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The Boyfriend Whisperer
Linda Budzinski
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: November 15th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
As President and CEO of Boyfriend Whisperer Enterprises, Lexi Malloy is Grand View High School's undercover Cupid. One problem: She's stuck in the friend zone when it comes to her own crush, Chris Broder. She and Chris have been best friends since the third grade, and he doesn't even seem to realize she's is a member of the opposite sex.
When pretty and popular cheerleader Lindsay LaRouche hires Lexi to whisper Chris, she has to decide whether to place her commitment to her company—and Chris's happiness—before herself.
I crank up Mumford & Sons on my iPod and pull up the Boyfriend Whisperer Enterprises files on my tablet. With Valentine's ten days away, I need to plot out some big moves for my clients. I start with Jolene. I watched Brendon staring at her this afternoon during the pep rally. He's falling hard. No need to play it subtle. He likes spicy food, so Red Hots are an obvious choice, in a heart-shaped tin. What should the card say? Something super flirty. "Let's heat it up on Valentine's." No … "spice it up." I jot that down and move on to my next client.
Just as I'm picking out a sweet YouTube link I want her to send her BF-to-be, Coach Reilly pulls my earbud out and scares me half to death.
"Malloy! I'm talking to you. What are you working on?"
I slam my tablet shut. "What? Homework. Sorry. What do you need?"
She shoves my backpack to the floor and plops down beside me. "Let's talk about tomorrow. We're expecting scouts from all over. Rumor has it someone from U Conn might even turn up."
She pauses as if to gauge my reaction, so I force a smile. "U Conn? Wow. That's great."
She leans in. "There'll be a lot of buzz in that arena. Parents, coaches, other players. They'll all be talking about the scouts and about you and your future. Here's the thing: You need to ignore them."
"Ignore them."
"Exactly. You have one job tomorrow, and that's to play the best game Alexis Malloy knows how to play. Run, pass, shoot, rebound. That's it. The rest is static. Ignore the static."
"Got it. Static."
Coach furrows her brow. "You nervous?"
"Maybe a little."
She pats my arm as she stands. "A little nervousness is good. You've got this, Malloy. You can do it."
I smile and slump back into my seat. The fact is, I'm not at all nervous. I only said that so she wouldn't launch into a lecture about being too cocky. She's forever vacillating between warning me not to be too nervous and not to be too cocky, when in reality, I'm neither. The truth is, when it comes to college scouts, I just wish they'd leave me alone.
Author Bio:
My young adult novels, EM & EM (2015) and THE FUNERAL SINGER (2013), were both published by Swoon Romance YA. My upcoming novel, THE BOYFRIEND WHISPERER, scheduled for publication in fall of 2016 by Swoon, received the Romance Writers of America Young Adult Chapter's 2015 Rosemary Award and the Virginia Chapter's 2015 Fool for Love Award.
I live in Northern Virginia with my husband, Joe, and our feisty chihuahua, Demitria (also known as Dee Dee, The Puppy, and Killer). I'm a sucker for romance and reality TV and have been known to turn off my phone's ringer when watching "The Bachelor."
My favorite flower is the daisy, my favorite food is chocolate, and my favorite song is "Amazing Grace."
When I'm not writing, I work in nonprofit management. I'm represented by the amazing Andrea Somberg of Harvey Klinger Inc.


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Corporate America has been on quite a run. Coming into 2021, S&P 500 Index companies were expected to generate less than $170 in earnings per share. As 2022 begins, it looks like that number may end up higher than the latest LPL Research estimate of $205, one of the biggest earnings upside surprises ever and a big reason why stocks did so well last year. But 2021 earnings are not yet fully in the books. We have one more quarter to go, which we preview here.
Big banks kick us off
Fourth quarter earnings season kicks off this week with earnings from several big financials, including BlackRock, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo reporting on Friday, January 14. This week just seven S&P 500 constituents report, but another 40 will announce results the following week (January 17-21) and 99 the week after that (January 24-28).
We welcome the shift from the macro to the micro where companies can continue to showcase their ability to effectively manage through the pandemic challenges, notably the supply chain disruptions and labor and materials shortages that are pushing costs higher.
What to expect
We expect another good earnings season overall in which companies continue to beat expectations in aggregate and produce solid growth. Consensus estimates are calling for a year-over-year increase in S&P 500 earnings in the fourth quarter of about 22% [Figure 1]. The long-term average upside surprise of around five percentage points makes 27% a reasonable target, but given earnings beat estimates by 12 percentage points last quarter, the number could be higher. Earnings growth approaching 30%, though slower than the third quarter's nearly 40% clip, would be impressive given the challenging operating environment.
We see several reasons to remain optimistic for this earnings season. First, estimates have been rising. Since the end of October 2021, the consensus estimate for fourth quarter S&P 500 EPS has increased 3.3%.
Second, manufacturing activity has remained healthy based on purchasing managers' surveys—the U.S. Institute for Supply Management (ISM) manufacturing index averaged a very strong 60.2 in the fourth quarter— in both the headline number and the new orders component. Additionally, in the December report there were signs of lower input prices and some easing of supply chain disruptions.
Third, we expect the COVID-19 Omicron variant to have limited impact on demand, i.e., revenue, in the quarter. The Bloomberg-tracked consensus forecast for gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the fourth quarter is 5.2% year over year. Add a consumer price index (CPI) increase of over 6% year over year and it's easy to see how 12.7% revenue growth, the current consensus, is possible. Remember, higher prices end up as more revenue for someone, as higher costs are passed along to customers. That's why equities have preserved their value through inflationary periods over time.
At the same time, there are some reasons to be concerned about less upside and more shortfalls. The Omicron variant did slow economic activity in December. And the ratio of negative pre-announcements to positives (1.7) has been more negative than the prior quarter's ratio of 0.8, according to Refinitiv data.
What we're watching
Margins, margins, margins. We will continue to watch for signs of pressure on profit margins from rising costs of labor, materials, and transportation. We came away from third quarter earnings season with the impression that most supply chain issues would be resolved by midyear. Any information contrary to that could influence the market's response to results and direction of analysts' earnings estimates for 2022.
Wages are key. Wages are the single biggest component of companies' costs, so we will be looking for confidence from companies that wage pressures are manageable. We anticipate higher wages will soon start to eat into profit margins, as productivity gains from technology investments (i.e., doing more with less) can only go so far. We would like to see more workers enter the labor force to help contain wage increases, which are already running above 4% annualized.
Ability to pass on higher costs. We'll also be interested to hear companies' comments on the stickiness of price increases. If customers are starting to balk at higher prices, we may see some impact on demand and therefore revenue in coming quarters.
Earnings outlook for 2022
As we discussed in Outlook 2022: Passing the Baton, we expect a very favorable revenue environment in the coming year, with potential above-average economic growth and price increases. Revenue growth has historically been closely tied to nominal GDP growth (real "inflation–adjusted" GDP growth plus inflation). Our 4–4.5% real GDP growth forecast for next year, plus at least a few percentage points of inflation, puts 7% revenue growth in play, which is where consensus is currently.
But margins are the tricky part. If they are stable—no small task—then a double-digit percentage increase in S&P 500 earnings per share (EPS) is possible. That would put S&P 500 EPS near $230 in 2022 and well above our current forecast of $220 [Figure 2].
But higher costs from COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions and materials and labor shortages are unfortunately not going away anytime soon. Wages are on the rise (average hourly earnings in Friday's employment report rose 4.7% year over year, well above the 4.2% that was expected). And COVID-19 is still slowing economic activity. So, we prefer to be a bit more cautious for now and keep our S&P 500 EPS below-consensus forecast at $220, about 7% above our already conservative 2021 estimate of $205.
We believe a continued economic expansion in 2023 as the impacts of COVID-19 fade, along with only a small potential hit from tax increases, will get us to $235 in S&P 500 EPS next year. That assumes a scaled-down version of Build Back Better with some tax increases passes. If it doesn't, which we see as less likely, there won't be any tax drag, introducing some upside potential to earnings next year.
Look for 5,000 on the S&P 500 in 2022
Despite the Fed's accelerated tightening timetable, we continue to believe the S&P 500 will reach 5,000 in 2022. Earnings will have to do the heavy lifting to get us there with valuations elevated, though we believe a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) in the 21–22 range is fair even if interest rates move modestly higher—that gets us to 5,000+ by year-end 2022.
As the market continues to adjust to tighter monetary policy and factors in the still uncertain path of COVID-19, more volatility is likely. But that doesn't change our enthusiasm for stocks here, especially relative to bonds, powered by solid earnings gains, the likelihood that COVID-19 risks fade as the year progresses, and our belief that inflation will be manageable in the latter part of this year.
Click here to download a PDF of this report.
This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. There is no assurance that the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. Any economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and are subject to change.
References to markets, asset classes, and sectors are generally regarding the corresponding market index. Indexes are unmanaged statistical composites and cannot be invested into directly. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment and does not reflect fees, expenses, or sales charges. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results.
Any company names noted herein are for educational purposes only and not an indication of trading intent or a solicitation of their products or services. LPL Financial doesn't provide research on individual equities.
All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.
U.S. Treasuries may be considered "safe haven" investments but do carry some degree of risk including interest rate, credit, and market risk. Bonds are subject to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rates rise and bonds are subject to availability and change in price.
The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P500) is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries.
The PE ratio (price-to-earnings ratio) is a measure of the price paid for a share relative to the annual net income or profit earned by the firm per share. It is a financial ratio used for valuation: a higher PE ratio means that investors are paying more for each unit of net income, so the stock is more expensive compared to one with lower PE ratio.
Earnings per share (EPS) is the portion of a company's profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock. EPS serves as an indicator of a company's profitability. Earnings per share is generally considered to be the single most important variable in determining a share's price. It is also a major component used to calculate the price-to-earnings valuation ratio.
All index data from FactSet.
This research material has been prepared by LPL Financial LLC.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Redating the Dead Sea Scroll Deposits at Qumran: the Legacy of an error in Archaeological Interpretation
Abstract: There was no actual basis for de Vaux�s confidence in 1952 (when he announced the first excavation findings from Qumran) that the scrolls of Cave 1 had been deposited as late as the first century CE, since the dating of a "scroll jar" found in locus 2 was uncertain. A distinct, earlier first-century BCE occupation at Qumran was discovered by de Vaux in the second excavation season in 1953. Yet the perception of certainty surrounding the First Revolt deposit date for the scroll deposits have remained to the present day. In fact it has never been soundly established that texts found in the Qumran caves were composed, copied, or deposited in the caves later than the time of Qumran�s Period Ib in the first century BCE. The dating of the Qumran text deposits is a classic example of an unfounded scholarly paradigm filtering subsequent perception of data (archaeological, palaeographic, and radiocarbon), creating illusions of independent corroboration.
In it, he cites my last comment here on his theory and says I missed the article "The Stabilization of the Biblical Text in the Light of Qumran and Masada: A Challenge for Conventional Qumran Chronology?" by Ian Young in Dead Sea Discoveries 9 (2002): 364-90 (the online version requires a personal or institutional paid subscription to access). As soon as I get time, which probably won't be as soon as I would like, I'll have a look at it.
UPDATE (7 June): More here.


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Largest City - Atlanta
Population - 9,829,211
Timezone - Eastern Time
Study in Georgia
International students interested in studying in Georgia often have a good sense of what it is they are looking to get out of their United States study abroad experience, not the least of which is lower cost of living and the experience of traditional American southern living. They may have already done research into specific graduate programs at one of Georgia's many reputable institutions of higher learning, such as the University of West Georgia (Carrollton, GA), Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA), Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA), Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus (Atlanta, GA), and University of Georgia (Athens, GA).
For example, the University of West Georgia, offers students a rural and historical atmosphere. Founded in 1909, the university was named a Best Southeastern College by The Princeton Review. UWG offers students the opportunity to enroll in the state's only Honors College and provides students with over 106 programs of study—55 at the bachelor's level and 36 at the master's level. International students looking to get involved also have many options from the 150 different student organizations to the intercollegiate athletics available right on campus.
Not only have international students in Georgia (coming from countries all over the world, including Brazil, India, and Latvia) been successful in securing technology leadership scholarships for women at Georgia State University, growing numbers of international students interested in studying in Georgia from China are also showing increasing interest in living in this state, especially after learning about Peking University's agreement with the Georgia universities of Emory and Georgia Technical Institute to create of a joint biomedical engineering program. The coming together of these highly reputable biomedical programs not only produces wonderful windfall for domestic and international students in Georgia interested in this field of study specifically, it also serves as a unique precedent in the effort to create globally recognized and internationally respected 'world-class' PhD programs.
If you need additional funding to study in Georgia, explore financial resource options like scholarships and loans.
In many ways, moving to the state of Georgia is a choice of 'wisdom and moderation' (as their state motto cleverly suggests) for international students. The cost of living in Georgia is very reasonable compared to other U.S. States. While there are not as many 'in-your-face' distractions in this low-key, family-oriented state, there are still plenty of wonderful weekend activities and mini-trips that can be planned! International students in Georgia will often pick a long weekend to go explore some aspect of the charming and quaint city of Savannah, for example. Savannah's downtown area, which includes the Savannah Victorian Historic District, is among the most notable National Historic Landmark Districts within the United States. The Savannah Historic District boasts a rich history and breath-taking, southern-inspired architectural beauty that continues to attract millions of visitors each year! In fact, international students interested in studying in Georgia may want to check out this recent release by the New York Times, suggesting their own recommendations of exciting things to do if planning a weekend visit to the city of Savannah (see http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/07/01/travel/01hours.html).
Of course, international students who study in Georgia may desire a little less family-oriented of a city setting, in which case the city of Atlanta in Georgia may be the fast-paced, cosmopolitan atmosphere you are searching for (whenever a break from the books is needed). Besides boasting an active and exciting nightlife scene, the city of Atlanta also hosts the Georgia Aquarium, currently the world's largest aquarium (and definitely a worthwhile visit for international students in Georgia)! Atlanta certainly holds its own as a major U.S. city (with all the trappings of a big city) and Atlanta International Airport remains one of the busiest and most high traffic airports in the world! For international students interested in studying in Georgia, close proximity to this travel hub is just another practical benefit to making such a move. Finally, there are plenty of justifiable three-day weekend excursions to be had in order to visit other great Georgia locales including the cities of Macon (home of the state capital) and Stone Mountain (home of Georgia's gorgeous Stone Mountain Park), as well as any of Florida's world famous beaches and the historic city of New Orleans, LA (home of Mardi Gras). Georgia offers international students the ideal opportunity to balance work and play, on a budget, while offering plenty of opportunities to enjoy the best of both of these worlds, thereby making the most of their U.S. study abroad experience.
For more information and to search schools to study in Georgia, and to contact them for free for further information, please visit the Study in the USA School Search.


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For 2015, retail, mail, and specialty pharmacies dispensed about $98 billion in specialty pharmaceuticals. Though market share was concentrated among the top companies, even I can't count the total number of pharmacies dispensing specialty drugs, since any pharmacy can designate itself a "specialty pharmacy."
A useful proxy for the number of active specialty pharmacies comes from our exclusive analysis of the two primary pharmacy accreditation organizations. We found nearly 400 pharmacy locations than had specialty pharmacy accreditation. As the second chart below shows, the number of accredited specialty pharmacies is still booming.
Specialty pharmacy accreditation is becoming the promised land for pharmacies that want to participate in the networks developed by manufacturers and third-party payers. As more pharmacies can prove that they are special, will that mean that no one is?
Chapter 3 of our new 2016 Economic Report on Retail, Mail, and Specialty Pharmacies analyzes specialty drugs and specialty market participants. Pharmacies dispensing specialty drugs are operated by such organizations as pharmacy benefit managers, retail chains, health plans, pharmaceutical wholesalers, physician practices, and hospital systems. There are also many independent specialty pharmacies.
This diversity reflects that fact that any pharmacy can focus its business on self-administered specialty pharmaceuticals covered under a patient's pharmacy insurance benefit. Furthermore, some specialty products are in open distribution and can be dispensed by any licensed pharmacy. As the Valeant-Philidor Rx darkness on the edge of town revealed, even pharmacies that don't dispense specialty drugs can pretend to be specialty pharmacies.
Accreditation measures a pharmacy's capabilities and performance on such metrics as business management, pharmacy operations, patient care, and other items. Accreditation helps define specialty pharmacy services and creates a pathway by which any pharmacy can build specialty pharmacy capabilities. Independent accreditation organizations help pharmacies develop and verify their capabilities to manufacturers and third-party payers.
The two major specialty pharmacy accreditation organizations are the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) and the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). Both URAC and ACHC also have other accreditations beyond specialty pharmacy.
In 2012, three pharmacy organizations—the American Pharmacists Association, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists—established The Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA). In 2015, this new nonprofit organization published specialty pharmacy practice standards. CPPA has accredited very few pharmacies to date.
The major accreditation organizations have standards that are similar but not identical. Broadly, accreditation assesses a pharmacy's structure, processes, and performance in four areas: (1) organization and administration, (2) pharmacy operations, (3) clinical management, and (4) quality reporting and improvement.
Our proxy for the number of active specialty pharmacies comes from the two primary accreditation organizations. We downloaded each group's full list of accredited locations and then painstakingly identified locations that appear in both lists. We excluded CPPA because all of its accredited locations already appear on the other lists.
As of January 2016, our exclusive analysis identified 378 unique pharmacy locations that have achieved specialty pharmacy accreditation from URAC and ACHC. (See chart below.) About one-quarter of these pharmacy locations are accredited by both organizations. The companies accredited by ACHC (but not URAC) are more likely to be independent specialty pharmacies that also have an infusion business.
[Click to Enlarge]
Almost 60% of all accredited specialty pharmacy locations are independently owned businesses. The remaining locations are owned by PBMs, healthcare providers, retail chains, and pharmaceutical wholesalers. See Exhibit 37 in our new report for a detailed breakdown (or just look at the pictures on the wall of Candy's room).
A proxy for growth in self-designated specialty pharmacies comes from the number of locations with URAC's Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation, which began in 2008. The exhibit below shows the locations accredited in each year along with cumulative accreditations. By the end of 2015, 250 specialty pharmacy locations had achieved "Full Accreditation" from URAC. We project that this growth will continue, with total URAC accreditations reaching about 400 locations by the end of 2016.
[Click to Enlarge]
The business of accreditation is now a fast-growing industry. This means accreditors are behaving as if they are profit-maximizing companies, even if they are notionally "non-profit."
URAC appears to be growing its accreditation business faster than ACHC. But URAC also claims to have "created" pharmacy accreditation. In reality, ACHC accredited its first specialty pharmacy (Priority Healthcare) in 2000—eight years before URAC made its first accreditation. If dreams came true, oh, wouldn't that be nice.
DCI's research analyst moonlights in a band. (He tells me that I raised a Cain, whatever that means.) Click here if you can't see the video.


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Live Wire Professional 16 offers "Gut-like performance in a multifilament string." Includes 50% more Live Wire Iso-Elastic Fibers, which increases resiliency and elasticity, and 20% more High Impact Urethane Resin for improved vibration dampening. PEEK Abrasion Resistant Fibers help increase string life and contribute to a crisp, solid feel.
- Gauge: 16/1.32mm
- Length: 40ft/12.2m
- Composition: Multifilament
- Color: Natural


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This pricey gadget could sniff out uninvited AirTags to keep you safe
3 min readSmall cybersecurity firm Berkeley Varitronics Systems (BVS) may soon have a solution to the Apple AirTag stalking problem through its BlueSleuth-Lite detector.
It works by detecting "all major BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) trackers" including the aforementioned AirTags, Galaxy Smart Tags, plus future devices that'll support the standard like earbuds. If multiple gadgets are detected nearby, the BlueSleuth's screen will list them out "according to signal strength" with trackers being given the highest priority. Users will see the misplaced item's name, company icon, and when it was last detected on the screen. It won't tell you exactly where a tracker can be found, but you should locate suspicious devices by using the signal strength as a barometer.
The BlueSleuth-Lite itself "is small enough to fit" in the palm of your hand. Inside is a lithium-ion battery with enough charge to last a full day supporting both wired and wireless charging. Operation is simple, according to BVS. The company states it comes with a "two-way rocker/push button" that can be used to navigate through BlueSleuth's menu to find trackers or configure its settings. BVS states its detector has a maximum range of 75 feet, however, you can adjust the BlueSleuth-Lite's sensitivity so it only sniffs out trackers close to you. Given its small size, you can fit it on a keychain and take the detector with you everywhere you go.
Stalking problem
Originally, Bluetooth trackers like the Apple AirTag were designed to help people find lost or stolen items. However, over the past couple of years or so, there have been numerous reports of these devices being misused as an "inexpensive, effective" way to stalk people. Apple has introduced anti-stalking features giving iPhone owners a way to detect uninvited AirTags on their person, but it isn't perfect. BVS claims warning notifications may take hours or even days "after the tracker has already been hidden" to reach your phone. Plus, Android devices can't detect AirTags without a third-party app so those users are out of luck if someone drops one on them. And there's the possibility that an uninvited AirTag has had its speaker removed so the alarm won't sound off.
There are so many ways bad actors can get around current barriers. With the BlueSleuth-Lite, these flaws in BLE trackers are seemingly addressed. You don't need a third-party app, it vibrates to alert people, and it can, assuming it works as promised, immediately identify hidden tags.
The launch date for the BlueSleuth-Lite appears to be set for June 2023. Prior to this, BVS had a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to create the detector. The goal has already been met, however, there's a bit of room left for additional backers. Pledging $499 (around £411 / AU$765) with net you a single BlueSleuth-Lite with the higher tiers offering more units. Unfortunately, BVS states the price tag will probably jump an extra 25 percent to cover additional development. Doing the math, the BlueSleuth-Lite could go for over $600 (around £494 / AU$898) at launch.
So, definitely an expensive piece of equipment. If you're looking for a more affordable way to protect your privacy, be sure to check out TechRadar's list of the best privacy tools for 2023.


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Free Canada Wide Shipping on Orders $150+
Boiron's Tubes (or Single medicines) are known and registered by their Latin name, resulting in a common international nomenclature. In Canada, they are available in varying dilutions and have no mention of a therapeutic indication. These medicines may be used in the framework of individualized treatment that might involve different pathologies and are based on the patient's specific symptoms. They are generally recommended by health care practitioners and information relevant to one's symptoms can be researched with specialized books or articles.
Each tube contains 4 g (approximately 80 pellets).
Non-medicinal ingredients: Sucrose and lactose.


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Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 + is a daily moisturizer that subtly evens out skin tone and gives the skin a gorgeous, healthy glow with the benefits of SPF 30 sun protection.
The sheer formula blends seamlessly and is boosted with a universal mineral tint. It provides a powerful blend of free radical-scavenging antioxidants to mitigate the effects of sun and environmental exposure.


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Let's hear it for the ladies.
In all my years of drawing up records-of-the-year lists, I've never seen the X chromosome so well represented as on my tally for 2007. My top 10 includes four female solo artists, two all-gal bands and one female-fronted troupe. If I'd extended my list to include 20 discs, readers would see another five to seven ladies included in the mix.
Granted, I probably wouldn't bat an eye if the gender quotient was reversed and males dominated the list. That's because, for better or worse, the rock world is still pretty much dominated by guys. Yet, it's nice to have a year like 2007 to help balance the scales.
Overall, there weren't as many truly great records this year as there were in 2006. Last year, I found myself seriously considering maybe seven records for the top spot on my list, before finally deciding upon Johnny Cash's "American V: A Hundred Highways.'' That wasn't the case in 2007, where, in this critic's book, one record stood well apart from the rest of the pack.
So, without further adieu, let's drop the needle on the best records of 2007.
1, "Learn to Sing Like a Star,'' Kristin Hersh (Yep Roc)
The Throwing Muses leader rocks out to the accompaniment of violin and cello, something that no one could have predicted based solely on such early Muses masterworks as 1988's "House Tornado,'' and the result is the album of the year. Hersh's voice has changed over the decades and she's no longer able to hit the same type of banshee-like screams heard in her younger days. She's replaced those gut-wrenching notes with an exquisite depth of voice and a level of maturity as a songwriter that has taken Hersh into a whole new peer group. Hersh's Throwing Muses were one of the most significant early architects of alt-rock, of equally importance as the Pixies and Husker Du, and it's time that she got her full due. There's no better time for that recognition to begin than with this amazing record.
2, "The Bird of Music,'' Au Revoir Simone (Our Secret Record Company)
I'm a sucker for twee, catchy chamber pop. This offering from the Brooklyn trio Au Revoir Simone _ a band name that references a key phrase in director Tim Burton's "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure'' _ is the best chamber-pop album I've heard since Isobel Campbell's "Amorino,'' which ranked as my top disc of 2003. The three ladies _ Erika Forster, Annie Hart and Heather D'Angelo _ combine their voices in hypnotic fashion and the result is quite addictive. "The Bird of Music'' was almost impossible to get out of my CD changer for a good portion of the year. It will be interesting to hear how the band sounds live when it performs on Jan. 26 at the Independent in San Francisco.
3, "At the End of Paths Taken,'' Cowboy Junkies (Zoe)
Vocalist Margo Timmins could simply pick up a Chinese menu, sing the names of the entrees and still make a crowd melt. On this album, the singer is presented with her strongest batch of material in years, courtesy of her songwriting sibling Michael Timmins, and the result is both alluring and captivating. This bluesy, dreamy collection ranks right up there with the Cowboys' finest. More than 20 years after the debut "Whites Off Earth Now!!,'' the Timmins clan clearly still has what it takes to turn listeners into Junkies junkies.
4, "Volta,'' Bjork (Atlantic)
Arguably the most innovative major artist on the planet, Bjork keeps delivering wonderful albums that delight in the most fascinatingly diverse ways. She channels Led Zeppelin and Rage Against the Machine as she rocks like mad through the anthem "Declare Independence,'' combines forces with vocalist Antony Hegarty (front man of Antony and the Johnsons) on the achingly beautiful ballad "The Dull Flame of Desire'' and kicks up her heels on the techno-dance extravaganza "Earth Intruders.'' As always, I can't wait to see what she does next.
5, "Last of the Breed,'' Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Ray Price (Lost Highway)
Talk about an appropriate album title _ Nelson, Haggard and Price are certainly the "Last of the Breed.'' When they're gone, which hopefully won't be any time soon, country music will be a very desolate and depressing place to visit. Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill and Toby Keith aren't really the modern equivalent of this trio. No review of this sensational two-disc set will serve it better than to simply underscore the artists involved, all of whom rank among American music's greatest performers. Suffice it to say that the three vocalists sound as strong as they have in years in this collection of new collaborations.
6, "Back to Black,'' Amy Winehouse (Universal Republic)
Winehouse was the one new sensation that managed to live up to "the next big thing'' hype in 2007. Unfortunately, she also managed to live up (or, perhaps, down) to all the clichés that go along with being a so-called overnight sensation. As the year progressed, she became known as much for her hard-partying lifestyle as she was for catchy songs like "Rehab.'' That's a shame, since "Back to Black'' so clearly shows that Winehouse has the potential to be one of the finest old-school R&B-soul singers of this generation.
7, "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank,'' Modest Mouse (Epic)
Although not quite reaching of the heights of its two previous albums _ 2000's "The Moon and Antarctica'' and 2004's "Good News For People Who Love Bad News _ Modest Mouse still managed to release the most compelling alt-rock record of the year. The band continues to balance both parts of the phrase "art rock'' better than just about anybody in the business. This album is heady, thoughtful and conceptual, but never at the expense of missing the adrenaline rush that should come from rocking guitar, bass and drums. New guitarist Johnny Marr (the Smiths) proves to be a perfect fit with the Mouse here.
8, "We Are the Pipettes,'' the Pipettes (Cherrytree)
Thanks to bands like Tool, Rage Against the Machine and Linkin Park, it's easy to forget that popular music can be as fun as a day at the water park and as sweet as a lick of a lollypop. The gorgeous ladies in the Pipettes _ Rosay, RiotBecki and Gwenno _ served as this year's most delicious reminder as they released an album buzzing with sugary highs. The sound, both nostalgic and modern, is an amazing update of such '60s girl groups as Ronettes, the Shangri-Las and the Chiffons. The album contains the year's best single in "Pull Shapes,'' as well as (I kid you not) 15 other worthwhile tunes.
9, "Light Your Light,'' Toots and the Maytals (Fantasy)
While we're in the mood for some really fun music, let's slip on the year's finest reggae/ska release. Jamaican vocalist Toots Hibbert and his band of Maytals have been a roll in recent years, having won the 2005 Best Reggae Album Grammy for "True Love,'' and the good times continue with this record. Toots' place in the history books has been secure since the late '60s, but he's clearly not content to sit back and rest on his laurels. This album is the work of a player who is still improving his game.
10, "The Story,'' Brandi Carlile (Columbia)
The media has long been eyeing this folksy rocker, named to Rolling Stone's "10 Artists to Watch'' list in 2005, and she finally reached (then surpassed) expectations this year. It took some substantial help from star-producer T Bone Burnett, who did a wonderful job in setting Carlile up for success. The album is strong from start to finish and it features bluesy Bonnie Raitt-style numbers, folk-pop gems and radio-friendly rockers, all of which the singer handles with equal aplomb.
Most disappointing:
1, "Icky Thump,'' the White Stripes (Warner Bros.)
It's a good thing that the band pulled the plug on its tour and is taking a break from the action. Maybe, Jack and Meg will use the time to come up with good ideas for how to make their music interesting. They certainly have enough bad ideas, too many of which are showcased on "Icky Thump.''
2, "A New Journey,'' Celtic Woman (Manhattan)
As a man of Irish descent, I'd like to think I speak for everyone with roots that reach to the Emerald Isle _ except, maybe, bankers and accountants _ and plead that this PBS-sponsored musical monstrosity stop this instant. The Celtic Woman brigade is worse than "Riverdance,'' which is really saying something.
3, "Chinese Democracy,'' Guns N' Roses (In Axl's Imagination Records)
Axl Rose said that "Chinese Democracy'' _ a work that's been in production for more than a decade _ would finally hit stores earlier this year. Funny. I didn't receive a copy. That must be an oversight on my behalf, since Rose is known _ above all else _ as a man of his word and there's no way he would lie to fans once again.


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School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
Program in Fisheries
B.A., B.s., M.S., Ph.D. Degrees
Minimum Requirements for Degrees: M.S.: 30 credits; Ph.D.: 18 thesis credits
Graduate degree program students attend classes and work with faculty in Juneau and/or Fairbanks. Academic programs can be developed in one of the following subject areas: fisheries management (Juneau and Fairbanks), fish/invertebrate biology (Juneau and Fairbanks) and aquaculture (Juneau). Research assistantships are available. Applicants should contact the fisheries program for further information and application forms.
Fairbanks' geographic location is advantageous for the study of interior Alaska aquatic habitats. A number of subarctic streams and lakes are within easy reach. Main access to the marine environment from the Fairbanks campus is in Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet.
The Juneau Center, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, houses the UAF fisheries science program in southeast Alaska. The Juneau Center has well-equipped labs, including freshwater and seawater wet labs and computer labs. There is ready access to both marine and freshwater habitats. The Juneau Center is located near the Auke Bay National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory north of Juneau. The Fishery Industrial Technology Center is located in Kodiak. It has new facilities for work in harvest technology, seafood technology, seafood biochemistry and microbiology.
Fisheries students in Fairbanks and Juneau have an opportunity to associate with personnel of federal and state conservation agencies These agencies often hire students for summer field work.
Graduate Program — M.S. Degree
- Complete the following admission requirements:
- Prerequisites: calculus, elementary statistics, ichthyology or invertebrate zoology and computer competency.
- Submit GRE scores.
- Complete the general university requirements.
- Complete the master's degree requirements.
- Complete the following:
FISH F699—Thesis—6 – 12 credits
STAT F401—Regression and Analysis of Variance—4 credits
Electives including at least one:
FISH F421—Fisheries Population Dynamics—4 credits
FISH F601—Quantitative Fishery Science—3 credits
FISH F621—Advanced Fish Population Dynamics—4 credits
FISH F622—Advanced Fish Population Dynamics II—4 credits
Graduate seminars—2 credits - Minimum credits required—30 credits
Note: Students working in subject areas involving significant non-English literature may be expected to read the appropriate foreign language.
Graduate Program — Ph.D. Degree
- Complete the following admission requirement:
- Complete a master's degree in a fisheries-related field.
- Submit GRE scores.
- Complete the general university requirements.
- Complete the Ph.D. degree requirements.
- Complete at least one year of full-time course work, as approved by the student's advisory committee.
- Complete a thesis.
- Minimum credits required—18 credits


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By Jim Purpura. Posted April 24, 2012, 8:15 PM.A storm developing over the Pacific is coming our way, and will bring a change to the weather over the next few days. Today's increasing high and middle clouds heralded the approach of the storm. The main part of the storm is still several hundred miles out to sea, but the fetch of tropical moisture will help it rain well before the storm's center reaches the coast. This storm is a bit different than the storms this past winter, since it is one of only a few to have a subtropical tap of moisture. Light showers could begin as early as Wednesday morning, but the main activity will be late afternoon and evening Wednesday as the best storm lift and moisture, combined with adequate instability, will combine to produce elevated thunderstorms which could move onshore from the coast. The heaviest rain will fall in showers and thunderstorms Wednesday night and early Thursday. Clouds will continue with a few showers into the day Thursday. Rainfall amounts will be quite variable in showers and storms, but will generally be from 1/2 to 1 inch total. A few locations should see around 1 1/2 inches of rain in the form of heavy showers and thunderstorms. |
Other Recent Weather News for San Diego (City Heights), California


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Tarmac and Asphalt Driveways Balinteer
Trusted Tarmac and Asphalt Installation in Balinteer
Are you looking for a Tarmac (Tarmacadam) and Asphalt contractor in South Dublin? Tarmac and Asphalt are two of the most widely used materials for construction roads, driveways, paths, and walkways, Interestingly, these materials resemble each other in appearance and function, but they have several differences.
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Although the asphalt mixture resembles tarmac, it is devoid of external materials making it more hardwearing. Both Asphalt and tarmac are used to make driveways, pavements, paths, and road surfaces.
Click here for more Tarmac Services South Dublin
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Clan Donnachaidh DNA Project
Robertson, Duncan, Reid, Donachie, McConnochie
Photo of –
The Five Sisters
Photo of –
The Five Sisters
The Donnachaidh DNA Project is sponsored by the Clan Donnachaidh Society in Bruar, Perthshire, Scotland. Bruar is located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands:
A land rich in its peoples, culture, music, and history….
A land of stark extremes and awe inspiring natural beauty….
A land that has provided a hearty stock of emigrants that have settled lands around the world….
A land whose people have been at the forefront of many of the world's scientific, industrial, political, social, and religious developments….
A land whose Diasporas longs to find, to feel, and to learn about the land of its roots….
Come by the hills to the land where fancy is free
And stand where the peaks meet the sky and the rocks reach the sea
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken is gold in the sun
And cares of tomorrow must wait till this day is done.
Come by the hills to the land where life is a song
And sing while the birds fill the air with their joy all day long
Where the trees sway in time, and even the wind sings in tune
And cares of tomorrow must wait till this day is done.
Come by the hills to the land where legend remains
Where stories of old stir the heart and may yet come again
Where the past has been lost and the future is still to be won
And cares of tomorrow must wait till the day is done.
Come by the Hills, Traditional Gaelic:
The Donnachaidh DNA Project is all about family…… family history and genealogical research, the corresponding and sharing of information, and the joy of sharing our common family bonds.
The project utilizes the newest tool, genetics, as a way to reach beyond the many roadblocks and brick walls that have prevented us from reaching further back into our family history.
We have developed this website as a point of public contact for the Donnachaidh DNA Project and as a site for persons with DNA test results from any testing company.
We will strive to explain, teach, and educate interested researchers about this world of DNA and how DNA can help with our family history research.
We will attempt to provide as much information and analysis of results as we can. This DNA website will always be a work in progress for we will be adding many more features as we go. We invite you to visit us often as we bring on line these new features and much data that we have compiled to date within the project. Note: for best results this website will work and look best using an updated browser such as Firefox, Safari, Chrome, or Internet Explorer 7 or higher.
Please understand that this is a collaborative research project.
We also look forward to hearing any of your comments, suggestions, and ideas that will help us meet your needs and better explain the project.
Again, Thank you for joining us on this adventure of ours!
Project Administrators:
Tim Duncan, and Stephanie Robertson
PS: We would like very much to acknowledge Alvin McDaniel for his dedication, enthusiasm, and knowledge in the development of this website. Alvin's untimely passing has saddened us all, but he will be remembered as his memory lives on through his work.


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- COZY - A special blend of comfort and fun, these plush materials are soft to the touch and will keep you warm during those cold winter months. The button-up closure allows you to quickly get dressed while the loose fit gives you the flexibility to easily wear over your existing clothes or jacket.
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- SIZING - Available in sizes Small through X-Large fitting adult heights from 4'9" to 6'2" - Sizes are approximately as follows: (Small) 4'9"-5'2" (Medium) 5'3"-5'6" (Large) 5'7"-5'10" (X-Large) 5'11"-6'2")
- What You Get: Ring-tailed Cosplay Monkey. If you have any questions before or after you order, just contact us for friendly customer service.


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Wenatchee River Cabin
© Wittman Estes
We believe architecture should be based on connection to nature and experience, not about making new shapes and precious objects. Dwellings should be innovative and experimental, but also comfortable and cozy. Housing and landscapes should be modern and refined, but also have depth and richness of material and detail.
Wittman Estes came from the realization that in our cities and surroundings, buildings and landscapes were being designed as separate entities. The rapid densification of American cities, and our carbon footprint and environmental concerns were at the forefront of people's minds, but the way buildings were designed was stuck in the past. Modern housing, despite its ambition to elevate quality of life, was too often internalized and object focused, and was in sharp contrast to people's love of nature and a lifestyle that valued a connection to the outdoors.
We set out to offer clients an integrated design process, focusing on the play of natural light, smooth thresholds between inside and outside, a richness of natural materials, and most importantly, how people live in and experience the built spaces they inhabit. We are a dedicated team of architects and designers focused on bringing your project from concept through finished construction and lived reality. We have built a collaborative community of allied professionals to design, permit, and build projects with the goal of bringing the highest quality finished product for the least cost and fastest timeline.
Based in Seattle, the firm was founded by Matt Wittman and Jody Estes in 2012. Since then a team of talented designers have worked together with forward thinking clients on unique sites to deliver the best possible architecture and landscape design working from a studio in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood.
- Kategorie
- Architekten
- Standort
- Seattle
- Mitarbeiter
- 7
- Website
- www.wittman-estes.com


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Computers > Hardware > Keyboards >
A 92-key wireless keyboard+mouse combination.
With a lithium-ion battery and charging cable, broad compatibility and tiny-but-functional size, this is an inexpensive and handy device.
- mouse:
- keyboard:
- Although the box is labelled
, there is no indication of this being a "Rii" - Not well tested, but strongly triggers MF sensitivity in my left hand.
- There are alternate versions of this keyboard: colours, Russian character set, and a 2x AA battery-operated one.
I did not require a driver installation for Windows 10.


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HONOLULU — Deion Sanders is giving Jerry Rice one concession as Pro Bowl week begins: The record-setting wide receiver will call the coin toss Tuesday that starts the process of picking teams.
Besides that, the Hall of Fame cornerback claims he has the upper hand under the game's new schoolyard-style format.
"I think it is going to be a blowout," Sanders said. "I don't think Jerry has strategized."
Rice's response: "That's not going to happen. I have a pretty good mindset of where I want to go."
The Rice-Sanders rivalry is just one of several moves the NFL is using to try to rekindle interest in the Pro Bowl, set for Sunday in Hawaii. The game has been criticized as too lax in recent years by fans and even Commissioner Roger Goodell, putting the future of the game in question.
The biggest change — a two-day draft on Tuesday and Wednesday that will determine teams in a new "unconferenced" game — responds by targeting player egos and fan love for fantasy football.
Instead of briefly mentioning a player's accomplishments during a quick cameo in the all-star game, Rice and Sanders will make choices that reveal the players they believe to be the best among the best — even all-stars don't want to be picked last in a game with no bad players.
"You want to embrace good-natured ribbing and chop busting," said Mike Muriano, senior coordinating producer at NFL Network, which is running the draft and televising its second part live.
The league was announcing replacements throughout Monday for players missing the game because of injury or the Super Bowl. Andrew Luck of Indianapolis and Nick Foles of Philadelphia are replacing the quarterbacks in the Super Bowl, Denver's Peyton Manning and Seattle's Russell Wilson. Running backs Eddie Lacy and Alfred Morris will step in for Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch, while Alshon Jeffery and Larry Fitzgerald replace Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas.
Rice and Sanders aren't being too specific about how they'll make their picks, though Sanders has said he doesn't want any Pro Bowlers on his team who have played in more than four all-star games.
"You want what you want," Sanders said. "I know the guys that are going to cover. No matter what, they're not cutting no deals."
Rice said he's not paying Sanders too much attention because his former 49ers teammate could be trying to misdirect him.
"That might be his strategy — he might go the opposite way and try to select some veterans," Rice said.
Rice and Sanders have done plenty of talking leading up to the draft, even offering to suit up against one another on the field. Rice says the league won't let it happen but Sanders says nothing is final until Goodell says so.
"He's going to be hurting if we suit up," Rice said.
According to STATS, Sanders had four interceptions in games played against Rice's teams, going back to 1989. Rice, meanwhile, had 60 catches for 1,051 yards and 11 touchdowns against Sanders' teams.
Sanders covered Rice on four pass attempts in 1995 and after, when STATS began tracking defensive players targeted on given plays. Rice had no catches and Sanders had no interceptions.
Both players say they'll base their Pro Bowl picks in part on personal knowledge of the players and their attitudes toward the game.
"I'm looking for the guys that are really hungry and want to put on a show in Hawaii," said Rice, who said he expects to have a more balanced team than Sanders.
Sanders said he doesn't want to get caught up in making picks to counter Rice — a common strategy in fantasy.
"You could make a decision based on what you want or you can make a decision based on what you need," he said.
The draft itself includes several wrinkles that offer room for strategy. The winner of the coin toss has a big advantage if he chooses to pick his captains, either the tandem of Drew Brees and Robert Quinn or Jamaal Charles and J.J. Watt. Not only will he get to pick the first players, he'll also be able to force a trade on the other team of any player taken after the fifth round on Wednesday.
Another possible strategy will be to try to force defensive players to play against their real-life NFL teammates in the Pro Bowl, making them decide whether to play even softer than they might otherwise.
Muriano said players have responded in a wide range of ways to that prospect, with some relishing the chance to take on their usual teammates.
Rice said it's just one of many ways to look at the game.
"I've been thinking about this for a long, long time," Rice said.
Rice, Sanders try rekindling interest in Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
Professional Sports
Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell signs with Raptors
Kansas State star Keyontae Johnson continues his comeback story as NBA Draft pick
From Wichita to KU, and now NBA, Gradey Dick aims to rep Kansas well
Sam McDowell: How Patrick Mahomes has forever changed the game — and his legacy — in Kansas City


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Updated August 11, 2021 at 5:39 PM ET
Firefighters battling the Dixie Fire have also been facing a second enemy: a serial arsonist who went on a spree of setting fires in July and August — and who sought to trap fire crews with his fires, according to agents from the U.S. Forest Service. They allege former college professor Gary Maynard is the culprit, citing their tracking of his movements and other evidence.
"Where Maynard went, fires started. Not just once, but over and over again," the government said in a court memorandum arguing for Maynard to be denied bail.
A judge agreed to that request during a brief hearing Wednesday, saying there are no "conditions or combination of conditions that would provide the necessary level of safety to this community should the defendant be released."
He added: "Based on that finding, the defendant will be detained as a risk of non-appearance and a danger to the community."
Maynard's next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 24, a representative of the U.S. attorney's office in Sacramento told NPR.
While court documents allege that Maynard is connected to more than a half-dozen dangerous fires in Northern California, he is currently charged with starting only the Ranch Fire. That blaze broke out on Saturday morning in a remote area where, according to court records, Maynard had just camped for the night. It's one of three fires that officials said Maynard set in recent days — all of them close to the Dixie Fire's northeastern footprint.
"He entered the evacuation zone and began setting fires behind the first responders fighting the Dixie fire," the U.S. attorney's office in Sacramento said in court papers. It added, "Maynard's fires were placed in the perfect position to increase the risk of firefighters being trapped between fires."
Maynard's alleged offenses "show that he is particularly dangerous, even among arsonists," the federal prosecutors said.
If it weren't for the surveillance federal agents were conducting on Maynard, the fires would have been much worse and the risk to firefighters would have been greater, the document said.
Maynard was identified after his car got stuck near a fire, court records say
Maynard, 47, is a former professor who has taught at colleges in New York and California, according to online records. Last fall, he taught in the criminology and criminal justice department at Sonoma State University, which says in its official bio for Maynard that he has a doctorate in sociology and three master's degrees.
His teaching and research, the school said, focuses on topics that include the "sociology of health, deviance and crime" and environmental sociology. Maynard also has connections to other schools, from Stony Brook University in New York (where he received his doctorate) to Santa Clara University, where he also taught.
On July 20, Maynard was spotted near the scene of the Cascade Fire, on the western slopes of Mount Shasta. A mountain biker in those remote woods had noticed signs of a fire, called 911 and then worked to limit the fire's spread.
A Forest Service fire investigator determined the Cascade Fire was likely the result of arson. He also noticed that on a dirt road 150 to 200 yards from the fire, a man was struggling to free his car, a black Kia Soul, after the vehicle's rear had failed to clear a partially buried boulder.
A witness told investigators that the man, later identified as Maynard, had arrived several hours before the fire started, court records show. The witness said the man had walked off in the direction of where the fire eventually ignited, returning around 10 minutes later. After the man returned, the witness recalled, smoke from the Cascade Fire became visible.
The investigator kept his distance from Maynard, citing the man's "uncooperative and agitated behavior." But he took a picture of his car, and the license plate number led to Maynard. Forest Service agents also measured and recorded data about the tire tread pattern left by Maynard's car — evidence that they say ties him to a string of arson wildfires.
Tracking an arson suspect
In an affidavit requesting an arrest warrant for Maynard, U.S. Forest Service Special Agent Tyler Bolen said he used a variety of means to learn more about the arson suspect, from internet searches that turned up his ties to colleges to inquiries with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The USDA, Bolen says, confirmed that Maynard had an Electronic Benefits Transfer account. Tracing his use of the card at grocery stores, the Forest Service was able to place Maynard close to the time and place where a number of fires were set, according to Bolen's affidavit.
The EBT account showed Maynard made purchases at a Safeway in Fortuna, along California's coast, on July 18, and then, a week later, at a Safeway store in Susanville — some 260 miles inland across the state, just east of the Lassen National Forest where the Dixie Fire erupted in mid-July, the affidavit said.
Since Maynard's car was registered in San Jose, Bolen also contacted the San Jose Police Department, which passed along a 2020 warning from a colleague who had reported her concern for Maynard's well-being, citing a severe mental health crisis. Crucially, the police agency shared Maynard's cellphone number, which was later confirmed to be linked to his EBT account, according to the affidavit.
Part of "an arson-setting spree"
Investigators said they've connected Maynard to a string of fires in Northern California, as early as the Bradley Fire that destroyed over 300 acres on July 11, and possibly as early as the Sweetbriar Fire on July 6. Both of those blazes struck in the Mount Shasta area, northwest of the Lassen National Forest where the Dixie Fire is still raging.
In recent days, authorities said, Maynard set numerous fires in the Lassen area — part of "an arson-setting spree," Bolen said.
In late July, Forest Service agents grew so concerned about Maynard's actions that they also asked Verizon Wireless for 15-minute updates on his location, 24 hours a day. Eventually, an agent also installed a tracker on Maynard's car, according to Bolen's affidavit.
Agents used that data to follow along behind Maynard, putting out several fires and gathering evidence that could link him to the blazes. Investigators also obtained warrants requiring Verizon Wireless to preserve evidence from Maynard's cellphone account that could show his movements and activity.
On Saturday, Lassen County sheriff's deputies arrested Maynard after a California Highway Patrol officer initially pulled him over for driving in an emergency closure area.
Maynard denies starting the fires
After his arrest, Maynard told Forest Service agents he had not started any fires. He was then booked into the Lassen County Jail on a charge of violating a state law that forbids entering a closed emergency area. But later Saturday, a deputy told him that a federal felony arson charge was being added. An angry Maynard insisted that he is innocent.
"I'm going to kill you, f***ing pig! I told those f***ers I didn't start any of those fires!" he said to the deputy, according to the affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
Maynard was later transferred to Sacramento County's jail. He had a brief court appearance by video Tuesday, followed by his detention hearing on Wednesday.
In the days before he was taken into custody, Maynard allegedly set the Moon Fire on Aug. 5, as well as the Ranch and Conard fires, which both ignited on Saturday, according to Bolen's affidavit.
Maynard now faces federal charges of setting fire to land that's owned by the U.S. or is under its jurisdiction.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Old Earth, Timeless Kiln
When nomads settled down in cities at the beginning of civilization, it was a turning point for the way humans would live. A settled life meant agriculture, which meant excess grain, and that gave rise to trading and exchange and eventually seals and currency. Staying in one place in cities, it also implied construction and storage. This is where the use of mud came into existence, with the production of bricks and storage vessels.
Gundiyali terracotta Diya
These evidences have been found in excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo Daro and many other ancient cities of Indus Valley Civilization, which existed about 5000 years ago. Thousands of years after the Indus Valley Civilization's decline in around 1700B.C, the land has seen innumerable kingdoms, wars, industries and cultures, but history remains at a standstill at the excavations of those ancient cities, the origins of our modern lives.
The gold and beaded jewelry, terracotta toys and bronze figurines, seals with symbols found at the sites reflect the objects we use till this day. One such object, unchanged through millennia is the earthen pot, a ubiquitous entity seen all over the country.
In the small village of Gundiyali (Mandvi Taluka, Bhuj, Gujarat, India), for generations, craftsmen have been making earthen pots (matka) with the same shapes and designs as those seen in Harappan excavations.
Gundiyali is essentially a potters' village, with skilled craftsmen like Ali Mohammad whose forefathers migrated here from Sindh (Pakistan) a few hundred years back.
An earthen pot is a very simple design, but making it requires a set of skills and material, just as any other craft. The potters are so particular about the raw material, that they get mud from a specific 5 acre area, some 45 kmfrom the village. To make the mud finer, they grind and sieve it. Then they put the mud in water for 2-3 days and it becomes soft enough to be given any desired shape. This soft clay is shaped into a pot on a potter's wheel and left to dry in shade. After a while, it is cleaned and put in the sun to dry and then baked in a furnace, powered by simple and locally available fuels of dry wood and cow dung.
Once out of the furnace, the pots resemble ancient Painted Grey-ware pottery and the patterns that are painted on them also follow a similar aesthetic language. This human need for adornment and decoration is timeless.
The pots of Gundiyali get their red colour from Geru, a type of soil (ocher/ umber), and the black and white dots and stripes are also made with natural material. The terracotta pots of Gundiyali are distinct from the ones we may see elsewhere, because of their smooth finish which is a result of repeated cleaning at every stage of the process of their making.
Apart from matkas, which sell the most in the summer, the potters also make diyas (earthen lamps) during Diwali, gullak (coin banks), cups, plates and glasses.
The earthen pot is a living testimony of the constancy of good design. However evolved a civilization may become; a design that is good and optimum does not need any refinement. This simple product pleases all the senses with its beautiful rounded form, the smell of rain and the taste of cool water quenching a dry throat in the hot summer, it is one of the most beautiful inventions our ancestors have left us as a legacy.
Read more here ~ Gaatha.org
Buy Gundiyali craft online ~ shop.gaatha.com


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Monday, November 18, 2013
Funfetti Skillet Cookie with White Chocolate Chips
Last week was a little bit cray-cray. I'm still recovering from it. I'm not usually someone who makes a big deal about my birthday but somehow I ended up with multiple birthday celebrations and multiple birthday cakes. I have the best friends and I'm incredibly lucky. And then on top of that I also happened to attend the awards ceremony for Cosmopolitan Australia's Fun Fearless Female Awards and somehow came away with the award for Blogger of the Year. What?!
In true Steph style, I had completely convinced myself that I had zero chance of winning. I never win anything. Not exaggerating. Okay, I might have won a speech night award at school once but that doesn't count. I had managed to pick up a cold the day before so I was on the cold and flu meds, and then started enjoying the Moscato a little too much (don't try this at home, kids) so was totally shocked when I had to go up and accept my award. Cosmo put on a great event and it was hugely humbling to be surrounded by all these amazing women, like sportswoman of the year Jacqui Freney and overall winner Turia Pitt. And then there's me, who plays around with butter and sugar on the weekends. Surreal. I was there because I have amazing readers who voted for me! So this post is for you guys, thank you for voting for me!
Now on to this skillet cookie. Last week I received some amazing cast iron skillets from the awesome Karen and I knew I needed to make a skillet cookie. For those unfamiliar with it, it's one giant biscuit/cookie baked in a pan, so it's crunchy on the edges and chewy in the middle. Heaven. And then Lisa made me this incredible funfetti fairy bread birthday cake and reminded me how much better life is when it's full of rainbow sprinkles. So I decided to combine these two awesome things and make myself a Funfetti Skillet Cookie.
It kind of looks like unicorn vomit. I don't mean to be gross but that's what my first thought was when I cut into this. The innards are probably not the prettiest, since the cookie dough is quite dark brown and so the sprinkles inside don't show up as much. But it looks pretty damn cute from the top, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. And it tastes SO much better than it looks. Still warm from the oven, it has a crunchy, golden, buttery edge, with a soft and chewy middle. I don't know why it's taken me this long to make a skillet cookie, but this will definitely be the first of many.
There's also white chocolate chips inside the cookie, you'll find small pockets of melted white chocolate throughout it if you eat it warm. I know the sprinkles don't really add any flavour but I just love how fun and happy the cookie looks with all the bright colours. It was really tempted to lift the whole thing out of the skillet and take a bite out of it like it was one gigantic biscuit. I might still do it.
Funfetti Skillet-Baked Cookie with White Chocolate Chips
(adapted from Martha Stewart)
2 cups (about 260g) plain (all-purpose) flour
1 tsp baking (bi-carb) soda
1/2 tsp salt
170g (3/4 cup) butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup rainbow sprinkles (I used half 100s and 1000s and half of the long skinny soft sprinkles)
1 cup (about 170g/6oz) white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
To serve: Vanilla ice cream and extra rainbow sprinkles
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a 10-inch (25 cm) ovenproof skillet. (If you have a smaller skillet, you may end up with excess dough, which you can just bake on a sheet as regular sized cookies) Whisk flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Place butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat on high with an electric mixer until mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 mins. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. With the mixer on low, add the flour and rainbow sprinkles and mix until just incorporated. Stir in white chocolate chips.
Transfer mixture to the skillet and press to flatten, so that the surface is even and covers the bottom of the pan. Bake until edges are brown and top is golden, about 40 to 45 minutes. If you find it is browning too quickly (mine started to due to the cast iron pan and the fan-forced oven) you can reduce the oven temperature slightly. Don't overbake; it will continue to cook a few minutes out of the oven. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, 15 to 20 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve warm with vanilla ice cream and extra sprinkles.
24 comments:
- AnonymousNovember 18, 2013 at 9:50 AM
"It kind of looks like unicorn vomit." Funniest description ever.
ReplyDelete congrats on the award. happy birthday AND what a beautiful skillet cookie to celebrate with. YOu mentioned ages ago you've been wanting to do a skillet cookie, and so glad your two girlfriends helped you make that idea come to life! I adore the friendship that the 3 of you have. its so sweeeeeeeet.
Comments are moderated and will be published ASAP. If you are viewing this on your phone, you might have to click the Preview button before posting your comment for it to work. People who comment make my day! ♥
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Oracle Corporation yesterday announced it had finalized a deal to acquire BEA Systems, a key rival in the enterprise middleware industry. By strengthening its own Fusion middleware platform while simultaneously removing a challenger, Oracle will be better able to confront opponents like IBM and SAP, according to analysts.
The final cost of the buyout is $8.5 billion, which includes BEA's share value of $7.2 billion plus its cash on hand of $1.3 billion. Though larger than the initial bid of $6.7 billion, this acquisition is still the second largest in Oracle's history, behind its $10.3 billion purchase of PeopleSoft in 2005. The acquisition is expected to close in mid-2008, pending regulatory approval.
There was no shortage of commentary by industry watchers and financial analysts in the wake of the announcement; several respected sources had written statements ready to go when news hit the wire. "We think the deal makes sense from both a strategic and financial perspective," said Jason Maynard, senior software analyst for Credit Suisse, in a statement. "It further diversifies Oracle's business and strengthens its competitive position." Maynard further states that Oracle is likely being conservative about potential first-year returns (estimated at $0.01 to $0.02 in the first full year after deal closure). "We continue to think Oracle is the best positioned enterprise software company and the most capable of handling a potential slowdown in IT spending."
Other sources urged more circumspection. Oracle's long history of acquisitions has left it as custodian of diverse product families that need to be integrated to have the most customer value. "Oracle has leapfrogged its longstanding Oracle Portal product with a quite new and lightly implemented Oracle WebCenter, and now has acquired BEA--itself supporting two different portal products, after cancelling plans to merge them into a single platform," said Janus Boye, contributing analyst for CMS Watch, in a statement. "Upon concluding the takeover, Oracle will support four separate enterprise portal products that substantially overlap." Boye warns of a potentially "rocky ride" for Oracle and BEA customers over the next few years as Oracle sorts out its product roadmaps.
"Oracle's long term M&A strategy centers on gaining the biggest install base around not only mission critical applications, but also middleware," said Ray Wang, principal analyst with Forrester Research, in a statement. "At the end of the day, it's also about selling more database and gaining the largest share of the IT wallet." Wang expects to see "accelerated consolidation along key battle grounds of middleware platforms" such as master data management (MDM), business intelligence (BI), portals, business process management (BPM), and other related tools. "Don't expect the competitors of BEA to sit still."
Indeed, the deal isn't done yet, so it's possible that competitors could still disrupt the acquisition. "Other vendors like SAP, IBM, and HP need BEA more than Oracle does," Wang said. "SAP's NetWeaver is among the weakest of middleware platforms, despite one of the strongest ecosystems. IBM will be threatened by an Oracle dominance in middleware and continued challenge of commoditizing vertical service offerings into software solutions. HP could use this as an entry point to gain traction in the market."
Maynard was less concerned that competitors would cause problems in sealing the buyout. "We think the fact that the transaction is being done on friendly terms is definitely positive, and it should help expedite the closing of the deal," he said. "We think the proposed transaction will likely generate a second HSR request from the DOJ, however we do not think regulators will block the transaction due to antitrust issues given strong competitors such as IBM, SAP, and Microsoft."
SAP and Microsoft seem to be the vendors most at risk as far as analysts are concerned. "SAP of late has invested only minimally in its portal solution, which has fallen behind its peers functionally, even if it remains very much a 'known quantity' within the SAP customer base," Boye said. "Meanwhile, Microsoft SharePoint 2007 has changed very little in the past year, as customers and integrators alike continue to experiment broadly with the core platform in the absence of clear roadmap signals from Redmond."
Not everybody appears to think IBM and HP are threatened by the move, however. "Oracle will leverage its purchase of BEA to provide more pressure on IBM's middleware products in select vertical markets, such as telecommunications, but the purchase also provides the opportunity for IBM to highlight its applications-agnostic position," said Melissa Grady and Stuart Williams, analysts with Technology Business Research (TBR), in a statement. "Following the acquisition, TBR expects IBM will strengthen its partnerships with applications providers so as to cement its routes into the middleware markets."
Furthermore, "HP Services sustains a strong practice in BEA, with more than 1,000 trained engineers and 400 consultants, and HP has been expanding its Oracle middleware practice since the PeopleSoft acquisition in 2005," the TBR analysts add. "The combined practice makes HP Services one of Oracle's most strategic partners in the middleware market, and TBR believes the strong relationship is a boon to HP's growing Software division, which provisions a systems management portfolio that neatly wraps around the central Oracle software stack and ties the IT operations into business performance."
Cautions aside, the acquisition is being hailed as a win-win for Oracle and BEA. "From a competitive standpoint, we think this deal will materially improve Oracle's competitive position against IBM in the middleware/SOA space, and that it will further extend its leadership over SAP," Maynard said.
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Oracle Salutes ''Acquired Innovation''At Oracle OpenWorld 2007, executives emphasize the benefits of having made 41 acquisitions in 45 months: "We've become the IPO market for the enterprise software industry."
In Oracle's Star Wars, a Wookey FallsThe company's head of Fusion Applications is expected to leave, raising questions and concerns about the vendor's ability to deliver Fusion as scheduled.
Oracle Offers to Buy BEA SystemsOn the heels of the SAP-Business Objects deal, Larry Ellison's company makes a multibillion-dollar move of its own.
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On the heels of the SAP-Business Objects deal, Larry Ellison's company makes a multibillion-dollar move of its own.


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We're learning more about what the Pandora Papers reveal. Those are millions of leaked records reviewed by a group of media organizations. And among other things, these documents show how some of the world's wealthiest people protect their assets with trusts. Many of those trusts have been established in the U.S. In fact, several states are in competition with one another over attracting business from rich people in the U.S. and around the world. NPR's David Gura is here to break some of this down.
Hi, David.
DAVID GURA, BYLINE: Hey, Ari.
SHAPIRO: Explain what trusts are and how they work.
GURA: Well, trusts aren't new. They've been around for hundreds of years. And one person agrees to hold on to someone else's assets, like money or property, for the benefit of other people - usually family members. So you could put some money in a trust, and this person who's called a trustee would be responsible for paying out that money over time to, say, your kids or your grandkids. And what's appealing about this, Ari, is the protection it offers. Those assets are mostly safe from creditors and from taxation. If you get sued, look; no one can take them because technically they belong to the trust. And also, that money up to a point is not subject to what's known as the estate tax in the U.S. Now, if you were to give that money directly to your descendants, you would have to pay the estate tax. It would be taxed by the federal government at 40%.
SHAPIRO: And so is that ability to dodge the tax is what's made trusts become so popular?
GURA: It has, but there are a couple of other reasons. And one is trusts offer this level of anonymity. They make it easier for the rich to hide their wealth, and the Pandora Papers show many people have taken advantage of that, including world leaders like the president of Ecuador and celebrities like Ringo Starr. Another reason is the world's wealthy now have more options. There are more places to put their money in trusts. And something that stands out in the work done by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists is how rich people living overseas are starting trusts in states like Alaska and Wyoming and South Dakota. Gideon Rothschild is a lawyer who helps his wealthy clients do this, and he told me these states have become more appealing than traditional offshore jurisdictions like the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas because the United States offers this sense of security.
GIDEON ROTHSCHILD: You know, you've got a set of laws in a place like South Dakota that you can rely on in the event something untoward occurs.
GURA: That would be something like if trustees don't do what they're supposed to do. But in many cases, Ari, the assets are also seen as more secure than they would be in other countries.
SHAPIRO: You mentioned that these trusts are starting up in Alaska, Wyoming, South Dakota. How do the states compete with one another for this business?
GURA: Yeah, the short answer is they're changing the rules. States continue to pass legislation that makes them more appealing to the wealthy, both in the U.S. and overseas. Traditionally, trusts had to be dissolved after a set period of time. There was this belief that families shouldn't control a set of assets, be they money or property, forever. In the U.S., there are states now that have done away with those limits entirely. A trust can last in perpetuity. South Dakota is one of these states. Thomas Simmons is a law professor at the University of South Dakota. He also advises the state on trusts. And he says one of South Dakota's former governors recognized something decades ago.
THOMAS SIMMONS: We could attract businesses to the state of South Dakota, which doesn't have a whole lot to offer in terms of large numbers of employees or natural resources or coastlines, by means of legislation. And legislation is pretty cheap, right? It's just words on a page.
GURA: And that's what's led to this kind of cottage industry in South Dakota, Ari. We've seen legislation that creates more favorable conditions for trusts pass in other state legislatures as well.
SHAPIRO: Just briefly, what's likely to change as a result of this reporting?
GURA: Yeah, at the state level, critics are using this as a chance to push for more transparency, for more information about who controls trusts and who benefits from them. And then it could lead to stronger reporting requirements. Europe's requirements, for instance, are much more stringent than they are here in the U.S.
SHAPIRO: NPR's David Gura, thank you.
GURA: Thanks, Ari. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Stater Bros. promotes long-time exec to head of retail ops
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. has promoted Dan Meyer to the position of EVP retail operations. In this position, Meyer will be responsible for the retail operations of all 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Corporate Training Center.
Meyer is a 42-year member of the Stater Bros. "Family." He first joined Stater Bros. in 1971 as a Courtesy Clerk at the company's La Sierra Supermarket in Riverside and progressed through a range of retail store and district supervision positions.
In 2009, he was promoted to senior regional VP, and in 2011, he was promoted to his most recent position of SVP retail operations.
He currently serves on the boards of directors for Stater Bros. charities and the California Grocers Association.
In his new position, Meyer will report to Jim Lee, president and COO.
"Dan is a well-respected and valuable member of our senior management team," stated Jack Brown, CEO. "This promotion is a result of his leadership skills and the contributions that he has made towards the success of the company's retail operations department."


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- The #1 Selling Weight Loss Product in America with Ephedra!
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Discontinue 2 weeks prior to surgery or if you experience rapid heartbeat, dizziness, severe headache or shortness of breath. In case of accidental overdose, seek professional assistance or contact a poison control center immediately. Avoid alcohol while taking this product. Exceeding recommended serving may cause serious adverse health effects, including heart attack and stroke. Improper use of this product may be hazardous to a persons health.
Take 1-2 tablets in the morning and 1 tablet after lunch. Do not exceed 4 tablets daily.


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Automotive Car Key Replacement Miami, FL - Central Locksmith Store
Unless you have not experienced it yourself you won't know how difficult it is to cope with a lockout situation. It is one of the scariest and frustrating experience that a car owner can have. Car lockouts can happen anywhere and at any time and that is why it becomes even more difficult for the owner to deal with them. It is best to call a locksmith in such a situation and if you are in Central Locksmith Store then you should definitely give our services a try. Central Locksmith Store is the company you can trust to provide professional automotive locksmith services for the Miami, FL community.
Apart from lockouts, we can help you with installing new locks, open jammed locks, reprogram transponder keys, and develop high-security laser car keys and a lot more. The year or make of the model is never a concern as our locksmiths have the necessary experience of working on various models.
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