody seems to deny that the numbers who are killed by their treatments are alarmingly high.
Gøtzsche's book deals with a wide range of drugs that don't do what it says on the label, but which have made fortunes because of corruption of the scientific process. These include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), an area described as "a horror story filled with extravagant claims, bending of the rules, regulatory inaction, . . .". Other areas where there has been major misbehaviour include diabetes (Avandia), and the great Tamiflu scandal. and the great Tamiflu scandal. It took five years of pressure before Roche released the hidden data about Tamiflu trials. It barely works. Goldacre commented "government's Tamiflu stockpile wouldn't have done us much good in the event of a flu epidemic"
But the worst single area is psychiatry.
Two of the chapters in the book deal with psychiatry. Nobody has the slightest idea how the brain works (don't believe the neuroscience hype) or what causes depression or psychosis. Treatments are no more than guesses and none of them seems to work very well.
The problems with the SSRI antidepressant, paroxetine (Seroxat in UK, Paxil in USA) were brought to public attention, not by a regulator, but by a BBC Panorama television programme. The programme revealed that a PR company, which worked for GSK, had written
"Originally we had planned to do extensive media relations surrounding this study until we actually viewed the results. Essentially the study did not really show it was effective in treating adolescent depression, which is not something we want to publicise."
This referred to the now-notorious study 329. It was intended to show that paroxetine should be recommended for adolescent depression. The paper that eventually appeared in 2001 grossly misrepresented the results. The conclusions stated "Paroxetine is generally well tolerated and effective for major depression in adolescents", despite the fact that GSK already knew this wasn't true. The first author of this paper was Martin Keller, chair of psychiatry at Brown University, RI, with 21 others.
But the paper wasn't written by them, but by ghost authors working for GSK. Keller admitted that he hadn't checked the results properly.
That's not all. Gøtzsche comments thus.
"Keller is some character. He double- billed his travel expenses, which were reimbursed both by his university and the drug sponsor. Further, the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health had paid Brown's psychiatry department, which Keller chaired, hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund research that wasn't being conducted. Keller himself received hundreds of thousands of dollars from drug companies every year that he didn't disclose."
His department received $50 million in research funding. Brown University has never admitted that there was a problem. It still boasts about this infamous paper
The extent of corruption at Brown University rivals the mob.
The infamous case of Richard Eastell at Sheffield university is no better. He admitted in print to lying about who'd seen the data. The university did nothing but fire the whistleblower.
Another trial, study 377, also showed that paroxetine didn't work. GSK suppressed it.
"There are no plans to publish data from Study 377" (Seroxat/Paxil Adolescent Depression. Position piece on the phase III clinical studies. GlaxoSmithKline document. 1998 Oct.)
Where were the regulatory agencies during all this? The MHRA did ban use of paroxetine in adolescents in 2003, but their full investigation didn't report until 2008. It came to much the same conclusions as the TV programme six years earlier about the deceit. But despite that, no prosecution was brought. GSK got away with a deferential rap on the knuckles.
Fiona Godlee (editor of the BMJ, which had turned down the paper) commented
"We shouldn't have to rely on investigative journalists to ask the difficult questions"
Now we can add bloggers to that list of people who ask difficult questions. The scam operated by the University of Wales, in 'validating' external degrees was revealed by my blog and by BBC TV Wales. The Quality Assurance Agency came in only at the last moment. Regulators regularly fail to regulate.
Despite all this, the current MHRA learning module on SSRIs contains little hint that SSRIs simply don't work for mild or moderate depression. Neither does the current NICE guidance. Some psychiatrists still think they do work, despite there being so many negative trials. |
The psychiatrists' narrative goes like this. You don't expect to see improvements for many weeks (despite the fact that serotonin uptake is stopped immediately). You may get worse before you get better. And if the first sort of pill doesn't work, try another one. That's pretty much identical with what a homeopath will tell you. The odds are that its meaning is, wait a while and you'll get better eventually, regardless of treatment.
It's common to be told that they must work because when you stop taking them, you get worse. But, perhaps more likely, when you stop taking them you get withdrawal symptoms, because the treatment itself caused a chemical imbalance. Gøtzsche makes a strong case that most psychiatric drugs do more harm than good, if taken for any length of time. Marcia Angell makes a similar case in The Illusions of Psychiatry.
Gøtzsche will inevitably be accused of exaggerating. Chapter 14 ends thus.
"Merck stated only 6 months before it withdrew Vioxx that 'MSD is fully committed to the highest standards of scientific integrity, ethics, and protection of patient's wellbeing in our research. We have a tradition of partnership with leaders in the academic research community. Great. Let's have some more of such ethical partnerships. They often kill our patients while everyone else prospers.
Perhaps Hells Angels should consider something similar in their PR: We are fully committed to the highest standards of integrity, ethics and protection of citizens' well- being when we push narcotic drugs. We have a tradition of partnership with leaders in the police force".
But the evidence is there. The book has over 900 references. Much of the wrongdoing has been laid bare by legal actions. I grieve for the state of my subject.
The wrongdoing by pharma is a disgrace.
The corruption of universities and academics is even worse, because they are meant to be our defence against commercial corruption.
All one can do is to take consolation from the fact that academics, like Gøtzsche and Goldacre, and a host of bloggers, are the people who are revealing what's wrong. As a writer for the business magazine, Fortune, said
"For better or worse, the drug industry is going to have to get used to Dr. Peter Rost – and others like him."
At a recent meeting I said that it was tragic that medicine, the caring profession, was also the most corrupt (though I'm happy to admit that other jobs might be as bad if offered as much money).
At present there is little transparency. There is no way that I can tell whether my doctor is taking money from pharma, data are still hidden from public scrutiny by regulatory agencies (which are stuffed with people who take pharma money) as well as by companies. Governments regard business as more important than patients. In the UK, the Government continued promotion of the fake bomb detector for many years after they'd been told it was fake. Their attitude to fake medicines is not much different. Business is business, right?
One side effect of the horrific corruption is that it's used as a stick by the alternative medicine industry. That's silly of them, because their business is more or less 100% mendacious marketing of ineffective treatments. At least half of pharma products really do work.
Fines are useless. Nothing will change until a few CEOs, a few professors and a few vice-chancellors spend time in jail for corruption.
Read this book. Get angry. Do something.

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to Stavros Villas and Apartments website.
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Stavros Villas & Apartments are rated as Class A in self catering accommodation and the email checker Loacted next to the beach in Gerani village Chania Crete. More »
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Olive Farm Villa combines the luxury of five star with some traditional Mediterranean features. Once an olive farm, it is set apart in its own grounds of olive trees yet Agia-Marina beach is less than 5 minutes from drive away, or 15 minutes by foot. More »


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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Five former Virginia attorneys general have asked a federal judge to consider their argument that public corruption charges against ex-Gov. Bob McDonnell should be dismissed.
The former Republican governor and his wife Maureen are charged in a 14-count indictment with accepting more than $165,000 from Jonnie Williams, the former CEO of dietary supplements maker Star Scientific Inc., in exchange for helping promote his products. They have pleaded not guilty, and a jury trial that is expected to last at least five weeks is scheduled to begin in late July.
In a memo supporting their motion, the former top state law enforcement officers wrote that the government's "expansive interpretation" of the federal bribery law that is the basis for 11 counts "is completely alien to any legal advice that any of us would have given to any Governor of Virginia." They said the government's view, if adopted into law, would establish the threat of federal prosecution for normal participation in the political process.
Three Democrats and two Republicans who served as attorney general between 1970 and 2001 filed a motion late Wednesday asking U.S. District Judge James Spencer to accept their friend-of-the-court brief. Spencer rejected a similar request from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers last week.
According to the indictment, the McDonnells opened the Executive Mansion for a launch party for a Star Scientific product, arranged for a meeting between Williams and a state health official and talked up the benefits of his company's dietary supplement Anatabloc. Among the gifts Williams gave the McDonnells were a Rolex watch, designer clothes, golf outings and $15,000 for catering a daughter's wedding reception, the indictment says.
The former attorneys general said none of the favors done by the McDonnells amounted to "official acts" within the meaning of the federal bribery law.
"Frankly, we are taken aback by the efforts of federal prosecutors to stretch the law to cover them," they wrote.
They said if the type of access the McDonnells arranged for Williams constitutes an official act, then any meeting with a citizen, favorable treatment of a campaign contributor or "simple nod of approval" also could be defined that way to support a bribery charge.
"Whatever criticism might be made of such access, the practice has been repeatedly upheld as legal," the former officeholders wrote. "Yet, under the indictment, the law will be turned on its head, and these long-established practices will be grounds for federal prosecution."
The McDonnells made similar arguments in their motion to dismiss, which did not cover charges of making false statements. Prosecutors have until April 24 to respond to the motion, and a hearing is set for May 29.
The former attorneys general supporting McDonnell's motion are Democrats Andrew P. Miller, Mary Sue Terry and Stephen D. Rosenthal and Republicans J. Marshall Coleman and Mark L. Earley.


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How to Shop for Limes
When shopping for limes, you don't want the big ones or the dark green ones. You want the shiny ones. Skip the limes with deeply dimpled peels. Instead, grab the smoothest-skinned limes you can find. Make sure they feel heavy in your hand. Take about 12, 14 if they're really small.
No, they're not cheap. But you can get cheap margaritas in any Tex-Mex place.
Other Ingredients
Make sure you have plenty of ice on hand. Find a tequila that's smooth but just a little too strongly flavored for you to want to drink it on its own. We use Sauza Conmemorativo, a 750 ml bottle. Get some Grand Marnier; you'll need 500 ml. You can swap orange liqueurs later if you don't like the results, but Grand Marnier really has the right blend of sweet and bitter for this application. Have a little plain white sugar and margarita salt on hand.
That's it. Those are all the ingredients. No sour or mix to be seen.
Roll 8 limes around on the counter to bruise them. Don't be gentle. Then figure out how to get the fruit wax off your hands and counter. If you find any good methods, please share.
Get out a tightly sealing pitcher (2 liters/quarts), a 2-cup liquid measure, a citrus juicer, and either a small sifter or a funnel lined with cheesecloth. The sifter goes in the liquid measure. The funnel and cheesecloth go in the mouth of the pitcher.
Slice and squeeze the limes, discovering all the tiny cuts on your hands in the process. Be thorough, but don't introduce pith to the juice. After four limes, check the level of juice. You're aiming for 500 ml. If you'll need more than 8 limes, which you probably will, bruise them now.
Once you hit 500 ml, add it to the pitcher with the tequila and Grand Marnier. Shake. Pour a tiny sample and taste. Add a small amount of sugar if the limes weren't ripe. Seal up the pitcher and store in the fridge.
Drinking the Perfect Margarita
You now have a deceptively tasty, roughly 60-proof pitcher in the refrigerator. Care is called for.
Serve the perfect margarita over lots of ice, or blend it with ice if you like margarita slushies. Shake the pitcher before pouring. There will be sediment from the limes. If it's hot and you're thirsty, or if you have difficulty forgetting about your drink for a while between sips, add some orange juice to make it safer to quaff. It's a different flavor, but still yummy.
Don't worry too much about how long you store the margaritas. Did I mention that they're 30 percent alcohol? That, and they're perfect, so they won't last long. Enjoy.


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Notable Quotes From Day 1 of No Kill Conference 2011
The following are from my notes taken at No Kill Conference 2011 in Washington, DC July 30-31, 2011. I have tried to get these quotes as exact as possible. I'll be posting more extensive write-ups of some of the talks I attended. The conference was a heady and exciting experience. Despite being at the same venue as last year, it seemed bigger, almost overwhelming, even. Last year's theme was "A new day dawns", and this year, we are seeing the results. I used to have the list of No Kill communities and those closing in on joining the '90% Club' memorized. I can't keep track of them anymore. No Kill initiatives are popping up everywhere, testament to the theme of this year's conference–the power of individual No Kill advocates to lead and to make a difference in their community and beyond. The refrain throughout Winograd's keynote address set the tone: " One person. One moment. One decision."
Nathan Winograd, director of the No Kill Advocacy Center, from his opening remarks:
Killing an animal is never an act of kindness, especially if the animal is not suffering…We have recognized the value of the full expression of our values…One person can change the status quo.
It took a fight in Austin, Texas.
Whether Austin's emerging story is your story depends on: one person, one moment, one decision.
We want to leave the darkness. Our love for animals is not unique as we have been led to believe…History will vindicate us.
Our battle is against the few, not the many–the vested interests. Millions of lives could be saved if you find the courage. They will fight you. They will attack you. They will ridicule you. You have support. We have your back.
The No Kill revolution starts with you. Go give 'em Hell!
From 'Advocacy Blogging' with Brent Toellner of the KC Dog Blog and Shirley Thistlethwaite of the Yesbiscuit! blog:
Opinions are fine, facts are better.
[crickets] ~On how to win friends through advocacy blogging (i.e. you won't).
From 'Shelter Medicine for Non-Veterinarians' with Dr. Diana Lucree of the Nevada Humane Society:
Every place has different challenges, and many excuses.
Feral cats–for those who like a little spunk in their cats.
Every animal is unique, and a potential source of infection.
Your intake protocols will make or break the health of the animals in your shelter.
Plan for days of high intake so that your intake protocols do not suffer–July 5 or days after high winds.
There's somebody out there for everybody.
Most diseases are benign, but can be deadly in the shelter environment.
The take home lesson: follow your intake protocol, never deviate from it!
From Seth Godin's talk 'Be the Tribe Leader':
You don't have to reach everyone. Give people something to believe in and talk about.
People are waiting for someone to organize them, but nobody joins a boring movement.
We are all weird.
Bring humanity to a problem, not a manual.
People want you to fit in so they can ignore you.
There is no map. You have to figure it out. Report what works. Make the map.
We need people who can solve interesting problems.
Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.
Emotional labor–doing what scares you.
How was your day? Leaders are never 'fine'.
To stay put, argue about minutiae.
From 'Overcoming Internal Obstacles to Success', with Michael Linke, CEO of the Royal SPCA in the Australian Capital Territory and the State of Tasmania in Australia:
We're in the business of saving lives.
Temperament testing as a tool for euthanasia is rubbish.
Staff turnover is not a bad thing. Cemeteries are full of people who thought they were indispensable.
It is better to lose poor staff than to compromise animals.
Why bother? We can fall into the trap of not bothering, but this is life or death. Remove obstacles. Remove excuses. If there is still a problem, remove staff.
You need to micromanage at the start, need to do something immediately.
From Alan Rosenblatt's talk 'Here Comes Social Advocacy':
Social media is about reciprocal relationships, not just two-way communication–your audience talks to each other while you talk to them.
Audience size doesn't necessarily matter–quality is more important. Size is good if it includes the right people–influencers.
Now consumers of content, not producers, determine distribution.
Tumblr is great for animal pictures (one of the best marketing tools in the world) and can be linked to twitter and Facebook.
Manage your social media–tweet 2-3 times per day. Ten minutes per day can be very effective.
'How to' is still being figured out.
Just a sampling of snippets from day one. I'll cover day two in my next post. The ideas were flying fast both in the sessions and during the 'downtime', and I got to meet many interesting people. Some you've heard of, others you haven't heard of yet. To be in a room with hundreds of people who 'get it' and are generous with their expertise regarding how to 'get it done' is a powerful thing, and something to keep in mind when you are in a room full of people who don't yet and some who may never.
"Fight the power!"


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July 6, 2010
Cold sore virus may contribute to abnormalities in schizophrenia
Exposure to the common virus that causes cold sores may be partially responsible for shrinking regions of the brain and the loss of concentration skills, memory, coordinated movement and dexterity widely seen in patients with schizophrenia, according to research led by Johns Hopkins scientists.
"We're finding that some portion of cognitive impairment usually blamed solely on the disease of schizophrenia might actually be a combination of schizophrenia and prior exposure to herpes simplex virus 1 infection, which reproduces in the brain," said study leader David J. Schretlen, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
The research, described in the May issue of Schizophrenia Research, could lead to new ways to treat or prevent the cognitive impairment that typically accompanies this mental illness, including with antiviral drugs, the scientists say.
Doctors have long known that cognitive impairment, including problems with psychomotor speed, concentration, learning and memory, are prevalent features of schizophrenia, which affects an estimated 1 percent of the U.S. population. Cognitive deficits often surface months to years before symptoms that are traditionally used to diagnose this disease, such as delusions or hallucinations.
Some previous studies have shown that schizophrenic patients with antibodies to herpes simplex virus 1—the virus that causes cold sores—often have more severe cognitive deficits than patients without these antibodies. Other studies have shown that patients with HSV-1 antibodies have decreased brain volumes compared to patients without the antibodies. However, it has been unclear whether the cognitive deficits are directly related to the decreased brain volume.
To investigate, Schretlen and his colleagues recruited 40 schizophrenic patients from outpatient clinics at the Johns Hopkins and Sheppard and Enoch Pratt hospitals in Baltimore. Blood tests showed that 25 of the patients had antibodies for HSV-1 and 15 didn't. The researchers gave all the patients tests to measure speed of coordination, organizational skills and verbal memory. The patients then underwent MRI brain scans to measure the volume of particular regions of their brains.
As in previous studies, results showed that patients with antibodies to HSV-1 performed significantly worse on the cognitive tests than patients without the antibodies. But expanding on those earlier studies, analysis of the brain scans showed that the same patients who performed poorly on the tests also had reduced brain volume in the anterior cingulate, which controls processing speed and the ability to switch tasks. There was also shrinkage in the cerebellum, which controls motor function.
These results suggest that HSV-1 might be directly causing the cognitive deficits by attacking these brain regions, Schretlen says.
Though the researchers aren't sure why schizophrenia might make brains more vulnerable to a viral assault, Schretlen says that the results already suggest new ways of treating the disorder. Data from other studies have shown that antiviral medications can reduce psychiatric symptoms in some patients with schizophrenia.
"If we can identify schizophrenic patients with HSV-1 antibodies early on, it might be possible to reduce the risk or the extent of cognitive deficits," he adds.
Other Johns Hopkins researchers who participated in this study are Tracy D. Vannorsdall, Jessica M. Winicki, Takatoshi Hikida, Akira Sawa, Robert H. Yolken and Nicola G. Cascella.
Related websites
Schizophrenia Program at Johns Hopkins
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins


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21 May 2008
yes I said yes
berry-stained fingers, secret languages, things with feathers, spoonfuls of ripe avocado, blouses that wait patiently for summer, cherry poptarts broken in half, weather that requires open windows, writing that happens in the middle of the night, men that sing and mean it, yellow swimsuits with white polka dots, the lines in the corners of his eyes, the scent of old library books, the first popsicles of the season, the kid with the maddest handle, songs about doves that cry, flowers in mouths, bottles in windows, double dutch anything, shoes that are uncool, the voice of ira glass, seafoam-colored beetles, late afternoon sun, the shaking of unopened seed packets, bags made from old muumuus, fans that oscillate wildly, the wonders of elmer's glue, ezra and his wearing of shoes on the wrong feet, ava and the laugh that breaks free, the smell of film, people who do their own stunts, dandelion necklaces, rope hammocks that take over the backyard, nutella on everything, the sounds a polaroid camera makes, the roadtrip that will happen, the van morrison song that makes me cry, hula hoops and the people that love them, fish that are fancy, hips that are curvy, meaningful glances, construction paper menageries, cartwheels done on the fly, the best of intentions, tutus that glow, houses that are pink, things that float, poppies and peonies and roses in full bloom again, the time we stayed up all night, the way the house smells at the end of the day, paper flowers in every color, handfuls of dirt, matchbox cars in my freezer, broken crayons in the bottom of my purse, tiny plastic spoons, incomplete backspins, the best summer song ever, strangers who say yes, people who represent, wanting to be salt, wanting to be light, wanting to be salt and light.
07 May 2008
back soon
taking a little break. need to work some things out. could be back in five minutes. or five weeks. I don't know. probably next week. I don't know.
soon: more strangers, more photobooth friday, another week of color. maybe a little instant summer.
I don't know.
with the nikon
03 May 2008
blue friday
ah, blue friday. but on a saturday because that's how I roll these days. not that I'm particularly proud of it or anything. as for the extended version of color week, not completely sure yet. maybe next week, maybe more like a month from now, I don't know. stay tuned, friends. and thank you, leya-- you were a most excellent color week host.
color week,
creative process,
with the nikon
02 May 2008
pink/red thursday
super fresh tote by the fantastic miss jenny
I'm behind, I know. later on today: blue friday. and hopefully even photobooth friday.
(more over at leya's house of color)
color week,
creative process,
with the nikon
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Why Join a Church
One of the most counter-cultural things you can do is become an engaged member of a faithful local church.
In our flighty and noncommittal age, neither non-Christians nor Christians are naturally inclined to find a place to put down roots and make longstanding, objective commitments for the good of others. We want to keep our options open and, above all, preserve our own freedom of choice, rather than make a covenant for the long haul and embrace a framework for real life in all its ups and downs.
But what if you went against the grain and became part of the solution to the modern problem of being so noncommittal? What if you joined the rebellion, and pledged your loyalty and engagement to a Bible-believing, gospel-cherishing local church?
Does the Bible Even Mention Membership?
Most of us have raised eyebrows at some point about the concept of church membership. "Membership" — where do we see that in the New Testament? Is it really essential to join a church? Can't I get everything I need as a Christian from being a regular attender?
"One of the most counter-cultural things you can do is become an engaged member of a faithful local church."
It's true that the New Testament makes no direct argument for our modern concept of membership. The gospel's initial advance into a pagan and pre-Christian world was a different situation than we find today in our increasingly post-Christian society. The complexities of life two millennia later make church-belonging as difficult, and as important, as ever. Not only are we less inclined to make firm commitments, but our cities and towns are much bigger, and church options more diverse.
But whether you call it "membership," "partnership," or something else, the New Testament assumes some form of committed, accountable belonging as a reality for every true follower of Jesus. Each Christian has a definite place of local belonging. To be baptized is to become part of a particular local body.
"In the New Testament," John Piper observes, "to be excluded from the local church was to be excluded from Christ."
Six Reasons to Put Down Roots
Here, then, are six reasons, among many, to go against the noncommittal grain, put down roots, join a particular local church, and be as involved as possible in the life of that church.
1. Your Own Assurance
Being accepted into membership in a Bible-believing, responsibly-led church rightly gives affirmation and reinforces confidence that your faith is real, that it's not your own private, self-made religion, but part of "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).
Jesus gives his church "the keys of the kingdom of heaven," and according to Matthew 16:19, "whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." It is no small thing for a solid local church to find your profession of faith to be credible, and your lifestyle and conduct not disqualifying, and to accept you into membership.
There is more grace to be experienced in this, for our assurance, than most of us know.
2. The Good of Others
This is perhaps the most often overlooked reason for joining a church. In our proclivity to self-focus, we consider the reasons relating directly to us, but overlook how our membership relates to others.
Our belonging somewhere establishes a base from which we can reliably care for others. There are two sides to church membership, and we can't keep others accountable for their good to a covenant we ourselves haven't taken.
True love is not only manifest in affection and action, but also allegiance. We do not fully love our brothers and sisters in Christ if we withhold pledging our allegiance to them by covenanting with them in local-church life. Love doesn't say, "I love these people and don't need to covenant with them." Rather, it says, "I love these people enough to covenant with them."
Living the Christian life in community is more than just loose associations, but committing to each other to be there for each other when life is hard, in sickness and in sorrow.
3. Your Own Good
On the flip side, it is for your own good to have others committed to genuinely caring for you in Christ. And the people who will care for you best in the long run are those who are willing to commit to it.
"The people who will care for you best in the long run are those who are willing to commit to it."
Joining the church also formally identifies you as part of "the flock" which the church's pastors and elders should "shepherd" (1 Peter 5:2) and to which they should "pay careful attention" (Acts 20:28). It is for your own good to be intentionally thought of and cared for by the leadership.
4. The Good of Your Leaders
Connected, then, is the clarity it brings the leadership about who is in their "lot," who is "in their charge" (1 Peter 5:3), who in particular are they called to serve and shepherd.
In other words, your formally joining the church helps the pastors and elders do their job. How are they to shepherd the flock if they don't know who is in that flock and who is not?
It is difficult, if not impossible, to respect and esteem your leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13), and honor them (1 Timothy 5:17), and obey and submit to them (Hebrews 13:17) without identifying yourself to them and submitting to the membership structure that allows them to know and care best for those in their charge.
5. The Good of Unbelievers
Another good reason for joining a church is the good of those who are not there yet — even those who don't yet know Jesus. Because we reach out and show Christ better as part of a committed, stable community. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
A lone-ranger Christian doesn't make the best witness for Christ. Rather, someone who is grounded, has a home, and is part of a solid covenant community of support is best prepared to draw others into the kingdom.
"The complexities of life in the 21st century make belonging to a local church as difficult, and important, as ever."
Community is increasingly important in our witness today. As Christians who are truly faithful to the voice of Christ find themselves more and more in the minority of society, we need other believers to point to, that we're not alone in our seemingly strange views, both in history and today. And the whole community together serves to put Christ on display better than individual Christians alone.
This happens best not in fly-by-night, uncommitted associations, but in deep, committed, long-standing, life-together relationships in this time-tested arrangement called "the local church," established and upheld in the wisdom and power of Jesus himself.
6. Your Own Perseverance
Finally, covenanting with others now not to let you wander from the gospel, without pressing hard to bring you back, may one day prove priceless for your perseverance in the faith — and your eternity with Christ. It is, after all, as Jesus said, the one who endures to the end who will be saved (Matthew 24:13).
In a good church covenant, we yoke ourselves to accountability while we're in our right minds, in case someday sin gets a foothold in our hearts and blinds us to the truth. Church discipline is hard, but so good. The purpose is always restoration, and God often has been pleased to use this difficult means to pour out his striking grace.
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19–20)


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Abstract Orderism Fractals 68, 69, 70, 71, and 72 – Art by G. Stolyarov II
Abstract Orderism Fractals 68, 69, 70, 71, and 72 were created in December 2017 as gifts for individuals who were instrumental to advancing the work of the United States Transhumanist Party or who have otherwise assisted me in profound ways. Each fractal communicates an aspect of the personality, values, and work of the person to whom it is dedicated.
Navigate to Individual Fractals
Abstract Orderism Fractal 68
Abstract Orderism Fractal 69
Abstract Orderism Fractal 70
Abstract Orderism Fractal 71
Abstract Orderism Fractal 72
Abstract Orderism Fractal 68
Abstract Orderism Fractal 68 – by G. Stolyarov II
Note: Left-click on this image to get a full view of this digital work of fractal art.
Abstract Orderism Fractal 68 is dedicated to Adeel Khan – a polymath whose never-ending curiosity and willingness to engage in discourse on a myriad of topics are just the attitudes that are necessary to achieve meaningful progress and make sense out of a complex world. Many of Adeel's ideals align closely with mine, and he appreciates the multiple facets of the mindset needed to bring humankind into its next era – from the embrace of scientific reasoning to the support of the individual's liberty to innovate.
Like Adeel's interests, this fractal branches out in many different directions, but there are common overarching themes of improving our species! The path(s) toward a better world may be spiral in nature, but let all of us earnest thinkers explore them or forge our own.
Abstract Orderism Fractal 69
Abstract Orderism Fractal 69 – by G. Stolyarov II
Note: Left-click on this image to get a full view of this digital work of fractal art.
Abstract Orderism Fractal 69 is dedicated to B.J. Murphy, who has been a steadfast ally and a major contributor to the success of the U.S. Transhumanist Party, of which he serves as the Director of Social Media.
This fractal is gear-like in shape and in the impression of rotation it conveys. The gears at many scales symbolize the technologies that will form the backbone of the new transhuman civilization. B.J. extensively monitors, writes about, and contributes insights to the development of new technologies and entrepreneurial ventures, both on a large scale (for instance, space colonization) and on a small one (for instance, genetic engineering or cryptocurrencies, which exist as bits of code inhabiting physically tiny computer storage drives). The coppery orange color of this fractal is, of course, fitting for gears, but it also completes the color scheme for the U.S. Transhumanist Party, whose colors are orange and black. Orange, in particular, depicts the new political paradigm we seek to bring about. On the visible-light spectrum, orange is between red and yellow. In conventional politics, red has often been associated with socialism, while yellow has often found uses in libertarian symbols. B.J. has a history of involvement with socialist ideas and causes, while I have a (small "l") libertarian background and sympathies (although the world and life are complicated!) – and yet the future cannot be won by either socialism or libertarianism as such. Rather, the orange color evokes our attempt to take the best aspects of these movements, leave behind ideas that did not anticipate the technological future, and invite all thinkers of good will to participate in the creation of the new era, whose political ideology will differ immensely from anything that came before. One reason why the Transhumanist Party has remained ecumenical and diverse – without being able to be pigeonholed as either "right" or "left" – is because B.J., like me and the rest of our Officer team, has understood and embraced the desirability of keeping it out of the political trenches and, instead, focused toward the stars.
Abstract Orderism Fractal 70
Abstract Orderism Fractal 70 – by G. Stolyarov II
Note: Left-click on this image to get a full view of this digital work of fractal art.
Abstract Orderism Fractal 70 is dedicated to Kim Bodenhamer Smith, who is herself an artist and combines a unique and extensive variety of passions and activities. One of these activities is unicycling in caves. (I am not sure just how she does it, but she does!) If you follow the progression of the circles in the center of this fractal, you will see the resemblance to a time-lapse of a unicycle wheel entering a cavernous tunnel. Of course, I made this fractal more colorful than the typical cave, because that would convey Kim's personality more accurately.
In addition to sharing a commitment to truth and justice, Kim also has a highly creative mind and thinks outside of conventional parameters to seek solutions to today's problems and ways to improve life on both large and small scales. She contributed great insights to our recent Discussion Panel on Art and Transhumanism, and she embraces technology and the innovative use of media in ways that get people thinking about how the world might be changed for the better. She has been a great ally to the U.S. Transhumanist Party as we seek these new paths that will lift humankind into its new era of advancement.
Abstract Orderism Fractal 71
Abstract Orderism Fractal 71 – by G. Stolyarov II
Note: Left-click on this image to get a full view of this digital work of fractal art.
Abstract Orderism Fractal 71 is an example of what happens when an artificial intelligence is fed desserts. I started out with a fractal that somewhat resembled an ornate display dish on which desserts might be served. Then I used the Google Deep Dream Generator to sequentially feed it images of cakes and cupcakes by Tiffany Henderson Bateman, who has a thriving baking business. As the AI was "dreaming" of delicious treats, the fractal was transformed! J
Abstract Orderism Fractal 72
Abstract Orderism Fractal 72 – by G. Stolyarov II
Note: Left-click on this image to get a full view of this digital work of fractal art.
Abstract Orderism Fractal 72 is dedicated to John Marlowe, whose staunch advocacy for patients of rare diseases is greatly needed in today's medical system. In spite of his own struggles, John has found the time and energy to contribute to the transhumanist movement and has been a great friend of the U.S. Transhumanist Party, which embraces any and all efforts to increase medical research and funding toward combating as many rare diseases as possible. John has offered excellent insights on films and science fiction at the Discussion Panel on Art and Transhumanism, and I also enjoyed conversing with him at length at the Super Longevity Holiday Party in Newport Beach. John has been there for our movement and for me personally when we needed both a thoughtful and encouraging voice. We will be there for him and for everyone who needs the public, entrepreneurs, and officials alike to recognize the urgency of fighting every disease with the resources at our disposal.
This fractal might be best interpreted as a view from the top down of an upward spiral of progress, from which luminous flames fan out. This can be seen as an illustration that, from the advancement of medical science in general, specific insights and breakthroughs will arise to cure one disease after another – including rare ailments with no known cures today. We do not always know what the breakthroughs will be or which diseases will be defeated when – but the combination of scientifically informed hope and the ceaseless outward pushing of the boundaries of knowledge will improve the chances of as many people as possible. We have a long struggle ahead to win the war against disease and death, but with John as an ally, the Transhumanist Party will strive to make concrete differences for as many people as possible along the way.
About the Abstract Orderism Fractals
Each fractal above is a digital artwork that was created by Mr. Stolyarov in Apophysis, a free program that facilitates deliberate manipulation of randomly generated fractals into intelligible shapes.
This fractal is an extension of Mr. Stolyarov's artistic style of Abstract Orderism, whose goal is the creation of abstract objects that are appealing by virtue of their geometric intricacy — a demonstration of the order that man can both discover in the universe and bring into existence through his own actions and applications of the laws of nature.
Fractal art is based on the idea of the spontaneous order – which is pivotal in economics, culture, and human civilization itself. Now, using computer technology, spontaneous orders can be harnessed in individual art works as well.


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5 Steps To Protect Your Home From Rodents This Fall
Between the potential health issues and possible damage to your home, the last thing you want to hear is the scurrying of little rodent feet in your walls or attic. Luckily, Orland Park Home Inspection has these steps you can take that will help keep those critters out.
Once they're inside, rats and other rodents can do a lot of harm to your home. This includes damage to electrical wiring, metal or plastic pipes and insulation found in walls and attics. On top of structural damage, the critters aren't good for the people who live in your home. Some species of mice and rats can transmit diseases like hantavirus through their urine and droppings.
Block possible points of entry
Be aware of any holes or cracks in the exterior of your home. You may think a small hole is too narrow for a rat to squeeze through, but a rat may think differently – and may even gnaw the hole wider! A full-grown rat can enter your home through a hole about the size of a quarter. A mouse only needs an opening measuring one-fourth of an inch. Properly seal any openings you find to help prevent rodents from wriggling their way into your house.
Trim back trees and move debris away from your home
Tree limbs that touch your house can provide an easy access point for rodents, almost like a ladder or bridge. Some species of rats even nest in trees. Do some careful pruning to clear away any branches close to or touching your house. You should also keep any stacks of firewood or piles of debris away from your home. As they can attract rodents and hide burrow entrances.
Protect food from hungry rodents
Your house may be filled with food, but you don't have to make it easy for rodents to find that out. Avoid attracting rodents that can eat and contaminate your food by storing it properly. Keep unpackaged food – even pet food – in airtight containers so rats won't be able to smell it, and avoid leaving unsealed food sitting out.
Properly dispose of waste and compost
An open trash can presents a feast for hungry rodents. Keep outdoor trash cans properly closed and away from your home. If you have a compost pile in your yard, also try to move it as far away from the exterior of your house as possible. It will avoid letting rodents looking for a free meal to make the trip into your walls, attic or even chimney.
Call in the experts
Between work, family and other tasks around the house, it can be hard for busy homeowners to set aside time to proactively monitor their homes for invading rodents. The good news is that you don't have to protect your home or deal with an infestation alone. Pest control professionals, such as Terminix's trained technicians, can provide an inspection to determine the best way to set up a strong defense and get rid of any unwelcome houseguests that have already moved in. (BPT)


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Limited's Q3 profit dips, but beats view
Columbus, Ohio -- Limited Brands Inc. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 27 dropped to $73.4 million from $94.3 million in the same quarter last year. Results still managed to beat Wall Street expectations.
Limited, which also owns Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, saw sales slip 5.7% to $2.05 billion from $2.17 billion, but results matched analysts' forecasts. Same-store sales climbed 5%.
Limited Brands also said Wednesday its board authorized the repurchase of up to $250 million in stock. The authorization includes $49.6 million remaining under the previous $500 million program.


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Thursday, July 18th, 2024
From: Jennifer Gormly
Dear Friend and Scrapbook Lover,
When you've ever wanted to easily create jaw-dropping scrapbook pages in less time than it takes to brew a cup of tea (transforming all those precious photos and recording your treasured memories)...while saving time and expressing your personality...then this will be the most important message you ever read.
Here's Why . . .
My name is Jennifer Gormly and until 2004, I was your basic scrapbook novice.
I was an emotional basket case.
One day I would have Van Gogh inspirations and creativity. And the next I couldn't decide which box of photos to start on. I swear I have sat many heart-wrenching hours swearing to myself . . . "I was going to finish 'at least' one page before hubby gets home".
Doesn't it drive you nuts? I had nothing to show for all my efforts, even after months of working regularly. There was no way to know how each session would end. And it wasn't for trying, lord knows I tried, I just didn't know where to start. I had too many options and nothing ever seemed to fit right.
This is when I discovered the 'real-life' secrets to producing eye-popping designs. And my scrapbooking life changed forever after just a few short days of trying these new secrets. . .
And it just keeps getting better and better! My endless trail of pictures has become manageable...and I became "super woman like" to my fellow scrapbookers as if I have special creative powers.
It's not magic at all!
What I discovered had nothing to do with my ability to be creative or knowing where to start. . . and everything to do with these little insider scrapbooking secrets I discovered. These secrets involved using "Scrapbooking Sketches" I luckily uncovered this shortly after I got started back in 2004. Back then, I was looking to socialize with other family-oriented women who wanted to share their every day stories with supportive friends, swap ideas and have some fun.
Trust me I know what it feels like to stare aimlessly at a blank page for hours. In fact, I used to get so frustrated and upset when I would go scrapbooking with my sister-in-law, because by the time I would get one page almost finished (if I was lucky to get one completed) she would already have 5 or even 6 beautiful pages put together. I keep wondering how this was possible. Maybe I lacked the creativity gene needed to produce work you would be proud to show your family.
Imagine how this felt - showing up week after week - with only half-finished pages. I think my family was starting to feel sorry for me. I'm sure they thought I was wasting my time and should throw in the towel and quit.
Lucky for you I didn't. In fact, I began producing awe-inspiring pages during the commercials of my favourite tv show...and in a flash of insight, I had found the truth:
I have to confess to you - I was no longer a slave to the creativity "monster" - I will explain how all this works later – how I was able to come up with stunning page designs, while expressing my unique personality. Yet it was never stressful...easy to get started and so much more enjoyable.
The overlooked and often forgotten technique of using Scrapbooking Sketches is so simple, yet so effective, that anyone – anyone -- can use it to instantly transform dull-blank pages into fabulous masterpieces exploding with colour, gorgeous patterns, stunning embellishments and what ever else your imagination can dream of. Using only your precious photos and your favourite scrapbooking supplies. . .you'll have all the other women drooling over your latest creations.
How can this simple secret do all this for you? Easy. . . because this secret. . .
Anyway, there's a good reason I'm telling you all this. You see, since 2004 the only way to begin using these amazing Scrapbooking Sketches was if you were to somehow stumble upon the free sketches I had been publishing online. These designs were small and hard to see, let alone figure out how to use them properly. Plus nothing was organized, meaning if you wanted to create a page with more than one photo, you had to search through the entire archive . . . basically eating up your entire scrapbooking time.
That was up until recently when I decided to put my nose to the grind stone and transform 500 of the best sketches into easy-to-find organized sections which include:
Here's how a sketch works: A sketch is basically a plan or outline to help you get started and give you an overview of your entire project. It allows you to see how your photos will be arranged and how the different elements of your page mesh together before you even start scrapping.
By using sketches you will be able to "test drive" your design deciding whether you like it before you crop a single photo allowing you to . . .
As you more than likely already know, the biggest time wasters for scrappers includes indecision and procrastination. However, the minute you apply a sketch, you've already passed up these two monsters and your battle is half way over.
With a quick glance you'll know exactly how everything will look and flow so you just "fill-in-the-blanks".
Now you can begin to see how much time these "Scrapbooking Sketches" can save you. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Let me show you what else you can achieve:
Plus: With a special segment of "Secret Instructions", you'll get to see how experienced scrapper's take any single-page layout and morph it into a killer double page format. . . and how you can easily do the same.
And there's more: You get my personal guide on how to make the most of your scrapbooking time so that you get more done more quickly and enrich your life through the joys of scrapbooking.
Plus You also get a Free downloadable book to crank up your creativity and guide you along to creating memorable gift cards. This snippet from my "Card Making Classroom" contains 7 easy-to-follow recipes for creating impressive cards. Just follow along, add a splash of your personality if you like, and let your inner child come out to play.
And you get a collection of 60 Christmas quotes specially collated and chosen with scrapbookers in mind. They include everything from the reflective tones of Charles Dickens to the playful silliness of Dr. Seuss so you will have something suitable for any Christmas project.
Can a simple sketch like this make that kind of difference in your scrapbooking?
You bet it can! I used it to create this layout:
Just read what other happy scrappers are saying:
Are these scrapper's any different than you?
No they're not.
They represent women from all walks of life who share the same passion for scrapbooking as you do.
The only the difference between them and you . . . they put their doubt aside . . . and gave these sketches a try. For them this book was worth it's weight in gold—and was worth every penny.
If you too can put your doubt aside for a short time, you can see for yourself just what its like to create page after page without wanting to stop . . . get compliments on your work . . . and preserve every one of your family's precious moments so fast . . . you will have time left over to pamper yourself!
A lot of women all over the world are going to be furious with me for sharing this "secret weapon" with you...especially after wondering why they can't create pages like yours.
This will be our little secret.
Oh – it won't take long for you to start using these simple ideas. What an impact you will have on others. Most women are set in their ways, with too much how they "think" you and I should be scrapbooking. YOU are not such a person.
Besides – if you have stayed with me this far, you aren't like other scrappers anyway.
Reserve your copy of my "500 Scrapbooking Sketches" downloadable book right now and instead of the usual investment of $49.77 - when you act fast and reserve one of the special introductory copies YOU will save an extra $21 and get it all for just . . . $28.77!
NOTE: This special may not last past the next few days. Once the introductory special price period is over (which could be in a few days, a week or even today) I may raise your investment to $49.77 - which is still an absolute bargain, however I do not want you to miss out on the introductory special.
PLUS . . . when you reserve your introductory
copy right now . . . YOU will also qualify
3 FREE Bonus gifts valued at $74, as my way of saying thank
you in advance for becoming a valued customer.
Unlock The Secrets To Making The Most Of
Your Scrapbooking (a $29 Value) Here's what this contains:
Creative Card Making Ideas
(a $27 Value) Here's what this contains:
60 Christmas Quotes
(an $18 Value) Here's what this contains:
This price wouldn't buy the basics you need to get started – let alone the personal satisfaction and pride the many women using these sketches are already experiencing. Yet, for the price of a few of cups of coffee at your local starbucks . . . you can create jaw-dropping pages for yourself . . . with these sketches revealing to you everything you would discover with endless hours of online searching.
This, my scrapbooking friend, is the bargain of a lifetime for serious scrappers like yourself. What's more, your small investment is actually irrelevant, because. . .
How fair is this Guarantee?
Invest in your discounted copy of "Scrapbooking Sketches" right now.
I have done everything I can do to prove to you just how amazing and informative my Scrapbooking Sketches book will be for you.
The ball is in your court, if you want to double fault and continue struggling to produce pages you are proud of . . . then do not invest.
If on the other hand, you want to serve an ace and create awe-inspiring scrapbooking pages with very little effort, blowing away anyone who lays an eye on them . . . then take immediate action right now, while it's fresh in your mind . . . today and make an impact on your family's most important heirloom.
Invest in your discounted copy of "Scrapbooking Sketches" right now
You have absolutely nothing to risk and everything to gain!
Wishing you many years of rewarding Scrapbooking.
P.S. HURRY! This is the special introductory price for Scrapbooking Sketches. Once the introductory special price period is over (which could be in a few days, a week or even today) I may raise your investment to $49.77 . . . which is still an absolute bargain, however I do not want you to miss out on the introductory price OR the 3 FREE Special Scrapbooking Bonus Gifts valued at $74.
These 3 FREE Bonus Gifts will not always be available. To ensure you lock in your special, one time low investment and qualify for YOUR 3 FREE bonus gifts . . . valued at $74 -simply download right now!
P.P.S. Don't forget you have a full 60-days to evaluate every one of the 500 sketches inside this manual. You could be a long way towards catching up with your photos before the end of the guarantee. When you do . . . I would love to hear how they turned out! Click here to invest in the Scrapbooking Secrets!


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Historically the slot machine game was meant in order to really entertain wives that came with their husbands to the casino. Today no-one would look at slots as a personal game only suitable to a specific group people today who. In fact, everyone seems to love slots and online casino slots have brought a new dimension to the gaming. The creativity which is an inclusive piece of slots is without limits as new exciting versions think you are developed for the internet slots casino.
Using this theory, the practitioners will have an online casino offering a promising bonus, get a profit of amount approximate to the calculated value, and then move in order to another casino offering factor kind of promise without incurring any loss each morning process. They will play one casino till they are judi slot online satisfied that possible profit had been squeeze out, then hop onto another casino repeating the process there another one and etc. Hence entitlement to live.
There are two main types of casino slots. Before you go to the casino perform slots, it is vital that you be aware of the two associated with machines therefore you can identify which the actual first is suitable which to compete with and ensure big quantity profits. This will be a fact that a majority of of the casino players would desire to maximize their winning.
If you want to win at slots, realize that the casino will put a loose paying machine amongst tight machines, so don't play two side by side. If possible just end up losing more.
For many decades now, slot games have been very popular in on line casino slots. This is because slots don't only provide a better way of recreation into the players but it can also allow to be able to go home with regarding money after winning.
Pay Grim! is a 5-reel, 25 pay-line progressive video slot from Real Time Gaming computer programs. It comes with wilds, scatters, up to 12 free spins, and 25 winning combinations. Symbols on the reels include PayDirt! Sign, Gold Nugget, Gold Mine, Bandit, Gold Pan, Lantern, and Tremendous.
We hear some people just aim for the dining tables. If that's the case, we're not going to stop you. But, for everyone of you out there that know some thing or two about full lowdown package, the planet is your table.


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"Dhritarashtra said, 'After Arjuna had got the ruler of the Sindhus within sight, what, O Sanjaya, did the Panchalas, attacked by Bharadwaja's son, do, encountering the Kurus?'
"Sanjaya said, In the afternoon of that day, O monarch, in the battle that took place between the Panchalas and the Kurus, Drona became, as it were, the stake (for which each fought on to win or lose). The Panchalas, O sire, desirous of slaying Drona, cheerfully uttered loud roars and shot dense showers of arrows. Indeed, that encounter between the Panchalas and the Kurus, fierce, awful, and highly wonderful as it was, resembled that in days of yore between the gods and the Asuras. Indeed, all the Panchalas with the Pandavas, obtaining Drona's car (within reach) used many mighty weapons, desirous of piercing through his array. Car-warriors stationed on their cars, causing the earth to shake under them, and showering their arrowy downpours, rushed towards Drona's car, without much speed. Then that mighty car-warrior among the Kaikeyas, viz., Vrihatkshatra, incessantly scattering keen shafts that resembled the thunder in force, proceeded towards Drona. Then Kshemadhurti of great fame quickly rushed against Vrihatkshatra, shooting keen arrows by thousands. Beholding this, that bull among the Chedis, viz., Dhrishtaketu, endued with great might, quickly proceeded against Kshemadhurti, like Mahendra proceeding against the Asura Samvara. Seeing him rush with great impetuosity, like the Destroyer himself with wide-open mouth, that mighty bowman viz., Viradhanwan, proceeded against him with great speed. King Yudhishthira staying there at the head of his division from desire of victory, was resisted by valiant Drona himself. Thy son Vikarna, O lord, endued with great prowess, proceeded against the rushing Nakula of great prowess, that warrior accomplished in battle. That scorcher of foes, viz., Durmukha, covered the advancing Sahadeva with many thousands of swiftly-coursing shafts. The heroic Vyughradatta resisted that tiger among men, viz., Satyaki making him repeatedly tremble by means of his sharp and keen-pointed shafts. The son of Somadatta resisted the (five) sons of Draupadi, those tigers among men, those great car-warriors, wrathfully shooting mighty shafts. That mighty car-warrior, viz., Rishyasringa's fierce son (the Rakshasa Alamvusha), of awful mien, resisted the advancing Bhimasena filled with wrath. The encounter that then took place between that man and Rakshasa resembled, O king, the battle in days of yore between Rama, and Ravana. Then, O Bharata, Yudhishthira, that chief of the Bharatas, struck Drona with ninety straight shafts in all his vital parts. Enraged by the famous son of Kunti, Drona struck him in return, O chief of the Bharatas, in the centre of the chest with five and twenty shafts. And once more, in the very sight of all the bowmen, Drona struck him, with his steeds, charioteer, and standard, with twenty shafts. Pandu's son, of virtuous soul, displaying great lightness of hand, baffled with his own
arrowy showers those arrows shot by Drona, Then that great bowman Drona, filled with rage, cut off the bow of the high souled king Yudhishthira the just. Then that great car-warrior (viz., the son of Bharadwaja) speedily covered the bowless Yudhishthira with many thousands of shafts. Beholding the king made invisible by the shafts of Bharadwaja's son, all thought that Yudhishthira was dead, and some thought that the king had fled before Drona. And many cried out, O king, saying, 'Alas the king hath been slain by the high-souled Brahmana.' Then, king Yudhishthira the just, fallen into great distress, having laid aside that bow cut off by Bharadwaja's son in battle took up another excellent, bright and tougher bow. And that hero then cut off in that encounter all those shafts shot in thousands by Drona. All this seemed exceedingly wonderful. Having cut off those shafts, O king, Yudhishthira, with eyes red in wrath, took up in that battle a dart, capable of riving even a mountain. Equipped with a golden staff, of awful mien, having eight bells attached to it, and exceedingly terrible, the mighty Yudhishthira, taking it up, uttered a loud roar. And with that roar, O Bharata, the son of Pandu inspired all creatures with fear. Beholding that dart upraised by king Yudhishthira the just, all creatures, as if with one accord, said, 'Good be to Drona!' Hurled from the king's arms, that dart resembling a snake just freed from its slough, coursed towards Drona, illumining the welkin and all the directions cardinal and subsidiary, like a she-snake with fiery mouth, Beholding it coursing towards him impetuously, O king, Drona, that foremost of all persons acquainted with weapons invoked into existence the weapon called Brahma. That weapon, reducing that dart of terrible mien into dust, coursed towards the car of the illustrious son of Pandu. Then, O sire, king Yudhishthira of' great wisdom baffled that weapon of Drona, thus coursing towards him by himself invoking the Brahma weapon. And then piercing Drona himself in that battle with five straight shafts, he cut off, with a sharp razor-faced shaft, the large bow of Drona. Then Drona, that grinder of Kshatriyas, throwing aside that broken bow, hurled with great force, O sire, a mace at the son of Dharma. Beholding that mace impetuously coursing towards him, Yudhishthira, O chastiser of foes, filled with rage, took up a mace. Then those two maces, both hurled with great force, encountering each other in mid-air, produced by their collision sparks of fire and then fell down on the earth. Then Drona, filled with fury, slew, O sire, the steeds of Yudhishthira, with four excellent shafts of keen points. And with another broad-headed shaft he cut off he king's bow resembling a pole erected to the honour of Indra. And with another shaft he cut off the standard of Yudhishthira, and with three he afflicted the Pandava himself. Then king Yudhishthira, speedily jumping down from that steedless car, stood weaponless and with arms upraised, O bull of Bharata's race! Beholding him carless, and especially weaponless, Drona, O lord, stupefied his foes, rather the whole army. Firmly adhering to his vow, and endued with great lightness of hands, Drona shot showers of sharp shafts and rushed towards the king, like a
furious lion towards a deer. Beholding Drona, that slayer of foes, rush towards him, cries of Oh and Alas suddenly rose from the Pandava army.' And many cried out, saying, 'The king is slain by Bharadwaja's son.' Loud wails of this kind were heard, O Bharata, among the Pandava troops. Meanwhile, king Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, getting up on the car of Sahadeva, retreated from the field, borne away by swift steeds.'"


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November 4, 2020
Coming November 11th, the second installment of Vans x MoMA footwear and apparel. The latest iteration takes inspiration from impactful works by artists Edvard Munch, Jackson Pollock, Lybov Popova and Faith Ringgold.
Following the September debut collaboration, Vans, the original action sports brand, and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) are proud to launch a second installment of footwear and apparel. The latest iteration of the Vans and MoMA collaboration takes inspiration from impactful works of art by artists Edvard Munch, Jackson Pollock, Lybov Popova and Faith Ringgold. A diverse selection of work by these artists has been thoughtfully translated onto Vans Classic Footwear and apparel styles that will be available to shop worldwide on November 11.
"Our collaboration with MoMA is a true partnership that involved working together to select both the works and footwear to ensure an authentic connection between the art and the canvas footwear models we chose," said Angie Dita, Vans Head of Global Footwear Design for Lifestyle Footwear. "Faith Ringgold worked closely with both the Vans design and MoMA teams to story tell through the details, bringing in quilted borders to contextualize her work atop Vans."
Edvard Munch, whose best-known work, 'The Scream 1895', captures the "infinite scream of nature" and angst. A print version of this work has been carefully captured on each of the canvas panels of the Vans Era in a repeat pattern that can also be found on the Old Skool backpack, short sleeve tee and pullover hoodie.
Jackson Pollock was a pioneer of action painting, flinging and pouring ropes of paint onto his surfaces in a decidedly physical way. Pollock's 'One: Number 31, 1950' has transformed the Vans Authentic with an all-over application atop the canvas and across the sidewalls and is complimented by a digitally printed short sleeve button-down and camper style hat.
Popova approached painting as an act of "construction" using color, line and shape to create dimensional work that expressed movement and dynamism. For the Vans MoMA collaboration, Popova's 'Untitled, 1917' has been applied to the Vans Sk8-Hi using each medial and lateral side to translate her avant-garde vision across the hi-top model which is found on complimenting fleece and ringer tee options.
Faith Ringgold is an acclaimed painter, writer, sculptor, performance artist, educator and activist whose body of work highlights her experiences with racism and social injustice. Vans and MoMA. Curators worked closely with Ringgold to uplift her feminist poster art including 'Woman Free Yourself 1971' which brings bold type to the left side of the Vans Era while 'Freedom Woman Now 1971' poster art has been applied to the right side to form the affirmative demands that were called during the arrest of Angela Davis. Ringgold's powerful words can be found on a reversible bucket hat and long sleeve tee. A second footwear style, the Classic Slip-On is inspired by Ringgold's, 'Seven Passages to a Flight' which was made in the 1990's. Inscribed on the sidewall is a quote, from Ringgold, printed in her handwriting, that states "My mother said I'd have to work twice as hard to go half as far."
Vans and MoMA are proud to come together to instill creative expression and uplift art education through special product this fall and holiday. The second installment of the Vans and MoMA collaboration will be available globally on November 11 on Vans.eu at Vans retail, MoMA Design Store locations, store.moma.org, and select retail locations where Vans are sold. To experience the collection and learn more, visit vans.eu/moma.


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Your contribution well spent
Friends of Veterinary Medicine is a Named Fund established as part of the Utrecht University Fund, a registered Public Benefit Organisation in the Netherlands. Friends of Veterinary Medicine is therefore exempt from donation- or inheritance tax. This means that your contribution will fully benefit the project of your choice.
The RSIN / fiscal number of the Utrecht University Fund is 26.10.577.
Did you know that you might be able to deduct your contribution to your annual income tax or corporation tax?
For more information, take a look here.
Do you have a business? Then have a look here.
Do you have further questions? Please contact us.


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Kitchen Stool
Alison Brooks teamed up with furniture designer Felix de Pass to create a stool for the kitchen, as a part of a series of collaborations curated by Sir Terrance Conran for the American Hardwood Export Council, manufactured by Benchmark Furniture and exhibited at the V&A as part of 2014 London Design Festival. The exhibition later travelled to Barcelona and Cologne.
Alongside Alison Brooks, the other mentors for up-and-coming designers that Terence Conran selected were Paul Smith, Norman Foster, Amanda Levete, John Pawson, Zaha Hadid, Alex de Rijke, Richard and Ab Rogers, and Allen Jones.
The stool that sits at a kitchen counter is the most popular seat in many homes, offering a dynamic way of sitting – somewhere to eat or read a paper or work on your laptop. There's a sense of transience to sitting on a stool; you don't have to commit to sitting down.
Brooks and De Pass's kitchen stool design in solid American Cherry is intended to offer a visual lightness, simplicity and ease of use for any context. American cherry is a positive environmental choice for the stool, being a highly desirable timber which is readily available in the US forest but which has been under-utilised in recent years.
The stool is carbon neutral on a cradle to grave basis. Very few non-wood materials are used and the carbon emissions from supply of wood are offset by energy recovery from wood waste which substitutes for fossil fuels.


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Every Disney Live-Action Remake Ranked From Worst to Best
2019 is a banner year for Walt Disney Pictures, in no small part thanks to its animated past. Aside from the sure-to-be-huge Frozen II arriving this Thanksgiving, Disney's released three remakes this year of its previous animated films, including Dumbo, Aladdin, and this week's The Lion King. Each of the films on which these remakes are based are among the favorites of children the world over, and there's little doubt that Disney will be fiscally pleased with most of the results. (Dumbo was something of a flop, relatively speaking.)
To date, even though it feels like all Disney makes is remakes, they've only had 12 live-action remakes or revamps of their previous animated or live-action/animated hybrid films. Which is best? Which is worst? Let's take a look at the list to find out.
Gallery — The Best Disney Villains:


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Bertra House B&B is an award winning B&B located at the foot of the world famous holy mountain, Croagh Patrick.
With stunning views onto Clew Bay, Bertra Beach is a recognized blue flag beach only 3mins walk away. Also hosting Westport Cycle Tours its a perfect place to see the best the West of Ireland has to offer. The town of Westport is only a ten minute drive, where you will find a vibrant night life with a host of pubs playing traditional Irish music, most notably "Matt Molloys" and a range of restaurants for you to start your evening in a relaxed environment. Bertra House is the perfect base to savour the best that Westport has to offer but don't just take our word for it, read our valued visitor's comments or enquire now about availability for your trip to the West. Just ask for Margaret!


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Racism, violence, and injustice have no seat at our table. We insist and re-iterate that black lives matter.
We are all aware and moved by the challenging times that face us, from the continuing public health and economic challenges posed by the pandemic, to the outpouring of grief, anger and calls for change that has emerged in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and too many others, and the larger struggle for racial equality and justice that has existed throughout American and world history.
Our vision is to create the most passionate, inspiring, and inclusive wine community in the world. #WineUnitesUs
We believe that wine, as the core of our company, has always been a catalyst for uniting people across oceans and across the table to help unite all origins, backgrounds, orientations, cultures, and communities. This belief remains essential to who we are and how we can promote the critical dialogue and action needed to build a more inclusive wine world.
It is critically important to ask ourselves every day: how can we put actions to our words?
The first step on our path is to re-affirm our values, acknowledge the issue, listen, and make a plan for addressing our role in improving inclusivity and diversity across our organization and our marketing efforts, and to reflect those essential values to our employees, family, extended friends, ambassadors, customers, and business partners.
Our initial steps:
- Matching Donations: Boisset will match employee donations to causes and organizations that support increased diversity, equality and racial justice, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 per employee and $10,000 total. We are compiling a list of recommended organizations and will accept recommendations. This is retroactive to include donations made prior to this announcement.
- Fundraising Wines: We are working on a cause-marketing program of a special collection of wines signed and designed by our CEO Jean-Charles Boisset, that reflects our commitment to diversity that supports African-American and minority causes and organizations now, as well as LGBTQ causes and organizations and more. We are also exploring how to support scholarships & mentorship programs that encourage diversity in the wine world.
- Listening & Learning: We have met with strong leaders among our Ambassador community and employees who expressed interest in providing their perspective and are open to providing additional platforms for respectful and open discussion.
- Modeling Our Values: We have committed to using marketing images and materials that reflect our vision of a more inclusive wine world. This extends to our collateral, websites, image galleries, social media, guests on JCB Live, and more. This is an ongoing commitment and effort.
- Demonstrating That Wine Unites Us: We are developing a "#WineUnitesUs" campaign to show the incredible diversity we have as a company and as a community, as well as to aspire to be a part of the change we want to see in the wine world.


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From MozillaWiki
- Wednesdays – 9:30am Pacific, 12:30pm Eastern, 16:30 UTC
- 650-903-0800 or 650-215-1282 x92 Conf# 8605 (US/INTL)
- 1-800-707-2533 (pin 369) Conf# 8605 (US)
- irc.mozilla.org #mobile for backchannel
Major Topics for This Week
- Bug fix mode
- Fixing reported bugs
- Fixing blockers for alpha 1
- Fixing broken browser-chrome tests
- Several e10s related patches are very close to landing, including some e10s crashers
- Feature mode
- Planning work has begun and some work has already landed
- mbrubeck starting work on sharing; bugs added to Mobile/Projects/Sharing
- Cleanup mode
- Updating front-end code to current trunk style
- Re-organizing some areas
- Updated more status and details for Planning 2.0 tasks
UX design
- bug 550936 (InstallTrigger) ready to land once an xpconnect bug, bug 582100 is done (which they say should be soon)
- bug 573635 has two ways to resolve it, and we have patches for both. Neither is perfect but a perfect solution requires fundamental work on IPC networking. So for now, just need to decide which of the 2 patches to go with.
- place bugs getting closer to land.
- necko e10s reviews going faster. (12 patches in review state, 1 ready to push)
- removing real widgets soon in the child process
- window.crypto
- lots of warnings+errors in startup
General Platform
Geolocation Working Group
- Layout bindings landed Bug 567323
- Raw decoder relanded, looks like it will stick this time. Bug 508082
- Have 95% of a patch to eliminate the temporary file and teach the DOM how to properly deal with a file generated by the camera. Chasing test failures down.
- Started wiki page on device and application states/notices by OS ('low battery', 'screen dimmed', 'application in background', etc.), need data from Android people please.
- Where are we with Layers
- Retained layers code has created some bugs in Fennec bug 579349
- "Fake widgets" finished wrt drawing, need event/focus/IME love bug 582057
- "Remote frames" for cross-process layers working with test-ipc, will be up for review today
- Bugs to watch
- Tracking bug bug 574512
- e10s shadow tree bug 570620
Integrate chrome hierarchy bug 130078(fake widgets make this bug mostly irrelevant to fennectrolysis+browser)
Release Engineering
- bug 562843 Android release signing: looks like we can't renew certs. http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=10020
- bug 567827 make buildsymbols breaks on ix boxes: should land this week or early next
- most of n810s/n900s back in production
- bug 579184 fixed: now unit tests with 0 passed tests are orange
- bug 579186 Mozilla-central N810 builds do not launch (GLIBCXX_3.4.9 not found)
- bug 578343 talos needs to be retrofitted for e10s
- bug 575506 trunk maemo fennec builds not exiting talos profile creation since 6/23
- bug 582336 (IT) Frequent "no route to host" in RF room — main cause of reds.
- bugs filed on the Fennec product over the past week
- Fx Input is mobile ready and will be pushed live tomorrow.
- working on triaging broken/unclear/failed test reports on litmus
- ahoza will be working on Find in page functionality testing
- Dates/Times related to Alpha 1?
- bug notes
- bug 579349 – is still a blocker for testing
- bug 581532 – Pages now load again with browser.tabs.remote=true, so testing again with that enabled. I'm getting crashes when closing tabs, in that case, though.
- (mw22) Found bug 582242 crasher. It seemed to be Windows only, though.
- Android
- Landed everything for mochitest/reftest on m-c
- Patches in place for mochitest chrome/browser-chrome on android (need to be in a .jar file bug 543800)
- Working with bear this week to get heartbeat and device management into tinderbox
- Fixing little bugs along the way
- Android
- Browser-Chrome bug 553474
- handful of fixes to get tests working in e10s (thanks mfinkle, vingtetun)
- lots of progress on new tests
- still have an issue with 'too much recursion' causing all the tests to timeout
- Browser-Chrome bug 553474
- [Green]
- mw22 and jmaher started looking into mochitest failures…the ball is rolling
- [Green]


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Firecracker Shrimp Tacos
I love tacos. Like, a lot. And I love coming up with different variations. I also really love seafood, so these Firecracker Shrimp Tacos are a win-win for me! These are great because they have different flavors and textures: crispy, sweet, salty, spicy, tangy, and crunchy. The lightly breaded, crispy fried shrimp are topped with aRead more


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A guy goes into the US postal service to apply for a job.
The interviewer asks him, "Are you allergic to anything?"
He replies, "Yes, caffeine. I can't drink coffee."
"OK, have you ever been in the military service?"
"Yes," he says, "I was in Afghanistan for one tour."
The interviewer says, "That will give you 5 extra points toward employment."
Then he asks, "Are you disabled in any way?"
The guy says, "Yes. A bomb exploded near me and I lost both my testicles."
The interviewer grimaces and then says, "Disabled in your country's service! Well that qualifies for extra bonus points. Okay."
Looking at the regulations you have got enough points for me to hire you right now. Our normal hours are from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can start tomorrow at 10:00 am, and plan on starting at 10:00 AM every day."
The guy is puzzled and asks, "if the work hours are from 8:00AM to 4:00 PM, why don't you want me here until 10:00 AM?"
"This is a government job," the interviewer says. "For the first two hours, we just stand around drinking coffee and scratching our balls. No point in you coming in for that."