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Update (Jan. 21. 2013): Outbox has announced it is ceasing operations. Read more here.
An Austin company is expanding its concept of undoing the work of the United States Postal Service.
Outbox picks up its customers' mail, scans it, and makes it available online. The company announced today that it will start serving San Francisco and parts of Silicon Valley, after testing its service in Austin since 2011.
Outbox workers open and scan letters, catalogs and flyers. Customers log in to Outbox's website to see their – now-digital – mail. You never have to go to your mailbox. The cost? About 5 bucks a month.
Founders Will Davis and Evan Baehr came up with the idea after graduating from Harvard Business School. Davis says they started talking with people about their mail service, and heard the same complaints, mostly about the volume of junk mail. "So really the problem is, going to that mailbox and getting this pile of crap that you have to take back to your house that has been thrust and forced on you by the USPS," Davis said.
They focused on women, and on households that don't get their mail delivered to the front door: apartments and newer home communities served by what the USPS calls "clusterboxes."
Customer Marcia Navratil heard about Outbox from a friend, a former letter carrier for the post office. Navratil says she hated getting the mail – especially the junk mail. "It works great," said Navratil. "I love it. I don't know why anyone wouldn't get their mail this way, unless you just really like having paper delivered to your house."
But all that love is not sitting well with the Postal Service.
Early on, Outbox's co-founders had a meeting with U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to pitch their idea. Davis remembers the moment: "He looked at us and said we have a misunderstanding. 'You disrupt my service and we will never work with you.'"
Co-founder Evan Beahr says Outbox works with permission from the customer, and at a point where the USPS' job is done: "USPS is protective of the mail stream. We exist at the end. We're doing it not on behalf of the postal service but on behalf of the user."
The post office didn't want to comment on tape for this story. And it wouldn't say whether it thinks "undelivering" the mail is legal.
The agency did issue a statement saying it's "focused on providing an essential service in our mission to serve the American public and does not view Outbox as supporting that mission."
Washington Attorney David Hendel worked for the U.S. Postal Service, in the General Counsel's office. Now he works with companies that want to do business with the USPS. In our conversation, Hendel ticked off a few laws that don't apply to what Outbox is doing.
Hendel thinks that turning hard copy mail into electronic mail is an important trend, one that the Postal Service should embrace. "I think it's really in the long term interest of the Postal Service's interest to work with these companies to find a way to make this work for everybody involved," Hendel said.
Outbox says they're losing money only charging $4.99 a month. And the more customers they have, the faster they'll lose it. But they're playing a long game. They want to connect people directly to companies that are now sending paper bills and statements. Baehr thinks those businesses will pay Outbox to send bills digitally – avoiding the cost mailing them.
Eventually – he hopes – that would cover the cost of their "undelivery" service. "We'd like to make it free to be a customer of Outbox. Just like it's free to be a customer of the postal service."
There are a few other companies in the business of changing paper mail into digital mail. Doxo and Zumbox are the best-known. Both of those companies have big financial backers, while Outbox is burning through its initial $2.2 million investment with its admittedly money-losing business model. But with the post office losing billions every year – even forcing it to cancel Saturday delivery later this year – the market for digital delivery services like Outbox might be growing.


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A can of worms
Lately the most frequently asked question sent to me in email (other than 1) what kind of dog is Chuck? SuperMutt, and 2) how do you pronounce Leta? Rhymes with pita) is: what is your take on "Big Love," the new HBO series about a polygamist who lives in Utah? I have been reluctant to write about it here because my response to this show goes way beyond a cursory thumbs up or down. It is inextricably tied to how I feel about the Mormon church, and if I explain those feelings I am going to be crossing into some really uncomfortable territory for many members of my family who read this website.
After watching last night's episode, however, and witnessing my own reaction unfold I think it might be time for me to be up front regardless of how certain people are going to react to what I have to say, particularly my mother and my father who are both devout Mormons. As this website has evolved I have had to take a hard look at my boundaries, at what I will and will not write about, and for at least a few years now I have stayed very far away from any serious talk of Mormonism, although I have frequently poked fun at my Mormon heritage and have on more than one occasion described the proper way to hit a Mormon with a moving vehicle.
That unwillingness to talk about Mormonism here grew out of an unspoken agreement among the members of my family, one that dictates we not ever talk about religion or politics if we are in the same room. It's an agreement that has worked and has preserved our relationship because they don't ever have to be confronted with how I really feel about their religion, their way of life. I have said it here before but it bears repeating: leaving Mormonism is tantamount to leaving your family. At first, that's exactly how my family felt. They never came out and said that directly, but they didn't have to. I had lived and breathed that religion for over 22 years and I knew exactly what they were thinking, that my rejection of Mormonism was in essence a rejection of them and all the work they had done.
Over time we learned how to navigate around those issues in our relationships with each other. They know that they should never preach to me or call me to repentance or send me a Book of Mormon in the mail. I never talk to them about why I left or why I'll never go back. We've even developed a sense of humor about our political differences, and often my clumsiness or Leta's unwillingness to cooperate in any situation is blamed on my being a Democrat. Which is fine. I blame their political party for the fact that they own furniture upholstered in acid-washed denim.
So here's the thing about "Big Love," a television show about a man named Bill who is married to three women. The producers of the show have made a point of saying that the members of this family are not practicing Mormons, and I am glad they did this. Mormons do not practice polygamy, haven't since before 1900 when the United States government made it illegal. Certain fundamentalist sects of the Mormon faith practice polygamy, and they are represented in this show albeit with standard Hollywood exaggeration and dramatization. But it's a television show and that's what they're supposed to do, so whatever.
I read an interview somewhere with Jeanne Tripplehorn about her role, the oldest of the three wives and the one who has been married to Bill the longest, and she said she had a really hard time deciding to take it on. In order for her to make her character seem convincing she would have to get to a place where she could see why this woman would willingly enter into a relationship with with these two other women, and for a while she didn't think she could ever get there. I remember thinking when I read this that it didn't make sense: she's an actor, isn't it her job to pretend? Couldn't she play this character even if there wasn't a single part of her that understood why a woman would do this?
But last night as I was watching the third episode my body started to recoil involuntarily as it had done during the first two episodes. For the entire one hour duration of the show I had to fight the urge to puke. The work that goes into maintaining a marriage to one person is hard enough, but three? THREE? When I watch the show I feel like I'm married to all three women and by the end of the night I want to divorce each one of them. I can barely watch the dynamics among all three women, how in God's name are these actors even pretending that it's okay?
Personally I can understand why a woman would want to marry another woman, or a man another man. That makes perfect sense to me, and if I had my way homosexuals would have the same rights as heterosexuals in this country when it comes to marriage. It's barbaric that they don't. At the same time, if we're talking about civil rights, doesn't it make sense that all consenting adults should have the right to marry whomever they want to marry including multiple people? Polygamy seems like a natural extension of civil and religious rights as long as all parties involved are adults and know what they are agreeing to.
But I do not get it. I cannot understand why a woman would consent to this arrangement, and the whole time I'm watching this show I can't get one thought out of my head: if you have a choice, why would you do this to yourself? Why would you do this to your children?
Now we get to the part where my feelings about the Mormon church come in. Even though this show isn't about the Mormon religion my family practices, it is indirectly about the religion in its infancy and what the religion might one day become. The founding prophet of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, started polygamy because he said it was a revelation from God. And so he and other elders in the church took dozens of wives, many of them in their early teens. That isn't okay to me. Nor is it okay that the only reason the church stopped sanctioning polygamy was because the government told them they had to. So… God was wrong? God answers to the American government?
Mormons believe that polygamy will be practiced in the afterlife, and what I can't help thinking is that when the civil right of marriage is ultimately extended to homosexuals and then to polygamists, why wouldn't the Mormon Church start practicing it again? And when they do start practicing it again, how are the members of the church going to handle it? If Mormons truly believe their religion they have to believe that polygamy is their destiny, so why are they always trying to distance themselves from it? I think that many of them don't want to ask themselves that question because they might be terrified of the answer: they aren't okay with it.
It was this very issue that started me on my way out of the religion, this issue and that of the role of women in the church. I realized that I valued myself too much to ever be okay with sharing my partner with anyone else. I deserve all of him, and he deserves all of me, nothing less. I had a hard time reconciling the fact that my father (although he has a civil divorce from my mother) is married to both my mother and my step-mother in the Mormon temple, but my mother, unless she gets a temple divorce from my father, can never remarry another man in the temple. She doesn't have the same rights as a man in the church. That isn't okay to me.

subset: commoncrawl


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How to survive the terrors that await in the post-apocalyptic frontier.
Murderous mutations that roam modern day, pandemic-ravaged America
The pandemic that struck the country turned some of its populace into feral monsters that operate on pure instinct. This new species has emerged as the dominant predator in an already hostile Pacific Northwest. Survivors of the viral outbreak call them Freakers.
The species is split into multiple strains, with each presenting its own unique challenge, making Freakers the deadliest foe you'll face out in the wilderness. But crucially they're not invincible. As with all living creatures they have weaknesses that can be exploited.
You'll rarely encounter this Freaker type alone. Unfortunately for you, they favor traveling in packs, from five to 20 individuals. They'll investigate any loud noise within earshot and charge when they spot you, quickly surrounding you and cutting off any escape routes.
Survival guide: If flight is your preferred option, find bushes and crouch in the undergrowth, remaining concealed until the group passes. Favor stealth? Pick off stragglers by tossing rocks to lure them away from the pack, then sneak up behind them to perform a stealth takedown. Swarmers that will be attracted to the sound are highlighted alongside the arc of your intended throw.
Well-armed and confident? Lob a molotov cocktail into the swarm then start shooting, using both fire and bullets to thin out their numbers as they start charging. Switch to close-quarter combat to mop up the remainder.
This Freaker strain is unique because unlike other types, they're almost always alone. But even then, they should set alarm bells ringing at what they represent: a living, breathing early warning system for Freakers. If they spot you, they'll let out an unearthly roar which will bring any nearby Swarmers to your location.
Survival guide: If you're close enough for a Screamer to spot you, you're too close to avoid what comes next: its ear-shredding scream will immobilise you for vital seconds, which is just enough time for Swarmers to descend. Prioritise Screamers as soon as you see them, else your problems will multiply faster than you can handle.
Freaker strains continue to mutate as the game progresses. Bleachers are just one such evolution. Easily spotted by their paler skin, they're as fast as Swarmers but can absorb a lot more damage, even headshots, before they'll drop. Like their weaker brethren though, you can be unlucky enough to encounter groups of these tough monstrosities.
Survival guide: Embrace the game's upgrade system and Deacon's progression trees. Upgrading your Survival Vision means you can slow time down for longer, giving you the opportunity to land more headshots; unlocking better weapons gives you more stopping power and bigger ammo clips to eat away at their health. You can even turn your motorcycle into a high-speed weapon by increasing its durability, letting you ram and kill Bleachers. Be warned though: you'll still need to repair your bike after.
The Freakers' version of a bruiser-class. Survivor speculation is that these hulked-up aggressors are the result of the likes of muscle-bound athletes and wrestlers succumbing to the virus. Whatever their origin, they're the giants of the species. And with brute strength comes no fear: Breakers will strive to get within arms reach and continually pummel you until you're dead.
Survival guide: Molotov cocktails work as damage multipliers, so ignite a Breaker from afar and start shooting to chip away at its health. If you let a Breaker get close, perfect those dodge rolls to evade strikes, but remember: dodging eats into your stamina, reducing your ability to build distance between you and it.
As with every creature in the game, Breakers will attack other enemy types, so bring these roving brick walls into contact with another creature, letting those unexpected reinforcements weaken them before delivering the final blow.
These massed crowds of Freakers - numbering from 50 to 500 strong - are potentially your biggest challenge in the wilderness. They're a distinct threat, even by Freaker standards; they move together like a hive mind, operating like a single entity. There are 40 hordes spread across the world of Days Gone, each with its own stomping grounds and migration pattern, roaming from feeding ground to water source.
Survival guide: You need to be well-armed and well prepared to even consider taking on a horde: you'll quickly be overwhelmed by superior number. Careful observation and use of the environments a horde will frequent is key to sussing out a strategy to wipe out this terrifying threat permanently. Set traps, plan routes, and perfect your aim.
Four-legged natives of central Oregon that see you as their next meal
The food chain has changed. In Days Gone, humans are no longer the world's top predator and nature's carnivores are reasserting their dominance. Roaming the valleys and hills of the game's open world are sharp-toothed predators ready to protect their territory or range through the wilderness in a hunt for fresh meat.
And the fearsome residents of Oregon haven't been immune to the ravages of the pandemic: infected versions of wolves and bears also haunt the great outdoors. The increased aggression and sinister look of these mutations make for a chilling confrontation.
Bend Studio looked to the real-world natives of central Oregon to dictate the wildlife you'll cross paths with out in the wilderness. That strive for authenticity means during your time out on the open road, you'll go toe to claw with aggressive, hulking black bears that'll happily use you as a chew toy. Their infected variant, Ragers, can be identified by the barbed wire that's entangled in their fur.
Survival guide: Going close-quarters isn't an option, unless you want to be ripped apart. As with every encounter, turn the immediate environment to your advantage. If you've got the ammo, take to rooftops and shoot from the safety of higher ground. If you're near a gas station, tempt the bear into following you past fuel containers, igniting them as it passes to blow large chunks off its health bar.
These swift, deadly hunters roam the vast open country in packs. If you're lucky, you'll hear a telltale howl echo in the distance, warning you that the fleet-footed canine is on the prowl and to be wary of an attack. Even if you're alert, the attack will be swift: the whole pack suddenly materialising around you, ready to pounce. Their infected counterparts are the Runners, bigger and with patchy fur.
Survival guide: Wolves can keep pace with your motorcycle, so aim for a clear patch of open road and start shooting as you ride, discouraging them from getting too close and hope they tire before your fuel runs out. But if you're low on gas, find a spot where you can put a wall at your back to avoid being surrounded, then ready a shotgun or other weapon with a wide area of damage.
Not all fellow survivors are friendly
Be wary of strangers. Friendly survivor encampments, in which communities work together and see outside help as a chance to build safer homes, are few and far between in Days Gone.
Most of the men and women you'll encounter on the road - or off it - are all-too eager to jump you, set ambushes to knock you off your motorcycle or simply shoot on sight. After all, you are potentially carrying supplies they need; better they live than you. Out in the wilderness, it's survival of the fittest.
Deranged cultists who revere Freakers. They pack some of the deadliest melee weapons in the game, leaving you to decide whether it's worth engaging them for the loot. Be warned though: while not heavily-armored, they're devoted to cleansing the world of humans. Some high-level Rippers will burst a molotov on their chest and charge you, hoping to take you down in flames with them.
Survival guide: They'll lob molotov cocktails from afar, try and flank you or run in with melee weapons. Lean into both the game's ecosystem and the group's belief system to gain help from an unexpected quarter. If you can spot a nearby group of Swarmers, lead them into the vicinity and hide. Rippers refuse to harm Freakers. Instead, they'll go into a huddle and start chanting, letting the swarm descend.
While most non-friendly (non-Ripper survivors are labelled as marauders), there's another group that make the roads dangerous during daylight. Survivors call them Ambushers. As the name implies, they'll strike when you least expect it: a well-hidden clothesline will knock you off your bike, a sniper nest will target you as you drive by. They cover the roads nearest their home: a heavily-fortified camp.
Survival guide: Taking down an ambush camp is high risk, but high reward. Conquering these epic combat encounters will lower the number of ambushes in the surrounding area and open up the camp's bunker, a hidden spot that's a treasure trove of unique rewards. The design and challenges of each camp is distinct, presenting a unique, action-heavy puzzle that you'll need wits and skills to overcome.
Use your bike and your skills to give you the edge in the apocalypse
Your dual lifelines to surviving Days Gone are your bike and your skills. Your two-wheeled companion will let you easily eat up the miles as you roar across the varied terrain as well as presenting a quick escape from any danger. Meanwhile, your experience from completing jobs across the world can be funnelled into upgrading your suite of skills, toughening you up for the road ahead.
You have a finite amount of fuel in your bike's tank. You can't carry spare containers, so get in the habit of keeping on an eye on that gauge. It's less being afraid of being out of gas, more being afraid of being on foot. Unusable transport is potentially a death sentence: your bike the only way to outrun Freakers and other threats.
Survival guide: Look out for gas stations (added to your map as you discover them) or discarded cans on your travels. Ease off the accelerator when coasting down hills: gravity will do most of the work. As soon as you can afford to, upgrade your fuel tank at an encampment.
Days Gone presents you a world in which your strategy should always be fluid. Melee weapons will break, ammo will be exhausted, stealth will be ineffectual against a rampaging Horde. That's why it's important to dive into the game's extensive skill trees and upgrade yourself to make you more a stronger, more proficient survivor.
Survival guide: Become the master of all trades. Focus on unlocking the base level skills of all three upgrade branches. These'll grant you essential skills for the wilderness, letting you repair your melee weapon, reload guns while moving and increase your Combat Focus. Not a great shot? Continue upgrading the melee tree to speed up repairs and increase your weapon's durability. Prefer guns? You can decrease the sway on rifles, or be able to see enemies with Survival Vision.
Enter your date of birth.


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The Fargo-Moorhead area of northwest Minnesota was hit hard this week by something no one expected in early October: 14 inches of snow. It caught residents completely by surprise. Few had winter survival kits in their cars, putting many stranded motorists at risk. Homes were just as unprepared, as power went out across the region.
No one died, but the possibility certainly wasn't out of the question. It's time to start thinking about how to survive a blizzard.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has some great tips for preppers, including how to survive a blizzard. With winter storms just around the corner for the rest of the country, it's never been a better time to review.
Here are the NOAA's recommendations, as condensed by Gun Digest.
How to Survive a Blizzard Outside
Being outside during a blizzard can be lethal. It's not the cold so much as the disorientation. High winds and heavy snow reduce visibility, which increases the chance of becoming lost. That when things get deadly.
If Shelter is Available
* Stay dry
* Cover all exposed body parts
* Determine if there is some way to make the shelter visible to others
If Shelter is Not Available
* Build a lean-to, windbreak or snow cave for wind protection
* Make a fire for heat and to attract attention (this might be impossible, but the takeaway is that warmth will prevent hypothermia)
* If a fire is created, place rocks or other heat conductors around it to absorb and reflect warmth
* Melt snow for water
* Don't eat snow, it lowers body temperature and invites hypothermia
* Find a way to attract attention to initiate a rescue
How to Survive a Blizzard in a Vehicle
* Stay in the vehicle, as it provides shelter and an easy way to be spotted by help
* Run the engine for about 10 minutes each hour for warmth
* Open the window a crack to keep air circulating in order prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
* Clear the exhaust pipe of any obstruction to keep fumes from entering the cab
* Move arms, legs, fingers and toes vigorously from time to time for warmth
Tips for Attracting Attention
* Turn on interior or exterior lights while the engine is running
* Honk the horn if help is close
* Tie a piece of cloth (eye-catching colors work best) to the antenna
* Once the snow stops, raise the hood to signal help is needed
How to Survive a Blizzard Inside
Houses offer a false sense of security during blizzards. Heavy snow and harsh winds can knock out power, shutting down heating systems. Structures may collapse. Ice may cement doors closed. Help could be hours or days away. Travel can be impossible.
* When using heat sources that require ventilation (a fireplace, for example), make sure snow and ice is not preventing proper exhaust
* Close off unused spaces to focus heat in used areas
* Close cracks in doors and windows with towels or rags
* Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, and remove them if perspiration kicks in
How to Survive a Blizzard in Any Situation
No matter the situation, there's one golden rule to hold above everything else: Avoid overexertion.
From the NOAA:
"The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia. Take Red Cross Cardiopulminary Rescue (CPR) and Automated External Defi brillator (AED) training so you can respond quickly to an emergency."
For about how to survive a blizzard, check out Gun Digest's articles about making a winter car survival kit and a winter bug-out bag.


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Published On: February 3, 2018 04:35 PM NPT By: Agencies
YEMEN, Feb 3: According to a confidential document obtained by al-Jazeera news broadcaster, the Saudi-led military coalition killed 68 children and wounded 36 others in war-torn Yemen from July to September 2017.
The report said on Friday that the figures from excerpts it had obtained from a confidential report by the UN Office on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) was sent to the UN Security Council on January 19.
Furthermore, the document found that there were at least 20 Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on different localities in Yemen, some targeting schools and homes, on a daily basis.
According to the UN children's aid agency, UNICEF, more than 5,000 children have lost their lives or sustained injuries in the imposed war -- an average of five children a day -- since the Saudi war began some three years ago. It has also warned that over 11 million Yemeni children are in need of humanitarian aid.
In early June 2016, the CAAC reported that the Saudi coalition was responsible for 60 percent of child casualties in Yemen during the previous year, when it killed 510 children and injured 667 others. It added that the Saudi military conducted half of its aerial attacks against schools and medical facilities.
The appalling report prompted the UN to swiftly blacklist Riyadh for overwhelmingly violating children's rights in Yemen. However, then-UN chief Ban Ki-moon removed Saudi Arabia from the list a few days later, acknowledging that he had been forced to do so after the regime and its allies threatened to cut off funding to many UN programs.
Since March 2015, the Saudi regime, together with a coalition of its allies, has been heavily bombarding Yemen as part of a brutal campaign against its southern neighbor in an attempt to reinstall Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh.
The Saudi campaign has killed at least 13,600 people since its onset. Furthermore, much of the country's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and factories, has been reduced to rubble in the Saudi war.
Famine and outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria are other results of the Saudi-led war.


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Solenoid Valves And Coils
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Dust your huevos with this non-talc alternative for protection against chaffing. Aloe Vera soothes and protects while a fresh citrus scent keeps things fragrant downstairs. Should you have any visitors, they might be pleased to know the product is also vegan. Despite increasing evidence that sweat has skincare benefits, most men prefer to be dry and odorless.
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Sport Muscle Soak by Molton Brown
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Ab Carving Gel by Ab Crew
Get your six-pack out of hiding with this thermogenic fat-fighting formula composed of marine and plant extracts, as well as the caffeine equivalent of about 80 cups of coffee. Caffeine boosts blood circulation, which helps convert stubborn love handles back into energy (which can then be used to boost your performance… yes, you still need to work out). Combine the gel with Ab Crew's Ab Shredding Dietary Supplement for optimum results.
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Massage Miracle by Fit Skincare
A cooling muscle rub that alleviates the burning sensation of overworked muscles while alleviating inflammation. It also delivers pain relief by way of ginger extract.
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Pure Gold Collagen by Gold Collagen
Collagen supplements are often marketed as beauty products for the simple reason that collagen is a critical component of youthful skin. It's debatable whether ingested collagen will make its way directly to the skin on your face rather than, say, your right knee. The body will always direct nutrients and vitamins to the places they are most needed. Having said that, collagen is also present in muscles (and ligaments and tendons), so topping up on your supply is a wise idea if you're particularly active. Consider it an added bonus if your skin and hair benefit from a daily dose too.
Find out more at Gold-Collagen.com
Fitness Tips
Fitness Advice


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I write the Ambassadors Beat for FWN. And, it requires me to read the mailing list traffic on the ambassadors and famsco list with attention to detail. I had mentioned some concerns earlier but this is more of a wish-list. Especially so because I read the Board Goals and I notice that none of the goals have a measure-able data point attached with it (well, except perhaps the FUDCon in India one !).
Without further delay, here's my wish-list for FAmSCo
- Specifically put forth a set of goals that the elected FAmSCo would work on and attach data points to it. The candidates may be had individual goals during the election phase but once elected there requires to be a cadence, a coherence. Currently, a trend I notice is an enhanced level of planning activity but not a corresponding set of performance tasks.
- Regular availability of the FAmSCo report – a cursory reading of the list archives say that this is an issue on which the ball gets dropped fairly often. The report is an invaluable way of presenting a narrative to the Fedora community at large about the functioning and changes being brought about by the FAmSCo
- Focus on regions where there aren't enough Ambassador strength. The last time I checked there were wide swathes of the world where there aren't enough Ambassadors yet. Reaching out to those there are and working out a step-wise plan to see how participation in and contribution to the project can be improved is a reasonably high priority item. And, solving this issue does not necessarily mean throwing money at the problem. While funds do help, at many levels it is a cop-out approach that releases one from the need to understand situations and begin conversations.
- Use the 'slow' time between releases a bit more judiciously. There has always been a small period of around one and a half to two months between two sets of Fedora releases when the activities within the Ambassadors communities taper down. This is partly seasonal and cyclic and partly a natural outcome of events – the initial days of a GA and, the last days that ramp up to a GA (with Regional IRC meetings etc) are the ones of hectic activity. Planning to use this window during each release to work on a set of activities that can help the Ambassadors introspect eg. Event Participation Retrospective would go a long way in making better use of time.
- Work towards converting the various FAQs into online courses/quizzes. By making them more engaging to participate in, it would probably work out better for Ambassadors who are freshly minted as well as for existing folks who need to refresh their readings. This is going to be a huge task even if it is properly scoped out. However, this will also ensure a closer collaboration within the various *SCo teams. And, potentially open up the project to a different set of contributors too.
- Organize and participate in *SCo meetings together with the Board.
- Figure out a way to get an Event Calendar similar to what LWN maintains. There has been much hand wringing and hand waving with the "wait for Fedora Insight/wait for Zarafa" coming along. The need for a calendar is driven by a very specific agenda – visibility of Fedora presence and, being able to see the proposed-vs-attended set of events. As the community grows across the globe and smaller and more often niche events require Fedora presence, the need to visually narrate the presence would create much enthusiasm.


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On the Flintstones, a small bird sits inside the light and turns it on every night before he goes to bed. In a modern streetlight, a small circuit replaces the bird and turns the light on when the amount of light falls below a certain threshold.
A common light-sensing component is the cadmium sulfide photo-resistor, also known as a CdS cell. A photo-resistor changes its resistance based on the amount of light that hits it. When a lot of light hits it, it has almost zero resistance -- it conducts electricity very well. When no light hits it, it has high resistance -- it conducts electricity poorly. In an extremely simple circuit, you would wire a CdS cell directly to a relay (see How Relays Work), so that a lot of light would energize the electromagnet and a small amount of light would not. Usually, however, a CdS cell cannot draw enough current to activate the relay when light hits it. Therefore you need to add a transistor to amplify the current that flows through the CdS cell. A typical circuit might look like this:
- Base
- Emitter
- Collector
If a small amount of current flows from emitter to base, then a large amount of current can flow from emitter to collector. In other words, if the base is grounded, it turns the "switch" (the path from emitter to collector) on in this diagram. So when light shines on the photocell, it turns the transistor on, which energizes the relay's electromagnet, which turns the light off. When it is dark, the photocell has high resistance, so no current flows through the base and the relay is not activated -- the light is on.
In a real street light the circuit might be a bit more advanced, but not a lot. It has the CdS cell, the transistor and the relay, but might need more than one transistor depending on the size of the relay. It really is a very simple circuit!
Here are three useful links:


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My app lets the user take a picture of a sheet of paper, then select a block of 2-3 words, then another block.
The user must be able to clearly read the (potentially tiny) written words, so she will zoom. The image must be scrollable to find the block, then go to the second block.
With dragging already dedicated to image scrolling, How to implement rectangle selection?
Maybe tap on first corner, then tap on opposite corner? But it does not sound very user friendly, because the rectangle is not seen during selection.
Maybe tap to "switch to selection mode", then drag rectangle? This would work well for a small selection, but it becomes unusable if the selection is larger than the screen.
What would be a user-friendly way to implement this?
Context if needed: I am writing a flashcard app for Android, the user can take a picture of her paper notebook after a foreign language lesson, and quickly select word+definition to generate flashcards. Must support Android all the way back to 1.6, including devices without multi-touch.


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1. The Devil's Trident
Social media has three essential prongs of activity: broadcast, rebroadcast, conversation. This is true for everybody, not just writers, but it's worth noting just the same. I say something or repeat something someone else said (broadcast/rebroadcast), and from that social seed-bed, conversation may arise.
2. Be The Best Version Of Yourself
Writers and other creative-types often seem to believe that they need to become someone different online, that they cannot be themselves lest they not find a publisher, not get work, not sell their book, not collect sexy groupies, etc. To that I say, bullshit! And cock-waffle! And piddling piss-wafers! Be yourself. That's who we want. We just want the best version of you. Scrape the barnacles off. Sit up straight. Smile once in a while. But you can still be you. Uhh, unless "you" just so happen to be some kind of Nazi-sympathizing donkey-molester. In which case, please back slowly away from the social media.
3. Put "Brand" And "Platform" Out Of Your Fool Head
You are not a brand. Social media is not your platform. The world has enough brands. You are not a logo, a marketing agenda, a mouthpiece, a Spam-Bot. Approach social media not as a writer-specific tool (keyword: tool) catered only toward your penmonkey self and see it instead as a place where you can bring all the crazy and compelling facets of your personality to bear on an unsuspecting populace your audience. People want to follow other people. People don't want to follow brands.
4. Communicate With Other Human Beings (And The Occasional Spam-Bot)
Put the "social" in "social media." Social media needn't be a one-way street. A real connection goes both ways. Talk to people. Chat. Converse. Discuss. Share ideas. Don't be one of those writers who uses their social media channel as a bulletin board announcing naught but their next signing, book release, or $0.99 bowel movement. Don't aim only to be heard but to open your ears, as well. (Oh, and I'm totally kidding about the Spam-Bots thing. Don't talk to Spam-Bots. Eradicate them with extreme prejudice. Perform the "honey-pot" maneuver — draw them to you with keywords like "real estate" or "ipad" and then EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE with the vim and vigor of the Daleks.)
5. Guide Them Toward Your Sticky Embrace
Having a blog, website, or online space where you establish an authorial "base camp" is a great thing. It allows you to own your content, track stats, post long-form material, and be whatever it is you need it to be. I use this site for writing stuff, baby babble, recipes, and pagan Lithuanian pornography. Can't see the porn? You haven't unlocked the special content. Enter Konami code. Password is: "TheWhoreOfVilnius."
6. Determine The Tools In Your Toolbox
Find different uses for different social media. Facebook is pretty light on writer-stuff for me. Google+ is good for longer-form discussions. Twitter is really where it's at for me — it's where I get the most conversation and connection. Then the blog is the central tentpole to the whole goddamn circus. Maybe you use Tumblr. Or some as-yet-unknown social network, like Wordhole or iPalaver or Friendhammer. Anything except LinkedIn. I mean, c'mon. LinkedIn is the scabby venereal disease of social media.
7. Breed Positivity And Share What You Love
Writers are content creators, and so it behooves us to share what we love. You're generally better off showing positivity rather than sowing the seeds of negativity. For the most part, the Internet is a monster that thrives the rage of countless disaffected white people, so I don't know that it does a writer good to be a part of that noise. Your audience cares more about what you're into rather than what you're not. After all, I don't particularly care for a lot of things. Most things, really. If I spent all my time talking about them, I'd be little more than a septic social fountain spewing my bitter froth into the world.
8. Show The World You're Not A Raging Bonerhead
The Internet is like hot dogs: it's made of lips and assholes. A writer does well to set himself aside from all that and use social media to reveal that he is, indeed, not a giant bucket of non-contributing human syphilis
9. Kill Them With Kindness
Connection, not conflict. Communication, not combat. Don't get into fights online. I mean, it's one thing if you're getting into an argument with a Nazi-sympathizing donkey-molester. Because, seriously? What an asshole. But nine times out of ten, getting into a snit-spat-tiff-miff-feud-fuss-or-fracas online doesn't make you look like a shining prince of social media. It just makes you look cranky. Note the difference between "friendly, chummy disagreement" and "pissy Internet rumpus." The former? Fine. The latter? Not so much.
10. Variety Is The Spice Melange Of Life
…and is essential to the creation of the sandworms, as well as the diet of the wandering Fremen. Wait, what? This isn't Frank Herbert's DUNE? Oh. Oh. Sorry! What I'm saying is, divvy your social media existence up. Don't talk about any one thing. It may not be critical to chop everything up into neat percentages, but just vary the content of your broadcast. Ensure that you do more than share links. Contribute original thoughts. Add conversation. Say something. Just keep the commercials — i.e. self-promotion — to a necessary minimum.
11. Be An Escort, Not A Whore
Speaking of self-promo… the reality of the modern writer's existence is that self-promotion is inescapable. Whether you're published by the Big Six or published or by your buddy Steve out of his mother's basement, you're going to have to serve up some self-promo. Social media is your online channel for this. It has to be. And it isn't a dirty word — if I follow a writer, I want to know that their new book is out because I may have missed that news. I just don't want to hear it 72 times a day. And there's the key to self-promotion — like with all things (sodomy, gin, reality TV), everything in moderation.
12. Just Say No To Quid Pro Quo
Controversial notion: do not re-share something purely as a favor to someone else. I know — it's an easy favor to make. "You shared my link, now I share your link. In this way, we tickle each other's pink parts." The thing is, if one is to assume you are a writer to trust, then those who listen to your social media broadcasts want to know that the information you share is, in a way, pure. If they believe that the things you're saying are motivated only by mutual social media masturbation, then you've gone and ruined that. Share things you think your audience wants to hear or things you believe are worth sharing. If all you're doing is echoing links endlessly, what separates you from just another Spam-Bot?
13. You Don't Build Audience, You Earn It
Lots of writers look at their follower tallies like they're experience points in a role-playing game, like with every MilliWheaton earned you hear a "ding" and then gain +4 against 4chan or a new Save Versus PublishAmerica roll. Your audience isn't just a number. It's a whole bunch of actual human beings. Humans who don't just want to be sold stuff or yelled at but who want to interact and be amused and enlightened — and who want to amuse and enlighten in turn. Earn your audience, don't build it. They're not dollar signs. They're not credit you can spend buying vintage porn on eBay.
14. Followers Are Not Fans
It's easy to believe that, pound for pound, those who follow you and read your broadcasts and interact with you online are automatically the same people who are going to buy your books, pimp your stuff, and become super-fans. Bzzt. Wrongo. A retweet or Facebook "like" or "Re-G" on Google+ (that's what I'm calling the re-share feature over there) is free. The investment to procure your wordsmithy is a whole different level of commitment. That said, these people are all potential fans. It's your job to make that happen.
15. As A Storytelling Medium
Use social media to tell stories. Real stories or fictional ones. Hey, if my three-month-old baby has an epic diaper-breach and manages to defy gravity and shit up his own back and into his hair, I'm gonna tell you about it. Talk about your life. Or use Twitter to write micro-fiction. Or empower your blog to experiment with telling old stories in new ways. Experiment! Do what you're bred to do: write.
16. My God, It's Full Of Words
Social media is, as noted, full of words. Words that must be written. You're a writer, so tackle social media — from Tweets to Blog Posts to Friendhammer Epistles — with all the grace and aplomb you would give to any of your writing. In other words, let social media demonstrate your abilities as a writer. Use punctuation. Capitalize. Write well. Learn to engage in brief spaces. This will help you be a better writer.
17. The Self-Correcting Hive-Mind
Social media self-corrects. Many find this uncomfortable, but it's an excellent memetic Darwinism. If I tweet about, say, my three-month-old's poosplosion, inevitably I'm going to come across people who don't want to hear about that. Eventually they may say, "This guy talks a lot about poop," or "Boy, he sure says 'fuck' a lot," and then they stop following me on Twitter or stop coming here to terribleminds. It's regrettable, but that's the nature of life. Social media is a frequency that people can tune into or turn away from. That's normal. Let that happen. Don't get mad at it. Embrace that kind of course-correction.
18. Dip Your Ladle Into The Brain Broth Of Social Media
Writers need to know things. So ask those in your social media world. Say, "I need a good book on wombat husbandry for a novel I'm writing," or, "Can anyone recommend good writing music?" or, "If I were to write a stage play based on the Twitter stream of Kanye West, would anybody beta-read it for me?" Don't be afraid to ask for things. And don't be afraid to answer when others ask. Again: communicate.
19. The Water-Cooler For Writers
I believe it was game designer and writer Jeff Tidball who said he sees Twitter as a water-cooler for stay-at-home freelancers, and I think he nailed it. Writers don't have the ability to hover around a water-cooler and talk to other writers most times, and so social media fills that function. It's a great way to connect with other penmonkeys and creative-types and engage, interact and amuse. It's important for writers to know other writers. It's how we get book blurbs or find out what bottle of Bourbon we should try. Used to be you had to travel to conventions and conferences to do it. Now you can do it at home. Without pants.
20. Gaze Into The Whirring Gears Of Industry Machinery
You can use social media to do more than connect with writers. The entire industry is out there. So go and watch. And then partake. Follow agents. Ping publishers. You can watch trends unfold and see what agents are looking for (or what mistakes people are making in their queries). It's a great place to interact with the industry as a person-who-is-a-writer, not merely a writer-shopping-a-product. Though, I must pass along a critical warning: gazing too long into the publishing industry is like dropping a fistful of acid and then staring into a backed-up toilet for days. You will starve and go mad.
21. Behold Zen Serendipity
Open yourself to the social media experience. Don't be one of those walled-garden scrod-boats who follows like, 10 people but has 10,000 followers. Put your ear to the ground like Tonto. Listen to shit. Pay attention. Let the sweet serendipity and weird waves of connection wash over you. People are each their own little rabbit-hole: grab a thread and follow it down into the dark, and just as you might use Pandora to discover new music or Amazon to discover new books, use social media to discover new people. Without people and their thoughts and their stories, writers are just lonely weirdos screaming into an empty closet.
22. Appreciate Your Audience
Your audience follows you and rebroadcasts you and that's a very nice thing. So appreciate them. Interact with them. Respond to them. I don't mean to say, act as God from on-high acknowledging the little people — I mean, you're them and they're you and social media is a powerful equalizer. Appreciate that they take the time to listen to your nonsense day-in and day-out. That's pretty cool of them, innit?
23. Crucify Gurus And Stab Them With Your Mighty Spears
Anybody who wants to charge you a bunch of money to "optimize" your "social media skills" is selling fool's gold. This stuff isn't hard. It ain't fucking math. At its core, social media is really, "Talk to people, and try not to be a dick." That's true for writers as it is for everybody else.
24. Go Old-School
Every once in a while you need to unplug and embrace some old-school social media: go outside and talk to people. Go to a bar, a book signing, a game store, whatever. Engage with fleshy 3-D meatbags!
25. Remember That You Need To Escape Its Gravity
In the end, social media has uses for the writer. But it also runs the risk of becoming the Sarlacc Pit: a giant evil desert vagina that draws you in with its tentacle porn and slowly digests you over the course of many millennia, not allowing you to make any progress on that screenplay you've been writing for the last 16 years. Your priority is to write stories, not to fritter away hours on Facebook or dick around on Adult Slutfinder or pretend like LinkedIn is anything but a giant digital boat anchor. The most important thing a writer should know about social media is that it is not the crux of the penmonkey's existence. What matters most of all is that you write great stories. So what are you doing hanging around here?
* * *
Want another booze-soaked, profanity-laden shotgun blast of dubious writing advice?
Try: CONFESSIONS OF A FREELANCE PENMONKEY
$4.99 at Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), B&N, PDF
And: 250 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WRITING
$0.99 at Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), B&N, PDF


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Pet Allergies: Symptoms, Treatments and Causes
Pet allergies affect individuals of all ages and often complicate the joy of having a furry friend at home. This...
Read moreHelp patients book appointments with you on Solv. It's free!
20 instant-book locations
Help patients book appointments with you on Solv. It's free!
A annual physical exam (or annual well visit) is a routine check-up where a doctor or healthcare provider checks you for routine health issues and asks you basic questions about your health. During a physical exam, the doctor will most likely go over your medical history and ask you questions about the current state of your health. They'll also check vital signs like your heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, as well as take a look at whether your skin appears healthy. You'll also get a head and neck exam, a lung exam (using a stethoscope), an abdominal exam, a neurological exam, and more. Women may get a breast and pelvic exam and men may get prostate, penis, testicular, and hernia exams.
Annual exams are important because they can help you find out about health issues early on so treatment can begin as soon as any problems are discovered. If you're overweight or you're at risk for diabetes, you'll most likely get a blood sugar test too. Everyone over the age of three should have a physical exam every year. At age 50, your doctor might start screening for colorectal cancer. At 40, women should begin getting regular mammogram screenings for breast cancer. Women ages 45 to 54 should get them yearly and women 55 and older should get them (at minimum) every two years.
More Details about Physical Exams
A physical examination is frequently done as part of a doctor's routine checkup. You can better prepare for your next medical appointment by learning more about what happens during a physical exam.
A physical examination is when your healthcare practitioner examines and studies your body to determine whether you have a physical health concern. Inspection, palpation, auscultation, and percussion are the four components of a physical examination, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM).
Your doctor examines your body for concerns such as skin imperfections during the examination. According to the National Library of Medicine, palpation is the process of feeling your body with your fingers or hands, such as when a doctor feels for a tumor or mass.
Auscultation is a procedure in which your doctor listens to sounds, such as your heartbeat. Percussion entails making noises, such as tapping on various body parts. According to the National Library of Medicine, this is normally done to establish the size and consistency of your organs, as well as the presence or absence of fluids in specific locations.
An annual physical exam, according to the National Library of Medicine, can help you detect and prevent health concerns you may not be aware of.
A yearly physical exam is used to check for diseases such as cancer and to see whether you are at risk for certain health issues such as diabetes. According to the National Library of Medicine, a yearly physical checkup allows you to stay up to date on vaccines and other preventative health treatments, as well as make good lifestyle choices that improve your overall health. Another advantage of getting an annual physical examination is that you can keep in constant contact with your doctor if you acquire an illness or chronic disease.
According to the National Library of Medicine, arriving prepared for your appointment can help you get the most out of your visit and avoid unnecessary follow-ups with your doctor.
First, go over your family's medical history and be ready to discuss any health conditions that run in your family, such as high blood pressure, cancer, or diabetes. According to the National Library of Medicine, your doctor may use this information to see if you're at risk for these same health issues.
The National Library of Medicine suggests that you check to see whether any general checkups or vaccines are needed. If you're not sure, call your doctor ahead of time so you can dress correctly or make extra arrangements if you need to go through specific tests.
Lastly, the NLM suggests writing down a list of issues and questions to mention during your appointment. For example, if you've been experiencing any new or different symptoms, write these down so your doctor can examine you for related health problems.
According to the National Library of Medicine, the manner in which your physical exam is conducted is mostly determined by your gender and age, due to changes in anatomy and health problems that affect different age groups.
According to the National Library of Medicine, males between the ages of 18 and 39 have their height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) examined at every appointment. Males in this age bracket may be questioned about mental health issues such as depression, as well as their eating, exercise, and substance use habits. Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease may all be checked.
According to the National Library of Medicine, men aged 40 to 64 receive the same services as men aged 18 to 39, as well as screenings for colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and osteoporosis. Men in their sixties and seventies may also be asked about their medications and whether they have recently fallen.
At each checkup, females between the ages of 18 and 39 will have their height, weight, and BMI measured. According to the National Library of Medicine, females should have their blood pressure tested every one to two years, and cervical cancer screenings should begin at the age of 21. During their regular physical, females in this age bracket may also have diabetes and cholesterol screenings.
According to the National Library of Medicine, women between the ages of 40 and 64 receive all of the same services as younger women, as well as lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and osteoporosis screenings. Women over the age of 65 may be subjected to routine mammograms and may be asked about any medications they are taking.
Based on the findings of your physical exam, your doctor may prescribe lab tests to confirm or rule out one or more diseases. The NLM says that lab tests may be used as part of examinations for disorders like colorectal cancer and cervical cancer.
Before your appointment, call your doctor to find out if you'll be having lab tests and what they'll entail so you can make the required preparations.
If one of your screens or lab tests comes back positive or inconclusive, you may be contacted following your physical examination. In such cases, your doctor will contact you to discuss treatment options or to prescribe more testing and screening. Your doctor can tell you more about what to expect after your physical exam in terms of follow-up.
Without insurance, a physical exam can cost anywhere between $50 and $200. With insurance, the cost of a physical exam is usually completely covered at least once a year, or requires a copayment of $10 to $50. Book a physical exam today to get estimated costs in Chicago today.
If you are looking for a physical exam in Chicago, Solv can help you book an appointment. Simply search for Chicago-area doctors, find a provider, and book the most convenient time for you. Be sure to include "physical exam" as your reason for visit.
In general, physical exams will be available at Chicago-area urgent care centers, retail clinics and primary care doctor offices. While walk-in appointments are typically available, booking a visit online will reduce your wait time and ensure you get a physical as quickly and easily as possible.
Same-day and next-day appointments for physical exams can easily be booked directly through Solv. Simply search for Chicago-area doctors, find a provider, and book an appointment for a physical as soon as today.
Solv gathers reviews, ratings, and other data on Chicago-area general practitioners to ensure the clinics provided meet our standards. Search for a provider, see what previous patients think, and book an appointment with a top-rated doctor today!
It is generally recommended that everyone get a physical exam yearly. This can help detect problems early and begin treatment as early as possible. While the components of your physical may vary with age, it is important to have one annually at all ages.
Although a complete physical exam cannot be completed over telehealth, your doctor may offer an annual wellness visit (AWV). An AWV is designed to evaluate patients over video and can replace annual physicals for individuals who have already established a relationship with their provider. AWVs do not require BMI and blood pressure measurements. These can either be self-reported or delayed.
Many health insurers offer one annual physical for free. If the visit isn't completely covered, patients will have to pay a $10 to $50 copay. It is uncommon for medical insurances to not offer annual physical coverage.
AWVs are generally covered once per calendar year. Your insurance coverage for in-person physicals will be similar to the coverage provided for AWVs. Book a telemedicine visit to see estimated costs in the Chicago area.
Updated on Jun 25, 2024
Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
Annual Wellness Exam in Chicago
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Tips, advice, news—your resource to stay healthy and safe while improving your experience with healthcare providers when you need them.


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Archive for the 'Hillary' tag
VOTEMOS.US Weekly Video Podcast Now Available
VOTEMOS.US the site that questions what the 2008 U.S. presidential elections would look like if all residents in the U.S. could vote will now feature weekly video interviews with U.S. immigrants and Mexico City residents concerning the presidential elections and general relations between the United States and Latin America.
Although VOTEMOS.US is a Spanish-language site, the videos have English language subtitles so that U.S. citizens may have an insight into the views of their Spanish speaking neighbors within the country as well as those south of the border. The weekly video interviews are available on the site, as a podcast or rss feed:
This week Argentine Jose Antonio Lazzari relaxing in the park Alameda Central located in the historical center of Mexico City states that he would not vote for Obama, Hillary or McCain and he questions who the leftist candidates are in the U.S… Jose Antonio goes on to point out that the United States is controlled by the transnational companies that are making a fortune in Iraq.
We had a lengthy conversation with Jose Antonio Lazzari, a theater actor and educator who runs a free school in Argentina. Sections of this conversation will be published over the next few weeks. Past interviews with NYC undocumented resident Raymundo are also available and all videos will be archived on the site.


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Jurisdiction Diversion/Disposal Rate Summary
Beginning with reporting year 2007 jurisdiction annual reports, diversion rates are no longer determined. With the passage of SB 1016, the Per Capita Disposal Measurement System, only per capita disposal rates are measured. For 2007 and subsequent years, CalRecycle compares reported disposal tons to population to calculate per capita disposal expressed in pounds/person/day. This new goal measurement system is described in CalRecycle's Goal Measurement: 2007 and Later web page.
Other Diversion/Disposal Rate pages
Note: For the 2004 through 2006 jurisdiction annual reports, CalRecycle allowed the use of the Taxable Sales Deflator Index (TSDI) as an acceptable alternative to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to calculate diversion rates. If you want to find out more about the TSDI and see a comparison of preliminary 2004 diversion rates calculated using CPI and TSDI see our Taxable Sales Deflator Index page.
For more information contact: Local Assistance & Market Development, email@example.com or (916) 341-6199.


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main content
International legal relations
Via the legal assistance database you can consult the administrative regulations "Rechtshilfeordnung für Zivilsachen (ZRHO)" (Code of Judicial Assistance in Civil Matters) and "Richtlinien für den Verkehr mit dem Ausland in strafrechtlichen Angelegenheiten (RiVASt)" (Guidelines for Foreign Relations in Criminal Affairs), which are relevant in civil and commercial as well as criminal matters. The relevant regulations for labour and administrative jurisdiction are also covered. Information programmes of other agencies and institutions (e.g. European Union, Foreign Office, Federal Ministry of Justice) are integrated by a link at appropriate places. The continuative link is currently available in German only.


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TCAS has wide experience with pharmaceutical toxicology and has performed many assessments involving prescription medications, drugs of abuse, vaccines and over-the-counter preparations. Although pharmaceutical use can be a significant toxicological factor in a variety of claims, the real and potential effects must be correctly assessed by the expert toxicologist. Aside from direct effects, pharmaceutical use can also explain unusual behaviors and/or account for injury claimed to be attributed to another agent.
For example, some powerful prescription drugs can directly or indirectly cause certain medical conditions. Others can exacerbate and/or cause increased susceptibility to exposure-induced health effects (a recent TCAS case study highlights this fact). Certain pharmaceuticals can also impair or enhance the metabolism of other specific drugs by increasing their blood levels into the toxic range. Children, older adults and women can also be at higher risk of adverse health effects from pharmaceuticals.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists more than 160,000 pharmaceutical packages registered and approved for sale in the U.S.1 This staggering number of drugs means that, aside from effects resulting from abuse, the potential for interactions and/or medication errors is very high. Additionally, new biopharmaceuticals (new drugs developed through biotechnology) are increasingly available. Although this can increase the complexity and potential for drug interactions, new innovations do not negate the basic toxicological principle, "The dose makes the poison."
The following paragraphs provide general toxicological outlines of pharmaceuticals for which TCAS has performed toxicological assessments, produced written reports and/or provided expert testimony, subsequent to being retained by defendants, plaintiffs, State attorney generals, prosecutors and/or public defender's offices. We invite you to contact our office if you have questions or concerns regarding any prescription medication or pharmaceutical not listed on this page.
Show all results for "Drugs of Abuse"
Drugs of abuse frequently involve the ingestion, insufflation or injection of illegal drugs or the misuse of prescription medications, generally with negative consequences and frequently in the context of litigation. Drug abuse "cutting agents" (adulterants) and contaminated needles can also induce unique, adverse health issues including cardiac arrythmia, convulsions, sepsis, AIDS, hepatitis and other diseases. TCAS has in-depth experience in interpreting laboratory test results and assessing toxicological issues for common drugs of abuse including (but not limited to):
Show all results for "Pharmaceuticals and Medications"
TCAS has broad experience in cases involving hundreds of different pharmaceuticals, prescription medications, vaccines, additives and over-the-counter preparations. As a toxicologist and licensed clinical, environmental and forensic laboratory director, Dr. Sawyer has in-depth experience with drug testing, chain-of-custody procedures, interpreting laboratory analyses and application of peer-reviewed methods to produce scientifically credible toxicological assessments. He is familiar with the latest technology used to conduct sampling and analyses of pharmaceuticals, drugs of abuse, synthetic compounds, organic compounds, neurotoxins and many other specialized substances. The following partial catalog lists some of the most frequent pharmaceuticals of interest in cases for which TCAS has been regularly retained in both investigative and causative assessment capacities:
Show all results for "Neurotoxins and Neurotoxicity"
A neurotoxin is a naturally- or industrially-produced substance which adversely affects the human nervous system. Neurotoxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical agents on the structure or function of the nervous system including the brain and sensory organs. The U.S. EPA provides considerable information on many aspects of neurotoxicology.3 The symptoms and health effects of most neurotoxins are well-documented, but of all the various toxic substances, neurotoxins are among the most problematic as they can not only adversely impact multiple systems and organs simultaneously but also amplify the adverse effects of other substances. For example, although lead's neurotoxic targets include the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, brain and reproductive system, lead can also cause oxidative stress which prevents the body from detoxifying itself through inhibition of antioxidants. Similarly, chronic exposure to various heavy metals such as aluminum, manganese, arsenic, thallium and others can lead to systemic disruptions and neurological disorders. Certain gases can also produce lethal neurotoxic effects (such as in a recent TCAS case study in which a victim was exposed to methyl bromide gas).
Organic neurotoxins can be particularly toxic. For example, the botulinum toxins, which are among the most toxic substances known, can be fatal after exposure to only a few billionths of a gram. Other organic neurotoxins include venom, pesticides, organic solvents (chlorinated solvents and hexa-/hepta-carbons at high dose levels), contaminated seafood, poisons, molds, fungi, organophosphate nerve gas and others. Some pharmaceuticals can produce neurotoxic effects, either independently or in combination with other substances. An objective toxicological exposure assessment is an absolute necessity in cases where neurotoxins are involved. TCAS has been regularly retained in both investigative and causative assessment capacities in cases involving neurotoxins. Please contact our office for additional information.
Show all results for "Drug Toxicity"
Drug toxicity may occur due to any of several factors including (a) excessive or incorrect dose, (b) impaired metabolism due to interference from other pharmaceuticals and (c) impaired renal or liver function by other causes. This phenomenon can happen to persons of all ages (including infants) due to greater quantities of administered medications per unit of body weight. As noted in a recent AARP publication,2 "Drug toxicity is a common and significant health problem, yet it often goes undetected by patients and physicians who do not recognize it as the cause of such symptoms as mental disorientation, dizziness, blurred vision, memory loss, fainting and falls. Although drug toxicity may result when a medication dose is too high, it can also occur if a person's ability to metabolize a drug changes over time." Drug toxicity can also occur when multiple medications interact unpredicably (see below) or interact with other substances (such as alcohol or drugs of abuse which can alter metabolism). An objective toxicological exposure assessment can be instrumental in establishing or refuting causation in cases involving drug toxicity. Please contact our office for additional information.
Show all results for "Polypharmacology and Drug Interactions"
With some 160,000 pharmaceutical packages currently registered and approved for sale in the U.S.,1 drug interactions are inevitable and can produce a vast range of toxicological effects. A recent TCAS case study highlights the results that can occur from multiple drug interactions and the resulting polypharmacological effects. The term "polypharmacology" refers to a single drug acting upon multiple targets of a unique or multiple disease pathway. Polypharmacology is generally discouraged due to nonselectivity of pharmaceutical interactions. However, when patients combine certain medications in sufficient doses, they can inadvertantly produce polypharmacological effects. Prescription errors and/or combinations of pharmaceuticals resulting from ill-advised prescriptions or circumstances can, in some cases, lead to malpractice litigation (see below). TCAS has conducted numerous toxicological assessments with respect to drug interactions and polypharmacological effects. Please contact our office for additional information.
Show all results for "Prescription Errors and Medical Malpractice"
Adverse drug events (ADEs) in which patients are harmed as a result of exposure to pharmaceuticals are common in the U.S. with some 700,000 emergency department visits and 100,000 hospitalizations reported each year.4 Elderly patients are particularly vulnerable to ADEs as they more frequently use multiple pharmaceuticals and are more susceptible to adverse effects. In cases involving prescription errors or medical malpractice, the expert toxicologist follows a highly specific process of investigation as well as application of generally-recognized scientific, forensic and deductive principles. This involves a detailed review of a patient's medical history and application of the basic principles of toxicological causation. It is important to note that it is the toxicologist's task to identify the true cause — which may or may not be solely related to the suspected pharmaceutical or which may be related to an underlying condition or toxicant. The expert toxicologist's role is to provide a causative or contributory opinion with respect to exposure based upon an objective investigation of all available case facts including medical records, pharmacological records, deposition transcripts, police reports, generally-accepted toxicological studies and other related data. Please contact our office for additional information.
Notes and References
A Message from Dr. William R. Sawyer Chief Toxicologist, TCAS, LLC
"Pharmacology and toxicology are similar in that both require an understanding of biochemistry. However, toxicology focuses upon the adverse health effects of a chemical substance rather than the efficacy of the drug itself."
Toxicology Consultants & Assessment Specialists, LLC
(800) 308-0080 or send a message
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Copyright 2024 TCAS, LLC, All Rights Reserved
This is an informational and instructional website devoted to toxicology. It presents both original and edited public-domain content compiled as a useful educational resource. References and footnotes have been included wherever possible and image sources have been cited where appropriate. Although most pages can be printed or downloaded as PDF files (and we encourage you to make constructive use of our information), this website is copyrighted and material may only be reproduced and/or distributed with prior permission from TCAS, LLC.


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Trivia question: What's my favorite type of food? If you guessed Mexican, then you're correct. I'm always trying to come up with different Tex Mex and Mexican dishes as I play with peppers, tomatoes, tortillas, and spices. Mexican food is always so flavorful and packed with heat, all of which keep me coming back for more and experimenting all the time.
While I was in line at the grocery store, I came across an Ultimate Mexican cooking magazine which was produced by Better Homes and Gardens. After flipping through this magazine for a few minutes, I knew it was coming home with me. As soon as I got home I sat down and flipped through recipe after delicious recipe. The magazine included everything I love about Mexican cuisine and the photos were mouth-watering. I jotted down a few notes and marked a couple recipes that I wanted to try.
Last night, since I was eating solo for dinner, I decided to experiment with one of the recipes in the magazine: Portobello-Poblano Tostadas. I bought all of the ingredients, returned home and, while munching on chips and salsa and enjoying a glass of wine, I played with the ingredients. After plating my creation, I knew something didn't look right. After I took my first bite, I realized that I had experienced a cooking fail. That's right, after all of my excitement about the magazine, the recipe turned out to be a major flop.
This afternoon, with a lot of the ingredients still in my refrigerator, I took the recipe upon my own hands and turned my kitchen into a test kitchen. After experimenting with techniques and flavors, I finally came up with my own rendition. The results between the two dishes were night and day and I cannot wait to make it again…for dinner…tonight.
Chicken and Mushroom Tostadas
Servings: 3 Tostadas
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 3 6-inch corn tortillas
- Salt
- 1/2 pound Portobello mushrooms, roughly chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 cup corn
- 1 cup shredded chicken (I use Rotisserie chicken)
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup shredded Manchego cheese
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Chopped lettuce (optional)
- Salsa (optional)
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet by placing a cooling rack over the top. This cooling rack will allow air to circulate under the tortillas as they bake.
- Lightly brush the tortillas on both sides with canola oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Place on the cooling rack/baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes or until the tortillas are wavy and slightly browned. Remove from the oven.
- Pour the left over oil into a sauce pan and heat. Add the mushrooms and pepper and saute for approximately three minutes. Add the garlic, corn, and chicken. Heat thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
- Top the tortillas with the mushroom and pepper mixture. Sprinkle the top with cheese. Bake for an additional minute to melt the cheese.
- Serve warm with lettuce and salsa and toppings.
The biggest mistake? Frying the tortillas in oil. I've never been good at this. Instead, I baked the tortillas and the result was a crunchy crust that complemented the flavors perfectly.
Even though the first recipe I tried from the magazine was a flop, I can't wait to try more. I'm just a little obsessed with this magazine.
What is your favorite Mexican dish?
This post was not sponsored. The cooking flop and opinions were all my own.


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Courses and Qualifications
the past five years, the global beer industry has demonstrated high
levels of growth, increasing in size by an average of 3.2% per annum
(Ibisworld.com, 2015). The industry directly employs nearly half a
million people world-wide with global revenues reaching an estimated
$136 billion USD in 2015.
recent years, growth in established beer markets like Europe and the
United States remains relatively stable, while the levels of growth
from emerging economies like China has accelerated. Between 2002 and
2011, the Chinese beer market went from being the same size as the US
market, to double the size of the US market (Platologic.co.uk, 2015).
In fact, the most popular beer in the world is a Chinese beer!
Every day more people in emerging economies are beginning to enjoy
beer which is driving the industry forward.
Growth of Craft Beer
past 10 years have been a period of great change within the beer
industry. Many beer companies have been involved in mergers and
acquisitions, creating huge multi-national businesses. The biggest
four brewers in the market (AB InBev, SABMiller, Heineken and
Carlsberg) now have a combined global market share of more than 50%
(Economicsonline.co.uk, 2015).
the same time, diversity has increased with new players entering the
market and the craft beer movement taking off. In the United States
it is estimated that craft beers now make up 11% (22.77 billion USD)
of the market share, driving 22% ($19.6 billion USD) of sales growth
(Sizemore, 2015). There are now thousands of small-scale craft
breweries around the world.
increase in diversity is good news for people looking to make a
career in the industry. There are more employers competing for the
best people and more job opportunities in diverse locations. The
positive outlook for the global beer industry is a very good sign for
people interested in working within the sector.
Opportunities in the Beer Industry
in the beer industry tend to fall into one of four broad categories:
Jobs in Beer Production
Jobs in Beer Marketing & Sales
Jobs in Hospitality
Jobs in Beer Distribution and Administration
in Beer Production
One of the quickest ways to get into the beer industry is by working at an entry-level position for a brewery. Some of the entry-level positions in beer production include:
One of the quickest ways to get into the beer industry is by working at an entry-level position for a brewery. Some of the entry-level positions in beer production include:
Cellar work — keeping the brewery clean and running well, moving equipment
Packaging and distribution — working on the factory line and putting beer onto trucks
Basic Maintenance work — replacing worn equipment and installing new equipment
are often opportunities for people to work their way up from these
entry-level positions to more advanced jobs in beer production. If
you are working at a smaller brewery, you may find yourself doing all
kind of jobs around the place including helping the brewer with
manual work.
roles at the production level which require more experience and
training include:
Assistant brewer — making beer to the instructions of the head brewer
Head Brewer — the main person responsible for how the beer is being made
Brewhouse Operations — keeps the facilities that make the beer running smoothly
Packaging Operations — keeps the bottling and packaging processes running smoothly
Quality Control Tester — ensures the final product is of a certain quality
many of these production line roles in a brewery, various kinds of
technical skills and experience are necessary. For example, to work
in brewhouse operations, you will probably need experience working in
factories, ability to maintain machinery, experience with electrical
appliances and familiarity with the raw materials that go into making
of the more advanced roles in beer production may require a college
degree. Working as an operations manager for a large brewery will
probably require a business, supply chain management, logistics or
engineering degree.
of the most reputable courses which can help you get started in beer
production include:
Central Washington University Craft Beer Certificate (USA)
VLB Berlin Certified Brewmaster Course (Germany)
in Beer Marketing & Sales
and marketing jobs in the brewing industry can be at the wholesaler,
distributor or consumer level. You might be designing advertising
campaigns for consumers, marketing your product to liquor shops or
getting your brewery's beer into more bars. Most sales and
marketing jobs will require relevant experience with some requiring a
college degree.
you already have sales and marketing experience or a degree, you
could also undertake a further education for the beer industry
specifically, for example:
marketing and sales positions only require sales experience and a
general familiarity with beer and the brewing industry. That level
of familiarity can be gained by working in a bar, liquor shop or by
being a home-brewer.
in Hospitality
the increase in craft breweries, there has also been an increase in
brewpubs. That is where the brewery has a pub directly attached to
it. Brewpubs require hospitality workers with good beer knowledge.
There are many jobs available for event managers, tour guides, beer
educators and tasting room servers within the beer industry.
of these roles require experience in the hospitality industry and a
good working knowledge of beer. One way to acquire this knowledge is
by taking a course. Some of the best beer knowledge course include:
The Cicerone Program offers three levels of certification: Certified Beer Server, Certified Cicerone and Master Cicerone (US)
The Association of Certified Beer Sommeliers (Austria/Germany)
Algemene Bierkenner (Belgium)
CraftBeer.com Beer 101 Course (US/online)Jobs in Beer Distribution and AdministrationJust like any other business organisation, breweries need accountants, warehouse managers, logistics managers, administrators and business managers.It can be an advantage to add relevant industry knowledge by adding a qualification like:Information by The Carling Partnership an international recruitment agency in the beer and brewing industry.SourcesIbisworld.com,. (2015). Global Beer Manufacturing Market Research | IBISWorld. Retrieved 8 July 2015, from ibisworld.com/industry/global/global-beer-manufacturing.htmlEconomicsonline.co.uk,. (2015). Brewing. Retrieved 8 July 2015, from economicsonline.co.uk/Business_economics/Brewing.htmlPlatologic.co.uk,. (2015). PR World Beer Market 2012 and Top Brands 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2015, from platologic.co.uk/pr_world_beer_market_2012_and_top_brands_2011.htmReuters,. (2015). Global beer market to grow by 2 pct in 2015 - Plato. Retrieved 8 July 2015, from reuters.com/article/2015/02/27/beverages-beer-idUSL5N0W12XS20150227Sizemore, C. (2015). Why Big Beer is Struggling in the Age of Craft Beer. Forbes. Retrieved 8 July 2015, from forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2015/06/09/why-big-beer-is-struggling-in-the-age-of-craft-beer/


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According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the number of background checks for gun sales on Black Friday reportedly slipped nearly 8% this year. However, it was the fourth-highest single-day total on record in 2020.
According to USA Today, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) recorded 186,645 checks on what's typically the biggest shopping holiday of the year, but in 2019, the FBI conducted 202,465.
The agency has processed more than 32 million requests through October, which is 4 million more than the previous record set last year, which was 28.3 million.
This year's Black Friday was unprecedented due to the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the country. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, 205,000 new cases were reported the day after Thanksgiving.


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Custom Imprinted umbrellas make especially effective gifts for outdoors-lovers, those who regularly use public transportation to get to work, frequent travelers and outdoor sports enthusiasts. Umbrellas with your logo are fabulous for handing out at trade shows and outdoor events and even at your local baseball or soccer field. Choose from a variety of styles, including:
There's a style and type that's perfectly suited for your business or event. Custom Imprinted umbrellas are the ultimate rainy day advertisement!


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Vegas BlogWorld Trip Day 1
September 19, 2008 Posted by Tyler CruzI arrived in Las Vegas yesterday, and here's a recap of day 1 in Las Vegas.
I live on an Island in Canada, so we actually had to take two planes to Vegas which was very tiring. Also, the travel agency we booked with sucked, and had our first plane arrive at the Vancouver airport at around 8:30am, and our second flight out wasn't until 2:00pm so there was a lot of waiting involved.
I took advantage of the free wireless Internet at the airport during the very long wait for my second flight.
The plane ride over was decent, save for the screaming people near the end, how the conveyor belt got stuck, and one woman (probably dunk) singing "Viva Las Vegas". Here's a shot getting close to Vegas of the mountainous regions nearby:
We're staying at the Monte Carlo, and I'm really disappointed in it. It's a really low quality room, there's no mini-bar, and it's just not what I thought Vegas would have. It may also be because our hotel room at the River Rock in Canada was superb so our standards are high now.
Here's a brief video tour of our hotel room and the view. We're staying on the 28th floor which is right near the top. It's funny because John Chow is on the 27th floor but I'm one higher, so that makes me better, right? Although, he's staying at the fancy Wynn, so I guess I lose.
We took a tour around the Monte Carlo casino and shopping area, which fortunately is a lot better than their hotel, but still nothing too special. It's not too busy there though which is nice.
Last night we went to dinner at the Italian restaurant there, which is really nice. The food was delicious and pretty cheap. The service was outstanding and Lisa gave the handsome Italian waiter a very handsome tip (40%).
I noticed something quite interesting: in the US in most places, they apparently don't put sugar in Iced Tea. In Canada we definitely do so that was a bit of a…. surprise.
Today we checked BlogWorld out (show doesn't start tomorrow but we got our passes and found out where it was) and went to look at some real nice houses for sale in Vegas with John Chow and his wife. I'll post about that tomorrow and give you a look at John Chow behind the scenes.
21 Responses to "Vegas BlogWorld Trip Day 1"
Vegas hotels are only designed for sleeping after a night of sinning… no reason to spend money on a nice room…
I agree with the iced tea thing… whenever I'm in the U.S. I always forget and ordered one. Then I'm sitting there thinking, "How many times have I done this? Someone pass the frickin' sugar!" lol
That's actually not that bad. Back in January when I went to Vegas for Affiliate Summit West, I booked a hotel at the Imperial Palace.. didn't really care about quality since I was going alone and it was like $50 a night. Let's just say you get what you pay for… 😛
yeah honestly to get good hotel in vegas means you gotta be high roller or get booked in way early
Wow, $14.99 a day just for internet. All the hotels I've ever stayed in have internet for free, but then again they're not in vegas.
I just stayed at the double tree in Philadelphia last night. It was nice. Was on the 25 floor out of 26 and had an great view of the city. Our windows would open, but only about an inch as there was a stopper installed to stop the window from opening. Luckily someone before us didn't like that and had taken one of them off so we could open it more. Its awesome to be looking down the side of a building from 25 floors up.
Like you we had to pay for internet, and had the same looking connection as you did. The wire is short as hell. Its crazy how used to wireless i am now though. The internet there only cost $9.95 a day though.
Unfortunately we did not have have a refrigerator either. They did have awesome room service going on though. Items averaged in the $10-$13 range with a few special entres in the $20-$25 area.
and they had some pretty damn fast elevators too.
BTW you order a Sweet Tea if you want sugar in your tea. I know in the south east (ie. florida, georgia) suger is always in tea. I know in the north some don't know what sweet tea is. Im quite sure how the west does there tea tho.
You took the words out of my mouth. Here in Florida, you have to specify unsweetened tea, otherwise, your getting tea flavored sugar. A lot of places here don't even have unsweetened tea.
Thanks for the info on the resort, Tyler. I'll keep that in mind for my next trip out West.
OMG… the Monte Carlo is disappointing, 🙁 So, I have not been inside the Monte Carlo since last year. Do you recall the fire there earlier this year? No joke, there was a fire on the roof on one of the buildings there. However, that should not be cause for the icky décor. They really need to upgrade their décor. Make the most of it and looking forward to your house hunting vid. 🙂
Eesh, Tyler. Sorry but you are really piling on the beef.
I saw the video from John Chow.. and it was a very good room. Tyler, your room looks really simple.. but as you said, you got the cheapest room.. so not very amazed by the quality. I don't know what it's consider to be cheap in Las Vegas, anyway.
Why the double bed? You are staying with your girl…c'mon get the king and have some fun already.
The room is very basic, but I like the view. Anyways, have a nice stay in Vegas.
Sorry to hear that your hotel sucks. I'll make sure not to stay there when I go to Vegas. Nice work in the Cashinator.
Nice trips Tyler..
Hope you get something… -
You should have stayed at the New York New York hotel, they offer a few freebies and your more than likely to get a free upgrade. Plus their hotel is one of the nicest.
Internet access at the Wynn was $14.00 a day. I brought an air card so I didn't have to pay for internet access. If you start to travel more it would be worth paying the monthly fee for an air card.
The Monte Carlo is a middle-tier/lower-middle-tier hotel. As with most things, you get what you pay for. Adjust expectations accordingly. It always blows my mind when people stay at the Hampton Inn and expect the Ritz-Carlton. As for internet access, business hotels generally provide it for free. Hotels geared toward the leisure traveller generally charge for the service. It also depends on the specific market.
Is there a reason you used a travel agent? There's really no need anymore. You can book pretty much any flight (even complicated itineraries) and book any hotel online or over the phone.
Tea: In the US it is generally served unsweetened except in the South where it is commonly served sweetened unless you request otherwise.
That's a pretty big laptop you're lugging around. Maybe you should invest in something a little more portable?
I've never stayed at the Monte Carlo, but your review is pretty much in line with what I've heard through word of mouth. At the same time, so long as the room is reasonably clean and safe, who cares? It's Vegas. You only go to your room to shower and sleep.
Call me weird, but I almost prefer the unsweetened tea. The "iced tea" that is served up here is more like uncarbonated pop. What's really refreshing is iced Japanese green tea.
[…] go on all that many. This year Lisa and I went to the River Rock Casino Resort and then to Las Vegas in September for BlogWorld. Next summer I'll be going to the Philippines and I expect that to be a bit […]


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openNURBS 5 is an upgrade to the widely used openNURBS C++ and .NET toolkits. The openNURBS Initiative provides over 9,000 CAD, CAM, CAE, and computer graphics software developers the tools to accurately transfer 3D geometry between applications.
The openNURBS 5 toolkits now support all of the new features in Rhino 5 (and below) native 3DM file format including history, extrusions, annotation, meshes, and images.
The toolkit includes:
- C++ and .NET source code libraries to read and write Rhino 5, 4, 3, and 2 3DM files and read Rhino 1 files.
- The current Microsoft, Apple and Gnu compilers for Windows, Windows x64, Mac, and Linux are supported.
- NURBS evaluation routines.
- Documentation.
- Quality assurance and revision control.
- Free technical support.